After causing one of the early shocks of this World Cup by beating Germany, Japan has what should be an easier match against Costa Rica. Another win would likely secure passage through to the knockout stage for the second time in the past three World Cups. As for Costa Rica, it’s hard to see it surviving without a win after a 7-0 takedown by Spain in the opening game left it with zero points and a poor goal differential.
Costa Rica players warm up before their match against Costa Rica at the World Cup in Qatar.AFP via Getty Images
Group F: Belgium vs. Morocco, 8 a.m., FS1
Belgium escaped with three points in a tightly contested game against Canada to open its World Cup, but this group still looks as though it could go in any direction. The Belgian golden generation is in what will almost certainly be its final World Cup, and another win would clinch a knockout stage appearance. As for Morocco, it’s coming off a scoreless draw with Croatia in which neither team showed much.
Group F: Croatia vs. Canada, 11 a.m., Fox
Canada acquitted itself well against Belgium, but is still looking for its first goal at a World Cup following the 1-0 loss, in which Alphonso Davies missed a penalty. Canada will need to actually get a result this time, otherwise its World Cup is in trouble. Ditto for Croatia, which comes in sitting on one point after drawing Morocco.
Group E: Germany vs. Spain, 2 p.m., Fox
A chance for Spain to cement itself as one of the tournament favorites by knocking out Germany, which cannot afford a second loss if it is to advance. The Germans lost in the group stage four years ago and have generally underachieved since winning the 2014 World Cup. Another group stage loss would be a massive disappointment, but that is the scenario they face against a high-powered Spain squad.
If the World Cup-opening draw against Wales was the United States putting many of its worries on display, then the 0-0 draw against England on Friday was the reverse.
The two results counted for the same one point each. But the feeling coming out of each of those games could not be more different.
“I think we’re not really afraid of playing against top-tier teams,” Weston McKennie told reporters on the heels of a performance in which he controlled midfield against some of the world’s best. “And I think it works in our favor if people think that we’re underdogs going into games because then they might take us lightly or something. I think we surprise them every time.”
If that was the case against England, it will not be so against Iran in a do-or-die final group stage finale on Tuesday. There would be no good feelings about a draw this time — that would result in Iran advancing and the United States taking a long flight home with questions surrounding the direction of the program.
After five years of buildup to this World Cup following the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament, it will all come down to this.
Tim Ream, defending Harry Kane during the USMNT’s tie with England, said the team is just looking to win against Iran and advance to the World Cup knockout stage.UPI/Shutterstock
“We’re not going to overthink it,” center back Tim Ream told reporters. “We win, we’re in.”
Doubtless, this is a group that can play with anyone at its best. The Americans got the better of England on Friday, leading to a familiar round of moaning from the British press.
That was the cause of some schadenfreude on Saturday morning, but if the U.S. does not advance, the draw with England will mean little, and the failures of McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest to convert big chances against the English will be replayed for four years.
Ditto for Walker Zimmerman’s ill-fated challenge in the box against Wales, which led to Gareth Bale’s equalizer from the penalty spot.
The fact is, the United States could be (maybe should be) going into this game with six points and safe passage secured to the knockout stage.
“It’s clear now,” coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Any time you’re in a World Cup and you get to go into the last group game controlling your destiny, that’s a pretty good thing.”
Still, Berhalter admitted that failing to secure the win against England left him wanting.
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“We’re close a number of times and we put a lot of pressure on them,” he said. “And we want to keep getting better in this tournament, and that’s our goal.”
The biggest question for Berhalter going into the Iran match surrounds the status of Giovanni Reyna, who made his World Cup debut at the 83-minute mark against England. The only change Berhalter made to his starting lineup over the first two games was to put Haji Wright at striker over Josh Sargent. If the U.S. fails to advance, his usage of Reyna in particular will come under massive fire.
It would be hard to argue, though, that Berhalter didn’t get the tactics right on Friday, when it was only the result that didn’t come.
