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World Cup 2022 news LIVE: Updates from Morocco vs Spain in last 16 and early England team news
England have a few days now to recover and prepare for a massive quarter-final tie with France at the World Cup 2022, with the match taking place on Saturday night.
Before then, Gareth Southgate has a number of decisions to make, including whether to change formation to combat the threat of the in-form Kylian Mbappe, who now leads the Golden Boot race in Qatar.
The Three Lions are ready for such a test though, the manager believes, and they’ll all be big games now anyway as the finals reach the last-eight stage. Brazil football are also through after they hammered South Korea, with Argentina, Netherlands and Croatia also through. Spain play Morocco and Portugal face Switzerland on Tuesday in the last of the round of 16 clashes.
Follow all the build-up to England vs France and reaction to Brazil’s big win:
World Cup latest news
Brazil cruise into quarter-finals with big win over South Korea
Japan’s fairytale comes to an end with penalty shootout defeat to Croatia
England ready for true test of how far they have come
Neymar feared World Cup was over before scoring on Brazil return
Southgate uncertain over Sterling return to England squad
Messi’s shirt from 1000th game snared by Australia sub who didn’t play a minute
Japan and Croatia provide reminder of the risk and the reluctance of knockout World Cup football
18:00 , Michael Jones
Half the World Cup 2022 round of 16 was over and done with before we knew it, little of it truly throwing up any possibility of a shock result or, indeed, much doubt over who would progress.
Sure, Australia came within a big Emi Martinez arm of forcing an equaliser, but it was wildly against the run of the game and after one massively deflected goal, and sure, both England and France were frustrated for a bit.
It didn’t last, and once the first goal went in, all uncertainty disappeared.
For all intents and purposes, each of the first four round of 16 clashes were over and done by at half-time, given none gave up their initial lead, and three were absolutely wrapped up by the hour mark.
Which made Monday’s first game, the 1-1 draw between Japan and Croatia, both an anomaly and a reminder: while both dominated in spells, and both looked capable of winning, this was a World Cup knockout game of real note, real possibility to reach a quarter-final and, as a result, a game neither were willing to throw everything at to the extent they might lose everything.
Japan and Croatia provide reminder of risk and reluctance of knockout football
England in ‘a good place’ ahead of ‘acid test’ against France at World Cup
17:45 , Michael Jones
Gareth Southgate is relishing England’s “acid test” against reigning champions France in Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup quarter-final clash.
Having topped Group B without much fuss, the 2018 semi-finalists opened the knockout phase with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Senegal in Sunday’s last-16 encounter.
England overcame heightened expectations and a bright start by the African champions at Al Bayt Stadium, where they will return this weekend to take on what Southgate called “the very best” in Qatar.
England in ‘a good place’ ahead of ‘acid test’ against France at World Cup
Neymar feared World Cup was over with ankle injury
17:30 , Michael Jones
Neymar admitted he feared his participation in the World Cup could be over after he sustained an ankle injury in their opening match against Serbia.
The 30-year-old missed Brazil’s last two group games before making a scoring return from the penalty spot in their 4-1 last-16 thrashing of South Korea on Monday.
“I was afraid of not being able to play in this World Cup again but I had all the support of my friends and family and I tried to find strength where I could not find it,” he said.
Neymar feared World Cup was over with ankle injury
Brazil prove they do not need Neymar, even with him on the pitch
17:15 , Michael Jones
“I feel good, I knew that I would now,” declared Neymar to his 189 million Instagram followers on the eve of this last-16 victory over South Korea, alongside images of him taking part in a Brazil training session. That’s a James Brown lyric, in case you hadn’t noticed, and it was a more than appropriate reference. We are, after all, talking about one of the hardest working men in showbusiness – the most heavily-sponsored footballer in the world no less, as evidenced by his appearance on every billboard in Doha that does not already bear the image of David Beckham.
But then this is also a natural born performer who, at his best, through his various thrusts, swerves and flourishes, is capable of leaving his audience in raptures. And not unlike the godfather of soul, just as his act is reaching a crescendo, as the crowd is approaching a point of near evangelical adulation, he has been known to suddenly collapse to the ground, thrash about in a state of pain, exhaustion and distress, and then exit stage left as a frail, broken man with the help of a handler. The parallels do not end there, either. Did you know James Brown campaigned for Richard Nixon?
Yet there is a difference and it is a key one: Brown would always eventually return to the stage rejuvenated, with 10-times the vigour of the man escorted off, and when he did, he never left his audience disappointed. Despite several attempts at similar resurrections, it has not always been possible to say the same of Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior – not when this is his third attempt at leading Brazil to a sixth World Cup trophy, not when the previous two ended with a fractured back and began with a broken foot respectively.
Brazil prove they don’t need Neymar, even with him on the pitch
Luke Shaw warns England of being ‘very naive’ against Kylian Mbappe’s France
17:00 , Michael Jones
Luke Shaw believes it would be “naive” of England to focus solely on the threat of Kylian Mbappe in their World Cup quarter-final clash against France.
England beat Senegal 3-0 in their last-16 meeting on Sunday to set up a date with the reigning world champions at Al Bayt Stadium.
