Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo gambles on World Cup to restore reputation
Not for the first time, Cristiano Ronaldo is trusting himself to deliver on the big stage.
A man of seemingly boundless self-belief is struggling to accept the effects of age and banking on the World Cup to launch a glorious final act to his remarkable career.
His explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week has set the stage for a make-or-break few weeks for the 37-year-old Portugal forward and left him with little room to maneuver if it goes wrong.
It's quite the gamble. But for Ronaldo, who has written his own story in a trophy-laden career, it's unlikely failure has even been considered.
He has very deliberately ensured the focus is on him in Qatar by waging a public war with Manchester United and putting himself on the market.
The question is whether it is a case of self-belief or self-delusion.
Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over
On the evidence of his performances on the field this season, reality has hit him hard. The burst of speed appears to have gone. The energy levels are not the same. And, perhaps most shockingly, that cutting edge just isn't there.
Of United's 21 games this season, Ronaldo has been involved in 16 of them and scored only three goals.
Two of those goals were against Moldovan club Sheriff FC in the Europa League — one a penalty. The other was a winner against Everton and marked the 700th of his club career.
Despite the milestone he achieved with that goal in the Premier League, those statistics provide little in the way of evidence that he is about to make an emphatic statement at the World Cup. But to hear him in that interview, it's clear Ronaldo believes he has been underused and ill-deployed by United manager Erik ten Hag.
The World Cup is his chance to prove that point, because if he carries his club form into the tournament it's hard to know where he will turn up next.
Even on the back of 24 goals last season he couldn't secure a move to one of Europe's leading clubs and there is little to suggest the picture has changed now. His willingness to call out his manager, owners and other players on international TV might make it hard for Ronaldo to attract suitors when the January transfer window opens.
Whether a challenge for the Golden Boot as top scorer in Qatar and a deep run for Portugal would change that remains to be seen. But it is surely his only chance of prolonging his career in elite soccer.
“Maybe it’s good for Manchester and probably is good for me as well to have a new chapter,” he told TalkTV.
The Premier League club responded by saying it had “initiated appropriate steps” following his actions. The termination of his contract is a possible outcome.
Even as a free agent, Ronaldo's reported salary of about 500,000 pounds ($590,000) per week presents a considerable hurdle for other interested clubs. That's why it's so important for him to provide evidence he can still deliver at the highest level.
Yet Ronaldo's off-field actions have proved more noteworthy. None more so than that interview with Morgan, where he came across as a grumpy old man blaming just about everyone else for his failure to make himself the centerpoint of a team — and possibly a sport — that is moving forward without him.
“It’s the new coaches that are coming around," he said. “They think they find the last Coca-Cola in the desert.”
Read more: Will Ronaldo return to Manchester United following the controversial interview?
That analogy only fed the impression that he — a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who has won five Champions League titles and seven league titles in three different countries — is increasingly a player who is out of touch with the modern game.
Canada enters 1st World Cup in 36 years plagued by injuries
Canada coach John Herdman spoke of the thrill that striker Alphonso Davies felt arriving this week in Doha — Canada’s first appearance in the World Cup in 36 years.
“He’s really excited,” Herdman said Saturday with Canada opening next week against Belgium. “Who wouldn’t be when you see an 80-foot poster of yourself when you are driving into your hotel.”
But some of the thrill is already gone for Davies and Canada. The poster might even be false advertising if Davies can’t take the field.
Bayern Munich’s rising star and Canada’s best player may not be able to play against Belgium, nursing a hamstring injury that has kept him out of recent World Cup warmups.
Herdman said Davies was “still building toward top speed. But he hasn’t hit that top speed yet.”
“When you have hamstring injuries, there’s always the key moment,” Herdman added. “That’s when the hamstring is pushed, pushed to its limits.”
Herdman didn’t say it flat out, but hinted that he’s leaning toward keeping him out against Belgium, hoping he heals for matches against Morocco and Croatia in Group F.
The top two teams in each of the eight groups advance to the knockout round of 16.
Read more: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup
Herdman said Belgium was probably the best team that Canada has faced since playing Brazil more than a decade ago. “We’ve got to get this one right because it could be a long tournament for Canada,” Herdman said, meaning Canada might surprise and survive the group stage. “And that’s the last thing I want is for Alphonso to miss this.”
