Football
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.
Fans without tickets can enter Qatar after World Cup group stage
Qatar relaxed limits Thursday on international visitors arriving during the World Cup and will allow entry for fans without tickets from Dec. 2 when the group stage ends.
Fans will still need to apply for and get a Hayya Card tournament identification document before traveling but a match ticket will no longer be mandatory to enter, Qatari World Cup organizers said.
About 1.2 million international visitors are expected to come to the tiny emirate during the month-long tournament with ticket sales approaching 3 million for the 64 games.
Read: How Ecuador built a World Cup squad from scratch
The maximum demand on Qatar’s limited stock of accommodation — including hotels, apartments, hired cruise ships and campsites — is when all 32 teams are competing in the group stage that starts Nov. 20.
Fans are being encouraged to stay in neighboring states and take flights to Doha for games.
The pressure should ease when just 16 nations will advance to the knockout rounds that start Dec. 3. The final is on Dec. 18, which is Qatar’s national day.
Qatar is the smallest World Cup host nation by size since Switzerland in 1954. All eight stadiums built in and around the city of Doha can be reached by metro trains and buses.
How Ecuador built a World Cup squad from scratch
The youth academy fields at Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, a rising force in South American soccer, are in a frenzy. As kids between the ages of 12 and 13 play informal games, older ones practice in short spurts under the supervision of coaches, who tell them to keep their pace and handle the ball with intelligence.
Many coaches at the club work nonstop to polish the talents of each player, and they do it in an environment of strict rules.
About 150 youngsters train at the club’s headquarters in Sangolqui, the second most populous city in the Pichincha province and nicknamed “the heart of the valley.” And it’s where Ecuador’s national soccer team has found a key source of players as the team returns to the World Cup in Qatar after missing the tournament four years ago.
Among the 28 players chosen by Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro for two friendlies in September, 12 had been schooled in the youth divisions at the 64-year-old club that this year won the Copa Sudamericana for the second time. Independiente has been on the rise since 2007, and also played in the Copa Libertadores final in 2016.
Read: Bangladesh to host group matches of U-20 Women's Asian Cup
The club places a priority on education, with many of the players finishing their high school program.
Players like Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié, who is 20, Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo, 21, and Real Valladolid winger Gonzalo Plata, 22, are among them. All three were unknown to Ecuador fans until recently. All three came from Independiente del Valle’s academy.
Alfaro, who was hired by Ecuador in mid-2020 after Jordi Cruyff left without ever coaching the national team in a match, has taken advantage of the star factory at Independiente del Valle. He used players from the club to start his team’s renovation, regardless of the criticism he received for leaving some veterans out of his squad.
“We want a seal of quality, we want this DNA to be not only on the field, but also in our trips, hotels, in their studies,” Independiente sporting director Roberto Arroyo told The Associated Press. “In youth divisions we always want Independiente to be the best-dressed, the most punctual, the one who cleans the dressing room after use.”
Bangladesh to host group matches of U-20 Women's Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Thursday finalised the groupings and fixtures of the two Women's Asian Cup Football tournaments – AFC U-20 and AFC U-17.
The AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in March next year while AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup Football is scheduled for April next year.
Bangladesh will host the three-nation Group H matches of the AFC U-20 Women's Asia Cup Football in March next year. The hosts have been placed in Group H of the qualifying round of the continental women's meet alongside Iran and Turkmenistan.
Iran will play Turkmenistan in the inaugural match on March 8, the venue of which is yet to be announced.
Bangladesh will start their campaign by taking on Turkmenistan on March 10 and play their remaining group match against Iran on March 12.
Read: AFC U-20 Asian Cup: Bangladesh finish on winning note beating Nepal 3-0
Thirty-one Asian countries, split into eight groups, will take part in the competition.
Meanwhile, the grouping of AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup Football scheduled for April next year was also announced Thursday.
Bangladesh have been put in Group D of the Asian junior women's competition along with hosts Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan.
Bangladesh will play the opening match against Turkmenistan on April 26, face the UAE on April 28 and meet hosts Singapore on April 30.
Twenty-nine Asian nations, divided into eight groups, will participate in the competition.
Players who will be absent from Qatar World Cup including Haaland, Salah
Not every football star will be competing at the World Cup.
