World Cup 2022 results, live scores, schedule: SBS lists Belarus instead of Belgium in Group F
Host broadcaster SBS was caught out making its first major gaffe of the World Cup when it listed a country ranked almost 100 spots behind Belgium in its group.
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Close enough?
Host broadcaster SBS made an early faux pas in its World Cup coverage when it listed Belarus instead of Belgium in Group F.
For the record, there are 95 spots in the world rankings between Belgium (second) and Belarus (97th).
They were drawn in the same qualifying group in Europe, but Belgium picked up 20 points to qualify directly for Qatar while Belarus won one game, finished with a goal difference of -17 and was bottom of the group.
At least the flag was right...
Wow, SBS got Belgium confused with Belarus 🤣🤣 #SBSWorldCup#WorldCuppic.twitter.com/HrRCDT28is
— Amir (@Iamamirkasa) November 21, 2022
6:00PM UPDATE ‘LOVE’ LOGO LATEST TARGET OF FIFA CRACKDOWN
FIFA has demanded Belgium remove the word “LOVE” from the collar of their away kit at the World Cup.
The edict follows a crackdown that forced seven nations – including Belgium – to backtrack on plans to wear “One Love” armbands during their matches.
LGBTQ+ rights has become a flashpoint in Qatar with the early days of the tournament also marked by reports of journalists and fans being turned away from venues for wearing rainbow-coloured clothing.
Belgium’s white away jersey has the word “LOVE” stitched inside the collar. The design is a collaboration with Tomorrowland, an electronic dance festival held in Flanders.
4.40PM UPDATE ENGLAND FANS RESPOND TO BOOZE BAN
The travelling English fans rarely disappoint.
Most Australian sporting fans would know cricket’s Barmy Army for their chants, often directed at Aussie players during Ashes series.
But the English football fans are just as boisterous and opened the World Cup with a new song poking fun at Qatar’s stadium beer ban.
They bellowed: “1, 2, 3, 4; Woaah, England are in Doha; Woaah, drinking Coca-Cola; Woaah, England’s going all the waaay.”
UK media reported the chant could become England’s ‘signature tune’ after Qatar banned beer sales in stadiums two days before the tournament kicked off.
Brian Vass told The Sun: “Long way to come and not have a pint. But what a start for England. A real party atmosphere.”
3.40PM UPDATE: NEYMAR HITS BACK AT CRITICS
Talk about confidence.
Brazilian star Neymar, widely tipped to be one of the most influential players in Qatar, is already planning for glory — in his uniform at least.
The Paris Saint Germain attacker was snapped wearing a pair of shorts with a sixth star added.
The stars symbolise Brazil’s five World Cup wins and Neymar’s team entered the Qatar World Cup as warm favourites to win the tournament for a sixth time.
The picture was branded “arrogant”, but Neymar’s teammate and Tottenham star Richarlison hit back, saying: “They are arrogant. We’re just dreamers.
“We are dreaming of this sixth star and we will pick it up, whether they like it or not. That reporter is an a**hole.”
How was Iranian goalkeeper Beiranvand allowed to play on after massive head clash/ concussion with teammate-FIFA more concerned about LGBQTI protest than athlete brain health ?-sends poor message to the world -FIFA was major supporter at recent Amsterdam world concussion meeting
— Dr Peter Larkins OLY (@doclarkins) November 22, 2022
3.18PM UPDATE: AUSSIE DOC LASHES FIFA OVER CONCUSSION FARCE
Leading Australian sports doctor Peter Larkins has hit out at FIFA, accusing soccer’s governing body of caring more about “LGBQTI protest(s) than athlete brain health.”
His damning tweet came after Iran’s match against England was suspended for 10 minutes when Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was flattened by one of his own players.
The sickening head clash has since landed him in hospital.
Beiranvand was allowed to play on but appeared visibly disoriented with blood coming from his nose.
He was subtituted a minute later.
“How was Iranian goalkeeper Beiranvand allowed to play on after massive head clash/ concussion with teammate,” Larkins tweeted on Tuesday.
“FIFA more concerned about LGBQTI protest than athlete brain health?
“Sends poor message to the world — FIFA was major supporter at recent Amsterdam world concussion meeting.”
FERRELL’S CLUB CANNED FOR ‘CRINGE’ TWEET
American football fans have hit out at the Major League Soccer franchise part-owned by actor Will Ferrell for a “cringe” World Cup post.
