Fernando Santos has left his role as head coach of Portugal following their World Cup exit. The 68-year-old leaves after Portugal' shock 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Morocco in Qatar.

Fernando Santos steps down as Portugal head coach after World Cup exit

International military task force is all set to guard the skies of Qatar in case of any emergency. Eurofighter Typhoons from a joint British and Qatari squadron have been patrolling skies during FIFA World Cup 2022.

Qatar World Cup security enhanced by fighter jets

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations. After the riveting group stage, which saw plenty of upsets, the Round of 16 and quarter-finals raised the intensity as many pre-tournament favourites bowed out whereas Morocco surprised one and all and are set to play the second semi-final, facing defending champions France on Thursday (December 15). Meanwhile, Argentina became the first side to qualify for the final courtesy of Lionel Messi and&nbsp;Julian Alvarez's blitz.&nbsp;

As the competition is heading towards the climax, with one more left before the summit clash on Sunday (December 18), the race is also heating up among some top players for the prestigious Golden Boot award. In the last edition, in 2018, England captain Harry Kane won the Golden Boot (top goal-scorer) whereas Luka Modric returned with the Golden Ball&nbsp;(best player of the tournament) award. Here's who is leading the Golden Boot race at the moment with a close competition between Messi and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe:

WHO IS LEADING THE GOLDEN BOOT RACE?

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>PLAYER</td>
			<td>TEAM</td>
			<td>GOALS</td>
			<td>ASSISTS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lionel Messi</td>
			<td>Argentina</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kylian Mbappe</td>
			<td>France</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olivier Giroud</td>
			<td>France</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Julian Alvarez</td>
			<td>Argentina</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-splendid-run-assist-goes-viral-during-argentinas-3-0-win-over-croatia-in-fifa-wc-sf-watch-543023">Lionel Messi's splendid run &amp; assist goes viral during Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in FIFA WC SF - Watch</a>

Talking about the table-topper Messi, the 35-year-old has been in sensational form in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. He starred for his side in their 3-0 win over Croatia in the first semi-final where the Argentina captain opened the account with the first goal, via a penalty kick, and provided a magical assist to Julian Alvarez -- who scored twice -- to take the 2014 runners-up to the finale.&nbsp;Mbappe and Giroud have a chance to topple Messi in the second semi-final on Thursday.&nbsp;

For Messi, it will be a fairytale end to his World Cup campaign if he wins the Golden Boot and, more importantly, takes Argentina to their first-ever WC title since 1986. After the Croatia tie, he confirmed that&nbsp;the Qatar final being his last appearance in the mega event. "I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," he said while talking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.&nbsp;"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," the Argentina captain added.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations. After the riveting group stage, which saw plenty of upsets, the Round of 16 and quarter-finals raised the intensity as many pre-tournament favourites bowed out whereas Morocco surprised one and all and are set to play the second semi-final, facing defending champions France on Thursday (December 15).

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations. After the riveting group stage, which saw plenty of upsets, the Round of 16 and quarter-finals raised the intensity as many pre-tournament favourites bowed out whereas Morocco surprised one and all and are set to play the second semi-final, facing defending champions France on Thursday (December 15). Meanwhile, Argentina became the first side to qualify for the final courtesy of Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez's blitz. As the competition is heading towards the climax, with one more left before the summit clash on Sunday (December 18), the race is also heating up among some top players for the prestigious Golden Boot award. In the last edition, in 2018, England captain Harry Kane won the Golden Boot (top goal-scorer) whereas Luka Modric returned with the Golden Ball (best player of the tournament) award. Here's who is leading the Golden Boot race at the moment with a close competition between Messi and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe: WHO IS LEADING THE GOLDEN BOOT RACE? PLAYER TEAM GOALS ASSISTS Lionel Messi Argentina 5 3 Kylian Mbappe France 5 2 Olivier Giroud France 4 0 Julian Alvarez Argentina 4 0 Also read: Lionel Messi's splendid run & assist goes viral during Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in FIFA WC SF - Watch Talking about the table-topper Messi, the 35-year-old has been in sensational form in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. He starred for his side in their 3-0 win over Croatia in the first semi-final where the Argentina captain opened the account with the first goal, via a penalty kick, and provided a magical assist to Julian Alvarez -- who scored twice -- to take the 2014 runners-up to the finale. Mbappe and Giroud have a chance to topple Messi in the second semi-final on Thursday. For Messi, it will be a fairytale end to his World Cup campaign if he wins the Golden Boot and, more importantly, takes Argentina to their first-ever WC title since 1986. After the Croatia tie, he confirmed that the Qatar final being his last appearance in the mega event. "I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," he said while talking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole. "It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," the Argentina captain added.

FIFA World Cup 2022, Golden Boot award: Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe? Here's who leads the race?

Morocco have been the standout story of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of Football's showpiece event. The Atlas Lions have beaten Belgium, Spain, and Portugal over the course of the tournament and take on defending champions France with the entire Arab world also willing them on. Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo spoke to football coach Karim Bencharifa ahead of the game to understand how this dream run has electrified Morocco.

FIFA World Cup: France vs Morocco

Thousands of Argentina fans gather in the Plaza de la República in central Buenos Aires to celebrate the 3-0 victory over Croatia in the World Cup semi-final match. Two-time world champions Argentina produced their best display of the tournament in Qatar to ensure they will meet either France or Morocco in Sunday's final.

Watch: Argentina fans gather in central Buenos Aires to celebrate victory

A Greek M.E.P Eva Kaili had her powers as a vice president of the European Parliament suspended Saturday over a corruption probe implicating World Cup hosts Qatar.

Greek M.E.P. Eva Kaili loses VP powers over Qatar graft probe

Cristiano Ronaldo says his dream of winning a World Cup for Portugal has "ended", a day after his team’s crushing quarterfinal loss to Morocco.

Cristiano Ronaldo coy about his future as World Cup 'dream' ends

Two official World Cup apps are currently being evaluated by a UK data regulator over concerns that the authorities in Qatar may have been secretly spying on the English fans.

Data Regulators: Visitors could be monitored, fans told to download Ehteraz and Hayya apps

Cristiano Ronaldo said that Portugal were “too united to be broken by outside forces” after it was reported he had threatened to walk out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after being benched against Switzerland.

Cristiano Ronaldo rubbishes walk out threat report

Yassine Bounou saves two out of three penalties to guide Morocco to a historic win over Spain in the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Tuesday. The 6 ft 5 in pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to keep the game 0-0 in the regulation time and during Morocco’s first-ever penalty World Cup penalty shootout, he ended up saving the kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets.

