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      Portugal vs Ghana – World Cup LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo in action, stream FREE, TV channel – updates for Group H clash

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is in Portugal’s starting XI for their clash with Ghana this afternoon. The Manchester United forward has caused a storm over the past week following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
      And on Tuesday night, he was axed by United as a result of his comments about the club.

      Kick-off time: 4pm GMT
      Live stream: ITV X
      TV channel: ITV 1
      Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Danilo, Ruben Dias, Guerreiro; Neves; Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Otávio, Joao Felix; Ronaldo
      Ghana XI: Ati Zigi; Seidu, Djiku, Salisu, Amartey, Rahman; Partey, Abdul Samed; Kudus, Inaki Williams, Andre Ayew

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET £40 IN FREE BONUSES FOR THE WORLD CUP
      Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
      Portugal 0-0 Ghana
      8. A nervy moment for Danilo in defence, who tries to trick his way beyond Andre Ayew inside his own penalty area – but momentarily forgets to take the ball with him.
      Portugal 0-0 Ghana
      7. Portugal have bossed possession early on, but it’s all a little frantic so far.
      Bruno Fernandes has a chance to pierce the Ghana defence, but his lofted through ball is so wayward that it curls out for a throw-in near to the corner flag.
      Portugal 0-0 Ghana
      5. The corner from the left is headed partially away, but only as far as Otavio, who goes for a spectacular response on the volley.
      His first time shot from 25 yards is pulled well wide of the goal.
      Portugal 0-0 Ghana
      4. Guerreiro wins the first corner of the game for Portugal after coming out on top in an intriguing footrace with Seidu.
      Portugal 0-0 Ghana
      2. The crowd cheer as Ronaldo takes his first touch in open play, but it’s an uncharacteristically heavy one that leads to him chopping down Baba Rahman.
      An inauspicious start.
      Kick-off – Portugal v Ghana
      1. American referee Ismail Elfath blows his whistle, and then Cristiano Ronaldo – visibly emotional during the national anthem – gets the game going for Portugal.
      There are bound to be more tears from the 37-year-old during the coming weeks, but will they be of joy or despair?
      Here come the two teams!
      The light show inside Stadium 974 has finished. Now it’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo to try to light up Qatar 2022.
      He looks in relaxed mood as he leads his Portuguese team out on to the pitch. One sign among the travelling fans read: “I resigned from my job to witness the G.O.A.T.’s last dance.” Can he deliver?
      The Ghanaians certainly look happy to be here and they sing their way through a jaunty national anthem, but now it’s time for the serious business.
      Kick-off at Stadium 974 is next.
      Bilbao’s Inaki in attack-y
      Leading the Ghana line this evening is Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao.
      If his name, style and look seems familiar, it may because his younger brother – Nico – made an impressive cameo as substitute for Spain in their 7-0 win over Costa Rica yesterday.
      The 28-year-old Inaki is certainly a consistent performer in the domestic game; his 247 consecutive league appearances for Bilbao is the longest current such run in LaLiga.

      A case for the defence
      There was only one goalless draw at the 2018 World Cup, but five days into Qatar 2022 and we’ve already had four.
      Surely there won’t be another one here in Doha this evening? Well…
      Portugal coach Fernando Santos has come under fire from fans for his dour approach with many back home believing he is not making the most of the attacking talent at his disposal.
      Meanwhile, ITV have just revealed that Chris Hughton has been helping out with the Ghana squad, promising that the Black Stars will ‘defend properly’ during this tournament.
      Players put through their paces
      Half-hour from kick-off at Stadium 974, and both sets of coaches are out on the pitch and keeping keen eyes on their players warming up.
      It may only be the pre-match routine, but Cristiano Ronaldo is looking sharp and focused. How will Thomas Partey and co. go about dealing with the FORMER Manchester United star?

