International Football
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana
Just a week after battering Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a pre-tournament friendly duel, Portugal, in Group H, take on Ghana, the team that was responsible for Nigeria’s absence.
This is Portugal’s sixth successive FIFA World Cup finals campaign as they square against Ghana, who, absent in 2018, return to face the same team they met in their closing encounter eight years ago – a 2-1 defeat that led to both teams’ exit in Brazil.
Although this is only their eighth FIFA World Cup appearance, Portugal have been ever-presents this century, coming fourth in 2006, the first of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling five tournament participations. The legendary forward will be looking to make history in Qatar as the first player to score in five FIFA World Cups.
Ghana also have something to look forward to. In 2010, they became the third African team to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
In André Ayew, a veteran of the 2010 and 2014 finals, they boast a local hero, with the Ghana skipper having inspired Al Sadd to victory in the 2021-22 Qatar Stars League.
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana
Ghana and Portugal meet today in a Group H contest of Qatar 2022 as both quest for major marks. Here are some of such.
• Portugal need just one goal to reach the landmark of 50 goals scored at the World Cup.
• Portugal have won three and drawn one of their last four World Cup matches against African opposition.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is featuring for a record-equalling fifth time at the World Cup.
• Ghana’s appearance at Qatar 2022 means they have qualified for four out of five World Cups since making their final competition debut in 2006.
• Ghana have only failed to score in two of their last 11 World Cup matches.
- Portugal team facts
Overall record: Play 30; Win 14 ; Draw 6 ; Lost 10 Goals For 49; Goals Against 35; Goal Difference: 14
Biggest win: 7-0 Portugal-Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Biggest defeat: 0-4 Portugal-Germany (16/06/2014)
Highest scoring draw: 3-3 – Portugal-Spain (15/06/2018)
Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Portugal 5-3 Korea DPR (23/07/1966)
Most goals scored in a match: 7 goals – Portugal 7-0 Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Most goals conceded in a match: 4 goals – Portugal 0-4 Germany (16/06/2014)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 17 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 2 – 1986 (3 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 8 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 1 – 2010 (4 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 4 (1966, 2006)
Successive defeats: 3 (1986-2002)
Successive draws: 1 (six times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 5 (2006), 5 (2014-2018)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2006-2010), 4 (2010-2014)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 7 (1966-1986)
Successive matches without scoring: 3 (2010-2014)
Successive clean sheets: 3 (2010)
Ghana team facts
FIFA WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
Overall record: Play: 12 Win 4 ; Draw 3; Lost 5; Goals For 13; Goals Against 16; Goals Difference -3
Biggest win: 2-0 Ghana-Czech Republic (17/06/2006)
Biggest defeat: 0-3 Ghana-Brazil (27/06/2006)
Highest scoring draw: 2-2 Germany-Ghana (21/06/2014)
Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Germany 2-2 Ghana (21/06/2014)
Most goals scored in a match: 2 goals (four times)
Most goals conceded in a match: 3 goals – Ghana 0-3 Brazil (27/06/2006)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 5 – 2010 (5 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 6 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2010 (5 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 2 (2006)
Successive defeats: 1 (five times)
Successive draws: 1 (three times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 2 (three times)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2010-present)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 5 (2010-present)
Successive matches without scoring: 1 (three times)
Successive clean sheets: 1 (2006, 2010)
International Football
German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.
The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.
“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.
Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
-Reuters
International Football
Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel
German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.
Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.
PLAYING CAREER
* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.
* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.
* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.
* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.
COACHING CAREER
* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.
* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.
* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.
* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.
* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.
* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.
* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.
* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.
* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.
* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.
* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.
* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.
* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.
* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
-Reuters
International Football
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.
Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.
Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.
He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.
With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.
Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.
While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.
-Reuters
- AFCON4 days ago
Libya’s AFCON dreams go up in flames!
- AFCON1 week ago
Billiat’s penalty seals Zimbabwe’s 1-0 win over Namibia
- AFCON5 days ago
BREAKING! CAF wades into the Libya-Nigeria Airport episode
- AFCON1 week ago
Libya’s captain, Faisal Al-Badri alleges poor treatment in Nigeria
- AFCON5 days ago
Libya FA explains their inhumane treatment of Super Eagles delegation
- AFCON1 day ago
CAF probes Libya over Nigeria match
- AFCON6 days ago
VIDEO: Hostile Libyan Authorities leave Super Eagles stranded at Airport
- AFCON7 days ago
NFF condoles with SuperSport and families of slain media men heading for AFCON match