World Cup 2022 LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo greets Bruno Fernandes at Portugal camp

Jump to contentSign up to our newslettersSubscribeNewsSportsVoicesCultureLifestyleTravelPremiumSportFootballWorld CupMichael JonesTuesday 15 November 2022 07:39CommentsCloseGareth Southgate suggests England will ignore plea to avoid human-rights discussionsEngland now prepare for their first World Cup match with Iran on 21 November, but Gareth Southgate has an extra injury concern after James Maddison was substituted for Leicester at the weekend. There are still some squads to be confirmed, with Ghana, Mexico, Tunisia and Ecuador ready to finalise their 26-man squads.Other injuries to follow closely include Sadio Mane, with Senegal desperate for the Bayern Munich star to be cleared. There was drama last week with Sergio Ramos and Thiago Alcantara missing out on Spain’s World Cup squad as Luis Enrique opted for youth as La Seleccion ramp up preparations for Qatar. The 2010 winners have maintained a wealth of experience in the shape of Sergio Busquets, Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Morata.Elsewhere the Netherlands have selected an exciting squad with Xavi Simons the standout pick, with the PSV starlet causing havoc recently as the Dutch giants outplayed and beat Arsenal, while Louis Van Gaal also outlined plans for his players to meet with migrant workers in Qatar. Follow all the latest news and squad announcements from the 32 teams belowYou can get daily World Cup updates direct to your phone throughout the tournament by joining our World Cup channel.1668497903Cristiano Ronaldo’s outburst during an interview with Piers Morgan threatens to destabilise the Portugal camp ahead of the World Cup.After Ronaldo’s complaints about Erik ten Hag and the club in general, having failed to appear in the final two matches before the mid-season break, footage has emerged of him meeting Bruno Fernandes at the Selecao’s training base.An awkward moment can be seen between the Manchester United colleagues, as Fernandes ignores Ronaldo initially and then quickly departs after a brief interaction.Jack Rathborn15 November 2022 07:381668456009Qatar has been the subject of criticism due to the country’s treatment of migrant workers and discriminative LGBTQ+ laws.But after Manchester United’s late win at Fulham on Sunday, which was the final Premier League fixture to be played before the start of the World Cup on December 20, Fernandes spoke critically of Qatar and became one of the first leading players competing at the tournament to do so.Fernandes spoke out following the final Premier League match before the start of the tournament Michael Jones14 November 2022 20:001668455109James Maddison has handed England an immediate injury concern after going off with an apparent hamstring issue just two days after being named in the World Cup 2022 squad.The Leicester City man was one of the most-debated potential inclusions due to some exceptional form at club level and the fact he has rarely been selected by Gareth Southgate previously.Ultimately his 2022/23 form has proven too impressive to ignore and the 25-year-old was named in the Three Lions’ final 26 – before departing early on the final Premier League weekend.Maddison scored early on in the game to put the Foxes ahead at West Ham United, hammering a left-footed shot into the roof of the net for his seventh league strike of the campaign. However, he had to be replaced on 25 minutes shortly after a challenge. The midfielder headed straight down the tunnel to receive treatment and appeared to be holding the back of his thigh.The Leicester attacking midfielder had put his side ahead in the game a few minutes earlier Michael Jones14 November 2022 19:451668454209Ronaldo said that head coach Erik ten Hag and others want him out of Old Trafford during a 90-minute interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, which will be broadcast this week on TalkTV.When asked if United’s hierarchy were trying to force him out of the club, Ronaldo said: ‘Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.’Ronaldo has claimed head coach Erik ten Hag and others want him out of Old TraffordMichael Jones14 November 2022 19:301668453309In excerpts of a 90-minute interview with Piers Morgan published on Sunday night, following Manchester United’s last game for six weeks, Ronaldo claimed Ten Hag tried to force him to leave this summer and hit out at the club’s lack of progress since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.Ronaldo was subject of speculation over whether he would be leaving Old Trafford during the most recent transfer window after missing United’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia because of personal reasons.Ronaldo told Piers