In an attempt to focus its time and resources on developing football at the grassroots&nbsp;level, the All India Football Federation Monday announced had decided to withdraw India's bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.&nbsp;

“Our current focus is building the foundations of proper footballing structure before thinking of hosting bigger events like the AFC Asian Cup,” read the notification posted on AIFF's website.&nbsp;

Kalyan Chaubey, the newly crowned president of AIFF said India has shown the capability to host global events but&nbsp;"hosting of big events doesn't fit into the Federation's strategic priorities".&nbsp;

“India has always been a wonderful and efficient host to big tournaments, which was amply demonstrated in the recently concluded FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. However, the EC has decided that the overall strategy of the Federation currently remains on focusing on the fundamental goals to strengthen our football at every level from grassroots to youth development," said Chaubey.

"At the same time, we must also strengthen our stakeholders, especially the State Associations and work closely with the clubs to bring about a change in every aspect of football at the domestic level. All such aspects will truly be implemented when the Roadmap is announced later this month.”

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Chaubey took over as the&nbsp;AIFF president after besting former Indian national team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia. At the time, Chaubey&nbsp;made bold promises to further the cause of the sport in the country, arousing the interest of the fans.

His decision to withdraw the bid for the hosting rights has divided footballing fans across the board. While some appreciate that more focus will be put on developing the game at the right places, another faction believes that hosting big-money tournaments could have brought more attention to the game.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aiff-bigwigs-hold-constructive-discussions-with-fifa-chief-regarding-development-of-indian-football-514718">Read more:&nbsp;AIFF bigwigs hold 'constructive discussions' with FIFA chief regarding development of Indian football</a>

India and Saudi Arabia were in the contest to host the event but with the former's decision to pull out, the kingdom leads the race.&nbsp;

India in 2017 had hosted the Under-17 World Cup and earlier this year, the U-17 Women's World Cup. However, the country is yet to host any edition of the AFC Asian Cup.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an attempt to focus its time and resources on developing football at the grassroots level, the All India Football Federation Monday announced had decided to withdraw India's bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

In an attempt to focus its time and resources on developing football at the grassroots level, the All India Football Federation Monday announced had decided to withdraw India's bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. “Our current focus is building the foundations of proper footballing structure before thinking of hosting bigger events like the AFC Asian Cup,” read the notification posted on AIFF's website. Kalyan Chaubey, the newly crowned president of AIFF said India has shown the capability to host global events but "hosting of big events doesn't fit into the Federation's strategic priorities". “India has always been a wonderful and efficient host to big tournaments, which was amply demonstrated in the recently concluded FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. However, the EC has decided that the overall strategy of the Federation currently remains on focusing on the fundamental goals to strengthen our football at every level from grassroots to youth development," said Chaubey. "At the same time, we must also strengthen our stakeholders, especially the State Associations and work closely with the clubs to bring about a change in every aspect of football at the domestic level. All such aspects will truly be implemented when the Roadmap is announced later this month.” 🚨 AIFF Statement 🚨 Read 👉 https://t.co/ArybRguVU6#IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/HbUIZTAnBh — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) December 5, 2022 × Chaubey took over as the AIFF president after besting former Indian national team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia. At the time, Chaubey made bold promises to further the cause of the sport in the country, arousing the interest of the fans. His decision to withdraw the bid for the hosting rights has divided footballing fans across the board. While some appreciate that more focus will be put on developing the game at the right places, another faction believes that hosting big-money tournaments could have brought more attention to the game. Read more: AIFF bigwigs hold 'constructive discussions' with FIFA chief regarding development of Indian football India and Saudi Arabia were in the contest to host the event but with the former's decision to pull out, the kingdom leads the race. India in 2017 had hosted the Under-17 World Cup and earlier this year, the U-17 Women's World Cup. However, the country is yet to host any edition of the AFC Asian Cup. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

AIFF withdraws its bid for hosting AFC Asian Cup 2027, will focus on grassroot development

Germany's shock exit from the group stage of the World Cup for the second time in as many tournaments came as a shock to many. Now, reports are emerging that there is rift within the German camp as the political messaging by the group did not go down well with certain players in the dressing room.&nbsp;

According to media reports, some players in the German camp did not want to take part in the mouth-covering act to protest against FIFA's decision of banning the 'One Love' armbands.&nbsp;

TV host Esther Sedlaczek was the first to report the rumours of the dressing room rift when she interviewed&nbsp;German football director Oliver Bierhoff.

"Would you say that the One-Love armband could have been handled better? The fact is, according to our sources, not every player was OK with the gesture before the Japan game and that they worried that it would cause issues in the team," she asked Bierhoff.&nbsp;

According to local media reports,&nbsp;Bierhoff was first annoyed at the question and said,&nbsp;“You can certainly discuss that at some point. But after three games that have taken place on the pitch, do you think that One Love armband has played such a big role?”

He later admitted that the armband controversy could have been handled better.&nbsp;

“We could have done it better without a doubt. Whether that is decisive for the elimination is another matter.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-onelove-armband-row-ignites-again-536895">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: 'Onelove' armband row ignites again</a>

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Notably, on Sunday, former Arsenal boss and current&nbsp;FIFA head of global football development Arsene Wenger took a dig at Germany and said&nbsp;

“When you go to a World Cup you know you must not lose the first game,” said Wenger during a press conference before adding that teams with World Cup experience such as holders France won their opening matches.&nbsp;

“And the teams as well who were mentally ready, who had the mindset to focus on the competition and not on political demonstrations," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-arsene-wenger-takes-a-dig-at-teams-more-focused-on-political-demonstrations-539997">Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger takes a dig at teams more focused on political demonstrations</a>

Similarly, Belgium's Eden Hazard argued the Germans should have stuck to football.