Bounou went into the penalty shootout with a better save percentage from the spot in comparison to Unai Simon. While Simon had 21.4 per cent, the Morocco international had a save percentage of a little over 26 per cent. He also had the advantage of facing 22 penalties more than Simon.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2022-japans-manager-hajime-moriyasu-bows-to-fans-in-gratitude-after-his-teams-r16-loss-vs-croatia-540668">FIFA 2022: Japan's manager Hajime Moriyasu bows to fans in gratitude</a>

Pablo Sarabia missed the first kick while Bounou was able to complete the next two saves. For Morocco, Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech converted their chances while Unai Simon stopped the attempt from Badr Banoune. Achref Hakimi slotted the winning penalty to clinch the encounter.

Bounou currently plays for Sevilla since 2019-20 and has made 120 appearances across all competitions. Earlier, he has played for Atletico Madrid, Zaragoza and Girona. He also played for Morocco in the 2018 World Cup but his team was eliminated in the group stages.

This is not the first time that Bounou has grabbed the headlines during this year’s World Cup. He ended up not playing the game against Belgium despite singing the national anthem along with the team. The BBC reported that Bono suffered vision issues and was then replaced ahead of the kick-off.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Yassine Bounou saves two out of three penalties to guide Morocco to a historic win over Spain in the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Tuesday. The 6 ft 5 in pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to keep the game 0-0 in the regulation time and during Morocco’s first-ever penalty World Cup penalty shootout, he ended up saving the kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets.

Yassine Bounou saves two out of three penalties to guide Morocco to a historic win over Spain in the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Tuesday. The 6 ft 5 in pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to keep the game 0-0 in the regulation time and during Morocco’s first-ever penalty World Cup penalty shootout, he ended up saving the kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Bounou went into the penalty shootout with a better save percentage from the spot in comparison to Unai Simon. While Simon had 21.4 per cent, the Morocco international had a save percentage of a little over 26 per cent. He also had the advantage of facing 22 penalties more than Simon. Also read | FIFA 2022: Japan's manager Hajime Moriyasu bows to fans in gratitude Pablo Sarabia missed the first kick while Bounou was able to complete the next two saves. For Morocco, Abdelhamid Sabiri and Hakim Ziyech converted their chances while Unai Simon stopped the attempt from Badr Banoune. Achref Hakimi slotted the winning penalty to clinch the encounter. Bounou currently plays for Sevilla since 2019-20 and has made 120 appearances across all competitions. Earlier, he has played for Atletico Madrid, Zaragoza and Girona. He also played for Morocco in the 2018 World Cup but his team was eliminated in the group stages. This is not the first time that Bounou has grabbed the headlines during this year’s World Cup. He ended up not playing the game against Belgium despite singing the national anthem along with the team. The BBC reported that Bono suffered vision issues and was then replaced ahead of the kick-off.

Yassine Bounou: The Moroccan goalkeeper who eliminated Spain from FIFA World Cup 2022

Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match.&nbsp;

Netizens are showing love for the expression of sadness and exasperation of the young royal on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. They have even called him super-cute and dubbed him "dumpling wrapper prince".&nbsp;

Fahad al-Thani's expressions were from the FIFA World Cup host country's match against Ecuador, in which Qatar lost 0-2, and he looked so disappointed.&nbsp;

Chinese netizens have said that with his traditional Qatari headdress, Abdulrahman looked like La’eeb, the World Cup mascot.&nbsp;

The "Dumpling wrapper prince" reference came from a banter when netizens earlier joked about the World Cup mascot, calling it traditional Chinese dumpling wrappers. From where Abdulrahman's nickname came.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
La'eeb 🫶<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/BmqeDmZAET">pic.twitter.com/BmqeDmZAET</a>
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1594350703857868801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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As quoted by the South China Morning Post, one user commented on Weibo, "We love him because he is so cute. We love him because he is so cute. It’s got nothing to do with politics."&nbsp;

Amid all the buzz, Abdulrahman created an account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. He amassed more than 15 million followers in less than a week. Users on Douyin have also tried to re-create Abdulrahman’s facial expressions.&nbsp;

In his first Douyin video, he said: "Ni hao. Hello. This is my message for all of my Chinese friends. Thank you so much for all your support."&nbsp;

He also joined Weibo and named himself "Little Prince La’eeb", amassing almost 2.5 million followers.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chinese fans’ love for the cute <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar</a> prince 
 
Did you guys notice the cute prince in the audience? Qatar prince is so cute and these reactions make him like the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldcupQatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldcupQatar2022</a> mascot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/laeeb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#laeeb</a>. Many Chinese fans made the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/imitation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#imitation</a> and he has watched our videos <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/C9HBqjqWB8">pic.twitter.com/C9HBqjqWB8</a>
— Vica's Class (@VicaLi18) <a href="https://twitter.com/VicaLi18/status/1596388073214214145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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During an interview with China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV, he said he was surprised by the attention he received. He said: "I was just reacting, just a normal reaction. I didn't expect to reach to China or to anywhere else, honestly."&nbsp;

He further said, "All of you, all the Chinese fans, are welcome to Qatar to experience our amazing culture."&nbsp;

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Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match.

Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match. Netizens are showing love for the expression of sadness and exasperation of the young royal on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. They have even called him super-cute and dubbed him "dumpling wrapper prince". Fahad al-Thani's expressions were from the FIFA World Cup host country's match against Ecuador, in which Qatar lost 0-2, and he looked so disappointed. Chinese netizens have said that with his traditional Qatari headdress, Abdulrahman looked like La’eeb, the World Cup mascot. The "Dumpling wrapper prince" reference came from a banter when netizens earlier joked about the World Cup mascot, calling it traditional Chinese dumpling wrappers. From where Abdulrahman's nickname came. La'eeb 🫶#Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/BmqeDmZAET — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022 × As quoted by the South China Morning Post, one user commented on Weibo, "We love him because he is so cute. We love him because he is so cute. It’s got nothing to do with politics." Amid all the buzz, Abdulrahman created an account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. He amassed more than 15 million followers in less than a week. Users on Douyin have also tried to re-create Abdulrahman’s facial expressions. In his first Douyin video, he said: "Ni hao. Hello. This is my message for all of my Chinese friends. Thank you so much for all your support." He also joined Weibo and named himself "Little Prince La’eeb", amassing almost 2.5 million followers. Chinese fans’ love for the cute #Qatar prince Did you guys notice the cute prince in the audience? Qatar prince is so cute and these reactions make him like the #WorldcupQatar2022 mascot #laeeb. Many Chinese fans made the #imitation and he has watched our videos #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/C9HBqjqWB8 — Vica's Class (@VicaLi18) November 26, 2022 × During an interview with China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV, he said he was surprised by the attention he received. He said: "I was just reacting, just a normal reaction. I didn't expect to reach to China or to anywhere else, honestly." He further said, "All of you, all the Chinese fans, are welcome to Qatar to experience our amazing culture." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Cute' expressions of young Qatari royal go viral, netizens in China call him 'dumpling wrapper prince'

FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in Qatar. Fans are excited as their favourite teams lock horns in a thriller tournament. However, in disappointing news for English fans, Sterling leaves the England WC squad after an armed burglary at his London home.

