World Cup 2022 news, results: Argentina, Mexico fan fight video, Socceroos referee blunder

It’s difficult to fathom that an injury could be the catalyst to the Socceroos’ newfound belief, but that is exactly what is happening as their ‘Official Vibes Manager’ strikes the right chord.

Harry Kane wears a no discrimination armband at the World Cup.

The Socceroos have revealed how they’re rallying around injured star Martin Boyle — and the inspirational role he’s taken on to drive them into the knockout rounds.

Boyle was at Al-Janoub Stadium on Saturday, hobbling around on crutches after last week’s ACL reconstruction, to watch his teammates deliver a historic World Cup win over Tunisia.

And he was front and centre in the moments after full-time, pulled into the team circle by Graham Arnold as the Socceroos coach — with one arm draped around his injured winger — gave his post-game address to his players.

Despite being reduced to watching games from the sidelines, Boyle is very much still at the forefront of this team, according to Arnold.

So much so that he’s been given a new role on Arnold’s coaching staff: the OVM.

“Official Vibes Manager,” Arnold explains, with a smirk.

Australian midfielder Martin Boyle walks with crutches after last week’s ACL reconstruction.

“He’ll keep all the boys up, because he’s just one of the most fantastic blokes you’ll ever meet in your life.

“Even though he’s got that injury, the most important thing for him is the rest of the boys.

“There’s no way he wanted to go (home). He wants to stay, support and be part of it.

“He deserves it more than anyone for what he did in the qualifying campaign.”

Good vibes were certainly required for the downcast Socceroos after the French thrashing, and Boyle delivered in keeping spirits up for the team.

Graham Arnold — with one arm draped around his injured star Martin Boyle — gives his post-game address to his players.

Which is why teammate Riley McGree says Boyle’s plight looms as another reason behind their inspired bid to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in 16 years.

“Boyley getting the injury, it’s just another reason, another thing for us to fight and show what we’re about,” McGree said.

“The job’s not done, we’ve still got another game and hopefully many more after that.”

WORLD CUP RESULTS

* Australia 1, Tunisia 0

*Argentina 2, Mexico 0

* Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 0

* France 2, Denmark 1

Referee blunder? Fresh footage shows trip before Aussie goal

- The Sun

Tunisia star Ellyes Skhiri was controversially tripped up by the referee just seconds before Australia’s winning goal.

The Socceroos scored in the 23rd minute through striker Mitch Duke.

But Tunisian midfielder Skhiri was sent flying just moments earlier as he battled for the ball in the lead up to the goal.

Skhiri tripped over German referee Daniel Siebert’s legs as he tried to tackle Australia ace Riley McGree.

Middlesbrough man McGree was able to evade any challenge as Skhiri was sent tumbling by the ref.

McGree then immediately spread the ball wide to Craig Goodwin, who whipped in the delivery for Duke to head home.

The moment the trip occured.

The goal proved to be the difference as Australia held on to win 1-0.

It’s the first World Cup game the Socceroos have won since 2010, and the first time they’ve kept a World Cup clean sheet since 1974.

Whether Skhiri would have been able to tackle McGree had he not been tripped remains unknown, but some fans weren’t happy with the decision to play on.

According to FIFA rules, referees must stop play when they make contact with the ball. However, there is nothing in the rule book that covers referees making tackles.

Australia is now on the verge of making the final 16, needing only a draw against Denmark to progress.

Mitchell Duke celebrates after his goal. Picture: AFP

ENGLAND, WALES FANS BRAWL BEFORE WORLD CUP CLASH

England and Wales fans were captured brawling outside bars in Tenerife, Spain overnight.

Punches were thrown and chairs brandished during the clash in Playa de las Américas in the south of the Spanish resort in the Canary Islands.

Footage showed both sets of fans fighting outside the CC Veronicas shopping centre before the two sides clash at the Qatar World Cup on Tuesday.

Dozens of people - some wearing the white of the Three Lions and others wearing the red shirts and bucket hats of Wales - appeared to be involved in the rumble.

