Since the 2022 tournament kicked off, many viewers have found themselves wondering, “Why is the World Cup stoppage time so much higher than normal?” The United States was given eleven minutes of stoppage time against Wales, while England and Iran played an additional 15 minutes in the first half and then a further 14 minutes at the end of the full 90.
El partido entre Países Bajos y Senegal, en el Grupo A del Mundial, fue un verdadero bostezo. Pero en medio de la refriega, al menos una imagen quedó para el recuerdo: el duro golpe que Frenkie de Jong le dio a Cheikhou Kouyaté, ahí donde nace la vida.
La jugada se produjo en el minuto 69 (no, no es chiste) cuando Kouyaté intentaba evadir a De Jong con un sombrerito. El neerlandés pasó de largo y al intentar apoyarse en algo puso toda su mano en los "Países Bajos" del volante senegalés.
Inglaterra no dejó espacio para las sorpresas. El equipo dirigido por Gareth Southgate inició su aventura en la Copa del Mundo demoliendo a Irán 6-2 y mostrando sus credenciales como candidato al título.
Los Tres Leones – con una escuadra tasada en 1.300 millones de dólares – dominaron de principio a fin, estableciendo una posesión del balón del 70 por ciento y completando 733 pases, años luz de los escuálidos 156 que Irán logró hilvanar.
FIFA’s concussion protocol is still Medieval and that was on full display during the first half of England’s opener vs. Iran on Monday. Iran’s goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, had a nasty clash of heads with teammate Majid Hosseini in the eighth minute.
Here was the incident that took place.
England is already knocking pic.twitter.com/Y9t5lfHMi6
It's officially been confirmed that France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has picked up an injury in training, forcing him to miss the World Cup.
The Frenchman had only joined his teammates Saturday as he recovered from a previous injury but had to leave the session after sustaining a further knock. According to the French national team, he injured his left quadriceps in training. The precise extent of the injury is unknown, but Benzema will not take any further part in his national team's campaign or preparations.
DOHA - France coach Didier Deschamps has decided not to replace injured striker Karim Benzema in his World Cup squad, leaving the reigning champions with 25 players for their title defense.
Benzema trained with the squad for the first time since arriving in Qatar on Saturday but was forced to leave the session early with a thigh injury and scans ruled him out of the tournament.
Asked on Sunday by TeleFoot whether he would replace the Ballon d'Or winner in his squad, Deschamps said "No".
Following is a list of players who have been ruled out or are doubtful for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup through injury.
PAUL POGBA (FRANCE)
Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and went under the knife in September to repair a damaged meniscus. The 29-year-old resumed training but on Oct. 31 his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus nor the world champions before the World Cup.
Senegal forward Sadio Mané has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar in a crushing blow to his team’s chances after officials confirmed on Thursday he would need surgery on a leg injury sustained in the run-up to the tournament.
Mané had been a doubt for the west African side after injuring his right fibula playing for German club Bayern Munich.
"Unfortunately, today's (Thursday) MRI shows us that the recovery is not as favorable as we hoped and we unfortunately resolve to declare Sadio's withdrawal from the World Cup," Senegal team doctor Manuel Afonso told reporters.
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani will replace RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku in the France squad for the World Cup in Qatar, the French federation (FFF) said on Wednesday.
Didier Deschamps has called up Randal Kolo Muani to replace Christopher Nkunku! #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/bFsbLfI7wI
México jugará este miércoles frente a Suecia su último amistoso antes de la Copa del Mundo. El duelo servirá para afinar los últimos detalles tácticos en la pizarra de Gerardo Martino, pero también para ver en qué condiciones se encuentra Raúl Jiménez de cara al torneo.
El delantero de Wolverhampton fue nombrado en la lista final del Tri para Catar pese a que no juega desde el mes de agosto debido a una pubalgia. El jugador, de hecho, no está totalmente recuperado de la lesión y muchos se preguntan si la decisión de convocarlo fue un error de Martino.