LAFC - where Welsh star Gareth Bale plays - posted a tweet of the winger with a Welsh flag after he equalised from the penalty spot in Tuesday morning’s clash between the two countries.
Anthony Buckley called the tweet “cringe on your part”, while another said “admin should resign now, this is unacceptable”.
Others said “you can delete this” while another supporter told the club to “read the room”.
Tim Weah opened the scoring for the US in the 36th minute after the US bossed the opening half at Al Rayyan Stadium.
But Bale had the final say as Wales responded in the second half, converting from the penalty spot.
1PM UPDATE: LEGEND SLAMS KANE FOR ARMBAND BACKFLIP
England captain Harry Kane made a “big mistake” in backing down on his rainbow armband pledge, according to former Manchester United star Roy Keane.
An 11th hour threat from FIFA that players displaying the rainbow would be booked and face bans mean Kane and other captains opted against making a stand.
The One Love band is regarded as a stand of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Qatar - where homosexuality is illegal.
“I think the players could have done it for the first game — took the punishment, whatever that might be,’ he told ITV.
“If it’s Kane you’re risking getting a yellow card, but that would have been a great statement.
“Do it for the first game, get your yellow card and what a message that would have been. Take your medicine and in the next game you move on.
“You don’t wear it because you don’t want to get suspended but, I think it was a big mistake because both players - Wales and England - should have stuck to their guns and done it.
“No matter the pressure from the outside and the associations, have the belief, if that’s what you believe, then go with it.’
In a statement the Football Association said: ‘We have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armband in FIFA World Cup games.
“We cannot put our players in a situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.”
12.40PM UPDATE: PRESENTER SHOWS WORLD HOW ITS DONE
Alex Scott wore a One Love armband ahead of England’s World Cup opener against Iran.
It comes after England and seven other countries decided they would not wear the armband for fear of FIFA sanctions.
England, Wales, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark planned to wear the armband in all their games in Qatar.
But under pressure from FIFA, who warned captains would receive a yellow card if they wore the One Love armband, the countries have U-turned.
But Scott — who has dated both men and women in the past — remained defiant and showed solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
“I don’t think it’s fair on the players to do this on the morning of the game, they have done incredible work, they knew the rules, it could be one of the biggest games they play, all the players should be thinking about is how to win the game,” she said.
“It would have made a strong statement imagine if Harry came out wearing the armband.”
Scott has received praise for her stance with one fan saying: “You legend Alex Scott.”
Another added: “Top s***housery from Alex Scott.”
And a third said: “Leave it to a Lioness to take a stand. Respect to Alex Scott.”
A joint statement read: “FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.
“As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
“However we cannot put our players in a position where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.
“We are very frustrated by the Fifa decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to Fifa in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
I think when Alex Scott said she felt staying home was an easy option (and got lots of silly shit for it) this is what she meant.
— Joe Louis Monte (@Jolomoco) November 21, 2022
Takes courage to wear the armband there, especially not as a player, and she's showing the men what an smidgen of solidarity & conviction looks like.
Alex Scott you legend pic.twitter.com/Tvzei6sh5s
— Ali Tweedale (@alitweedale) November 21, 2022
Alex Scott is wearing a OneLove armband while reporting on England's World Cup game in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/bHDWqGRFzY
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 21, 2022
England may not be wearing the #OneLove armband, but @AlexScott is right now on BBC. This is more than just LGBTQ+ rights, this is Human Rights ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆðŸ’™ pic.twitter.com/lSYZUaijqm
— Pride in Football ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆâš½ï¸ (@prideinfootball) November 21, 2022
12.02PM UPDATE: WORLD CUP BOSSES CAUGHT IN CROWD LIE
World Cup organisers appear to be fudging the numbers when it comes to crowd figures amid an avalanche of errors in the opening two days of the tournament.
Vision inside stadiums has shown significant numbers of empty seats yet the powers that be in Qatar appear to think record breaking (and impossible) crowds are attending.
Qatar played Ecuador in the opening match of the tournament with the stadium announcer saying some 67,000 were in attendance.
One problem guys, the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor only holds 60,000.
It wasn’t the only blooper; Holland vs Senegal was said to have an attendance of 41,721, despite being played in a 40,000-seater stadium.
Ooops.
11.46AM UPDATE: WHY WORLD CUP STAR WAS IN TEARS ON LIVE TV
Neco Williams broke down in tears on TV following Wales’ World Cup comeback against the USA.
That’s after revealing his grandad died the day before the crunch clash.
