Sports
Ronaldo benched against Morocco in World Cup quarterfinals
Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped from Portugal’s starting lineup for the second straight match at the World Cup.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo won’t play from the outset in the quarterfinal match against Morocco on Saturday, after starting on the bench and then coming on as a substitute for the round-of-16 match against Switzerland.
Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick on Tuesday in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland on his first start for Portugal, was again selected ahead of Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is playing in his fifth and likely final World Cup.
He was left out of the lineup against the Swiss after coach Fernando Santos expressed frustration about his team captain’s attitude in the previous game.
Read more: Which World Cup starlet can replace Messi, Ronaldo?
Santos later said Ronaldo was “not happy” to be told he was being benched, but never threatened to leave the World Cup because of the decision.
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer with 118 goals, eventually came in as a replacement in the 74th minute. He had looked somewhat disconnected from the rest of the squad after the match, and had already shown a poor attitude after being substituted in the last group game against South Korea.
Ronaldo was coming off lackluster performances in the group stage, though he scored in the 3-2 win against Ghana to become the first player to score in five World Cups. He has played in every edition of the tournament since 2006.
Portugal’s other starters against Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium included João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Otávio.
Read more: Ronaldo looks to shine like Mbappé and Messi at World Cup
Portugal is trying to make it to the last four for the third time, having finished third in 1966 and fourth in 2006. It hadn’t gotten past the round of 16 since that tournament in Germany 16 years ago.
Neymar’s future with Brazil uncertain after World Cup loss
The joy of scoring one of his biggest goals for Brazil quickly turned into tears after yet another disappointing elimination for Neymar with the national team.
The World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia was a tough one to take for the Brazil forward, and it could mean the end of his time with the national team.
Neymar remains without a major title with Brazil, and it’s unclear if he will try to be back for a fourth World Cup four years from now, when he will be 34 years old.
“It would be too hasty to come here and say that this is it, but I can’t guarantee anything,” Neymar said after Brazil’s 4-2 loss to Croatia in a penalty shootout on Friday. “I have to take some time to think about it. I’m not closing any doors to the Selecao, but I’m also not saying 100% that I want to be back.”
Before the tournament in Qatar, Neymar hadn’t ruled out this being his last World Cup appearance.
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s hard to talk about it right now,” he said Friday. “Now it’s time to go home and lament.”
Not winning the title could keep him motivated to return, as for now his only triumphs with the national team remain the 2013 Confederations Cup title and the Olympic gold medal from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Read: Croatia end Brazil's dream of 6th World Cup
Neymar theoretically has until March to make a decision about his future, because that’s when South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is expected to begin.
It looked like Neymar was going to send Brazil to the semifinals for the first time since 2014 when he scored in extra time to move into a tie with Pelé as the national team’s all-time scoring leader with 77 goals. But Croatia equalized in the final minutes and won the shootout after Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert their penalties for the five-time champions.
Neymar didn’t even get a chance to help in the shootout because Brazil coach Tite had reserved him to take the fifth penalty, which never materialized.
“It’s hard to say that it would have made a difference (if I had taken one of the early penalties),” he said. “We can’t single out anyone. We win together and we lose together.”
Reaching the semifinals in Qatar could have meant redemption for Neymar after what happened at the 2014 tournament hosted by Brazil. He couldn’t play in the semifinals after hurting his back in the quarterfinal win against Colombia, and Brazil eventually lost to Germany 7-1.
Four years later, Neymar and Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals.
Read: Neymar ties Pelé’s all-time record with Brazil at World Cup
Neymar also missed the 2019 Copa America, which Brazil won at home, because of a right ankle problem.
He survived another injury scare in Qatar after damaging ligaments in his right ankle in Brazil’s opening match. It wasn’t clear if he would be able to play again, but he ended up recovering for the round of 16, when he scored one of Brazil’s goals in the 4-1 win over South Korea.