The shocking footage showed a group of men throwing punches on a zebra crossing near the bars, one of them brandishing a chair above his head.

Wales and England fans brawl in Spain.

The brawl erupted ahead of the England v Wales World Cup match.

Fists continued to fly and one man in black was knocked to the ground before he is then walloped with a chair by a shirtless bloke.

Spanish daily El Dia reported several people were injured in the brawl outside the bars.

The newspaper reported the fight is understood to have taken place in the early hours of Friday. Spanish police are investigating the fight.

The fight came ahead of the key clash between the Three Lions and Gareth Bale’s men on Tuesday.

England have all but secured progression to the round of 16 with a win and a draw.

Wales need to win well to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

For the Three Lions to be knocked out, Wales would have to beat them 4-0 and Iran would have to beat the US. - Henry Holloway, The Sun

FEAR OF LOSING: FIFA EXPERTS’ GRIM GOAL DATA

The high number of goalless draws at the World Cup has been due to teams’ fear of suffering an early setback, FIFA’s technical study group said on Saturday.

There were five goalless matches in the first 20 matches in Qatar, already just two short of matching the record amount in a World Cup.

There was only one 0-0 stalemate at the 2018 tournament -- between eventual winners France and Denmark.

“It’s because teams don’t want to take too much risk at the beginning,” said former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh.

“Past data shows about 70 percent of teams who lose their first game go out in the group stage and they’re all aware of that.”

Uruguay’s match with South Korea on Thursday was the first World Cup game to not even see a shot on target in the 21st century.

“Many teams are relying on a cautious approach,” said veteran Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

“Lots of teams fielded five defenders and played very tight and compact. They wanted to assure at least a point from their first game and if a chance came along, try and grab it to win the game.”

Despite England’s 6-2 rout of Iran and Spain’s 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica, there have been fewer goals per game so far in Qatar than in Russia or in Brazil in 2014. - AFP

FAN VIOLENCE MARS ARGENTINA MEXICO CLASH

Argentina and Mexico fans traded punches in the stands amid shocking scenes at Saturday night’s World Cup clash.

Violence bloke out off the field during a tense night on in as Lionel Messi eventually inspired Argentina’s 2-0 victory.

Supporters were recorded by fellow fans scrambling across to confront each.

Some were sent flying and one clip shows a pile of spectators swinging wild blows at each other.

There were pre-match reports of violent clashes between fans of the two proud South American footballing nations.

And a simmering feeling amongst an unruly majority spilled over during a match Argentina were under huge pressure to win.

🔴 ¡Reportan peleas entre mexicanos y argentinos en las gradas del encuentro 🇲🇽 vs 🇦🇷 #Qatar2022!

Usuarios de redes sociales comenzaron a compartir imágenes de los aficionados que lanzan golpes dentro del estadio. pic.twitter.com/3rojC98qqF

— Proyecto Puente (@ProyectoPuente) November 26, 2022

Losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their first group game was arguably the biggest shock in World Cup history.

And only three points against Mexico would have left qualification in their own hands.

Ultimately Messi fired a brilliant opener on 64 minutes despite being as quiet as most of his other team-mates before that.

And sub Enzo Fernandez curled an even better goal late on to seal three points.

Even now, though, Argentina must beat unbeaten group leaders Poland on Wednesday to reach the last 16.

And they will surely need a much more accomplished display than they have produced so far in Qatar to squeeze through.

‘HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?’: TOP NATIONS URGED TO QUIT FIFA

Former English football star Stan Collymore has taken aim at FIFA, calling on the sport’s best performing nations to quit the organisation and not return until major changes are made.

Speaking to UK press outlet the Mirror, Collymore was fed up with the constant issues throughout the Qatar World Cup.

He went on to call out the process behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino being elected for another four year term.

“Once the tournament is over we really need to have a think about short-circuiting FIFA and the corruption and the juggernaut that it is. When you can see there is corruption within a government, then every four years you get an opportunity to vote them out,” he said.