Gareth Bale’s 82nd minute penalty saw the Welsh fight back for a 1-1 draw after going behind to Timothy Weah’s first-half strike.
But the game was an emotional one for Nottingham Forest wing-back Williams.
The ace broke down in tears as the two sides saluted their travelling fans in Qatar.
Williams was clearly upset as he soaked up the applause from the Red Wall.
And as the camera followed Williams off the pitch, he said into the lens: “That was for you, grandad.”
The defender then took to social media to reveal his loved one passed away on Sunday.
Williams called it the “toughest news” he’s ever received after getting a call from his mum.
And the fan favourite added he was “crying all day” before stepping up to the plate for his country.
Yesterday was the toughest news I’ve ever had to face and that was listening to my mum tell me my grandad past away last night😓 to go from crying all day to start in a World Cup game was extremely tough but I got through it from the support of my team mates and familyâ¤ï¸ðŸ•Š pic.twitter.com/3pcxl0C3Qc
— Neco Williams (@necowilliams01) November 21, 2022
10.30AM UPDATE MESSI MOVES TO DISPEL INJURY FEARS
AFP
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi insisted on Monday he is determined to make the most of what will likely be his fifth and final chance to win the World Cup.
At 35 years of age, the diminutive magician is close to winding down his remarkable trophy-laden career.
And after playing already in four World Cup tournaments, including suffering the heartache of losing the 2014 final in Brazil to Germany, Messi is adamant that he wants to make the most of what could be his last hurrah on the global stage in Qatar.
“It is probably my last World Cup, my last chance to land this great dream that we all have,” Messi told reporters in Doha.
“I don’t know if this is my happiest moment, but I feel great. I’m older, more mature, I want to make the most of everything, to live it with the maximum intensity and to enjoy every moment that I have.
“Today I’m enjoying everything much more. Before I didn’t think about that. “Age makes you see things differently and makes the little details more important: those that before you didn’t give much importance to.” The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or is widely regarded as one of the two greatest players of his generation — if not of all time — alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
But after winning almost everything else in football, Messi is desperate to emulate fellow Argentina icon Diego Maradona, who inspired the South American giants to glory in Mexico 1986.
In recent days, Messi has twice trained apart from the rest of the squad but he moved to dispell any concerns amongst Argentines that he might not be fit for Tuesday’s Group C opener against Saudi Arabia.
“I trained apart because I had a knock, it was precautionary, but nothing unusual,” he said.
EARLIER UPDATE: FANS CALL OUT RIDICULOUS INJURY TIME
Fans, football experts and World Cup superstars are calling out ridiculous lengths of stoppage times in matches with almost 30 extra minutes added to England’s opener against Iran.
Fifteen minutes were added to the first half – understandable given the near 11 minute break after Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, suffered a serious head injury.
A further 13 minutes was then added to the second term leaving fans baffled.
And it’s not an isolated incident, almost an hour was added to Tuesday’s three clashes.
“I can’t believe it was nine minutes added on I don’t know where that came from,” he told SBS.
The first half was extended by four minutes.
Netherlands v Senegal full-time was blown at 90’+11’ with three minutes added to the first term.
4 - The four single halves with the most stoppage time on record (since 1966) in a single #WorldCup match have all been today:#ENGIRN 1st half (14:08)#ENGIRN 2nd half (13:08)#USAWAL 2nd half (10:34)#SENNED 2nd half (10:03)
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 21, 2022
Prolonged.
Iconic football referee Pierluigi Collina explained what was happening.
“What we already did in Russia [2018] was to more accurately calculate the time to be compensated,” he told ESPN.
“We told everybody to don’t be surprised if they see the fourth official raising the electronic board with a big number on it, six, seven or eight minutes.
“If you want more active time, we need to be ready to see this kind of additional time given. Think of a match with three goals scored. A celebration normally takes one, one and a half minutes, so with three goals scored, you lose five or six minutes.
Experts were dumbfounded by the numbers they were seeing.
“Qatar has the world’s largest naturally-occurring resource of stoppage time,” respected soccer reporter Sam Wallace wrote on Twitter.
The topic soon went viral.
8:02AM WORLD CUP DRUG BUST: COPS INTERCEPT MASSIVE HAUL
Qatar announced the first seizure of drugs during the football World Cup, including the painkiller tramadol which has been widely used in football.
Customs authorities at Hamad International Airport “foiled the smuggling” of 1,990 tramadol pills and 464.5 grams (16.4 ounces) of hashish, according to a statement on Twitter, a day after the tournament began.
