Football
Fifco World Corporate Champions Cup runners-up Bando gets warm reception from BGMEA
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) accorded warm reception to one of its members, Bando Design, for becoming runners-up in the Fifco World Corporate Champions Cup Football 2022.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan handed over a crest to Bando Design captain Md Imranur Rahman and his team at a reception programme in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Sixteen teams from as many countries split into four groups took part in the competition held in the UAE's Dubai. Bando represented Bangladesh at the event.
Faruque congratulated Bando on their achievement, saying the feat would brighten the image of Bangladesh internationally.
Read more: BGMEA Cup 2022 final on November 11
FIFA World Cup 2022: All you need to know about Qatar's laws, customs
Over a million sports fans will go to Qatar for the World Cup in November and December, a spectacle that typically turns host countries into a nonstop party. But this year may be different.
The tiny, conservative Muslim nation may show little tolerance for the booze-fueled hooliganism that has unfolded at tournaments past.
Qatar has sought to portray itself as welcoming to foreigners but traditional Muslim values remain strong in the hereditarily ruled emirate. Qatar’s judicial system, based on an interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, has drawn Western criticism for its tendency to favor prosecutors and police.
The autocratic country says it will loosen up for the unprecedented influx of tourists. But fans attending the World Cup should be mindful of Qatar’s laws and cultural customs, including policies for alcohol, drugs, sexuality and dress code.
Read: Qatar 2022: European nations still raising human rights concerns with FIFA
Here’s a look at the some of them:
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is served only in hotel restaurants and bars that have licenses in Qatar. It is illegal to consume it elsewhere. Non-Muslim residents of Doha who have a liquor license, however, may drink at home. At the World Cup, fans will be allowed to buy Budweiser beer within stadium compounds — though not at concourse concession stands — before and after games. Fans can also drink in the evenings at a designated “fan zone” in downtown Doha. Generally in Qatar, public drunkenness is punishable by hefty fines and jailing. But the head of Qatar’s security operations has said that during the tournament, police will turn a blind eye to most offenses but potentially make arrests if someone gets into a drunken brawl or damages public property. The legal drinking age is 21, and bouncers at bars often ask for photo ID or passports upon entry.
DRUGS
Qatar is one of the world’s most restrictive nations when it comes to drugs, prohibiting cannabis and even over-the-counter medications like narcotics, sedatives and amphetamines. The sale, trafficking and possession of illegal drugs may lead to severe penalties, including long-term prison sentences followed by deportation and heavy fines. Drug smuggling charges can carry the death penalty. World Cup fans should be aware of these laws when arriving at Hamad International Airport, where authorities scan bags and passengers with new security technology and have arrested those carrying the smallest quantities of drugs.
SEXUALITY
Qatar considers the cohabitation of unmarried women and men a crime, using so-called indecency laws to punish extramarital sex. However, authorities say unmarried couples can share hotel rooms during the World Cup without issue. On the streets, public displays of affection are “frowned upon,” the government tourism website says. Holding hands won’t land you in jail, but visitors should avoid showing intimacy in public. Qatari law calls for a prison sentence of one to three years for adults convicted of consensual gay or lesbian sex. Crossdressing is also criminalized. World Cup organizers have told The Associated Press that anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, can come “without fear of any sort of repercussions.” But one official warned rainbow flags could be confiscated to protect fans from being attacked for promoting gay rights in a region where discrimination runs rampant.
Read: Fans without tickets can enter Qatar after World Cup group stage
DRESS CODE
Qatar’s government tourism website urges men and women to “show respect for local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothing in public.” It asks visitors to cover their shoulders and knees. Those in shorts and sleeveless tops may be turned away from government buildings and malls. Women visiting mosques in the city will receive scarves to cover their heads. It’s a different story in hotels, where bikinis are common at hotel pools.
