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30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022 •Cameroun Fans Lions set to roar against Switzerland •Ekambi Entering the tournament as one of the dark-horses, Switzerland are primed for an impressive World Cup opener after an impressive qualifying campaign where they finished top of a group that had European champions Italy, taking the only direct World Cup spot on offer from the group. They face-off against African giants Cameroon who won their group in the second round of qualification in spectacular fashion taking the only spot on offer in a group that had Ivory Coast before defeating Algeria in the third and final round of the African qualifiers. Today’s tie at the Al Janoub Stadium would be the first official meeting between both teams, Match form. Switzerland lost their World cup preparatory friendly against Ghana, while the last game Cameroon played was a 1-1 draw against Panama. Granit Xhaka has been in stellar form for his Arsenal side this season, in a ‘newly’ defined role, scoring three goals already, and setting up another three for his teammates. If he looks anything as good as he has been for Arsenal this season Granit Xhaka would be a contender for player of the tournament. Manuel Akanji got a dream move in the summer to Manchester City, and the 27-year old has not put a foot wrong since, he would be looking to reprise his role as a reliable Centre-back for his country, and he is certainly one to watch. For Cameroon the ever present Vincent Abubakar, fresh from winning the AFCON golden boot who now represents Al Nassr in Saudi and the pacy Karl Toko Ekambi of Lyon are the ones to keep an eye on. •Abubakar •Xhaka •Steffen Ayew: Black Stars have quality to impress in Qatar Black Stars captain Andre Ayew believes the team’s inexperience will be irrelevant because they have the talent to beat any opponent in Qatar. Andre Ayew spoke to the press ahead of the Black Stars’ World Cup opener against Portugal today and was asked about the team’s chances given that only two players in the current squad have World Cup experience. While this will be Andre’s third appearance after appearances in 2010 and 2014, Jordan will be making his second appearance after appearing in Brazil eight years ago. “It’s true my brother and I are the only ones [in the Ghana team] to play in the World Cup but it doesn’t mean anything because we also came to play and it was a first at some point and we were able to do good things on the field,” he said at the press conference ahead of the game against Portugal. “For me, I believe that we have the quality to really impress and show the World what we are capable of.” Female Ghanaian musician vows to go naked if Ghana beat Portugal 3-0 Ghanaian musician Sister Afia has vowed to go naked if the Black Stars beat Ronaldo-led Portugal in their 2022 World Cup opener today. She stated in a tweet that if Ghana wins 3-0, she will record a live naked pool video of herself. “If Ghana score 3-0 against Portugal, on Thursday I will go NAKED and drop my self in a pool ON LIVE so God help me”, she tweeted on Tuesday. The celebrity’s comments raise the hopes of many Ghanaian fans ahead of the team’s first game against Budweiser ready to help Nigeria qualify for 2026 World Cup By Jacob Ajom One of the greatest sporting tournaments, the FIFA World Cup, kicked off in Qatar with the attendant spectacle and excitement globally. The frenzy has led football fans in Nigeria to express mixed feelings as Nigeria is not playing in this world cup. Budweiser, a brand from the stables of International Breweries, and the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup and the English Premier League has sparked up the conversation to seek Nigerians’ opinions and ideas that can ensure Nigeria is in the next World Cup, to continually make the nation proud as Nigerians are known for their love for football. Speaking on the topic, Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Tolulope Adedeji, explained Budweiser is aware of the love Nigerians have for football and how many cannot wait to see the nation back on the global pitch. This is why we have taken the initiative to kick off the conversation and are willing to partner to bring great ideas to return Nigeria to the •Amokachi global stage . In her words, “We partnered with Nigerian football legend Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi to drive the conversation so Nigerians can share their thoughts on what they believe should be done to make sure the country is represented in the next World Cup.” Consumers are encouraged to join the conversation on social media. However, we are not just going to talk about it, we are willing to partner to bring some of these ideas to reality working with the relevant local bodies and our global partner, FIFA. Football fans can air their opinions and contribute to the conversation aiming to trigger a robust discourse and collation of ideas while giving Nigerians a platform to express themselves. Marketing Manager, Budweiser, Olajumoke Okikiolu said, “We urge football fans to head to Twitter to share suggestions on what can be done to make sure Nigeria makes it to the next world cup using the hashtag.” Spain 7-0 Costa Rica: Enrique’s men lay down a World Cup marker in Qatar After the shock came the awe. While Japan’s stunning victory over Germany may have been the earthquake, Spain’s beautiful, brutal dismantling of Costa Rica will have sent tremors through Group E - and potentially beyond. They scored a magnificent seven. It could have been 14. After barely half an hour had been played Luis Enrique’s brilliant young maestros were 3-0 up. The game was out and the Mexican Waves were in. This is a dynamic young side mixed with a sprinkling of experience, the emphasis placed on the team rather than the individual. A flowing 4-3-3 made in Barcelona was far, far too much for opponents whose presence here itself is a completed mission impossible, having secured their place via a play-off win after winning just one of their opening seven qualifying matches. The problem with the early stages of the World Cup – which will get worse when we are burdened with ludicrous expansion - is that it is often difficult to judge based on the quality of some of the sides in the tournament. Just as we should