The illicit substances were found when customs officials “suspected” a passenger and inspected the luggage, the customs service said in its statement.
The passenger, whose nationality was not given, will appear in court, an official said.
Qatar has predicted that more than one million fans will come to the Gulf state for the month-long tournament that ends December 18.
The Gulf emirate has strict laws on drug possession which include long prison terms, large fines and deportation.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is due to add tramadol, an addictive synthetic opiate, to its banned list from 2024.
It is already prohibited in cycling.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland said in media interviews this year that he considered killing himself because of his overuse of tramadol
GOAL! WALES BREAK 65-YEAR WAIT
It could only be one man. Gareth Bale has just scored his first ever World Cup goal and his country’s first in 64 years.
From the penalty spot the star winger took it all in his stride as he equalised for Wales in their opening clash against the USA.
Score is 1-1 with about 8 minutes to play.
GÔL | 🇺🇸 1-1 ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿
— Wales ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ (@Cymru) November 21, 2022
BAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
CWPAN Y BYD!!!!!!!
CYMRU!!!!!! #ArBenYByd | #FIFAWorldCup | #TogetherStrongerpic.twitter.com/T7uS7S3QGt
7:23AM JOURNO DETAINED FOR RAINBOW SHIRT
A respected journalist from New York has been detained by World Cup officials for wearing a rainbow T-shirt to a match.
Grant Wahl, soccer analyst for CBS and former Sports Illustrated writer, was refused entry to the Senegal v Holland clash in Qatar and apprehended for almost half an hour.
He took to his social media to share what was happening which only made matters worse.
“Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed,” Wahl tweeted with an image of himself in the aforementioned T-shirt.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in the World Cup’s host nation and the topic of LGBTQ+ rights has been prominent for years in the lead up to the most controversial edition of the tournament.
However, FIFA has been adamant that rainbow flags would be welcomed at the World Cup (unless you’re a player wanting to wear an armband)
Wahl’s mobile phone was forcibly snatched from his hands, security repeatedly told him his T-shirt was “political” and that it needed to come off.
“You can make this easy. Take off your shirt,” Wahl claims one security guard said.
“I told him no, adding that my shirt wasn’t political at all,” Wahl; wrote in his description of the incident.
“My friend Andrew Das, a reporter for the New York Times, walked past, and I informed him what was going on. They detained him too.
“Eventually, the guards made me stand up, turn around and face the CCTV camera above us.”
After almost half an hour, Wahl continued: “A security commander approached me. He said they were letting me through and apologised. We shook hands.
“One of the security guards told me they were just trying to protect me from fans inside who could harm me for wearing the shirt.
“A FIFA rep later apologised to me as well, but the entire episode left me wondering: What’s it like for ordinary Qataris who might wear a rainbow shirt when the world isn’t watching here? What’s that like?”
Free to read: What happened when Qatar World Cup security detained me for 25 minutes for wearing a t-shirt supporting LGBTQ rights, forcibly took my phone and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt to enter the stadium. (I refused.) Story: https://t.co/JKpXXETDkHpic.twitter.com/HEjr0xzxU5
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) November 21, 2022
7:10 AM FIFA ACCUSED OF BULLYING
LGBTQ rights campaigners and fan groups have accused FIFA of “bullying” teams into deciding not to wear the armbands.
“The OneLove armband was the tiniest of gestures,” said prominent LGBTQ activist Peter Tatchell in a statement.
“It was a weak campaign, but even that was too much for FIFA, who have bullied the England team to not wear it.” The Football Supporters’ Association, which represents fans in England and Wales, said: “Today we feel betrayed. Today we feel contempt for an organisation that has shown its true values by giving the yellow card to players and the red card to tolerance.
“It’s astonishing that on the morning of England’s World Cup opener, FIFA are censoring players … who wish to share a positive message.”
6:15AM IRAN COACH DEFENCE OF HIS TEAM
Iran manager Carlos Queiroz has launched an impassioned plea for “moralist” fans of his side to back off following a 6-2 shellacking by England in their World Cup opener.
Two months after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody after her arrest by Iran’s morality police for wearing inappropriate attire, protests both in and out of Iran have captured the world’s attention.
Some, however, back the government stance and that’s placed Iran’s football team, huge idols in their homeland in an impossible situation, one that Queiroz feels affected his side in the England loss.
