World Cup 2022: All the latest news from Qatar
Colonel-approved beer, chicken delivered to your table and football on the big screen — KFC is doing the World Cup in its own unique style by launching a pub.
KFC is set to launch its own bar — The Colonel’s Arms — to celebrate the Qatar World Cup.
The bar, in Hammersmith, England, has been promoted as offering “football, pints and free chicken”.
But football fans will need to get in quick to be part of the unique experience, which is only expected to be open from November 25-December 1.
Reports in the UK suggest the pub will serve “Colonel-approved beer” and patrons will be encouraged to ring a KFC delivery bell to have chicken delivered to their table with free gravy.
Tickets have been on sale since November 10.
KFC is also selling Colonel’s Arms merchandise online.
Chicken’s coming home! âš½ï¸ðŸ—
— KFC UK (@KFC_UKI) November 10, 2022
Book your table now at The Colonel's Arms Pub for football, pints and free chicken from #KFCDelivery: https://t.co/kRVhu1zL4R
We’re also giving away 3 pairs of tickets for opening night. Retweet for a chance to win! T&Cs: https://t.co/5CTpNuUxmlpic.twitter.com/TZGpwRvFYH
TEAM ESCORTED TO QATAR BY FIGHTER JETS
Alex Cole, The Sun
Poland’s national team were escorted by F-16 fighter jets as they headed to Qatar for the World Cup.
On Thursday, two army aircraft flanked superstar Robert Lewandowski and his teammates, who are looking to guide Poland to the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.
The reason for the top-class escort was the death of two Polish citizens on a farm four miles from the Ukrainian border on Tuesday.
An emergency Nato meeting followed the passing of the two farmers.
But Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that a Ukrainian air defence missile had most likely caused the “unfortunate accident”.
NATO’s secretary general also hinted that there was no indication of a deliberate attack from Russia.
But that didn’t stop the impressive defensive escort to the Polish border on route to the Middle East.
The Twitter account for the national team posted: “We were escorted to the southern border of Poland by F16 planes!
“Thank you and greetings to the pilots!”
The Poles finished comfortably behind England in qualifying but then received a bye in their play-off semi-final, ironically due to Russia being disqualified following the invasion of Ukraine.
That left them with just a home tie against Sweden to make it to the World Cup, and they duly triumphed 2-0 over Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co.
They take on Mexico on Tuesday in their first Group C clash.
Saudi Arabia lie in wait after that on Saturday, November 26.
Then things get really tricky as Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team takes on tournament favourites Argentina.
Poland's national team, on its way to the World Cup in Qatar, was escorted to the southern border by two F16 fighter jets.pic.twitter.com/1hGakfsZcd
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 17, 2022
MESSI AND CO OPT FOR UNI DIGS OVER WORLD CUP LUXURY
Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates have shunned the five-star hotel treatment for student accommodation at the World Cup.
And the reason why? So they can host barbecues.
Argentina’s squad arrived in Doha during the early hours of Thursday morning, but rather than head for some of the slicker accommodation options they have headed to Qatar University to stay in the student halls there.
It’s not to say any of the Argentine team need further education - particularly in football given their Copa America triumph last year.
Instead, the decision was taken by Argentine officials in order to allow them to have asados, which is one of the country’s traditional culinary dishes.
A source from the Argentine FA told the Mail: “We visited the campus several times and chose it because not only does it have great facilities but it also has open-air space for asados.
“This is very important to the players and Argentines in general, it’s part of our culture.
“We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar and the best way to do this is to make sure that they get a taste of home while focusing on the football.”
A custom-built barbecue has already been installed to allow the team to enjoy asados, which is typically barbecued meat coated lightly with coarse salt and then paired with a salad and wine.
While they will likely be told to not overindulge in the latter, the main dish of meat has been brought along for the ride along with a specialist asado chef.
The accommodation itself houses start-of-the-art sporting facilities including an Olympic size swimming pool and a 10,000-capacity stadium.
The 90-room campus located on the edge of Doha is considered to be one of the leading Universities in the region.
Messi has already confirmed that Qatar will be his final World Cup.
RONALDO ‘PROVOKED’ BY MANAGER IN LATEST ROW
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he was “provoked” by a lack of respect from Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag when refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month.
Ronaldo has been a peripheral figure on the field during Ten Hag’s first season in charge.
In the final instalment of an interview with TalkTV, Ronaldo responded to criticism after he refused to come on and left Old Trafford early during United’s 2-0 win on October 19.
“I think he did it on purpose,” said Ronaldo.
“I felt provoked. I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me.”
The club responded by suspending the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for the Red Devils’ next match against Chelsea.
“I think it was a strategy from the club for me to react that way,” he added.