"They'd have done better not to do it (the protest) and to win instead. We are here to play football. I'm not here to send a political message. Other people are better placed for that. We want to be focused on football," said Hazard.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-here-to-play-football-belgiums-eden-hazard-on-germanys-protest-against-fifa-in-world-cup-537192">Read more:&nbsp;They'd have done better to win instead: Belgium's Eden Hazard on Germany's protest against FIFA in World Cup</a>

After German players covered their mouths, the German FA released a statement saying,&nbsp;“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Germany's shock exit from the group stage of the World Cup for the second time in as many tournaments came as a shock to many. Now, reports are emerging that there is rift within the German camp as the political messaging by the group did not go down well with certain players in the dressing room.

Germany's shock exit from the group stage of the World Cup for the second time in as many tournaments came as a shock to many. Now, reports are emerging that there is rift within the German camp as the political messaging by the group did not go down well with certain players in the dressing room. According to media reports, some players in the German camp did not want to take part in the mouth-covering act to protest against FIFA's decision of banning the 'One Love' armbands. TV host Esther Sedlaczek was the first to report the rumours of the dressing room rift when she interviewed German football director Oliver Bierhoff. "Would you say that the One-Love armband could have been handled better? The fact is, according to our sources, not every player was OK with the gesture before the Japan game and that they worried that it would cause issues in the team," she asked Bierhoff. According to local media reports, Bierhoff was first annoyed at the question and said, “You can certainly discuss that at some point. But after three games that have taken place on the pitch, do you think that One Love armband has played such a big role?” He later admitted that the armband controversy could have been handled better. “We could have done it better without a doubt. Whether that is decisive for the elimination is another matter.” WATCH | WION Fineprint: 'Onelove' armband row ignites again × Notably, on Sunday, former Arsenal boss and current FIFA head of global football development Arsene Wenger took a dig at Germany and said “When you go to a World Cup you know you must not lose the first game,” said Wenger during a press conference before adding that teams with World Cup experience such as holders France won their opening matches. “And the teams as well who were mentally ready, who had the mindset to focus on the competition and not on political demonstrations," he added. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger takes a dig at teams more focused on political demonstrations Similarly, Belgium's Eden Hazard argued the Germans should have stuck to football. "They'd have done better not to do it (the protest) and to win instead. We are here to play football. I'm not here to send a political message. Other people are better placed for that. We want to be focused on football," said Hazard. Read more: They'd have done better to win instead: Belgium's Eden Hazard on Germany's protest against FIFA in World Cup After German players covered their mouths, the German FA released a statement saying, “We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rift emerges in German dressing room after World Cup mouth-covering protest: Reports

Shafali Varma has been picked as the captain to lead a 15-member Indian contingent at the maiden Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa next year.&nbsp;

Varma, who has already played for the national senior side in all three formats will join the small list of players to have played the senior World Cup before playing the age-division World Cup.

Alongside Varma, Richa Ghosh will also be joining the U19 squad having made her senior debut against Australia in 2020.&nbsp; Ghosh is 19 years old but she made the list for being born after the&nbsp;cut-off date of birth of August 31, 2003.

The BCCI in a press release announced the squad for the World Cup as well as the South Africa series. The World Cup will commence on January 14 next year and will feature 16 teams.&nbsp;

“The All-India Women’s Selection Committee has picked India U19 Women’s squad for the upcoming bilateral away T20 series against South Africa U19 and the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup to follow," read the release.&nbsp;

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More Details 🔽<a href="https://t.co/onr5tDraiq">https://t.co/onr5tDraiq</a>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-world-cup-heartbreaks-to-cwg22-silver-medal-reliving-team-indias-2022-539744">Read more:&nbsp;From World Cup heartbreaks to CWG'22 silver medal: Reliving Team India's 2022</a>

India has been placed alongside South Africa, UAE and Scotland in group D. The top three teams from each group will qualify for the&nbsp;Super Six round.&nbsp;India will start their campaign against hosts, South Africa, in Benoni.&nbsp;

Ireland's George Dockrell played the Men's 2010 T20 World Cup before appearing for the U19&nbsp;World Cup, two years later in Australia as the captain.

The current mainstay of West Indies test lineup Kraigg Brathwaite played Test cricket for the Caribbean side before playing in the 2012 U19 World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India Women's squad for the U-19 World Cup:

Shafali Verma (Captain), Shweta Sehrawat (Vice-Captain), Richa Ghosh (WK), G Trisha, Soumya Tiwari, Sonia Mehdiya, Hurley Gala, Hrishita Basu (WK), Sonam Yadav, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Titas Sadhu, Falak Naz, Shabnam MD.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shafali Varma has been picked as the captain to lead a 15-member Indian contingent at the maiden Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa next year. Varma, who has already played for the national senior side in all three formats will join the small list of players to have played the senior World Cup before playing the age-division World Cup.

