World Cup

AUSTRALIA’S third and final Group D challenge is against Denmark.The Soceroos had a bumpy road to qualification, finishing seven points off second-placed Japan in their group.
Australia’s only point at the 2018 World Cup came against Denmark in a 1-1 drawCredit: Reuters
Denmark scored 30 goals during qualification, conceding just 3Credit: Kenneth Ramsay
Consequently, they had to grit their teeth and do it the hard way, edging Peru in a dramatic semi-final penalty shootout to book their place in Qatar.
Graham Arnold’s side have qualified for the last four World Cups, but have failed to get past the group stage in their last three.
They will have to pull out all the stops if they are to navigate past Denmark who topped their qualification group by four points.
The Scandinavian side were Euro 2020’s surprise act, reaching the semi-finals where they were knocked out by England 2-1.
When is Australia vs Denmark?

Australia’s clash with Denmark will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
The game will kick off at 3pm UK time.
Australia vs Denmark will be held at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex.
The last time the two two sides met was during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the points were shared in a 1-1 draw

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What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

Australia vs Denmark will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream the action on the BBC iPlayer, which can be downloaded onto your mobile or tablet device.

Can I watch it for FREE?
You’re in luck! The game is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence.
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FOOTBALL fans are salivating at the prospect of the potential second round of Luis Suarez versus Ghana in the World Cup.The Uruguayan striker, 35, was surprisingly named on the bench for his country in tonight’s Group H defeat to Portugal.
Fans cannot wait to see Luis Suarez versus Ghana round twoCredit: Getty
The star’s hanfball against them in the 2010 World Cup made him public enemy No.1Credit: AFP
And that has led to many believing that the former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid star, who did appear off the bench, was being kept fresh for the crunch final group game shoot-out against his old foes.
Ghana, who have four points from two games after the win over South Korea earlier, will be out for revenge against Uruguay, who only have one going into their now must-win last group game.
The sides faced off in the quarter final back in 2010 during the World Cup in South Africa, and a rivalry was born.
Sulley Muntari put Ghana ahead only for Uruguay to equalise through Diego Forlan to send the match to extra time.
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With penalties looming as the score remained level, Ghana were putting on the pressure and came close to scoring in the final minute of the match only for Suarez to punch the ball off the line.
He was instantly sent-off as the referee awarded a penalty – but Asamoah Gyan blew his country’s semi-final dream by blasting over.
If that was not bad enough, Suarez was still on the touchline watching on and burst into wild celebration as the game went to a shoot-out – which was eventually won by Uruguay.
That made him public enemy No.1 in Ghana, and now supporters cannot wait to see the next instalment.
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One tweeted: “Fridays game is Ghana vs. Suarez. It’s not even Ghana vs. Uruguay. It’s Ghana vs. Suarez!!”
Another wrote: “Suarez is the most wanted man in Ghana.”
A fellow fan commented: “Cannot wait for Suarez vs Ghana 12 years on!”
Another said: “I’m excited for Ghana vs Uruguay what a game that will be. Suarez public enemy to Ghana.”
While another added: “I need another Suarez vs Ghana moment.” More