CAUSING OFFENSE
Flashing the middle finger or swearing, particularly when dealing with police or other authorities, can lead to arrest. Most criminal cases in Qatar that entrap unwary foreigners involve such offenses. Many Qatari women and men will not shake hands with the opposite sex; wait for a hand to be offered. Filming and photographing people without their consent, as well as taking pictures of sensitive military or religious sites, may result in prosecution. It’s also important to tread carefully when discussing religion and politics with locals. Insulting the royal family can land you in prison. Few Qataris are likely to welcome criticism of their governance system from a tourist. Spreading fake news and harming the country’s interests is a serious and vaguely defined crime, so it’s best to steer clear of social media commentary on Qatar.
Qatar 2022: European nations still raising human rights concerns with FIFA
European nations, including England, are pushing FIFA for “concrete answers” on issues relating to migrant workers ahead of the World Cup.
The 10 nations speaking Sunday include eight with World Cup-bound teams that have committed to captains wearing One Love armbands in breach of FIFA-written rules.
Read: Rights groups fear for workers as Qatar World Cup spotlight dims
UEFA Working Group on Human and Labour Rights is pressing for a definitive response regarding a compensation fund for workers and the concept of a migrant workers center in Doha.
In a joint statement it welcomed assurances from the Qatari Government and FIFA regarding the safety of fans at the World Cup, including LGBTQ+ supporters.
But it underlined its ongoing commitment to migrant workers ahead of the tournament.
Indy Cup Football: Navy reach final round eliminating Army
Bangladesh Navy reached the final round of the Independence Cup Football 2022, eliminating Bangladesh Army by 4-3 in a tie breaker at the Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Sunday.
The last qualifying round match between two teams was locked at 2-2 goals in the stipulated period.
In the scheduled time,Mizanur put Bangladesh Army ahead in the 27th minute (1-0) while Habibur leveled the margin for the sailors team in the 36th minute (1-1).
Bangladesh Army again took lead in the stoppage time of the first half (45+3 minute) by a goal from Morsalin (2-1) while Raja again neutralized the margin in the 75th minute (2-2).
The 16-team final round of the meet will be held on November 13 to December 5 at three venues across the country--Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj, Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj and Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Bangladesh Navy in the inaugural match on November 13 in Munshiganj while Sheikh Russel KC will encounter Fortis Football Club in the other opening day's fixture in Cumilla.
Participating teams are: Group A - Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russel KC, Fortis Football Club and Bangladesh Navy
Group B- Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani, Azampur Football Club and Youngmens' Club Fakirerpool.
Group C- Dhaka Abahani Limited, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Uttara Football Club and Bangladesh Air Force
Group D- Sheikh Jamal DC, Bangladesh Police FC, Rahmatganj MFS and BFF Elite Football Academy.
Rights groups fear for workers as Qatar World Cup spotlight dims
With just days to go before Qatar hosts the World Cup, rights groups fear that a window for addressing the widespread exploitation of foreign workers could soon close.
The long run-up to this month’s World Cup has brought unprecedented scrutiny to the treatment of the millions of foreign workers in the Gulf Arab nation who built stadiums and other infrastructure, and who will staff hotels and sweep the streets during the world’s biggest sporting event.
In the face of heavy international criticism, Qatar has enacted a raft of reforms in recent years, including the partial dismantling of a system that tied workers to their employers and enacting a minimum wage — changes praised by the U.N. as well as rights groups.
But activists say abuses ranging from unpaid wages to harsh working conditions in one of the hottest countries on Earth, are still widespread, and that workers — who are barred from forming unions or striking — have few realistic avenues to pursue justice.
They also worry about what happens after the monthlong tournament ends in December, when the international spotlight moves on and employers slash their payrolls.
Qatar says it leads the region in labor reforms and that progress will continue after the World Cup. Officials from the ruling emir on down have lashed out at critics, accusing them of ignoring the reforms and unfairly singling out the first Arab or Muslim nation to host the Cup.
Qatar, like other Gulf countries, relies on millions of foreign workers, who make up a majority of the population and nearly 95% of the labor force — everyone from highly paid corporate executives to construction workers.
Qatar has dismantled much of what is known as the “kafala” system, which tied workers to their employers and made it virtually impossible for them to quit or change jobs without permission. But rights groups say much of that system survives in different, more informal ways.