Shafali Varma has been picked as the captain to lead a 15-member Indian contingent at the maiden Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa next year. Varma, who has already played for the national senior side in all three formats will join the small list of players to have played the senior World Cup before playing the age-division World Cup. Alongside Varma, Richa Ghosh will also be joining the U19 squad having made her senior debut against Australia in 2020. Ghosh is 19 years old but she made the list for being born after the cut-off date of birth of August 31, 2003. The BCCI in a press release announced the squad for the World Cup as well as the South Africa series. The World Cup will commence on January 14 next year and will feature 16 teams. “The All-India Women’s Selection Committee has picked India U19 Women’s squad for the upcoming bilateral away T20 series against South Africa U19 and the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup to follow," read the release. 🚨 NEWS 🚨: India U19 Women’s squad for ICC World Cup and SA series announced. More Details 🔽https://t.co/onr5tDraiq — BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 5, 2022 × Read more: From World Cup heartbreaks to CWG'22 silver medal: Reliving Team India's 2022 India has been placed alongside South Africa, UAE and Scotland in group D. The top three teams from each group will qualify for the Super Six round. India will start their campaign against hosts, South Africa, in Benoni. Ireland's George Dockrell played the Men's 2010 T20 World Cup before appearing for the U19 World Cup, two years later in Australia as the captain. The current mainstay of West Indies test lineup Kraigg Brathwaite played Test cricket for the Caribbean side before playing in the 2012 U19 World Cup. India Women's squad for the U-19 World Cup: Shafali Verma (Captain), Shweta Sehrawat (Vice-Captain), Richa Ghosh (WK), G Trisha, Soumya Tiwari, Sonia Mehdiya, Hurley Gala, Hrishita Basu (WK), Sonam Yadav, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Titas Sadhu, Falak Naz, Shabnam MD. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Shafali Verma picked to lead India at the maiden Under-19 World Cup

With questions rising over Rohit Sharma's captaincy, former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh has opined that Shreyas Iyer may be the right candidate to take over from Sharma in the white-ball format.

With questions rising over Rohit Sharma's captaincy, former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh has opined that Shreyas Iyer may be the right candidate to take over from Sharma in the white-ball format. "I've been saying this for the past three-four years, you know Shreyas Iyer is my favourite," said Singh in an interview with Hindustan Times. Maninder added that Hardik Pandya can be the stop-gap captain but it should be Iyer that should take the reins in the future. "For me, I still feel, I've said it earlier Hardik Pandya at the moment - you can make him the captain in white-ball cricket. But in my mind, its Shreyas Iyer, actually (a candidate) for the past 3-4 years. I really hope that we give him opportunities to play for India regularly in all the formats because he has a good brain." Read more: BAN vs IND 2022: ‘Was asked to keep wickets, no idea why Rishabh Pant was released’ – KL Rahul "Whenever I have seen him lead any side, when he led the IPL side or anywhere, he looks like a good thinker of the game. He's got a good head on his shoulders, and he is somebody who is very positive," he added. Iyer has become the lynchpin in the middle order for the Indian side in the 50-overs format. He has been the most consistent of the lot since making his debut in 2017. Having played 37 ODIs, Iyer has scored 1452 runs with an average of 48.4 and a healthy strike rate of 97.25. As for the T20 format, Iyer is yet to lock in a spot due to selection conundrum and his indifferent form. Singh, however, praised Iyer for his temperament and said he had the quality to score quick runs. "You can see his approach when he bats, whenever he comes to bat he is looking for runs....if he doesn't get boundaries from the word go, you can see him rotating his strike, he is looking for singles, trying to find the gaps and that’s his quality." Ever since India's tame exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia, speculations have been growing over the appointment of the next T20I team captain. Hardik Pandya has been leading the race as the new selection committee seeks to phase out the older players and experiment with the youth. The Indian team has been devoid of any ICC silverware for the last nine years. A change in captaincy and team selection strategy appears to be the obvious short-term fix. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Former Indian cricketer lends his weight behind Shreyas Iyer as the next white ball captain

In pics | Fans pray for Pele's health as daughter says he was never on end-of-life care

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has taken a swipe at teams that have paid more attention to political messaging than focusing on football at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;

“When you go to a World Cup you know you must not lose the first game,” said Wenger during a press conference before adding that teams with World Cup experience such as holders France won their opening matches.&nbsp;

“And the teams as well who were mentally ready, who had the mindset to focus on the competition and not on political demonstrations," he added.&nbsp;

The Frenchman is currently FIFA's&nbsp;head of global football development and his statement&nbsp;might have been targetted at Germany.&nbsp;

The German football team during the team photograph in the match against Japan&nbsp;covered&nbsp;their mouths to protest over the ban of ‘One love armbands’ by FIFA.&nbsp;

The move came after&nbsp;FIFA threatened seven European teams (England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark) with sanctions if they wore the armbands.&nbsp;

After German players covered their mouths, the German FA released a statement saying,&nbsp;“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.”

“Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard. It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position,” it added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/germany-players-cover-mouth-in-protest-over-one-love-armbands-ban-by-fifa-536843">Read more:&nbsp;Germany players cover mouth in protest over ‘One love armbands' ban by FIFA</a>

However, Wenger&nbsp;is not the only one that has hit back at Germany for their gesture at the World Cup. On Monday, during the Group H encounter between Germany and Spain,&nbsp;Qatari fans clapped back at the German football team and federation.&nbsp;

The Qatari fans in the stands held photos of former German international Mesut&nbsp;Özil.&nbsp;The Qatari fans were reminding the Deutsch football team that it never stood for its own player who was made a scapegoat for the teams'&nbsp;insipid show at the 2018 event in Russia.