Having Davies injured is bad enough. But two other top Canadian players are also questionable with injuries: playmaking midfielder Stephen Eustaquio and No. 1 goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
Some would say they’re Canada’s top three players.
Eustaquio has an unspecified injury, and Borjan complained of abdominal pain in Canada’s 2-1 victory over Japan on Thursday in a friendly in Dubai. Borjan was held out of training on Saturday.
Read more: 5 Host Cities of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: A Travel Guide
“That’s the life of a coach,” Herdman said. “I mean, it’s bleak on one side but it’s opportunity on the other.”
This is nothing new for the Canadians, who finished first in qualifying from the CONCACAF region despite repeated injuries to top players. Despite it all, Canada beat Mexico 2-1 on home soil, and drew 1-1 in Mexico City’s treacherous Aztec stadium.
Canada also defeated the United States 2-0 and home in qualifying, and drew 1-1 in Nashville.
“We played multiple games without Alphonso Davies during qualifying and we did really well,” Canada midfielder Samuel Piette said. “We don’t want to miss these guys. We want these guys on the pitch. But at the same time, it’s who’s ready to answer the call.”
Piette repeated what Herdman and other players have mentioned — the little chip that Canadian players have on the their shoulders.
“We want to shock the world and show that Canada is a serious football country, and a serious team,” Piette said. “And hopefully we start on the right foot against Belgium.”
Italian referee Orsato to officiate World Cup opener
Italian referee Daniele Orsato was chosen Friday to handle the opening game of the World Cup.
FIFA picked Orsato for Sunday’s match between host Qatar and Ecuador, describing him as “one of Europe’s most experienced referees.” He turns 47 on Wednesday.
Until 2016, FIFA imposed a mandatory age limit of 45 on match officials for international games.
Read: Amid all its controversies, can football win the day in Qatar?
Orsato, who was a video review official at the last World Cup, refereed the 2020 Champions League final when Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0. He worked three games at last year’s European Championship, which was won by his home country.
Italian referees have one of the best reputations in the modern era of World Cups, handling two of the past five finals.
FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina officiated the 2002 final and Nicola Rizzoli was picked for the 2014 final.
Women's football: Bashundhara Kings, Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College earn comfortable wins
Bashundhara Kings and Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College Sporting Club earned comfortable wins in the Bashundhara Group Women's Football League 2022 at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Saturday.
In the day's first match, Ataur Rahman Bhuyan College Sporting Club earned a 12-0 victory over Farashganj Sporting Club.
Mirona made a hat-trick, scoring three goals. Aklima struck two while Swapna, Mahfuza, Onnoti, Kohati and Afeida scored one each for the winners.
Read: Women's Football: Sagorika's hattrick guides FC Brahmanbaria to beat Farashganj SC 4-0
Moni Das and Somali scored an own goal each to pour more misery on Farashganj.
In the day's other match, Bashundhara Kings crushed Siraj Smriti Sangsad 7-0.
Sirat Jahan Swapna and Sumaiya struck two goals each while Ritu Porna, Shamsunnahar Jr and Krishna Rani Sarkar scored one each for the Kings.
Independence Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani, Muktijoddha make quarterfinals
Dhaka Abahani and Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira reached the quarterfinals of the new season's curtain raiser football tournament, the Bashundhara Group Independence Cup 2022 from Group C Saturday.
Coming from behind, Dhaka Abahani beat Bangladesh Air Force 3-1 at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj today.
Dhaka Abahani, who beat Uttara Football Club 2-0 in their first match, will play Muktijoddha Sangsad in the last group match on Wednesday to be group champions.
Read: Women's Football: Sagorika's hattrick guides FC Brahmanbaria to beat Farashganj SC 4-0
In the day's match, Sumon Reza scored first for Air Force in the 11th minute. Midfielder Meraj Hossain Opi equalised for the Sky Blue Brigade in the 18th minute (1-1).
Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres, who played at the Russian World Cup, put Abahani ahead in the 32nd minute (2-1). Brazilian forward Getterson Alves Santos sealed the fate of the match, scoring the third goal for Abahani (3-1).
