Glazer family considering sale as Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United
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The World Cup is into day five in Qatar, with Brazil and Portugal both in action today. There is plenty going on in Qatar, with England fans being told not to dress up in crusader costumes and violence breaking out between Argentina and Mexico supporters. And the England team have been accused by MP Ruth Davidson of being “weak” and “folding” on their principles after they decided to ditch the OneLove armband during the World Cup due to the threat of on-field sanctions.
Meanwhile, FA Wales chief Noel Mooney has fumed at FIFA after Gareth Bale also had to scrap the OneLove armband against USA. The FAs of England and Wales both released a joint-statement on Monday morning, alongside Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland to confirm that they would not be wearing the armband throughout the tournament in Qatar.
The football is set to continue in Qatar today, with Cristiano Ronaldo finally scheduled to get his World Cup campaign underway today when Portugal take on Ghana in their opening Group H encounter at 4pm.
The blockbuster star grabbed the headlines ahead of the tournament following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, where he said he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United and had “no respect” for Erik ten Hag. And the Red Devils have since confirmed that Ronaldo has left the club “with immediate effect.”
Five-time world champions Brazil are also set to kick their tournament off when they go head-to-head with Serbia in the final game of the day at 7pm. The South American team last won the competition in 2002 after getting the better of Germany in the final and are the favourites to lift the trophy this time around after losing just one match since 2019.
Elsewhere, Premier League fans will be able to get a glimpse of Tottenham star Son Heung-min before those two games as South Korea will play Uruguay at 1pm. The forward is fit for the match, despite being forced to undergo an operation earlier this month after suffering fractures around his eye during Spurs’ Champions League trip to Marseille.
And the World Cup action gets underway at 10am when Switzerland face Cameroon. The teams have been drawn in the same group as Brazil – so both sides will surely be desperate to bag all three points this morning.
Follow Express Sport’s live updates throughout the day below.
KEY EVENTS
3-2 – Osman Bukari
This game may not be over! Ghana have pulled one back through Osman Bukari, who has nodded home from close range with just a minute of normal time to go – though there are nine minutes to be added time.
The 23-year-old then emulated Ronaldo – who was just substituted off – by performing the ‘Siu’ celebration in the corner before racing back to the halfway line. Game on.
Portugal 3-1 Ghana – Rafael Leao
It’s two goals in three minutes for Portugal as they look to have sewn up all three points here with ten minutes to go. AC Milan star Rafael Leao has bagged his first goal for Portugal, placing a neat strike into the far corner after a counter-attack from Fernando Santos’ side.
Portugal 2 – 1 Ghana – Joao Felix
Portugal have reclaimed the lead through Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix. The 23-year-old lifted a delightful finish over the head of Ati-Zigi after a neat pass from Bruno Fernandez, though the Ghana defence will feel that they should have done better to intercept the pass.
1-1 – Andre Ayew
Andre Ayew has levelled things for Ghana! The 32-year-old has tapped home from close-range after some excellent work from Kudus down the left, fizzing a fierce cross into the penalty area after weaving his way into the box.
Southampton respond to Ronaldo goal
The penalty decision has caused a stir online, with some feeling that Salisu managed to get his toe to the ball before making contact with Ronaldo. The defender’s team certainly feel the same, tweeting a shrugging emoji after the ball hit the back of the net.
1-0 Portugal – Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score at five World Cups, smashing home his penalty into the top right corner. Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi had very little chance of keeping the venomous strike out, having no choice but to watch the striker race to the corner flag and perform his classic ‘SIU’ celebration.
PENALTY
Portugal have been given the chance to take the lead against Ghana, with Cristiano Ronaldo going down under a challenge from Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.
VAR have reportedly not taken a look, to the surprise of many.
Ghana on top, but it remains goalless
Ghana have come out of the blocks full of belief and energy in the second half, with Portgual remaining to look lacklustre and casual in possession.
Chris Hughton’s Black Stars have been aggressive with the ball and are now attacking in numbers, with Mohamed Kudus looking the brightest spark in the final third.
HALF TIME: Portugal 0 – 0 Ghana
Portugal have failed to impress in their World Cup opener against Ghana, with Ronaldo missing their sides two best chances.