      Opportunity to hit the top
      A short while ago, the full time whistle was blown at Education City on the fourth goalless draw of this World Cup so far.
      The 0-0 result between Uruguay and South Korea in Group H’s opening game means this upcoming match is an early opportunity for either Portugal or Ghana to pull clear of the pack. Who will take advantage?
      Here comes your man
      There’s been a first sight this evening of the player that everyone is talking about…
      HUUUGE roar from the crowd as CR7 comes out, clapping his hands above his head to respond to the Portugal fans who still believe he is the greatest player on the planet. If that’s what it’s like for the warm-up, how absolutely mental will it be if he scores the winner?Martin LiptonThe Sun

      Tenth tournament for CR7
      On the pitch or off the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo can’t stop making headlines and setting records.
      This evening, the Portugal captain will play at his tenth major international tournament for his country, becoming the first European to do so.
      His first such competition was Euro 2004 in his home country, a tournament in which he scored his first goal for A Selecao.
      Credit: @Squawka Twitter
      Live from Stadium 974
      Our man in the ground this evening is Martin Lipton, and he’s been busy getting used to the sight of an unattached Cristiano Ronaldo.
      “All eyes will be on one man, of course, inside the remarkable feat of engineering that is Stadium 974 on the Doha waterfront.
      “Seven of the Portuguese side, and four Ghanaians, are current or former Premier League stars.
      “But all of them have a club designation on the official Fifa team-sheet.
      “All except one. Beside the name of Ronaldo it reads: ‘N/A (Free Agent)’
      “That’s been changed quite recently.”
      Brighton’s Lamptey among Ghana subs
      12 Danlad, 16 Nurudeen, 2 Lamptey, 3 Odoi, 6 Owusu, 7 Fatawu, 8 Kyereh, 9 Jordan Ayew, 11 Bukari, 13 Afriyie, 14 Mensah, 15 Aidoo, 22 Sulemana, 24 Sowah, 25 Semenyo
      Partey named in Ghana XI
      Ghana (5-4-1): 1 Ati Zigi; 26 Seidu, 23 Djiku, 18 Amartey, 4 Salisu, 17 Rahman; 20 Kudus, 5 Partey, 21 Abdul Samed, 10 Andre Ayew; 19 Inaki Williams

      On the Portuguese bench tonight
      1 Rui Patricio, 12 Sa, 2 Dalot, 3 Pepe, 6 Palhinha, 9 Andre Silva, 14 Carvalho, 15 Leao, 16 Vitinha, 17 Joao Mário, 21 Horta, 23 Nunes, 24 Antonio Silva, 26 Ramos
      Ronaldo starts and captains Portugal
      Portugal (4-4-2): 22 Costa; 20 Cancelo, 13 Danilo, 4 Ruben Dias, 5 Guerreiro; 8 Bruno Fernandes, 18 Neves, 10 Bernardo Silva, 25 Otavio; 11 Joao Felix, 7 Ronaldo

      Selecao odds-on for success
      The bookies aren’t giving Ghana – the lowest ranked team at Qatar 2022 – much of a chance in this Group H opener against Portugal with the Black Stars priced at almost 8/1.

      Portugal win 1/3
      Draw 4/1
      Ghana win 17/2

      Meanwhile, if you like your bets with a little more longevity, why not consider Cristiano Ronaldo for the Golden Boot? The 37-year-old is a 16/1 shot to put his Manchester United fallout behind him to top score at the World Cup.
      Match odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
      On the last episode
      Not only will Cristiano Ronaldo be looking to secure the golden boot but he’ll want to inflict more pain on Ghana similar to last time out.
      John Boye’s Own goal but Portugal ahead when the sides met in a Group stage encounter back in 2014.
      But Ghanaian legend Asamoah Gyan’s fine finish levelled up the scoring for the Black Stars.
      However, Ronaldo hit a winner on the 80th minute to seal the deal for the European giants.
      World Cup Golden Boot standings
      As it stands, five players are tied at the top for the golden boot – something which Cristiano Ronaldo will have his eye on.

