Barcelona football news

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski head into Wednesday's showdown between Argentina and Poland with the futures of what could be their final World Cup adventures hanging in the balance. Either one of two of the biggest stars of European club football could fail to qualify for the knockout stages in Qatar and end their careers without tasting glory at the most prestigious tournament of all. Messi has already netted twice in his last attempt to emulate Diego Maradona and win the World Cup for Argentina and is trying to drag the Albiceleste out of Group C after they were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 to salvage their campaign and sit second, level on three points with the Saudis and one behind leaders Poland and only a win will guarantee that 35-year-old Messi's Qatar campaign continues into December. An Argentine exit would devastate fans back home and a worldwide army of Messi fans desperate to see him lift the World Cup. It … [Read more...] about Lionel Messi And Robert Lewandowski’s FIFA World Cup Dreams In The Balance | Football News

Former AC Milan and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said on Wednesday the implementation of the five-substitute rule has "changed the game", leading to higher quality matches at the World Cup. Speaking in Doha as part of FIFA's technical study group which analyses tactics and trends at the World Cup, Zaccheroni said the change was "a brilliant way to avoid tiredness". "(Now) we manage to have higher quality up until the end. Many goals were seen at the end of games, now it is more difficult," he said. "Now we see games which are good up until the last minute." The International Football Association Board passed a temporary exemption in May 2020 to allow domestic leagues to expand the maximum amount of substitutions from three to five, to help player welfare during the Covid pandemic. The rules were made permanent in July 2022 and implemented for the first time at a World Cup in Qatar. Zaccheroni -- who won the Scudetto in his first season in charge of Milan and lifted the … [Read more...] about Five-Sub Rule Means ‘Higher Quality Football’ In Qatar, Says FIFA Expert | Football News

Brazilian football legend Pele has been hospitalised again, but there is "no emergency," his daughter said Wednesday, the latest health issue for the 82-year-old icon, who has been in treatment following a colon tumor. "He is in the hospital regulating medication," Pele's daughter Kely Nascimento wrote on Instagram. "There is (no) emergency or new dire prediction... We appreciate the concern and love." Pele has been undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments since being diagnosed with colon cancer last year. He had surgery to remove the tumor in September 2021, spending a month in the hospital. Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- Pele's real name -- has suffered from increasingly fragile health in recent years. Listen to the latest songs , only on JioSaavn.com The only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), Pele had one of the most storied careers in sport, scoring more than 1,000 goals … [Read more...] about Football Legend Pele Hospitalised Again, Daughter Says “No Emergency” | Football News

Belgium are not in "crisis mode" ahead of their crucial World Cup match against Croatia despite rumours of infighting and division in the squad, full-back Timothy Castagne said on Wednesday. The world's second-ranked side have to win at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday to be sure of reaching the last 16 after a surprising 2-0 loss to Morocco. Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals at each of the past four major tournaments but have struggled in Qatar, labouring to a 1-0 win over Canada in their opener. However, Leicester defender Castagne said spirits in the camp were high. "Our confidence isn't as low as people think," he said. "We know that we have our destiny in our own hands. It's true we didn't play so well in the first two matches but we're not in crisis mode like some people are saying in the press." Belgium will have to push for the win as a draw would leave them needing Morocco to lose heavily to Canada in order for the Belgians to go through. Kevin … [Read more...] about Under-Pressure Belgium Not ‘In Crisis Mode’, Says Castagne | Football News

Japan will try to pull the plug on Spain's "computer game" football in their World Cup showdown on Thursday, with the Blue Samurai eyeing their second major upset of the tournament. Japan beat Germany in their opening game of Group E and they will book their place in the last 16 if they can add Spain to their collection of scalps. Victory will not come easily for a Japan team who came under pressure for long periods against Germany and stumbled to a stodgy 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in their second game. Coach Hajime Moriyasu is wary of Spain's threat but backed his players to spring another surprise. "Tomorrow is going to be a high-pressure game for our players but they must believe in themselves and in their team-mates," he said Wednesday. "It's always an important match -- that never changes. If the players can play to 100 percent of their potential, then the result will follow." Moriyasu called Spain a "tactically strong" team who have "dynamism as well as technique". Japan … [Read more...] about Japan Target Second World Cup Upset Against Spain | Football News