Fernando Santos’ team have looked slow in possession and struggled to assert their dominance over their African opposition, who have defended well and are seeking for an opening on the counter-attack.
Ronaldo misses two chances
Cristiano Ronaldo failed to prove he was the force of old twice in the opening 20 matches of his side’s match against Ghana. The free agent forward was slipped through on one occassion but struggled to get the ball when he only had the keeper to beat.
The ex-Manchester United star then headed wide from close range after rising highest from a corner just a minute later.
FIFA rainbow U-turn
FIFA have ruled that rainbow items are not to be prohibited at the upcoming games at the World Cup, according to The Independent. Qatar have been very strict on their anti-rainbow stance so far this tournament due to its associations with the LGBTQ+ community.
Rainbow-coloured flags and items of clothing have been confiscated from supporters when trying to enter the stadium, leading to tensions rising at the host nation. But FIFA’s Safety and Security Operations Committee has now assured nations that this will no longer be the case.
Ronaldo starts against Ghana
Cristiano Ronaldo is starting his first match since terminating his contract with Manchester United this afternoon. He will lead the line for Portugal with Manchester City star Bernardo Silva and Red Devils target Joao Felix against Ghana at the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium in Doha.
A victory for either side will see them go top of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw. Full teams:
Portugal: Costa, Cancelo, Dias, Pereira, Guerreiro, Neves, Otavio, Fernandes, Felix, Silva, Ronaldo.
Ghana: Zigi, Amartey, Seidu, Djiku, Salisu, Rahman, Abdul Samed, Partey, Kudus, Williams, Ayew.
FULL TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
The referee brings the match to an end and it’s finished 0-0 at the Education City Stadium in Qatar between Uruguay and South Korea. It wasn’t a bad game but the sides both lacked a bit of quality when it mattered. It’s not the worst result for either team though.
Uruguay hit the post again
Uruguay have hit the post for a second time. This time Valverde drives a thumping effort towards goal from way out. It cannons off the post and goes behind. South Korea survive and then go close at the other end as Son narrowly misses the target. We’ve got seven minutes of stoppage time.
Are we heading for another stalemate?
Uruguay and South Korea have less than 10 minutes to find their breakthrough at the Education City Stadium and we could be heading for our fourth goalless draw of the World Cup. The teams have tried to attack but have lacked a bit of quality in front of goal. It could take a moment of magic to win the game – and it nearly came from Nunez a second ago as he curled wide from the edge of the box.
Uruguay manager takes one in the face
South Korea defender Jung Woo-Young headed the ball out of play a moment ago and it smashed Uruguay manager Diego Alonso straight in the face. Alonso barely flinched. The game remains goalless.
Cavani comes on for Suarez
We’ve passed the hour-mark in this contest. Darwin Nunez just broke forward but couldn’t pick out a pass to Luis Suarez. Suarez has been pretty ineffective today and has now been replaced by another legendary striker Edinson Cavani.
The action kicks off once again
We’re back underway in Qatar, with Uruguay and South Korea both searching for a breakthrough in this Group H opener. These teams will need to face Portugal and Ghana in their other group games.
HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
Neither team have found a route to goal in the opening period as the referee brings the half to an end. It’s been an entertaining game, with both sides looking to attack and create chances. Surely we’ll see goals after the interval.
Uruguay hit the post
It’s Uruguay’s turn to almost take the lead as Diego Godin thumps a header against the post. Close.
Big chance for South Korea
South Korea should be a goal ahead but Hwang Ui-jo has skied an effort over the bar after being picked out in the penalty area. The player was unmarked and in bags of space but failed to hit the target from 10 yards out. “That’s an awful finish,” Danny Murphy said as he spoke about the chance on the BBC. “He’s not going to get a better chance than that today.”
It’s still goalless
We’re at the midway point of the first half at the Education City Stadium in Qatar and it’s still goalless between Uruguay and South Korea. There’s energy in this clash and the players are trying to make things happen. But neither team have been able to make the breakthrough yet.