Neymar joined Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010 and quickly became the nation’s top star. If he leaves now, there is no clear replacement for him. Vinícius Júnior and maybe Rodrygo — his immediate substitute in Qatar — could potentially try to fill that role.
Most fans hope Neymar will be back, and so does the man whose record he tied on Friday.
“Keep inspiring us,” Pelé said in a message to Neymar. “I will keep punching the air with joy for every goal you score, as I did in every match I saw you on the pitch. Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport.”
FIFA charges Argentina for disorders at World Cup match
FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Argentina for its players’ actions during a contentious World Cup quarterfinal match against the Netherlands.
The soccer governing body cited “order and security at matches” in its disciplinary code for charging the Argentina soccer federation.
Argentina substitutes and coaches encroached on the field as the game turned confrontational in the late stages as the Dutch scored two late goals to force extra time. There were more heated exchanges on the field after Argentina won the penalty shootout following the 2-2 draw.
Read: World Cup: Messi, Argentina defeat Netherlands on penalties
Lionel Messi was among a World Cup record 17 players or coaching staff members who were shown yellow cards during or after the game.
Team misconduct charges are routine for collecting five yellow cards in a game and disciplinary cases were opened against both Argentina and the Netherlands, FIFA said.
Both federations could get the same 15,000 Swiss francs fine ($16,000) that FIFA’s disciplinary panel imposed twice on Saudi Arabia at this World Cup for team misconduct.
Argentina will likely get a heavier fine for the separate disorder charge.
Read: Messi resumes World Cup quest as Argentina plays Netherlands
FIFA gave no timetable for verdicts, which have typically not been published before a team’s next game at this World Cup.
Argentina faces Croatia in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Ishan rips up ODI record books to hand Bangladesh 227-run defeat in dead rubber
Bangladesh folded for 182 in 34 overs while chasing India's 410-run target in the last match of their three-match ODI series Saturday in Chattogram.
Put in to bat first, India, powered by Ishan Kishan's 210 off 131 runs with 24 fours and 10 sixes and Virat Kohli's 44th ODI ton, scored 409-8 in 50 overs.
Ishan became the fastest player to reach an ODI 150 and 200, with a remarkable display of power-hitting.
Despite losing Shikhar Dhawan early, India were not troubled at all Ishan and Virat combined to add 290 runs in the second wicket stand – the second-best ODI partnership on Bangladesh soil.
India's 409 was the highest ODI total against Bangladesh and the highest on the country's soil.
Taskin Ahmed, playing his first match in the series, took two wickets. Ebadot Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan also took two wickets each, but unfortunately, their efforts were not enough to restrict India to an achievable total.
In response, Anamul Haque and Liton Das attempted to get off to a swift start but were unsuccessful in doing so. Anamul became the first man to fall, scoring eight runs off seven balls with a six. Liton fell for 29 of 26 balls, hitting 4 fours and one six.
Shakib was Bangladesh's star performer with the bat, scoring 43 off 50 balls with four fours. Yasir Ali and Mahmudullah Riyad both got off to a good start but were unable to keep up the momentum against India's quality bowling attack.
Mushfiqur Rahim continued his run of poor form. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had been Bangladesh's hero in the first two matches, failed to show his batting prowess in the third match and was sent back for three.
In the end, Bangladesh were all out for 182 and suffered a 227-run defeat – the second-biggest defeat in ODIs based on the margin of runs.
Despite the defeat in the last match, Bangladesh have taken the series after winning the first two matches on Dhaka's challenging surface.
Now the two teams have set their sights on a two-match Test series, starting with the first match on December 14 in Chattogram, followed by the second match in Dhaka on December 22.
Messi snarls, taunts and thrills in World Cup classic
Whether it was in the rule book or not, Lionel Messi was going to do just about anything to get to the World Cup semifinals.
Soccer fans saw another side to Messi in Argentina’s wild penalty-shootout victory over the Netherlands — a side that can only really come out in the most pressure-filled occasions.
Everyone knows about his outrageous skills, his mesmerizing dribbling ability and his relentless goalscoring. But here he was at Lusail Stadium, scrapping, snarling, taunting.
