Goal 90

Watching England annihilate Iran in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup might make you think that the Three Lions have the best and most cohesive team in the tournament. But that may not be a complete truth, because there is indeed some beef within the England national team.

You don’t believe us? Okay, come along as we look at 5 pairs of England teammates who hate each other.

Like we have said a number of times before, the World Cup is indeed the apex of football, and many footballers around the world would do anything to feature at this competition, even if it’s just once.

But while it being the biggest stage is obviously a good thing, it could also be a bad thing in the sense that it can swallow you up if you’re not careful. We have seen some of the finest players in the world head over to the World Cup and look so average. Some have had their careers ruined or changed completely as a result of this competition.

Let us quickly take a look at 5 players who had their careers ruined as a result of the World Cup.

Why Are Footballers Feeling Unsafe And Scared In Qatar?

The world cup is a dream come true to almost every football player on the planet. The chance to be out on the field representing your country on the biggest stage possible has made many grown players tear up. Just look at Lewandowski recently and what it meant to him to score his first World Cup goal. This is what this tournament does.

But the Qatar edition has proved to be different from all others due to the various scandals that have plagued it since being awarded the right to host in 2010. This has brought about plenty of unease from star players with some feeling completely disconnected from the tournament and downright unsafe in Qatar. Some have spoken up while others may be too afraid to do so. So, let's take a look at what's gotten some of our favorite players feeling uneasy about the host nation and what those brave enough to speak have said about it.

5 Players Who Are Cursed In The World Cup 

It’s World Cup season and we are all excited that the biggest competition in world football is finally back after a lengthy 4-year wait. But then, not everyone is always excited about the World Cup season. For some players, World Cup season almost always means bad luck. It’s like they’re cursed.

Why Do Japan Fans Clean Up After The Matches?

After witnessing their national team pull off that very big upset against Germany in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup, the Japanese fans stayed back to clean up the stadium. And even the players themselves made sure to leave the dressing room spotless after that very big game. Even after their first loss of the tournament against Costa Rica, the Japanese fans still made sure to clean up the stadium.

4 Different Ways Fans Are Sneaking Alcohol In The Qatar World Cup  

We all know that alcohol is banned at the World Cup currently going on in Qatar. But many fans around the world have already gotten used to watching football with a can of beer in their hands and are not willing to let restrictions stop them from their football ritual. So, what have they done? They have found ways to smuggle alcohol into stadiums in Qatar.  

Now, before we move further, here’s a disclaimer: we are not encouraging any form of smuggling or law-breaking in Qatar or anywhere else. We’re just commenting on things happening at the ongoing World Cup.  Having said that, here are 4 creative ways fans are sneaking alcohol into stadiums at the World Cup in Qatar.

One of the biggest talking points so far in this World Cup is Germany vs. Japan game. The Japanese pulled off a really big upset, coming back from a goal down to secure a victory against the 4-time world champions, and fans have not been able to stop talking about it.

But there’s something else that happened before the game even kicked off that fans have also been talking about. More like asking about, it because not many understand the relevance of that gesture. Well, we’re here to explain.

For those who missed it, before that game, the German players all put their hands over their mouths while they posed for their team photo. Why did they do that? Well, obviously, to send a message.

What message? That they will not be silenced.

Silenced about what? Okay, you know what? Let’s just start from the beginning.

Why Are There Empty Seats In The Qatar World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup has officially begun and if you are not going to say it, then we will.

So far, it’s been fantastic. The football on display has been top-notch and we can’t wait to see if there will be more upsets like Saudi Arabia ending Argentina’s unbeaten run; or Japan stunning Germany. 

There is however, a little concern that is slowly growing behind the absolutely wonderful scenes of competition. Fan turnouts have been rather poor in some of the games - a fact that is clearly seen by the consecutive chains of empty seats at various venues. This hasn’t stopped the stadium organisers from trying to inflate the official figures for each match. 

Screenshots of live updates on the giant screens are comical to say the least. The opening game of the World Cup was announced as having 67,372 in attendance whereas the official capacity of Al Bayt Stadium is 60,000. And USA’s fixture against Wales was held in a 40,000-capacity Ahamd Bin Ali Stadium with an announced attendance of 43,418.

This has got us thinking. We know why they are changing the figures, but why are the fans not attending the matches as expected.

Here are a few reasons that we could find.

Lionel Messi’s Doctor Wants Argentina To Lose All Of Their World Cup Matches

Believe it or not, Lionel Messi’s doctor, who has also been his friend for years, is praying for Argentina’s downfall in what looks like Messi’s last World Cup tournament ever.

Diego Schwarzstein, who was Messi’s doctor before he even moved to Europe more than 2 decades ago, has come out to say he wants Argentina to lose all their group games at the ongoing World Cup tournament in Qatar.

Schwarzstein treated Messi when the footballer was first diagnosed with a Growth Hormone Deficiency back when he was still a child. So, it is partially thanks to the attention Messi got from Schwarzstein early in his life that the former Barcelona captain has a career today. And what a career that turned out to be, too!

And Messi knew he owed his doctor a lot, and that’s why, before he left Argentina for Spain in 2000, he sent Schwarzstein his Newell’s Old Boys’ shirt with a note which said “for Diego. With love from Leo Messi.”

The pair remained close even after Messi moved to Barcelona. But how come Schwarzstein is now wishing for Messi’s downfall? Did something go wrong with their relationship?

The Reason Why Messi Will Not Win The 2022 World Cup

More than half the footballing universe is willing Lionel Messi to go ahead and win the World Cup in what looks like his final attempt. But that only means that more than half the footballing universe might be in for a huge disappointment before the year is over.

Before kickoff of the tournament in Qatar, Argentina were one of the favorites to win the World Cup. But right now… uhm, not so much. And we may all have to start making peace with the fact that Messi will not win the 2022 World Cup. And here’s why:

First of all, that first game against Saudi Arabia was surely not a good way to start the tournament. Saudi Arabia were supposed to be the easiest fixture in the group, and Argentina ended up squandering a lead as well as many chances to allow the Middle Easterns successfully pull off one of the biggest upsets in football history.

But to be honest, it isn’t so crazy to think that Argentina will still make it out of the group. The question is, how much farther will they go with that type of lackluster performance?