Tag: Football

Messi carries Argentina into World Cup final

by John WEAVER Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Lionel Messi will have the chance to crown his remarkable career by winning the World Cup after he inspired Argentina to a comfortable 3-0 win against Croatia in the semi-final on Tuesday. Messi scored a penalty before Julian Alvarez doubled the lead shortly before half-time. The little Argentine genius reserved the best for last when he twisted and turned away from his Croatian marker to set […]

Qatar probing migrant worker death at World Cup site: official

Doha, Qatar (AFP) World Cup host Qatar is investigating the death of a migrant worker, an official said Thursday, after reports he died at a training base during the ongoing football tournament. The death of a Filipino in his 40s was first reported on Wednesday by The Athletic sports website and later confirmed by the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry.   The Athletic said the man fell off a ramp while repairing lights at a resort used […]

Brazil, Argentina target blockbuster World Cup semi-final

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Brazil seek to become the first team through to the World Cup semi-finals on Friday, while Argentina could set up a blockbuster all-South American clash if they get past the Netherlands. After three weeks of pulsating action, just eight teams are left standing as the 32-nation tournament heads into the final rounds of the knockout competition after a two-day break. Five-time champions Brazil kick off the quarter-finals against surprise 2018 runners-up […]

Portugal blow away Switzerland to reach World Cup last eight

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Portugal dismantled Switzerland 6-1 to charge into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as Goncalo Ramos started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the first hat-trick of the tournament. The Portuguese will face Morocco in the quarter-finals after sweeping aside the Swiss in a display that was every bit as impressive as Brazil’s demolition of South Korea 24 hours earlier. In a surprise move, 21-year-old Benfica forward Ramos replaced Ronaldo […]

World Cup win makes Morocco the ‘pride’ of Arab fans

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Thousands of Morocco fans descended on the streets of Doha to celebrate their country becoming the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. Despite some minor trouble outside the stadium, the victory over Spain became a celebration of “Arab pride” for supporters from across the region. Walid Regragui’s side won 3-0 in a penalty shootout after the match finished goalless following extra-time. So many people packed Doha’s […]

Japan wins count for nothing after World Cup exit, says Doan

  by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) –Forward Ritsu Doan said Japan’s historic World Cup wins over Germany and Spain counted for nothing after the Blue Samurai were eliminated by Croatia in the last 16 on Monday. Japan missed out on a first-ever place in the quarter-finals after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to the Croatians, following a gruelling encounter that finished 1-1 after extra-time. Japan beat both Germany and Spain in the […]

Neymar returns as Brazil brush aside South Korea to reach World Cup quarters

by Andy SCOTT Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Neymar returned from injury to help inspire Brazil to a 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday as the favorites cruised through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The world’s most expensive player had sat out his team’s last two matches with a sprained ankle suffered in their opening 2-0 win over Serbia. But he came back for this last-16 tie as Tite’s team clicked […]

Japan primed to show ‘samurai spirit’ against Croatia at World Cup

Doha, Qatar (AFP) by Andrew MCKIRDY Japan will “fight like samurai” in Monday’s World Cup last-16 clash with Croatia as they battle to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, defender Yuto Nagatomo said. Japan reached the knockout round after stunning Germany and Spain to top Group E but they are not satisfied with what they have achieved so far in Qatar. Veteran Nagatomo is appearing at his fourth World Cup and urged his team-mates […]

MLS fines Galaxy, club exec over salary violations

  New York, United States (AFP) Major League Soccer fined the Los Angeles Galaxy $1 million and suspended club president Chris Klein on Friday for improper payments involving Argentine forward Cristian Pavon in 2019. “The LA Galaxy entered into agreements that were not disclosed that included payments that were not accounted for in the calculation of Cristian Pavon’s salary budget and roster category,” MLS said in a statement. The league said the undisclosed payments resulted […]

South Korea snatch last-16 place, Swiss edge fiery World Cup clash

  Doha, Qatar (AFP) Last-gasp South Korea reached the World Cup knockout phase in dramatic fashion on Friday to set up a last-16 match against mighty Brazil as Switzerland edged a bad-tempered encounter with Serbia to progress. With the clock ticking down at Education City Stadium, the Koreans knew they needed one more goal against Portugal to leapfrog the South Americans and Hwang Hee-chan delivered in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory. The Korean […]

Ronaldo in spat with South Korean player during World Cup loss

Doha, Qatar (AFP) Cristiano Ronaldo said he was involved in a verbal spat with a South Korean player who criticised him for failing to leave the field quickly enough when he was substituted during Portugal’s 2-1 World Cup defeat on Friday. Portugal still topped Group H despite the result, which also sent South Korea into the last 16, but Ronaldo looked annoyed as he slowly walked off when his number went up in the 65th […]

Samurai spirit: Japan explodes with World Cup joy

by Harumi OZAWA / Atish PATEL Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — As the final whistle blew on Japan’s shock victory over Spain, thrilled fans flooded onto Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble crossing to celebrate a win few had dared to dream of. “Japan, bravo! Japan, bravo!”, they cheered after the 2-1 victory, singing the popular “Vamos Nippon” football chant and waving the country’s flag. Dressed in their team’s blue kit, some with hats against the morning […]