Germany suffered a group-stage exit at the tournament but it was&nbsp;Özil who was targetted for the setback and racially discriminated against.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-qatari-fans-clap-back-at-germany-by-recalling-mesut-ozil-538086">Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatari fans clap back at Germany by recalling Mesut Özil</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has taken a swipe at teams that have paid more attention to political messaging than focusing on football at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has taken a swipe at teams that have paid more attention to political messaging than focusing on football at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. “When you go to a World Cup you know you must not lose the first game,” said Wenger during a press conference before adding that teams with World Cup experience such as holders France won their opening matches. “And the teams as well who were mentally ready, who had the mindset to focus on the competition and not on political demonstrations," he added. The Frenchman is currently FIFA's head of global football development and his statement might have been targetted at Germany. The German football team during the team photograph in the match against Japan covered their mouths to protest over the ban of ‘One love armbands’ by FIFA. The move came after FIFA threatened seven European teams (England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark) with sanctions if they wore the armbands. After German players covered their mouths, the German FA released a statement saying, “We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect.” “Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard. It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position,” it added. Read more: Germany players cover mouth in protest over ‘One love armbands' ban by FIFA However, Wenger is not the only one that has hit back at Germany for their gesture at the World Cup. On Monday, during the Group H encounter between Germany and Spain, Qatari fans clapped back at the German football team and federation. The Qatari fans in the stands held photos of former German international Mesut Özil. The Qatari fans were reminding the Deutsch football team that it never stood for its own player who was made a scapegoat for the teams' insipid show at the 2018 event in Russia. Germany suffered a group-stage exit at the tournament but it was Özil who was targetted for the setback and racially discriminated against. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatari fans clap back at Germany by recalling Mesut Özil (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger takes a dig at teams more focused on political demonstrations

Brazil forward Neymar is set to play for the five-times champions in their World Cup last-16 match against South Korea on Monday after recovering from an ankle injury, coach Tite said.

Neymar suffered the injury in Brazil's opening 2-0 win over Serbia, which ruled him out of their 1-0 win over Switzerland and the shock defeat by Cameroon, one of a series of injury problems within the squad.

Fullback Danilo was also cleared by the medical staff for the game against South Korea.

"Neymar will train today in the afternoon and if he trains well he will play," Tite told a news conference.

Neymar has suffered many issues with his right foot and underwent surgery four years ago for a fractured metatarsal.

The news of his return to the starting lineup came after Thiago Silva was asked during a news conference if Neymar would play and Tite took hold of the microphone and said "yes".

It will be warmly welcomed in a squad beset by fitness woes with Danilo also hurting his ankle against Serbia and Alex Sandro suffering a hip injury against the Swiss.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-brazils-neymar-returns-to-training-for-first-time-since-getting-injured-trains-ahead-of-qf-clash-539857">WATCH: Brazil’s Neymar returns to training for first time since getting injured, trains ahead of QF clash</a>

Alex Telles and forward Gabriel Jesus, who sustained a knee injury against Cameroon, were ruled out for the rest of the tournament on Saturday.

Tite said Danilo was also fit to return against South Korea on Monday but Sandro was out.

"He still can't play. Still recovering. Danilo and Neymar are back," he said. ​

Tite stressed that Neymar's return was with the full backing of the team's medical staff and the player's physical health was the priority.

"If he plays, it's because he is in full health and ready to start, to play from the beginning and the entire game with no limitations. My preference is always to play my best players from the start," Tite said.

With Neymar back, Tite said there will be no changes in the forward line from the team that started against Serbia, with Lucas Paqueta behind Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Richarlison.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brazil-struck-with-sea-of-injuries-striker-gabriel-jesus-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-2022-539728">Read more:&nbsp;Brazil struck with sea of injuries, striker Gabriel Jesus ruled out of FIFA World Cup 2022</a>

The biggest question mark is who will play left back with Sandro and Telles ruled out.

Marquinhos replaced the Sevilla defender after he sustained the injury against Cameroon, but right back Danilo and midfielder Everton Ribeiro are also options.

"Alex Sandro's replacement will be a player that have already played in that position in his club. Make your research and you will find out who he is," Tite said.

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Brazil forward Neymar is set to play for the five-times champions in their World Cup last-16 match against South Korea on Monday after recovering from an ankle injury, coach Tite said.

Brazil forward Neymar is set to play for the five-times champions in their World Cup last-16 match against South Korea on Monday after recovering from an ankle injury, coach Tite said. Neymar suffered the injury in Brazil's opening 2-0 win over Serbia, which ruled him out of their 1-0 win over Switzerland and the shock defeat by Cameroon, one of a series of injury problems within the squad. Fullback Danilo was also cleared by the medical staff for the game against South Korea. "Neymar will train today in the afternoon and if he trains well he will play," Tite told a news conference. Neymar has suffered many issues with his right foot and underwent surgery four years ago for a fractured metatarsal. The news of his return to the starting lineup came after Thiago Silva was asked during a news conference if Neymar would play and Tite took hold of the microphone and said "yes". It will be warmly welcomed in a squad beset by fitness woes with Danilo also hurting his ankle against Serbia and Alex Sandro suffering a hip injury against the Swiss. WATCH: Brazil’s Neymar returns to training for first time since getting injured, trains ahead of QF clash Alex Telles and forward Gabriel Jesus, who sustained a knee injury against Cameroon, were ruled out for the rest of the tournament on Saturday. Tite said Danilo was also fit to return against South Korea on Monday but Sandro was out. "He still can't play. Still recovering. Danilo and Neymar are back," he said. Tite stressed that Neymar's return was with the full backing of the team's medical staff and the player's physical health was the priority. "If he plays, it's because he is in full health and ready to start, to play from the beginning and the entire game with no limitations. My preference is always to play my best players from the start," Tite said. With Neymar back, Tite said there will be no changes in the forward line from the team that started against Serbia, with Lucas Paqueta behind Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Richarlison. Read more: Brazil struck with sea of injuries, striker Gabriel Jesus ruled out of FIFA World Cup 2022 The biggest question mark is who will play left back with Sandro and Telles ruled out. Marquinhos replaced the Sevilla defender after he sustained the injury against Cameroon, but right back Danilo and midfielder Everton Ribeiro are also options. "Alex Sandro's replacement will be a player that have already played in that position in his club. Make your research and you will find out who he is," Tite said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Neymar fit to play against South Korea, says Brazil coach Tite