Sterling leaves England WC squad after armed burglary at his London home

The ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar has become controversial for many reasons. In the latest, they have come under criticism for discriminating between demonstrations by Palestinians and Iranians.

FIFA World Cup: Pro-Palestinian banner welcomed during matches

Record five-time champions Brazil are already through to the Round of 16 and now they'll aim to finish in the top spot in group G. Watch this video to know more.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Brazil looks to finish on top in group G

Four-time champions Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in their last Group E match on Thursday, tumbling out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive time.

Four-time champions Germany crash out of FIFA World Cup 2022

Iranians are celebrating their soccer team's loss in the FIFA World Cup. Videos show Iranians cheering, dancing & waving American flags on the streets. What explains this? Priyanka Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Iranians celebrate Soccer team's World Cup loss to U.S.

Iran and United States face each other today to make it to the top 16. In Group B, Iran stand at the second position with three points while the USA are at the third position with two points. Apart from this, the off-field issues have troubled USA and Iran in the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2022: USA take on Iran in a politically charged clash in Doha

The U.S. has infuriated Iran at the football World Cup. The U.S. team uploaded an incorrect version of the Iranian flag on social media, leading to a heated exchange with Iranians. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: U.S.-Iran flag controversy at World Cup

Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday. The Netherlands, needing just a point to be sure of progressing, put one foot in the next round inside the first half-hour as Gakpo scored for a third straight group game. Frenkie de Jong added another in the 49th minute as the Dutch cruised through in a flat atmosphere at the Al Bayt Stadium.

Qatar, already eliminated before kick-off, suffered the ignominy of becoming the first home team in World Cup history to finish the group stage without a point. Louis van Gaal's Dutch side ended with seven points at the top of Group A, while Senegal joined them in the knockout phase as runners-up after beating Ecuador 2-1. The Oranje will next take on the second-placed team from Group B for a quarter-final spot at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.

England currently top that section and face Wales later on Tuesday, while the United States play Iran. All four teams are still in the hunt for qualification. The Dutch have made a solid start as they look to put the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia firmly behind them. Qatar signed off from their long-awaited home World Cup with a whimper, securing their place in the record books as the worst ever hosts on the pitch.

Van Gaal was able to give Memphis Depay his first start of the tournament as the Barcelona star continued his return to full fitness after a hamstring injury. It did not take the Dutch long to slice through the Qatar defence, although Daley Blind could only scuff a fourth-minute attempt straight at goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham. The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute as Davy Klaassen played in Gakpo after a neat move also involving Depay.

The PSV Eindhoven winger drove forward and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score his third goal of the tournament. The three-time World Cup runners-up took advantage of shoddy Qatar defending to double their advantage four minutes after the break.

Depay was denied from close range by Barsham but De Jong reacted quicker than a ponderous Pedro Miguel to poke the ball home from barely a yard out. Substitute Steven Berghuis thought he had added a third midway through the second half, only for his goal to be ruled out after a VAR check for a handball by Gakpo in the build-up. There was brief excitement for the remaining home supporters late on when Mohammed Muntari prodded the ball into the net, but the whistle had long since gone for a foul on Virgil van Dijk.&nbsp; The Netherlands almost piled more misery onto Qatar in stoppage time when Berghuis' excellent curling strike from range hit the crossbar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-points-table-and-team-standings-of-all-groups-after-day-9-538619">FIFA World Cup 2022 - Points table and team standings of all groups after day 9</a>

Kalidou Koulibaly takes Senegal into knockouts

Kalidou Koulibaly sent Senegal into the World Cup knockouts for just the second time in their history with the winner in Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador. The Netherlands' dominant victory over Qatar meant only a win would see Senegal through to the knockouts from Group A, while Ecuador would have progressed with a draw.

Senegal opened the scoring through Ismaila Sarr's penalty late in the first half, but despite managing to keep Ecuador captain Enner Valencia quiet throughout, Brighton's Moises Caicedo levelled in the 67th minute before Koulibaly sent his team through and Ecuador home. Senegal manager Aliou Cisse promised before the game his experienced side "would not overthink" the occasion and it was the Africans who opened the game furiously, with Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye lashing the ball just wide of an open goal after only three minutes.&nbsp;

Less than a minute later, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez needed to bail out his side's high backline, sliding in to stifle a counter well outside his box.&nbsp; On the 10 minute mark, Senegal's Boulaye Dia found himself one-on-one with Galindez, but he cut the ball just wide of the post.

Seemingly sparked into life by Senegal's fierce opening, Ecuador pushed forward and won a free-kick 30 metres from goal, with the South Americans taking the opportunity for a rare breather before Valencia slammed the ball into the wall. &nbsp;

After the furious opening exchanges, both sides began to settle and the first half looked set to end goalless before Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie clattered into Sarr, giving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to point to the spot.&nbsp;

Sarr stepped up and coolly dispatched a fine spot-kick past Galindez, maintaining eye contact with the keeper as the ball went in.&nbsp; Ecuador started the second half fresher and more determined, perhaps reassured that the Netherlands' dominance over Qatar meant they only needed a draw to go through. From a free-kick, defender Felix Torres rose high to head the ball on to Caicedo, who was waiting at the far post and slammed the ball home.&nbsp;

Senegal struck back immediately and in almost identical fashion, with Koulibaly lurking unmarked at the far post following a free-kick which was deflected into his path by Hincapie. Coming into the match on a yellow card, Gueye picked up a second-half booking and will miss Senegal's last-16 game against the winners of Group B.&nbsp;

Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday.

Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday. The Netherlands, needing just a point to be sure of progressing, put one foot in the next round inside the first half-hour as Gakpo scored for a third straight group game. Frenkie de Jong added another in the 49th minute as the Dutch cruised through in a flat atmosphere at the Al Bayt Stadium. Qatar, already eliminated before kick-off, suffered the ignominy of becoming the first home team in World Cup history to finish the group stage without a point. Louis van Gaal's Dutch side ended with seven points at the top of Group A, while Senegal joined them in the knockout phase as runners-up after beating Ecuador 2-1. The Oranje will next take on the second-placed team from Group B for a quarter-final spot at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday. England currently top that section and face Wales later on Tuesday, while the United States play Iran. All four teams are still in the hunt for qualification. The Dutch have made a solid start as they look to put the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia firmly behind them. Qatar signed off from their long-awaited home World Cup with a whimper, securing their place in the record books as the worst ever hosts on the pitch. Van Gaal was able to give Memphis Depay his first start of the tournament as the Barcelona star continued his return to full fitness after a hamstring injury. It did not take the Dutch long to slice through the Qatar defence, although Daley Blind could only scuff a fourth-minute attempt straight at goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham. The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute as Davy Klaassen played in Gakpo after a neat move also involving Depay. The PSV Eindhoven winger drove forward and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score his third goal of the tournament. The three-time World Cup runners-up took advantage of shoddy Qatar defending to double their advantage four minutes after the break. Depay was denied from close range by Barsham but De Jong reacted quicker than a ponderous Pedro Miguel to poke the ball home from barely a yard out. Substitute Steven Berghuis thought he had added a third midway through the second half, only for his goal to be ruled out after a VAR check for a handball by Gakpo in the build-up. There was brief excitement for the remaining home supporters late on when Mohammed Muntari prodded the ball into the net, but the whistle had long since gone for a foul on Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands almost piled more misery onto Qatar in stoppage time when Berghuis' excellent curling strike from range hit the crossbar. Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022 - Points table and team standings of all groups after day 9 Kalidou Koulibaly takes Senegal into knockouts Kalidou Koulibaly sent Senegal into the World Cup knockouts for just the second time in their history with the winner in Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador. The Netherlands' dominant victory over Qatar meant only a win would see Senegal through to the knockouts from Group A, while Ecuador would have progressed with a draw. Senegal opened the scoring through Ismaila Sarr's penalty late in the first half, but despite managing to keep Ecuador captain Enner Valencia quiet throughout, Brighton's Moises Caicedo levelled in the 67th minute before Koulibaly sent his team through and Ecuador home. Senegal manager Aliou Cisse promised before the game his experienced side "would not overthink" the occasion and it was the Africans who opened the game furiously, with Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye lashing the ball just wide of an open goal after only three minutes. Less than a minute later, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez needed to bail out his side's high backline, sliding in to stifle a counter well outside his box. On the 10 minute mark, Senegal's Boulaye Dia found himself one-on-one with Galindez, but he cut the ball just wide of the post. Seemingly sparked into life by Senegal's fierce opening, Ecuador pushed forward and won a free-kick 30 metres from goal, with the South Americans taking the opportunity for a rare breather before Valencia slammed the ball into the wall. After the furious opening exchanges, both sides began to settle and the first half looked set to end goalless before Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie clattered into Sarr, giving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to point to the spot. Sarr stepped up and coolly dispatched a fine spot-kick past Galindez, maintaining eye contact with the keeper as the ball went in. Ecuador started the second half fresher and more determined, perhaps reassured that the Netherlands' dominance over Qatar meant they only needed a draw to go through. From a free-kick, defender Felix Torres rose high to head the ball on to Caicedo, who was waiting at the far post and slammed the ball home. Senegal struck back immediately and in almost identical fashion, with Koulibaly lurking unmarked at the far post following a free-kick which was deflected into his path by Hincapie. Coming into the match on a yellow card, Gueye picked up a second-half booking and will miss Senegal's last-16 game against the winners of Group B.

FIFA WC: Netherlands beat Qatar, Senegal go past Ecuador as both sides reach last 16

Qatar will be hosting one of the most popular sporting event across the globe in 2022. The construction of infrastructure for the purpose of hosting and accommodating visitors are expected to bring many positive economic benefits to the country. Watch this report.

How Qatar benefits from hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022?

Portugal went past Uruguay in their second game in the FIFA World Cup 2022, in Qatar, with a 2-0 scoreline but a goal controversy involving Cristiano Ronaldo made heads turn. While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner claimed Portugal’s opening goal, it was later awarded to Bruno Fernandes.&nbsp;Ronaldo even claimed as to why he wasn't awarded the goal but it went in Fernandes' favour.

Now, Adidas --&nbsp;FIFA World Cup’s official ball manufacturer -- has confirmed that the&nbsp;technology inside the ball reveals that Ronaldo didn't touch the ball. "Using the Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas' Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game. No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of 'heartbeat' in the measurements and in the attached graphic. The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows for a high level of accuracy in the analysis,” Adidas’ statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-will-argentina-qualify-for-round-of-16-know-3-scenarios-as-messi-and-co-meet-poland-538591">FIFA World Cup 2022: Will Argentina qualify for round of 16? Know 3 scenarios as Messi and Co. meet Poland</a>

Had the Portugal captain&nbsp;Ronaldo&nbsp;scored during his side's penultimate group stage game, versus Uruguay,&nbsp;he would’ve attained another historic feat. The star striker would've equalled&nbsp;with Eusebio as Portugal’s highest scorer in&nbsp;World Cup history and also surpassed long-time rival Lionel Messi in their race for more&nbsp;goals in the showpiece event. As per a report by Spanish journalist and a close friend of Ronaldo, Edu Aguirre, the Portguese&nbsp;football federation is likely to submit proof to FIFA to award the goal to&nbsp;the superstar footballer.

For now, Ronaldo will now aim to score in his side's upcoming face-off versus South Korea on December 02. Portugal have already confirmed a place in the Round of 16 in Qatar 2022.

Portugal went past Uruguay in their second game in the FIFA World Cup 2022, in Qatar, with a 2-0 scoreline but a goal controversy involving Cristiano Ronaldo made heads turn.