Read: Qatar's World Cup stadiums won't turn into white elephants
Workers often must pay exorbitant recruitment fees, taking on debt even before they arrive. And employers can still cancel visas or report those who quit for “absconding,” a criminal violation.
“If a migrant worker walks away from a job that hasn’t paid them in several months, there’s just a real risk that they’re not going to get that money back,” said Michael Page, of the New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Equidem, a London-based labor rights group, recently released a lengthy report documenting abuses in more than a dozen World Cup hotels, where it says workers from Africa and Asia face sexual harassment, discrimination, wage theft and health and safety risks.
Ella Knight, a researcher at London-based Amnesty International, says many migrants working as security guards or domestic helpers go months or even years without a day off, despite laws mandating at least one per week.
“Impunity remains a massive problem, so employers are just not being held to account or not being penalized in a way that prevents abuses from being repeated,” she said.
Qatari law bars workers from forming unions or staging protests, and authorities heavily restrict media access to laborers. Police detained at least 60 workers who struck over unpaid wages in August. Last year, two Norwegian reporters were detained while reporting on migrant workers.
Malcolm Bidali, a Kenyan security guard who had anonymously blogged about the plight of workers, was detained for three months — including 28 days in solitary confinement — and fined $6,800 before leaving the country last year.
In an article about his ordeal, he said Qatar’s reforms “look splendid” on paper, but that the reality on the ground is different, with authorities seemingly more keen to silence dissent than penalize abusive employers.
“I can’t help but wonder what’s in store for migrant workers after the World Cup,” he wrote. “If workers still live in horrible conditions, if workers still go months without pay, if workers still can’t freely change jobs, if domestic workers still can’t get justice, what happens when no one’s looking?”
Read: Fans without tickets can enter Qatar after World Cup group stage
Qatar has defended its reforms and says it will continue to safeguard workers’ welfare after the World Cup.
“Qatar has always acknowledged that work remains to be done, notably to hold unscrupulous employers to account — as is the case with any country around the world,” Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attache in the United States, said in a statement. “We are already seeing the number of offences declining year-on-year as compliance increases among employers.”
Labor rights activists say Qatar still owes compensation to those who worked on World Cup infrastructure projects going back to the awarding of the tournament in 2010 — years before the reforms were enacted. Amnesty says authorities failed to investigate the deaths of workers during that period.
Amnesty and other rights groups now urge soccer’s governing body FIFA to establish a $440 million fund — equivalent to the tournament’s total prize money — to compensate workers, an appeal that several federations support. The global soccer body has said it is open to the idea.
Qatar established its own fund in 2018 to compensate workers who are injured on the job or who are not paid, which Al-Ansari said had paid out some $270 million this calendar year alone. He did not comment directly on the calls for a larger remedy fund.
Page, of Human Rights Watch, says the sizable payouts by Qatari authorities, which only cover claims in recent years, show the importance of establishing a larger fund to address the “very serious abuses” that took place in the several years before the reforms were enacted.
“If this is their stance now, in the heat of the spotlight, what is their position going to be — the Qatari authorities — after the World Cup, in terms of reforms and migrant worker protections, when the spotlight is off them? I think that’s really concerning,” he said.
5 rising stars to watch for in FIFA World Cup 2022
The Football World Cup is taking place once again this year, and it's one of the best places for a young player to announce themselves on a bigger stage. The likes of James Rodriguez, Thomas Muller, Lukas Podolski, Lionel Messi, and many other stars previously made the tournament their own, legitimizing their promise for their country. Qatar 2022 should be no different, and many young players will be looking forward to etching their names into folklore following a good tournament showing. Here are 5 rising stars to watch at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Five young stars ready to impact the Qatar World Cup 2022
There are many young players who are ready to rock the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament. Let’s take a look at the five footballers who can shine in the main event.
Read More: Who Stole the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy?
Qatar's World Cup stadiums won't turn into white elephants
One of the World Cup stadiums in Qatar is named after the Persian Gulf country’s international dialing code — 974 — and another is called “Education City.” They’re unusual names that hardly sound like they have links to soccer, and after the tournament many no longer will.
