World Cup

CHRISTIAN PULISIC says he wants to use this World Cup to “change global perceptions” of the US men’s soccer team.The United States have a torrid history in football’s biggest showpiece, with their best result coming in 2002 where they reached the quarter finals in Japan and South Korea.
Pulisic comes into the tournament as one of the USA’s most high-profile playersCredit: Getty
It has been downhill previously and since then, culminating in failing to qualify altogether for Russia 2018 – the first time they had done so since 1986.
Expectations therefore are low in Qatar, tasked with being Group B’s plucky underdogs attempting to nab a knock-out stage place from either England or Wales.
But ahead of their group opener against the Welsh on Monday, Chelsea winger Pulisic, 24, is hoping to use this competition to spark some much-needed change.
Asked if this World Cup can be used to change perceptions of the US national team, Pulisic nodded: “Absolutely, that’s what we’re here to do.
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“Maybe it hasn’t been the top sport or whatever back in the states and we want to change the way that the world sees American soccer – it’s one of our goals.
“It’s not necessarily about what others are getting wrong about us. We have to prove it to ourselves.
“We haven’t been at the level of some of these world powerhouses in recent decades, but we’ve had good teams with a lot of heart.
“We can take it to next the step – a successful World Cup would change a lot of things.”

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Pulisic – nicknamed Captain America – is seen as one of the more experienced members of a squad under coach Gregg Berhalter that is brimming with some exciting young talents.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna, 19, Norwich’s Josh Sargent, 22, Lille’s Timothy Weah, 22, AC Milan’s Sergino Dest, 21, and Valencia’s Yunus Musah, 19, have that weight on their shoulders over the next few weeks.
Yet they will soon be coming up against a 33-year-old superstar in Gareth Bale – currently plying his trade in the MLS with LAFC – for whom this will likely be his last major international tournament in a Wales shirt.
Asked if 108-capped Bale is still at the peak of his powers, Pulisic added: “He’s a top player, there’s no doubt about it, what he’s accomplished in his career.
“He’s played at the highest level. He knows what it takes. I’m sure he’ll be ready.
“Whether he is at the absolute top of his game [or not], it doesn’t matter. I think he’s a great player and he’s something we have to watch out for.
“I think it’s been great for American soccer, another one happening playing in America and he’s had a successful season in the MLS.”
For Chelsea, Pulisic has once again struggled to find consistent game time, starting just three times this season, and is now trying to impress another new manager in Graham Potter after the sacking of Thomas Tuchel in September.
The Blues have lost four of their last five games in all competitions after an encouraging start to life under Potter, but Pulisic said: “He’s been good, man.
“He’s come in and the way he’s worked with the players and communicated with the players has impressed me the most. We had a great start with him.
“We’ve had some difficulties in recent weeks but I think he’s working through it and I think the guys have received him quite well.
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“As for me, I feel great right now. My form has actually been really good. I have got some games in and continuing to work there and prove myself there.
“I feel really strong and very prepared heading into this tournament.”
The World Cup offers a reprieve for Pulisic who has been struggling at club level recentlyCredit: Getty More