      Bukayo Saka – England – 2
      Olivier Giroud – France – 2
      Mehdi Taremi – Iran – 2
      Enner Valencia – Ecuador – 2
      Ferran Torres – Spain – 2
      Jude Bellingham – England – 1
      Jack Grealish – England – 1
      Kylian Mbappe – France – 1
      Gareth Bale – Wales – 1
      Lionel Messi – Argentina – 1

      The stage is set
      With only two hours to go, time is ticking until the big kick-off at 4pm.
      Credit: Rex
      Credit: Reuters
      Other fixtures happening today
      Breel Embolo’s goal inspired Switzerland to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon.
      Uruguay are currently level with South Korea at the interval in Group H’s early fixture.
      And we round off the day with a mouth-watering match between Brazil and Serbia.
      Welcome to Portugal vs Ghana
      Good afternoon SunSport community and welcome to another huge fixture in what has been an exciting 2022 World Cup so far – and a certain someone is BACK.
      Portugal vs Ghana is big enough as it is, but now, we can add Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United sacking to the mix.
      The footballing legend will be determined to put what has been a controversial week behind him after he saw his mega £500k-a-week contract torn up.
      And that spells danger for the Black Stars who have their eyes set on knock-out qualification for the first time since 2010.
      Make sure to stay tuned into our blog as we will have all the latest gossip, team news, what is happening elsewhere and the starting line-ups ALL before kick-off at 4pm GMT.
      Load more entries… More

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      Inside Brit WAGs’ Qatar World Cup jolly – £600 outfits to poolside cocktails and huge slide on £1bn ‘floating palace’

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      OH how the other halves live!They may not be able to spend time with their fellas, but the England and Wales WAGs are clearly living their best lives this World Cup.
      The Wales WAGs were out in full force to support their husbands and partnersCredit: Instagram
      Conor Coady’s wife Amie Coady is in Qatar with their three sonsCredit: Instagram
      Enviable snaps shared to their social media pages show it’s been non-stop sunbathing, eating and enjoying cocktails in Qatar between matches.
      Jack Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood and the rest of the British footballers’ partners touched down in Doha earlier this week ahead of England’s 6-2 win against Iran and Wales’ 1-1 draw with the US.
      While the men are all housed at the Al Wakra resort, the England WAGs are staying on a luxury £1billion cruise liner, dubbed a “floating palace”.
      It boasts six swimming pools, 30 bars and the tallest slide on a ship.
      More on World Cup
      Meanwhile their Welsh counterparts are staying at the luxurious Grand Hyatt Dubai.
      All the girls have been busy sharing photos and videos of themselves soaking up the 30 degree heat in bikinis.
      And they seem to be getting round the strict alcohol rules in Qatar, where it’s largely only served in hotel restaurants and bars with special licences.
      Thanks to the England WAGs’ cruise ship being “off-shore”, those on board can sip boozy cocktails to their heart’s content.
      Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson looked stunning for an evening outCredit: Instagram
      Paige Milian strikes a pose in her roomCredit: Instagram
      Tolami and Raheem Sterling’s girlfriend Paige Milian enjoyed cocktails togetherCredit: Instagram
      Tolami also had some sushi for dinner at one of the cruise’s many restaurantsCredit: Instagram
      More on Wags
      And they’ve got 30 bars to choose from on the ship, as well as a micro-brewery and mixology classes in its Elixir gin bar.
      Paige Milian, 27, girlfriend of England’s Raheem Sterling, Tolami Benson, 22, who’s dating Bukayo Saka, and Raheem’s little sister Kima-Lee Sterling have clearly been making the most of it.

