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FIFA World Cup
It proved to be a stunning affair as not only did Qatar excel as hosts, the six Asian sides - a record representation for the continent - all stamped their mark on the competition.
Steep learning curve for Qatar
It was always going to be difficult for Qatar as they made their debut on the global stage as hosts.
It was always going to be difficult for Qatar as they made their debut on the global stage as hosts.
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Expectations were high that the reigning AFC Asian Cup™ champions would advance from Group A but an opening day 2-0 defeat to Ecuador was something they would not recover from.
Up next were Senegal and it was a match Qatar had to win to stay in contention for the next round but the African side took the lead through Boulaye Dia, who capitalised on a slip by Boualem Khoukhi to put his side ahead with a low finish in the 41st minute.
It became an even steeper challenge three minutes into the second half as Famara Diedhiou doubled Senegal's lead with a header from a corner taken by Ismail Jakobs.
Up next were Senegal and it was a match Qatar had to win to stay in contention for the next round but the African side took the lead through Boulaye Dia, who capitalised on a slip by Boualem Khoukhi to put his side ahead with a low finish in the 41st minute.
It became an even steeper challenge three minutes into the second half as Famara Diedhiou doubled Senegal's lead with a header from a corner taken by Ismail Jakobs.
Mohammed Muntari then created history for Qatar by scoring their first ever FIFA World Cup goal with a header to the left corner following a cross from Ismaeel Mohammad in the 78th minute.
There was, however, to be no comeback as Bamba Dieng scored Senegal's third in the 84th minute as Qatar's elimination was confirmed.
A 2-0 defeat to Netherlands meant the curtain came down on Qatar's campaign but they showed they had gained tremendously from the experience by lifting the AFC Asian Cup for the second consecutive time 14 months later.
There was, however, to be no comeback as Bamba Dieng scored Senegal's third in the 84th minute as Qatar's elimination was confirmed.
A 2-0 defeat to Netherlands meant the curtain came down on Qatar's campaign but they showed they had gained tremendously from the experience by lifting the AFC Asian Cup for the second consecutive time 14 months later.
Joy and heartbreak for IR Iran
Seeking to advance to the knockout stage for the first time, Islamic Republic of Iran couldn't have asked for a worse start as they fell 6-2 to a rampant England in their opening Group B match.
Seeking to advance to the knockout stage for the first time, Islamic Republic of Iran couldn't have asked for a worse start as they fell 6-2 to a rampant England in their opening Group B match.
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It was a result which was largely influenced with Iran losing goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand for a suspected concussion early in the game.
They bounced back from the setback by stunning Gareth Bale-led Wales 2-0, with Rouzbeh Cheshmi scoring the first goal eight minutes into stoppage time, and Ramin Rezaeian's strike three minutes later confirmed the points.
They bounced back from the setback by stunning Gareth Bale-led Wales 2-0, with Rouzbeh Cheshmi scoring the first goal eight minutes into stoppage time, and Ramin Rezaeian's strike three minutes later confirmed the points.
With England having played to a goalless draw with the United States, Iran went into their concluding tie against the Americans with qualification still very much possible but Christian Pulisic's strike from close range in the 38th minute consigned Team Melli to defeat as they bid farewell to the tournament despite having impressed.
Saudi Arabia stun but fall short
In a result that shocked not only Lionel Messi-powered Argentina but the world, Saudi Arabia kicked off their bid to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 1994 with a stunning 2-1 win against the two-time champions.
In a result that shocked not only Lionel Messi-powered Argentina but the world, Saudi Arabia kicked off their bid to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 1994 with a stunning 2-1 win against the two-time champions.
The South American side got off to a fast start, with Messi putting them ahead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute.
The offside flag then denied them three more goals before the break and Saudi Arabia drew level through Saleh Al Shehri's low effort in the 48th minute.
The mercurial Salem Al Dawsari then curled the ball into the right corner of the net five minutes later with Saudi Arabia then holding off a rampant Argentina to see out one of the biggest ever upsets in the FIFA World Cup.