Qatar built seven of its eight lavish World Cup stadiums and heavily renovated another. The smallest World Cup host nation since Switzerland in 1954, Qatar has a population of 2.6 million, with only 360,000 Qatari citizens, and a limited domestic league.
So it’s questionable it needs so many large venues after the tournament, especially after the past three World Cups — in South Africa, Brazil and Russia — exposed several stadiums without long-term use.
At least Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud won’t become a white elephant, since it will disappear. The 40,000-seat arena located port-side just east of Doha was made from recycled shipping containers — 974 of them. The demountable, energy-efficient stadium will make way for a waterfront business development.
But many other stadiums won’t host any more soccer beyond this tournament and next summer’s Asian Cup — for which Qatar won hosting rights after host China withdrew citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only two top-tier teams from the Qatar Stars League — Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah — will play in their glitzy World Cup stadiums.
The majority of this World Cup’s venues will have their capacity diminished from 40,000 to 20,000 post-tournament as part of a sustainability drive. Education City is 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Doha. Half the seats will go and the venue will be used by 8,000 students across nine universities and eleven schools.
What happens those extra 20,000 seats, then?
”(They) will be offered to countries who need sporting infrastructure,” Ali Al Dosari, the stadium’s director of installations, said in a press release. “This will allow the culture of soccer to be promoted and to a greater extent the love of sport throughout the world.”
Qatar pledged to give 170,000 removed seats to developing countries.
A similar fate awaits the tent-shaped Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City, a 60,000-seater hosting the opener between Qatar and Ecuador on Nov. 20 and soon after an eagerly anticipated tussle between England and the United States.
The plan is for the upper tier is to be removed after the tournament, allowing for further recommissioning of seats. A five-star hotel and a shopping center will be incorporated into the stadium building, and a sports medicine hospital will open.
Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Participating countries, venues, full group phase fixtures
Good use of existing infrastructure, no doubt, but hardly leaving a soccer legacy behind. For example, the four extra stadiums built for the 2016 European Championship in France — Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux and Nice — are being used by those club teams for the long term.
With its gold facade and 80,000 capacity, Qatar’s gleaming Lusail Stadium hosts 10 matches, including the final. It’s only 20 kilometers (12.2 miles) from Doha, but no club will call this gleaming vessel home. In keeping with sustainable development, its future lies as a community hub with housing units, shops, schools, cafes and medical clinics. The upper-tier will become outdoor terracing for new homes.
Al Thumama Stadium is another 40,000-seater located close to the center of Doha whose capacity will be halved. The arena will then be used for soccer and other sporting events, although it is not yet clear which. A sports clinic and a hotel will open on site.
CARRY ON PLAYING
The 40,000-capacity Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, located 20 kilometers (12.2 miles) west of Doha in Umm Al Afaei, is home to Al Rayyan in the 12-team QSL; and to second-tier Al-Kharitiyath Sports Club.
The 40,000-seater Al Janoub Stadium, meanwhile, is where France begins its title defense against Australia on Nov. 22.
Al Wakrah will carry on playing matches here in the QSL after the tournament with a reduced capacity of 20,000 — a low attendance for a top-flight team compared to major European and South American leagues.
Khalifa International Stadium near central Doha dates from 1976 and was extensively renovated to hold 40,000 fans. The oft-used stadium has held the Arabian Gulf Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the track and field world championships. “The Khalifa Stadium will continue to host matches and big tournaments,” stadium director Ahmad Al Thani said.
A recent written request by The Associated Press for more comment on the stadium legacies from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was declined.
The SC’s Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi previously said the stadiums all met sustainability benchmarks.
Read more: 5 Host Cities of FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022: A Travel Guide
“We have recycled and reused wherever possible and implemented a vast range of energy and water efficiency solutions,’” he said in a document on the stadiums. “We have used materials from sustainable sources and implemented innovative legacy plans to ensure our tournament doesn’t leave any ’white elephants.’”
So, although post-World Cup soccer legacy itself is likely to be low, it’s unlikely cash-rich Qatar will face similar financial and logistical problems other nations did after misusing public resources.
EXPENSIVE ELEPHANTS
The Montreal Olympic Stadium that hosted the 1976 Olympic Games became known as a famed white elephant that took 30 years to pay off.