In the day's other match, Muktijoddha also booked a quarterfinal berth beating Uttara Football Club 3-0 at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
Sojib, Soma and Rashed scored one each for the freedom fighters' team, who dominated the first half 1-0.
Amid all its controversies, can football win the day in Qatar?
The FIFA World Cup 2022, the biggest football carnival on earth, begins on Sunday (November 20) in the Arabian gulf nation Qatar, for the first time in the Middle-East, with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador in the opening match.
The opening match will kick-off at 10 pm Bangladesh Time at the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor city after a gala opening ceremony, will begin at 9 pm Bangladesh Time.
South Korean K-Pop group member Jung Kook, Indian actress and dancer Nora Fatei, American band group Black Eyed Pear, Colombian singer J Baivin, Nigerian musician Patrick Nnaemeka American rapper Lil Baby and Colombian famed singer Sakira are expected to perform in the opening ceremony, although the organizers revealed the name of the performers.
A total of 32 leading football countries from all over the world, split into 8 four-team eight groups, will initially compete in the greatest show on earth, amid huge enthusiasm from soccer crazy fans across the globe as well as Bangladeshi fans.
Thirty one nations from 211 FIFA member countries, from six continental confederations, qualified for the main event of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 while Qatar automatically qualified for the heavyweight soccer meet as the host country.
Among the 32 participating nations, 13 came from Europe, 6 from Asia, 5 from the CAF, and 4 each from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.
Grouping are:
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and NetherlandsGroup B: England, IR Iran, USA and WalesGroup C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, PolandGroup D: France, Australia, Denmark and TunisiaGroup E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany and JapanGroup F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco and CroatiaGroup G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and CameroonGroup H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and Korea Republic
The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the round of 16 phase.
The matches will be held at eight stadiums in five major locAs in Qatar and all the venues are air-conditioned where cooling systems have been installed to reduce temperature within the stadium up to 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
The five cities where the matches of the tournament will take place are Lusail, Al Khor, Doha, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah. Here are the eight stadiums for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The World Cup venues are: Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail City (Capacity: 80,000): Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor City (Capacity: 60,000), Stadium 974, Doha City,(Capacity: 40,000), Al Thumama Stadium, Doha City (Capacity: 40,000), Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan City (Capacity: 45,416), Education City Stadium (Al Rayyan City (Capacity: 45,350), Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Wakrah City, (Capacity: 44,740 ), and Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah City (Capacity: 40,000).
The group stage matches will be held from November 20 to December 2. The Round of 16 phase will be held from December 3-7. The quarterfinals will take place on December 9-11, the two semifinals on December 14 and 15 and the final match will be held on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage fixtures for the first week (in Bangladesh Standard Time).
Match 1: Qatar vs Ecuador | Date: November 20 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 2: England vs Iran | Date: November 21 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 3: Senegal vs Netherlands | Date: November 21 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 4: United States vs Wales | Date: November 22 | Time: 1 a.m. (BST)
Match 5: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | Date: November 22 | Time: 4 p.m. (BST)
Match 6: Denmark vs Tunisia | Date: November 22 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 7: Mexico vs Poland | Date: November 22 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 8: France vs Australia | Date: November 23 | Time: 1 a.m. (BST)
Match 9: Morocco vs Croatia | Date: November 23 | Time: 4 p.m. (BST)
Match 10: Germany vs Japan | Date: November 23 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 11: Spain vs Costa Rica | Date: November 23 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 12: Belgium vs Canada | Date: November 24 | Time: 1 a.m. (BST)
Match 13: Switzerland vs Cameroon | Date: November 24 | Time: 4 p.m. (BST)
Match 14: Uruguay vs Korea Republic | Date: November 24 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 15: Portugal vs Ghana | Date: November 24 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 16: Brazil vs Serbia | Date: November 25 | Time: 1 a.m. (BST)
Match 17: Wales vs Iran | Date: November 25 | Time: 4 p.m. (BST)
Match 18: Qatar vs Senegal | Date: November 25 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 19: Netherlands vs Ecuador | Date: November 25 | Time: 10 p.m. (BST)
Match 20: United States vs England | Date: November 26 | Time: 1 a.m. (BST)
Match 21: Australia vs Tunisia | Date: November 26 | Time: 4 p.m. (BST)
Match 22: Poland vs Saudi Arabia | Date: November 26 | Time: 7 p.m. (BST)
Match 23: France vs Denmark | Date: November 26 | Time: 10 p.