KICK OFF: Uruguay vs South Korea
We’re underway at the Education City Stadium in Qatar as Uruguay go head-to-head with South Korea. The South Americans are favourites for this one. Can they deliver?
Stars on show
Premier League fans will be able to get a glimpse of Uruguay talisman Luis Suarez, who spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool. He partners current Reds forward Darwin Nunez in attack for the South Americans. Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur also starts for Uruguay, while Spurs team-mate Son Heung-min starts for South Korea.
Starting teams
Uruguay: Rochet, Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera, Valverde, Vecino, Bentancur, Pellistri, Nunez, Suarez.
South Korea: Kim Seunggyu, Kim Mooonhwan, Kim Minjae, Kim Younggwon, Kim Jinsu, Jung Wooyoung, Hwang Inbeom, Lee Jaesung, Son Heung-min, Hwang Uijo, Na Sangho
Uruguay prepare to face South Korea
Our second World Cup game of the day sees Uruguay taking on South Korea in Group H at 1pm. Uruguay won the very first World Cup in 1930, before backing that success up with another trophy in 1950. And the South American team reached the quarter-finals in Russia four years ago.
South Korea, meanwhile, have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup on two occasions in their history. They made it to the semi-finals in 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with Japan, and then progressed to the last 16 in 2010.
FULL TIME: Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon
It’s been an entertaining game at the Al Janoub Stadium as Switzerland secure a 1-0 victory. The Swiss should have bagged a second goal at the end, but Haris Seferovic saw his effort kept out by a last-ditch block. Both teams had plenty of chances to score during an end-to-end game. And it’s Switzerland who put themselves in pole position in Group G ahead of Brazil’s clash with Serbia later today.
Kane ‘moving freely’
Harry Kane was “moving freely” as he walked out for England training on Thursday, according to The Athletic. He will now have his sights on a start against USA. James Maddison, meanwhile, is still absent from Three Lions training.
Kane on the training pitch
Harry Kane is out on the training pitch alongside his England team-mates in Qatar after manager Gareth Southgate confirmed the player would be fit to face USA on Friday. Kane bagged two assists against Iran on Monday before being substituted late on with an ankle problem.
Switzerland go close with carbon copy of opener
Switzerland nearly have a carbon copy of their opening goal as the ball is pulled back into the penalty area. This time Ruben Vargas gets on the end of the cross but sees his thumping effort kept out. There are chances at both ends in this one.
GOAL! Switzerland lead
Jack Otway in Qatar
Goal for Switzerland! It’s super from Xherdan Shaqiri as he pulls the ball back, with Breel Embolo on hand to convert. Embolo was in acres of space in the penalty area and the Cameroon defence were all at sea. Finally, Switzerland’s dominance of the ball pays off.
The second half gets underway
Jack Otway in Qatar
Not too much action in the first half. Switzerland dominated the ball but Cameroon created the bigger chances. The game is on a knife edge and there is everything to play for in the second half, which is now underway.
Southgate confirms Kane availability
England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Harry Kane is fit and will train alongside the rest of the Three Lions team today. Kane was taken off during the latter stages of his country’s victory over Iran on Monday after finding himself on the end of a heavy challenge in the early stages of the second half.
“He is good,” Southgate said. “He has worked a little bit more individually on Wednesday but he will be back in with the team on Thursday and good for the game [against USA on Friday]. We just checked him out, just to see. I think sometimes when you are treating things it is important to know exactly what is there and that was all good.”
HALF TIME: Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon
It’s half time at the Al Janoub Stadium and it’s still goalless between Switzerland and Cameroon. It’s been an entertaining first half and both sides have had chances to break the deadlock. But neither team has been able to find the back of the net.
England fans banned from dressing up
England fans have been asked not to dress up in crusader costumes in order to avoid upsetting Muslims at the World Cup in Qatar after a couple of supporters were seemingly led away by security this week. Supporters often attend England matches dressed as St George, the patron saint usually depicted as a knight on horseback, although footage shared on Twitter appeared to show two England fans wearing chain mail and helmets being turned around by officials prior to Monday’s victory over Iran.
