With Qatar 2022, the World Cup is set to take place in one of its most exclusive versions. Het Nieuwsblad sends four football editors to the Middle East who, with the help of our office, follow the path of the Red Devils and other World Cup participants 24/7. Follow it all live here!
Football Editors
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* Openda, no Origi: These are the 26 Belgians to go to Qatar (Read more here)* Infection fears in the highest countries, these choices are already known (Read more here)
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“One thing is for sure: Sadio Mane will be on the list of selected players tomorrow.” A source in the Senegalese Football Association said, on Thursday, when asked about the Senegal star’s participation in the World Cup in Qatar, despite his injury to the shrapnel.
The striker pulled out on Tuesday in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 league win over Werder Bremen. “Mane remains a zen, he’s a professional and he knows injuries are part of it,” the same source added.
Senegalese national team doctor Manuel Afonso will head to Munich on Thursday afternoon to examine the player. The coach of the national team, Aliou Cisse, will announce this Friday morning the list of his players to participate in the World Cup in Qatar. Senegal, the African champion, is one of the world’s outsiders.
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England coach Gareth Southgate did not include any surprising names in his selection for the World Cup on Thursday. Suspicious Kyle Walker and Calvin Phillips (both Manchester City) are there. Right-back Walker has been sidelined with a thigh injury since the beginning of October, and midfielder Phillips has not played since mid-September due to a shoulder injury. However, both players will be fit for Qatar.
On Wednesday, Reece James (Chelsea) himself announced that he would not be ready for the World Cup. He has knee problems. Partly due to his absence, Trent Alexander-Arnold is there. The Liverpool right-back has struggled with an erratic curve in recent months. Left-back Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) missed a hamstring injury. James Madison (Leicester City) and Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) are their first call-ups in three years. They preferred Tammy Abraham (Roma), Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) and James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
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The failure to pick AA Gent defender Michael Ngadio (51 caps) in Cameroon has sparked outrage and the player’s agent suggests that national coach Rigobert Song is a puppet of national team president Samuel Eto’o. This accusation is only reinforced by a video of the World Cup squad announcement. After all, Song can’t pronounce the name of the player who takes him to the World Cup…
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A big surprise in the selection of Cameroon for the World Cup: Michael Ngédio did not enter the list of 26 names. However, the AA Gent defender who has played 53 caps is one of the most experienced internationals, and is a key pawn in the team that finished third in the African Cup at the start of this year. According to insiders, the decision was made by the president of the Cameroonian Football Association, former star Samuel Eto’o. This is also what Negdio’s player agent, Pedro David Jimenez said. “National coach Rigobert Song and his crew are Eto’o’s puppets.”
Read more via the link below.
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RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol broke his nose yesterday in the match against Freiburg. Although he “looked like a boxer after 12 rounds against a strong opponent”, according to his coach Marco Rose, he will be able to participate in the World Cup.
“Although it is an unpleasant blow, there is no need to worry in light of the World Cup,” Dr. Sasa Jankovic said on the Croatian Football Federation’s website. “The injury won’t keep him off the field for long, and he will be able to train with a special mask.”
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The fall of Bilal Al Khanus would be amazing. The Genk player has yet to make his debut with Morocco, but he is part of the final selection for the World Cup. In Qatar he can make his first minutes with the national team.
Read more via the link below.
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Our Football Team President Ludo Vandewalle: “This is a choice that cannot be faulted. With or without Dries Mertens, it will not determine whether we become world champions” -
He’s not quite fit yet, but if he was, Levin Mischalk played a major role in it. We visited his clinic and spoke to the team members behind miracle man.
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Honorable, motivated and proud: this is Toby Alderweireld for his World Cup selection. In a tweet, the defender hints at a farewell to the Red Devils after the tournament. “Today my dream came true for the last time,” it says on Twitter.
Read more via the link below.
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The next press conference for the Red Devils is scheduled to be held on Monday at 3.45 pm, in the period leading up to the training match against Egypt.
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Martinez: “Players in standby mode will receive personalized instructions, depending on their position. They can be called up until November 22. We are also taking weekend matches into account.”
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With Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), this selection boasts no less than five active players in their country. This is the highest number since the 2002 World Cup.
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Martinez: “It will be a unique opportunity for Aden to show what he can do. You have to take into account three things: experience, dedication and talent. Those three things are not a problem. We have to work on his fitness now.”
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Martinez: “Dybast is eighteen years old. He hasn’t played 50 matches yet. But I admire his performance in difficult circumstances. He always reacted with maturity. I’m not excited about his future but his present.”
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Martinez: “About Lukaku: We have a clear plan with him. The last few days have been positive for him. At the moment we have a feeling that he will also be able to play a role in the group stage. But it is difficult to get there already. Expectations again. There is the group stage. “We can prepare for that. Then the new World Cup begins. At the moment we feel Lukaku can prepare for this second part. He will be able to make an impact. We have Witsel an experienced medical who also had a serious injury, Kompany in 2018 and we also prepared for the third match. So it’s not a special treatment.” For Lukaku. It’s a natural way of working. Lukaku is an important player.”
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Martinez: “When you talk about Dooku, you have to laugh. He brings magic into the match. He didn’t play much, but we think we have an important role ready for him. There is a lot of faith in his qualities. He recently played our promises and then hit all the standards we wanted to see” .
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Martinez: “We are succeeding Dinar in Dubai. But he had an injury as a last resort. That’s why he’s ready. He can fill the three positions at the back.”
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Martinez: “It was not difficult for me to play Mertens and de Kettler. Mertens brings a lot of experience. We have worked together for a long time. Mertens is also someone who encourages others. He has been with his new club for six months and has already played more than the last two years in Napoli. De Kitleari has started better than expected. Now he has to fight for his place. But he will benefit from the World Cup experience for the first time. This will please him. As he can play between the lines, he will help us.”
Our Football Team President Ludo Vandewalle: “This is a choice that cannot be faulted. With or without Dries Mertens, it will not determine whether we become world champions”
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