Moral double standard behind World Cup critics: Infantino
FIFA president Gianni Infantino targeted European critics of World Cup host Qatar on Saturday and suggested a moral double standard in his home continent.
Infantino listed Europe’s problems on the eve of Qatar kicking off its home tournament that has been dogged for years by criticism of the emirate’s record on human rights and treatment of migrant workers who built stadiums and infrastructure.
“What we Europeans have been doing for the past 3,000 years we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before we start giving moral lessons to people,” Infantino said to hundreds of international media.
Read: Can Messi and Ronaldo face each other in Qatar World Cup final?
He said Qatar and capital city Doha will be ready to host the “best World Cup ever.”
“Today I feel Qatari,” Infantino said. “Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel a migrant worker.”
Infantino related the criticism to bullying and discrimination he said he experienced as a child of Italian parents who moved to work in Switzerland.
He said European nations now closed its borders to immigrants who wanted to work there, whereas Qatar had offered opportunities to workers from India, Bangladesh and other southeast Asian nations through legal channels.
Read: Qatar World Cup: No alcohol sales permitted at stadiums
Migrant laborers who built Qatar’s World Cup stadiums often worked long hours under harsh conditions and were subjected to discrimination, wage theft and other abuses as their employers evaded accountability, London-based rights group Equidem said in a 75-page report released this month.
Under heavy international scrutiny, Qatar has enacted a number of labor reforms in recent years that have been praised by Equidem and other rights groups. But advocates say abuses are still widespread and that workers have few avenues for redress.
“What has been put on the table in the past few months is something quite incredible,” the FIFA leader said of criticism of Qatar from Western media.
Can Messi and Ronaldo face each other in Qatar World Cup final?
With some world-class superstars in the squad, Argentina and Portugal are two of the favourites for Qatar 2022. If some outcomes play out as expected, both teams may even face off in the final. If that happens, football fans can witness a final where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo compete to win the World Cup for their respective countries. Let's explore the possibility of Argentina and Portugal facing off in the Qatar World Cup 2022 final.
How Argentina and Portugal can compete in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final
Fans are currently arguing over which teams will fare better in the FIFA World Cup 2022. A large part of them wants Argentina and Portugal to play in the final. Naturally, the main reason for this desire is to see the two superstars of football, Messi and Ronaldo, fight in the final for their respective teams to win the World Cup.
Read More: Who Will Perform in Qatar World Cup Opening Ceremony?
A few days ago, Lionel Messi said that Qatar 2022 would be his last World Cup. On the other hand, Ronaldo recently said in an interview that he would retire happily if he could win the World Cup for Portugal. So football lovers want to witness these two greatest players square off in one final match.
A possible scenario of the Qatar World Cup groups shows that a final between Argentina and Portugal is very much possible. But in that case, both teams have to finish atop their respective groups and then reach the finals by winning the knockout stage matches. Here’s how both Argentina and Portugal can play the Qatar World Cup 2022 final on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Argentina’s route to the FIFA World Cup 2022 final
Lionel Messi’s Argentina will play in Group C. The opponents they will face in the group stage are Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. The Argentine side is way stronger than their group phase counterparts. They expected to win all three matches in their group and finish at the top of the points standings.If Argentina win their group, they will face the winner of Group D, which will most likely be either Denmark or France. The Albiceleste could well face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the semifinals, given the early predictions. If Argentina overcome all obstacles in the knockout rounds, they will face Portugal in the final.
Read More: Portugal Squad Analysis for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Portugal’s route to the FIFA World Cup 2022 final
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will play in Group H, which is considered the death group by many experts. They will take on Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea in this group to earn a place in the Round of 16. Portugal will have to top their group to meet Argentina in the final.
