Key occasions
The German Soccer Affiliation (DFB) will subsequent week launch a spherical of talks to establish the explanations for his or her second consecutive World Cup flop, after the group have been eradicated within the group stage once more on Thursday night time, Reuters reviews.
“You possibly can think about that in the present day there’s deep disappointment,” DFB President Bernd Neuendorf instructed reporters on Friday at Doha airport because the group ready to return house.
“This elimination is extraordinarily painful. However we have now to look forward and so we’ll lead a course of on learn how to cope with this.”
“The expectation is for the sporting course to have a sporting evaluation of this match and to additionally develop a prospect for after the match and the Euros on house soil,” Neuendorf stated.
“It should additionally embrace the event of the nationwide group since 2018. That is the demand and declare that we have now. Then we could have extra talks.”
The Germans suffered an analogous first-round exit on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, their earliest departure in over 80 years on the time.
“I’m a robust supporter of clear processes and count on to carry these talks with respect and in personal. We’re taking step one earlier than the second step,” Neuendorf stated. Germany qualify routinely as hosts for Euro2024.
Should you want to look at your podcast fairly than hearken to it, right here is an excerpt of yesterday’s each day version of Soccer Weekly, with some vigorous dialogue and evaluation – and quite a lot of laughs – about final night time’s stupendous motion in Group E.
Nick Ames is in Doha for the Guardian, and he previews in the present day’s conflict between Serbia and Switzerland:
4 years in the past, hostilities had been publicly stoked. But a lot of the buildup to their newest showdown has resembled a conference of the saints. It was clear on Tuesday, when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Tadic took questions at Serbia’s Al Arabi coaching base, that no one was of a thoughts to dangle bait.
“There’s little doubt it was huge stress 4 years in the past however we have to concentrate on soccer and present we will play higher than them,” Tadic stated when requested how Serbia would deal with the event this time. His teammate matched the reply nearly phrase for phrase. Neither participant anticipated feelings to run excessive: the precedence was merely to take a look at themselves.
Mitrovic struck an analogous observe, saying: “It was a distinct recreation, we’re not occupied with what occurred earlier than.”
The issue is that the broader context tends to lurk beneath the floor and undermine any well-scripted phrases. Serbia are beneath Fifa investigation for displaying a flag displaying Kosovo as a part of their nation, together with the phrases “We don’t give up”, of their dressing room earlier than their opening recreation in opposition to Brazil. That didn’t go unnoticed in Kosovo.
Learn extra right here: Nick Ames – Switzerland and Serbia really feel the burden of historical past earlier than high-stakes conflict
Tomorrow we can be within the thick of the knockout phases, and Saturday night’s fare in Qatar can be Argentina v Australia. The Socceroos have been speaking up the awe they maintain their opponents in, whereas for Argentina, it has been about avoiding complacency.
Steve Douglas at AP writes that Australia’s gamers communicate in glowing, nearly reverential phrases about Lionel Messi. “He simply does issues that, you realize, nobody else can do,” ahead Mathew Leckie stated. Milos Degenek went even additional. “In all probability,” the Socceroos defender stated, “the very best footballer ever to grace the sport.”
“I believe they’re clearly pushed by the motivation that it could possibly be Messi’s final World Cup,” Degenek stated, “and he desires to win the World Cup and finish it on a excessive. For us, it’s about stopping that. Sadly, I’m a giant fan of his, however I’d like to win the World Cup in all probability greater than him.”
“Nobody expects us to win,” Leckie stated. “So let’s shock the world.”
Argentina have already weathered the storm of their shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. “We all know, in the meanwhile, the whole lot may be very tough,” stated Messi, who’s bidding to win the World Cup in his fifth and sure final try. “All of the opponents are sophisticated. We all know it in addition to anybody.”
“We went again to being what we have been for a very long time,” Messi stated after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Poland that secured a spot within the final 16, “and the way we have been trying to be at the start of the World Cup, which for various causes we couldn’t handle. “It provides confidence for what’s coming.”
Group H: What do Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay should do to hitch Portugal within the subsequent spherical
Group H – Ghana, Portugal, South Korea, Uruguay
Last matches Friday 2 December, 3pm GMT: South Korea v Portugal, Ghana v Uruguay
Portugal have certified. A degree will assure they win the group.
Ghana: A win in opposition to Uruguay will put Ghana by. A draw can be sufficient until South Korea beat Portugal, by which case Ghana should hope South Korea pull off solely a one purpose victory, in any other case the Asian facet will pip them on purpose distinction.
