World Cup 2022 LIVE: England depart for Qatar as Cristiano Ronaldo greets Bruno Fernandes at Portugal camp | OneFootball

Gareth Southgate suggests England will ignore plea to avoid human-rights discussions

England now prepare for their first World Cup match with Iran on 21 November, but Gareth Southgate has an extra injury concern after James Maddison was substituted for Leicester at the weekend. There are still some squads to be confirmed, with Ghana, Mexico, Tunisia and Ecuador ready to finalise their 26-man squads.

Other injuries to follow closely include Sadio Mane, with Senegal desperate for the Bayern Munich star to be cleared. There was drama last week with Sergio Ramos and Thiago Alcantara missing out on Spain’s World Cup squad as Luis Enrique opted for youth as La Seleccion ramp up preparations for Qatar. The 2010 winners have maintained a wealth of experience in the shape of Sergio Busquets, Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Morata.

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Brazil train ahead of World Cup in Qatar

Brazil have been training at Juventus’ training ground in preparation for the World Cup.

“We have a guideline in the preparation of the Brazilian team, we always strive for excellence,” says Tite.

“And here it is a question of preparing for a World Cup in a top-class place.

“The Juventus training centre offers this, in addition to the logistical facilities.”

Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 16:00

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England warned against underestimating Iran in World Cup opener

England cannot afford to underestimate Iran when they bid to get their World Cup campaign up and running in Qatar, according to former defender Paul Parker.

Gareth Southgate’s men open the Group B schedule at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan on November 21 and then play the United States before meeting Wales.

The build-up to a first winter World Cup has lacked the usual frenzy which precedes a summer showpiece tournament and England arrive in Qatar without a win in six matches following relegation from the top tier of the Nations League.

The Three Lions - without a win in six matches - kick off their tournament against the world’s 20th ranked team

Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 15:30

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Jamal Musiala can be Germany’s Lionel Messi, says Lothar Matthäus

Germany are training ahead of a friendly with Oman this week to prepare for the World Cup, with Lothar Matthäus excited by Jamal Musiala’s potential.

“This is magic, this is Messi-like. This man must never leave Bayern. He enchants us all - he entertains us, it’s like Hollywood. For me Musiala always has to play”, Matthäus said. “[He’s worth] a quarter of a billion, I’d say. But he’s not for sale anyway.

“You know what Lionel Messi was in Barcelona? Musiala has to be that at Bayern Munich as the fixed point of the team. He should stay with the club for as long as possible.”

Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 15:15

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France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris won’t wear rainbow armband at World Cup in Qatar

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will not wear a rainbow-coloured captain’s armband at the World Cup in Qatar, he has hinted.

The defending champions are one of 13 European nations to sign up to the ‘OneLove’ campaign against discrimination while in the host country where same-sex relationships are against the law.

Fifa rules prohibit teams from bringing their own armband designs to the World Cup and insist they must use equipment provided by the governing body, although many - including England - have hinted they will defy the regulations in Qatar.

Asked on Monday about the initiative during a news conference at France’s training ground, Lloris appeared skeptical.

Hugo Lloris won’t wear rainbow armband at World Cup in Qatar

The defending champions are one of 13 European nations to sign up to the ‘OneLove’ campaign against discrimination while in the host country

Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 15:00

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France World Cup 2022 squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more

France may be the reigning world champions, with deep reserves of talent to call upon in Qatar, but their performances in 2022 have revealed some vulnerability. After an unbeaten 2021 which culminated in a Nations League final victory over Spain, their latest Nations League campaign was underwhelming, winning only one game of six in a relatively gentle group containing Croatia, Austria and Denmark.

Denmark and France now meet again in Group D of this World Cup, a group which also features Australia and Tunisia. It is one France should win, but they will have a target on their backs and there are pitfalls: the Danes will have no fear after their impressive 2-0 win over the French in Copenhagen last month, while Australia and Tunisia squeezed through play-off matches and will feel they have a free swing at this tournament with nothing to lose.

The French team has evolved from the side that lifted the trophy in Moscow four years ago, and is now without the injured Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. The big challenge for Didier Deschamps is finding the right balance between hardened World Cup winners and fresh blood. The young Real Madrid duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni started together in the recent defeat by Denmark, and Deschamps must decide whether to keep faith or turn to more experience – he has hinted at the latter. “It’s a young French side,” the manager commented after the game, “where the majority of players don’t have experience at the very highest level ... there’s no need to worry, having the players with international experience back will do us good.”

Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 14:45

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Football legend Ali Daei rejects World Cup invitation amid protests in Iran

Iran football legend Ali Daei has said he has rejected an invitation to the World Cup in Qatar in order to stay in his home country, where anti-government protests are taking place.

The 2022 Fifa World Cup begins on Sunday (20 November), as hosts Qatar face Ecuador in the opening game of the first winter edition of the tournament. Daei, however, will not be present as his nation competes in Group B with England, Wales and USA, with the 53-year-old having elected to ‘express sympathy’ with his compatriots instead.

Protests broke out in Iran after Mahsa Amini died in custody on 16 September, after the 22-year-old was arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.