World Cup 2022

LIVERPOOL legend Jamie Carragher has advised Gareth Southgate to quit as England boss after the World Cup.Carragher said: “If I was Gareth Southgate, I would make the Qatar World Cup my swansong as England manager.
“Hopefully England will produce to a strong enough level to ensure that it is Southgate’s call.
“He is intelligent enough to have sensed a mood shift over the last few months, even if some of the negativity surrounding him during the build-up to the tournament is a joke.”
Antonio Conte has begged Gareth Southgate for Harry Kane to be protected at the World Cup.
And stay tuned to our blog as SunSport will reveal the rest of the squad announcements.
How to get free bets on football – the 17 best bookies to claim rewards and bonuses
Stay tuned with all the latest ahead of the tournament…
BREAKING – Maddison hobbles off through injury
James Maddison has suffered an injury scare moments after scoring for Leicester at West Ham.
Maddison, 25, fresh from being named in Gareth Southgate’s squad, opened the scoring at the London Stadium.
But the midfielder as replaced before the half hour mark following a hamstring injury.
Trossard on Blues link
He said: “Chelsea have in any case not yet reported.
“I want to finish strong at Brighton and leave for Qatar with that good feeling.”
“Not with Brighton and not with me. I have to wait and see.”
Despite denying an approach from the Blues, Trossard didn’t rule out a reunion with Potter at Stamford Bridge.
He added: “It’s very difficult to answer that. That will have to wait until [after the World Cup].
“I’m not on it at all right now. Brighton and the World Cup are the next goals. Afterwards, we’ll see where it ends.”
Trossard denies Chelsea link
Brighton star Leandro Trossard has denied claims that he’s been approached by Chelsea.
The Blues have reportedly been sniffing around since Graham Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel in the Stamford Bridge dugout last month.
The Belgium international is out of contract at the end of the season, although Brighton do have the option to extend his deal by a year.
Trossard has caught the eye with a string of outstanding recent displays.
He’s already scored seven Prem goals this term, just one fewer than his tally from the whole of 2021-2022.
Only Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Toney and Miguel Almiron have found the net more.

Ronaldo ‘major doubt’ for Fulham clash ahead of World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo is a major doubt for Manchester United’s away day at Fulham on Sunday with the wantaway star missing training amid illness worries.
The 37-year-old was absent for Man Utd’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa during the week.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag confirmed Ronaldo‘s absence was due to illness.
And as a result, he missed training meaning he could be ruled out for United’s final Premier League game before the World Cup.
Ten Hag’s men will travel to Craven Cottage to play league high flyers Fulham and Anthony Martial could be the man to lead the line.
Brentford defeat City
Huge Premier League news from the Etihad as Brentford have BEATEN Manchester City.
A 2-1 away win means that Arsenal are still two points above their title rivals with the chance to go five clear with a win later tonight.
Fan reaction to Toney strike against City
One fan said on Twitter: “England have made a mistake not selecting Ivan Toney for the World Cup.”
Another said: “Some unflattering chants and time-honoured gestures of disapproval for England manager Gareth Southgate from Brentford’s fans, very obviously because of his decision to leave Ivan Toney out of England’s World Cup squad.”
A third tweeted: “No World Cup, no problem for Ivan Toney.”
Ivan sets the Toney
Brentford striker Ivan Toney responded to his World Cup heartbreak by scoring against Manchester City.
Toney was snubbed by England manager Gareth Southgate for the 26-man squad.
Southgate instead opted for Newcastle striker Callum Wilson to deputise star man Harry Kane in Qatar.
And Toney appears to have sent a message to the Three Lions gaffer by scoring against the Premier League champions and sticking his fingers in his ears as a celebration.
Toney’s goal at the Etihad was his tenth across all competitions.
That’s four more than Wilson, who pipped him to a World Cup spot.