Morgan that he has ‘no respect’ for manager Erik ten HagMichael Jones14 November 2022 19:151668452409Sarina Wiegman wished the England men’s team all the best as they prepare to head to Qatar for the World Cup.Gareth Southgate’s side play their first match on November 21 against Iran, before further group games against the United States and Wales as they look to build on a memorable showing from four years ago when they reached the semi-finals.The Three Lions also reached the final of Euro 2020 last year, losing on penalties to Italy, and despite a poor run of results heading into this winter’s World Cup they are still among the tournament favourites.Wiegman knows what it takes to go all the way in a global competition, having guided the Lionesses to victory at Euro 2022 and also previously tasting success with the Netherlands, and she has been in touch with her England counterpart.Wiegman led the Lionesses to glory at Euro 2022 this summerMichael Jones14 November 2022 19:001668451509The World Cup is here with 32 teams arriving in Qatar eyeing up glory.This feels like a wide-open tournament with the climate still a factor despite shifting the dates to the cooler winter temperatures in the region, with games set to be played in over 20 degrees.The frantic build-up and alien schedule for international players looking to peak at the mid-way point of the season is also likely to become a wildcard.Those sides with extra depth, not to mention an ability to harness up to five substitutions in regular time with a sixth change in extra-time, could thrive into the second week and beyond in Qatar.Here we take a look at the odds and best bets to make on the winner, golden ball and golden boot:The Qatar World Cup is almost here with the tournament and race to win the golden boot wide openMichael Jones14 November 2022 18:451668450609Gareth Southgate has told Fifa ‘I’ll choose if I’m going to speak or not’, as he declared it ‘unlikely’ that anyone at the World Cup would follow the governing body’s advice to stick to football.In a letter leaked online last week, Fifa wrote to the 32 World Cup nations pleading with them to focus on the game rather than human rights issues in Qatar.The Independent has been told that the letter was greeted with derision by national bodies, given that the very selection of Qatar as a host has led to them constantly having to field difficult questions on non-football issues.Fifa have been criticised for urging teams to avoid ‘being dragged into every ideological or political battle’ ahead of the Qatar World Cup Michael Jones14 November 2022 18:301668449709It is safe to say no World Cup has generated as much debate and controversy before a ball is kicked as the finals in Qatar, which will at last get under way this month after a build-up of almost 12 years.This was a tournament ‘awarded in an unacceptable way, with unacceptable consequences’, Norway’s Football Association president Lise Klaveness told Fifa’s Congress in Doha earlier this year.’Human rights, equality, democracy, the core interests of football, were not in the starting XI,’ she added.There were immediate calls for a rerun of the vote, and even talk of boycotts, when Fifa’s executive committee awarded the tournament to Qatar in December 2010, ignoring warnings even from Fifa’s own bid evaluation report of the ‘potential health risk’ of playing the tournament in searing desert heat in June and July.Qatar was the surprise choice to host the finals back in 2010 Michael Jones14 November 2022 18:151668448809For Omar Larrosa, an Argentine forward who got on the pitch in the 1978 World Cup final, a complicated question has a simple response. He is asked whether his winner’s medal is sullied by how the country’s brutal ruling junta exploited that victory. He is, however, one of the few to discuss it.’Nobody knew anything,’ Larrosa tells The Independent. ‘We played for the people, for the Argentine shirt.’If the World Cup is authorised by Fifa, with all the federations playing, I had to do my work. My work is football. It’s like a doctor or journalist. You do your work. Fifa ordered this World Cup, so we played.’It was what I dedicated my life to. It was the best, because I was in the middle of the pitch, hearing the entire public support us, so many blue and white flags. The best, the best that football gave me, to be champion, and lift the trophy.’Larrosa nevertheless concedes that isn’t a universal view among Argentina’s 1978 squad. Many still refuse to talk about it. Some reject it.Historical parallels of exploitation, propaganda and moral compromise are clear ahead of Qatar, writes Miguel Delaney Michael Jones14 November 2022 18:00Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inRegistration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in