Previous soccer World Cup hosts are still shelling out, too.
After South Africa spent $1.1 billion on its 10 stadiums for the 2010 tournament, half of which were new, many were later left unused or underused. This proved highly expensive for city councils left footing the bill and ended up bleeding taxpayer money.
The $600 million Cape Town Stadium offered a spectacular view of Table Mountain, but for a hefty price. It has reportedly cost taxpayers in the region of $3.5 million a year, but legacy problems were partially resolved by sharing with the city’s Stormers rugby team and hosting international rugby games.
Brazil spent nearly $4 billion building and renovating venues for 2014. Four cities in Brazil were left with underused stadiums like the $550 million Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, which even hosted one game with just 400 spectators. The 46,000-capacity Arena Pernambuco in Recife does not have a team.
Russia’s $10.8 billion World Cup price tag was inflated by loss-making arenas with high yearly maintenance. Of the 12 stadiums from 2018, only eight host top-tier matches, generally with tens of thousands of empty seats, except at Zenit St. Petersburg and Spartak Moscow’s stadiums.
HUMAN COST
Qatar has been fiercely criticized for the physical and contractual conditions of workers, mostly from south Asia, needed to build stadiums, metro lines, roads and hotels.
The exact number of migrant workers who have died or were injured working in often extreme heat on projects since FIFA picked Qatar as World Cup host in December 2010 is unclear. Definitive data has been hard to verify or not published by authorities.
Qatar has set up a workers’ support fund which, since 2020, has paid $164 million in compensation to more than 36,000 workers from 17 different countries, Human Rights Watch said in August, citing government data.
SAFF U-15 Women's Champs: Bangladesh suffer 0-1 defeat against Nepal.
Hosts Bangladesh suffered a frustrating 0-1 goal defeat against the Himalayan country Nepal in the three-nation SAFF U-15 Women's Championship 2022 at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on Saturday.
When the match was almost heading for a goalless draw, forward Barsha Oli scored the match-winning goal for Nepal in the 87th minute of the match to the frustration of the home crowd.
Read: Hockey Champions Trophy: Rupayan City beat Mettro Express 4-3 Earlier in the tournament's opener, Bangladesh made a flying start crushing Bhutan by 8-0 goals last Tuesday.
In the double league basis competition, Bangladesh will play Bhutan again on Nov 7 and face Nepal on Nov 11, all at 4:30 pm at the same venue.
Independence Cup Football: Air Force advance to final round
Bangladesh Air Force advanced to the final round of the Independence Cup Football 2022, eliminating Little Friends Club 5-4 in a tie breaker at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Saturday.
The qualifying round match between two teams was drawn 2-2 goals in the stipulated period.
Sumon scored both the goals for Bangladesh Air Force in the 28th and 75th minutes while Rayhan and Yasin scored one each for the Little Friends in the 37th and 66th minutes respectively.
Read more: Independence Cup Football begins Saturday The remaining qualifying round match between Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy will be held on Sunday (November 6) at 2 pm at the Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
The 16-team final round of the meet will be held on November 13 to December 5 at three venues across the country--Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj, Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj and Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play the winners of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy in the inaugural match on November 13 in Munshiganj while Sheikh Russel KC will encounter Fortis Football Club in the other opening day's fixture in Cumilla.
Participating teams are: Group A - Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russel KC, Fortis Football Club. Bangladesh Army/Bangladesh Navy
Group B - Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani, Azampur Football Club and Youngmens' Club Fakirerpool.
Group C - Dhaka Abahani Limited, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Uttara Football Club and Bangladesh Air Force
Group D - Sheikh Jamal DC,Bangladesh Police FC, Rahmatganj MFS and BFF Elite Football Academy.
Qatar 2022: Which 5 footballers are likely making final FIFA World Cup appearances?
The pinnacle of the beautiful game is finally upon us after a grueling wait of more than four years. A lot has changed in football since the last World Cup. Favourite football players continue to get older and are presented with new roles. The limelight is being shifted, and the torch is being passed on. The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be no different. Aging superstars will be looking to turn back time, as for some of them, this will be their swansong. Without further ado, here are five players who will likely be playing their final world cup in Qatar 2022.