Forget about 2018, says Trippier
Kieran Trippier is determined to banish the ghosts of 2018 at the Qatar World Cup.
The Newcastle star said: “We’ve got the squad to go one step further in Qatar.
“It’s difficult to let go, I’m not going to lie, getting beat in a semi-final when you know you were so close. There is no point to prove but we could have been 3-0 up in the first 45 minutes.
“You just need to forget about it, have your rest with your families after the tournament and try and move on as quickly as possible.
“That’s long gone. We’ve all achieved things since then and now we want to put that right. We’ve made a final and now we want to go one step further.”
Southgate right to snub Sancho, says Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel reckons Gareth Southgate was absolutely correct to leave Jadon Sancho out of his World Cup squad.
Schemeichel said: “I don’t think he’s done enough.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with the talent that he has, and yes it’s difficult to come to Old Trafford with that price-tag, I understand that.
“But he’s shown that he can do whatever he did at Borussia Dortmund, he just hasn’t done it enough.”
More on Son selection
Son will be heading to Qatar to contest the World Cup, where South Korea will play Uruguay, Ghana and Portugal in Group H.
Their first game will be against South Americans Uruguay on November 24.
However, manager Bento is not sure when Son will return to training.
He said: “We don’t have that information yet.
“We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department.
“We need to wait, we need to analyse day by day his situation.
“We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision.”
Son named in South Korea squad despite surgery
Tottenham ace Son Heung-min has been named in South Korea’s World Cup squad despite manager Paulo Bento not being sure when the 30-year-old can train.
Son picked up an injury in Spurs’ Champions League clash with Marseille.
A collision with ex-Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba left the South Korean idol with a broken orbital bone.
As a result, Son had to have eye surgery, which was successful.
Spiranac rates new USA shirt
Paige Spiranac showed off the USA’s kit ahead of their World Cup showdown with England in Qatar.
The golf beauty, 29, has traded clubs and putting greens for football.
In a Twitter video, the social media sensation said: “Hi everyone it’s Paige and I have here the World Cup USA kit.
“A lot of people are very disappointed because they think it’s quite boring.

“Honestly, I have to agree.
“They were just like ‘you know what, we are just going to mail it in’.
“‘We’re just going to make it all white and put USA on the front’. Like, what is this?”
USA will kick off their World Cup Group B campaign against Wales on November 21.
Redknapp’s red hot England