South Korea: They have to beat Portugal, and hope that Ghana don’t win. If Ghana draw then their hopes rely upon their purpose distinction in comparison with Ghana. If Ghana lose, then South Korean hopes rely upon their purpose distinction in comparison with Uruguay.
Uruguay: Uruguay should win, and hope that South Korea don’t win in opposition to Portugal. If each Uruguay and South Korea win, then their relative purpose variations will resolve who qualifies. Uruguay begin with a purpose distinction one worse than South Korea, so must beat Ghana by greater than South Korea beat Portugal.
Group G: What do Cameroon, Serbia, Switzerland should do to hitch Brazil within the subsequent spherical
Group G – Brazil, Cameroon, Serbia, Switzerland
Last matches Friday 2 December, 7pm GMT: Cameroon v Brazil, Serbia v Switzerland
Except Cameroon can beat Brazil, the match between Switzerland and Serbia appears like being a straight knockout tie.
Brazil have certified and simply want some extent to ensure prime spot.
Switzerland: A win ensures Switzerland undergo. A defeat means they exit. If Switzerland draw, they’ll nonetheless progress until Cameroon have overwhelmed Brazil, by which case purpose distinction will come into play.
Cameroon: Cameroon will progress provided that they’ll beat Brazil and Switzerland don’t win. A draw between Serbia and Switzerland – or a Serbian victory – would depart second place being contested on purpose distinction between Cameroon and one of many European sides.
Serbia: Serbia will progress provided that they’ll beat Switzerland. Nevertheless, if Cameroon additionally beat Brazil, then second place can be contested on purpose distinction between Serbia and Cameroon.
Karen Carney’s newest column is up for us. She says England have a plan to take them to the ultimate however warns that high-quality Senegal are a hazard:
England haven’t misplaced of their 20 matches in opposition to African opposition, which is a powerful document. There have already been shocks within the match and the necessary factor is for England to take care of their focus. Kalidou Koulibaly scored Senegal’s winner after a free-kick was crossed into the field in opposition to Ecuador, an indication of how harmful he’s.
England can be favourites however they need to not have one eye on the quarter-final as a result of they are going to be punished. I’ve performed in tournaments the place we have been tipped to win, misplaced focus, conceded two targets from set items and have been on the following airplane house.
Senegal have misplaced some key gamers: not solely Gueye and Kouyaté but additionally Sadio Mané earlier than the World Cup started. Selfishly, as an England fan, that is excellent news as a result of they are going to be very exhausting to switch. Senegal do, although, have loads of high quality. We’ve seen at Watford how harmful Ismaïla Sarr is and he proved that by successful and scoring a penalty in opposition to Ecuador.
Learn extra right here: Karen Carney – England have a plan to take them to the ultimate however high-quality Senegal are a hazard
Over 17 million individuals tuned in to German broadcaster ARD’s protection of the World Cup match between Germany and Costa Rica on Thursday, in response to information from viewers measurement agency AGF, Reuters reviews.
The survey sadly doesn’t specify how many individuals threw their sneakers on the telly in disgust on the finish of the sport.
We can be coming to how that Japan purpose was allowed to face shortly, however late final night time it was one of many major matters of dialog within the pod with Max and the gang. Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Jonathan Fadugba and Archie Rhind-Tutt have been with Max Rushden to evaluate the fallout from a rare night time of drama. Get it in your ears.
Preamble
Properly then, Morocco and Japan topping their teams was a coupon-buster yesterday and no mistake. Will we get something comparable in the present day as our last teams, Group G and Group H, come to a climax/shuddering halt [delete as appropriate]?
The night matches see an already certified Brazil Reserves XI tackle Cameroon. Brazil want some extent to prime the group, Cameroon have to construct on their spirited comeback in opposition to Serbia with a win or they don’t seem to be going any additional. Serbia and Switzerland could possibly be tasty. The winner in all probability goes by, a draw is sufficient for the Swiss, they usually met at this stage in 2018 and it was a bad-tempered affair.
Earlier than that, South Korea want a win in opposition to already certified Portugal to face any probability of progressing. Portugal want some extent to ensure prime spot and keep away from enjoying full-strength Brazil on Monday. Uruguay and Ghana have a rematch of that contentious 2010 quarter-final, with each side understanding a win will in all probability see them progress.
Earlier than then I can be bringing you response to yesterday’s matches, phrases from the individuals paraded in entrance of the press in Qatar in the present day, and all the opposite World Cup ins and outs you want. You possibly can contact me at martin.belam@theguardain.com.