      The trio shared a video of cocktails they were drinking at one of the bars, where they were dressed to the nines.
      Tolami posted a snap of some sushi and dim sum at one of the many restaurants on-board, along with what looked like a white Chanel bag.
      She also shared a video of the inside of the cruise ship – which houses beauty salons, boutiques, dodgems, 14 ocean-view Jacuzzis and the longest dry-slide at sea, ominously called The Venom Drop.
      Swanky restaurants
      Aaron Ramsdale’s fiance Georgina Irwin wore a £640 Nadine Merabi suit for a night outCredit: Instagram
      She then had dinner at Novikov – a swanky restaurant originating in MayfairCredit: Instagram
      Some of the girls enjoyed an al fresco dinnerCredit: Instagram
      Aaron Ramsdale’s fiancee Georgina Irwin obviously fancied a little taste of home for dinner.
      She headed to the swanky Japanese-Chinese fusion eatery Novikov, which originated in London’s Mayfair – and had some delicious-looking tacos.
      Prices at Novikov go up to 420 Rial (£95.82) for just nine pieces of sashimi, while the cheapest item on the menu is apple juice for 25 Rial (£5.70).
      Georgina was dressed for the occasion, looking stunning in a black, sequined suit and trouser set with matching bralet – an outfit which would’ve set her back around £640.
      Paige also headed out for an outdoor dinner by the pool, wearing a stunning brown dress that showed off her amazing figure.
      In a video she shared of the formal dining table outside, there were lots of seats so she and the girls most likely got together for the meal.
      Fun with the kids
      Amie’s sons must be having a great time on the cruiseCredit: Instagram
      Amie took the boys out for an evening scoot in Doha tooCredit: Instagram
      Paige shared a snap of the ships’ massive slideCredit: Instagram
      Paige is in Qatar with her and Raheem’s children, Thiago, five, and Thai-Cruz, three, as well as his daughter from his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Melissa Clarke, Melody Rose, 10.
      And Amie Coady, 29, the wife of England’s Conor Coady, has brought along their sons Henry, seven, Louie, five, and three-year-old Freddie to support their dad.
      They’re all probably having a ball on the cruise ship with so much to do, including a range of clubs for children, a Sportplex zone offering basketball, bumper cars, and even a roller disco rink.
      Amie has also found time to enjoy an evening scoot with the kids, as she shared a video of them whizzing along the seafront, as well as a view from her room on the cruise showing off the stunning view – and the 26 degree heat.
      She posted a string of pictures from her room, which overlooks the sea, posing in a black and white bikini and matching sarong – costing £102 for the set from Grace Jacob – and some very glamorous Chanel sandals.
      Beach days
      Wales footballer Connor Roberts’ wife Georgina is at the Grand Hyatt Dubai hotelCredit: Instagram
      Nicole Hagan, who has been linked to Welsh player Neco Williams, posed in a bikiniCredit: Instagram
      The Welsh WAGs all posed together when they supported their men at their first game against USA.
      But it seems like many of them are doing their own thing when it comes to the non-match days.
      Georgina Roberts, the stunning wife of Welsh footballer Connor Roberts, is staying at the Grand Hyatt Dubai hotel – where rooms start at 950AED (£214) a night – with their eight-month-old daughter and her mum.
      She has shared loads of photos of the three generations enjoying a wholesome holiday together.
      In one snap Georgina looks very happy holding her daughter in the sea at the Dukes The Palm Hotel’s beach.
      And in another picture, she’s seen enjoying some cocktails by the pool with her mum.
      Meanwhile others have been enjoying the sun, sitting by the pool and beach, relaxing.

      Jodie Francis, the fiancee of Wales player Chris Mepham, showed off her toned abs in a gorgeous black one-shouldered bikini top with some loose, white trousers, as she sat on the beach.
      Nicole Hagan, who has been linked to Welsh player Neco Williams, also looked like she was enjoying the sun, in a glamorous photo wearing a lilac bikini.
      Chris Mepham’s fiancee Jodie Francis showed off her abs on the beachCredit: Instagram
      Jodie was sipping some delicious cocktails by the beachCredit: Instagram
      Georgina has taken her daughter to the beachCredit: Instagram
      She’s also there with her mum and they’ve been enjoying cocktails togetherCredit: Instagram More

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      Why is Son Heung-min wearing a mask during South Korea’s match against Uruguay at World Cup 2022?