“I was very, very, very, very disappointed for the communication of Manchester United.
“To be honest, I never had a problem with any club, with any coach and they suspend me three days, which I felt was a lot.”
In a statement on Monday, United said they would consider the club’s response to the interview once the full facts are established.
Former United captain Gary Neville said on Thursday that they now have no option but to rescind Ronaldo’s contract, which runs until the end of the season.
The 37-year-old was reportedly keen to leave the club even before the campaign began after United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Ronaldo said he turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia worth 350 million euros ($364 million) over two seasons and dismissed claims there was a lack of interest from other European clubs.
“The garbage press say that nobody wanted me, which is completely wrong. I was happy here, I was motivated to do a great season here,” he said on staying at United
“But they continue to repeat: ‘nobody wanted Cristiano’. How are they going to not want a player who last season scored 32 goals including (for the) national team.”
Ronaldo revealed he hopes to keep playing until he is 40, but is looking forward to his fifth, and most likely final, World Cup in Qatar.
The tournament has been shrouded in controversy over human rights violations in the Gulf state and corruption claims in the bidding process.
But Ronaldo said the “focus” should be on the football for a first ever World Cup in November and December.
“We should focus only in football. The competition for people to enjoy,” he added.
“I see a good tournament to be honest. Qatar, they are prepared. It will be weird to play in the beginning of the season, but also a challenge.”
$670 COFFEE POT, $8000 JERSEY: WORLD CUP MERCH GONE WILD
Whatever you think of it, this year’s World Cup in Qatar is going to go down in the history books as one of the sport’s most memorable events – but if you want a memento to remember it, you’re going to have to dig deep.
The tournament’s official merchandise has gone on sale in Doha, and fans are about to experience that it can be a costly exercise to follow football’s showpiece event.
And what would you expect? Qatar is the richest country in the world, and if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
There are many outlets offering official World Cup merchandise – including the glamorous Galeries Lafayette, where you can purchase a signed Manchester United jersey from Qatar World Cup ambassador David Beckham.
But only if you’re willing to part with 20,320 Qatari rials — or $A8300.
Beckham’s jersey sits in a glass casing alongside those of Brazilian legend Pele, Norway’s Erling Haaland and PSG and Argentina great Lionel Messi.
You can also get your hands on a signed boot from Messi, complete with an official certificate of authenticity, for nearly half the price of Beckham’s jersey – a modest $4320 is all it will take.
One of the most prized items in the official catalogue is a black and gold commemorative plate, complete with an intricate middle eastern design and emblazoned with the World Cup logo.
But at $2550, this plate is very much not for eating your dinner off of – it would have to go straight to the pool room.
One of the more striking objects would be the $670 coffee set – featuring a dallah (coffee pot), which is used to brew gawha (Arabic coffee) along with six cups.
Not every item will cost you an arm and a leg, of course. You can walk away with an official World Cup bookmark – the cheapest item on offer — for a mere 14 rials ($5.70), unless a set of four coasters, for just under $30, is more your style.
If it’s a jersey you’re after, you can stump up for $177 – which mirrors the global market – but tracking down a Socceroos jersey may prove beyond even the keenest Australian.
As their jerseys are made by Nike, they can’t have their products at the official merchandise stands – where World Cup partner adidas runs the show.
And for the more budget-conscious fan, local supermarket Al Meera offers plenty of bargains: while they don’t have authentic or replica jerseys, they have t-shirt print jerseys from 169 rials ($69), t-shirts ($32) and even a World Cup-branded hooded jumper for $67.
Though with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s by 9am in the middle of winter, it’s hard to see the last offering being a bestseller.
HAMMERBLOW FOR SENEGAL AS MANE OUT OF WORLD CUP
Senegal star Sadio Mane has lost his race to be fit for the 2022 World Cup and has been withdrawn from their squad, the country’s football federation announced.
Mane was voted second in the Ballon d’Or last month behind Karim Benzema and the 30-year-old Bayern Munich forward will be sorely missed by the African champions.
The emblematic Mane scored the winning penalty in a shootout victory against Egypt in the African Cup of Nations final and repeated the feat against the same opponents to qualify the Lions of Teranga for the World Cup.
Mane picked up his shin injury playing for Bayern earlier this month but was named in the World Cup squad in the hope he could regain fitness.
But Senegal said the former Liverpool star would not make it. “Unfortunately, today’s (Thursday) MRI shows us that the improvement is not as favorable as we imagined and unfortunately we have to withdraw Sadio from the World Cup,” said team doctor, Manuel Afonso in a video on the official Senegal Twitter account.
Senegal had hoped their talisman would be fit in time for their opening game on November 21 against the Netherlands.
They will also take on hosts Qatar and Ecuador in Group A.
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