World Cup 2022 Day 4 summary and round-up: 23 November
World Cup headlines: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
- Belgium scrape narrow win over Canada
- Spain run riot against Costa Rica
- Japan stun Germany 2-1 in their opening game
- Watch the World Cup live on Fubo (free trial available).
- The biggest upsets in World Cup history
- FIFA sanctions see multiple nations cancel rainbow armband plan
- Mané and Salah complicate Pelé's dire prediction
- German players cover their mouths in team photo before Japan game, a reaction to being refused permission to wear One Love armband
Browse our latest World Cup 2022 articles:
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Belgium were strong favourites to see off Canada fairly comfortably but scraped a 1-0 victory and had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for saving a first-half Alphonso Davies penalty.
Kieran has more here.
Germany: FIFA is silencing us
If you watched Germany's surprise defeat to Japan, you may have seen the German players covering their mouths as they posed for a photo before kickoff, a reaction to being refused permission by FIFA to wear the One Love armband. Various members of the German party have commented on it since:
Head coach Hansi Flick said: "It was a sign. A message we wanted to send out. We wanted to convert the message that FIFA is silencing us."
Attacker Kai Havertz: "It was important for us to make a statement like this. We spoke before the game about what we could do and for us it was the right sign. We sent it to show people that we can try to help wherever we can. Of course, FIFA haven’t made it easy for us but we have tried to show what we feel now."
Finally, the DFB (the German Football Federation): “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.”
Pickford: We all wanted Harry Kane to wear the armband
More here from Pickford. Not on the USA this time but instead on England captain Harry Kane ultimately not wearing OneLove armband in support of LGBTQ rights.
"As a squad, we've all had conversations about it and we all stand for it. We all wanted Harry to wear it but I think the decision got taken out of our hands as a squad, as players. It went higher up than that, really. I don't know if there was any more punishment but it was a yellow card and if Harry wore it and got a yellow card, he might miss the next game. It's not going to be ideal for us. I think it got taken out of our hands."
England's Jordan Pickford: USA are a top nation
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been previewing his nation's upcoming clash against the USMNT:
"They'e a top nation. They've got a lot of experienced players, a lot of players in the Premier League who we've come up against. But it's about us as a squad being 100%. Taking the result from Iran and going into the USA game positive. As a goalkeeper, hopefully not too busy but when called upon, I'm ready to help the team out and I'll be ready like the rest of the lads will be."
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Costa Rica fans, look away now.
In case you missed it, Spain have just dished out a 7-0 thumping to Los Ticos. And Luis Enrique says there's "still room for improvement."
Yikes. Watch out Germany and Japan (and everyone else).
Here's how it went down.
We will have all the latest news ahead of Belgium and Canada in Group F.
Join Kieran for minute-by-minute coverage of today's final game.
Alphonso Davies is the one to watch in the Canada team. The Bayern Munich man will feature in a more advanced position as Canada hope to hold their own in a tricky group featuring Belgium, Croatia and Morocco.
Read more on the Canada star
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Spain have opened up a three-goal lead in the first half against Costa Rica.
Follow all the action with Roddy here
Canada are at a World Cup for the first time in 36 years and will face a strong but aging Belgian side in Group F on Wednesday.
We've given our prediction ahead of kickoff.
Spain starting XI
Luis Enrique has named his line-up for today's game!
Simón; Azpilicueta, Rodrigo, Laporte, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Ferran, Asensio, Olmo
Costa Rica XI
Costa Rica starting XI
Navas; Martínez, Fuller, Duarte, Calvo, Oviedo; Campbell, Borges, Tejeda, Benette; Contreras
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Spain vs Costa Rica up next. You can follow all the action with Roddy.
Spain fans will be humming along to the Marcha Real, Spain's national anthem, ahead of the game against Costa Rica later on,but why doesn't it have any lyrics? And check out which other countries don't have lyrics for their anthems...
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We are underway in Doha, Group E is go...
Portugal won't be distracted by Ronaldo's United saga
Portugal will not be distracted by the drama surrounding captain Cristiano Ronaldo's acrimonious departure from Manchester United, coach Fernando Santos said on Wednesday, a day before their World Cup opener against Ghana.
"This is something that has not even been discussed," Santos told reporters. "This conversation has not come up at any moment, not even from him."
United announced on Tuesday that Ronaldo would leave the club with immediate effect, after the player said in an interview that he felt betrayed by the club. Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who plays for Manchester United, told the same news conference in Qatar that he had not discussed the situation with his now former club team mate. "I don't feel uncomfortable. I don't have to pick a side. It was a privilege to play with him. We know that nothing lasts forever. It was good while it lasted."
