World Cup

SAUDI ARABIA defender Yasser Al-Shahrani was stretchered off the pitch after a horror collision with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais. The full-back went up for an aerial collision when he clattered into keeper Alowais, leaving him knocked out.
Yasser Alshahrani was stretchered off after a collision with Mohammed AlowaisCredit: AFP
Yasser Al-Shahrani is consoled by his team-matesCredit: Reuters
Saudi Arabia’s Yasser Al-Shahrani on a stretcherCredit: AP
Al-Shahrani had to be stretchered away but put his thumbs up as Saudi Arabia desperately defended their shock 2-1 lead over Argentina.
Stopper Alowais cut a distressed figure as his team-mate was taken off the field in added time.
It added even more time to Saudi Arabia fans, who nervously watched on as a historic upset was on the cards.
And amazingly, after over 100 minutes were played, Lionel Messi’s Argentina were stunned in Qatar.
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The PSG superstar opened the lead on just ten minutes after coolly converting from the penalty spot.
But he suffered frustration as THREE goals were ruled out – which was a sign of things to come.
Striker Saleh Alshehri levelled on 48 minutes with an excellent finish into the bottom corner.
It set the scene for an upset for the ages.
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Winger Salem Aldawsari took home the spoils with a stunning goal to win the game.
He cut in on his right foot on 52 minutes to curl home what is already going to be a contender for goal of the tournament.

Argentina knocked on the door for well over 40 more minutes but Saudi Arabia remained solid at the back, especially keeper Alowais.
Al-Shahrani’s injury will come as a blow to manager Herve Renard, who guided his team to a famous win.
Saudi Arabia celebrate their upset winCredit: Getty More

WITH the World Cup finally underway every team in the tournament is hotly anticipating their first game in Qatar – with the pressure on holders France perhaps the greatest.The depleted world champions face Australia in Group D looking to avoid a major upset.
Kylian Mbappe will be hoping to kick start France’s World Cup with a bangCredit: AFP
The Australia squad train ahead of their World Cup openerCredit: Getty
The 2018 World Cup winners will be desperate to retain their title despite having a host of big names side-lined for the tournament.
These two teams faced off in the group stage at the Russia World Cup.
France ran out 2-1 winners back then as both sides converted penalties and were only separated by an Aziz Behich’s own goal.
Here, SunSport takes a look at whether those fortunes could change as they lock horns again at the 40,000 seater Al Janoub Stadium.
How did they get there?
France: Qualified in first place of their qualifying group.
They did not lose a single match in the process and topped the group by six points and a goal difference of +15.
Australia: The Socceroos were one of the final teams to qualify for the World Cup.
They only confirmed their ticket to Qatar in June after beating Saudi Arabia and then Peru in World Cup play-off matches.
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What’s the form?
France: Les Blues have been in patchy form for most of the year, winning just three of their eight games in 2022 as Didier Deschamps experiments with a new formation.
They lost their most recent game in the UEFA Nations League 2-0 to Denmark and narrowly avoided relegation to the second tier.

Australia: The Aussies were one of the last teams to make it to the World Cup but have enjoyed strong recent form despite a rough start to 2022.
They have won each of their last five games which has included both World Cup qualifiers and a pair of friendlies against New Zealand.

Who are the managers?
France: Didier Deschamps has been in charge of the French team for an entire decade now.
He took over in 2012 and has overseen the creation of a global superpower – much like the France side he was in as a player which won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship.
Under his stewardship France made it all the way to the finals of Euro 2016 before winning the 2018 World Cup in dominating fashion.

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Australia: Graham Arnold will be giving up something in terms of experience against Deschamps as he enters his first World Cup with Australia.
He was appointed for his second stint shortly after the 2018 World Cup and has maintained Australia’s record of reaching the World Cup on every occasion since 2006.
In 2019 Australia crashed out of the quarter-finals of the Asia Cup despite being the reigning champions.
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Who are the star players?
France: KYLIAN MBAPPE will once again be likely to make the headlines as he takes an even more prominent role in Didier Deschamps side than the one he did in 2018.
The PSG superstar was France’s top scorer alongside Antoine Griezmann in Russia.
And with Karim Benzema ruled out of the squad the onus will once again fall on Mbappe to score the goals for Les Blues.
It truly is a testament to the quality of players from France that despite missing a host of big names likes Ballon d’Or winner Benzema plus midfield mainstays Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante they still have a squad spilling over with quality.
How France may line up against Australia
Australia: AARON MOOY will likely be the man tasked with trying to lead Australia to the latter stages.
The Socceroos have only made it past the group stage of the World Cup on one occasion – 2006 – and the difficult group they have landed in means their hopes of doing so again look bleak.
But former Huddersfield midfielder Mooy will be looked to to make sure Australia both defend stoutly and attack with creativity.
And his ability to find space in midfield and snuff out danger will be pivotal against a new-look France midfield.
How Australia could line up against France
What’s the head to head?
France wins: 3
Draws: 1
Australia wins: 1
Which TV channel will show the game?
BBC One will be broadcasting the game at 7pm on Tuesday.
Odds
France 3/10
Draw 26/5
Australia 12/1
SunSport prediction
Considering the recent history of fixtures between these two sides and their respective recent achievements, there is only really one way this is expected to go.
That being said, Australia will not be pushovers for France and are more than capable of causing an upset if Mbappe and Co are not at 100 per cent.
FRANCE 3-1 AUSTRALIA More

