England take on Wales in a final group game at 7pm as both sides aim to reach the World Cup knockout stages; Cafu has questioned why Gareth Southgate doesn’t pick Trent Alexander-Arnold; Gareth Bale says a “shock” could happen.
Over a decade ago Paul the Octopus went viral when he correctly “predicted” the results of matches in the 2010 World Cup.
And in recent years the tournament has seen the emergence of more animals – from pandas to guinea pigs – predicting the winners.
Now, a TikTok user claiming to be a time traveller (as indeed we all are, albeit at a speed of one second per second) has insisted they know the results of the World Cup final, which is set take place on 18 December.
The anonymous individual, known by the username @wordlcuptimetraveller, has been sharing television footage of scenes apparently showing matches which they claim have taken in the future.
However, the prophesied scenes will not be one England will be happy to hear, as the mysterious social media user claimed Brazil would beat France 2-1.
Following the scenes, which have gathered almost two million likes, football fans may notice that the predictions are conveniently in line with the odds the bookmakers have for the tournament.
According to bet365, Brazil are the favourites to lift the trophy, with odds of 5/2.
They are followed by France, who also won their opening two games, with odds of 11/2.
Spain are next in line, with odds of 13/2.
Some viewers also pointed out that the clip of Brazilian fans celebrating was taken after Richarlison scored a goal during the team’s opening match with Serbia last week.
We reported earlier on the protester who ran onto the pitch during Portugal and Uruguay’s match last night while carrying a rainbow flag and sporting a T-shirt with the words “Save Ukraine”.
The pitch invader ran onto the field of play during the second half before he was eventually tackled by security staff.
Now, Qatar’s World Cup Supreme Committee has said the protester’s Hayya card – which allows tourists entry into Qatar – has been cancelled and he has been banned from future games, Sky’s sports correspondent Rob Harris reports.
A statement from the committee reads: “Following the pitch invasion that took place during last night’s Portugal v Uruguay match, we can confirm that the individual involved was released shortly after being removed from the pitch.
“His embassy has been informed.
“As a consequence of his actions, and as is standard practice, his Hayya card has been cancelled and he has been banned from attending future matches at this tournament.”
As discussed here earlier (see 9.40 post), there was initially some confusion around whether Cristiano Ronaldo had scored the first goal in Portugal’s win against Uruguay last night.
This confusion was largely the result of the player’s instant reaction, which appeared to indicate he believed he had made contact with Bruno Fernandes’s cross.
TV replays soon indicated he had not – thwarting the 37-year-old’s quest to make further progress in his campaign to break even more records.
And, as if we needed any further verification anyway, Adidas has confirmed the forward did not touch the match ball on its way to the net.
The firm said it was able to reach this conclusion thanks to the cutting edge technology involving a 500Hz IMU sensor in the ball – rather than its eyes like the rest of us.
As England and Wales prepare for a crunch game that will decide their World Cup futures, fans have been sharing their thoughts.
The Three Lions currently top their group and need just a point to guarantee progress to the knockout stages, while Wales must win and hope for a favourable result between Iran and the USA.
Speaking ahead of the match, one Wales fan in Doha conceded that his team “did not stand a chance” based on form.
He said: “If we’re taking form into consideration, we don’t stand a chance really. Let’s be honest, we’ve not had a great tournament so far.
“But we hope form goes out the window. It’s a derby and we’re going to try to make sure that we get the three points.”
Have a watch…
Among the biggest sources of anger around Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup has been the series of reports about the treatment of migrant workers and the number who have died while constructing stadiums.
Some estimates have suggested that figure is as high as 6,500, something Qatari officials and tournament organisers have repeatedly dismissed.
However, the country’s World Cup boss, Hassan Al-Thawadi, appears to have become the first to admit that the number of people who lost their lives was well into the hundreds.
The secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) – to give him his full title – was asked for an “honest, realistic total for migrant workers who have died as a result of work they are doing for the World Cup?”
He told TalkTV in response: “The estimate is between 400 and 500. I [don’t have] an exact number, that’s something that’s being discussed.”
His words may not have been welcomed by everyone within the Qatari regime, though, as a statement issued today indicates.
The comments, attributed to an SC spokesperson, appeared to backtrack on Mr Al-Thawadi’s figures – and imply that he was in fact referring to estimates for all work-related deaths across Qatar in the six years up until 2020.
The statement said: “The secretary-general told Piers Morgan’s ‘Uncensored’ programme that there were 3 work-related deaths and 37 non-work related deaths on the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s projects.
“This is documented on an annual basis in the SC’s public reporting and covers the 8 stadiums, 17 non-competition venues and other related sites under the SC’s scope.
“Separate quotes regarding figures refer to national statistics covering the period of 2014-2020 for all work-related fatalities (414) nationwide in Qatar, covering all sectors and nationalities.”
