Qatar, the host country of the 2022 World Cup and placed in Group A, opened against Ecuador this Sunday at 5 pm at the Al-Khor Al-Bayt Stadium. It was a disastrous first outing for the team coached by Felix Sanchez. They were technically dominated and had a poor team spirit. They are already expected to respond against Senegal next Friday.
For the Three Lions' first match in the competition against Iran, Harry Kane, England captain, planned to wear a rainbow armband with the inscription "One Love".
This is a move that FIFA is likely to sanction, as the rainbow flag is banned in Qatar. It should be noted that the Tottenham striker has the support of the English federation, which is awaiting a response from the body that governs world football, even if initial reports were that a total ban would be imposed. The English striker risks a yellow card at the start of the match, as the Guardian reports, or even worse. One thing seems certain, FIFA wants to avoid the appearance of this famous flag on the field at all costs, and the media explains that it could even come to a point where it will send officials into the dressing room to confiscate the armbands!
Ronaldo? OK, but only on one condition. If the Mirror reports on Sunday are to be believed, there is one big club ready to offer the Madeira native a final challenge. It is Chelsea. But the Blues will only welcome the Portuguese on one condition: that he is released by the Red Devils. The Blues are not willing to pay a transfer fee, so he will have to be a free agent. It will all depend on Manchester United, while the club's management is considering its options, particularly from a legal point of view. The club may be reluctant to terminate the player's contract if it means he ends up with an English rival. A matter to be followed.