Moriyasu urges Japan not to ride 'roller-coaster'

Tue, 29 Nov, 2022

Moriyasu urges Japan not to ride 'roller-coaster'

Doha: Japan have swung from high to low at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 but head coach Hajime Moriyasu warned his players not to "ride the roller-coaster" of emotions as they prepare to face Spain.

The Blue Samurai can qualify for the knock-out round if they beat the Spanish in their final Group E game on Thursday but they will have to pick themselves up after their shock loss to Costa Rica.

That 1-0 defeat on Sunday came just days after Japan had beaten Germany with a stunning comeback, and leaves them needing another upset to advance to the last 16.

Japan could also qualify with a draw against Spain depending on other results but a win would guarantee their progress.

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Yoshida rallies Japan after Costa Rica disappointment

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Yoshida rallies Japan after Costa Rica disappointment

Al Rayyan: Japan captain Maya Yoshida urged his team to stick together after their 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on Sunday and believes a place in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 knockout round is still within their reach.

Yoshida said the Blue Samurai struggled to come down from the high of beating Germany in their opening Group E game and found it "difficult" to prepare for Costa Rica, who were coming off a 7-0 thrashing by Spain.

Japan will likely now need at least a point in their final group game against Spain to progress and Yoshida urged his teammates to pull off another famous win.

Ghana edge Korea Republic in thriller

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Ghana edge Korea Republic in thriller

Al Rayyan: Cho Gue-sung’s brace wasn’t enough to prevent Korea Republic from falling to a 3-2 defeat against Ghana despite a spirited comeback from two goals down in their second FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H tie at Education City Stadium on Monday.

The Africans opened the scoring through Mohammed Salisu from close range before Mohammed Kudus made it 2-0 shortly after the half hour. Cho’s pair of headers either side of the 60th minute saw Korea bring the scores level again, only for Kudus to complete his brace and grant the African side the three points.

The result means Korea Republic will go into Friday’s final Group H tie needing to get a win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to have any hope of reaching the Round of 16.

Fernandes double sends Portugal into knockout stage

Tue, 29 Nov, 2022

Fernandes double sends Portugal into knockout stage

Lusail: Bruno Fernandes scored twice to give Portugal a 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday and send them into the knock-out stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 alongside France and Brazil.

The Manchester United midfielder scored a cross-cum-shot nine minutes into the second half and then added an injury-time penalty following a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez.

With Portugal already through, Uruguay must now beat Ghana - who defeated Korea Republic 3-2 earlier on Monday - in their final Group H match to stand any chance of also progressing.

Casemiro downs Switzerland to take Brazil into last 16

Tue, 29 Nov, 2022

Casemiro downs Switzerland to take Brazil into last 16

Doha: A Brazil side lacking spark without the injured Neymar needed a late strike from Casemiro to edge out Switzerland 1-0 on Monday as the five-time winners secured their place in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 last 16 with one game to spare.

The Brazilians had been frustrated by an obdurate Swiss side at Doha's Stadium 974 and it looked as if they would have to settle for a point after a Vinicius Junior strike in the second half was disallowed for offside following a VAR check.

But then, with seven minutes remaining, Bruno Guimaraes flicked the ball on to Casemiro just inside the box and the Manchester United midfielder's volley flew into the net with the help of a slight but significant deflection off Manuel Akanji.

Cameroon fight back to share points with Serbia

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Cameroon fight back to share points with Serbia

Al Wakrah: Cameroon kept their hopes of making the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 alive after fighting back from two goals down to salvage a 3-3 draw with Serbia in a thrilling Group G encounter on Monday.

Jean-Charles Castelletto scored first for Cameroon but Serbia led 3-1 after goals from Strahinja Pavlovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting then struck as Cameroon and Serbia both picked up their first point in Group G.

Preview - Group A: Netherlands v Qatar

Tue, 29 Nov, 2022

Preview - Group A: Netherlands v Qatar

Al Khor: Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez believes thorough preparation gives them the best possible chance of success, ahead of their final FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match against the Netherlands. 

Already eliminated, Qatar have pride to play for at home in front of their fans at the Al Bayt Stadium, with an added incentive of influencing proceedings in Group A, potentially causing early elimination for the Dutch side should they win and a similarly positive result goes Senegal’s way against Ecuador. 

Preview - Group B: IR Iran v USA

Wed, 30 Nov, 2022

Preview - Group B: IR Iran v USA

Doha: Carlos Queiroz will take his Islamic Republic of Iran side into their final Group B clash at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with the United States believing they can deliver a performance capable of making history with qualification for the knockout rounds.

The Iranians are in second in the standings and a win over Gregg Berhalter’s side would guarantee a top two finish and a berth in the Round of 16 alongside current group leaders England or Wales.

Duke, journeyman goal hero spearheading Australia

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Duke, journeyman goal hero spearheading Australia

Doha: Mitchell Duke wouldn't be high on anyone's list of FIFA World Cup stars but the journeyman forward is pivotal to Australia's hopes of reaching the last 16 for only the second time.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski all scored crucial goals in Qatar on Saturday - and so did Duke, who plays in Japan's second tier and turns 32 in January.

Duke gave Tunisia's defence a torrid time with his physicality but his 23rd-minute header for what turned out to be the winner was a thing of beauty as he deftly glanced the ball over his shoulder and into the net.