IRANIAN journalists have bombarded the US World Cup team with politically-motivated questions in a press conference ahead of the two sides meeting today the tournament.Captain Tyler Adams and coach Gregg Berhalter fielded questions from a press pack – which had little to do with the match set to be held in Qatar’s Al Thumama stadium.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter, left, and US captain Tyler Adams fielded questions from Iranian journalists which had little to do with footballCredit: AP
Berhalter didn’t appear to be happy with the political line of questioning from the Iranian journalistsCredit: AFP
The Americans were quizzed about a number of topics unrelated to football, including if the players were representing a racist country, US visa rules in place against Iranian citizens and the nation’s naval presence in the Persian Gulf.
Even Adams’ American pronunciation of Iran came under fire during the 30-minute press conference which proved to be a highly charged encounter.
It comes after the US soccer federation displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in support of the anti-regime protests which have been taking place in the country.
The move caused Iran’s government to call on FIFA to expel Team USA from the tournament.
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The first question from an Iranian journalist set the tone for the rest of the encounter.
Addressing Berhalter, the reporter asked: “What percentage of the world’s population will be happy if Iran wins this match [versus a US national team (USMNT) victory]?” forcing the coach to try and mediate the tension.
“For us it’s a soccer game against a good team – it’s not much more than that,” Berhalter replied, attempting the skirt the political implications of the question.
A few minutes later, a journalist from the English language Iranian news organisation Press TV fired off: “First of all you say you support the Iranian people but you’re pronouncing our country’s name wrong. Our country is name Iran, not ‘aye-ran’.
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“Second of all, are you okay to be representing your country that has so much discrimination against black people in its own borders?”
Adams, who has a white American mum and a dad who is black, refused to take the bait.
He replied: “My apologies on the mispronunciation of your country. That being said, there’s discrimination everywhere you go… in the US we’re continuing to make progress every single day… as long as you make progress that’s the most important thing.”
There was a brief reprieve from the onslaught when a US reporter said he intended to ask a “soccer question”.
But it didn’t last long, with the Iranian media returning to ask about political issues.
One journalist asked: “Sport is something that should bring nations closer together and you are a sportsperson.
“Why is it that you should not ask your government to take away its military fleet from the Persian Gulf?”
Berhalter responded: “I agree, sport is something that should bring countries together… you get to compete as brothers,” making comparisons between the Olympics and the World Cup, but avoided touching on the strained relations between the US and Iran.
By the end of the encounter Berhalter appeared to have grown tired of the questioning and when asked about the strict US laws for Iranian citizens, he simply replied: “I don’t know enough about politics, I’m a soccer coach.
“I’m not well versed on international politics so I can’t comment on that.”
Meanwhile, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said he hoped the next World Cup would feature less about politics and more about football, adding there were better ways to use sport as a force for good.
Iran’s team have been pulled into the political turmoil at home, facing pressure from protesters, who want to change the legitimacy of the country’s clerical rulers, to side with them publicly and condemn the ongoing state crackdown.
He was asked about the US soccer federation temporarily showing Iran’s national flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, in a move to show support for the protesters.
Queiroz told a news conference: “I still believe I can win games with those mental games.
“Those events surrounding this World Cup I hope will be a lesson for all of us in the future and we learn that our mission is here to create entertainment and for 90 minutes make people happy.”
For the US side, they face a simple objective – win their final Group B game or they go home.
They have to secure the three points for a win to continue their World Cup adventure.
“It sets up our first knockout game of the World Cup,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said.
“We win or we’re out of the World Cup. Anytime you’re in a World Cup and you get to go into the last group game in control of your own destiny, that’s a pretty good thing.”
GROUP B SITUATION
The US is currently third in the group with two points after drawing their games against Wales and England but only the top two sides in the group games advance.
In the same group, England has four points, Iran three and Wales is currently bottom with one point.
Iran only needs a tie in their next match to advance, as long as Wales does not pull off an upset and defeat England.
Iran took a thumping in their opening group game, losing 6-2 to England but came back in their next match with a 2-0 victory over Wales.
“I really have to thank the Iranian fans. They helped us play 90 minutes of beautiful football,” Queiroz said. 
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“Now, we have to concentrate on the USA. We haven’t finished yet.”
In the only other previous World Cup encounter between the US and Iran in 1998, Iran came out 2-1 winners.
The USA need to win Tuesday’s game against Iran to stay in the World CupCredit: EPA
Berhalter managed to deflect the questions from the Iranian press packCredit: Getty More