Keeping Mbappe quiet would go some way to helping Gareth Southgate’s men to victory on Saturday night, the Paris St Germain forward having already hit five goals in Qatar – including two in their 3-1 win over Poland which saw them advance to the last eight.
Luke Shaw warns England of being ‘very naive’ against Kylian Mbappe’s France
The data behind England’s race for World Cup glory
16:45 , Michael Jones
England’s World Cup 2022 players are running more than three kilometres more during games than their 1966 equivalents, and running more than twice as long at top speed, according to a study by STATSports that emphasises just how athletic the modern game has become.
The sports performance data company have been supplying the national team with technology including GPS training vests for over a decade, with Gareth Southgate leaning on them heavily for selection decisions.
STATSports undertook a study where their technology extensively analysed video footage of England’s 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the 1966 final.
The data behind England’s race for World Cup glory
Oliver Bierhoff leaves Germany role after disastrous World Cup
16:30 , Michael Jones
Oliver Bierhoff has left his role as Germany’s sporting director with immediate effect in the wake of their early elimination from the World Cup in Qatar.
Bierhoff, who was also head of the German Football Association’s (DFB) academy, agreed to terminate his contract that had been set to run until 2024.
The 54-year-old joined the DFB following a stellar playing career in 2004 and held a managerial role until he assumed his current positions in 2018.
Oliver Bierhoff leaves Germany role after disastrous World Cup
What teams are still in World Cup 2022 and who has been eliminated?
16:15 , Michael Jones
The 2022 World Cup is in full swing as 32 nations began on 20 November aiming to lift the Jules Rimet trophy in Doha on 18 December.
Despite the many off-field issues around the tournament in Qatar, the group stage has thrown up plenty of thrills and spills, with Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia going down as one of the greatest shocks of any World Cup in history.
Japan also stunned Germany, while Spain and England racked up goals in statement opening wins.
The top two teams from each group go through to the round of 16, with group winners taking on the runners-up from a different group, while the third- and fourth-placed nations in each group are eliminated from the competition.
Here are the teams who have qualified for the quarter-finals:
What teams are still in the World Cup and who has been eliminated?
Fernando Santos unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to substitution
16:00 , Michael Jones
Portugal coach Fernando Santos has revealed he was not happy with Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction after being substituted in their final World Cup group game.
Ronaldo appeared angry after being withdrawn 25 minutes from the end of Friday’s 2-1 loss to South Korea.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward later said his frustration was aimed at an opposing player rather than Santos for taking him off.
Ronaldo claimed one of the Korean side told him to leave the field quickly and he did not take kindly to the remark.
Fernando Santos unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to substitution
England have nothing to fear against France in World Cup quarter-finals, Bukayo Saka claims
15:50 , Michael Jones
Bukayo Saka believes England have nothing to fear as they prepare to take on reigning champions France in the World Cup 2022 quarter-finals.
England booked their place in the last eight with a comfortable 3-0 win over Senegal on Sunday but the task ahead is a daunting one.
But Saka, who scored England’s third against Senegal, said at a press conference: “If you look at our first four games, we had three clean sheets. That shows how solid we are at the back and we have scored the most goals as well.”
England have nothing to fear against France in quarter-finals, Bukayo Saka claims
England’s route to the World Cup final: Who do Three Lions play if they beat France?
15:40 , Michael Jones
Gareth Southgate’s England squad will be hoping to make it back-to-back finals in major international competitions - and this time go one step better and lift the trophy.
Four years ago the Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup as the upturn in international fortunes began under Southgate, before they went the distance to the final at Euro 2020. Now in Qatar the objective will remain the same, to end the long wait since 1966 for success on the biggest stage.
Three matches in the group phase were safely negotiated as they topped Group B and now three further knock-out fixtures must be navigated before the trophy is up for grabs on 18 December at the 80,000-seater Lusail Stadium.
Who do England play next if they beat France?
Lionel Messi’s World Cup jersey from 1000th match snared by unused Australia sub
15:30 , Michael Jones
Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup 2022 but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina’s Lionel Messi after their round of 16 match.
Devlin, who plays for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish top flight, swooped after the Socceroos were knocked out 2-1, with Argentine talisman Messi scoring a goal in his 1,000th match.
“I went on (to the pitch) and consoled all the boys first and then shook Messi’s hand,” Devlin told reporters at Sydney airport after arriving back from Qatar.
Messi’s World Cup jersey from 1000th match snared by unused Australia sub
Brazil players display banner in support of Pele after beating South Korea
15:20 , Michael Jones
Brazil’s players displayed a banner in support of Pele on the pitch as they celebrated their victory over South Korea in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The squad unfurled the banner, which featured just one word – ‘Pele!’ – alongside a picture of the Brazil great, in the wake of their 4-1 triumph.
Pele had earlier sent a message to his compatriots ahead of the match.
The three-time World Cup winner said on social media he would be watching the game from the hospital in Sao Paulo where he was admitted last week.
Brazil players display banner in support of Pele after beating South Korea
Ian Wright hits out at ‘horrible’ replies after Eni Aluko’s Richarlison comment
15:10 , Michael Jones
ITV pundit Ian Wright has hit out at “horrible” Twitter users for criticising fellow analyst Eni Aluko, after a marginal slip-up while broadcasting during the Brazil victory over South Korea.