Violence breaks out in Qatar
Violence reportedly broke out in the streets of Qatar on Wednesday night with Argentina and Mexico supporters clashing just days before their World Cup encounter in Group C. Video footage has circulated of the skirmish which will come as a blow to local authorities, who had hoped to keep fan trouble to a minimum during the tournament.
Big chance for Cameroon
Jack Otway in Qatar
Big chance for Cameroon! Switzerland dominating the ball but it’s the African side who nearly strike first. Bryan Mbeumo’s shot is saved by Yan Sommer and Karl Toko Ekambi then blazes over the bar. A let off for the Europeans.
KICK OFF: Switzerland vs Cameroon
We’re underway at the at the Al Janoub Stadium. Will it be cagey? Will it be open? Neither of these teams will want to be compelled to get a result against Brazil later in the group stages. So both countries will want all three points.
Infantino out on the pitch
Jack Otway in Qatar
Gianni Infantino is out on the pitch ahead of kick-off at the Al Janoub Stadium, presenting a special award. Samuel Eto’o is also here. What a striker he was, with the Cameroon hero netting 56 goals from 118 appearances for his country.
Switzerland take on Cameroon
Our first World Cup game today sees Switzerland taking on Cameroon at 10am in Group G. Switzerland reached the last 16 in 2014 and 2018 and will be hoping to get this tournament off to a flying start ahead of their second match against Brazil on Monday. Cameroon, meanwhile, haven’t won a World Cup match since 2002 and didn’t even qualify for the tournament in Russia.
Starting teams
Switzerland: Sommer, Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodríguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas, Embolo
Cameroon: Onana, Tolo, Nkoulou, Castelletto, Fai, Gouet, Hongla, Zambo Anguissa, Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, Toko Ekambi
Ronaldo set to open World Cup campaign
Cristiano Ronaldo is finally set to get his World Cup campaign underway later today when Portugal take on Ghana in Group H at 4pm. The blockbuster star is currently without a club after Manchester United revealed on Tuesday that he would be departing Old Trafford “with immediate effect.”
Ronaldo has played in the last four World Cups, bagging seven goals in 17 appearances.
Saudi Arabia hero undergoes emergency surgery
Saudi Arabia defender Yasser Al-Shahrani has undergone successful emergency surgery after breaking his jaw during a sickening collision with his goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais during his nation’s historic 2-1 World Cup victory over Argentina on Tuesday. The player was seemingly knocked out cold following the unfortunate clash and has now been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Kane declared fit to face USA
England captain Harry Kane has been declared fit to feature for England when they take on USA in their second World Cup match on Friday evening. The Three Lions captain underwent medical assessment on Tuesday night after hurting his ankle during his side’s 6-2 thrashing of Iran on Monday. “He will probably be a little bit sore but I think he’s fine,” said England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Wales chief fumes at FIFA
Meanwhile, FA Wales chief Noel Mooney has fumed at FIFA after Gareth Bale also had to scrap the OneLove armband against USA. Wales and other countries were threatened with on-field sanctions if their captains wore the armbands.
“For months and months we knew we were going to wear the OneLove armband – they (FIFA) certainly did,” Mooney said. “To lay that one on us is pretty cheap and pretty low, to be frank, and we are really disappointed with that attitude. We have been absolutely furious about this. We have given FIFA everything we have got in terms of how furious we are about this decision to do this. We think it was a terrible decision.”
England accused of being ‘weak’
England have been accused by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MP Ruth Davidson of being “weak” and “folding” on their principles after they decided to ditch the OneLove armband during the World Cup due to the threat of on-field sanctions.
The LGBTQ+ MP said: “I’ve a lot of respect for Gareth Southgate…but if you’re going to make a song and dance about doing something on a point of principle you have to follow it through, even if it costs you a yellow card.
“They made such a song and dance about this being a matter of principle. Well, if your principles fold as soon as they might cost you something as big as a yellow card, then how deep are they felt?”
Good morning!
Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s coverage of day five of the World Cup in Qatar. Yesterday saw Japan stun Germany 2-1 in the second match of the day before Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0. And we’ve got plenty of mouthwatering action for you once again today, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to play for Portugal, before Brazil get their World Cup campaign underway against Serbia.
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