Former Chelsea and Arsenal player David Luiz experienced a night of contrasting emotions last Wednesday. The defender led Flamengo over Corinthians to claim the fourth Brazilian Cup in the club's history but, seconds later, had to deal with disturbing news about his family, who had suffered a car accident just before the game.
To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the preview for Group A's Ecuador.
World Cup Appearances: Fourth
Best Finish: Round of 16 (2006)
How They Got Here: Fourth-place in Conmebol
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro (Argentine)
Weird, weird scenes coming from the Colombian First Division, where Independiente Santa Fe's defender Geisson Perea decided to pull down his pants and show his genitals in the middle of the game of his team vs. Jaguares.
Yes, you read that right.
Why did he do that? Nobody really knows.
Corinthians and Flamengo delivered a forgettable 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Brazilian Cup final Wednesday. However, there was some action worth mentioning in the stands thanks to the Timão's fans, who deployed a fantastic hawk-inspired 3D tifo before kick-off.
The Gaviões da Fiel — the biggest group of supporters of Corinthians — were behind the imposing design. The whole process took 14 days, and 100 fans worked together to raise it over the east stands of the Neo Química Arena.
The football that was at the feet — and hand — of Diego Maradona as he shocked the world with acts of both brazen gamesmanship and breathtaking skill in Mexico 36 years ago has been put up for auction and is expected to sell for at least $2.8 million.
The ball in question is from the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England, in which Maradona scored six minutes into the second half by sneakily punching the ball over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton into the net, a goal he said afterwards had been helped by the "Hand of God."
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said he is counting the days until the World Cup and believes his team have a good chance of winning the tournament.
Messi, who will be playing his fifth World Cup in Qatar, told Star+ he is feeling nervous ahead of the tournament but is in positive mood.
Argentina will arrive in Qatar with their confidence high after winning the 2021 Copa América final against hosts Brazil, which Messi believes was a turning-point for his team after several near misses.
The final FIFA rankings before the 2022 World Cup were released Thursday, revealing a top five that's largely in line with what the odds makers have for the tournament in Qatar.
Brazil rightfully holds the top spot and is seen as the favorite after turning its qualifying campaign into a program on Joga TV, while the Seleção's eternal rivals, Argentina, sit third riding a 35-match unbeaten streak.
Liverpool fans are not happy with Darwin Núñez. The club paid a hefty $82 million to Benfica for the Uruguayan in an attempt to strengthen its front line after Sadio Mané's exit, while also providing talk for pundits about how he would compete with Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot. However, the striker hasn't hit it off and is starting to be called a bust.
Núñez has played a mere 340 minutes across all competitions and scored two goals (one in the PL and one in the Community Shield) — far from the 34 he bagged with Benfica last campaign.
Why such a difference?
Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain will retire at the end of the season, the 34-year-old said on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden career that lasted almost 18 years.
Higuain started his career with River Plate but made a name for himself at Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus before moving to Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in 2020, scoring over 300 goals in his club career and 31 times for Argentina.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal by the Chilean football federation (FFCH) against FIFA's decision to allow Ecuador to play at the World Cup despite allegations they fielded an ineligible player, it said on Friday.
World governing body FIFA earlier this month dismissed an appeal in the case of Ecuadorean player Byron Castillo, who Chile had alleged was ineligible to play in qualifying since he was born in Colombia.