Aluko, herself a former England international who won over a century of caps for the Lionesses, was speaking ahead of the World Cup 2022 last 16 encounter where the Selecao saw off their Asian opponents 4-1 on Monday evening.
Richarlison, who scored the third on the night, was the subject of conversation as Eluko was asked her thoughts on him being a regular for Brazil despite only being a rotational starter at club level for Tottenham at times.
Ian Wright hits out at ‘horrible’ replies after Eni Aluko’s Richarlison comment
Bukayo Saka ready to take penalty for England despite Euro 2020 heartbreak
14:55 , Michael Jones
Bukayo Saka is ready to step up to the penalty spot for England again as he said his hot streak at the World Cup has “lifted” him following his Euro 2020 heartbreak.
The Arsenal forward missed the decisive penalty as England lost the final to Italy in a shoot-out last summer and went on to suffer horrific online racist abuse in the aftermath.
Since then, Saka has been crowned Arsenal’s player of the season, England’s player of the year and ended the last campaign as the Gunners’ top goalscorer.
Bukayo Saka ready to take penalty for England despite Euro 2020 heartbreak
Gareth Southgate believes ahead of true test of how far England have come
14:45 , Michael Jones
England’s last meeting with France came in Saint-Denis five years ago, in what was only Gareth Southgate’s eighth game in charge. The world champions in waiting went down to 10 men that night - Raphael Varane seeing red at the start of the second half, when the score was still level at 2-2 - and a formative, character-building win briefly appeared on the cards. Yet even then, Didier Deschamps’ side deservedly came out on top through an Ousmane Dembélé winner.
It was an entertaining end-of-season friendly with little riding on the result but the defeat and failure to make the most of the man advantage demonstrated how far England had to go before they could be considered among the very best in the international game. “There is no magic wand,” their manager warned. And yet just a year later, had a few things gone differently, their next meeting might have come in a World Cup final.
The pace of progression under Southgate since that evening in the Parisian banlieues has been rapid. If that much was not already clear from England’s results, it is reinforced by a glance at the team sheet from the 3-2 defeat. Tom Heaton started in goal. Aaron Cresswell was a second-half substitute, replacing Phil Jones. Kieran Trippier, now considered a part of the furniture and international veteran, was making his first appearance.
Gareth Southgate believes ahead of true test of how far England have come
‘It’s like watching Strictly’: Roy Keane slams Brazil’s ‘disrespectful’ goal celebrations against South Korea
14:35 , Michael Jones
Roy Keane slammed Brazil’s “disrespectful” goal celebrations and said it was like watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as the World Cup favourites raced into a four-goal lead against South Korea in the last-16.
Vinicius Jr gave Brazil the lead early on and Neymar doubled their advantage from the penalty spot inside 12 minutes.
Both goals were celebrated exuberantly, with Brazil manager Tite then getting involved in their third as Richarlison finished a sublime team move.
The dancing continued as Lucas Paqueta added a fourth with Brazil putting on a show with the best performance of the World Cup so far.
Roy Keane slams Brazil’s ‘disrespectful’ goal celebrations against South Korea
Kylian Mbappe will break all records and he’s doing it the old-fashioned way
14:25 , Michael Jones
The temptation is to advise Olivier Giroud to enjoy his record. The killjoys and the realists alike could argue he is unlikely to have it for long. Even as he overhauled Thierry Henry to become the most prolific man in the history of the French national team, a threat to his status is accelerating towards him at devastating speed.
The score stands at Giroud 52, Kylian Mbappe 33. The gap could close rapidly. Mbappe does everything quickly and he has chased down more garlanded figures than Giroud. His first goal against Poland took him level with Cristiano Ronaldo on eight in World Cups, his second alongside Lionel Messi on nine. Each is almost certainly in his last World Cup. Mbappe could have three more.
He has emerged as the likely challenger to Miroslav Klose, the 16-goal leading marksman in the competition’s history. Yet Mbappe does not just play the numbers game; not when his defining quality is the pace that makes him viscerally exciting to watch. He is like Henry in overdrive, and not merely because of a fondness for the inside-left channel and a capacity to curl shots into the far corner.
Kylian Mbappe will break all records and he’s doing it the old-fashioned way
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
14:15 , Michael Jones
Morocco have warned Spain they will “come out swinging” in a bid to pull off another huge World Cup upset.
The north African side created one of the biggest shocks in the group phase of the tournament in Qatar with their 2-0 victory over Belgium, having already held 2018 finalists Croatia to a goalless draw.
Walid Regragui’s team finished top of their group and now face a Spain side in the last 16 still reeling from their own unexpected setback at the hands of Japan which almost cost them their place in the tournament.
Morocco are likely to enjoy the majority of the support at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan and Regragui believes the Atlas Lions are now playing for the whole of the African continent and the Arab world.
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
Gary Neville and Roy Keane explain how England can stop Kylian Mbappe
14:05 , Michael Jones
Kyle Walker has been backed to nullify the threat of Kylian Mbappe when England play France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
The 23-year-old forward, who scored four times en route to Les Bleus winning the 2018 tournament in Russia, leads the race for the Golden Boot in Qatar with five goals after a brace in the 3-1 last-16 victory over Poland.