If the Portuguese side finish top in their group phase points table, they will likely face the runner-up of group G, which could be Serbia, Switzerland, or Cameroon. Portugal’s next opponent could very well be either Belgium, Croatia, Spain, or Germany in the quarterfinal. Their semifinal opponent then could be France, England, or Denmark. The Portuguese side will meet Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final if they overcome all the hurdles in the knockout stage.
Bottom Line
Many fans envision Messi and Ronaldo competing against one another for their respective nations in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final. According to the brackets for the group stage and knockout rounds, Argentina and Portugal could face each other in the championship game. But in that case, both teams must be at their absolute peak from the start of the competition and finish first in their respective groups.
Read More: Argentina Squad analysis for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
WHO: Digital app released to boost physical activity, help get children moving
On the eve of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar and FIFA have launched a new digital app designed to help increase physical activity and improve the health and wellbeing of millions of young people.
GenMove, Season1 is a games app that uses advanced movement tracking combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to provide 8–15-year-olds with a vigorous video game experience.
The games call for a range of different movements that develop different physical skills and are suitable for children with all levels of fitness.
WHO recommends all children and adolescents get an average of 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per day, including activities that strengthen muscles and bones at least 3 times a week, according to a message received here from Doha, Qatar on Saturday.
Yet, more than 80% of adolescents do not meet these recommendations and it is estimated that children and adolescents can spend more than 8 hours of their waking day being sedentary and inactive, a behaviour associated with poor fitness, weight gain and reduced sleep. The app is hoped to spur many similar initiatives to get children more active around the world.
“Regular physical activity has major, lifelong benefits for physical and mental health, and is essential for the healthy development of children,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“WHO is proud to launch GenMove Season1 app with Qatar today. This kind of digital innovation can be powerful tool to reach young people and get them moving, especially children who might not play sports regularly.”
The app is launched today by Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health of Qatar, at the Walk the Talk - Health for All Challenge being held for the first time in the country.
The 3- and 5-kilometre walks are being organized to engage people of all ages and abilities, and to promote the benefits of physical activity.
“Qatar is proud to launch this important innovation for children on eve of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™,” said Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari.
“We are committed to doing as much as possible to increase physical activity and build the health of young people here in Qatar and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted so hard on young people – limiting physical education and school sports – so it is vital we invest in promoting physical activity and leverage digital technologies to provide new and fun ways to be active.”
GenMove games are built around popular sports such as football and involve actions such as jumping, reaching and kicking to build kids’ confidence and enjoyment of moving.
The games can be played inside or outside and need only a mobile phone or tablet (IOS or Android) and a small space to get children active.
Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion and Brazil’s national goalkeeper, said: “I love GenMove. Technology opens the world for everybody, but sometimes it can make you stay seated for too much time. So, the GenMove platform helps you with that. At the same time, you can have fun with your kids, or themselves alone, and be doing something healthy.”
“The cost to the public health care systems of physical inactivity is very high,” says Dr Fiona Bull, head of the Physical Activity Unit at WHO. “Therefore, getting children to enjoy being active and build habits into every day is critical to preventing future noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes and many cancers.”
GenMove is being teamed up with a complementary football themed FIFA campaign – “Bring the Moves” – which encourages young people to share their goal-celebration moves online and generate a following of active young people throughout the World Cup.
Glory brought to Bangladesh by women athletes changing public attitude, speakers say
The glory that young women athletes brought to the country in recent times has encouraged more girls to join sports and is bringing about a gradual change in attitude towards female Bangladeshi players, speakers were of the view.
They said there should be more patronage for women in sports, more resources allocated at the national level, and the media can also play an important role in ensuring gender equality.
Read: Imranur first Bangladeshi athlete to reach 2nd round of World Athletics Champs
Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Deputy Head of Delegation Dr Bernd Spanier, Vice Chancellor of American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Prof Dr Farheen Hassan, National footballer Rupa Akther and National shooter Ardina Ferdous, Associate Dean, AIUB Dr ABM Rahmatullah, and Laetitia Weibel Roberts and Maurice Len Brooks from International Labour Organization recently joined two separate discussions on sports and diplomacy and the dark side of World Cup 2022.
“Brilliant to meet members of Bangladesh women’s football team and shooting champions,” Ambassador Whiteley tweeted.