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      SOUTH KOREA superstar Son Heung-min is in action for South Korea against Uruguay at the World Cup.And he is sporting an item of kit fans will not have seen him in before.
      Son Heung-min wears a mask during South Korea’s World Cup opener against UruguayCredit: Getty
      The Tottenham Hotspur ace was almost ruled out of the huge Qatar tournament before confirming that he wouldn’t miss it ‘for the world’.
      And now, Son has been pictured in training wearing a marvel-type mask ahead of South Korea’s opening clash against Uruguay.
      Find out why the tricky winger has been forced to wear a mask below…
      Why is Son Heung-min wearing a mask?
      Son Heung-min is wearing a protective mask following a fractured eye socket he sustained in a Champions League win on November 1.
      Son suffered a fractured eye socket in a Champions League win over MarseilleCredit: Reuters
      Son was forced to come off early in the win against MarseilleCredit: Reuters
      Read more on Son Heung-min
      The Spurs star had a sickening collision with Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba’s shoulder.
      And as a result, Son required immediate attention, before coming off the field early where he then needed to undergo surgery a few days later.
      Thankfully for the South Korea captain, the surgery was a success and he was then called up to the Asian giants World Cup squad.

      What has Son Heung-min said?
      The Tottenham forward revealed how honoured he is to play for his country and that it will take a lot more than a fractured eye socket for him to miss the World Cup.
      Most read in Football
      Son said: “Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too.
      “I won’t [miss] this for the world. I can’t wai to represent our beautiful country. See you soon. Sonny.”

      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World Cup More

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      Stunning German Wag complains World Cup stadium too COLD because of air-con while showing off goosebumps in Japan loss

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      GERMANY Wag Christina Ginter complained about how cold World Cup stadiums are in Qatar.The 29-year-old watched her first game of the tournament on Wednesday as Germany took on Japan.
      Christina Ginter complained about feeling cold during Germany vs JapanCredit: Getty
      The Wag even had goosebumps in the air-conditioned stadiumCredit: Instagram / @chrissy_ginter
      Christina is married to Germany defender Matthias GinterCredit: Instagram / @chrissy_ginter
      The pair started dating in 2015Credit: Instagram / @chrissy_ginter
      Christina is no stranger to watching football matchesCredit: Instagram / @chrissy_ginter

      But husband Matthias Ginter did not make it onto the pitch as his side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat.
      To make matters worse for Christina she also felt very cold because of the air conditioning in the Khalifa International Stadium.
      She even experienced goosebumps on her arm due to the cold despite temperates reaching around 26C in Doha on Wednesday.
      Christina shared a pic of her goosebumps on Instagram alongside the caption: “How much can you cool down a stadium?
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      “Qatar: Yes!”
      Several World Cup fans have complained about feeling cold at stadiums.
      Qatar built seven air-conditioned stadiums for the World Cup to combat the desert heat.
      But after the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador some supporters complained of being cold.
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      Temperatures at the Al Bayt Stadium peaked at 23C, with the coastal location adding a cool breeze around the ground.
      One fan commented on the windy conditions but the state-of-the-art air conditioning units are designed to keep temperatures in the stand around 20C, regardless of what the weather is like. More

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      I’m Denmark’s sexiest fan and backing them in World Cup but NOT because of Christian Eriksen despite my Man Utd love

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      THE social media star dubbed “Denmark’s sexiest fan” is backing her boys to do big things at the World Cup… and not just because of Christian Eriksen.Model Katrina Maria regularly posts sizzling snaps in her Manchester United gear – cheering on Eriksen and Co at club level.
      Katrina is a huge Man United fanCredit: Instagram
      The social media star has more than 100,000 followersCredit: Instagram
      But on the international stage, it isn’t just about the magnificent attacking midfielder.
      Katrina hails from the Faroe Islands – which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
      And she moved to Denmark itself in around 2014 – deeming it only right to support them ever since.
      That Eriksen has joined her beloved United, however, is a happy coincidence.
      Read More World Cup Stories
      Explaining her Red Devils love affair to the Daily Star in 2018, she said: “I have a bunch of friends who were watching the games and I started hanging out with them and started watching.
      “Also my family are United fans. I think it is the thrill of it and just so exciting. I just love the atmosphere, it is like a big family.”