Mbappe headed into the World Cup looking as lethal an attacking force as ever, having netted 19 times for Paris Saint-Germain in 20 Ligue 1 and Champions League appearances this season to take his goal tally for the club since joining in 2017 close to 200.
Gary Neville and Roy Keane explain how England can stop Kylian Mbappe
This is the side of the World Cup that Qatar would prefer you ignore
13:55 , Michael Jones
It is one of the regular moments of harsh reality that takes you out of the illusion that is this World Cup. As the taxi driver drops the group off, there is a sudden plea. It is not for a five-star rating.
“Can you give me a tip please?”, he asks. “I have no money to eat.”
The driver, of south Asian descent, sends almost everything he earns back to his family. This is supposed to be the long-awaited period when such workers can generate income due to the number of visitors to Qatar but here is another who is just starving.
Anyone who has been in Doha for the first week of this World Cup would have had many similar stories pass in front of their eyes. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre said on Sunday that there had been six cases of migrant worker abuse reported in that time alone.
This is the side of the World Cup that Qatar would prefer you ignore
Japan’s fairytale run finally runs out of road
13:45 , Michael Jones
Japan have never made it past the last-16 at a World Cup. Failures at 2002 and 2010 still stung when 2018 became the most heartbreaking of all, Nacer Chadli’s latest of late goals seeing Belgium roar back from two down in the second half to beat them at the last.
The pain of that night in Rostov has lived with this Japanese group ever since. “I have never forgotten,” Yuto Nagatomo would say in the build-up to this latest attempt to write new history. He will remember this, too.
Instead it was the same old story, the fairytale this side has been on at this World Cup brutally ended in the most painful fashion possible by Croatia, a bitter final chapter the uplifting tale that came before it didn’t remotely deserve.
Japan’s fairytale run finally runs out of road
Africa beats the odds to set stage for best World Cup to date
13:35 , Michael Jones
Roger Milla is 70 now and, if that makes those who remember the 1994 World Cup feel old, it also helps illustrate how long African football has seemed to have been waiting for another breakthrough World Cup. Since 1990 when, with Milla a mere 38, Cameroon beat Argentina and reached the quarter-finals, there has been the sense a team from the continent could go further, or several could emerge as challengers.
In 2022, when Vincent Aboubakar secured Cameroon’s second greatest win on the global stage by overcoming Brazil, albeit a second-string Selecao, it ended a wretched record for the Indomitable Lions: their nine previous World Cup games had produced eight defeats and a chaotic draw. They seemed to have regressed and, when no African side reached the last 16 in Russia, so did the continent as a whole. Cameroon’s class of 1990 remains arguably Africa’s finest and most famous World Cup team. Senegal, in 2002, and Ghana, in 2010, also got to the last eight; but for Luis Suarez’s impromptu display of goalkeeping, the Black Stars would have been semi-finalists.
The last day of the 2022 group stages had a nostalgic feel: Cameroon bloodying the noses of another favourites, Suarez reunited with Ghana and their wish to retire him from this stage granted, the Uruguayan ending up in tears. Yet Ghana also went out, followed four hours later by Cameroon. African football has been littered with near-misses and what ifs; Andre Ayew’s missed penalty against Uruguay, like Asamoah Gyan’s skied spot kick 12 years earlier, can be added to the list.
Africa beats the odds to set stage for best World Cup to date
How Croatia became the never-say-die zombie side of the World Cup
13:25 , Michael Jones
One of the great cliches of international football requires updating. Never write off the Germans? It transpires there are times you can. But, long after they went out in the group stage in successive World Cups, a lesson of the 2018 and 2022 is to never write off the Croatians. They feel the hardest team to kill off. Denmark, Russia and England all led against Croatia in the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup. They all ended up defeated. Japan followed suit in Qatar.
Croatia still have not won a World Cup knockout tie in 90 minutes since 1998. They nevertheless reached the final four years ago and are in the quarter-final now. They have a staying power that extends beyond Luka Modric’s extraordinary haul of 159 caps or his 16-year international career. If football is a 90-minute game, Croatia have the capacity to survive 120, the blend of skill and nerve to prevail on penalties after that.
Modric is the defining talent, his country’s greatest player. And yet their match-winners use their gloves, not their feet. Zlatko Dalic reflected on Dominik Livakovic’s hat-trick of penalty saves and cast his mind back to the last man to do likewise in a World Cup shootout. It is a curiosity of Croatian football that otherwise unexceptional goalkeepers can be specialists from 12 yards on the global stage.
How Croatia became the never-say-die zombie side of the World Cup
The data behind England’s race for World Cup glory
13:15 , Karl Matchett
England’s World Cup 2022 players are running more than three kilometres more during games than their 1966 equivalents, and running more than twice as long at top speed, according to a study by STATSports that emphasises just how athletic the modern game has become.
The sports performance data company have been supplying the national team with technology including GPS training vests for over a decade, with Gareth Southgate leaning on them heavily for selection decisions.
STATSports undertook a study where their technology extensively analysed video footage of England’s 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the 1966 final.