Portugal went past Uruguay in their second game in the FIFA World Cup 2022, in Qatar, with a 2-0 scoreline but a goal controversy involving Cristiano Ronaldo made heads turn. While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner claimed Portugal’s opening goal, it was later awarded to Bruno Fernandes. Ronaldo even claimed as to why he wasn't awarded the goal but it went in Fernandes' favour. Now, Adidas -- FIFA World Cup’s official ball manufacturer -- has confirmed that the technology inside the ball reveals that Ronaldo didn't touch the ball. "Using the Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas' Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game. No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of 'heartbeat' in the measurements and in the attached graphic. The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows for a high level of accuracy in the analysis,” Adidas’ statement said. Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Will Argentina qualify for round of 16? Know 3 scenarios as Messi and Co. meet Poland Had the Portugal captain Ronaldo scored during his side's penultimate group stage game, versus Uruguay, he would’ve attained another historic feat. The star striker would've equalled with Eusebio as Portugal’s highest scorer in World Cup history and also surpassed long-time rival Lionel Messi in their race for more goals in the showpiece event. As per a report by Spanish journalist and a close friend of Ronaldo, Edu Aguirre, the Portguese football federation is likely to submit proof to FIFA to award the goal to the superstar footballer. For now, Ronaldo will now aim to score in his side's upcoming face-off versus South Korea on December 02. Portugal have already confirmed a place in the Round of 16 in Qatar 2022.

FIFA WC: Adidas addresses goal controversy, reveals ball technology confirms Ronaldo didn't score vs Uruguay

Football fans were left bemused when Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson appeared to wear a tampon up his nose during his side’s World Cup defeat to Croatia.

WION Dispatch: Canada Captain Atiba Hutchinson given a tampon to help with nosebleed

Kylian&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;scored twice, including a late winner, as holders France edged Denmark 2-1 on Saturday to become the first team to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

A potent French side knew a second victory in as many Group D outings would take them through to the knockout phase and they were well worth the lead that&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;gave them when he opened the scoring at Stadium 974 just after the hour mark.

However, Andreas Christensen soon equalised for the Danes and Les Bleus needed&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;to deliver again in the 86th minute as he turned in Antoine Griezmann's cross to puncture the Danish resistance once and for all.

Having scored four during France's victorious 2018 campaign and one against Australia,&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;now has seven goals in nine World Cup appearances.

Didier Deschamps's side now have the luxury of going into their final group game against Tunisia knowing a draw will guarantee them top spot, and even a defeat may not prevent them finishing first.

Having come roaring back to batter Australia 4-1 in their opening match in Qatar, France were more wasteful in front of goal on this occasion but at least they did not come unstuck against opponents who have caused them problems before.

They were reigning champions when a defeat to the Danes knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup, while the sides played out the only goalless draw in 2018.

More recently Kasper Hjulmand's side beat France home and away in this year's Nations League, and it seemed that Deschamps had learned lessons from those two encounters.

If France were a shadow of their usual selves in Copenhagen in September, they were much better in this match, played in a pop-up stadium made of shipping containers on Doha's waterfront.

Deschamps changed three of his back four, with Theo Hernandez at left-back in place of his injured elder brother Lucas and Raphael Varane coming in for his first game in over a month.

Pace and power

But the French attack was untouched from the Australia game.

If Olivier Giroud took the headlines then, here Ousmane Dembele was electric at times on the right, Griezmann excelled in an advanced midfield role, and&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;made the difference.

France's pace, power and passing were all too sharp for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists who were lucky to go in level at half-time.

There were some French appeals for a red card in the 19th minute when&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;burst onto a beautiful threaded through ball by Griezmann only to be hauled down by Christensen, but the Danish defender escaped with a yellow.

The holders' best chances in the first half came from headers by Varane and Adrien Rabiot, but when&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;turned away from Joachim Andersen just before the hour mark and accelerated away, it was a sign that a goal was coming.

His shot was turned behind by Kasper Schmeichel, and Griezmann then wasted a great chance shortly after, but in the 61st minute&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;did score.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar linked up brilliantly with Hernandez on the left and met his teammate's cutback with a shot that beat Schmeichel thanks to a deflection off Christensen.

Denmark had offered little but suddenly they were level midway through the second half as Andersen nodded down a corner and his fellow defender Christensen headed home.

Hugo Lloris was then forced into a key save to deny Jesper Lindstrom and Martin Braithwaite grazed a post as Denmark threatened to turn the game completely on its head.

That would have been extremely harsh on France, even if they could only really have themselves to blame for not making more of their chances.

But&nbsp;Mbappe&nbsp;was not to be denied as he stole in front of Rasmus Kristensen at the back post with four minutes left to meet Griezmann's cross with his thigh for his 31st international goal.

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Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including a late winner, as holders France edged Denmark 2-1 on Saturday to become the first team to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including a late winner, as holders France edged Denmark 2-1 on Saturday to become the first team to reach the last 16 of the World Cup. A potent French side knew a second victory in as many Group D outings would take them through to the knockout phase and they were well worth the lead that Mbappe gave them when he opened the scoring at Stadium 974 just after the hour mark. However, Andreas Christensen soon equalised for the Danes and Les Bleus needed Mbappe to deliver again in the 86th minute as he turned in Antoine Griezmann's cross to puncture the Danish resistance once and for all. Having scored four during France's victorious 2018 campaign and one against Australia, Mbappe now has seven goals in nine World Cup appearances. Didier Deschamps's side now have the luxury of going into their final group game against Tunisia knowing a draw will guarantee them top spot, and even a defeat may not prevent them finishing first. Having come roaring back to batter Australia 4-1 in their opening match in Qatar, France were more wasteful in front of goal on this occasion but at least they did not come unstuck against opponents who have caused them problems before. They were reigning champions when a defeat to the Danes knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup, while the sides played out the only goalless draw in 2018. More recently Kasper Hjulmand's side beat France home and away in this year's Nations League, and it seemed that Deschamps had learned lessons from those two encounters. If France were a shadow of their usual selves in Copenhagen in September, they were much better in this match, played in a pop-up stadium made of shipping containers on Doha's waterfront. Deschamps changed three of his back four, with Theo Hernandez at left-back in place of his injured elder brother Lucas and Raphael Varane coming in for his first game in over a month. Pace and power But the French attack was untouched from the Australia game. If Olivier Giroud took the headlines then, here Ousmane Dembele was electric at times on the right, Griezmann excelled in an advanced midfield role, and Mbappe made the difference. France's pace, power and passing were all too sharp for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists who were lucky to go in level at half-time. There were some French appeals for a red card in the 19th minute when Mbappe burst onto a beautiful threaded through ball by Griezmann only to be hauled down by Christensen, but the Danish defender escaped with a yellow. The holders' best chances in the first half came from headers by Varane and Adrien Rabiot, but when Mbappe turned away from Joachim Andersen just before the hour mark and accelerated away, it was a sign that a goal was coming. His shot was turned behind by Kasper Schmeichel, and Griezmann then wasted a great chance shortly after, but in the 61st minute Mbappe did score. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar linked up brilliantly with Hernandez on the left and met his teammate's cutback with a shot that beat Schmeichel thanks to a deflection off Christensen. Denmark had offered little but suddenly they were level midway through the second half as Andersen nodded down a corner and his fellow defender Christensen headed home. Hugo Lloris was then forced into a key save to deny Jesper Lindstrom and Martin Braithwaite grazed a post as Denmark threatened to turn the game completely on its head. That would have been extremely harsh on France, even if they could only really have themselves to blame for not making more of their chances. But Mbappe was not to be denied as he stole in front of Rasmus Kristensen at the back post with four minutes left to meet Griezmann's cross with his thigh for his 31st international goal. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kylian Mbappe double puts holders France into World Cup last 16