This claim will come as a surprise to some, given how clear-cut Mr Al-Thawadi’s comments during the interview appeared to be.
Watch the video below and decide for yourself.
With mercury levels in Qatar topping 30C this month, Qatar’s air-conditioned stadiums have been trying to keep fans cool by pumping air through grills in the stands and nozzles on the pitch.
While the Gulf state is known for its sweltering temperatures, analysis by the US research group Climate Central has now found that the unseasonal heat in Doha this week is being made worse by climate change.
Real-time analysis by climate scientists at the group has found temperatures in Doha at the moment are more than 3C hotter across the day than normal for the time of year – an increase that climate change made at least twice as likely.
Dr Andrew Pershing, director of climate science at Climate Central, said: “The stress of competing in extreme heat is already affecting more athletes around the world, and climate change is making outdoor sports riskier for both pros and the rest of us.
“It will keep getting even riskier, until net greenhouse gas emissions are halted and global temperatures stop rising.”
The table below shows how much hotter than normal the temperatures in Doha have been for the last five days:
Amid disappointment after England’s failure to beat the USA, much was made of Gareth Southgate’s decision not to make use of Phil Foden.
How, many asked, could a man who routinely starts for one of the greatest managers in the history of the game (Pep Guardiola) be left out by the former Middlesborough coach?
While he was far from committal, Southgate insisted the Manchester City star would feature prominently in the tournament – suggesting he would “have a big impact in games” and was “ready”.
“We’re happy with how he is, we’re happy with how he is training,” he said.
“He’s bright, he’s ready and he’s a good player.
After explaining why he didn’t select the Manchester City player at number 10 against the USA, he said: “There are games where there isn’t that same tactical challenge in midfield. There might be a little bit more freedom and that might be the slot he can go and express himself.
“But his club don’t do that, so there must be a reason for that. But he’s a great option for us in two or three different positions and he will have a big impact in games.
“But also we have to be careful because we are putting a lot of pressure on him now. We’re a team and we need all of the players, and they can all play a part, but not any one of them is the reason we will win or lose.
“And we need to make sure we are not building Phil into a situation where actually, if he steps on the pitch, this is becoming really difficult for him because the level of expectation is beyond a young guy who is still establishing himself internationally, in a different environment from his club where you’re comfortable with all the players you play with.
“It’s really distinctive: You’re going home every night, you’re calm with everything else [at club level]; this is still a unique environment. He is still a really young player and he’s doing brilliantly well and we love him to bits. We also have got to look after him a bit as well.”
Popstar Chesney Hawkes will take to the stage at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan at half-time during the England v Wales match tonight.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live today, the One And Only singer said: “I’m excited to be here, I’m a massive football fan.
“I thought I’d give them the one song, my jazz solo record.”
Asked about England’s performance during the tournament, he added: “The first game was amazing, it wasn’t the greatest opposition but I wasn’t very impressed with the USA.
“It was a very boring game, but maybe he was playing for a draw and resting the players a bit.
“We have got to trust in what Gareth is doing here, he’s obviously tried and tested.”
FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against Croatia after its fans taunted Canada’s goalkeeper – who has Serbian family ties – during the teams’ World Cup game.
Citing rules around discrimination and security at games, FIFA said the charge against the Croatian football federation was “due to the behaviour of its fans”.
Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan was born in an ethnic Serb region of Croatia that was part of the conflict that split the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
His family left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces amid stories that ethnic Serbs fled on tractors.
During Canada’s 4-1 loss on Sunday, one banner held aloft by Croatia fans used a flag of tractor manufacturer John Deere but with the marketing slogan changed to target Borjan.
Borjan moved as a child with his family to Canada and opted to represent that country at football, though he plays for Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.
FIFA gave no timetable for a verdict in the case which would typically be judged with a fine for the federation.
The World Cup in Qatar has been surrounded by controversy even before it started and concerns have continued to be raised about human rights abuses, the treatment of migrant workers, women, and the country’s position on LGBTQ+ rights.
And earlier this month England, along with six other nations, decided not to wear the OneLove armband after FIFA threatened teams with disciplinary action.
Yesterday, sports minister Stuart Andrew said he will wear the rainbow-coloured armband at the England v Wales World Cup match.
Mr Andrew, who is the UK’s first openly gay sports minister, said he was “not going to shy away from who I am”.
He also criticised FIFA for putting players in an “impossible position” by barring them for showing their support by wearing the armband.
Now, culture secretary Michelle Donelan has said she supports Mr Andrew “100%”, adding she would wear the OneLove armband if she attended the World Cup in Qatar.
She told Sky’s Kay Burley today: “I support the campaign behind and the sentiment behind the OneLove armband and I believe in us being able to stand up for our values and I’m proud that he’s going to wear that.”
Asked if she would wear the armband, she added: “Yes, I think I would actually.”
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