2022 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Webster]

 

[Webster]

Harry Kane in action with Tim Ream of the U.S. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

 

[PGen98]

Come on, England!

Having said that, the US pressure is frustrating England, you can see it in their play!

 

[Webster]

Having said that, the US pressure is frustrating England, you can see it in their play!

 

[PGen98]

Very true!

Also, Pulisic, VERY good player.

 

[Webster]

Very true!

Also, Pulisic, VERY good player.

Haji Wright's been good thus far too; I'm shocked. I did not rate Berhalter picking him for the squad; glad I was wrong here....

 

[PGen98]

Yep, US doing well with their position, pressing when they have it and trying to keep the pace high. Also nice to see them sporting a couple of former Bolton players

 

[Webster]

There's a real hesitancy to England right now, Gen, and if I were Berhalter I'd swap out Wright for Gio Reyna, put Pulisic and Weah up top and let Reyna be the playmaker. Of course, Berhalter being Berhalter....

 

[PGen98]

Yeah, England really need to push on and make something of their possession

 

[Webster]

England 0, United States 0 >>> If this were an MMA match the U.S. would've won by majority decision.

But Berhalter, you had 'em on the ropes and you let off the gas with your subs, you sonuva !

 

[PGen98]

US deserved that, for sure.

 

[Webster]

 

[Webster]

 

[PGen98]

No question where the points should have gone in that match.

 

[Webster]

No question where the points should have gone in that match.

*streaks past, yelling "USA! USA! USA!"*

 

[PGen98]

*streaks past, yelling "USA! USA! USA!"*

 

[Webster]

 

[Webster]

BBC Sport: Fifa opens disciplinary against Serbia over controversial Kosovo flag

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Serbia's football association after its team hung a controversial flag depicting Kosovo in their dressing room prior to their World Cup defeat by Brazil.

The flag showed an outline of Kosovo filled with the Serbia flag, with the words 'no surrender'.

Tensions are running high between ethnic Serbs and the Albanian-led government in Kosovo, amid fears violence could flare up again, 23 years after the Kosovo war. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Serbia - an ally of Russia - does not recognise it as an independent country.

On Friday, the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) submitted a complaint to Fifa, football's world governing body, over Serbia's "chauvinistic rhetoric". In a statement, it said: "Such acts of chauvinism have no place in a sports event, and even less inside the facilities where the biggest event of world football takes place, therefore FFK, as an equal member with all other members of Fifa, demands from this institution to undertake sanctioning measures against actions that incite hatred between peoples and are against human values." It added: "It is unacceptable for this act to pass in silence, therefore we strongly request that Fifa strictly implement its rules and punish the football federation of Serbia for this aggressive action and against the values that football conveys."

Kosovo's sports minister, Hajrulla Ceku, said it expected "concrete actions" from Fifa against Serbia's "hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages". Fifa's proceedings were opened on the basis of article 11 of the Fifa disciplinary code, which is "offensive behaviour and violation of the principles of fair play" and includes "using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature", as well as article four of the regulations for the 2022 World Cup which refers to team's responsibilities at the tournament.

Kosovo was accepted into Uefa and Fifa in 2016 but under Uefa rules, Serbia and Kosovo can not play each other in World Cup qualifying because of the tensions between the two countries.

Serbia were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in their World Cup opener in Qatar on Thursday, and play Cameroon in their next Group G fixture on Monday.

Kosovo did not qualify for the World Cup.

 

[Webster]

The Guardian: Fire breaks out in Qatar near Lusail’s World Cup stadium

Authorities in Qatar have confirmed that a fire broke out on Saturday at an under-construction building in a newly built city where a World Cup match is scheduled to be played later in the evening.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said the fire started just after noon local time on an island that is part of the city of Lusail, which is hosting several games during the tournament, including Argentina’s group game against Mexico, which kicks off at 10pm local time, 7pm GMT.

The blaze was about 3.5km from Lusail Stadium. It sent thick black smoke into the sky, which was visible from a marketplace in central Doha as World Cup fans milled among its shops and restaurants. There have been no reported injuries.

 

[PGen98]

Geez, just one thing after another at this World Cup...