Son cleared to play for South Korea against Uruguay
Son Heung-min will be able to play with a protective mask in South Korea's Group H opener against Uruguay on Thursday, coach Paulo Bento said
The talismanic forward underwent a surgical procedure to stabilise a fracture around his left eye. Son was injured midway through Tottenham's Champions League tie against Olympique Marseille earlier this month and there were doubts the 30-year-old would be fit in time for the World Cup group stage.
"Sonny will be able to play," Bento assured reporters on Wednesday. "I think the fact that he will be wearing a mask is not an inconvenience for him, it's quite natural for him. We stuck with the plan when we arrived here... But we will see tomorrow how it will be. Our hope is that he will be comfortable to the greatest extent possible and use the best strategy so that he can feel at ease during the game. He knows and we know that after his injury we cannot take any risks."
Bento confirmed that Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan had not recovered in time for the game while the team will take a late call on defender Kim Jin-su.
Hosts Qatar go into second game facing elimination
World Cup hosts Qatar know they must not let nerves get the better of them again on Friday as they face African champions Senegal needing to take something from their second Group A encounter or face an early exit from the tournament. The home team froze under the weight of expectation and quickly went behind in Sunday’s opener, losing 2-0 to Ecuador and being deserted by their own fans, who emptied the stadium in droves in the second half.
"Our nerves betrayed us," said coach Félix Sánchez. "We were unable to string together four passes in a row. Also, many defensive gaps. The team was not balanced and that hurt us a lot.”
Defeat at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium would ensure Asian champions Qatar become only the second World Cup hosts to fail to get past the first round after South Africa in 2010.
Sánchez, who has had his players together almost like a club side for months in the build up to the World Cup, has promised a more “effective and competitive” team but on the evidence of their opener they are going to need much more against Senegal...
Messi’s connection to Saudi Arabia will lead to questions and potential controversy following Argentina’s shocking loss to the Arab state.
Considered one of the best South American teams, Argentina has won two FIFA World Cups and played in three other finals. Their worst and best moments here:
Thierry Henry was France’s top goal scorer of all-time but his record was under threat of being equalled or surpassed in Qatar. It didn't take long before it was...
"I would like to be able to look forward to a World Cup, even if it takes place here. It's a huge dream for all of us, we're all on fire. We all want to play a good tournament, we all want to win tomorrow and yes, it's not our fault where the World Cup takes place. I don't feel like there's any real joy there. We've talked a lot about the fact the World Cup was awarded here. That was 12 years ago, when I was 15, and now I somehow always have to comment on it. I don't know if it's always justified. But we also have to manage this balancing act of focusing on the sporting side. I mean regardless of where the World Cup is taking place, it's a World Cup, it's the biggest competition for us footballers there is".
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Group E gets underway on Wednesday with four-time winners Germany taking on Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. It will also be a big day for the man in the middle, who is officiating at his first World Cup finals.
Luka Modric, who survived the Balkan War and learned to play football in the parking lot of a refugee hotel is now a legend of the sport who has managed to win a Ballon d'Or and dozens of trophies with Real Madrid. His story is a remarkable one.
Heartache for France's Lucas Hernandez
Lucas Hernandez will miss the rest of the World Cup, and likely the remainder of the season, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. France were dealt a huge blow by injuries ahead of their campaign in Qatar, which began with a 4-1 rout of Australia on Tuesday.
Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku were all ruled out before the tournament started, and now Didier Deschamps has lost another key player. Hernandez suffered the injury nine minutes into the win over Australia, as he went down clutching his right knee after being turned by Matthew Leckie in the build-up to Craig Goodwin's opening goal.
"Like the whole group, players and staff, I am extremely sorry for Lucas," said Deschamps. "We are losing an important element. Lucas is a warrior and I have no doubt that he will do everything possible to return to the game. I know him well. Courage, he will have it, that's for sure. On behalf of the group, I wish him the best possible recovery."
World Cup daily blog: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live 2022 World Cup blog as we bring you all the latest from Qatar.
While Messi and Argentina are still reeling from yesterday's shock defeat to Saudi Arabia, the tournament's first upset, today's it's the turn of Groups E and F with Morocco taking on the runners-up from the last edition Croatia. Later on Tuesday, Germany face Japan before Spain and Costa Rica bring the day's action to a close with both of those games taking place in Doha.
Our team is split between the offices and on the ground around the various venues so stay with us and we'll ensure you know what you need to know.