The offside flag then denied them three more goals before the break and Saudi Arabia drew level through Saleh Al Shehri's low effort in the 48th minute.
The mercurial Salem Al Dawsari then curled the ball into the right corner of the net five minutes later with Saudi Arabia then holding off a rampant Argentina to see out one of the biggest ever upsets in the FIFA World Cup.
The three-time AFC Asian Cup champions, however, could not build on the momentum as subsequent defeats to Poland (2-0) and Mexico (2-1) meant their campaign ended in Group C but they had indeed left their mark on the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Australia create history
An opening defeat to defending champions France would have demoralised even the best of teams but it had the opposite effect on Australia as it led the Socceroos to creating FIFA World Cup history.
An opening defeat to defending champions France would have demoralised even the best of teams but it had the opposite effect on Australia as it led the Socceroos to creating FIFA World Cup history.
They got off to a great start against France, with Craig Goodwin putting them ahead in the 10th minute but a second-half blitz saw France scoring through Adrien Rabiot, Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud (2) to win 4–1.
Australia responded in style, with Mitchell Duke scoring in the 1-0 win against Tunisia to keep their Round of 16 hopes alive.
Australia responded in style, with Mitchell Duke scoring in the 1-0 win against Tunisia to keep their Round of 16 hopes alive.
It was then Mathew Leckie's turn to emerge the hero as Australia edged Denmark 1–0 to register two consecutive victories on the global stage for the first time.
It could have been three as Australia came within a whisker of taking Argentina to extra time in their Round of 16 faceoff.
Messi gave Argentina the lead in the 35th minute with a low left-footed finish into the left corner, with Julian Alvarez doubling the advantage in the 57th minute when he pounced on an error by Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to finish low.
It could have been three as Australia came within a whisker of taking Argentina to extra time in their Round of 16 faceoff.
Messi gave Argentina the lead in the 35th minute with a low left-footed finish into the left corner, with Julian Alvarez doubling the advantage in the 57th minute when he pounced on an error by Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to finish low.
Australia then pulled one back when Goodwin's strike in the 77th minute took a huge deflection off Enzo Fernandez and ended up in net.
Australia had chances to draw level, first when Aziz Behich dribbled past four players before his shot was blocked by Lisandro Martinez, then in added time when Garang Kuol had a shot saved at close range by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as Argentina not only survived but went on to lift the trophy.
Australia, however, returned home with their heads held high after a spectacular campaign.
Australia had chances to draw level, first when Aziz Behich dribbled past four players before his shot was blocked by Lisandro Martinez, then in added time when Garang Kuol had a shot saved at close range by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as Argentina not only survived but went on to lift the trophy.
Australia, however, returned home with their heads held high after a spectacular campaign.
Another narrow miss for Japan
With former champions Germany and Spain to contend with, even the most passionate of Japanese fans would have expected the worst in Group E.
Hajime Moriyasu's side, however, had no such fear as they kicked off their challenge with a stunning 2-1 win against Germany.
With former champions Germany and Spain to contend with, even the most passionate of Japanese fans would have expected the worst in Group E.
Hajime Moriyasu's side, however, had no such fear as they kicked off their challenge with a stunning 2-1 win against Germany.
The four-time champions would have expected to cruise after taking the lead through Ilkay Gundogan's 33rd minute penalty.
A Kai Havertz effort was then ruled out for offside just before the break and Japan turned on the power in the final 15 minutes, with Ritsu Doan finishing a rebound following goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's save from a low shot from the left.
Victory was sealed eight minutes later when Takuma Asano received the ball down the right wing before pulling away from defender Nico Schlotterbeck and shooting high above Neuer into the net.
A Kai Havertz effort was then ruled out for offside just before the break and Japan turned on the power in the final 15 minutes, with Ritsu Doan finishing a rebound following goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's save from a low shot from the left.
Victory was sealed eight minutes later when Takuma Asano received the ball down the right wing before pulling away from defender Nico Schlotterbeck and shooting high above Neuer into the net.
Japan, however, came crashing down to earth in their next match with Keysher Fuller's goal consigning them to a 1-0 defeat against Costa Rica.
