FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia beat Morocco 2-1, David Beckham breaks silence on Qatar ambassador role
David Beckham has broken his silence on his controversial multi-million dollar ambassador role with Qatar, saying he believes ‘sport can be a force for good in the world”.
David Beckham has made his first public statement on his controversial multi-million-dollar ambassador’s role with World Cup hosts Qatar, telling the New York Times he believed “sport has the power to be a force for good in the world”.
In an article on Friday entitled “The World Cup’s Missing Mouthpiece”, the US newspaper alleged Qatar had been disappointed with its return on its investment because the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player had appeared very little in public during the World Cup.
The paper claimed Beckham had placed strict conditions on his appearances and that he appeared to be shielded from questions on issues such as Qatar’s laws on homosexuality.
In response to the article, his publicist issued a statement saying: “David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and an ambassador and he has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world.
“We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region,” the statement continued.
“We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy toward all people and that progress will be achieved.” Initial reports last year indicated that 47-year-old Beckham was being paid $180 million over 10 years to promote Qatar, but more recent reports indicate he will receive around $15 million a year for three years with an option to extend.
Beckham, who played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals for England, is one of the owners of Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.
SOUTHGATE TO REMAIN ENGLAND MANAGER
Gareth Southgate will stay on as England manager and target the Euro 2024 title, despite the misery of his team’s World Cup quarter-final exit, British media reported Saturday.
The 52-year-old said after last weekend’s defeat to defending champions France in Qatar that he required breathing space to take stock after six years in the job.
England have not won a major trophy since their World Cup victory in 1966 but under Southgate they reached the semi-finals of the 2018 tournament and the final of last year’s European Championship.
On Saturday, the Daily Telegraph said he is “convinced” he should stay on as national team manager and will inform the Football Association of his wish to see out his contract before Christmas.
His current deal runs until December 2024.
The Daily Mail said Saturday that Southgate “will confirm his decision to the FA in the coming days to bring an end to speculation over his future”.
England’s latest bid to win a second World Cup ended in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to defending champions France, who went on to reach the final.
Captain Harry Kane blazed over from the penalty spot when handed a chance to equalise late in the game, having earlier scored from the spot.
“The energy that it takes through these tournaments is enormous so I want to make the right decision, whenever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA,” Southgate said in the aftermath of defeat.
“And I’ve got to be sure that whatever decision I make is the right one and I think it’s right to take a bit of time to do that because I know in the past how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments.”
MOROCCO BACK AFRICA FOR WORLD CUP GLORY
Morocco coach Walid Regragui said he believes an African team will win the World Cup in the next “15 to 20 years” after his team finished fourth in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions, who became the first African World Cup semi-finalists in history, lost Saturday’s third place playoff 2-1 against 2018 runners-up Croatia but captured the imagination in Qatar.
The next World Cup in 2026, held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, will be expanded to 48 teams and Africa will have at least nine slots - up from five at present.
“With nine participants, we’re going to learn. In 15, 20 years, I’m sure an African team will win the World Cup because we’ll have learned,” said Regragui.
“We have a stage to get past. We need to build on that, with hard work and desire. This DNA is not just being built for Morocco, but for the continent.” Morocco finished top of a group including Croatia and Belgium, who came third at the 2018 World Cup, before knocking out Spain and Portugal to reach the last four.
Their run was ended in the semi-finals by defending champions France, but Regragui has urged his players to back up their historic display by winning next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“I said to the players in the changing room, if you want to go down in history then you’re going to have to win the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Regragui.
“We need to dominate our continent.” Morocco have been crowned African champions just once, in 1976, but their performances at the World Cup demonstrated they are a team on the rise under Regragui, who was only appointed in August.
“Tomorrow morning we’ll take stock and all realise we’ve pulled off a fantastic achievement here. We’ve earned a great deal of experience in a short space of time,” said Regragui.
“We’ve gone further than expected but it’s not enough. It needs to set an example for the future. I hope that everybody (in Africa) will learn from the experience.
“We’ve got a great future ahead of us and we’ll keep moving forward. “Of course we have the objective of winning the World Cup one day. There’s going to be more pressure on us going forward and hopefully there will be more African teams following our example.
“We’ve shown we can go toe to toe with top teams. Really very small details determine these games.”