not be readying Trafalgar Square for a victory parade because England battered Iran, Enrique will not yet be digging out the bunting from 2010’s success on the back of a walk in the park. •Torres Portugal. Black Stars defender Denis Odoi believes they can draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s remarkable victory over Argentina. He said, “Of course, seeing what Saudi Arabia have achieved just proves that you have to play all the matches. It’s not because you are a smaller country than your opponent that everything is a foregone conclusion. And then, based on my experience, this season in the Champions League, nobody would have given us a chance to go to the round of 16. And yet, after four matches, we qualified. So my takeaway is that when you play as a team, you can do anything.” Both teams arrived in Qatar after impressive victories and are confident of making a strong start in Qatar. •Ayew Andre The 32-year-old quizzed on what it means for him to play at his third World Cup added, “Every tournament is different and every tournament has its own excitement. The World Cup is the one that we always dream to play as young kids so for me it’s unbelievable for me to Inka brings Peruvian culture to Qatar •Inka Inka is a 55-year-old super fan from Peru. He has been standing outside the Khalifa International Stadium all afternoon, posing for photos for anyone who asks. He pauses between photos to ask passersby if they have any spare tickets. Regardless of the response he smiles, waves and carries on. “I have come here to be part of the World Cup and bring my Peruvian culture to Qatar,” he says. This is Inka’s third World Cup and he hopes by the time the 2026 edition comes around, he will be able to cheer for his team again. Until then, he his happy to take a bit of Peru wherever he goes. German team cover mouths in protest against FIFA Germany’s players covered their mouths for their team photo before their opening World Cup match in an apparent rebuke of FIFA’s clampdown on plans to wear armbands to protest against discrimination in host nation Qatar. The team lined up in the traditional formation before the game against Japan and each of the 11 players covered their mouth with their right hand.
Germany 1 Japan 2: Another huge World Cup shock! •Japan stun Germany in famous win IT was the Mexicans waving them bye-bye four years ago. And as a Mexican wave broke out here at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium, Germany may well be on the way to heading home early again thanks to Japan’s supersubs. Hansi Flick’s side looked to be cruising when Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty put them ahead just after the half hour. But their Asian opponents hit back with two goals from substitutes in eight secondhalf minutes, first through Ritsu Doan and then a stunner from Takuma Asano. Asano’s effort will go down in World Cup history as he brilliantly controlled a long ball, sped into the area and beat Manuel Neuer at his near post with a thumping finish. It leaves Germany in familiar territory, having crashed out at the group stage four years ago in Russia as reigning champions having lost their opening game to Mexico. Recovering from here could be very tricky given 2010 champions Spain are also in their group, along with Costa Rica. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich had spoken on Tuesday of the team’s “huge motivation” to put things right this time and the importance of winning the first game. Yet despite starting so well, they are now in an equally perilous position and face a massive uphill battle to get out of the group. Germany’s players protested against Fifa ahead of the game, outraged by the pressure the world football governing body had put on them not to wear a One Love rainbow armband via threats of sporting sanctions. That included warming up in training kit with rainbows on the sleeves, having Morocco 0 Croatia 0: Croatia's Modric and Co flop against solid Moroccan side LUELESS Croatia served Cup the World Cup’s third goalless draw in the space of nine games as they failed to make an early impression on the tournament. The beaten finalists in Russia are not a patch on the team who knocked England out in the semi-finals four years ago. And now they might struggle to even make it beyond the group stages after being forced into a stalemate by a Moroccan team who simply refused to accept their role as World Cup whipping boys. Morocco might not have much of a World Cup pedigree, but all of their team play for leading European clubs and are certainly no mugs. T h e y have been boosted by the return of Hakim Ziyech, back in the fold after announcing his international retirement February. The Chelsea in winger quit after a row with boss Vahid Halilhodzic and only agreed to return when the fiery Bosnian was sacked in August. Ziyech was clearly going to be his team’s main source of inspiration but even he struggled to light up this edgy encounter. Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol was playing despite having his face rearranged in a collision with a Leipzig team-mate two weeks ago. But no-one put themself around more than 37-yearsyoung Luka Modric, who constantly tested the patience of the Argentine ref with the timing of some of his challenges. Yet what he lacks in pace he more than makes up for with his quality on the ball and barely a pass went astray from the Real Madrid maestro. •Modric rainbows etched on their boots and covering up their mouths for the team picture to indicate how their planned show of support to the LGBTQ community had been silenced. German interior minister Nancy Faeser also wore the One Love armband while sitting next to Fifa president Gianni Infantino up in the stands. It really was one-way traffic in the first half, making the turnaround all the more remarkable. Japan only completed 62 passes, while untroubled German goalkeeper Neuer had 35. Saying that, it was actually the Asian side who had the ball in the net first when striker Daizen Maeda emphatically finished off a rapid counter only to be ruled offside. Kimmich and Gundogan were firing warning shots from distance before Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton, at 31, the tournament’s third youngest whistler, awarded a penalty against Shuichi Gonda, two years his senior