World Cup 2022

BRAZIL are facing Switzerland in a huge World Cup clash RIGHT NOW!Star man Neymar will play NO part, with Man Utd star Fred coming in as Tite shores up his midfield.
Richarlison’s double – including a goal of the tournament contender – game the Samba Boys a 2-0 win over Serbia.
Switzerland beat Cameroon 1-0 in their opener thanks to a strike from Breel Embolo.

Kick-off: 4pm
TV channel: ITV
Live stream: ITV X
Brazil XI: Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Fred, Casemiro, Paqueta; Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius
Switzerland XI: Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Rieder; Sow, Vargas, Embolo

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7 Brazil 0-0 Switzerland
Switzerland will look to take advantage of any set-pieces against Brazil.
The Selecao are definitely the kind of team you don’t want to allow to play their game, though
5 Brazil 0-0 Switzerland
Brazil have started strong and are trying to impose their rhythm from the get go, as expected.
Switzerland are confident and keep their lines together against their strong opponents
2 Brazil 0-0 Switzerland
And another quick reminder:
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Brazil.
Yann Sommer starts between the sticks with Silvan Widmer at right-back and Ricardo Rodriguez on the other side, while Nico Elvedi and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji link up at centre-back.
Nottingham Forest’s Remo Freuler and captain Granit Xhaka of Arsenal team up in midfield with Mohamed Sow at No10.
Fabian Rieder plays down the right with Ruben Vargas on the other side, while Breel Ambolo leads the attack
1 Brazil 0-0 Switzerland
Just a quick reminder:
Brazil manager Tite appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Switzerland.
Liverpool’s Alisson starts in goal with Eder Militao replacing Danilo at right-back and Alex Sandro on the other side, while Marquinhos and captain Thiago Silva of Chelsea link up at centre-back.
West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta as well as Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred, who takes Neymar’s place in the starting line-up, team up in midfield.
Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Tottenham’s Richarlison spearhead the attack
Brazil 0-0 Switzerland
Peep!
Off we go in Qatar!!!
Her come the teams!!!
The 974 Stadium is ready to host the World Cup clash between Brazil and Switzerland.
Captain Thiago Silva leads the Selecao out the pitch while Arsenal star Granit Xhaka dons the Swiss armband.
The two teams line up on the pitch for their national anthems in Qatar.
Not long to go now…!
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
Neymar injury latest
Brazil superstar Neymar is sidelined with an ankle injury he picked up against Serbia after his foot rolled following a tough tackle.
The Paris Saint-Germain star limped off in his country’s World Cup opener and it has been confirmed he will miss the rest of the group stage after damaging ankle ligaments – team doctors believe the 30-year-old will be out of action for at least a week.
But the star forward reassured all of Brazil he will return and help his team win the World Cup with a defiant statement on Instagram.
Neymar posted: “The pride and love I feel wearing the shirt is inexplicable. If God gave me the opportunity to choose a country to be born in, it would be BRAZIL.
“Nothing in my life was given or easy, I always had to chase after my dreams and my goals. Never wishing someone harm but helping those in need. Today has become one of the hardest moments of my career… and again in a World Cup.
“I have an injury yes, it’s annoying, it’s going to hurt but I’m sure I’ll have the chance to come back because I’ll do my best to help my country , my team-mates and myself. Long wait for the enemy to take me down like this? NEVER! I am the SON OF THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE and my FAITH is endless”
Credit: PA
Qatar World Cup controversy
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been marred by controversy due to serious allegations of human rights breaches.
The Guardian claimed last year that 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had died since the Arab country’s successful World Cup bid in 2010.
The number is based on figures provided by the respective countries’ embassies in Qatar.
However, the Qatar government said the total was misleading, claiming accident records were 37 deaths among labourers at World Cup stadium construction sites between 2014 and 2020, and only three of which were “work-related”.
However, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that was an underestimate.
Serious questions have also been risen over the treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community as homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by incarceration or even death.
Controversy ensued after FIFA banned the One Love armband that England, Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland were supposed to wear in support of the gay and trans community
Credit: PA
Word from the ground
Let’s hear from SunSport’s man on the ground Phil Thomas after the line-ups came out:
It’s only when you run through some of the options open to Tite – the Professor – that you realise losing the injured Neymar isn’t the disaster it would be for everyone else.
No coach is as spoilt for choice quite like the Brazil gaffer. So as much as he tried a touch of the “woe is me” in the run-up to this game, no-one was buying it.
Brazil aren’t just hot favourites, they’re positively scorching ones, and another win on top of the opener against Serbia will ease them through with a game to spare.
The Swiss aren’t here as tourists, though, and are bullish about their chances of causing an upset.
Xherdan Shaqiri has never been short of confidence or self belief and has heavily talked up his nation’s chances.
Bold and brave, or crazy to tweak the tail of the tiger? Come 9pm tonight we’ll have the answer…but I know what the clever money’s on.Phil ThomasSunSport
Time for predictions
Brazil pose as favourites ahead of this crunch World Cup clash with Switzerland.
However, Murat Yakin’s men are well up for it and have been enjoying a good run against the Brazilians.
The Selecao are also without star man Neymar, who is out with an ankle injury.
What do you think? Give us your prediction below:

Switzerland formation
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Brazil.
Yann Sommer starts between the sticks with Silvan Widmer at right-back and Ricardo Rodriguez on the other side, while Nico Elvedi and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji link up at centre-back.
Nottingham Forest’s Remo Freuler and captain Granit Xhaka of Arsenal team up in midfield with Mohamed Sow at No10.
Fabian Rieder plays down the right with Ruben Vargas on the other side, while Breel Ambolo leads the attack
Brazil formation
Brazil manager Tite appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Switzerland.
Liverpool’s Alisson starts in goal with Eder Militao replacing Danilo at right-back and Alex Sandro on the other side, while Marquinhos and captain Thiago Silva of Chelsea link up at centre-back.
West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta as well as Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred, who takes Neymar’s place in the starting line-up, team up in midfield.
Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Tottenham’s Richarlison spearhead the attack
Switzerland subs
12 Omlin, 21 Kobel, 24 Koehn, 2 Fernandes, 6 Zakaria, 9 Seferovic, 11 Steffen, 14 Aebischer, 16 Fassnacht, 18 Comert, 20 Frei, 22 Schaer, 23 Shaqiri, 26 Jashari
Brazil subs
12 Weverton, 23 Ederson, 2 Danilo, 13 Alves, 15 Fabinho, 16 Telles, 17 Guimaraes, 18 Jesus, 19 Antony, 21 Rodrygo, 22 Everton, 24 Bremer, 25 Pedro, 26 Martinelli
Switzerland XI
Sommer, Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Embolo, Freuler, Xhaka, Rodriguez, Sow, Vargas, Rieder

Brazil XI
Alisson, Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Fred, Pacqueta, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Richarlison