Bangladesh's last wicket pair of Mehidy Hasan Miraj and Mustafizur Rahaman pulled off an absolute heist with a thrilling 51-run stand as India choked during the final half an hour to lose a low-scoring opening ODI by one wicket in Dhaka on Sunday.

While India produced yet another poor batting show which saw them get all-out for 186 in 41.2 overs, the bowlers did a splendid job to reduce Bangladesh to 136 for 9 in the 40th over.

However, KL Rahul, who was entrusted with keeping duties to fit him and another veteran Shikhar Dhawan in the same XI, dropped an aerial sitter when Bangladesh still needed 32 runs.

Washington Sundar also didn't go for an easy catch at the third man earning the wrath of skipper Rohit Sharma as Miraj (38 not out off 39 balls) along with Mustafizur (10 not out) got the team past the finishing line in exactly 46 overs.

The 51-run stand between Miraj and Mustafizur was Bangladesh's highest 10th wicket partnership and the fourth-highest 10th wicket partnership in a successful ODI chase.

On a track that assisted both seamers and spinners. The Indian top order barring KL Rahul (73 off 70 balls) flopped badly to be bowled out for a score below 200.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-flying-virat-kohli-gets-his-revenge-as-he-grabs-a-one-hand-stunner-539953">WATCH | 'Flying' Virat Kohli gets his revenge as he grabs a one-hand stunner</a>

But the total that looked eminently gettable at the break turned into a sizeable one due to lion-hearted efforts from Mohammed Siraj (3/32), Shardul Thakur (1/21) and Washington Sundar (2/17).

Debutant Kuldeep Sen's (2/37) pace was used to hit him for three sixes -- two of them during the slog overs while Deepak Chahar (1/32) despite providing a first-ball breakthrough looked pedestrian towards the end when there was no nip in the air.

In the end, Miraj ensured that the hosts didn't suffer a setback in a game which should have been won with their bowling effort alone.

Earlier, Rahul struck 73 off 70 balls on a day when the others struggled to get going and when the side was packed with all-rounders. Rahul hit five fours and four sixes.

India's innings lasted 41.2 overs with left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (5/36) doing most of the damage.

Opting to field, Mustafizur Rahman started the proceedings with a maiden, before India skipper Rohit Sharma opened the visitors' boundary count by smashing Hasan Mahmud through the gap between point and cover.

Shikhar Dhawan went down the ground and got his first boundary by sending the ball over cover. Bangladesh skipper Litton Das effected an early bowling change, bringing in off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz into the attack in the fourth over, and he started on a tidy note before castling Dhawan for seven.

The opener went for the reverse sweep but the ball bounced a bit more than usual, touched his wrist before going on to hit the stumps. Rohit struck the first six of the series when he pulled Mahmud over deep square leg after the medium pacer drifted the ball on his pads.

The India skipper again found the deep square leg region but this time for a boundary as he employed the sweep shot against Miraz. 
Rohit then chose the off-side, cutting Mahmud along the ground for a boundary after being given plenty of width.

It was then the turn of Virat Kohli to pick the deep square leg region as the former captain swept Miraz for a four. Litton made another bowling change, summoning the seasoned Shakib, and again he was instantly rewarded thanks to a brilliant delivery by the star all-rounder.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-joe-root-becomes-left-handed-batter-on-the-placid-rawalpindi-pitch-539918">WATCH | Joe Root becomes left-handed batter on the placid Rawalpindi pitch</a>

Having got a start, Rohit (27 off 31 balls) went for the turn but the ball didn't, and instead, went past the inside edge before disturbing the middle and leg stumps.

There was more joy in store for the hosts as, two balls later, the left-arm spinner sent back Kohli (9) after Litton pulled off an incredible catch at cover after diving full length to his right, leaving Kohli stunned and the crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium elated.

At 49 for three in the 11th over, India needed a partnership. KL Rahul joined Shreyas Iyer (24) in the middle but the latter was dismissed by Ebadot Hossain (4/47), who was rewarded for bowling to a plan that works best against Iyer -- short-pitched stuffs.

With the small 43-run stand coming to an end, Washington Sundar (19) walked in and looked to help Rahul in building a partnership. However, the duo could add no more than 60 runs as, shortly after Rahul reached his half-century, Washington picked a fielder while trying to play the reverse sweep against Shakib.