DENMARK open up their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Tuesday.The pair have met once before in a pre-2002 World Cup friendly and are set to kick-off at 1pm UK time at the Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan.
All eyes will be on Christian Eriksen following his Euros scareCredit: Getty

The Danes are looking to build on their excellent showing at Euro 2020, where they reached the semi-final before being knocked out by England.
Christian Eriksen will be a key source of inspiration and all eyes will be on the Manchester United playmaker following his scare at the Euros.
The midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the pitch as his team-mates provided a protective shield around him.
Eriksen is now fit and healthy and ready for action in Qatar after being fitted with an ICD heart-starter device.
How they got there
Denmark: Won nine of their ten qualifying games to top Group F ahead of Scotland.
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Tunisia: Beat Mali 1-0 in a double-legged World Cup play-off thanks to a hilarious own goal from Moussa Sissako, while the referee gave them a helping hand by controversially blowing early for full-time.
What’s the form?
Denmark: Had a mixed showing in the Uefa Nations League, impressively beating France and Austria earlier this year but also losing to Croatia.
They also suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Scotland in the last game of their qualifying campaign.

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Tunisia: Jalel Kadri’s side looked far from their best in their two September friendlies.
First they struggled to overcome Comores in a 1-0 win before being thrashed 5-1 by Brazil.
They did manage to beat Iran 2-0 in a warm-up game before the tournament kicked off.
Star men to look out for
Denmark: Eriksen will pull the strings and create chances for hitman Kasper Dolberg, as will Tottenham midfield dynamo Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
That pair are likely to make up a midfield three alongside Dolberg’s Sevilla team-mate Thomas Delaney.
Denmark’s 4-3-3 formation served them well at the Euros and key men Kasper Schmeichel and Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen will be crucial to keeping things tight at the back.
Denmark’s 4-3-3 formation brought them success at Euro 2020
Tunisia: Former Sunderland ace Whabi Khazri is the man they will be looking to keep quiet – the winger scored 24 goals in 71 games for Tunisia and helped his side reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final last year.
United winger Hannibal Mejbri will also be looking to boost his profile on the international stage, if he can force his way into the starting XI.
Tunisia’s most capped player Youssef Msakni could pose problems on the left flank, and Ellyes Skhiri will be tasked with keeping a close watch on Eriksen.
Whabi Khazri is the main man for Tunisia
What’s the head to head?
Denmark wins: 1
Draws: 0
Tunisia wins: 0
What TV channel will the game be on?
ITV will broadcast the match at 1pm on Tuesday.
To stream the game live, head to the ITV Hub.
What are the odds?
Denmark to win: 4/9
Tunisia to win: 39/5
Draw to win: 10/3
SunSport prediction
Denmark are fancied by many as dark horses and should get their World Cup campaign off to a fine start.
Tunisia’s poor form means confidence could be low and we expect Denmark to take advantage.
3-1 Denmark More

MEXICO take on Poland in a clash that is set to have huge round of 16 qualification ramifications.With Argentina the overwhelming favourites to win Group C, there is a likelihood that Mexico and Poland will be battling for second place.