“So why are we in a situation where Gianni Infantino has just been accepted as president for another four years without any challenger, how does that happen? Presidents should only be allowed to sit for one four-year period and the voting process for the role and for who gets to host World Cups needs to be absolutely transparent.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Picture: Getty Images

“When the World Cup is over, then, I’d love to hear the associations of England, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain and Italy say, ‘Right, that’s it, we’re boycotting FIFA until it gets its act together and introduces a proper, ethical standards charter it adheres to for giving out World Cups’.

“Because as much as FIFA say they administer the game, they only do it with the acquiescence of the elite nations and, let’s face it, a World Cup without at least five or six of those teams just wouldn’t have the same appeal.”

Collymore insisted FIFA needed to do more to promote inclusion for all football fans, something that has not been the case in Qatar.

“So if we had a charter that stated as non-negotiable such points as, ‘We believe people should be able to hold hands in the street or in stadiums if they are gay or straight without fear of recourse’, ‘We believe alcohol should be allowed to be consumed responsibly and in certain areas of the stadiums we are operating’, then everyone, including supporters and the bidding countries, would know where they stand from the off.

“Everybody’s religion, morals and values can still be respected but, this way, we will at least get back to things being predominantly about the football and less about geopolitics and sports-washing.

“What we have seen in the past week is that FIFA’s ethics, morals and values have gone out the window because they have sold the tournament to a country which doesn’t in some regards share the same ethics, morals and values as most of the nations at the World Cup.”

CRISIS AVERTED: MESSI SAVES ARGENTINA FROM WC DISASTER

Lionel Messi helped keep Argentina’s World Cup bid alive with the first goal in a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday.

Defeat to outsiders Saudi Arabia in their opening Group G match in Qatar had left Argentina on the brink, knowing another loss would spell the end of their tournament chances.

But the Albiceleste just edged a disjointed and tetchy affair against their fellow Latin Americans at the Lusail stadium in Doha.

And who else but the mercurial Messi should be the hero, firing home a low shot from 20 yards on 64 minutes, before Enzo Fernandez added a thunderbolt second goal for Argentina three minutes from time.

Messi’s goal meant he tied fellow Argentine icon, the late Diego Maradona, on eight goals and 21 appearances at the World Cup for Argentina.

It came a day after Argentines marked the second anniversary of Maradona’s death.

The goals were two rare moments of quality in a poor and tense encounter where the occasion seemed to get to everyone, except seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

But Argentina still need to win their final group match against Poland to guarantee a place in the knockout stages.

Lionel Messi scored to keep Argentina’s World Cup bid alive. Picture: Getty Images

FIFA THREAT TO ARMBAND CRUSADERS REVEALED

The head of English football said on Friday FIFA threatened “unlimited” sanctions against players who wore the “OneLove” rainbow-themed armband for World Cup matches in Qatar.

England, Wales and five other European nations planned to wear the armband to promote diversity, but abandoned the initiative after football’s world governing body threatened them with sporting sanctions.

The armbands were widely viewed as a response to the laws in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said the FA believed FIFA were effectively threatening to ban players.

“It was unlimited. They would take disciplinary action against any player that was wearing the armband on top of having a yellow card,” he told ITV Sport.

England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland said they had written to FIFA in September informing them about the “OneLove” armband, but did not receive a response.

Harry Kane’s armband worn against Iran.

Kane wearing the ‘OneLove’ armband.

“We had a lot of meetings with FIFA over that period and on Saturday before the game we felt we’d reached an understanding where we would wear it,” added Bullingham. “We hadn’t got permission but we would face a fine for it.

“Unfortunately then, on the day of the game, they gave us 10 minutes’ notice — two hours before we were due to go to the game.

“They came here with five officials and they ran us through a scenario where, at a minimum, anyone wearing the armband would be booked and face disciplinary action on top of that.” Germany’s players covered their mouths for the team photo before their match against Japan on Tuesday in protest at FIFA’s stance and the German football federation (DFB) has said it will investigate whether the threat to sanction players for wearing the armband is legal.