Football

Argentina and Brazil, the South American powerhouses, faced contrasting fortunes in their World Cup qualifying matches on Tuesday. Argentina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Peru, while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay.Argentina's triumph was courtesy of a stunning volley from Lautaro Martinez in the first half. Lionel Messi provided the assist with a pinpoint cross, and Martinez unleashed a thunderous left-footed shot past Peru's goalkeeper. Despite a lackluster performance, Argentina's victory solidifies their position at the top of the CONMEBOL standings.Brazil, on the other hand, struggled against Uruguay in Salvador. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead in the 55th minute with a clinical finish. However, Brazil responded quickly, with Gerson equalizing seven minutes later with a well-taken volley. Despite Brazil's dominance, they were unable to find a winning goal, leaving them in fifth place in the standings.Colombia suffered an upset at home, losing 1-0 to Ecuador. Enner Valencia scored the only goal of the match in the seventh minute, stunning the Colombian crowd. Colombia's Jhon Cordoba missed a golden opportunity to equalize, and Ecuador held on to their lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 34th minute.Paraguay and Bolivia played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Bolivia took the lead twice, but Paraguay fought back each time. Miguel Almiron equalized for Paraguay in the 71st minute, and Julio Enciso secured a point in stoppage time with a magnificent solo effort.Chile boosted their faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela. The win leaves Chile in ninth place, but they have a lot of work to do to secure one of the six automatic qualification spots.

Son Heung-min's inclusion in the South Korean squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers has sparked concerns over his fitness, with coach Hong Myung-bo vowing to prioritize the Tottenham Hotspur star's health.Son missed several weeks of action with a hamstring injury and was substituted off in Tottenham's recent 4-1 victory over Aston Villa as a precautionary measure. Despite his return to action, Hong emphasized the need to manage Son's playing time carefully."We will monitor his playing time in the next two matches for Spurs and use that information to prepare for the November games," Hong said. "It's not appropriate to push him too hard on the national team just because he's back for his club."Hong acknowledged Son's desire to represent his country but stressed the importance of protecting his well-being. "I understand he wants to play for the national team, but our priority is his health," Hong added.South Korea currently leads their group in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, with three wins and a draw. Son's inclusion in the squad for the upcoming matches against Kuwait and Palestine is a testament to his importance to the team.However, Hong's cautious approach suggests that Son's playing time may be limited in these qualifiers. The coach's decision is likely influenced by the fact that Son has a history of hamstring injuries and is approaching the latter stages of his career.By managing Son's workload, Hong aims to ensure that the forward remains fit and available for both Tottenham and South Korea in the long run.

Colombia exacted revenge for their Copa America final defeat by edging out Argentina 2-1 in a thrilling South American qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The victory propelled Colombia to second place in the standings, just two points behind leaders Argentina.Colombia's triumph was orchestrated by captain James Rodriguez, who coolly converted a 60th-minute penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Nicolas Otamendi's reckless challenge on Daniel Munoz. Rodriguez's goal proved decisive, as Argentina's penalty specialist Emiliano Martinez was unable to stop it.The match began brightly for Colombia, who took the lead in the 25th minute through Yerson Mosquera's header. However, Argentina responded swiftly after the break, with Nicolas Gonzalez equalizing in the 48th minute.Despite the setback, Colombia remained resolute and regained the lead through Rodriguez's penalty. The victory was a sweet moment for Colombia, who had been defeated by Argentina in the Copa America final just two months prior.Meanwhile, Brazil's qualifying campaign hit a snag as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Asuncion. Diego Gomez's long-range strike in the 20th minute proved to be the difference, leaving Brazil in fifth place in the standings.Elsewhere, Chile's hopes of qualifying took a further blow as they lost 2-1 at home to Bolivia. Carmelo Algaranaz and Miguel Terceros scored for Bolivia, while Chile's only goal came from Alexis Sanchez. The defeat leaves Chile languishing in ninth place, with their chances of reaching the World Cup dwindling.In other matches, Ecuador boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-0 win over Peru in Quito, while Uruguay and Venezuela played out a goalless draw.

Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Due to InjuryArgentina's hopes of securing a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a blow with the news that star forward Lionel Messi will miss the team's next two qualifying matches due to injury.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on September 5 and Colombia five days later. Messi, who is still recovering from a right ankle injury, was not included in the squad.The 36-year-old Messi has been a key figure for Argentina in recent years, leading the team to victory in the 2021 Copa America. His absence from the squad will be a significant loss for Scaloni's side.In addition to Messi, Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team after winning the Copa America, is also not on the list.Despite the absence of Messi and Di María, Argentina remains the favorite to qualify for the World Cup. The team currently leads South American qualifying with 15 points after six matches.Argentina Squad:Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton)Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina)Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio)

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has shortlisted 20 "competent" candidates for the position of Indian men's team head coach, following the sacking of Igor Stimac last month. The AIFF's acting secretary general, M Satyanarayan, revealed that the federation has contacted some of the shortlisted coaches to confirm their availability.The shortlisted candidates include both club and national team coaches, with the AIFF considering their experience and suitability for the role. Satyanarayan emphasized that the decision will be based on the coaches' qualifications and their plans for the team.The AIFF is aiming to finalize the shortlist and present it to the executive committee within the next two days. The technical community will also be involved in the decision-making process.Satyanarayan expressed confidence in the team's potential, despite their recent setbacks in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He highlighted the need to finalize friendly matches for the September window to continue the team's development.The retirement of Sunil Chhetri has left a significant void in the team, but Satyanarayan believes that there are potential replacements who can step up. He mentioned that the upcoming Durand Cup could provide an opportunity to identify promising players.The AIFF is keen to appoint a head coach who can guide the team to success in future international competitions. The federation is confident that the shortlisted candidates possess the necessary skills and experience to lead the Indian men's team to greater heights.

