World Cup 2022 briefing: why the third-place playoff is worth watching Morocco’s coach has called it a ‘booby prize’ but there are still reasons to tune in The Guardian - UK · Dec 17, 2022
A class apart: France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on threshold of history Victory over Argentina would make the 35-year-old the first player to captain a side to two men’s World Cups The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2022
Football is the most attractive game, but its governors are squandering its joy Those in charge at Fifa and Uefa have too often put gain above the common good. Diversity and equality must be defended The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2022
‘The whole world is proud’: France game a step too far for Morocco, says Regragui Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, admitted the World Cup semi-final was a game too far for his side physically, after their 2-0 defeat by France The Guardian - UK · Dec 14, 2022
Inspired Lionel Messi takes Argentina past Croatia and into World Cup final Lionel Messi scored a penalty and set up two for Julián Álvarez as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach the World Cup final The Guardian - UK · Dec 13, 2022
Fifa accused of failing to adhere to its own human rights commitments Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticise Fifa after it failed to create a remedy fund for migrant workers injured or killed in Qatar The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2022
Globalise the final round of qualifying and a 32-nation World Cup may still add up You could achieve the greater spread and interest that 48 teams is supposed to deliver with a rankings-based qualifying finale The Guardian - UK · Dec 11, 2022
England out of World Cup after Harry Kane penalty miss against France Harry Kane had already levelled once with a penalty but missed a second to give France a 2-1 victory in the World Cup quarter-final The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2022
Vintage Croatia have long passed the consistency test but still defy belief Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa back the old guard to keep producing for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2022
Football turned Neymar’s talent toxic: Qatar 2022 feels like an end point The Brazil striker can still win things but his major-chord career is over in the place that made him rich but stole his value The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2022
England have spent years copying France. Now can they dethrone them? In youth development and World Cups, France have pointed the way but Gareth Southgate’s players have no inferiority complex The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2022
World Cup 2022 briefing: will England outflank France in last eight? There is more than the Mbappé factor to consider in quarter-final battle of the wings The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2022
Lionel Messi: an emblem of the transient fragility of human beauty Argentina’s maestro moves closer to emulating Maradona and inspiring a team far from world beaters to win the World Cup The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022
England v France: a heavyweight contest to define the Southgate era World Cup knockout games are devastatingly brutal in their finality but at least this showdown looks intriguingly poised The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022 Croatia reach World Cup semi-final as Brazil miss twice in penalty shootout Brazil and Croatia were locked at 1-1 after extra time and then Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to score from the penalty spot as Croatia reached the last four
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022 How ‘resilient’ Gonçalo Ramos grafted his way to World Cup star status Portugal’s hat-trick hero Gonçalo Ramos was homesick after moving to Benfica but his coach says he has learned how to overcome all obstacles
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022 England’s World Cup quarter-finals: Maradona’s magic to the likable lads Before their date with France, we look at how they fared in the previous nine, from beer poisoning to Lineker’s rescue act
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022 ‘It’s not about him’: how Gareth Southgate won England’s culture war Thanks to training with UK Sport and an unusual propensity for listening, Gareth Southgate has created a happy, healthy culture that is a far cry from previous England squads
The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2022 World Cup 2022 briefing: Louis van Gaal is a man apart in Qatar Louis van Gaal’s Dutch team may not play beautiful football but winning the trophy would be a fitting feelgood tale
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2022 Netherlands v Argentina: their previous World Cup meetings With the Albiceleste set to take on the Oranje in Qatar, we relive the best (and worst) from their previous showdowns
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2022 England’s adaptability and squad depth can give them an edge against France Gareth Southgate has the option of deploying a five-man defence to combat the threat of Kylian Mbappé and has the advantage of a strong bench
The Guardian - UK · Dec 7, 2022 ‘Sometimes it’s cruel’: Spain depart World Cup cursing shootout Luis Enrique’s side misfired again from the penalty spot, failing to disguise that they have won just twice in 90 minutes in the past two tournaments
The Guardian - UK · Dec 7, 2022 World Cup 2022 power rankings: how the remaining eight teams shape up We cast our eye over the quarter-finalists’ key strengths and assess who is most likely to lift the trophy in Qatar
The Guardian - UK · Dec 7, 2022 Which player has scored the most goals in World Cup knockout games? Plus: last beating first in the group stage, thrashings in vain and the glory of the one-armed goalscorer
The Guardian - UK · Dec 6, 2022 Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal future left up in the air by coach Fernando Santos Fernando Santos dropped Cristiano Ronaldo for the game against Switzerland and said: ‘We wanted a team that played with a lot of fluidity’