There’s a street-fighter mentality that is never far from the surface when it comes to Argentina’s national team and it revealed itself against the Dutch in a match that boiled over on numerous occasions.Messi — fueled by a desire to win soccer’s ultimate prize at likely his last attempt — was right in the middle of it all on Friday.
Not least when, soon after scoring a penalty to put Argentina 2-0 ahead, he stopped in front of the Netherlands dugout and cupped his hands around his ears. It appeared to be a jibe toward outspoken Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who said before the game that his team would look to take advantage of Messi’s perceived lack of work rate off the ball.
The gesture mimicked a goal celebration sometimes used by former Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who reportedly had disagreements with Van Gaal when they were both at Barcelona in the early 2000s and had to leave the Catalan club to make a name for himself in Spanish soccer.
Read: World Cup: Messi, Argentina defeat Netherlands on penalties
At the end of the game, Messi could be seen gesticulating at the 71-year-old Van Gaal and also went face to face with Edgar Davids, a member of the Dutch technical staff.
Messi was one of 17 people — players or coaching staff — to be given a yellow card, which is a record for a World Cup game. He received his booking in the final seconds of regulation time for dissent, though it could have come much earlier when he patted the ball away deliberately with his hand.
Finishing the game with a bloodied and slightly puffy top lip after running into Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber, Messi took aim at Spanish referee Antonio Mateu, saying he was not “up to the standard” and was “very harmful for us,” and also broke off from his post-match interview on the field to shout abuse at Wout Weghorst, the scorer of the Netherlands’ two goals.
“It was a very hard match, I have to say,” Messi said through an interpreter. “From the very beginning, we know it would be this way as we had a big national team in front of us.
“We suffered a lot and we didn’t deserve that. We played the way we had to play.”
It was mayhem at times, notably when the Netherlands bench emptied onto the field after Leandro Paredes smashed the ball toward the dugout from close range. Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk sprinted up to Paredes and barged him to the ground as a melee unfolded.
Mateu struggled to maintain control of the game. After blowing the fulltime whistle to take the game to extra time, he was immediately confronted by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who got in Mateu’s face and had to be held back by colleagues.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez later called the referee “useless.”
Read: Messi resumes World Cup quest as Argentina plays Netherlands
Argentina’s players couldn’t help themselves after Lautaro Martinez converted the clinching penalty in the shootout. Having been stood with their arms linked on the halfway line, they broke free and most of the players ran in front of the despondent Dutch players and goaded them. Nicolas Otamendi repeated Messi’s earlier gesture by putting his hands behind his ears.
Call it gamesmanship, call it the dark arts, call it being cynical. Argentina will not care.
The Albiceleste are through to the semifinals and will face Croatia next in what is also likely to be an occasion high on tension and provocation.
Messi is two victories from winning the World Cup and, on this evidence, he cannot be more fired up to achieve it.
BPL Football: Mohammedan SC makes good start; Police FC upset Sheikh Russell KC
Dhaka Mohammedan SC made a good start in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football beating Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 2-0 goal at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday.
After a barren first half, Spanish forward Daniel Ricardo put the traditional black and white team ahead in the 50th minute (1-0) while Mali striker Souleymane Diabate conformed the Mohammedan's victory scoring one more goal in the 86th minute from a penalty (2-0).
Read more: BPL Football begins on Friday at three venues
In the day's other match, Independence Cup runners-up Sheikh Russell KC made a frustrating start after conceding 1-2 goal defeat Bangladesh Police FC at their home ground --Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka Saturday afternoon.
Nigerian forward Sunday Udoh scored first for Sheikh Russel KC in the very 4th minute (1-0) while Jose Alexander leveled the margin for Police FC just three minutes later (1-1).
Striker Ewards scored the match winning goal for Police FC in the 39th minute (2-1).