It was found that Alan Ball had the highest total distance of any England player over the 120 minutes, with 8,550m covered. Phil Foden, one of his equivalents in the current team, by contrast covers an average of 10,620m per 90 minutes. The player who has the highest average total distance is Harry Kane, on 10,999m. Declan Rice however beat that by over a kilometre against Senegal, hitting 12,061m.
More here from Miguel Delaney on the data underpinning England’s efforts:
The data behind England’s race for World Cup glory
World Cup latest news - live
13:00 , Karl Matchett
Luke Shaw believes it would be “naive” of England to focus solely on the threat of Kylian Mbappe in their World Cup quarter-final clash against France.
England beat Senegal 3-0 in their last-16 meeting on Sunday to set up a date with the reigning world champions at Al Bayt Stadium.
Keeping Mbappe quiet would go some way to helping Gareth Southgate’s men to victory on Saturday night, the Paris St Germain forward having already hit five goals in Qatar – including two in their 3-1 win over Poland which saw them advance to the last eight.
But, with the likes of Olivier Giroud – now France’s all-time record goalscorer – and Antoine Griezmann also expected to line up against England, Shaw insists there are plenty of other players to be concerned with.
Luke Shaw warns England of being ‘very naive’ against Kylian Mbappe’s France
What teams are still in World Cup 2022 and who has been eliminated?
12:45 , Karl Matchett
The 2022 World Cup is in full swing as 32 nations began on 20 November aiming to lift the Jules Rimet trophy in Doha on 18 December.
Despite the many off-field issues around the tournament in Qatar, the group stage has thrown up plenty of thrills and spills, with Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia going down as one of the greatest shocks of any World Cup in history.
Japan also stunned Germany, before being eliminated on penalties, while Spain and England racked up goals in statement opening wins.
Here are the teams who have qualified for the quarter-finals and those who have gone home:
What teams are still in the World Cup and who has been eliminated?
World Cup latest news - live
12:30 , Karl Matchett
Morocco have rewritten both their history and African football’s at this World Cup, writes Karl Matchett. How much further can they go?
In a World Cup which has already seen several nations breaking their own records and setting new highs, Morocco joined in on Thursday to hit new heights in national team history.
Their final group stage game saw them triumph 2-1 over Canada to not just seal progression into the knockout stages in Qatar, but also finish top of the Group F quartet.
Nigeria, and the World Cup of France ‘98, was the last time an African nation managed to achieve that feat. A generation has passed since then, of players and of supporters and of heroes of the continent - and between that finals and these ones, Morocco had won precisely zero games at the World Cup.
It is all the more remarkable given the head coach took over just a few months ago, replacing Vahid Halilhodzic and taking his first match only two months before the finals began.
Read more here:
Magnificent Morocco overcome odds to rewrite their own World Cup history and Africa’s
World Cup latest news - live
12:25 , Karl Matchett
A wake-up call or a warning? Miguel Delaney takes a look at “the big question facing Spain at this World Cup”.
In the Spanish dressing room, there were no conciliatory gestures, no backslaps about getting through and getting back up. Luis Enrique was seething.
“I don’t have anything to celebrate,” the manager said. “I’m not one bit happy.”
Luis Enrique told the players as much. They have been given some harsh truths, as the manager now tries to reinvigorate this team so they have some chance of fulfilling the potential they have actually shown in this World Cup.
Luis Enrique suddenly has to find a lot of solutions. The grand question is whether he is fully aware of what the problems are.
He wasn’t aware of the biggest problem of all, which was that Spain were actually going out of the World Cup for a remarkable few minutes on Thursday night. Costa Rica were leading Germany in their game, and consequently leading Spain in the group, despite a goal difference of minus-five after that opening 7-0.
Read more here:
A wake-up call or a warning? The big question facing Spain at this World Cup
World Cup latest news - live
12:20 , Karl Matchett
Morocco have warned Spain they will “come out swinging” in a bid to pull off another huge World Cup upset.
The north African side created one of the biggest shocks in the group phase of the tournament in Qatar with their 2-0 victory over Belgium, having already held 2018 finalists Croatia to a goalless draw.
As they also beat Canada, this is the first time the Africans have won twice at a single World Cup - so there’s no fear of sitting back and being cowed by the 2010 world champions.
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
World Cup latest news - live
12:15 , Karl Matchett
Spain boss Luis Enrique was bitterly disappointed with his team for losing against Japan in their final group stage game, a result which meant the 2010 champions finished as runners-up.
He’s expecting much better from his side - who haven’t actually won since the opener, when they hammered Costa Rica 7-0.
Luis Enrique ‘not happy at all’ after Spain ‘dismantled’ by Japan
World Cup latest news - live
12:10 , Karl Matchett
It’s Tuesday, it’s day 17 of consecutive World Cup action and we’re preparing for the last two round of 16 matches in Qatar.
At 3pm it’s Morocco vs Spain; at 7pm it’s Portugal vs Switzerland.
The winners of those two will face each other in the quarter-finals, joining the following fixtures:
Friday 3pm: Croatia vs Brazil
Friday 7pm: Netherlands vs Argentina
Saturday 3pm: TBD
Saturday 7pm: England vs France
Let’s run through all the build-up to the upcoming games this afternoon and evening...