So whoever can grab a matchday one victory will have a huge advantage when it comes to making it through.
The match will see a key battle of the strikers, with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski lining up against Wolves’ Raul Jimenez.
Both are aiming to bag their first World Cup goals – having failed to do so in three previous games each.
Here, SunSport previews the clash that will have an enormous impact on which of these sides will make it through from Group C.
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How did they get there?
Mexico: Gerardo Martino’s side qualified via the Concacaf route.
Through their Fifa ranking they received a bye to the third round of qualifying, before being pitted in a group alongside Canada, the US, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, El Salvador and Honduras.
Eight wins, four draws and two defeats were enough to take Mexico through in second place behind leaders Canada.
Poland: Lewandowski and Co required the play-offs to get through to the finals in Qatar, despite eight group stage goals by the Barca star.
After finishing second to England in Group I, Poland drew Russia in their Path B play-off semi-final.
They were awarded a bye after Russia were thrown out following their invasion of Ukraine – before beating Sweden 2-0 in the final via goals by Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski.
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What’s the form?
Mexico: Gerardo Martino’s men have played two warm-up matches for the World Cup, with mixed results.
They comfortably beat underdogs Iraq 4-0 on November 9, before falling 2-1 to Sweden a week later.
Poland: The Poles have played just the one World Cup warm-up match – a late Krzysztof Piatek strike seeing them beat Chile 1-0.
In September they played twice in the Uefa Nations League – losing 2-0 at home to Belgium before winning 1-0 in Wales.
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Who are the managers?
Mexico: Experienced boss Gerardo Martino is the man tasked with inspiring Mexico to a good run in Qatar.
The 59-year-old impressively led Paraguay to the quarter-finals in 2010, although didn’t take Argentina to a World Cup while managing the Albiceleste.
Martino also has plenty of experience in club football, including a season at Barcelona.
Former Barca boss Gerardo Martino is plotting World Cup gloryCredit: Getty
Poland: Czeslaw Michniewicz only took charge of Poland in January of this year.
Predecessor Paulo Sousa left to take the Flamengo job, with Michniewicz subsequently tasked with overseeing the play-offs.
The 52-year-old has plenty of domestic managerial experience in Poland, and was also manager of his country’s Under-21s between 2017 and 2020.
Czeslaw Michniewicz was appointed Poland boss earlier this yearCredit: Getty
Who are the star players?
Mexico: RAUL JIMENEZ has won his fitness battle to lead the line for his country in Qatar.
The Wolves striker has not played for his club since August after suffering with a hip injury.
He made his return to action this week, playing 45 minutes in his country’s 2-1 defeat to Sweden.
Jimenez featured for Mexico at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, but is yet to score a goal in the competition.
Wolves star Raul Jimenez has been deemed fit to play for MexicoCredit: Getty

Poland: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI has been in red hot form once again this season.
The 34-year-old has taken to LaLiga like a duck to water since quitting Bayern Munich for Barcelona in the summer.
He remains a talismanic figure for his country, having scored 76 goals in 134 caps.
But Lewandowski is still yet to notch at a World Cup finals… something he will be desperate to rectify in what will almost certainly be his last attempt.
Robert Lewandowski is aiming to score his first World Cup goalsCredit: Getty

What’s the head to head?
Mexico wins: 3
Draws: 2
Poland wins: 3
What TV channel will show the game?
BBC One will broadcast the match with a 4pm kick-off on Tuesday.
There will also be a live stream on BBC iPlayer.
What are the odds?
Mexico win: 9/5
Draw: 21/10
Poland win: 19/10
SunSport prediction
This should be a really fun game between two sides that could really stake a claim for qualification to the round of 16 with a win.
Robert Lewandowski is primed to score his first World Cup goal, but Mexico have more than enough quality to cause problems of their own. We are predicting a score draw.
2-2 DRAW
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LIONEL MESSI will kick off his fifth and final World Cup with a clash against huge underdogs Saudi Arabia in Lusail.Fans of the legendary No10 will find it difficult not to let their minds drift to next month’s final, which will take place in the very same venue 26 days on from Argentina’s opener.

But Messi, 35, is wily enough to know that games against sides like Saudi Arabia can be awkward – and must be treated with respect in order to win a tournament.
Finally winning his first piece of international silverware at last year’s Copa America was a huge monkey off the Paris Saint-Germain star’s back.
And Argentina fans hope that will give him extra belief going into the World Cup in Qatar.
Here, SunSport previews the clash that could see Messi and Co stake their claim to be tournament favourites.
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How did they get there?
Argentina: Lionel Scaloni’s side comfortably qualified by finishing as runners-up in the Conmebol qualifying group.
A final record of 11 wins, six draws and no defeats did the job – although there was controversy along the way.
Their clash with Brazil was suspended shortly after kick off last year when health officials ran onto the pitch accusing four of their players of breaking Covid protocols.
Much haggling over a new date for the game followed – before it was eventually cancelled altogether when both country’s qualifications made it a dead rubber.
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Saudi Arabia: Managed by suave international football legend Herve Renard, winner of two Afcons – Saudi Arabia qualified for Qatar with flying colours.
They received a bye through the initial phase of Asian qualifying, before topping a group featuring Uzbekistan, Palestine, Singapore and Yemen.
This success got them into the third and final stage – where a record of seven wins, two draws and one defeat was enough to qualify them alongside Japan from a group also featuring Australia, Oman, China and Vietnam.