The team sheets are in!!!
Switzerland stats
Switzerland are second in Group G after also beating Cameroon 1-0 in the World Cup opener.
The Swiss have reason to feel confident as they have won two of their last four matches – of which they lost one – against Brazil across all competitions.
But the A-Team have only won just one of their eight matches against a South American country at the World Cup, of which they lost five – the only team they defeated was Ecuador in 2014.
Switerland are aiming to win their opening two World Cup games for the first time in their history.
The only other time they won two straight games in the competition was in 2006 against Togo and South Korea
Credit: Getty
Brazil stats
Brazil are top of Group G with a better goal difference than Switzerland – Tite’s man defeated Serbia 2-0 thanks to a brace by Tottenham star Richarlison.
The Selecao are unbeaten in their last 16 group stage matches at the World Cup.
No team has ever gone 17 without defeat at this stage of the competition before.
But the Brazilians haven’t beaten the Swiss since their friendly 2-1 victory in 2006 as they lost one of their next two meetings across all competitions
Credit: Getty
Head-to-Head
Brazil and Switzerland’s first ever encounter took place way back in 1950 when they faced off in the World Cup and drew 2-2 in Sao Paulo.
Since then, the two sides have faced off a total of nine times with the Selecao winning a majority of three times, compared to the Swiss’ two victories.
The two nations also faced off in the World Cup’s group stage in 2018 in a match that ended 1-1.
That means none of them have managed to emerge victorious from a World Cup match against each other.
Switzerland are one of three countries, alongside Portugal and Hungary, that Brazil have faced twice in the esteemed competition without ever beating
Credit: Getty – Contributor
Good afternoon from Qatar
Welcome to SunSport’s live blog coverage of the World Cup clash between Brazil and Switzerland at the 974 Stadium.
Both teams are looking to seal qualification to the Last 16 after Group G opponents Cameroon and Serbia’s entertaining 3-3 draw.
But Brazil manager Tite will have to do it without star man Neymar, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury he picked up against Serbia after his foot rolled following a tough tackle.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar then limped off and it has been confirmed he will miss the rest of the group stage after damaging ankle ligaments.
Team doctors believe the forward will be out for at least a week and Tite will have to find a replacement.
But the Brazilian tactician has Tottenham star Richarlison available to spearhead his attack after a fantastic brace against the Serbians.
Danilo will also miss the rest of the group stage with a similar injury as Neymar and that means 39-year-old Dani Alves could come in and appear in his first World Cup match since 2014.
However, it is likelier that Eder Militao will start at right-back for one of the competition’s biggest favourites.
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin, on the other hand, is not dealing with any fresh injury concerns ahead of this crunch clash.
But Yakin’s recent change in formation means there is no longer room for Fabian Schar to start as a third centre-back, and thus the duo of Nico Elvedi and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji are preferred over the Newcastle ace
Credit: Getty
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GHANA kept their World Cup campaign alive with a thrilling 3-2 win over South Korea.Ghana knew they would have been OUT of the tournament with a loss.
Mohammed Kudus scored twice in the victory as Ghana bounced back in some style.

Result: South Korea 2 Ghana 3
South Korea XI: Kim, Kim Jin-Su, Min Jae, Woo-Young, Kim Moon, Hwang Inbeom, Young-Gwon, Jeong Wooy, Chang-Hoon, Son, Gue-Sung
Ghana XI: Ati-Zigi, Lamptey, Amartey, Salisu, Mensah, Partey, Abdul Samed, Kudus, A. Ayew, J. Ayew, Williams

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Ghana leave it all out there
As the final whistle blew, you could see just how much this win meant to those Ghanaian players.
They worked so hard to keep South Korea out in stoppage time, their effort sapped the energy out of them.
The fans in the stands erupted, the players rejoiced and Otto Addo can dream of taking his team to the knockout phases.
Credit: PA
Credit: AFP
Credit: AFP
Cho us what you’re made of
Cho Gue-sung almost made himself the hero of South Korea with his second hand performance.
Only the heroics of Ghana keeper Ati-Zigi could prevent the striker from completing his hat-trick.
His shot map showing how his game changed once he started getting himself in the right areas with his team mates providing some quality supply from the flanks.

Inside the ground – full time analysis
SunSport’s Mark Irwin reports from Al Rayyan:
MOHAMMED SALISU went from World Cup sinner to Saint as Ghana’s Black Stars saw off a thrilling Korean fightback at the Education City Stadium.
The Southampton defender was gutted to concede the contentious penalty which allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to set Portugal on their way to victory in last week’s Group H opener.
But he more than made amends with the breakthrough goal against the sleepy South Koreans to keep his nation’s hopes alive.
Ghana came into this match knowing that defeat for them would definitely mean they were out of the competition.
And despite Korea laying siege to the Ghanain goal for the entire ten minutes of stoppage time they simply could not come up with another equaliser to save their bacon.
South Korea left seeing stars
The Tigers of Asia were left seeing stars in the Education City Stadium today in the form of the Black Stars of Ghana.
After coming back from the brink, South Korea could not find that third goal to earn themselves a point.