In the next over, Ebadot sent back Shahbaz Ahmed and Shakib then dismissed Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar to leave India tottering at 156 for eight. The last two wickets yielded 30 runs as India got folded in the 42nd over without playing the full quota of 50 overs.&nbsp;

Brief scores: 
India: 186 all out in 41.2 overs (KL Rahul 73; Shakib Al Hasan 5/36, Ebadat Hossain 4/47). 
Bangladesh: 187 for 9 in 46 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out, Litton Das 41; Mohammed Siraj 3/32).

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Bangladesh's last wicket pair of Mehidy Hasan Miraj and Mustafizur Rahaman pulled off an absolute heist with a thrilling 51-run stand as India choked during the final half an hour to lose a low-scoring opening ODI by one wicket in Dhaka on Sunday.

Bangladesh's last wicket pair of Mehidy Hasan Miraj and Mustafizur Rahaman pulled off an absolute heist with a thrilling 51-run stand as India choked during the final half an hour to lose a low-scoring opening ODI by one wicket in Dhaka on Sunday. While India produced yet another poor batting show which saw them get all-out for 186 in 41.2 overs, the bowlers did a splendid job to reduce Bangladesh to 136 for 9 in the 40th over. However, KL Rahul, who was entrusted with keeping duties to fit him and another veteran Shikhar Dhawan in the same XI, dropped an aerial sitter when Bangladesh still needed 32 runs. Washington Sundar also didn't go for an easy catch at the third man earning the wrath of skipper Rohit Sharma as Miraj (38 not out off 39 balls) along with Mustafizur (10 not out) got the team past the finishing line in exactly 46 overs. The 51-run stand between Miraj and Mustafizur was Bangladesh's highest 10th wicket partnership and the fourth-highest 10th wicket partnership in a successful ODI chase. On a track that assisted both seamers and spinners. The Indian top order barring KL Rahul (73 off 70 balls) flopped badly to be bowled out for a score below 200. WATCH | 'Flying' Virat Kohli gets his revenge as he grabs a one-hand stunner But the total that looked eminently gettable at the break turned into a sizeable one due to lion-hearted efforts from Mohammed Siraj (3/32), Shardul Thakur (1/21) and Washington Sundar (2/17). Debutant Kuldeep Sen's (2/37) pace was used to hit him for three sixes -- two of them during the slog overs while Deepak Chahar (1/32) despite providing a first-ball breakthrough looked pedestrian towards the end when there was no nip in the air. In the end, Miraj ensured that the hosts didn't suffer a setback in a game which should have been won with their bowling effort alone. Earlier, Rahul struck 73 off 70 balls on a day when the others struggled to get going and when the side was packed with all-rounders. Rahul hit five fours and four sixes. India's innings lasted 41.2 overs with left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (5/36) doing most of the damage. Opting to field, Mustafizur Rahman started the proceedings with a maiden, before India skipper Rohit Sharma opened the visitors' boundary count by smashing Hasan Mahmud through the gap between point and cover. Shikhar Dhawan went down the ground and got his first boundary by sending the ball over cover. Bangladesh skipper Litton Das effected an early bowling change, bringing in off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz into the attack in the fourth over, and he started on a tidy note before castling Dhawan for seven. The opener went for the reverse sweep but the ball bounced a bit more than usual, touched his wrist before going on to hit the stumps. Rohit struck the first six of the series when he pulled Mahmud over deep square leg after the medium pacer drifted the ball on his pads. The India skipper again found the deep square leg region but this time for a boundary as he employed the sweep shot against Miraz. Rohit then chose the off-side, cutting Mahmud along the ground for a boundary after being given plenty of width. It was then the turn of Virat Kohli to pick the deep square leg region as the former captain swept Miraz for a four. Litton made another bowling change, summoning the seasoned Shakib, and again he was instantly rewarded thanks to a brilliant delivery by the star all-rounder. WATCH | Joe Root becomes left-handed batter on the placid Rawalpindi pitch Having got a start, Rohit (27 off 31 balls) went for the turn but the ball didn't, and instead, went past the inside edge before disturbing the middle and leg stumps. There was more joy in store for the hosts as, two balls later, the left-arm spinner sent back Kohli (9) after Litton pulled off an incredible catch at cover after diving full length to his right, leaving Kohli stunned and the crowd at the Shere Bangla National Stadium elated. At 49 for three in the 11th over, India needed a partnership. KL Rahul joined Shreyas Iyer (24) in the middle but the latter was dismissed by Ebadot Hossain (4/47), who was rewarded for bowling to a plan that works best against Iyer -- short-pitched stuffs. With the small 43-run stand coming to an end, Washington Sundar (19) walked in and looked to help Rahul in building a partnership. However, the duo could add no more than 60 runs as, shortly after Rahul reached his half-century, Washington picked a fielder while trying to play the reverse sweep against Shakib. In the next over, Ebadot sent back Shahbaz Ahmed and Shakib then dismissed Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar to leave India tottering at 156 for eight. The last two wickets yielded 30 runs as India got folded in the 42nd over without playing the full quota of 50 overs. Brief scores: India: 186 all out in 41.2 overs (KL Rahul 73; Shakib Al Hasan 5/36, Ebadat Hossain 4/47). Bangladesh: 187 for 9 in 46 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out, Litton Das 41; Mohammed Siraj 3/32). WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India choke in the first ODI as Bangladesh pull off a famous victory

England manager Gareth Southgate believes his team is ready for another penalty shootout, should the round of 16 tie against Senegal on Sunday go the distance.&nbsp;

"We're prepared. We've had a process that we've followed," said Southgate&nbsp;at a pre-match press conference.&nbsp;

Southgate added that his team will like to finish the game in the stipulated time but if it comes to penalty kicks, his troops are 'mentally and physically' prepared for the eventuality.&nbsp;

“We’re aiming to win the game and to avoid extra time if you can, and to avoid penalties if you can, because you’d like to get a victory in 90 minutes."