Some big names will be missing from the tournament in Qatar because of injuries or because their countries didn’t qualify.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
The 22-year-old Haaland has had a phenomenal start in his first season at Manchester City with 17 goals in his first 11 Premier League appearances, but Norway failed to beat the Netherlands in the team’s final qualifying game in Group G. Haaland, who had scored in the 1-1 draw when they met in Oslo, missed the decisive game because of an injury. The Dutch qualified as group winners with a 2-0 victory, while Norway was left in third place. Haaland has 21 goals in 23 games for Norway but he has to wait until at least 2026 for his country to reach its first World Cup since 1998.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Salah, who won the Golden Boot as the Premier League’s top scorer alongside Son Heung-min last season, missed a penalty against Senegal in the shootout that eliminated Egypt from the World Cup playoffs. Salah blasted his attempt over the crossbar and former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mané kicked the winner for his team’s 3-1 victory. It was a repeat of Senegal’s win on penalties in the African Cup of Nations final the month before. This season, Salah has scored four goals in his first 12 matches as Liverpool has struggled for wins.
Read more: Which Countries have Won FIFA Football World Cup Trophy?
Paul Pogba (France)
Paul Pogba was ruled out of the tournament this week because of ongoing right knee problems. The 29-year-old Pogba played a vital part in France’s World Cup success four years ago but has yet to play a game this season since his last official match in April. After returning to Juventus from Manchester United in the offseason, Pogba tore his meniscus during the Italian club’s preseason tour of the United States in July. He initially decided against having an operation, but then had surgery on his right knee in early September. Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said Monday that he “needs more rehabilitation after his operation.” Pogba has also been mired in an extortion scandal involving his older brother and childhood friends.
N’golo Kante (France)
Kante hasn’t played for his club or his country since August, and Chelsea confirmed last month that the midfielder will miss the tournament while recovering from surgery on a hamstring injury. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best midfielders, Kante played a key role alongside Pogba in France’s run to the 2018 title. Another France midfielder, Boubacar Kamara, was already ruled out because of an injury.
David Alaba (Austria)
Austria didn’t qualify for the World Cup after losing to Wales in the playoffs. Gareth Bale scored two goals in the 2-1 victory that ended his Real Madrid teammate’s hopes of appearing at fooball’s biggest tournament for the first time. The 30-year-old Alaba, who joined Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2021, captained Austria at last year’s European Championship, where the team lost to eventual champion Italy in the round of 16.
Luis Díaz (Colombia)
Díaz’s World Cup hopes were over even before he injured his knee while playing for Liverpool because Colombia finished sixth in South American qualifying. The 25-year-old Díaz, who instantly became a Liverpool favourite after his transfer from Porto in January, still hasn’t played at a World Cup. He has scored eight goals in 37 appearances for Colombia. James Rodríguez and “El Tigre” Radamel Falcao will also miss the tournament.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world won’t be at the World Cup after Italy surprisingly failed to qualify for the tournament — again. Donnarumma was the player of the tournament when he helped Italy win Euro 2020, but he was unable to stop Aleksandar Trajkovski’s injury-time winner for North Macedonia in the World Cup playoffs in March. Italy also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Donnarumma, considered the heir to the great Gianluigi Buffon, will get his chance again. Despite already making 49 appearances for Italy, he’s only 23 years old.
Diogo Jota (Portugal)
Jota said “one of my dreams collapsed” when it was confirmed he will miss the World Cup with a calf injury sustained in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Oct. 16. He had already missed the first month of the season because of injury. Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp said Jota faced “months” to recover. Portugal teammate Pedro Neto is also out after sustaining an ankle injury while playing with Wolverhampton.
Read more: Qatar World Cup 2022: Viewer's guide
Independence Cup Football begins Saturday
The qualifying round of the Independence Cup Football 2022, organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), will begin Saturday at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
Little Friends Club will play Bangladesh Air Force in the opening match, which will kick off at 2pm.
Bangladesh Army will play Bangladesh Navy in the other match Sunday at 2pam at the Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
Read more: Independence Cup football: Abahani champions once more ending Bashundhara’s run of titles
The 16-team final round of the tournament will be held from November 13 to December 5 at three venues across the country – Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium, Bir Shreshta Matiur Rahman Stadium and Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla.