That meant a showdown with Spain and the former world champions took the lead through Alvaro Morata's header in the 11th minute.
Doan sparked Japan's fightback three minutes into the second half with his strike from outside the penalty area and Ao Tanaka delivered the winner three minutes later with a close range finish, with the assist coming from a cut-back by Kaoru Mitoma on the left.
That meant a showdown with Spain and the former world champions took the lead through Alvaro Morata's header in the 11th minute.
Doan sparked Japan's fightback three minutes into the second half with his strike from outside the penalty area and Ao Tanaka delivered the winner three minutes later with a close range finish, with the assist coming from a cut-back by Kaoru Mitoma on the left.
That set up a Round of 16 tie with Croatia and victory was there for Japan's taking, with Daizen Maeda putting them in the 43rd minute with a low finish from inside the penalty box.
Ivan Perisic equalised 10 minutes into the second half when he headed powerfully to the right corner of the net after a cross from Dejan Lovren on the right and with neither side able to score again, the tie went to penalties.
Japan suffered heartbreak in the shootout, missing three of their four spot-kicks as they lost 3-1.
While it was a disappointing end to their campaign, Japan showed once again that they could beat the best in the world on the grandest of stages.
Ivan Perisic equalised 10 minutes into the second half when he headed powerfully to the right corner of the net after a cross from Dejan Lovren on the right and with neither side able to score again, the tie went to penalties.
Japan suffered heartbreak in the shootout, missing three of their four spot-kicks as they lost 3-1.
While it was a disappointing end to their campaign, Japan showed once again that they could beat the best in the world on the grandest of stages.
Brazil too strong for Korea Republic
Twenty years after their brilliant run into the semi-finals, Korea Republic kicked off their Group H campaign with a hard-fought goalless draw with former champions Uruguay.
A 3-2 defeat to Ghana meant they went into their final tie against Portugal needing victory to keep their hopes alive.
Twenty years after their brilliant run into the semi-finals, Korea Republic kicked off their Group H campaign with a hard-fought goalless draw with former champions Uruguay.
A 3-2 defeat to Ghana meant they went into their final tie against Portugal needing victory to keep their hopes alive.
Portugal, however, took the lead through Ricardo Horta in the 10th minute.
Kim Young-gwon equalised from close range in the 27th minute and Hwang Hee-chan stole the points with his injury-time strike as Korea Republic advanced on goal difference ahead of Uruguay.
Their campaign, however, ended in the Round of 16 as a first-half super show from Brazil saw the five-time champions race to a 4-0 lead.
Kim Young-gwon equalised from close range in the 27th minute and Hwang Hee-chan stole the points with his injury-time strike as Korea Republic advanced on goal difference ahead of Uruguay.
Their campaign, however, ended in the Round of 16 as a first-half super show from Brazil saw the five-time champions race to a 4-0 lead.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Brazil in the seventh minute, converting with a side-footed shot past three Korean defenders on the line. Brazil were awarded a penalty six minutes later when Richarlison was fouled just inside the penalty area, which Neymar scored with a low shot into the right corner.
Richarlison made it 3–0 in the 29th minute when he controlled the ball with his head before receiving it back from Thiago Silva and slotting into the left corner of the net. Lucas Paqueta netted Brazil's fourth in the 36th minute.
Korea Republic scored their consolation in the 76th minute, with Paik Seung-ho finishing from 30 metres out as they bid farewell to a campaign that had seen them defeat Portugal but unable to progress beyond the Round of 16 for the first time since their spectacular 2002 campaign.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images, AFP
Richarlison made it 3–0 in the 29th minute when he controlled the ball with his head before receiving it back from Thiago Silva and slotting into the left corner of the net. Lucas Paqueta netted Brazil's fourth in the 36th minute.
Korea Republic scored their consolation in the 76th minute, with Paik Seung-ho finishing from 30 metres out as they bid farewell to a campaign that had seen them defeat Portugal but unable to progress beyond the Round of 16 for the first time since their spectacular 2002 campaign.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images, AFP