Five footballers who will likely play their last FIFA World Cup
A lot has happened in football since the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Fallen giants rise from the ashes, underdogs take the mantle from overbearing odds, and super teams come erringly close to total destruction. Some top players have also experienced transitions due to their advancing age. They could hang up their boots after the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The following five players might make their final appearance at the greatest sporting event on Earth.
Read: Fans without tickets can enter Qatar after World Cup group stage
Lionel Messi
Starting off with the obvious, the greatest living Argentine has already announced that Qatar will be his last World Cup. Despite cries from supporters and teammates, Messi is adamant that he will not be in Argentine colours when the next World Cup in the Americas rolls around.
Considered by most to be the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi recently delivered silverware for Argentina, something that had haunted him since his comparison with the late great Diego Maradona.
Disappointing at Russia 2018, the diminutive Argentine lit up Brazil in 2014, dragging Argentina to the Final, where they lost 1-0 to Germany. Undoubtedly, he'll be looking to go one better in Qatar.
Luka Modric
Speaking of all-time greats, Croatian magician Luka Modric is also set to appear in his final World Cup at the age of 37. The midfield maestro has been in top form for club side Real Madrid, and he will be looking to replicate his performance from the 2018 World Cup, where Croatia surprised everyone to finish as runners up.
Modric has led the midfield charge for the Vatreni for over a decade, with over 154 caps for the Balkan nation. As stated earlier, Zlatko Dalic's men will be looking to continue on from where they left off. In realizing that ambition, Modric will play a major role.
Although no official confirmation has been made by the silky-haired superstar, at 41, it seems like a long shot for Modric. However, judging by the way the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner has looked this season, he could surprise us all.
Gareth Bale
Wales will be making their first world cup appearance in 64 years in Qatar, and they have only one man to thank for that: former Tottenham and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale. Currently plying his trade in MLS, Gareth Bale has been the standout performer for the Dragons, being their top scorer in the world cup qualifiers.
The forward has looked less than impressive in club football over the past four years, but when it comes to the international arena, the Welshman has been a class apart.
Bale has already announced that Qatar 2022 will be his last appearance on the world's biggest stage. With a group featuring England, Iran, and the US, he'll be looking to bring his A game.
Read: How Ecuador built a World Cup squad from scratch
Thiago Silva
Along with eternal rivals Argentina, Brazil have been one of the few teams tipped to have a big impact at the upcoming World Cup, and no doubt, at the heart of their defense is 38-year-old Thiago Silva.
The evergreen center back has turned back time at Stamford Bridge, looking like one of the best defenders in the world's toughest league. Brazil manager Tite will be heavily relying on the veteran if Brazil are to make any progress after their quarterfinal exit in Russia.
Silva will be 42 when the next World Cup comes around. Even the most optimistic of fans would be reluctant to bet on him making an appearance in the Americas in 2026.
Manuel Neuer
Few footballers have had an impact on the modern game as much as Germany's Manuel Neuer. The successor to Oliver Kahn has undoubtedly outshone his predecessor and defined the role of sweeper-keeper with his antics in the mid- to early-2010s.
One of the heroes of Germany's triumph in Brazil in 2014, he was also a villain at Die Mannschaft's shock exit at the hands of South Korea in 2018. This time, however, it will be a final chance at redemption for the 36-year-old.
Neuer has been Germany's No. 1 for more than a decade now, with many talented individuals being forced to play second fiddle to his greatness. However, one can be sure that the torch will finally be passed in 2026.
Read: Players who will be absent from Qatar World Cup including Haaland, Salah
Conclusion
The English proverb goes, "Time and tide await none." Although this is true, in the world of football, we often see time being turned back by sheer greatness on the biggest stage, whether it be Zinedine Zidane in 2006, Miroslav Klose in 2014, or Dino Zoff in 1982. For the players on this list, they are unlikely to participate in another FIFA World Cup after Qatar 2022, their final shot at winning the biggest prize in football. One can only hope that they will be able to dispel the proverb once again.