Doha, Qatar | Xinhua | In a group where Argentina are the only team in the top 10 in FIFA’s last rankings before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in November, Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia will also be vying for a ticket to the round of 16. Here is a …
Read More »Pele predicts World Cup glory for Brazil
Rio de janeiro, Brazil | Xinhua | Football legend Pele said Thursday that he believes Brazil will be crowned World Cup champions for a sixth time in Qatar next month. Brazil earned a berth in international football’s premier event by going undefeated in qualifying and finishing top of the …
Read More »Can ironman Luis Enrique steer Spain back to World Cup glory?
Madrid, Spain | Xinhua | Luis Enrique, a man who played for both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, is in charge of leading Spain to glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Two things are certain: he won’t back down from any hard decision or go out of his way to …
Read More »World Cup Group B preview: England favorites, but rivals could cause upsets
London, UK | Xinhua | A quick look at Group B implies that England should be the clear favorites to breeze through into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup, and a possible three straight wins will allow Gareth Southgate’s side to gain confidence ahead of the knockout rounds. However, …
Read More »World Cup Group A preview: Netherlands set for big-stage return
Doha, Qatar | Xinhua | What is a seemingly innocuous World Cup opening phase for the Netherlands promises to be one of trials and tribulations for Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar. While the Oranje are tipped by many to breeze through their first three fixtures, much less is expected of their …
Read More »2022 World Cup outcome a grab bag, says former world champion Lahm
Berlin, Germany | Xinhua | The outcome of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is unpredictable and remains a grab bag, said Germany’s 2014 world champion Philipp Lahm. “You haven’t got a clear favorite from Europe as the top teams seem to currently struggle and deal with various difficulties,” the 38-year-old former …
Read More »Messi: Qatar will be my last World Cup
Buenos Aires, Argentina | Xinhua | This year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar is set to mark the last time that Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays in football’s showpiece event. The 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward will be making his fifth appearance at a World Cup when the competition begins on November 20. …
Read More »Does Europe’s World Cup dominance come to end in Qatar as top guns struggle?
The past four World Cup titles were won by France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and one has to go back as far as 2002 to find Brazil taking the trophy Berlin, Germany | Xinhua | To find several top European football teams in trouble at present seems a small consolation for …
Read More »European clubs in dark due to split season, says Salihamidzic
Berlin, Germany | Xinhua | The unique circumstances of the 2022-2023 season are leaving the leading European clubs in the dark, says Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. “None of the leading clubs employing several internationals can predict in what shape they come back and how their energy levels will …
Read More »Uganda names squad for 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tolbert Onyango, head coach of Uganda’s Rugby Sevens team, has named a 12-man squad for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, South Africa from September 9 to 11. Michael Wokorach and Ian Munyani will lead the team as captain and vice-captain respectively, …
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