      Asked for her favourite moment as a fan, she added: “I think 2013 when they last won the title, that was a great moment. I was with my friends and went out partying, we were having a really great night.”
      Katrina has gathered over 100,000 Instagram followers, with many of them fellow United and Denmark fans.
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      She may have been underwhelmed by the latter’s start to their World Cup campaign on Tuesday.
      Kasper Hjulmand’s side drew 0-0 with underdogs Tunisia – with not even Eriksen being able to break the deadlock.
      Denmark are back in action on Saturday when they take on reigning champions France at Stadium 974.
      They will then round off their Group D campaign against Australia next Wednesday.
      Katrina supports Denmark… and not just because of Christian EriksenCredit: Instagram
      Katrina partied all night after United’s last title win in 2013Credit: Instagram More

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      Qatar World Cup fans savage rip-off burger that ‘looks like a Rustlers’

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      QATAR World Cup fans have been left baffled by a “rip off” burger on sale at the stadiums which they compared to a £1 Rustlers. The expensive cost of food and drink has caused a stir as more than a million fans descend on the tiny nation in the Middle East.
      How much would you pay for this burger at the footie?
      Packed-lunch style breakfast boxes at £175-a-night fan camps, £15 bottles of Becks, and sad-looking salads on sale at the World Cup fan zones have all been widely shared and mocked.
      And it has raised questions about whether fans really are getting value for money as they travelled to Qatar – which is one of the richest countries in the world per capita.
      The latest snap widely shared online is of a miserable looking beef burger which was reportedly served at the Al Thumana Stadium during the 2-0 win for the Netherlands over Senegal.
      The snap shows a small and rather flat looking beef burger – which fans compared to a simple microwavable burger from Brit snack favourite Rustlers.

      And while it may a delicious snack for £1 – fans agreed that it certainly wasn’t worth the stonking £8 this fan paid for it during the game.
      “Is it me or is that a Rustlers?” wrote one fan, as others replied “No mate it’s worse” and “this makes Rustlers look like prime quality food”.
      Others fans joked “Ronald McDonald wouldn’t touch that” and “£8 for a McSingle?”
      “Did someone trample on that before you opened it?!” one said, and another replied “sad looking burger that”.
      Most read in Football
      One added in all capital letters: “EIGHT POUNDS FOR A RUSTLERS?” and one joked: “Robbery beyond daylight.”
      And another said “wow, looks absolutely disgusting…. Hope it tastes better than it looks” while one added “Footy Scam more like”.
      “The wrapper looks the best bit,” another wrote, and one said “looks like the pack lunch me ma made me when I was 7”.
      Other fans however were less damning as they said they had paid more for less at stadiums and festivals in the UK.
      Qatar has already faced questions over organisation of the World Cup – with reports weeks before the start that the nation simply was not ready.
      Confusion over the sale of beer, infrastructure problems and reports of crowd trouble at the fanzone have already surfaced.
      The tiny country is expected to welcome more than one million fans during the tournament – when the country only has a population of 2.9million.
      Billions have been spent to try and ready the nation for its first attempt at holding an event of this scale.

      And in an embarrassing u-turn last night, Qatar authorities revealed they were offering refunds to fans facing problems at the cabin villages.
      Football fans complained of leaky toilets, six hours queues to check in, and heavy handed policing at two of the pop-up sites in Qatar. More

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      Brazil vs Serbia – World Cup Group G: How they got there, form and prediction as Neymar and Co get underway in Qatar

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      THEY’RE the most successful nation in World Cup history with FIVE trophies to their name.But Brazil haven’t gone all the way since a Ronaldo-inspired success in 2002.