THE first British derby ever played at a World Cup finals — and quite possibly the final match for Gareth Bale as an elite footballer.England versus Wales adds a serious dollop of local spice to this global jamboree.
Gareth Bale is Wales’ star man with the key to beat EnglandCredit: Getty
We’ve had Welsh actor Michael Sheen geeing up the boyos prattling on about the valleys and “crimson thunder” and the land of our fathers.
And we’ve had Gareth Southgate suggesting that he will use a video of Wales players celebrating riotously in their team room, after England were humiliated by Iceland at Euro 2016, as motivation for the clash in Doha.
So it seems the perfect time for an Englishman to ask: “Gareth Bale, five-time Champions League winner — was he ever really all that?”
No other British footballer has five European Cup winner’s medals and no other British footballer has ever spent nine years on the books of Real Madrid, the most famous club on Earth.
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There is no doubt that Bale’s career-highlights reel is sensational.The “taxi for Maicon” night against European champions Inter Milan back in 2010.
The sprint down, and outside of, the touchline to  out-pace Barcelona’s Marc Bartra and score in the 2014 Copa del Rey final Clasico.
Inspiring Wales to a major semi-final six years ago, as well as their first World Cup in 64 years.
And his two goals in Champions League finals — especially that sensational bicycle-kick against Liverpool in Kiev in 2018.
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Bale played a significant role in three of those five Champions League triumphs — although last season he only featured for seven minutes of Real’s entire European campaign.
So, of course, Bale was a special player but the idea that he might be British football’s GOAT is unlikely to garner much favour outside of Wales.
Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, George Best and Stanley Matthews would surely rank above him.
In fact, Bale is probably not the greatest Welsh footballer of all time.
If you asked the late, great Jimmy Greaves to name the best British player ever, as I once did, he’d argue for Bale’s fellow Welshman John Charles — world class at both centre-forward and centre-half and a legend at Juventus.
The view of Bale in Madrid is a harsh one, often  centring around the infamous “Wales, golf, Madrid — in that order” flag he posed with after Wales qualified for the last Euros finals.
There was an element of truth in that banner. Bale has a passion for his national team which he has never felt for Madrid. He is also an extremely keen scratch golfer.
And the fact Bale dug in his heels and refused to move when Real wanted his £600,000-per-week contract off their wage bill, was never going to make him popular.
David Beckham, who surpassed expectations on an individual level, and Steve McManaman, a Champions League winner who fully embraced life in Madrid, are the two British players with a strong, lasting affection at the Bernabeu.
Even before things turned sour, during Zinedine Zidane’s second spell as Real manager, Bale was often questioned.
One eminent Spanish journalist argued that Bale “didn’t know how to play football”.
By which he means that Bale had all the attributes to be a great player — pace, physicality, finishing prowess — but he didn’t have the understanding of the game to be as great as he ought to have been.
At his peak, Bale had an uncanny ability to produce decisive moments in matches but he rarely dominated games — partly because Cristiano Ronaldo was Real’s alpha male for so long.
Before Real, Bale was good enough to win two PFA Player of the Year awards in a Tottenham team which won nothing, and became the most expensive footballer on the planet. Although Real tried to pretend his £86million fee was lower to placate Ronaldo’s ego.

In Wales he is adored, not just for his world-class ability but for his fierce patriotism.
They still sing about Bale’s decision — long forgotten in England — to withdraw from Team GB at the London Olympics, with the words: “Said he had a bad back,  f*** the Union Jack, viva Gareth Bale!”
At 33, and after years of serious injury problems, Bale is clearly not the explosive player he once was.
At this World Cup, he scored a penalty in a draw with the United States but was anonymous in the 2-0 defeat by Iran which leaves Wales on the brink of  elimination.
They must either beat England by four clear goals or win by a lesser margin and hope the USA and Iran draw if they are to advance to the last 16. Bale may not be the greatest British footballer — and he was not as great as he might have been.
But he remains a fiercely proud Welshman with a  reputation as a big-game player as well as a lingering dead-ball ability, which will make England wary.
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So we mustn’t discount the possibility of a sting in the tail at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium tonight.
Nor should we fully rule out a second sporting career ending with a Green Jacket at Augusta either.
Gareth Bale scored in Wales’ opener versus USACredit: Getty More

