Trevor Steven: Senegal will be England’s toughest test yet at this World Cup November 30, 2022 England’s progress from Group B to a World Cup last-16 tie with Senegal on Sunday has ticked a lot of boxes. They finished top, had six different goalscorers, avoided injuries and were able to give minutes to players who needed them, like Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips. It has put Gareth Southgate’s team up there [...]
World Cup briefing: Why and how to watch Wednesday’s matches November 30, 2022 Will Lionel Messi and Argentina crash out of the World Cup at the group stage on Wednesday or advance to the last 16? Read on for the talking points and permutations. Tunisia v France, 3pm, BBC World Cup holders France are already through to the next round and will definitely qualify as winners of Group [...]
Wales v England: World Cup stage set for Gareth Bale’s last dance November 29, 2022 While England have top spot in World Cup Group B in their sights tonight against Wales, the stakes are much higher for their opponents at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. If Wales are to avoid elimination, only a win against England will do – and even then, they will need to do so by four [...]
World Cup briefing: Why and how to watch Tuesday’s games, including Wales v England November 29, 2022 England are among several teams who will discover whether they have made it into the last 16 of the World Cup when the final games in Group A and Group B are played today. Here’s all you need to know. Netherlands v Qatar, 3pm, ITV Any two of three teams could still qualify from or [...]
World Cup briefing: Why and how to watch Monday’s matches November 28, 2022 The 2022 World Cup rolls into its second week, with pre-tournament favourites Brazil among those in action on Monday. Here’s your guide to today’s games. Cameroon v Serbia, 10am, ITV Both teams will be looking for their first points and first goals of Qatar 2022 when Cameroon meet Serbia on Monday morning. Cameroon, who lost [...]
Trevor Steven: England must ring the changes for Wales World Cup game November 27, 2022 England’s 0-0 draw with the USA at the World Cup on Friday was a wake-up call which raised several issues that Gareth Southgate can’t ignore ahead of their final Group B game with Wales on Tuesday. I was surprised that Southgate named exactly the same team that had beaten Iran four days earlier. The USA [...]
England v USA: How Europe embraced America’s young footballers November 25, 2022 When the USA hosted the World Cup in 1994, their squad was an overwhelmingly domestic selection. Fourteen of their 22-man party were based in the States, with 12 of those on central contracts with the US Soccer Federation. Only two of the players belonged to clubs in Europe’s five biggest leagues, among them Coventry City [...]
World Cup briefing: Friday’s games and why you should watch them November 25, 2022 The Qatar 2022 World Cup breaks new ground today when the first clutch of teams, including England, play their second group games. Here is why – and how – to watch them. Wales v Iran, 10am, BBC If they are going to reach the last 16 in their first World Cup for 64 years, Wales [...]
Ed Warner: Manchester United should have refused to tear up Cristiano Ronaldo contract November 24, 2022 Watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s conversation with Piers Morgan I was instantly reminded of Princess Di’s (in)famous interview with Martin Bashir, so much in the news in recent months. No sense here though that the footballer was duped into his doe-eyed criticisms of Manchester United – certainly not if we accept Morgan’s subsequent justifications for the guest [...]
World Cup briefing: Final day of round one gets underway in Qatar November 24, 2022 As Japan joined Saudi Arabia in inflicting a shock World Cup result on opponents fancied for the title, the final day of round one action gets underway in Qatar. City A.M. looks at today’s games and what’s at stake. Group G: Switzerland v Cameroon, ITV Having reached the last 16 in the previous two World [...]