Iran, which put itself in position to advance with two stoppage-time goals after a red card Friday on the Wales goalkeeper, is ranked 20th in the world and seeking its best result at a World Cup amid mass unrest at home. For the U.S., whose best players were in elementary school when Landon Donovan scored against Algeria to advance in 2010, there is at least some familiarity in this scenario.
“Hopefully not as dramatic as that goal,” captain Tyler Adams told reporters. “I don’t want to leave it until the end.”
The 20-year-old Bedford, N.Y., native did not start nor come on as a substitute during the U.S. men’s soccer team’s 1-1 draw with Wales in its World Cup opener. A projected starter entering the tournament, Reyna’s absence was surprising, particularly given his game-changing ability in a match that needed just that.
After conceding the tying goal, manager Gregg Berhalter opted to substitute Jordan Morris at winger for Timothy Weah. If they’re both healthy, the decision to choose Morris over Reyna is puzzling at the least. The 28-year-old Morris, albeit a heartwarming story to be included on the roster after tearing both ACLs, has largely stalled out for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, scoring seven goals in 29 games last year. Reyna, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most tantalizing talents on the radar of the biggest European clubs while playing a central role for German power Borussia Dortmund — the same club that developed Christian Pulisic before he departed for Chelsea.
Giovanni ReynaGetty Images
Berhalter’s biggest mistake in his World Cup debut, however, now provides him his best option to make a decisive change against England on Friday.
A problem that plagued them during qualifying, the Americans dominated possession but failed to create enough concrete goal-scoring chances to bury Wales when they had the upper-hand. They owned 59 percent of the ball, but had six shots to Wales’ seven, and had just one shot on goal to Wales’ three. Wales’ actually had a higher expected goals measure in the match, 1.73 to the Americans’ 0.82.
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Reyna, who can play as both an attacking midfielder or as a forward, can change the course of a game by himself, dribbling right at defenders as he plays more direct-to-goal than much of the roster. His versatility has given him the ability to both finish off chances and create them for others. As was evidenced against Wales, those traits are desperately missing.
Although he carried multiple leg injuries in the beginning of the year, Reyna played in Dortmund’s final three games before the World Cup break. Berhalter said the decision to use Morris was tactical, but he also said that he was playing it cautious after Reyna experienced muscle tightness in warm-ups.
“It was trying to get him up to speed,” Berhalter told reporters after the game. “I think there was a little bit of tightness that we were guarding him against in Al-Gharafa in the training exercise as a precaution. But we’ve been building him up and think he can play a big role in this tournament. The question is when. Hopefully Friday, he’ll be another step ahead.”
Reyna, however, did not mirror that sentiment after the match.
“I feel really good. I feel great. I feel fine.” Reyna told reporters. “[Berhalter] doesn’t have to tell me why he didn’t put me in or why he does. But I’m 100 percent. I’m good to go.”
If Reyna were to be inserted into the starting lineup, Yunus Musah or Timothy Weah could be in line to make way, although Weah could move to striker in place of Josh Sargent. Other than helping in the buildup to the goal, Sargent struggled to make much of an impact before being substituted off.
Outside of Reyna, Berhalter could start Haji Wright, with whom he replaced Sargent, to provide more goal-scoring punch. Wright was on a tear for Turkish side Antalayaspor before the World Cup break, scoring nine goals in 12 games, and also provides more of a physical presence up top with his 6-foot-3 frame.
“We know the impact he can make when he comes into games and when he has the opportunity,” team captain Tyler Adams said of Reyna after the game. “So, when he gets his chance, he’ll take it.”
Cristiano Ronaldo feels betrayed by Manchester United and has no respect for manager Erik ten Hag, who he claims tried to force the soccer star out of the club over the summer.
Ronaldo was suspended by Ten Hag in October after refusing to appear as a substitute during Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham. He’s missed the last two games due to an illness despite Ten Hag saying last week Ronaldo was likely available to play during the team’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.
