Qatar’s World Cup has provided fans with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in just four matchdays. For African nations, it had been nothing but low until André Ayew scored the continent’s first goal of the tournament with Ghana’s opener against Portugal.
World Cup history decrees that if the USMNT and Ghana qualify for the same tournament, they must play each other. It happened in 2006, 2010, 2014 and then both mutually agreed to miss 2018. In 2022, the two nations couldn't possibly meet until the semifinals, so that's what's going to happen.
En el largo libro de récords de Cristiano Ronaldo, hoy se escribió una nueva marca: con su gol en la victoria 3-2 de Portugal sobre Ghana, el delantero se convirtió en el primer futbolista masculino en la historia en marcar un gol en cinco mundiales diferentes.
¡SIUUU!
El énfasis en masculino es importante que la brasileña Marta había hecho los mismo en mundiales femeninos.
Uruguay and Real Madrid star Federico Valverde almost had the highlight of his career on Thursday during his nation’s 0-0 draw vs. South Korea. With the score tied at in the 89th minute, Valverde ripped a shot from over 25 yards out that nearly brought the house down.
OFF THE POST
Federico Valverde nearly put Uruguay on top pic.twitter.com/9EBaxYMvWO
Oh, what could have been for Canada’s golden boy? Just 10 minutes into his side’s opening match, Alphonso Davies had the opportunity to score Canada’s first goal at the men’s World Cup. Fate would not be on his side, however, as Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved his tame effort to keep the match scoreless.
BLOCKED BY COURTOIS
The search for a first-ever men's FIFA World Cup goal continues for Canada pic.twitter.com/M3v0ClUOfZ
Tiki-taka (the lethal variety) is back. Spain was greatly helped by Costa Rica's decision to grant mobile brain-in-a-jar Sergio Busquets freedom of the park Wednesday, but to downplay La Furia Roja's 7-0 World Cup victory over Los Ticos is like throwing mashed potatoes at a Van Gogh.
This was always the danger for Old Man Costa Rica: 35-year-old Keylor Navas, 34-year-old Celso Borges and 33-year-old Óscar Duarte getting torn apart by 22-year-old Ferran Torres and Barcelona teenage prodigies Pedri and Gavi.
¡7-0! Sí, ¡7-0!
Con su celestial e hipnótico tiki-taka, España le dio el réquiem a la generación dorada de Costa Rica.
Sobre el césped del Estadio Al Thumama hubo un solo equipo y las estadísticas de ese dominio fueron brutales. Además de los siete goles:
Yikes!
Lo de los pases es fenomenal y le permitió a los españoles tener una posesión del balón cercana al 82%, récord absoluto desde el Mundial de 1966 a la fecha.
Germany kicked off its 2022 campaign with a continuation of its World Cup struggles from four years ago. Japan scored a late equalizer followed by an even later winner to secure a historic 2-1 win over the champions from 2014.
JAPAN TAKES THE LEAD
JAPAN TAKES THE LEAD
JAPAN TAKES THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/V5Jzmnc8cJ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 23, 2022
AL KHOR — Croatia's World Cup campaign got off to a stuttering start with a 0-0 draw against a battling Morocco on Wednesday as the 2018 runners-up lacked the punch of the side that went so close in Russia.
Chances were at a premium at Al Bayt Stadium as an even Group F contest produced little goalmouth action, and ended in the third goalless draw in nine games at the World Cup so far.
There were glimpses of goal for both sides, with Nikola Vlasic going close for Croatia at the end of the first half while Noussair Mazraoui had a header saved for Morocco.
Kylian Mbappé was his silky brilliant self on Tuesday during France’s 4-1 victory against Australia. That is except for one moment in the 45th minute when a shockingly uncharacteristic Mbappé miss took place.
Still can't believe Mbappe didn't score here pic.twitter.com/7GmOPwWwPO
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022