Participating teams:
Group A – Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Russel KC, Fortis Football Club and winners of November 13
Group B – Bashundhara Kings, Chittagong Abahani, Azampur Football Club and Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool
Read more: Semifinals of Independence Cup Football on Tuesday
Group C – Dhaka Abahani, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Uttara Football Club and winner of November 12
Group D – Sheikh Jamal DC, Bangladesh Police FC, Rahmatganj MFS and BFF Elite Football Academy
Dhaka set to host SAFF U-15 Women's Championship
The three-nation SAFF U-15 Women's Championship 2022 begins here on Tuesday (November 1) at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.
Hosts Bangladesh will play Bhutan in the opening match of the eleven-day meet, with kick-off at 4:30 pm.
In a pre-match press conference at the BFF office on Monday, Bangladesh captain Ruma Akhter and head coach Golam Rabbani Chotan said they wants to be the champions playing good football.
Captain of Bhutanese team Kelden Wangmo and captain of the Nepalese team Dipa Rokaya also expressed their optimism to display their best performances in the meet.
In the double league basis competition, Bangladesh will play Nepal on Nov 5, meet Bhutan again on Nov 7, face Nepal on Nov 11, all at 4:30 pm at the same venue.
The team which obtains maximum number of points will be the champions.
Who Stole the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy?
The Jules Rimet Trophy is an iconic symbol of international football. It was the original prize for winning the FIFA World Cup and was first awarded in 1930. The trophy is named after Jules Rimet, the FIFA President who passed a vote to initiate the competition.
The trophy was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur and made of gold-plated sterling silver on a lapis lazuli base. However, the base was replaced in 1954 to accommodate more winner’s detail and made it taller. The trophy stands 35 centimeters (14 in) high and weighs 3.8 kilograms (8.4 lb). The Jules Rimet comprised a decagonal cup, which was supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory.
The Trophy got stolen in March 1966 prior to the FIFA World Cup 1966, which was recovered eventually.
Read More: Which Countries have Won FIFA Football World Cup Trophy?
Theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy?
On Sunday, March 20, 1966, the Jules Rimet Trophy disappeared from its display cabinet while a Sunday church service was being conducted in another part of the building. However, the thief never touched rare stamps estimated to have been worth over three million Pounds at that time and fled with just the trophy which had been valued at £ 30,0000 (around 3.5 crores in BDT).
On Monday, March 21, Joe Mears, the Chairman of the Football Association, received a ransom note from a person who claimed himself as ‘Jackson.’ Jackson was not about to let this prized possession get away. He demanded 15,000 pounds (more than 17.5 lacs in BDT) for its return and even provided photos as proof of the trophy’s possession in case there were any questions that might arise if he really had it.
The handover was scheduled to take place in front of Stamford Bridge which isis Chelsea’s home stadium.
Read More: Is the FIFA Football World Cup Trophy Made of Solid Gold?
How was the Jules Rimet Football World Cup Trophy Recovered?
An undercover detective posing as ‘Mears’ lured Jackson using scraps of paper and fake money and tried to catch him to lead the detectives to the stolen trophy. However, Jackson fled realizing something was wrong.
Jackson was finally caught after a dramatic pursuit and revealed to be Edward Betchley, the petty thief with prior records. However, he claimed he did not steal it himself but only acted as a middleman for £500 (Nearly 60 thousand in BDT) for a vague individual who referred him to ‘The Pole.’ However, the trophy was not recovered right away. Later Jackson had two years of jail, but the police could never track ‘The Pole.’
The search for the trophy continued. David Corbett, a Thames lighterman (barge operator), went out for a walk with his dog Pickles on March 27, exactly one week after the original theft. The Jules Rimet trophy was discovered when Pickles began to sniff something (a parcel wrapped with old newspaper and tied with string) under the hedge of Corbett’s house. Corbett then opened the parcel and recognized it. After that, he handed it to Gipsy Hill police station.
Read More: Technologies set to amaze at Qatar Football World Cup 2022
Theft of Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy in Brazil
In 1983 the Jules Rimet trophy was again stolen in Brazil. Sérgio Pereira Ayres, a football club agent, and banker was the mastermind of the theft. Additionally, other people were involved. Although the thieves were caught, the Jules Rimet trophy has never been recovered.
Premier League: Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 to go top again
Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
But an injury to Bukayo Saka will be a concern to England head coach Gareth Southgate after the forward was forced off in the 27th minute.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta knew victory would see his team overtake Manchester City at the top of the table and the result never looked in doubt from as early as the fifth minute when Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring.
