International Football
All eyes zero in on Qatar as football spectacle begins to take shape
On Monday, the countdown begins. For five weeks, English Premier League and La Liga kits will be stashed aside as club allegiances take a back seat.
Instead of the Gunners, Blaugrana, or Nerazzurri, nicknames of teams like Die Mannschaft, Selecao and La Roja will roll off tongues as national pride comes to the fore.
Until Dec 18, only the flag on their chest will matter to the more than 800 players from 32 teams who will begin to trickle into Qatar for the World Cup.
It is an unfamiliar, unusual and uncomfortable scenario as they shift their attention away from their employers midway through the established club football calendar. This is the case for supporters, too.
Timing aside, the host nation has come in for criticism over a number of issues ranging from human rights to its stance on homosexuality and consumption of alcohol.
Qatar pledged labour reforms and since 2016, has improved salaries and living conditions for migrant workers, among other revamps.
Change, though, takes time and as it continues to take place, teams and players will no doubt make their opinions heard over the next few weeks.
Through it all, the World Cup remains special for what it is at its essence: a football spectacle.
Every fan can recall their first tournament experience. Mine is watching Roberto Baggio sky his penalty against Brazil in 1994 on television as I was getting ready for school that morning.
The World Cup creates moments you live with forever
It mesmerises and bewitches. Stirs and stimulates. It can even pit brother against brother.
Nico and Inaki Williams, for example, play for the same club, Athletic Bilbao, in Spain where they were born.
In Qatar, though, 20-year-old Nico has been selected to play for the Spaniards, while big brother Inaki, 28, will represent Ghana, where their parents were born.
Depending on how the teams fare in the group stage, the brothers could meet in the quarter-finals. If they do, it will be all “business”, even if their mother Maria has a “divided heart”, Inaki told ESPN last month.
The World Cup can kindle a wide array of emotions, and also stokes fandom and worship even in nations that have never kicked a ball on its stage.
In India, fans from the small village of Pullavoor in Kerala erected towering cut-outs of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar in the Kurungattu Kadavu river. It is a level of devotion not many can comprehend.
An Instagram account of Argentina fans based in Kerala has 183,000 followers. In comparison, Ghana’s official football federation has 123,000.
Dhiman Sarkar, a football journalist with the Hindustan Times, explains that the love for Brazil’s football team in India stems from their reputation as entertainers and for being “possibly everyone’s second favourite team”.
“The support for Argentina,” he adds, “is because of Maradona and 1986. (That) was also the first time all games were televised live in India. And how could anyone not fall for him!”
If that was what matches on TV 36 years ago could do, imagine what emotions the World Cup will rouse among football fans over the coming weeks.
The fact a full-scale, in-person tournament will take place is already a massive step forward for the game following nearly three years of the pandemic. The delayed Olympics in 2021 were the first global sports event to take place amid Covid-19. The athletes were in Tokyo but not the fans, with Japan barring spectators in stadiums.
This time, in excess of 1.2 million visitors will arrive in Qatar to attend the tournament, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino has predicted that five billion people – or roughly two-thirds of the world’s population – will watch the action on TV around the globe.
For five weeks, the football world stops and watches
-The Strait Times
Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance but were edged 2-1 by Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The match served as Portugal’s final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and offered the Nigerians a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s leading sides led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto broke the deadlock, firing past Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after a lively opening period in which both teams created opportunities.
The Super Eagles responded positively and were rewarded eight minutes before halftime when striker Akor Adams found the equaliser. The goal capped an impressive Nigerian fightback and ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ronaldo, making a rare appearance against Nigeria, started the match and remained on the pitch until the 67th minute. The 41-year-old was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Portugal made several changes after the interval as coach Roberto Martinez rotated his squad in preparation for the World Cup. Despite the substitutions, the hosts continued to press for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Francisco Conceição struck the decisive goal, restoring Portugal’s lead and ultimately securing victory for the European side.
Nigeria battled to find another equaliser in the closing stages but Portugal’s defence held firm to preserve the 2-1 result.
The defeat means Portugal have now won both meetings between the two countries. Their first encounter came in Lisbon in November 2022, when the Portuguese recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in a pre-World Cup friendly.
While the result will disappoint Nigerian supporters, the Super Eagles can take encouragement from their resilient display against one of the teams widely tipped to make a strong impact at the World Cup. Akor Adams’ goal and Nigeria’s competitive showing against a star-studded Portuguese side provided positive signs as the team continues its rebuilding process under the national team set-up.
For Portugal, the victory provides a confidence boost as they head to North America, where they hope their talented midfield and experienced squad can propel them to a successful World Cup campaign.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the starting line-up when the Selecao take on Nigeria in an international friendly match which kicks off in a few minutes tonight.
The 41-year-old forward, who remains a key figure in the Portuguese national team, has been named among the starters as Portugal continue preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is expected to add further excitement to the encounter, with Nigerian fans eager to see one of football’s greatest players in action against the Super Eagles.
The match offers Nigeria another opportunity to test themselves against top European opposition, while Portugal will look to sharpen their squad ahead of future international assignments.
Kick-off is scheduled for later tonight, with both teams expected to field strong line-ups in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal will meet for only the second time at the senior level when they clash in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The encounter comes under remarkably similar circumstances to their first meeting in November 2022, when Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in Lisbon just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Once again, Portugal are using Nigeria as their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Four years ago, the Portuguese selected the Super Eagles to prepare for a group-stage clash against Ghana, the team that denied Nigeria a place at Qatar 2022.
History appears to be repeating itself. This time, Portugal are preparing for a World Cup opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo, another team that shattered Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions by eliminating the Super Eagles from the qualification race.
The match at the 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa offers Nigeria an opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat suffered four years ago and test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a star-studded squad featuring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rafael Leão and João Félix.
The Portuguese head into the encounter unbeaten in their last four matches, having recorded victories over the United States and Chile while drawing with Mexico.
Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, have also enjoyed an impressive run. Since taking charge 15 months ago, the Franco-Malian tactician has overseen 24 matches and suffered only one defeat in regulation time.
With both teams carrying impressive recent records, Wednesday’s friendly promises to be far more competitive than the scoreline from their last meeting suggests.
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