Bento sees red at final whistle
South Korea manager Paulo Bento has just been shown the red card by Anthony Taylor as the manager erupts on him at the full time whistle.
He seemed unhappy no time was allowed for their corner at the end.
Bento will not be on the touchline for their final game in the group now.
Hectic scenes on the pitch still.
FT: South Korea 2-3 Ghana
Anthony Taylor blows his whistle to a great roar.
The Black Stars have got their first win of the World Cup 2022.
South Korea threw all they had at them in search of an equaliser but could not breach the Ghana defence.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
90+10. Ghana are just throwing legs at the ball trying to clear it now.
Another corner for South Korea.
They must have put about 20 crosses into the Ghana box in the last period of play.
Ghana are holding on.
Just.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
90+8. Ghana take some time out as they treat one of their players.
Ati-Zigi is having a great game for Ghana.
They are minutes away from their first win at the World Cup in seven attempts.
There will be some celebrations if they can see this one out.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
90+6. South Korea are having more shots on goal in the last ten minutes than the entire tournament prior to this.
Ghana are camped out in their own half at the moment.
Cross after cross from South Korea.
Attack versus defence stuff here.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana – Cho chance
90+4. Ghana are trying to run the clock down any chance they have now.
Any time they feel a contact they milk it for all they can.
Who can blame them, they want to see this one out.
Cho has an effort tipped over the bar by the keeper.
Credit: AFP
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
90+2. Ghana are under all sorts of pressure.
All the crosses are coming from wide positions and they are struggling to deal with the aerial bombardment.
Kwon comes on for the Tigers of Asia, perfect time to make a name for yourself.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
90. Korea are knocking on the door again.
It is flicked into the box but Baba heads it clear with a diving header.
There are going to be 10 minutes of stoppage time.
South Korea still have time to change this game.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
88. Baba comes comes on for Ghana.
The Chelsea player who, in true Chelsea form, has spent more time on loan than in West London.
Classic Chelsea vibes.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
86. South Korea are still playing their passing game.
Resisting the urge to lump it long to Cho in search of a goal.
They must have confidence in that fourth official’s board.
Credit: Getty
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
84. Both sides are still going for this.
Ghana know another goal kills this game off.
South Korea have not given up hope of an equaliser.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
82. Having watched most of the AFCON tournament, it was a worry how well the African sides would fair against competition outside of their continent.
Well they are showing me that there was nothing to worry about whatsoever.
Their performances are a credit to the tournament.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
80. We are into the final ten minutes of this clash.
Well, until the fourth official holds the board up to indicate there is two more weeks of additional time.
That will be music to the South Korean ears.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
78. South Korea seem more dangerous when their full backs support their attacking play.
Ghana manage to draw a foul to give themselves a breather.
Both sides are looking to make some changes.
Credit: Reuters
South Korea 2-3 Ghana – Lee chance
76. Lee gets bend and dip on the ball as he strikes it with his left foot from distance.
Great save from the Ghana keeper, tipping it around the post for a corner.
South Korea are pressing now.
Kim meets a cross with a volley and it is cleared off the line.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana – Lamptey yellow card
74. Ghana have now scored in their last 7 World Cup matches.
Son is fouled heading towards the box.
Lamptey is shown a yellow card for the foul.
Taking one for the team I think they call it.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
72. Who would want to be a football fan.
The Korean fans have been on a real emotional rollercoaster here.
Dejection to joy to depression.
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
70. Twenty minutes left here for South Korea to find another goal.
This has been another fantastic match up today.
What drama.
Credit: Reuters
South Korea 2-3 Ghana
68. The ball is crossed in towards Inaki Williams.
He seemingly misses the ball completely and it runs through to Kudus.
The Ghanaian hits it first time and puts the Black Stars back in front.
Goal – Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
South Korea 2-2 Ghana
68. There seems like there are more goals in this game.
Neither side has seem to be resting on their laurels.
Free kick is given to Ghana for a foul on Amartey.
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