      In fact, they’ve only ONCE made it past the quarter-finals in the 20 years since that day when they lost the third-place play-off to Holland in 2014 on home soil.
      This winter, Tite has a star-studded squad itching to go the distance.
      But before getting too ahead of themselves, Brazil must find a way to navigate a particularly tricky group, featuring Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
      Up first, it’s potential dark horses Serbia – as SunSport takes a look at everything you need to know before the big game.
      READ MORE WORLD CUP STORIES
      How did they get there?
      Brazil: Topped the outrageously-tough South American table with 14 wins from their 17 games, drawing three with ZERO losses.
      Their clash with Argentina was scrapped after five minutes due to an incredible row over Covid.
      Serbia: Won a tricky European Group A, winning six of their eight matches and going unbeaten, like Brazil.
      Serbia, tipped as dark horses for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, beat Portugal to top spot to avoid the need for a play-off.
      Most read in Football
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      How’s their form?
      Brazil: Well, they’ve won every match since JANUARY 27 when they were held 1-1 by Ecuador in a feisty encounter.
      Incredibly, their most-recent defeat came in the Copa America final in July 2021.
      They beat Ghana 3-0 and Tunisia 5-1 in September, with both those teams in this winter’s tournament.
      Serbia: Thumped Bahrain 5-1 in their pre-tournament warm-up match on the back of a strong Nations League campaign.
      They won four of their group games, drawing one and losing one.
      Prior to that, they beat Hungary – who inflicted England’s biggest defeat since 1928 just weeks later – with a 3-0 loss to Denmark shortly after.

      Who are the managers?
      Brazil: Tite – A hugely experienced boss having spent most of his career in his home nation, Qatar will only be his second World Cup having taken over in 2016.
      The South Americans lost 2-1 to Belgium in the quarter-finals in Russia four years ago, with Tite itching to make up this time around.
      Tite has won a staggering 75 per cent of his 76 matches in charge of Brazil.
      Serbia: Dragan Stojkovic – A former team-mate of Gary Lineker, he started his managerial career at Nagoya Grampus Eight, following in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger, who famously led the Japanese side before heading to Arsenal.
      Stojkovic spent five years there, before moving to China to manage Super League side Guangzhou R&F, where he spent another half-decade.
      The 85-cap international took over as Serbia boss in 2021 and has won a hugely impressive 14 of his 21 matches, losing just three times.

      Who are the star players?
      Brazil: Could easily list the entire 26-man squad, with a world-class squad more than capable of putting out two lethal XIs.
      But their attack is the attention-grabber with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Richarlison and Antony in the current group.
      Yet they’re strong across the board, with Alisson and Ederson fighting for the No1 jersey, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Eder Militao in defence and Bruno Guimaraes, Fabinho and Casemiro in the middle.
      Serbia: Aleksandar Mitrovic is the clear main man for the European side, with his last-gasp winner against Portugal securing their World Cup place.
      His goals are invaluable to the team, but the squad is packed with top talent including Dusan Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Vlahovic, with Luka Jovic, Filip Kostic and Nikola Milenkovic also in the 26-man group.
      Brazil boast a star-studded squad including the likes of Neymar and Dani AlvesCredit: EPA
      Aleksandar Mitrovic will be Serbia’s biggest threat at the 2022 World CupCredit: AFP
      What’s the head-to-head?
      The teams have faced off twice, with Brazil winning both.
      The South Americans won a friendly 1-0 in 2014 shortly before the World Cup on home soil.
      Brazil then beat them 2-0 in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      Read More on The Sun
      What TV channel will show the game?
      The match will be shown on BBC One, with kick-off 7pm.
      Alternatively, you can follow the match on iPlayer.
      SunSport prediction
      Brazil 2 Serbia 1 More

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      Portugal vs Ghana – World Cup Group H: How they got there, form and prediction as Cristiano Ronaldo kicks-off campaign

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      ALL eyes have been on Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks ahead of Portugal’s World Cup 2022 campaign.The veteran superstar, 37, saw his contract with Manchester United terminated on Tuesday following his explosive interview with SunSport columnist Piers Morgan in which he tore the club to shreds, from top to bottom.

