Morocco shocked the world after an unexpected but well-deserved 2-0 win over Belgium on Sunday. However, amidst the joy of the historic victory, a mystery emerged around their first-choice goalkeeper Yassine "Bono" Bounou.
Bono was set to start the game against the Belgians. He warmed up before the match, walked onto the pitch with his teammates, sang the national anthem and then boom! He disappeared.
Brazil opened its World Cup on Thursday with a memorable (because of Richarlison's jaw-dropping overhead kick) 2-0 victory over a dangerous Serbia team, but some of the shine was taken off by Neymar's 80th-minute exit and subsequent images of the Seleção's most important player in tears on the bench.
The United States began its World Cup odyssey with a bittersweet 1-1 draw against Wales on Monday, and Gregg Berhalter's men return Friday against an England team that reaffirmed its status as a tournament favorite by hammering Iran 6-2 to go top of Group B after Match Day 1.
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.
Many football lovers hope an African team will finally win the men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. The world has been waiting for this since the great Brazilian player Pelé predicted (in the 1970s) that an African country would win before the year 2000. That didn’t happen, but it didn’t stop Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, from saying (in 2021): "An African team must win the World Cup in the near future."
Toward the end of September, it looked like LAFC was about to unlock the best of Gareth Bale. He hadn't scored in his last seven appearances (totaling 245 minutes) after finding the net twice in his first four (96 minutes), but more importantly, the 33-year-old Welshman had just recorded his second start.
Mientras la definición del Apertura 2022 sigue su curso, Chivas está de vacaciones.
Ante los malos resultados del club, sin embargo, no todo es descanso. En el Rebaño hay mucho trabajo que hacer y empiezan a moverse piezas de cara al Clausura 2023. ¿Una de las prioridades? La búsqueda de un nuevo director deportivo.
The soccer World Cup being held in Qatar next month will have areas for drunk fans to sober up, its chief executive said in a television interview.
The Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup is the first to be held in a Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, presenting unique challenges for organizers of an event sponsored by a major beer brand and often associated with beer-drinking fans.
Thursday marked 10 years since Harry Kane made his Premier League debut, and he decided to take to social media to celebrate. He fielded questions on Twitter and Instagram, answering various inquiries, including his favorite goals and cheese. These were the best responses.
Today is 10 years since my Premier League debut... time flies!
Got a bit of spare time later so going to answer some of your questions. Reply to this and I'll respond to some a bit later on...
MANCHESTER, England - British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's interest in buying Manchester United has raised the hopes of the club's supporters that their American owners, the Glazer family, might now sell the club and pave the way for a return to glory on the field.
Whether that happens will depend on three key factors: how much they think the club is worth; whether there are potential buyers willing to pay that price; and finally, if the much-criticized Glazers are willing to take the money and leave.