Morocco seek to ‘give the dream’ to all of Africa that future World Cup success remains in sight
12:00 , Karl Matchett
Ahead of today’s first round of 16 game between Morocco and Spain, Rich Jolly looks at the last African side remaining in the competition and how they are living for today and dreaming for tomorrow:
And then there was one. Morocco are the last African side standing but at the first Arab World Cup, they are more than that. They are carrying a continent’s hopes, but they are representing the Middle East as well as Africa. They are the underdogs against Spain, but they believe they will have the support of two vast regions.
“Before it was just the Moroccans who supported us,” said their bullish head coach Walid Regragui. “Now it is the Africans and Arabs. We will come in with a winner’s attitude. We will come in swinging. We want to hoist our Moroccan flag well up high. The great nations are still here and it is up to us to give them a run for their money.”
Certainly there is no inferiority complex from Regragui. He accepts that Spain are widely expected to win. He respects their past. But he believes the future could lie in Morocco, if not elsewhere in Africa.
“We are coming up against one of the best footballing nations in the world and they are one of the favourites,” he said. “But we have some things up our sleeve, we have one extra day of rest and we hope to pull a surprise out of the bag.
“We tell this to our kids that you have to have dreams. Africa has never won a World Cup. Why not give them this dream? In 20 or 30 years’ time maybe Morocco or Senegal will win the World Cup and then you will look back and say: ‘He did say that.’”
Morocco seek to ‘give dream’ to all Africa of future World Cup success
Brazil players display banner in support of Pele after beating South Korea
11:45 , Karl Matchett
Brazil’s players displayed a banner in support of Pele on the pitch as they celebrated their victory over South Korea in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The squad unfurled the banner, which featured just one word – ‘Pele!’ – alongside a picture of the Brazil great, in the wake of their 4-1 triumph.
Pele had earlier sent a message to his compatriots ahead of the match.
The three-time World Cup winner said on social media he would be watching the game from the hospital in Sao Paulo where he was admitted last week.
Brazil players display banner in support of Pele after beating South Korea
Morocco vs Spain live stream: How to watch World Cup fixture online and on TV today
11:30 , Karl Matchett
The final day of round of 16 action at the World Cup 2022 takes place on Tuesday and two nations with plenty of off-pitch history between them will face off for a quarter-final spot.
Morocco face Spain with the winners set to play either Portugal or Switzerland in the last eight.
The Atlas Lions booked their place in the knockouts after seeing off Belgium in particular during the group phase, becoming the first African nation to win a World Cup group since 1998 in the process.
Spain started with a 7-0 win over Costa Rica but have yet to win again since, ending the group stage second.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the round of 16 clash.
How to watch Morocco vs Spain online and on TV
Lionel Messi’s World Cup jersey from 1000th match snared by unused Australia sub
11:15 , Karl Matchett
Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup 2022 but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina’s Lionel Messi after their round of 16 match.
Devlin, who plays for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish top flight, swooped after the Socceroos were knocked out 2-1, with Argentine talisman Messi scoring a goal in his 1,000th match.
“I went on (to the pitch) and consoled all the boys first and then shook Messi’s hand,” Devlin told reporters at Sydney airport after arriving back from Qatar.
“No one had said anything so I just tried my luck!”
Messi’s World Cup jersey from 1000th match snared by unused Australia sub
Ian Wright hits out at ‘horrible’ replies after Eni Aluko’s Richarlison comment
11:00 , Karl Matchett
ITV pundit Ian Wright has hit out at “horrible” Twitter users for criticising fellow analyst Eni Aluko, after a marginal slip-up while broadcasting during the Brazil victory over South Korea.
Aluko, herself a former England international who won over a century of caps for the Lionesses, was speaking ahead of the World Cup 2022 last 16 encounter where the Selecao saw off their Asian opponents 4-1 on Monday evening.
Richarlison, who scored the third on the night, was the subject of conversation as Eluko was asked her thoughts on him being a regular for Brazil despite only being a rotational starter at club level for Tottenham at times.
Pointing to his goalscoring record in yellow - before he went on to net his 20th during the game - Aluko mathematically erred somewhat, leading to several unsavoury comments on Twitter.
Ian Wright hits out at ‘horrible’ replies after Eni Aluko’s Richarlison comment
How Croatia became the never-say-die zombie side of the World Cup
10:45 , Karl Matchett
One of the great cliches of international football requires updating. Never write off the Germans? It transpires there are times you can. But, long after they went out in the group stage in successive World Cups, a lesson of the 2018 and 2022 is to never write off the Croatians. They feel the hardest team to kill off. Denmark, Russia and England all led against Croatia in the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup. They all ended up defeated. Japan followed suit in Qatar.
Croatia still have not won a World Cup knockout tie in 90 minutes since 1998. They nevertheless reached the final four years ago and are in the quarter-final now. They have a staying power that extends beyond Luka Modric’s extraordinary haul of 159 caps or his 16-year international career. If football is a 90-minute game, Croatia have the capacity to survive 120, the blend of skill and nerve to prevail on penalties after that.