for tripping David Raum and then falling on him for good measure. Messi, Ronaldo don't need the World Cup — Kevin-Prince Boateng Former Ghana international Kevin- Prince Boateng has dismissed claims that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo need to win the World Cup to cement their GOAT (Greatest of All Time) status in football. The 2022 World Cup will almost certainly be the final World Cup for the two iconic footballers, and Boateng has been analysing their chances in Qatar. "Finally, a few thoughts on what I consider to be the greatest footballers on this planet: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It is •Ronaldo probably the last World Cup for the two and their last chance at the title. I know Leo from my time at Barca. An incredible player. Both deserved it," Boateng wrote for German website SPORT1 "Messi has better chances with Argentina. But neither he nor Ronaldo will step down as world champions. They don't have to. It's part of their history: they don't need to win a world title to be the best of all time." Argentina started their campaign with a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia while Portugal take on Ghana on Thursday, November 24. •Messi Newcastle rule out move for Ronaldo Manchester United have placed no restrictions on where Cristiano Ronaldo can play next, but although he could join another Premier League team, Newcastle have already ruled out a move for the striker. The termination of Ronaldo's contract at Old Trafford, which was due to run until June, has been described as a "clean break," and the 37-year-old can sign for another club immediately without waiting for the January transfer window. Newcastle, owned by a consortium led by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, could be a possible destination for the Portugal international, but sources have told ESPN they have no interest. Sources have also told ESPN that Ronaldo's representatives are also hopeful of reigniting interest from Chelsea. Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022 — 31 Brazil begin World Cup title charge against Serbia Regarded by many as the favourites to go all the way at the 2022 World Cup, fivetime world champions Brazil kick off their Group G campaign against Serbia at the Lusail Stadium on Thursday. The two nations will renew acquaintances with one another after locking horns in the group stage four years ago, when the Selecao came out on top with a 2- 0 victory. Brazil have arrived in Qatar as the only nation in World Cup history to have qualified for every tournament since the first edition back in 1930 following a record-breaking CONMEBOL qualification campaign, collecting more points (45) than ever before after winning 14 and drawing three of their 17 matches. The Selecao rarely struggle in qualifying and they have had few problems in the group stage over the years too, as they are unbeaten in their last 15 World Cup group fixtures since losing 2-1 to Norway back in 1998. However, 20 years have passed since Brazil got their hands on their fifth World Cup in Seoul and the pressure is on Tite's talented squad – ranked number one in the world by FIFA – to live up to the pre-tournament hype and improve on their quarterfinal exit against Belgium four years ago. Serbia will be the first nation to put Brazil's credentials to the test. After crashing out in the group stage at their previous three World Cup finals since gaining independence in 1990, there is a sense of optimism that Serbia can finally reach the knockout rounds for the first time in Saudi Arabia’s left-back Yasser AlShahrani will undergo surgery in the capital Riyadh after suffering a severe head injury during his side’s historic 2-1 World Cup victory over Argentina. Saudi Arabian Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday that AlShahrani was subjected to a strong hit to the head, chest and abdomen. It added that he underwent all the necessary medical examinations but will be kept under observation. It also confirmed that his condition is stable. AlShahrani left Qatar on Wednesday morning for Riyadh to undergo surgery at the National Guard Hospital. The 30-year-old was initially taken straight to Hamad Medical City in Doha where he underwent a full medical check-up and •Al Shahrani Qatar. The Eagles, ranked 25th in the world by FIFA, impressed in UEFA qualifying and topped their group after winning six and drawing two of their eight matches, including a last-gasp 2-1 triumph over Portugal in their final fixture. •Neymar FIFA gives New World TV licence for W/Cup viewing centres M atches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been unfolding with football fans who could not be in Qatar flocking to viewing centres.“Consequently the world soccer governing body has licenced New World TV and Media Business Solutions to organise public viewing events for the World Cup in sub Sahara Africa, excluding South Africa in line with FIFA regulations.“To this regard Brand Technology Limited has been appointed as representatives for the Nigeria territory. Brand reps, advertising companies and viewing centre operators have been enjoined to obtain their licences from New World TV through their Nigerian representatives.“"We want members of the public to beware of illegal use of content, it is prohibited," said an official of Brand Technology Limited.“The official continued, "any infringement on the viewing centre regulations is subject to litigation. So we are urging Nigerians to comply to avoid embarrassment." Saudi Arabia’s Al Shahrani to undergo surgery in Riyadh spent last night. AlShahrani was injured following a collision with Saudi’s goalkeeper Mohammed AlOwais’ knee during the second-half stoppage time at the Lusail Stadium. AlOwais was seen dropping to his knees in shock over the incident. AlShahrani initially tried to get to his feet but looked dazed as blood streamed from his nose. He was later stretchered off after a lengthy delay. The 30-year-old Al-Hilal player had given a heroic performance and largely kept the star-studded Argentinian team from producing any real chances in the second half. The match will go down as one of the biggest upsets in international football as Saudi Arabia became the first Asian team to beat Argentina at a World Cup.
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