‘LIKE GOLD TO US’: CROATIA CLAIMS BRONZE MEDAL WIN OVER MOROCCO
Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the World Cup third place playoff on Saturday, with Mislav Orsic curling home the winner.
Josko Gvardiol, one of the stars of the tournament in Qatar, headed Croatia into the lead in the seventh minute at the Khalifa International Stadium but Achraf Dari brought Morocco level right away.
Orsic’s terrific curling strike late in the first half ensured Croatia took home the bronze medal, the 11th World Cup in a row a European team has finished third.
“It’s a bronze medal but for us it’s like a gold medal,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said.
Walid Regragui, the Morocco coach, said there was a lot for his team to proudly reflect on after they became the first African semi-finalists in World Cup history.
“It’s a bitter defeat but I think it’s deserved,” said Regragui. “We have a team that never gave in. We’ll remember a lot of matches, we’re going to come back stronger. We’ve united our country for a month, everybody was happy.” Morocco, who had never gone beyond the last 16 before this World Cup, had signalled their intent with a spirited display against 2018 runners-up Croatia in their opening game in Qatar.
The rematch was nothing like the cagey 0-0 draw in the group stage, with Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou dangerously close to passing the ball into his own net early on.
Croatia soon surged in front from a well-rehearsed free-kick as Ivan Perisic nodded Lovro Majer’s clip into the box back towards a diving Gvardiol, who planted his header into the corner.
But Morocco hit back two minutes later when Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick looped up off the head of Majer, allowing Dari to head past Dominik Livakovic.
Andrej Kramaric headed straight at Bounou, who then did well to scoop the ball to safety as Marko Livaja closed in after he spilt a drive from Luka Modric.
Orsic curled in brilliantly via the post from the corner of the box to put Croatia back on top before halftime after 18-year-old Morocco debutant Bilal El Khannouss lost the ball deep in his half.
Orsic again went close moments after the restart, his goalbound effort brushing Jawad El Yamiq and fizzing narrowly past the post.
Croatia were furious when Gvardiol tumbled inside the area when his foot appeared to be caught by Sofyan Amrabat, but there was no VAR review.
It could have proved a match-changing moment had Youssef En-Nesyri found a way past Livakovic, who spread himself superbly to block the striker from close range.
Mateo Kovacic put wide with the chance to put the game beyond doubt. Morocco had a late penalty appeal turned down and En-Nesyri headed just over but the Atlas Lions could not find a way back after their historic run.
‘IDIOT’S POSITION’: MOROCCO COACH SLAMS THIRD-PLACE FIXTURE
On Saturday, a Morocco side whose history-making run to the semi-finals caught the world’s imagination have a chance to win the bronze medal.
They will face Croatia, the beaten finalists in 2018 who exceeded expectations in Qatar to reach the semi-finals only to be abruptly halted by an inspired Messi and his protégé Julian Alvarez.
Walid Regragui, the coach of Morocco, the first African or Arab side ever to reach the last four of the World Cup, said the third-place playoff “annoys me a little”.
“It’s always very difficult for the two teams after such a big disappointment as losing a semi-final, to play another match two days later,” Regragui said in a press conference.
“As far as I’m concerned, you are in the idiot’s position if you are third or fourth.”
However, Croatia forward Andrej Kramaric said his teammates’ motivation would be high because winning a medal would “make you a hero for all time” in the country of 3.9 million people.
Sunday’s final at the 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium will bring one of the most controversial World Cups in history to a close.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino shrugged off criticism of the event, describing it as the “best World Cup ever”.
“The World Cup has been an incredible success on all fronts,” Infantino said in a press conference on Friday.
“The main one being the fans, the behaviour, the joyful atmosphere, the bringing of people together. The fans meeting the Arab world, it has been very important for the future of all of us.”
Infantino said the tournament had exceeded revenue predictions in the four years leading to 2022, rising to a record $7.5 billion – $1 billion more than the previous four-year period leading to the 2018 World Cup.
He said FIFA expected revenues to increase to $11 billion in the years leading to the 2026 tournament, which will expand from 32 to 48 teams. That tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We are convinced the impact of the game will be massive,” Infantino said. “It has been massive here and it will be incredible in North America.”
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