Rich Jolly on Croatia, the ‘zombie’ side of the World Cup:
How Croatia became the never-say-die zombie side of the World Cup
Roy Keane slams Brazil’s ‘disrespectful’ goal celebrations against South Korea
10:30 , Karl Matchett
Roy Keane slammed Brazil’s “disrespectful” goal celebrations and said it was like watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as the World Cup favourites raced into a four-goal lead against South Korea in the last-16.
Vinicius Jr gave Brazil the lead early on and Neymar doubled their advantage from the penalty spot inside 12 minutes.
Both goals were celebrated exuberantly, with Brazil manager Tite then getting involved in their third as Richarlison finished a sublime team move.
The dancing continued as Lucas Paqueta added a fourth with Brazil putting on a show with the best performance of the World Cup so far.
But Keane was not impressed with Brazil’s celebrations and argued that the Selecao had not shown enough respect to South Korea, with another half of the knockout match still to play.
Roy Keane slams Brazil’s ‘disrespectful’ goal celebrations against South Korea
World Cup latest news - live
12:14 , Karl Matchett
Morocco have warned Spain they will “come out swinging” in a bid to pull off another huge World Cup upset.
The north African side created one of the biggest shocks in the group phase of the tournament in Qatar with their 2-0 victory over Belgium, having already held 2018 finalists Croatia to a goalless draw.
Walid Regragui’s team finished top of their group and have won two matches at a World Cup for the first time ever after beating Canada as well, so the Africans have no fear of sitting back and being fearful as they take on the 2010 world champions.
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
England boss Gareth Southgate offers Raheem Sterling World Cup update
10:15 , Karl Matchett
Gareth Southgate was non-commital over the potential for Raheem Sterling to return to the England camp.
The winger left after a burglary at his house and the Three Lions’ boss isn’t sure on whether he’ll come back, or when that will be.
“It’s impossible to say. I’ve got to give him the space,” Southgate said.
Other England stars have been offered additional security measures while they are away, he also confirmed.
“We had offered that to players. Without talking about the individual details too much because I think it’s important we respect his privacy. But yeah that was something we did discuss with the players before we left. I think there’s a little bit in the midst of moving house that played a part in that. But we are very conscious of it. And with what’s happened, we will have that conversation again.”
Gary Neville and Roy Keane explain how England can stop Kylian Mbappe
10:00 , Karl Matchett
Kyle Walker has been backed to nullify the threat of Kylian Mbappe when England play France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
The 23-year-old forward, who scored four times en route to Les Bleus winning the 2018 tournament in Russia, leads the race for the Golden Boot in Qatar with five goals after a brace in the 3-1 last-16 victory over Poland.
Mbappe headed into the World Cup looking as lethal an attacking force as ever, having netted 19 times for Paris Saint-Germain in 20 Ligue 1 and Champions League appearances this season to take his goal tally for the club since joining in 2017 close to 200.
It looks as if right-back Walker will be the player to go directly up against Mbappe when England square off against him, and some notable names have expressed their belief in the 32-year-old’s ability to do the containing job.
Poland defender Matty Cash, after facing the France forward on Sunday, said he thinks “if anyone’s going to stop Mbappe, Kyle is the man”.
And former England right-back Gary Neville said of Walker that he “can’t actually think of another right-back in the world that I’d want to put up against” Mbappe.
Gary Neville and Roy Keane explain how England can stop Kylian Mbappe
Luke Shaw warns England of being ‘very naive’ against Kylian Mbappe’s France
09:45 , Karl Matchett
Luke Shaw believes it would be “naive” of England to focus solely on the threat of Kylian Mbappe in their World Cup quarter-final clash against France.
England beat Senegal 3-0 in their last-16 meeting on Sunday to set up a date with the reigning world champions at Al Bayt Stadium.
Keeping Mbappe quiet would go some way to helping Gareth Southgate’s men to victory on Saturday night, the Paris St Germain forward having already hit five goals in Qatar – including two in their 3-1 win over Poland which saw them advance to the last eight.
But, with the likes of Olivier Giroud – now France’s all-time record goalscorer – and Antoine Griezmann also expected to line up against England, Shaw insists there are plenty of other players to be concerned with.
Luke Shaw warns England of being ‘very naive’ against Kylian Mbappe’s France
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
09:30 , Karl Matchett
Morocco have warned Spain they will “come out swinging” in a bid to pull off another huge World Cup upset.
The north African side created one of the biggest shocks in the group phase of the tournament in Qatar with their 2-0 victory over Belgium, having already held 2018 finalists Croatia to a goalless draw.
Walid Regragui’s team finished top of their group and now face a Spain side in the last 16 still reeling from their own unexpected setback at the hands of Japan which almost cost them their place in the tournament.
Morocco are likely to enjoy the majority of the support at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan and Regragui believes the Atlas Lions are now playing for the whole of the African continent and the Arab world.
Morocco warn Spain they will ‘come out swinging’ in World Cup last-16 clash
Japan and Croatia provide reminder of the risk and the reluctance of knockout World Cup football
09:15 , Karl Matchett
Half the World Cup 2022 round of 16 was over and done with before we knew it, little of it truly throwing up any possibility of a shock result or, indeed, much doubt over who would progress.
Sure, Australia came within a big Emi Martinez arm of forcing an equaliser, but it was wildly against the run of the game and after one massively deflected goal, and sure, both England and France were frustrated for a bit.