      Fernando Santos will hope Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t been too negatively affected by his Man Utd dramaCredit: AFP
      Now a free agent, Ronaldo is playing for his very future in football.
      And with Fernando Santos missing a number of key men for the tournament in Qatar, they’ll need Ronaldo to be at his best.
      Portugal have never won the World Cup. In fact, they’ve never reached a final, finishing third in 1966 and fourth in 2006.
      Aside from those years, the nation has only reached the last 16 twice, with a fairly poor record on the biggest stage.
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      And they face a tricky campaign from the outset, going up against Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay in the group stage.
      Progression to the knockout rounds is by no means a certainty – so SunSport takes a look at everything you need to know about them and their World Cup opener opponents Ghana.
      How did they get there?
      Portugal: Forced to do it the hard way as they finished second behind Serbia in their Uefa qualification group, despite six goals from Ronaldo.
      They beat Turkey 3-1 before winning their play-off final 2-0 against North Macedonia – who had earlier KO’d Euro 2020 winners Italy.
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      Ghana: Knocked out in the group stages of Afcon, qualification for the World Cup came in dramatic manner.
      They topped their second-round qualifying group ahead of South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe before edging out Nigeria on away goals in their two-legged play-off to reach Qatar.
      How’s their form?
      Portugal: Won their pre-tournament friendly 4-0 against Nigeria, but form has been patchy.
      They won three of their six Nations League games – including 4-0 victories over Switzerland and Czech Republic.
      But they also lost to the Czechs, as well as to Spain – to go with another draw with their neighbours.
      You’re never quite sure which Portugal will turn up, but when they do, they’re near unstoppable.

      Ghana: It’s been a tough year, starting with a 3-0 battering against Algeria ahead of Afcon.
      Things didn’t get any better in the tournament as they lost 1-0 to Morocco and 3-2 to Comoros, to go with a 1-1 draw with Gabon as they crashed out in the group stage.
      Since then they’ve battled past Nigeria to reach the World Cup.
      But even then it’s not all positive. They drew 1-1 with Central African Republic in their Afcon qualifier, following a 3-0 win over Madagascar.
      They were then thumped 4-1 by fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan in this summer’s Kirin Cup semi-final, salvaging some pride with a penalty shootout win over Chile in the third-place play-off.
      Since then, they’ve lost 3-0 to Brazil but beaten Nicaragua 1-0 and Switzerland 2-0… a real mixed bag.
      Who are the managers?
      Portugal: Fernando Santos – In charge of the nation for eight years and counting, Santos has been an international manager for over a decade, having managed Greece between 2010 and 2014.
      Prior to that, he managed Porto, AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and PAOK.
      Santos knows what it takes to succeed on the big stage, too – having guided Portugal to the Euro 2016 crown. He also oversaw the 2018-19 Nations League victory.

      Ghana: Otto Oddo – Joined the national set-up in September 2021 as one of two assistant managers working under Milovan Rajevac.
      However, the Serbian boss didn’t last long and German-born Oddo – who spent his playing days in the Bundesliga with the likes of Borussia Dortmund – was given the job.
      Oddo was hired immediately before the double-header with Nigeria – and helped inspire their success.
      However, he’s won just three of his nine matches in charge.
      Previously, he’d worked as talent coach and then No2 at Dortmund following a stint as a scout for the Ghana national side.
      Who are the star players?
      Portugal: Guess who? We all know about Ronaldo’s talent and despite his on-running club drama.
      He may no longer be in his prime but CR7 has got the ability to turn a match on its head singlehandedly.
      But make no mistake, Portugal are packed with talent, including Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo.
      A great mix of youth and experience with the likes of Rafael Leao and Pepe in the squad, too.
      Thomas Partey is the biggest name in a strong Ghana squad for the World CupCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo is the main man for Portugal but he’s more-than-ably supported by the likes of Bernardo, Fernandes and FelixCredit: Getty
      Ghana: Arsenal star Thomas Partey is his nation’s main man, but the squad is chock full of talent.
      Brighton whiz Tariq Lamptey has been named in the squad alongside the Ayews – Andre and Jordan.
      LaLiga ace Inaki Williams is an exciting talent with just three international caps under his belt at present, with Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus one to watch.
      There’s plenty of Premier League talent in the squad, too – including Mohammed Salisu and Daniel Amartey in defence.
      What’s the head-to-head?
      The two nations have played just ONCE – with Portugal running out winners.
      The Portuguese edged out a narrow 2-1 win in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with Ronaldo on the scoresheet that day.
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      What TV channel will show the game?
      The game will be shown live on ITV1 with kick-off at 4pm.
      The game will also be available on ITV Hub.
      SunSport prediction
      Portugal 2 Ghana 1 More