Reiss Nelson struck two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half, while Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard completed the rout.
Arsenal responded impressively after drawing with Southampton last weekend and losing to PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday.
City's 1-0 win against Leicester on Saturday saw the reigning champions move a point clear at the top. But Arsenal's outstanding start to the campaign continued with its 10th win from 12 matches.
Meanwhile, the match was a dose of reality for Forest, which had beaten Liverpool last week. It started with Martinelli putting Arsenal ahead when stooping to head in a Saka cross.
Saka hobbled off shortly before the half-hour mark after trying to run off an earlier knock.
He was replaced by Nelson, who had a decisive impact, taking centre stage on his first Premier League appearance since the opening-day defeat at Brentford last season.
He doubled the lead with a finish high into Dean Henderson's net in the 49th minute after the England goalkeeper had done well to keep out Nelson's initial effort.
The points were secured just three minutes later. Nelson scored again as he turned home Gabriel Jesus' cross before laying a pass into the path of Partey, who finished superbly from outside the box to make it four in the 57th minute.
Odegaard latched onto a Jesus pass to score the fifth after 78 minutes.
Which Countries have Won FIFA Football World Cup Trophy?
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest international football tournament that has been around since 1930. It features the best national football teams from around the world competing for the coveted World Cup trophy. Let's take a look at which countries won the Football World Cups so far.
8 Countries Who Acquired the FIFA World Cup Trophy
Brazil
Brazil has won the FIFA world cup tournament five times. The first time was in 1958 when they beat Sweden in the final 5-2. Four years later, they retained their title with a 3-1 win over Czechoslovakia.
In 1970, Brazil produced one of the greatest teams of all time, winning the World Cup against Italy with some of the most stylish and flamboyant football ever seen. They triumphed again in 1994, this time with a more pragmatic approach, before sealing their fifth victory in 2002 with a 2-0 win over Germany.
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No other team has won more than four World Cups, making Brazil the most successful nation in the history of the tournament.
Germany
Germany has been one of the most successful teams in the history of the FIFA World Cup, winning the tournament four times. As of 2022, The German national team has appeared in a total of 20 FIFA World Cups and has reached the final eight times.
Germany's first World Cup victory came in 1954 when they defeated Hungary 3-2 in the final. The German team then went on to win the World Cup again in 1974 and 1990. Germany's most recent World Cup victory came in 2014 when they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Read More: Is the FIFA Football World Cup Trophy Made of Solid Gold?
Italy
Italy has a long and storied history in the FIFA World Cup, having won the tournament four times. The first time was in 1934 when they defeated Czechoslovakia in the final. They followed that up with victories in 1938 and 1982.
Their most recent title came in 2006 when they defeated France in a dramatic final. In addition to their four titles, Italy has also been runners-up twice, in 1970 and 1994.
Argentina
Argentina has qualified for the event a total of eighteen times and has won the title on two occasions. The first time came in 1978 when Argentina hosted the tournament and defeated the Netherlands in the final. The second came in 1986 when Diego Maradona led the team to victory against West Germany. Since then, Argentina has been a runner-up twice, in 1990 and 2014.
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France
The French national team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament twice, first in 1998 and then again in 2018. In addition, they were also runners-up in 2006, losing to Italy. Their success at the international level is matched by their strong domestic league, which is widely considered to be one of the best in the world.
Uruguay
The national team won the FIFA World Cup tournament twice, in 1930 and 1950. In recent years, Uruguay has not fared as well in international competition, but they continue to be a force to be reckoned with in South America.
England
England won the World Cup once in 1966 when England defeated West Germany in a dramatic final at Wembley Stadium. Since then, the English football team has failed to produce a fruitful result. Their best performance was fourth place in 1990 and 2018.
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Spain
Spain has been a powerhouse in the world of soccer for many years but won the FIFA World Cup Tournament only one time in 2010. They defeated the Netherlands in the final. Apart from this Spanish football team's best performance was in 1950 when they came fourth.
Given their recent track record, it is safe to say that Spain will no doubt be looking for another victory in 2022.
Bottom Line
Around 30 countries participate in every Football World Cup tournament. However, according to history, a handful of countries claimed the Football World Cup trophy multiple times. As of 2018, only eight nations, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, England, and Spain, have won the trophy. Let’s see which country will win the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022.
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