Ronaldo was looking for a way out of Manchester over the summer but he said that was because United and Ten Hag tried to “force” him out. Ronaldo said he felt betrayed, and felt that some senior level executives didn’t want him with the club both last season and this.
“I felt betrayed,” Ronaldo said. “I don’t care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn’t want me here, not only this year but last season too.”
Ronaldo has played in 10 games for United this season, scoring only one goal for the squad. Since arriving back in England last season, United has had three different managers, has won no trophies, and has been inconsistent throughout.
He also criticized the team’s direction since iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson — who originally brought him to Manchester United during his first stint with the team — retired in 2013.
“Since [manager] Sir Alex [Ferguson] left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed,” he said.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag talks to Cristiano Ronaldo before a game against Aston Villa.REUTERS
Ronaldo will head to Qatar to play in his fifth World Cup for Portugal, likely his last given he is 37 years old. He’s scored 15 goals in 19 appearances in the tournament but has never won it all, finishing fourth in 2006.
Portugal will begin their World Cup matches against Ghana on Nov. 24.
Golfer and social media sensation Paige Spiranac showed off the U.S. men’s national team’s kit ahead of the team’s World Cup showdown against England in Qatar — by stripping down to her bra.
Spiranac undoubtedly supports the USMNT on its World Cup journey, but she’s not a big fan of the kit.
Sports bra-wearing Spiranac slammed the mostly white jersey as “quite boring” in a recent Twitter video.
“A lot of people are very disappointed because they think it’s quite boring,” Spiranac said. “Honestly, I have to agree. They were just like ‘you know what, we are just going to mail it in’. We’re just going to make it all white and put USA on the front’. Like, what is this?”
Qatar has called up hundreds of civilians, including diplomats summoned back from overseas, for mandatory military service operating security checkpoints at World Cup stadiums, according to a source and documents seen by Reuters.
The deployment of conscripts, some of whom would normally defer national service because their work is considered vital, highlights the logistical challenge faced by the tiny Gulf Arab state hosting one of the world’s biggest sports tournaments.
The conscripts are training to manage stadium security queues, frisk fans and detect contraband like alcohol, drugs or weapons concealed in ponytails, jacket linings or even false bellies, according to training materials seen by Reuters.
Qatar has a population of 2.8 million – of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals – and expects an unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors for the tournament. It already has an agreement with Turkey which is supplying 3,000 riot police.
In early September the civilians were ordered to report for pre-dawn duty at the national service camp north of the Qatari capital Doha, according to order papers seen by Reuters, less than three months before the 29-day tournament kicks off.
The civilians were told they had been called up to assist with the World Cup and that it was their “patriotic duty” to do so, the source said. “Most people are there because they have to be – they don’t want to get in trouble,” the source said.
Qatari draftees have participated in national day celebrations and arrangements for national sports day in the past.Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images
Some volunteers are also training alongside the conscripted force, according to the source, who has direct knowledge of the plan and the training.
Asked for comment, a Qatari government official said in a statement that Qatar’s national service program would continue as normal during the World Cup.
“Recruits will provide additional support during the tournament as part of the regular program, just as they do every year at major public events, such as the National Day celebrations,” the statement added.
Since 2014, Qatari men aged between 18 and 35 have trained with the military for at least four months as part of mandatory national service introduced by the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Dodging the duty can incur a year in prison and a fine of 50,000 Qatari rials ($13,700).
Security with a ‘smile’
The aim is less about boosting the armed forces and more to build discipline and “enhance social cohesion and national unity,” according to Eleonora Ardemagni, an associate research fellow on the Gulf and Yemen at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.
In past years, Qatari conscripts have participated in national day celebrations and arrangements for national sports day. Diplomats abroad have been able to defer their service.
The current group of civilians are on four months paid leave from their jobs at key Qatari institutions like state-owned QatarEnergy and the foreign ministry, the source said.