What’s the form?
Argentina: The Albiceleste could hardly be in better shape, going into the World Cup on a 36-game unbeaten run.
In fact, you have to go all the way back to the Copa America 2019 semi-finals for their last defeat – when they lost 2-0 to Brazil.
Since then they have qualified for this tournament unbeaten, as well as winning Copa America and Finalissima trophies.
In their final pre-World Cup friendly they easily beat the United Arab Emirates 5-0.
Saudi Arabia: Renard’s men possess a mixed record in 2022 with only one thing certain – their games don’t produce many goals.
Of their 13 matches played during this calendar year, NONE have featured more than two successful strikes.
They lost 1-0 to Croatia in their final pre-World Cup friendly, holding off 2018’s finalists until the 82nd minute.

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Who are the managers?
Argentina: The Albiceleste have been managed by former West Ham defender Lionel Scaloni since 2018.
In that time, the 44-year-old guided them to their first trophy in 28 YEARS – tasting glory at the Copa America 2021.
Prior to landing the gig, Scaloni had been assistant to Jorge Sampaoli.
Lionel Scaloni is the man tasked with leading Messi’s fifth and final World Cup appearanceCredit: AFP
Saudi Arabia: A smooth operator around the international game, Frenchman Herve Renard certainly experienced an eclectic career prior to taking the Saudi job in 2019.
The 54-year-old’s early club career featured stints in the French lower leagues, as well as brief stays at Cambridge United and Vietnamese side Nam Dinh.
He made his name in the international game by winning Afcon with both Zambia and the Ivory Coast – also managing Morocco, as well as Sochaux and Lille in Ligue 1.
Fans of African football will remember Herve Renard’s two Afcon winsCredit: Getty
Who are the star players?
Argentina: LIONEL MESSI is aiming to finally complete his career clean sweep by lifting the World Cup at his fifth attempt in Qatar.
The 35-year-old has previously come as close as the final, losing 1-0 to Germany after extra time in 2014.
Despite his advancing years, the 165-cap star has been in sparkling form for his club this season.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has scored 12 goals and assisted a further 14 in 19 appearances for his club this term.
Lionel Messi will be determined to finally lift the World CupCredit: Reuters

Saudi Arabia: SALEM AL-DAWSARI is set to be his country’s talisman once again at this winter’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
The attacker was a key man in 2018, scoring his side’s last minute winner against Egypt during the group stage.
Al-Dawsari, 31, has played almost the entirety of his career at Saudi heavyweights Al-Hilal – scoring 79 goals and laying on 62 assists in 309 games – winning the Asian Champions League twice in the process.
He had a brief spell in Spain in 2018, playing once on loan at Villarreal.
Salem Al-Dawsari will be his nation’s star man in QatarCredit: Getty

What’s the head to head?
Argentina wins: 2
Draws: 2
Saudi Arabia wins: 0
What TV channel will show the game?
ITV1 will broadcast the match with a 10am kick-off on Tuesday.
There will also be a live stream on ITV Hub.
What are the odds?
Argentina win: 1/7
Draw: 6/1
Saudi Arabia: 20/1
All odds provided by Betfair
SunSport prediction
Argentina are obviously huge favourites, but Saudi Arabia will be organised and resolute in their attempts to keep them out.
We expect Messi and Co to still win fairly comfortably… but the Saudis’ 2022 form suggests that there won’t be more than two goals in it.
2-0 ARGENTINA
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NECO WILLIAMS broke down in tears on TV following Wales’ World Cup comeback against the USA.That’s after revealing his grandad died the day before the crunch clash.
Neco Williams has revealed his grandad died the day before Wales’ draw with the USACredit: Getty
Williams broke down in tears after the final whistleCredit: Getty
Gareth Bale’s 82nd minute penalty saw the Welsh fight back for a 1-1 draw after going behind to Timothy Weah’s first-half strike.
But the game was an emotional one for Nottingham Forest wing-back Williams.
The ace broke down in tears as the two sides saluted their travelling fans in Qatar.
Williams was clearly upset as he soaked up the applause from the Red Wall.
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And as the camera followed Williams off the pitch, he said into the lens: “That was for you, grandad.”
The defender then took to social media to reveal his loved one passed away on Sunday.
Williams called it the “toughest news” he’s ever received after getting a call from his mum.
And the fan favourite added he was “crying all day” before stepping up to the plate for his country.
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Thanking his Wales teammates for their support, Williams tweeted: “Yesterday was the toughest news I’ve ever had to face and that was listening to my mum tell me my grandad passed away last night.
“To go from crying all day to start in a World Cup game was extremely tough but I got through it from the support of my teammates and family.
“So I dedicate that game and an important point to him.”
Fans were quick to comfort Williams, with one replying: “Your grandad would’ve been so proud of the shift you put in tonight.”
Another said: “Unbelieved you managed to play in a game of that magnitude with all that playing on your mind. He’d have been proud of you.”
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One wrote: “You did brilliantly to cope with all of that emotion and put in what was arguably a MOTM performance.”
Another added: “You did him proud Neco, he was looking down on you wearing that shirt beaming with pride.” More

