The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

World Cup Daily: Germany gesture split squad, Pommy predictions blow up in their faces, Mexico & Belgium coaches binned after exits

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
2nd December, 2022
1

Four more team are packing their bags and catching the next flight home out of Qatar, with Germany and Belgium the biggest fallers. Here’s all the latest news from the FIFA World Cup.

Germany gesture split squad, say sources

The now infamous ‘gagged’ gesture that Germany displayed in their team photo before their defeat to Japan split the squad – at least, according to TV presenter Esther Sedlaczek, based on sources within the camp.

She was interviewing German chef-de-mission Oliver Bierhoff live on ARD, the German equivalent of SBS, directly after the team were knocked out of the tournament despite winning 4-2 against Costa Rica, when she revealed that her information suggested that not everybody was on board with the gesture.

“Would you say that the One-Love armband could have been handled better?” she asked. “The fact is, according to our sources, not every player was OK with the gesture before the Japan game and that they worried that it would cause issues in the team.”

Bierhoff replied that he would have to be discussed within the group in the debrief, but that it had not affected the on-field results.

“Do you really think that, after three games have passed, that the armband played a big role? Things didn’t go well – no doubt. But, in a sporting analysis, it (the armband) has no relevance.”

She continued, pressing Bierhoff on whether it had caused undue pressure on the players ahead of crucial fixtures, with the former national team striker replying that he could “only agree” that it has added to the weight on the team.

Advertisement

“We know ourselves that the situation didn’t go as we wanted. But to say it was, in the end, decisive after three games is another thing entirely.”

Other outlets, understandably British, did not find Germany departing the World Cup quite as morose. Alan Shearer, the legendary England striker, took to Twitter to have a laugh at the nation’s long-term rivals’ expense, while literally thousands of others wondered if the German language had a word for taking delight in the misfortune of others.

Pommy predictions blow up in their faces

Some of England’s biggest football pundits have been left with egg on their faces after Asian teams overperformed their lowly expectations to qualify for the second round of the World Cup.

Many had written off the AFC confederation – including Australia and Japan – with some spectacular fails being brought to light after both the Socceroos and Samurai Blue got through their groups with South Korea still to play.

“Nah, I’m going to go for Tunisia,” he said when doing his predictions for British paper The Daily Telegraph in Australia’s group, in which he completely ignore the Socceroos.

Advertisement

“Denmark are one of the top teams in this tournament, they beat France recently. I’m going to go for Denmark to finish top and France to finish second..

He had all the AFC teams bottom of their groups, including the Japanese, who he didn’t mention at all. Indeed, the only Asian side that he didn’t predict to finish bottom was Qatar – one of the two who actually did.

Brisbane Roar striker Charlie Austin is also licking his wounds after dialling into British radio to talk down the Socceroos.

“Are they any good?” asked the host in a pre-tournament interview. “No,” was the blunt answer from Austin, to much mirth.

“I’ve got a gentleman’s agreement with the kitman that they won’t get a point in the World Cup!” I don’t think they’ll get a point.”

Martino and Martinez out as Mexico and Belgium draw line under 2022

Gerardo Martino has paid the price for Mexico’s underwhelming performance in Qatar with the coach being relieved of his duties after his side failed to qualify for the knockout stage, despite yesterday’s victory over Saudi Arabia.

Advertisement

After a night of high drama it was Poland who claimed second place in Group C on goal difference in spite of their loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina side.

Mexico are going home at the group stage for the first time in 32 years. The now-ended streak was the second-best of all sides, only behind 2022 title favourites Brazil.

“I am the first responsible for this terrible disappointment and frustration that we have,” Martino told reporters.

“As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness, I fully assume responsibility for this great failure. My contract ended as soon as the referee blew the final whistle and there is nothing more to be done.”

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez also fell on his sword after Belgium missed a hatful of chances and departed the tournament, drawing 0-0 with Croatia.

“That was my last game as national coach today,” he said after the game. “Of course it’s very emotional. You can imagine that I had many offers after finishing third in 2018, but I wanted to be loyal and fulfil my contract. Now our journey is over.”

Suarez not in the mood to apologise for 2010 handball

Advertisement

Who could forget Luis Suarez’s infamous handball against at the 2010 World Cup against Ghana? With the quarter-final all square at 1-1 deep into stoppage time, the Uruguayan stopped a goal-bound shot with his arm and was deservedly given his marching orders.

And we all know what happened next: Asamoah Gyan stepped up to the spot, missed his penalty kick and the Uruguayans went on to progress to the final four in the penalty shootout.

Fast forward 12 years and Suarez is not planning to say sorry to anyone for the play.

“I don’t apologise for it,” Suarez said.

“I apologise if I injure a player but I took a red card for the handball. It wasn’t my fault, because I didn’t miss the penalty.”

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

To their credit the Ghanians are happy to turn the page and forget the unfortunate way they were bundled out of South Africa.

Advertisement

“Everyone felt bad [in 2010] but for me I just want to get to the next stage,” said Ghana captain Andre Ayew.

“Revenge or not, we would go with the same determination and desire to win.”

Uruguay face off against Ghana tomorrow (2am AEDT) with Ghana likely only needing a draw, while Uruguay must claim the three points to be any chance of progressing to the knockout stage.

Rice drops West Ham exit hint, says he doesn’t want any regrets

England star Declan Rice isn’t just controlling the midfield for the Three Lions in Qatar – he’s been doing it for West Ham in the world’s best league for years now.

Speculation over the 23-year-old’s future is never far from the headlines, and Rice has candidly revealed he may not be long for the London Olympic Stadium as the allure of winning trophies and Champions League football prove hard to turn away.

“For the last two, three years, I’ve been saying that (I want to play in the biggest games),”Rice said.

Advertisement

“I’ve been playing consistently well for club, and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.

“I see my friends here who play in the Champions League, winning the big trophies. You only get one career and at the end of your career you want to look at what you’ve won and at the biggest games you’ve played in. I’m really ambitious and I really want to do that.”

The midfielder’s current West Ham contract runs until the end of the 2023-24 season, with a further one-year option in the club’s favour. In May, he rejected an eight-year deal offered by the London side.

Rough valuations put Rice’s potential transfer fee in the region of £150 million with EPL heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea previously showing interest in his services.

After an unbeaten group stage performance, Rice’s England are through to the round of 16 in Qatar where they will take on Senegal for a place in the quarter-finals.

close