Read more: BPL Football :Champions Bashundhara Kings end campaign on winning note
Riding on Ishan’s double ton, India post a massive 409 vs Bangladesh
Ishan Kishan, the left-handed Indian batter, achieved a historic milestone on Saturday in Chattogram by registering his first-ever century in an ODI match against Bangladesh and converting it to an impressive double-century.
Riding on his remarkable fate that came up with the fastest ODI 150 and 200, India posted a massive total of 409 for eight— the best-ever ODI innings against Bangladesh. It was the highest-ever ODI innings on the soil of Bangladesh as well.
Ishan was called upon to take the place of Rohit Sharma in the playing XI for this match, following Sharma's injury in the previous match in Dhaka, which ultimately ruled him out of the series.
The 24-year-old Ishan opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan; however, the latter fell to Mehidy Hasan Miraz soon after Bangladesh successfully reviewed an umpiring decision in their favor.
Read more: Bangladesh win toss, opt to bowl first in 3rd ODI vs India
In response to the early loss of Dhawan, Ishan and Indian batting legend Virat Kohli then combined to engineer a record-breaking partnership of 290 runs for the second wicket - the second-highest partnership in ODIs in Bangladesh after the 292-run stand of Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal.
The 290-run partnership of Ishan and Virat surpassed the 282-run stand between Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock in Kimberley in 2017 to become the highest ODI partnership against Bangladesh.
After the early dismissal of Shikhar, Ishan went on a rampage, posting a memorable 210 runs of 131 balls, which included 24 fours and 10 sixes. His performance was highlighted by a fifty off 49 balls and a century off 85 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes).
Following Ishan's dismissal, Virat also brought up a memorable century of his own, his 44th in ODIs.
Eventually, India ended up on 409 for eight in 50 overs.
Read more: BAN vs IND: Ishan Kishan registers remarkable double-century
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan bagged two wickets each.
BAN vs IND: Ishan Kishan registers remarkable double-century
Ishan Kishan, the left-handed Indian batter, achieved a historic milestone today in Chattogram by registering his first-ever century in an ODI match against Bangladesh and converting it to an impressive double-century. His record-breaking feat put India firmly in control of the third game of the three-match ODI series.
Ishan was called upon to take the place of Rohit Sharma in the playing XI for this match, following Sharma's injury in the previous match in Dhaka, which ultimately ruled him out of the series.
The 24-year-old Ishan opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. However, the latter fell to Mehidy Hasan Miraz soon after Bangladesh successfully reviewed an umpiring decision in their favor.
Read more: Bangladesh win toss, opt to bowl first in 3rd ODI vs India
In response to the early loss of Dhawan, Ishan and Indian batting legend Virat Kohli then combined to engineer a record-breaking partnership of 290 runs for the second wicket - the second-highest partnership in ODIs in Bangladesh after the 292-run stand of Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal.
The 290-run partnership of Ishan and Virat surpassed the 282-run stand between Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock in Kimberley in 2017 to become the highest ODI partnershipagainst Bangladesh.
After the early dismissal of Shikhar, Ishan went on a rampage, posting a memorable 210 runs of 131 balls, which included 24 fours and 10 sixes. His performance was highlighted by a fifty off 49 balls and a century off 85 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes).
Following Ishan's dismissal, Virat also brought up a memorable century of his own, his 44th in ODIs, with India racking up 339 for three after 40 overs, with Virat unbeaten at 112 off 89 balls.
Bangladesh win toss, opt to bowl first in 3rd ODI vs India
Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl first in the third ODI of the three-match series against India, today (December 10, 2022) in Chattogram.Tigers made two changes to their playing XI, with Taskin Ahmed and Yasir Ali taking the places of Nasum Ahmed and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
India also made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Ishan Kishan and Kuldeep Sen to replace the injured Rohit Sharma and Deepak Chahar.
Bangladesh won the first two matches of the series, which took place in Dhaka. Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred in both matches, batting brilliantly to guide Bangladesh to their second series victory over India in the format.