WALES fans got the party started as they watched their side score their first World Cup goal since 1958.Beer flew in the air and supporters ripped their shirts off as Welsh wizard Gareth Bale slotted home an 82nd-minute penalty.
Wales fans celebrate Gareth Bale’s equaliser in their opening World Cup clashCredit: Huw Evans
Supporters packed into a fan zone in Swansea to watch the matchCredit: Athena
A supporter ripped off his shirt to celebrate the equalising goalCredit: WNS
And fans packed into Elevens, the Cardiff bar owned by Bale, to watch the former Spurs and Real Madrid forward level the scores with just under 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
There were raucous scenes too at Cardiff’s Vale Sports Arena, with at least one lad tearing off his Wales top to celebrate the goal.
Supporters chugged beer in a fan zone set up in Swansea to watch the clash with the USA, Wales’ first game at a World Cup finals in more than 60 years.
Meanwhile, fans in Wrexham were filmed going wild as the equaliser went in.
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The game had been a long time coming, but the fairytale appeared to wilt in the desert heat at Qatar’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium when Timothy Weah – son of legendary former footballer George Weah – gave the Yanks a deserved lead in the 36th.
Weah got on the end of a sublime Christian Pulisic pass to jab the ball past Wayne Hennessey.
But with 6’5” giant Kieffer Moore brought on at halftime for Dan James, the game slowly turned, and when Walker Zimmerman clumsily tripped Bale in the box, the stage was set for the Welsh dragon to roar again.
Thousands of Welsh supporters made the journey to Qatar for the momentous occasion, and by all accounts have enjoyed themselves.
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Ahead of Monday’s clash, it was reported that Wales fans drank a Qatar bar dry.
Alcohol has been a controversial topic at this winter’s World Cup, with authorities in the majority-Muslim country reversing on a deal with Budweiser to allow beer to be sold in stadiums just days before the tournament started.
But that hasn’t stopped Wales fans from boozing, with WalesOnline reporting that they held an eight-hour party at Doha’s InterContinental Hotel.
More than 1,600 Welsh supporters reportedly started arriving before 11am local time, at least 11 hours before kickoff.
Despite pints costing the equivalent of £10.45, the crowd reportedly emptied the bar of draught beer with six hours still to go, with supporters left to drink bottles instead.
Legendary Welsh singer Dafydd Iwan stole the show when he turned up at the hotel to lead a rousing rendition of his most famous song Yma o Hyd.
The song, which has been selected as Wales’ official anthem for this year’s World Cup, has become an iconic part of Rob Page’s side’s successes, after Iwan himself sang it on the pitch ahead of two crucial playoff games against Austria and Ukraine earlier this year.
Yma o Hyd, originally released in 1983, translates to “Still Here”, and has since been adopted by several sports clubs as well as pro-Welsh independence groups.
Brass band The Barry Horns also performed for fans inside the hotel before they set off for Al Rayyan’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, some 13 miles away.
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The draw leaves Wales second in Group B behind England, who smashed Iran 6-2 earlier on Monday thanks to a brace from Bukayo Saka as well as goals for Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, and Jack Grealish.
Wales face Iran on Friday at 10am, before a hotly-anticipated clash with Gareth Southgate’s men next Tuesday at 7pm.
There were emotional scenes as Wales played their first World Cup game since 1958Credit: WNS
Supporters at Elevens, a Cardiff bar owned by Gareth BaleCredit: Huw Evans
Most fans weren’t born the last time Wales reached a World Cup finalsCredit: Athena
Gareth Bale’s goal sparked huge celebrationsCredit: WNS
Bale scored from the penalty spot after Timothy Weah had given the US the leadCredit: Alamy More