Big games involve big money. Qatar has spent close to $230 billion on the #2022FIFAWorldCup, making it the most expensive World Cup in history. Ghadi Francis tells you more on #TheWestAsiaPost

The West Asia Post: Qatar hosts the greatest show on Earth

Qatar has reached out to India through diplomatic channels to make it clear that the organisers of the FIFA World Cup 2022 did not extend any official invitation to controversial religious personality Zakir Naik to attend the opening ceremony of the tournament, according to Hindustan Times. &nbsp;

In the past few days, there have been several media reports claiming that Naik was travelling to Qatar for the event and he will be delivering a speech on the occasion. However, the report claimed that the Qatari government has rubbished all such claims and called it “deliberate disinformation being spread by third countries to create a rift in India-Qatar bilateral relations”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-parliament-declares-russia-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-536786">European Union parliament declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism'</a>

Naik is wanted by Indian authorities for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism from hate speeches. According to media reports, he did travel to Qatar from Malaysia, but he was not present at the opening ceremony and no further information was gained regarding his whereabouts.

India is currently working towards getting a Red Corner Notice against Naik from the Interpol and they have also sent an extradition request to Malaysia for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots.

Hindustan Times also reported that the communication from Qatar came after the Indian government threatened to cancel the visit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar to the World Cup opening ceremony. Dhankar did travel to the event and attended the ceremony from the VVIP box.

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Qatar has reached out to India through diplomatic channels to make it clear that the organisers of the FIFA World Cup 2022 did not extend any official invitation to controversial religious personality Zakir Naik to attend the opening ceremony of the tournament, according to Hindustan Times.

Qatar has reached out to India through diplomatic channels to make it clear that the organisers of the FIFA World Cup 2022 did not extend any official invitation to controversial religious personality Zakir Naik to attend the opening ceremony of the tournament, according to Hindustan Times. In the past few days, there have been several media reports claiming that Naik was travelling to Qatar for the event and he will be delivering a speech on the occasion. However, the report claimed that the Qatari government has rubbished all such claims and called it “deliberate disinformation being spread by third countries to create a rift in India-Qatar bilateral relations”. Also read | European Union parliament declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism' Naik is wanted by Indian authorities for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism from hate speeches. According to media reports, he did travel to Qatar from Malaysia, but he was not present at the opening ceremony and no further information was gained regarding his whereabouts. India is currently working towards getting a Red Corner Notice against Naik from the Interpol and they have also sent an extradition request to Malaysia for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots. Hindustan Times also reported that the communication from Qatar came after the Indian government threatened to cancel the visit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar to the World Cup opening ceremony. Dhankar did travel to the event and attended the ceremony from the VVIP box.

Zakir Naik was not invited to FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony, Qatar tells India

Two-time champions Argentina is all set to take on Saudi Arabia in their world cup opener match. Argentina is one of the favourites in the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022.

Two-time champions Argentina to take on Saudi Arabia in their world cup opener

When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi &amp; Co were heavily favoured to run riot. However, it seemed like no one gave Saudi Arabia the script as the Asian powerhouse produced a performance to remember with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari guiding them to the most memorable win in their history.

RECORDS AND CONTROVERSIES

With a forward line boasting of mega stars like Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina had no difficulties in controlling the game from the very first kick. They kept attacking the Saudi defense with quick passing and the breakthrough finally came as Saud Abdulhamid wrestling Leandro Parades to the ground inside the penalty area. Messi had no difficulties in opening the account for his side and becoming the first Argentine player to score four goals in four World Cups.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saudi-arabia-pull-off-massive-upset-stun-lionel-messis-argentina-2-1-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536465">Saudi Arabia pull off massive upset, stun Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in FIFA World Cup 2022</a>

However, it was the penalty decision was not without its controversies. It once again sparked the VAR’s inconsistency when it comes to deciding penalty decisions in case of player scuffles. Portuguese legend Figo compared the foul to a similar one committed against Harry Maguire during England’s game against Iran and even went on to say that it is completely fair in a “contact sport”.

TRAPPED AT THE BACK

The goal further bolstered Argentina’s confidence and over the next 30 minutes, the ball ended up in the Saudi net three times. However, none of them officially counted as the Argentine attackers were judged offside every time. While the press from Argentina seemed almost constant, Saudi Arabia stuck to the strategy that has become a trademark of manager Herve Renard.

Despite conceding an early goal, the four Saudi defenders - Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi and Yasser Al-Shahrani – kept holding a very high line and that meant the opposition forwards were constantly kept in doubt regarding their positioning at the start of an attack. The plan worked as Argentina were left frustrated as they were caught offside eight times within 45 minutes.

TEN MINUTES OF GENIUS

With Argentina going all out for the second goal, the Saudi attackers started finding spaces against the full backs Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico. There were a couple of tame attempts in the first half, but Al Hilal striker Shehri suddenly found himself in an advantageous position against center back Christian Romero. The striker successfully went past Romero from the left and a well-placed shot was enough to beat Emiliano Martinez and spark wild celebrations among the fans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-for-lionel-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-a-final-shot-at-immortality-536177">Opinion | FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality</a>

The Saudi fans seemed to have found their voice for the first time in the game and the sound almost felt like a catalyst for their national&nbsp;team. Five minutes later, the unthinkable happened. Dawsari received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and was able to dodge past two Argentina defenders. With De Paul lunging for a tackle, he took a curling right foot shot and as if in slow motion, it sailed past Martinez’s outstretched hands and landed in the bottom corner of the goal.

OVERDEPENDANCE AND PURE GRIT

This was not supposed to happen, and Argentina seemed totally unprepared for this situation. The overdependence on the attacking trio meant that nearly all attacks had a set pattern and with Saudi players sitting deep, almost all passings channels were affected. Both Paredes and De Paul failed to make proper runs into the Saudi penalty box and although the introduction of Marcos Acuna in place of Tagliafico did boost the wing play, Argentina faced a new challenge - Mohammed Al-Owais.