An Iranian man was shot dead by the security forces after celebrating when the United States eliminated his country's national team from the World Cup, rights groups said on Wednesday. Iran was knocked out of the World Cup by the United States in Qatar on Tuesday night, drawing a mixed response from pro- and anti-regime supporters. Many had refused to support the national team in response to a bloody government crackdown on more than two months of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Mehran Samak, 27, was shot dead after honking his car horn in Bandar Anzali, a city on the Caspian Sea coast northwest of Tehran, human rights groups said. Samak "was targeted directly and shot in the head by security forces... following the defeat of the national team against America", said Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR). The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) also reported that he had been killed by the security forces while celebrating. There … [Read more...] about Iranian Killed For Celebrating FIFA World Cup Loss to United States: Rights Groups | Football News

French-born Wahbi Khazri scored the only goal of the game as Tunisia claimed a famous 1-0 win over holders France at the World Cup on Wednesday, but it was not enough for them to reach the last 16. France coach Didier Deschamps, whose team were already through to the knockouts, made nine changes but they were a shadow of their usual selves and Khazri punished them in the 58th minute at Education City Stadium. Tunisia then had to hold on for the victory as an Antoine Griezmann goal in stoppage time was disallowed following a VAR review. Khazri, who grew up in Corsica and plays in Ligue 1 for Montpellier, was one of six players in the Tunisian line-up who were born on French soil and he was capped by France at Under-21 level. There is a large Tunisian community in France who will savour the result, the country's first win against European opposition at a World Cup and just their third ever in 18 matches at the tournament. However, they needed Australia to drop points in the … [Read more...] about Australia Down Denmark To Seal World Cup Last 16 Berth; France Stunned By Tunisia | Football News

Cristiano Ronaldo did not train with his Portugal team-mates on Wednesday ahead of their final World Cup group game against South Korea. The Portuguese striker, 37, was doing "specific recovery work" according to a source from the Portuguese football federation. Ronaldo , without a club since leaving Manchester United during the tournament, scored a penalty in his country's opening win over Ghana. Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 in their second match to qualify for the last 16, with Ronaldo appearing to claim a goal but he did not touch the ball and it was awarded to team-mate Bruno Fernandes. A point against South Korea on Friday would be enough to guarantee them top spot, while they could also lose and stay first if Ghana drop points or win but don't make up a three-goal deficit. In part of Portugal's training session witnessed by AFP, 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos joined 10 of the regular starters in a training drill, in Ronaldo's absence. Should Ronaldo not … [Read more...] about Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Portugal Training Ahead Of South Korea Clash In FIFA World Cup | Football News

For Lionel Messi , Argentina's last Group C game is a special one. The Argentine star knows that his team has to win the match in order to qualify for the Round of 16. Lionel Messi reignited Argentina's World Cup challenge with a superb goal in a 2-0 win over Mexico. Messi breathed fresh life into Argentina's campaign with his eighth World Cup goal in his fifth appearance in the finals. The 35-year-old maestro, desperate to crown his glittering career by lifting football's greatest prize, rifled home a low shot on 64 minutes to put Argentina en route to victory. Messi's goal meant he tied the late Diego Maradona on eight goals and 21 appearances at the World Cup for Argentina. After he was named in the starting line-up against Poland, Messi now has surpassed Maradona with 22 appearances at the World Cup. In the match against Poland, Enzo Fernandez was rewarded for his World Cup goal against Mexico with his first-ever start for Argentina as manager Lionel Scaloni made four … [Read more...] about Lionel Messi Surpasses Diego Maradona For Massive Record At FIFA World Cup | Football News

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina still advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday. Poland also went through as runners-up although a 2-1 win for Mexico over Saudi Arabia in the group's other game meant Czeslaw Michniewicz's side advanced only on goal difference. Alexis Mac Allister's 46th-minute goal settled Argentina's nerves after a tense first half, before Julian Alvarez doubled their lead just over 20 minutes later. Argentina had been unable to find a way past Wojciech Szczesny in an opening 45 minutes in which the Poland goalkeeper saved his second penalty of the tournament. Szczesny was adjudged to have fouled Messi while stretching to reach a cross, but he dived to his left to beat away the resulting spot-kick. It was the 31st penalty Messi had failed to convert in his career. Poland offered little attacking threat, with star striker Robert Lewandowski virtually anonymous throughout. Instead … [Read more...] about Argentina, Poland Progress To World Cup Last 16; Mexico, Saudi Arabia Bow Out | Football News