Harry Redknapp’s starting XI
Harry Redknapp has picked his England starting line up for the World Cup.
Redknapp told BetVictor: “I’m sure Gareth will play a completely different system and probably a very different team, but this would be my team.”
Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Dier, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Grealish, Kane, Saka
Redknapp highlights England squad surprises
Harry Redknapp reveals what he thinks of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Qatar World Cup.
Redknapp told BetVictor: “Gareth’s named his squad now, so exciting couple of weeks ahead for the build-up. We’re all looking forward to this World Cup.
“One or two not massive surprises, one or two of the lads will be disappointed not to go.
“I think Ivan Toney will be disappointed. Ward-Prowse, I thought he might have gone.
“But in the main, I think it pretty much picked itself, so this is the squad.”
Ryan Air slammed for mocking Sancho
Well-known airline Ryan Air have been slammed by Manchester United fans for mocking Jadon Sancho.
The England winger was left out of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man side for the upcoming tournament in Qatar.
And Ryan Air tweeted Sancho shortly after saying: “We’ll still fly you somewhere” with a kiss emoji.
Fans thought that this was not right including Ravel Morrison who tweeted: “this ain’t cool”.
Gallagher’s surprise call-up
Popular journalist David Ornstein has revealed that some people at Chelsea were surprised by Conor Gallagher’s World Cup inclusion.
Gallagher the all-important call up on Thursday afternoon to say that he’d be heading off to Qatar this winter.
But people at Stamford Bridge were reportedly shocked as he has featured less than Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Chelsea.
Ornstein said:
“Conor Gallagher, no doubt he’ll be absolutely made up. You do sense some surprise across the industry, maybe even a few people I’ve spoken to at Chelsea,” said Ornstein.  
“They are obviously delighted for him, but I’m not sure they thought he’d been in. Especially as someone like Ruben Loftus-Cheek has actually been more heavily involved for Chelsea this season than Conor Gallagher has.”
Morrell outrage over human rights at World Cup
Joe Morrell says Wales’ players will still speak out about human rights issues in Qatar, writes Phil Cadden.
Fifa have told teams to focus on the World Cup rather than the host country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws or treatment of migrant workers.
But Pompey midfielder Morrell said: “We have a very switched-on squad who are more than happy to talk about these subjects. It’s important that we do raise the issues Qatar has had.
“There are a lot of issues that we feel Qatar need to do a bit better with.
“As players we have got to try to find the balance between being professional and maybe try and inspire a bit of change.”
Karren Brady: Fifa has sunk so low
The mistake was, said ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter with the air of the man who had just found the Mary Celeste, that Qatar was too small for a World Cup, writes Karren Brady.
The handsome merchant brigantine — that’s the ship, not Blatter — was found drifting minus the whole crew and later sold off only to be deliberately wrecked in an insurance scam.
Rather like the supreme committee who elected Qatar. They have also disappeared, one or two of them to prison, most others in hiding — tarnished by accusations of bribery, fraud and money-laundering.
They left us all with the biggest sporting event after the Olympics to be held in a desert. Old man Blatter’s confession understates the country’s unsuitability with a schoolboy excuse.
Too small? It’s also too hot, too prejudiced, too sober, too restricted, too male-orientated, too undemocratic. Readers might wish to add to this list.
Now some chap who was once a local footballer — and incredibly said that homosexuality is ‘damage to the mind’ — asks us all to be kind to Qatar and leave it in peace to get on with hosting.
So has Fifa chief Gianni Infantino, who by the way moved to Doha a year ago. They are entitled to their opinion, as are we all.
Conte: Don’t Cane Harry
Antonio Conte told England boss Gareth Southgate: Look after Harry Kane, writes Rob Maul.
The Tottenham striker has played more minutes than any other Premier League star this term.
England face Iran in their World Cup opener in nine days and Conte warned: “There’s a big risk. All the players have played a lot.
“Coaches of national teams have to be very good to manage the situation.
“When you are a player like Harry that gives everything in every game, it’s very difficult to give him rest, to put him on the bench.
“After our game against Leeds there are eight days to prepare for the World Cup.
“Until now, we have managed the situation and, believe me, it was really, really difficult.
“To play 13 club games in 43 days, mentally you could be a bit tired.”
Good morning World Cup fans
Jamie Carragher has sensationally told Gareth Southgate to stand down as England boss after the World Cup.
He said: “If I was Gareth Southgate, I would make the Qatar World Cup my swan song as England manager.
“Hopefully England will produce to a strong enough level to ensure that it is Southgate’s call.
“After his excellence in the job to this point, the least he deserves is to leave on his own terms when he feels the time is right.
“He is intelligent enough to have sensed a mood shift over the last few months, even if some of the negativity surrounding him during the build-up to the tournament is a joke.”
Meanwhile, Spain have left legendary defender Sergio Ramos and goalkeeper David De Gea out of their World Cup squad.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago also misses out having last appeared for his country at the Euros in 2021.
But Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta plus Manchester City duo Aymeric Laporte and Rodri made the cut.
Brentford and Brighton goalies David Raya and Robert Sanchez also got picked.
Finally, Wayne Rooney has backed Jude Bellingham to shine at the World Cup after getting a Championship bruising from him.
Bellingham went toe-to-toe with England’s all-time top scorer back in 2020 as Rooney’s Derby beat Birmingham 3-1.
Rooney, 37, said: “I played against Bellingham when he was at Birmingham and I was playing for Derby.
“He marked me and was only about 16. What I really liked about him is when I passed the ball off he would leave a stud on me and I remember thinking he had something about him.”
Van Gaal reveals ‘naked’ WC snubs
Former Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal has hilariously revealed how some Holland players were “naked” while being told they had NOT made his World Cup squad.
Van Gaal said: “It’s not easy dropping someone.
“I spent 1 hour and 45 minutes Facetiming the 11 players this morning. It wasn’t easy.
“I also took into account the time difference with the English players. I saw some naked players because they were still in bed.”
Gallagher can be England’s new Lampard
Conor Gallagher has already been compared to Frank Lampard at club level – but the Chelsea ace is now being tipped to replicate the legendary midfielder for England.
Jermaine Jenas explained: “He reminds me a lot of Lampard and also he [Gareth Southgate] likes to promote from within.
“I think he is a game-changer as well Conor Gallagher. He’s the type of player that you bring on and he has an impact on the game.
“He presses, gets himself in the box and creates chances.”
Schmeichel backs Southgate’s Sancho snub
Peter Schmeichel reckons Gareth Southgate was absolutely correct to leave Jadon Sancho out of his World Cup squad.
Schemeichel said: “I don’t think he’s done enough.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with the talent that he has, and yes it’s difficult to come to Old Trafford with that price-tag, I understand that.
“But he’s shown that he can do whatever he did at Borussia Dortmund, he just hasn’t done it enough.”
Bale in Welsh dream land
Gareth Bale admits his path to the World Cup with Wales is straight from a Hollywood script.
The LAFC star said: “There have been a lot of missed opportunities where we could have qualified and never did.
“To play with your mates as I do, having grown up with them in the youth system in Wales has been a fun time. No matter how life was at our clubs we really enjoy playing together.
“It’s a Hollywood script that you wouldn’t believe. From where we are now to when we started out, if you’d offered me half of that I’d have bitten your hand off.”
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