The Saudi goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half despite Argentina launching multiple attacks. Officially, the first shot on goal for Argentina came just before the 60-minute mark in the game if we do not count Messi’s penalty. The compact setting on the central defence meant that Argentina were forced to rely mainly on crosses and headers to attack his goal but Al-Owais was up to the challenge. Both Messi and substitute Julian Alvarez had chances to level the score towards the end of the match, but the Saudi goalkeeper held his ground and ended up making four crucial saves.

It was, by no stretch, a bad performance by Argentina. However, in front of the discipline and grit of Saudi Arabia, Messi and Co seemed almost clueless while trying to come up a viable Plan B.

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When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi & Co were heavily favoured to run riot.

When Lionel Messi calmly put the ball in the net from the penalty spot against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, it seemed business as usual for Argentina. The Latin American giants featured in almost every list of teams favoured to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy and against a side ranked 51st in the world, Messi & Co were heavily favoured to run riot. However, it seemed like no one gave Saudi Arabia the script as the Asian powerhouse produced a performance to remember with goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari guiding them to the most memorable win in their history. RECORDS AND CONTROVERSIES With a forward line boasting of mega stars like Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina had no difficulties in controlling the game from the very first kick. They kept attacking the Saudi defense with quick passing and the breakthrough finally came as Saud Abdulhamid wrestling Leandro Parades to the ground inside the penalty area. Messi had no difficulties in opening the account for his side and becoming the first Argentine player to score four goals in four World Cups. Also read | Saudi Arabia pull off massive upset, stun Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in FIFA World Cup 2022 However, it was the penalty decision was not without its controversies. It once again sparked the VAR’s inconsistency when it comes to deciding penalty decisions in case of player scuffles. Portuguese legend Figo compared the foul to a similar one committed against Harry Maguire during England’s game against Iran and even went on to say that it is completely fair in a “contact sport”. TRAPPED AT THE BACK The goal further bolstered Argentina’s confidence and over the next 30 minutes, the ball ended up in the Saudi net three times. However, none of them officially counted as the Argentine attackers were judged offside every time. While the press from Argentina seemed almost constant, Saudi Arabia stuck to the strategy that has become a trademark of manager Herve Renard. Despite conceding an early goal, the four Saudi defenders - Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi and Yasser Al-Shahrani – kept holding a very high line and that meant the opposition forwards were constantly kept in doubt regarding their positioning at the start of an attack. The plan worked as Argentina were left frustrated as they were caught offside eight times within 45 minutes. TEN MINUTES OF GENIUS With Argentina going all out for the second goal, the Saudi attackers started finding spaces against the full backs Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico. There were a couple of tame attempts in the first half, but Al Hilal striker Shehri suddenly found himself in an advantageous position against center back Christian Romero. The striker successfully went past Romero from the left and a well-placed shot was enough to beat Emiliano Martinez and spark wild celebrations among the fans. Also read | Opinion | FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality The Saudi fans seemed to have found their voice for the first time in the game and the sound almost felt like a catalyst for their national team. Five minutes later, the unthinkable happened. Dawsari received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and was able to dodge past two Argentina defenders. With De Paul lunging for a tackle, he took a curling right foot shot and as if in slow motion, it sailed past Martinez’s outstretched hands and landed in the bottom corner of the goal. OVERDEPENDANCE AND PURE GRIT This was not supposed to happen, and Argentina seemed totally unprepared for this situation. The overdependence on the attacking trio meant that nearly all attacks had a set pattern and with Saudi players sitting deep, almost all passings channels were affected. Both Paredes and De Paul failed to make proper runs into the Saudi penalty box and although the introduction of Marcos Acuna in place of Tagliafico did boost the wing play, Argentina faced a new challenge - Mohammed Al-Owais. The Saudi goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half despite Argentina launching multiple attacks. Officially, the first shot on goal for Argentina came just before the 60-minute mark in the game if we do not count Messi’s penalty. The compact setting on the central defence meant that Argentina were forced to rely mainly on crosses and headers to attack his goal but Al-Owais was up to the challenge. Both Messi and substitute Julian Alvarez had chances to level the score towards the end of the match, but the Saudi goalkeeper held his ground and ended up making four crucial saves. It was, by no stretch, a bad performance by Argentina. However, in front of the discipline and grit of Saudi Arabia, Messi and Co seemed almost clueless while trying to come up a viable Plan B.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Offside traps and pure grit - How Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina and the world

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by&nbsp;Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener. On Monday (November 21), Harry Kane-starrer England will be locking horns with Iran and the English team management have confirmed that they will be taking a knee in their tournament opener.&nbsp;

At the pre-match press conference, head coach Southgate, "We have discussed taking the knee," Southgate said. "We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important."

It is to be noted that it is a ritual that England have followed in almost every game following the shocking death of George Floyd in 2020 in US. The national side, however, didn't take the knee in their September fixtures, but will do so at the&nbsp;Khalifa International Stadium against Iran and beyond at the World Cup. They are placed in Group B along with Iran, USA and Wales.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-start-lionel-messi-bench-harry-kane-and-drop-cristiano-ronaldo-wayne-rooney-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-535891">Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup</a>

Meanwhile, Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi dwelled on the grim situation of his country before his nation's FIFA WC opener. It isn't a hidden fact that violent anti-government protests in Iran have led to a fierce crackdown in the past few months. Speaking to reporters, the 32-year-old said, "We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy. Before anything else, I would like to express my condolences to all of the bereaved families in Iran."

Hajsafi &amp; Co. will be eager to give their countrymen something to cheer for with a spirited performance versus England, who will aim to go the distance after a semi-final exit in the last World Cup and finishing second in Euro 2020.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition finally kicked off on Novemebr 20 (Sunday) with an impressive opening ceremony followed by Ecuador easing past hosts Qatar, 2-0, in the tournament opener. On Monday (November 21), Harry Kane-starrer England will be locking horns with Iran and the English team management have confirmed that they will be taking a knee in their tournament opener. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Southgate, "We have discussed taking the knee," Southgate said. "We feel we should. It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest. "We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important." It is to be noted that it is a ritual that England have followed in almost every game following the shocking death of George Floyd in 2020 in US. The national side, however, didn't take the knee in their September fixtures, but will do so at the Khalifa International Stadium against Iran and beyond at the World Cup. They are placed in Group B along with Iran, USA and Wales. Also read: Will start Lionel Messi, bench Harry Kane and drop Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney ahead of FIFA World Cup Meanwhile, Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi dwelled on the grim situation of his country before his nation's FIFA WC opener. It isn't a hidden fact that violent anti-government protests in Iran have led to a fierce crackdown in the past few months. Speaking to reporters, the 32-year-old said, "We have to accept that the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy. Before anything else, I would like to express my condolences to all of the bereaved families in Iran." Hajsafi & Co. will be eager to give their countrymen something to cheer for with a spirited performance versus England, who will aim to go the distance after a semi-final exit in the last World Cup and finishing second in Euro 2020.

