Ronaldo a bystander as Portugal find magic touch at World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo first found himself unloved and unwanted by Manchester United. Now the unthinkable has happened -- he has been dumped by Portugal.
South Korea Sport News
Brazil hoping to dance past Croatia into World Cup semis
DOHA: Brazil head into Friday’s World Cup quarterfinal against Croatia brimming with confidence after Neymar’s return inspired a performance laced with swagger and arrogance in the last 16.
5 Asian football stars who dazzled at the World Cup
SINGAPORE: With South Korea's 4-1 loss to Brazil, all sides from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have been eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar.
Vinícius Júnior thanks Ancelotti for success at World Cup
DOHA: Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior praised Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti for his success at the World Cup. Vinícius Júnior arrived in Qatar without knowing if he was going to get a chance to start for Brazil, but heading into Friday’s quarterfinal match against Croatia, no one questions his spot in the lineup or his importance for the team. He said Ancelotti was one of the people who gave him guidance ahead of soccer’s biggest tournament.
Ronaldo eyes World Cup quarters as Morocco dare to dream
Portugal’s forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo takes part in a training session at the Al Shahaniya SC training site, northwest of Doha on December 5, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Round of 16 football match between Portugal and Switzerland. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)
Luka Modric: Croatia’s conductor in his last World Cup
Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric celebrates after winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Japan and Croatia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on December 5, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
Favourites Brazil have enough quality to field two teams -Croatia
DOHA : Croatia's World Cup quarter-final opponents ooze quality and could field two starting 11s in the tournament but despite the respect they feel, the Balkan nation can play even better than they have so far, defender Dejan Lovren and midfielder Mateo Kovacic said.
Ronaldo a bystander as Portugal find magic touch at World Cup
DOHA: Cristiano Ronaldo first found himself unloved and unwanted by Manchester United. Now the unthinkable has happened — he has been dumped by Portugal. The superstar forward was largely a spectator as the side he has captained for so long threw off the shackles and romped to a 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the World Cup last-16 on Tuesday. Young striker Goncalo Ramos, brought in for Ronaldo, scored a stunning hat-trick and at least competed with his illustrious teammate for the headlines. Ronaldo came to the World Cup seeking respite after his troubled spell at Old Trafford this season, where he had become a peripheral figure under new manager Erik ten Hag. Those frustrations boiled over last month in an explosive TV interview in which he lashed out at the club and the coach, leading to an inevitable parting of the ways. The 37-year-old landed in Qatar to the usual fanfare, once again the focus of fawning attention from the world’s media. Things even went to script in Portugal’s first game, when he scored the opener from the penalty spot in a 3-2 win against Ghana, becoming the first man to score goals at five World Cups. But things went downhill from there. He huffed and puffed through games against Uruguay and South Korea but failed to find the net and Portugal were less than the sum of their considerable parts. Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who masterminded the side’s triumph at Euro 2016, finally took the decision to leave his star man out against the Swiss and was vindicated in spectacular fashion. Portugal turned on the style, with Benfica’s Ramos, 21, netting three times in a free-flowing attacking performance.