CRISTIANO RONALDO remains level with Lionel Messi for World Cup goals – despite claiming the opener.And when Portugal were given a ridiculous late penalty for handball, Ronaldo was already off the pitch, allowing Fernandes to complete a brace.
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed to have scored Portugal’s winnerCredit: Getty
Ronaldo celebrated as if he had scoredCredit: Reuters
Fifa awarded the goal to Bruno FernandesCredit: Reuters
But of the two superstars to have led their countries to victory at the stadium that will host the final, the Portugal captain looks the more likely to be back here on December 18.
Ronaldo was initially credited with putting the faintest of touches on a Fernandes cross and moving one ahead of his Argentinian nemesis again after Messi’s goal at the other end of the pitch two nights before.
His face when he looked up to the screen to see it had been awarded to the Manchester United man was a picture.
Was Ronaldo playing to the cameras with his look of amazement and amusement?
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Either way, he could yet have the last laugh over Messi at this tournament.
Because Portugal are a better team than Argentina and look less reliant on the genius of one man.
Not that they were brilliant, far from it.
And they were on the ropes as Uruguay went close to grabbing the draw that was probably the limit of their ambitions at kick off.
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Yet this squad has the make-up and look of a World Cup winner, and topping the group gives them a favourable-looking draw.
If Ronaldo does lift the trophy, it would be a popular victory.
If anything, it felt like there were more of his fan boys and girls in the crowd than there had been Messi supporters on Saturday night when the ranks of native Argentinians were swelled significantly by locals and tourists.
Every flick, feint and stepover was greeted with the kind of gasps that normal people reserve for a decent fireworks display.
Ronaldo could not produce the big bang this time but this win guaranteed he will have the chance to make the difference in the knockout stages.
Which is more than Messi can say right now.
Like Mexico vs Argentina, the actual football was a disappointment.
As expected, the injury to Portugal defender Danilo enabled Pepe, 39, to become the second oldest outfield player to start a game at the World Cup.
But fans of aggro were disappointed to see that Uruguay boss Diego Alonso had dropped Luis Suarez, a mere 35 year old, from the starting line-up.
To watch the former Barcelona striker get his teeth – perhaps literally – into Pepe, the ex-Real Madrid defender had been an enticing prospect.
In truth, Suarez could have no complaints after his performance in the opening goalless draw against South Korea.
It said a lot about Uruguay’s options, however, that Suarez’s replacement was another 35 year old, Edinson Cavani, who was a passenger from the start.
Ronaldo began as if he was in the mood, with a shoulder lay-off to William Carvalho, who volleyed well off target.
But although he and Portugal’s three other attacking players rotated elusively, they were unable to find a way through dogged and well-organised Uruguay.
Alonso’s team were doing little at the other end.
But the undoubted highlight of the first half was Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur running through Portugal from the centre circle to the penalty area, only for Diogo Costa to come out to save his tame finish.
At the start of the second half, organisers were so desperate to drum up some excitement that they revealed Darwin Nunez had recorded the top speed of the match.
Then a fan sprinted on to the pitch with a rainbow flag and a number of other protests to make.
The game was temporarily halted when a fan ran onto the pitchCredit: Getty
The pitch invader held a rainbow flagCredit: Getty
But the game was going nowhere fast despite until the strange goal.
Fernandes’ cross was lovely, Ronaldo’s run was well-timed, but Rochet focused so much on what the living legend might do to the ball that he forgot about saving it.
Alonso waited a little while to act, finally taking off Cavani and – surprisingly – Nunez, and throwing on Suarez and Maxi Gomez with less than 20 minutes to go.
The latter hit the post within minutes.
Suarez could find only the side netting when the ball broke to him in the six-yard box.
Then wing back Guillermo Varela burst through to force an unconvincing save out of Costa.
It was by far Uruguay’s best spell of the game but not enough to deserve a point.
Ronaldo’s ageing limbs were given a rest as he came off with about 10 minutes to go.
Quite what convinced the VAR and then referee Alireza Faghani that Gimenez’s accidental handball as he fell to the ground was worth a penalty, heaven alone knows.
But there was no doubt about Fernandes’ conversion of the spotkick.
He would have had a hat-trick but Rochet saved and then he hit the post.
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Ronaldo, you like to think, was pleased for this team-mate.
And he can still dream of completing his set of major trophies with the one that he and Messi covet the most.
Portugal were awarded a penalty for this handballCredit: Getty
Bruno Fernandes sealed the win from the spotCredit: Getty
Fernandes celebrates after scoring his second of the gameCredit: Getty More