Igor Stimac, the former head coach of the Indian football team, has threatened legal action against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) if his dues are not cleared within the next 10 days. Stimac was sacked on Monday, a year before his contract was set to expire, following India's failure to progress beyond the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.Stimac has accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of breaching his contract multiple times, including changing his public statements, altering the players' list for the Asian Games, and canceling a press conference after the AFC Asian Cup. He also holds Chaubey responsible for the team's poor performance in the World Cup Qualifiers.Stimac claims that the AIFF's actions have caused him serious health problems, including two stents prior to the AFC Asian Cup. He has stated that he no longer wishes to have any contact with the AIFF.In a notice to the AIFF, Stimac has demanded payment for the remaining value of his contract, which could amount to a whopping Rs six crore. He has threatened to file a lawsuit with the FIFA Football Tribunal if his dues are not cleared within the stipulated time frame.The AIFF has not yet responded to Stimac's allegations or demands. The federation is currently facing a number of challenges, including a lack of funds and a dispute with the Supreme Court over its governance structure.Stimac's sacking has sparked controversy within the Indian football community. Some have criticized the AIFF for its handling of the situation, while others have questioned Stimac's performance as head coach. The incident has highlighted the ongoing problems within Indian football, which has been plagued by mismanagement and a lack of transparency for many years.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has demanded an investigation into the controversial goal awarded to Qatar in their crucial World Cup qualifying match in Doha. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey expressed outrage over the incident, calling for "addressing the injustice."The incident occurred in the 73rd minute of the match, when Abdullah Alahrak's free-kick saw Yousef Ayem attempt a header. India's goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, saved the shot, but the ball rolled over the line. However, instead of awarding a corner kick, South Korean referee Kim Woo-Sung allowed Hashmi Hussein to kick the ball back into play, resulting in Aymen slotting it into the net.Chaubey stated that the goal deprived India of a historic entry into the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 edition. He emphasized that the ball had clearly gone out of play and that the referee's decision was a "grave supervision error."The AIFF has written to FIFA Head of Qualifiers, AFC Head of Referees, and the match commissioner, requesting a thorough investigation. Chaubey urged them to explore possibilities of "sporting compensation" to rectify the injustice.The match commissioner, Iran's Hamed Momeni, is responsible for supervising the organization of the match and ensuring adherence to FIFA regulations. His role includes ensuring that the ball is in play when a goal is scored.The controversial goal has sparked widespread outrage among Indian football fans and experts. Many believe that the referee's decision was influenced by external factors and that India was unfairly denied a chance to advance in the World Cup qualifiers.The AIFF's demand for an investigation is a significant step towards addressing the concerns raised by the Indian football community. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether India has a legitimate case for compensation or if the result of the match will stand.

India's World Cup qualification hopes were dashed after a controversial 1-2 loss to Qatar in Doha, leaving coach Igor Stimac's future uncertain.Stimac, who had previously vowed to step down if he failed to guide India to the third round, expressed hesitation about his future. "We need to discuss internally in the next few weeks where our futures stand," he said.Despite the setback, Stimac remained optimistic about India's footballing future. "India has a good future in football," he asserted. "Our team is not that older than the Qatari team today."Stimac's contract extension, which runs until June 2026, would have been automatically renewed if India had advanced to the third round. However, the team's underwhelming campaign, including a home loss to Afghanistan, has raised questions about Stimac's leadership.Stimac believes that India's World Cup aspirations could be realized if Indian-origin players competing in European leagues were allowed to join the national team. "If we were allowed to use them, then India would qualify for the World Cup regularly," he said.He criticized the lack of competitiveness in the Indian Super League (ISL), arguing that players need to experience high-pressure games throughout the season to prepare for international competition.

India's World Cup qualifying dreams were shattered in Doha after a controversial goal allowed Qatar to snatch a 2-1 victory. Coach Igor Stimac expressed outrage over the "irregular" goal, claiming it "killed" his team's aspirations.India took an early lead but Qatar equalized with a goal that Stimac vehemently disputed. Replays confirmed that the ball had crossed the line before being dragged back into play. "It shouldn't be happening in today's football," Stimac lamented. "It changed everything."Despite the setback, Stimac praised his players' efforts. "They were fantastic," he said. "We controlled the game for a major part." However, he acknowledged India's shortcomings in the attacking third. "We should have scored thrice in the first half," he said. "There's something missing in Indian football, and that's clinical reactions inside the box."Qatar's equalizer deflated India's momentum, and they conceded a second goal in the 85th minute. The loss ended India's hopes of reaching the third round of World Cup qualifying and direct qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.Stimac expressed disappointment but congratulated Qatar. "It's kind of an injustice to my boys," he said. "We were very close to winning this game and qualifying for the third round."India's bid for the Asian Cup will now continue in the Third Round of Qualifiers, scheduled for March 2025. Stimac remains optimistic despite the setback. "We have a young team with a lot of potential," he said. "We will learn from this experience and come back stronger."