It didn’t last, and once the first goal went in, all uncertainty disappeared.
For all intents and purposes, each of the first four round of 16 clashes were over and done by at half-time, given none gave up their initial lead, and three were absolutely wrapped up by the hour mark.
Which made Monday’s first game, the 1-1 draw between Japan and Croatia, both an anomaly and a reminder: while both dominated in spells, and both looked capable of winning, this was a World Cup knockout game of real note, real possibility to reach a quarter-final and, as a result, a game neither were willing to throw everything at to the extent they might lose everything.
Karl Matchett on the game which reminded everyone of just how much it can cost to lose at the World Cup:
Japan and Croatia provide reminder of risk and reluctance of knockout football
World Cup today: Fernando Santos unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo
09:00 , Karl Matchett
The World Cup 2022’s quarter-final line-up will be completed on Tuesday, with the remaining fixture slot to be filled by the winners from Portugal v Switzerland and Morocco v Spain.
Those contests come after Brazil powered into the last eight with a 4-1 thumping of South Korea, setting up a clash with Croatia, who defeated Japan 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Here, we look ahead to the final day of round-of-16 action in Qatar, and back at how Monday unfolded.
World Cup today: Fernando Santos unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo
Neymar feared World Cup was over with ankle injury
08:50 , Karl Matchett
Neymar admitted he feared his participation in the World Cup could be over after he sustained an ankle injury in their opening match against Serbia.
The 30-year-old missed Brazil’s last two group games before making a scoring return from the penalty spot in their 4-1 last-16 thrashing of South Korea on Monday.
“I was afraid of not being able to play in this World Cup again but I had all the support of my friends and family and I tried to find strength where I could not find it,” he said.
“I did not feel any pain in my ankle. I think my performance went very well and I’m very content, but that said I think we can always improve and that’s what I will try to do.”
More as the Selecao reached the last eight:
Neymar feared World Cup was over with ankle injury
Gareth Southgate believes ahead of England’s true test of how far they have come
08:40 , Karl Matchett
England’s last meeting with France came in Saint-Denis five years ago, in what was only Gareth Southgate’s eighth game in charge. The world champions in waiting went down to 10 men that night - Raphael Varane seeing red at the start of the second half, when the score was still level at 2-2 - and a formative, character-building win briefly appeared on the cards. Yet even then, Didier Deschamps’ side deservedly came out on top through an Ousmane Dembélé winner.
It was an entertaining end-of-season friendly with little riding on the result but the defeat and failure to make the most of the man advantage demonstrated how far England had to go before they could be considered among the very best in the international game. “There is no magic wand,” their manager warned. And yet just a year later, had a few things gone differently, their next meeting might have come in a World Cup final.
The pace of progression under Southgate since that evening in the Parisian banlieues has been rapid. If that much was not already clear from England’s results, it is reinforced by a glance at the team sheet from the 3-2 defeat.
Mark Critchley looks into England’s upturn in fortunes ahead of the meeting with France:
Gareth Southgate believes ahead of true test of how far England have come
Japan’s fairytale run finally runs out of road
08:30 , Karl Matchett
Japan have never made it past the last-16 at a World Cup. Failures at 2002 and 2010 still stung when 2018 became the most heartbreaking of all, Nacer Chadli’s latest of late goals seeing Belgium roar back from two down in the second half to beat them at the last.
The pain of that night in Rostov has lived with this Japanese group ever since. “I have never forgotten,” Yuto Nagatomo would say in the build-up to this latest attempt to write new history. He will remember this, too.
Instead it was the same old story, the fairytale this side has been on at this World Cup brutally ended in the most painful fashion possible by Croatia, a bitter final chapter the uplifting tale that came before it didn’t remotely deserve.
It came in a penalty shootout, just as it did 12 years ago against Paraguay, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic this time playing the role of spoiler to perfection, saving three spot kicks to see his team advance.
Ben Burrows watched on as the World Cup’s first game went the distance:
Japan’s fairytale run finally runs out of road
Brazil put on spectacular exhibition to delight World Cup and reach quarter-finals
08:18 , Karl Matchett
It was a game that was basically over as a contest by seven minutes, but that you couldn’t take your eyes off for a second. That was because you might miss Brazil doing something spectacular, audacious or just the sort of moment that makes World Cup highlights for years and has fostered the country’s football lore.
It might have been a Vinicius lift, a Neymar roll or a Raphinha turn – or it could have been many such moments combining for goal after goal after goal, after goal. Qatar certainly got what they wanted in that sense, even if not enough people wanted to watch it given the number of empty seats at Stadium 974.
It didn’t take long for this 4-1 win over South Korea to become a replica of the sort of gaudy exhibition match the state had staged well before hosting a World Cup. If you bring them, some people might come. There was at least no risk in restoring Neymar to the starting XI, since this was just another training game. Tite even got to the point where he was giving squad players like sub goalkeeper Weverton a run-out, as if it was a final group game.
There were some more solemn sentiments, mind, as Neymar carried a Pele flag onto the pitch for the players to showcase.
Miguel Delaney took in Brazil’s big win over South Korea on Monday night:
Brazil put on spectacular exhibition to delight World Cup and reach quarter-finals