Qatar has brought diplomats home from several overseas missions, including in the United States, China and Russia, the source said. The diplomats are expected to return to their posts after the World Cup.
Conscripts report to the national service camp five days a week, where they attend training sessions conducted by officials from the security division of Qatar’s World Cup organizers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the source said.
They are taught to approach fans with “positive body language, focus and a smile,” the source said, to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and avoid discriminating against fans on any basis, the source said.
Training also includes hour-long marching drills on the parade ground.
On the morning of Sept. 22, about 30 national service participants stood to attention in one of the temporary security huts outside Khalifa International Stadium, one of the eight grounds where matches will be played.
Two officials briefed the men, who were dressed in trainers and track suits and mostly sported fresh buzz cuts. Outside, hundreds of national service participants toured the stadium perimeter where workers were setting up ticketing queues.
World Cup organizers intend to relax Qatar’s strict laws limiting the public sale of alcohol, and will allow beer to be served near stadiums a few hours before matches kick off.
With three wins on the spin, the crisis seems to be over at Manchester United. After unceremoniously dropping their first two matches of the season against Brighton and Brentford, the Red Devils have responded with victories over Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester City to vaulted themselves to fifth-place in the Premier League with a 3-0-2 (W-D-L) record and a -2 goal differential.
There are still plenty of questions about how good United truly are and if they’ve just been able to take advantage of a relatively soft schedule, but we should have a better idea of where this team is at with a tough match against first-place Arsenal on Sunday. The match will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on USA Network.
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While there are still skeptics about the Red Devils, it’s hard to find much fault with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal through the first five matches of the campaign. Sure, the Gunners have certainly benefited from a soft schedule that’s seen them play Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Leicester City, Fulham, and Aston Villa, but they’ve passed every test with flying colors and currently sit with the second-best expected goal differential (+7.3) in the league.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal on Aug 31.Getty Images
Arsenal’s attack seems potent and the arrival of Gabriel Jesus seems to be a huge boost, but it’s the Gunners defense that has been most impressive. Only one team (Man City) has a better xGA rating compared to Arsenal so far.
United also offer plenty of starpower going forward with Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Christian Eriksen, but their defense has been inconsistent out of the gates, though they did seem to take a step in the right direction with back-to-back clean sheets against Southampton and Leicester.
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All due respect to Saints and the Foxes (and a depleted Liverpool team), this will likely the stiffest test the United defense have faced to date this season and there are still reasons to doubt that the Red Devils can cope. United are still learning Erik ten Hag’s pressing system and are vulnerable to quick attacks when they’re caught out of shape.
There will come a time to sell high on undefeated Arsenal, but this is not that time. Just consider this: Had this match been played two weeks ago, Arsenal would likely be around +140 on the three-way moneyline. The market has become infatuated with Manchester United once again.
If you look at the record through five matches, it makes sense that the betting market remains skeptical of Crystal Palace.
Patrick Vieira’s Eagles are 1-2-2 (W-D-L) with a -2 goal differential, but those numbers need some context.
No team in the Premier League has played a tougher stretch of opponents to open 2022-23 than the Eagles, who have taken on Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brentford.
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Crystal Palace will face another stiff test with an away match against Newcastle on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Newcastle will be without Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin, they are the +100 favorite on the three-way moneyline.
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When you factor in home-field advantage (around 30-40 cents in soccer), these odds suggest that this injury-riddled version of Newcastle would be a decent favorite over Crystal Palace on a neutral field.
Palace’s defense graded out as a top-six unit last season in terms of preventing expected goals and big scoring chances.
This season they rank 15th in expected goals allowed through Matchweek 5, but when you look at the offenses they’ve played and how those matches played out, they were up 1-0 on Liverpool and 2-0 on Manchester City, it makes sense that their xGA is a little inflated. Crystal Palace is a live ’dog on Saturday.
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