FIFA World Cup: 'We feel this is...' - England to take a knee in their tournament opener vs Iran

FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in Qatar. Senegal will be without Sadio Mane as the Netherlands begin its campaign against Senegal. Watch this report.

Senegal will be without Sadio Mane as the Netherlands begin its campaign against Senegal

Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport? Is it possible that both these mega stars can end their careers without ever winning the World Cup? While the answer to the first two questions is a resounding no, the third one still remains in limbo.&nbsp;

Both Ronaldo and Messi have won everything there is to win at the club level and both of them have also guided their respective national teams to continental glory. However, the FIFA World Cup trophy continues to elude them. It was back in 2006 when the two footballers made their debut in the competition but except for 2014, none of them has come close to achieving the ultimate dream.&nbsp;

With the footballers slowly approaching the twilight of their careers, there is a strong chance that 2022 can be the final World Cup which will feature them both. Till now, the criticism was mainly against the rest of the side not being good enough to clinch the title. However, Argentina and Portugal both boasts of exciting squads at present and bookmakers have already hailed them as likely title contenders.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-iran-players-refuse-to-sing-national-anthem-ahead-of-england-clash-in-fifa-world-cup-2022-536160">WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022</a>

But, when it comes to the two legends, the situations ahead of the tournament were poles apart.&nbsp;

Messi surprised the world in 2021 by joining French champions PSG from FC Barcelona in a move that saw him create a world-class attacking trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. While the first season was quite shaky, he found his footing in 2022 with 10 assists – the most in the five top European leagues – and seven goals with an impressive average of 1.2 expected goal involvements per 90 minutes.&nbsp;

With the Argentina team showing glimpses of genius in the qualification, Messi was once again the master conductor that made all the instruments click and produced perfect harmony in results. Ahead of the tournament, several Argentine footballers have already come out to say that they want to win the trophy for Messi and there is a combined sentiment that has driven the team in the recent past.&nbsp;

On the other hand, it has been a turbulent year for Ronaldo. He has hardly featured for Manchester United in the Premier League and his strained relationship with manager Erik Ten Hag has not helped matters. The story was not much different for the national team as he had a creative average of one goal per 284 minutes – the worst for him since 2009. Even when he got a chance for United, he proved to be wasteful and with just three goals in the entire season till now, he was unable to make his mark.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-western-hypocrisy-instances-which-prove-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-right-536121">The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right</a>

On top of the poor run of form, his recent tell-all interview with Piers Morgan once again put him in the crosshairs of the media and experts who questioned his professionalism. The situation reached such a level that his interaction with Portugal and Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes in the dressing room became massive news before both players officially denied any rift between them. In such a situation, questions continue to exist on what mindset he will be in as the tournament begins.&nbsp;

The stage is officially set and there is no turning back now. Both teams will begin their campaign&nbsp;this week and in the next few weeks, we will know for sure whether any of these two legends can finally add the coveted trophy to their kitty. However, for the two legends who have miraculously never started in the knockout stages of a World Cup, the journey still seems long and quite tricky.&nbsp;

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Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport?

Is it even possible to have a conversation about modern football without the mention of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Is it even possible to overlook the contribution of these two legends to the sport? Is it possible that both these mega stars can end their careers without ever winning the World Cup? While the answer to the first two questions is a resounding no, the third one still remains in limbo. Both Ronaldo and Messi have won everything there is to win at the club level and both of them have also guided their respective national teams to continental glory. However, the FIFA World Cup trophy continues to elude them. It was back in 2006 when the two footballers made their debut in the competition but except for 2014, none of them has come close to achieving the ultimate dream. With the footballers slowly approaching the twilight of their careers, there is a strong chance that 2022 can be the final World Cup which will feature them both. Till now, the criticism was mainly against the rest of the side not being good enough to clinch the title. However, Argentina and Portugal both boasts of exciting squads at present and bookmakers have already hailed them as likely title contenders. Also read | WATCH: Iran players refuse to sing national anthem ahead of England clash in FIFA World Cup 2022 But, when it comes to the two legends, the situations ahead of the tournament were poles apart. Messi surprised the world in 2021 by joining French champions PSG from FC Barcelona in a move that saw him create a world-class attacking trio with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. While the first season was quite shaky, he found his footing in 2022 with 10 assists – the most in the five top European leagues – and seven goals with an impressive average of 1.2 expected goal involvements per 90 minutes. With the Argentina team showing glimpses of genius in the qualification, Messi was once again the master conductor that made all the instruments click and produced perfect harmony in results. Ahead of the tournament, several Argentine footballers have already come out to say that they want to win the trophy for Messi and there is a combined sentiment that has driven the team in the recent past. On the other hand, it has been a turbulent year for Ronaldo. He has hardly featured for Manchester United in the Premier League and his strained relationship with manager Erik Ten Hag has not helped matters. The story was not much different for the national team as he had a creative average of one goal per 284 minutes – the worst for him since 2009. Even when he got a chance for United, he proved to be wasteful and with just three goals in the entire season till now, he was unable to make his mark. Also read | The Western hypocrisy? Glaring instances which might prove FIFA president Gianni Infantino right On top of the poor run of form, his recent tell-all interview with Piers Morgan once again put him in the crosshairs of the media and experts who questioned his professionalism. The situation reached such a level that his interaction with Portugal and Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes in the dressing room became massive news before both players officially denied any rift between them. In such a situation, questions continue to exist on what mindset he will be in as the tournament begins. The stage is officially set and there is no turning back now. Both teams will begin their campaign this week and in the next few weeks, we will know for sure whether any of these two legends can finally add the coveted trophy to their kitty. However, for the two legends who have miraculously never started in the knockout stages of a World Cup, the journey still seems long and quite tricky.

FIFA World Cup 2022: For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a final shot at immortality

Ecuador beat hosts Qatar 2-0 in the opening match of the FIFA world cup 2022 in Qatar. Qatar has become the first host nation to lose the opening game in history.

Qatar becomes the first host nation to lose the opening game in history

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