Read more: Tigers aim for a clean sweep over India
While Bangladesh are gunning for a rare clean sweep over India, the visitors are hoping to salvage a victory ahead of the Test series starting from December 14 at the same venue.
Bangladesh (Playing XI) in the BAN vs IND 3rd ODI
Anamul Haque, Litton Das(c), Yasir Ali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed
India (Playing XI) in the BAN vs IND 3rd ODI
Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w/c), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik.
Read More: Career, Performance of Miraz: An Emerging Star of Bangladeshi Cricket
Neymar ties Pelé's record but loses again at World Cup
Neymar walked off the field with teammate Dani Alves by his side, tears still rolling down the Brazil forward's cheeks.
Other players had already tried to console Neymar as he cried while sitting near midfield, head down, hiding his face.
There wasn't much they could say to get the team's biggest star to lift his head up.
Again there was disappointment instead of joy at the end of a World Cup for Neymar. Again he couldn't lead Brazil to a major title.
It was his third failure at a World Cup, and his only triumphs with the national team are the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when Brazil won its first gold medal in soccer.
Neymar said it wasn't the time to talk about his future with the national team.
Read more: Croatia end Brazil's dream of 6th World Cup
“Honestly, I don't know what's going to happen. It's hard to talk about it right now,” he said. “It would be too hasty to come here and say that this is it, but I can't guarantee anything. I have to take some time to think about it. I'm not closing any doors to the Seleção, but I'm also not saying 100% that I want to be back."
Neymar scored Friday to move level with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals, but the Seleção ended up losing to Croatia 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals after the match finished 1-1 after extra time.
Neymar never had a chance to take a penalty after Rodrygo and Marquinhos missed their spot kicks.
“He would have taken the fifth penalty,” Brazil coach Tite said. “That's the one with the most pressure, and he would be the player with the most quality and mental preparedness to take the shot.”
Neymar scored his goal in extra time with a right-footed shot after getting through the defense and dribbling past the Croatia goalkeeper to match Pelé’s record. He entered the tournament two goals shy of the milestone, and scored his 76th in the round of 16 against South Korea after returning from an ankle injury.
The 82-year-old Pelé showed his support to Neymar from his hospital bed in Brazil, where he was improving while being treated for a respiratory infection that was aggravated by COVID-19.
“I saw you grow, I cheered for you every day and I can finally congratulate you for reaching my number of goals with Brazil. We both know that this is more than a figure,” he wrote on Instagram. “Our biggest duty as athletes is to inspire. Inspire our teammates of today, the next generations and, above all, everyone who loves our sport.
“Unfortunately, this is not the happiest day for us,” Pelé added. “My record was set almost 50 years ago, and nobody had managed to get near it until now. You got there, kid. That shows how great your achievement is.”
Brazil was close to returning to the semifinals for the first time since 2014, but instead Neymar looked in anguish from midfield as Croatia substitute Bruno Petkovic equalized in the 117th minute.
Neymar also didn't play in the last four of the tournament that Brazil hosted eight years ago. He suffered a serious back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia and then saw his teammates lose 7-1 to Germany.
The 30-year-old Neymar scored his 77 goals in 124 matches for Brazil. Pelé’s goals came in 92 appearances with the national team between 1957 and 1971.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, is third on the list with 62 goals in 98 matches.
Pelé won three World Cups, including when he was 17 years old in the 1958 tournament. He also helped Brazil win the World Cup in 1962 and 1970.
Read more: Neymar ties Pelé’s all-time record with Brazil at World Cup
Neymar first played for Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010. He is the only other Brazil player other than Pelé and Ronaldo to score in three different World Cups.
Neymar damaged ligaments in his ankle in Brazil’s opening win against Serbia, and his participation in the rest of the tournament was in doubt because of the injury. He made it back to the starting lineup after missing two group games, and played about 80 minutes in Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea on Monday.
The forward has had right ankle problems in the past, being among a series of injuries since the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Another right ankle sprain forced him to miss the 2019 Copa América, which Brazil won.