Portugal brush Swiss aside as Ramos stars after Ronaldo is dropped to bench
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – It was a massive gamble and fortunately for Portuguese coach Fernando Santos it paid off – and then some.
World Cup
Morocco create Arab and African history with penalty shoot-out elimination of Spain
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 7 – It was with the cheekiest of Panenkas that Achraf Hakimi and Morocco upset Spain to create a 3-0 penalty win, and World Cup history, to progress to the last eight of the tournament.
Eto’o apologises for ‘violent altercation’ with fan after World Cup match
December 7 – Samuel Eto’o has apologised for a “violent altercation” when in a bizarre and distasteful incident he kicked a fan outside a World Cup stadium.
Polish PM scraps on World Cup bonus plan after public backlash
December 7 – Poland’s prime minister has backed down on a promise to award bonuses to the national team after the World Cup.
Pele’s health is improving, say doctors, with no new complications
December 7 – Brazil great Pele’s condition is improving in hospital, according to his doctors.
FIFA cracks down on Uruguayans behaving badly and Serbia’s anti-Kosovan politics
December 6 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both Uruguay and Serbia for a range of misdemeanours during their respective final group games at the World Cup which saw both countries eliminated.
Brazil turn of the style and the joy to cement their status as Qatar 2022 favourites
December 6 – Brazil danced their way to a 4-1 victory against South Korea and a last-eight encounter with Croatia after a barnstorming first half against the Asian team.
FIFA-stooge Wenger holds the company line, saying early exiting teams were too focussed on ‘politics’
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 5 – FIFA’s head of global development Arsene Wenger has claimed that teams who avoided political demonstrations have played better at the World Cup, taking a swipe at Germany and Denmark. He also praised the tournament experience as “unique”.
Dutch brush past USA to line up Argentina
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 3 – Spearheaded by Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands breezed past an inexperienced US side 3-1 to reach the last eight of the World Cup where they will meet Argentina.
Six of the best: Qatar 2022 sets record for group-stage survivors from outside traditional powers
By David Owen
December 3 – Qatar 2022, a World Cup of upsets? Well, actually yes, as the group stage draws to a close, the opening phase of this massively controversial tournament has indeed, by one objective yardstick, been the most surprising in recent history.
Japan star on a night of drama that sees Germany exit at group stage, again
December 2 – Once again, four-time world champions Germany departed the World Cup in the first round despite a 4-2 victory against Costa Rica in their final group E game with coach Hansi Flick saying that a reboot was needed.
The value of pitch time? Portugal tops ranking of World Cup teams by player minutes played
December 2 – Portugal’s players have on average had more playing time in 2022 than any other nation at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, according to a ranking of nations by average number of player minutes in competitive action.
FIFA in informal talks over sticking to 4-team groups for 2026
December 2 – FIFA are reported to be considering scrapping three-team groups at the World Cup 2026 tournament – the first with 48 teams – and sticking with the status quo of four-team groups.
Frappart makes World Cup history as first woman to referee a men’s finals match
December 2 – Stephanie Frappart made history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match, taking charge of the Germany vs Costa Rica final group E game at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Danes blame early exit on overbearing pressure of Qatar’s human rights issues
December 1 – Danish head coach Kasper Hjulmand has blamed the off-the-field controversies at the Qatar World Cup for his team’s failure at the tournament.