FORMER England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson is backing the Three Lions to win the World Cup in Qatar.The 74-year-old football manager believes Gareth Southgate’s side go into the tournament with a huge chance because the tournament is not happening AFTER an energy-zapping and arduous Premier League season.
Ex-England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson is backing the Three Lions to win the World CupCredit: The Times
Drawing on his own experience of coaching our country at three major tournaments, Sven also accepted we under-achieved at the 2006 World Cup – reaching the quarter-finals in Germany.
His biggest regret in the job came that year, when he decided against bringing in a mental coach to work with the players. Famously, England crashed out to Portugal in a penalty shootout.
Speaking to SunSport, Sven revealed: “This World Cup is not after a long, hard, tough Premier League season. It’s at the beginning of the season.
“I don’t think these English players are more tired than anyone else, whether that’s players from Germany, France, or wherever.
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“It’s strange that the World Cup is in winter time and it is being played without any preparation, like friendly games.
“But maybe it’s good for England because they are not half-dead from the Premier League season.
Spurs manager Antonio Conte may disagree. Before the last weekend of Premier League fixtures ahead of the World Cup break, the Italian revealed England talisman Harry Kane was “really, really tired.”
Eriksson felt that was “strange” given we’re not even halfway through the campaign.
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But, if he was in charge, he would have a plan to combat a star player’s fatigue.
“Not even half of the Premier League season is done yet, so I think that’s a little bit strange,” Eriksson said.
“If he needs a couple of days extra rest, give him, because he’s a key player if England want to win the World Cup.
“I would take the player privately and see how he is. I would put him with my fitness coach to see how he would train to be as good as possible for the first game.”
In the midst of a betting scandal, in-form Brentford striker Ivan Toney was snubbed from Southgate’s World Cup squad.
Eriksson joked it was “destiny” that just days after the England squad was announced, Toney would score twice to down Manchester City at the Etihad.
But Eriksson argued: “Whatever Southgate does, he will be criticised and people will ask, ‘Why didn’t you take Toney’
“But I think you should also say, ‘Who are you going to take out?’ If you take Toney in, you have to take someone out which is not easy.”
Ivan Toney was snubbed by Southgate for England’s World Cup squadCredit: Reuters
James Maddison was a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squadCredit: Getty
One surprise inclusion was James Maddison, who England fans have been crying out for after a stunning start to the season with Leicester.
Eriksson called Southgate’s decision to include the in-form midfielder a no-brainer, believing he could make an impact as a substitute.
“Maddison may be a little bit of a surprise but I think he is one of those players who has been in good shape in the Premier League this season,” he said.
“At this time I think that’s important, because there is no preparation between the Premier League finishing and the World Cup starting.
“It’s important to pick players who are in good shape.
“Probably not starting, but having a player like him on the bench is very important.”
Harry Maguire’s form, though, will be a concern for Southgate. The Manchester United defender was perhaps picked out of loyalty, after struggling at Old Trafford where he has been frozen out of Erik ten Hag’s team.
Of Maguire, Sven said: “I don’t see him training, so it’s a difficult one.
“When he played for Leicester he was number one in the country, but probably because Leicester defended much deeper than Manchester United.
“What happened now, he’s not a regular with Manchester United, he maybe lost confidence, it’s very difficult to know exactly what happened.
“If you look at him during the last games for the national team and compare that to how he was when he played for Leicester, that’s two different players.
“But, from the outside it’s dangerous to have an opinion. How Southgate is going to handle it, I don’t know. He picked Maguire because he trusts him otherwise he wouldn’t have been picked.”
Eriksson understands the pressure of being England manager at a major tournamentCredit: Getty
John Terry and Eriksson look on in despair after their World Cup quarter-final exit in 2006 against Portugal on penaltiesCredit: Getty
The expectation on Southgate’s men, after a semi-final appearance at the 2018 World Cup and making the final in the Euros, is for England now to go one further. With that comes pressure.
“One thing is important. When you have a team that has a lot of pressure on them, you have a good team. If there’s no pressure, you don’t have a good team,” Eriksson said.
“I think Southgate can handle it. Of course, after the last two big tournaments, the expectation is now to go to the final and to win it.
“What happens if we don’t reach the quarter-final. Well, that’s football. I don’t think Southgate or anyone will think about that.
“In my case, I had three big tournaments with England. The last one, a quarter-final, was not good enough. And I agree, it wasn’t good enough. We should have done better.
“I was sacked for other reasons, but I would have been sacked anyhow for only reaching the quarter-final.”
In Gelsenkirchen, at the 2006 World Cup, England were famously dumped out of the competition on penalties.
Sven’s side failed to convert three of their four penalties, before losing 3-1.
The tactician’s greatest regret is not hiring a psychologist to help his players cope in such a situation.
“I should have taken a mental coach for England in 2006,” Sven accepted.
“I thought about it, the coaching team and I talked about it. But in the end, we decided that team, which was very experienced, didn’t need it.
“I regret that. That’s the thing I regret the most. But it will make you crazy if you think about every time you didn’t win a football game. If you got the chance to do it again, maybe you wouldn’t do the same thing.”
The bookies don’t see a clear favourite – with any one of six teams in with a chance of winning the 2022 World Cup.
Eriksson consoles Steven Gerrard who missed a penalty against PortugalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Eriksson regrets not hiring a mental coach to help his players cope with the demands of a potential shootoutCredit: EPA
Eriksson has partnered up with Toshiba and their Toshiba Fire TV campaign
Sven, who has partnered up with Toshiba sees it the same way, but has tipped England to come good.
“Among the favourites, England is one of them. They can do it,” he said.
“It’s similar to 2006. Before that World Cup, I thought we could win it. I couldn’t see any other teams better than us. And I think it’s the same now.
Brazil is strong, Argentina is strong, and France, of course, they won it last time.
“Germany, Spain… but England is as strong as them, at least on paper. Then we shall see what happens at the World Cup.
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“Maybe it will be a Brazil v England final? If England don’t win, I think Brazil could. They have a lot of strong football players playing in Europe. But England has a good chance.”
“Sven-Göran Eriksson surprised fans at a Toshiba watchparty, after research found 45% of fans plan to watch this winter’s tournament on TV from home – with more than one in ten set to pick up a new TV ready for the football. See more @ToshibaTVEurope.” More

A hole has been spotted outside the 2022 World Cup final stadium in Qatar.The tournament kicks off when the hosts face Ecuador on Sunday but the build up hasn’t been without its challenges.
A hole has been spotted outside the Lusail Iconic StadiumCredit: Instagram: Mohammadfff_
The prices of beer and food have been criticised, while the tiny £200 per night rooms have been slammed.
But the latest problem in the Middle East comes as a surprise.
That’s because footage has emerged of a large hole in a walkway just metres away from the 80,000-seater stadium.
Fortunately, the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the biggest venue at the World Cup, doesn’t host its first match until 22 November when Argentina play Saudi Arabia.
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But authorities will need to get the issue dealt with because it’s set to host 10 games, including the final on 18 December.
The video of the hole went viral on Instagram and users have been reacting.
One said: “The hate is crazy! There’s pot holes outside every stadium in UK.”
Another admitted: “I wonder if you were looking for holes at the Brasil World Cup or South Africa.”
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A third joked: “It’s a tunnel, free ticket.”
A fourth said: “Where there’s blame, there’s a claim.” More