“But if we need to go 120 minutes, if we need to go beyond that, then we’ve got to be ready for that mentally and physically. And I believe we are."

Southgate also emphasised the fact that England haven't been on-song with their set pieces.

"We haven't been as effective from set-pieces as we would have liked to have been yet, so there's definitely more improvement needed from us on that.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-vs-senegal-at-fifa-world-cup-2022-match-prediction-preview-head-to-head-and-lineups-539928">Read more:&nbsp;England vs Senegal at FIFA World Cup 2022: Match prediction, preview, head-to-head and lineups</a>

England and penalty shootouts

England's woes with penalty shootouts have been well-documented. The three lions are still&nbsp;nursing the wounds from last year's penalty shootout defeat against Italy at the Euro 2020 Final.&nbsp;

At the time, it was youngsters Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford that failed to put their penalties away - prolonging England's longing of a major trophy since winning the World Cup&nbsp;in 1966.&nbsp;

England will be up against African champions Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha. Senegal&nbsp;may be missing its talisman Sadio Mane but the African side has enough firepower in the ranks to nullify the threat of an English charge.

As for Southgate, it will be interesting to observe what tactics he takes into the match. England under Southgate have largely played a conservative brand of football, despite having a vast array of attack-minded footballers.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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England manager Gareth Southgate believes his team is ready for another penalty shootout, should the round of 16 tie against Senegal on Sunday go the distance. "We're prepared.

England manager Gareth Southgate believes his team is ready for another penalty shootout, should the round of 16 tie against Senegal on Sunday go the distance. "We're prepared. We've had a process that we've followed," said Southgate at a pre-match press conference. Southgate added that his team will like to finish the game in the stipulated time but if it comes to penalty kicks, his troops are 'mentally and physically' prepared for the eventuality. “We’re aiming to win the game and to avoid extra time if you can, and to avoid penalties if you can, because you’d like to get a victory in 90 minutes." “But if we need to go 120 minutes, if we need to go beyond that, then we’ve got to be ready for that mentally and physically. And I believe we are." Southgate also emphasised the fact that England haven't been on-song with their set pieces. "We haven't been as effective from set-pieces as we would have liked to have been yet, so there's definitely more improvement needed from us on that. Read more: England vs Senegal at FIFA World Cup 2022: Match prediction, preview, head-to-head and lineups England and penalty shootouts England's woes with penalty shootouts have been well-documented. The three lions are still nursing the wounds from last year's penalty shootout defeat against Italy at the Euro 2020 Final. At the time, it was youngsters Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford that failed to put their penalties away - prolonging England's longing of a major trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966. England will be up against African champions Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha. Senegal may be missing its talisman Sadio Mane but the African side has enough firepower in the ranks to nullify the threat of an English charge. As for Southgate, it will be interesting to observe what tactics he takes into the match. England under Southgate have largely played a conservative brand of football, despite having a vast array of attack-minded footballers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We're prepared for penalties', says Gareth Southgate ahead of knockout clash against Senegal

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli pulled off a moment of brilliance in the field in the first ODI against Bangladesh after having fallen prey to a similar stunning effort in the first innings.

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli pulled off a moment of brilliance in the field in the first ODI against Bangladesh after having fallen prey to a similar stunning effort in the first innings. Chasing 187, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman were developing a partnership in the middle after losing three wickets in under 100 runs. Summoned by captain Rohit Sharma to bowl the 24th over, orthodox, right-arm off-spinner Washington Sundar bowled two dots on the trot. On the third delivery, the lanky all-rounder flighted the ball on the sixth stump as Shakib, taking the bait, went fetching for it. However, the left-hander was deceived by the flight and managed to slice the ball straight up in the air to the right of the extra cover fielder. Kohli stationed in the region quickly lept to his right rather acrobatically and managed to grab a one-hand stunner. VIRAT KOHLI STUNNING CATCH #viratKohli#Banvsind pic.twitter.com/XlD1Mm5LLP — Aman shrivastava 𓃵🇮🇳🍥 (@im___Aman) December 4, 2022 × It was an act of revenge in one way for Kohli as Al Hasan was the bowler when Litton Das pulled off a brilliant catch against him earlier in the match. WATCH | Stunned Virat Kohli walks off after Bangladesh skipper Litton Das takes a brilliant catch At the time, it was a stupefied Kohli that stood on the crease momentarily before trudging back to the pavilion, slowly. Put into bat first by the hosts, India never managed to get going as Bangladesh bowlers picked wickets at regular intervals. Barring a half-century knock from KL Rahul, the other Indian batters never gained any sort of momentum as the innings folded at the meagre total of 186 without playing the full quota of 50 overs. Playing XIs for the match: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Sen Bangladesh: Litton Das (c), Anamul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | 'Flying' Virat Kohli gets his revenge as he grabs a one-hand stunner

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has criticised the national team following a tame exit from the group stage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;

Terming the performances of the Red Devils in the last two major tournaments as 'embarrasing',&nbsp;Courtois refused to label the Belgium team as the&nbsp;'golden generation'.&nbsp;