“Whatever they do, whatever they say, they want to ‘kill’ them,” Queiroz said afterwards, speaking figuratively, not literally.
“Can you imagine whatever you say or do, you’re killed. Let them play the game!”
5:15AM IRAN’S ANTHEM BOYCOTT
Iran’s players did not sing their national anthem before their first game of the World Cup against England, in apparent support for anti-government protesters in their homeland.
Ahead of the game in Qatar, captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team would decide together whether or not to refuse to sing the anthem in a show of solidarity for demonstrations that have rocked the regimen in Iran.
The Iranian players stood impassively and grim-faced as their anthem rang out around the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Iran has been shaken by two months of nationwide protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days after her arrest in Tehran over an alleged breach of the Islamic republic’s dress code for women, which includes the mandatory hijab headscarf.
Some Iranian athletes have chosen not to sing the national anthem or celebrate their victories in support of the protesters.
4:45AM SENEGAL UPSET
Two late goals gave the Netherlands a 2-0 victory over African champions Senegal on Monday as Louis van Gaal’s men made the perfect start to their World Cup campaign in Qatar. The deadlock in a cagey Group A game was broken in the 84th minute when in-form winger Cody Gakpo glanced home Frenkie de Jong’s cross, before substitute Davy Klaassen scored a second in added time
3AM ENGLAND OFF TO A FLYER AMID BAN SAGA
England made a scintillating start to their World Cup campaign as Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham inspired a 6-2 rout of outclassed Iran in Monday’s Group B opener in Doha.
Saka and Bellingham were England’s driving forces with dynamic displays that underlined their emergence as two of the game’s brightest young stars.
Bellingham, 19, shattered Iran’s hopes of frustrating England when he rose to head his maiden senior international goal in the first half.
Gareth Southgate’s side were in sparkling form at the Khalifa International Stadium and goals from Saka and Raheem Sterling put them in complete control before halftime.
Saka, 21, netted again after the interval and, although Mehdi Taremi struck twice for Iran, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish completed the demolition.
There will be far sterner tests to come for England as they bid to win their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
But this was a welcome step in the right direction for Southgate, whose team arrived in Qatar on a six-match winless run that triggered scathing criticism of the Three Lions boss and his perceived negative tactics.
The only concern for Southgate was the sight of Harry Maguire being replaced in the second half after being checked for a potential head injury.
England play their second match against the United States on Friday and conclude their Group B fixtures against Wales on November 29.
3:30AM SEVEN NATIONS FORCED TO ABANDON ONE LOVE ARMBAND
Seven World Cup nations have been forced to abandon plans to wear the inclusive One Love armband after an ‘unprecedented’ FIFA edict which could have resulted in the suspension of each nation’s captain during the group stage.
England coach Gareth Southgate has said his team will take the knee before their World Cup matches in Qatar to send a strong message of “inclusivity”.
But captain Harry Kane will not wear the rainbow One Love armband, following the shock decision by FIFA on Sunday to threaten captains who did so with yellow and red cards.
And nor will the captains of Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, following a tough FIFA call this week.
Kane had previously pledged to wear the armband along with other European captains at the tournament, as a symbol of inclusivity – in particular for the LBGTQ community in a country where same-sex relationships are strictly outlawed.
But the threat of losing their captain to a ban in the group stage prompted a stunning backtrack from the seven federations who revealed the news in a joint statement just 3 hours before England’s World Cup-opening match against Iran.
“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field,” the statement read.
“As national federations we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.
“We are prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations, and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
“However we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field.
“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
Speaking before the news, France captain Hugo Lloris – who had already declared he would not be wearing the armband this tournament – reiterated his stance, and put the pressure back on FIFA to make the changes.
“FIFA is organising this competition. It is therefore up to FIFA to put in a regulatory framework. For us as players, we’re here to play football,” Lloris said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday morning’s showdown with Australia.
“I prefer to stay in my box. I am a player and a competitor of this competition.
“But yes there are different causes that are very important that should be supported, that are commendable, as I mentioned it’s up to FIFA with regards to the organisation of the competition.”
Taking a different position, Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri said it was important to respect the culture of the Muslim-majority country in which the tournament was taking place.
“We’re in an Arab country with Islamic traditions,” Kadri said.
“We have to respect the culture and convictions of everybody. We’re in Qatar, they respect other cultures, religions and religious beliefs.”
Originally published as World Cup 2022 results, live scores, schedule: SBS lists Belarus instead of Belgium in Group F
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