“It’s hard to call yourself ‘Golden Generation’ when you don’t win anything.&nbsp;We’re not a golden generation, we’re a generation with lots of talent and great players from across Europe,"&nbsp;Courtois was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Diairo AS.&nbsp;

“We showed in Russia, we are a Belgium that plays good football. In this World Cup and Euro 2020 we were not ourselves, it’s embarrassing," added the Real Madrid keeper.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/belgium-knocked-out-of-fifa-world-cup-group-stage-539279">WATCH |&nbsp;Belgium knocked out of FIFA World Cup group stage</a>

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A spirited Moroccan team outplayed Belgium and its supposed 'golden generation' to send them out of the tournament. The 2018 WC semifinalists were shocked after&nbsp;substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri curled a whipping free kick towards Courtois, who unfortunately could not move across the box in time.&nbsp;

As Belgium sought an equaliser in the dying stages of the game, Morocco's talisman Hakim Ziyech measured an inch-perfect pass to&nbsp;Zakaria Aboukhlal who rifled the ball to the top of the net, completing the demolition job.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/morocco-surprise-win-against-belgium-sets-off-riots-in-belgian-and-dutch-cities-538029">Read more:&nbsp;Riots ensue in Belgian and Dutch cities after Morocco's surprise win at the World Cup</a>

Throughout Belgium's World Cup campaign, rumours of rifts and fights among the teammates made the news headlines more than the performance on the field. Belgium's captain Kevin de Bruyne further deflated the team's morale by claiming in an interview that there was no chance that Belgium could win the World Cup.&nbsp;

“No chance, we’re too old. I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing. We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders," said de Bruyne.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has criticised the national team following a tame exit from the group stage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Terming the performances of the Red Devils in the last two major tournaments as 'embarrasing', Courtois refused to label the Belgium team as the 'golden generation'.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has criticised the national team following a tame exit from the group stage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Terming the performances of the Red Devils in the last two major tournaments as 'embarrasing', Courtois refused to label the Belgium team as the 'golden generation'. “It’s hard to call yourself ‘Golden Generation’ when you don’t win anything. We’re not a golden generation, we’re a generation with lots of talent and great players from across Europe," Courtois was quoted as saying by Diairo AS. “We showed in Russia, we are a Belgium that plays good football. In this World Cup and Euro 2020 we were not ourselves, it’s embarrassing," added the Real Madrid keeper. WATCH | Belgium knocked out of FIFA World Cup group stage × A spirited Moroccan team outplayed Belgium and its supposed 'golden generation' to send them out of the tournament. The 2018 WC semifinalists were shocked after substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri curled a whipping free kick towards Courtois, who unfortunately could not move across the box in time. As Belgium sought an equaliser in the dying stages of the game, Morocco's talisman Hakim Ziyech measured an inch-perfect pass to Zakaria Aboukhlal who rifled the ball to the top of the net, completing the demolition job. Read more: Riots ensue in Belgian and Dutch cities after Morocco's surprise win at the World Cup Throughout Belgium's World Cup campaign, rumours of rifts and fights among the teammates made the news headlines more than the performance on the field. Belgium's captain Kevin de Bruyne further deflated the team's morale by claiming in an interview that there was no chance that Belgium could win the World Cup. “No chance, we’re too old. I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing. We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders," said de Bruyne. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We’re not a golden generation', says Thibaut Courtois after Belgium crash out of the World Cup

What does a batter like Joe Root do when playing on an absolute flat deck where the ball has not shown signs of any movement or spin in eons and the team is miles ahead in the game?

What does a batter like Joe Root do when playing on an absolute flat deck where the ball has not shown signs of any movement or spin in eons and the team is miles ahead in the game? They bat left-handed to try to give themselves some sort of a challenge. The former England captain took everyone by surprise on the fourth day of the ongoing Rawalpindi Test when he became a left-handed batter. In the 23rd over of England's second innings, Joe Root facing leg spinner Zahid Mahmood took guard as a proper left-hander and swept a delivery on the pads to the left of short square leg. While it was a catching opportunity, the diving fielder in Naseem Shah failed to pouch it as the batters trudged across to complete the single. Coming to the shot, Root looked in perfect shape for a batter who is conventionally a right-hander. Most batters tend to remain in their natural stance before the ball is bowled before switching sides. The likes of Kevin Pietersen and David Warner have been masters of the switch hit over the years. However, Root did nothing of that sort as he became a left-hander for the particular delivery. Joe Root decides to bat left-handed 😳#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/GOvnkof54B — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 4, 2022 × However, a few overs after the incident, it was Mahmood that had the last laugh as he managed to pitch one on length outside the leg stump as Root attempted another sweep, albeit as a right-hander. This time, the ball took the leading edge and ballooned straight into the hands of Imam Ul Haq at short fine leg who completed the regulation take. Root and his ingenious ideas Root has been at the centre of intriguing events during the Test match. On the third day, Root garnered headlines after he took the red cherry and gently rubbed it over Jack Leach's bald head. "Absolutely ingenious!" Root finds a unique way of shining the ball with the help of Leach 🤝😅#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/mYkmfI0lhK — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 3, 2022 × WATCH | Joe Root invents a new method to shine the cricket ball during Rawalpindi Test Commentators Urooj Mumtaz, Dawid Gower and Nasser Hussain were amused by Root's out-of-the-box thinking and had a good laugh about it. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Joe Root becomes left-handed batter on the placid Rawalpindi pitch

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