Belgian soccer coach Roberto Martinez resigns after World Cup exit
Belgium's head coach Roberto Martinez embraces Jeremy Doku after their match against Croatia. (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)
Roberto Martinez will step down as coach of Belgium's national soccer team, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced Thursday, after the Red Devils were eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Considered a European heavyweight, Belgium needed a win to advance to the knockout stage. But the draw rested their fate on the match between Morocco and Canada. When Morocco won 2-1, it ended the World No. 2's campaign in this tournament, denying them from competing in the Round of 16.
“That was my last game with the national team and it’s emotional, as you can imagine. It has been amazing," a tearful Martinez said following the defeat. "Everything you want to do in a club, we have been able to do it in a national team. It makes me extremely proud. This team have given everyone incredible joy. But now it’s time to accept that this is my last game.”
Martinez took charge of Belgium in 2016 and helped the Red Devils to a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup.
1:15 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022
What to expect from the Costa Rica vs Germany game
From CNN's Ben Church
After a poor start to its World Cup campaign, Germany is now staring down the barrel of elimination heading into its last Group E game at Qatar 2022.
Their shock defeat to Japan on the opening day put the Germans in a difficult position, but they rallied in their second game against Spain to earn a hard-fought draw.
It means the 2014 world champion, which sits bottom of the group on one point, now needs to beat Costa Rica on Thursday and hope Spain beats Japan in order to progress into the knockout stage of the competition.
A draw in the group’s other game could be enough for Germany, but its fate would then depend on goal difference.
Speaking after the vital draw against Spain, Germany manager Hansi Flick said he hoped his team would gather some confidence for the crunch match at the Al Bayt Stadium after a more positive performance against Spain.
“Maybe, it is the spark we need,” Flick said. “The team fought hard and I am very satisfied with their mentality. These are the things we want and we know that we did take the first step.
1:17 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022
USA's Christian Pulisic taking it "day-by-day" ahead of critical World Cup match
From CNN's David Close
Christian Pulisic of the United States is helped off the pitch after suffering an injury during the match against Iran on Tuesday. (Manu Fernandez/AP)
Team USA soccer star Christian Pulisic said he is taking his pelvic injury “day-by-day” ahead of the crucial Qatar World Cup clash versus the Netherlands on Saturday.
"I'm taking it day-by-day for now and I will do everything in my power to work with this medical team and make sure I can play," Pulisic said during a news conference at US training camp, adding that his pelvic contusion was painful but improving.
Pulisic noted, "I didn't get, like, hit in the balls, but, like, it's not like. I’m alright. I’m alright. It was very painful, and that bone is there for a reason to protect you, I think. And I hit it well, and it was sore, but like I said, I'm getting better.”
The 24-year-old team USA forward, also known as Captain America, was taken to hospital due to an abdominal injury he suffered while scoring the game-winning goal for the United States in its crucial 1-0 win over Iran at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion, but was not hospitalized.
Despite his injury, Pulisic was full of praise for the players around him.
"It feels great to be where we're at right now, but there's still more to come," he said.
Pulisic described his confusion after being hurt as he bundled the ball in against Iran in the United States' final group game, and then his tension as he followed the second half via a trainer's telephone while receiving treatment.
"It was like the hardest thing. I think they were checking my blood sugar and everything, and I was flying through the roof. But it wasn't because of anything. It was just me stress-watching the game. But once I got through that and the final whistle blew, I was obviously very happy,” Pulisic said.
Christian Pulisic laughs during a press conference on Thursday. (Ashley Landis/AP)
Teammate Timothy Weah, who has also grabbed one goal in Qatar so far, said the United States were not underestimating the challenge against the higher-ranked Dutch team despite the strong start.
"I think we all know that Netherlands is a big team, with a lot of quality players," he said, adding that he hoped his side were raising the profile of the sport in the United States where basketball, baseball and American football dominate.
"I think everyone back home is realizing that their team has talent. It's up to us to take it as far as we can go and make a statement."
CNN's Kevin Dotson and Matias Grez contributed to this report.
1:09 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022
What to expect from the Japan vs Spain game
From CNN's Ben Church
Group leader Spain needs just a point against Japan to ensure progression into the round of 16 – it can even afford to lose the match depending on what happens in Germany’s game with Costa Rica.
Spain coach Luis Enrique is determined for his squad to enjoy their experience in Qatar and has defended his streaming sessions online in which he talks to fans.
“The only goal I set for my players … before this training camp 16 days ago, I told them we need to have fun, fun,” he told reporters.
“We need to enjoy this because you have to have joy in your job.”
It’s a philosophy that seems to be working, with Spain’s young side producing impressive displays on the world stage.
For Japan, which stunned Germany in its first game, it now needs to produce another shock result by beating Spain after losing to Costa Rica in its last match.
“Tomorrow is going to be a high-pressure game for all players, but we must believe in ourselves,” Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu told reporters on Wednesday.
“They must believe in themselves, they must. They must believe in their teammates in order to fight against our opponent. Hopefully, they will be at their best and the result will follow.”
1:00 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022
Who is still playing for qualification – and who is already through to the knockouts?
From CNN's Ben Church
Teams in Group E are competing at 2 p.m. ET in two matches. All are vying for a spot in the knockout rounds. Here's who is playing and who is already through to the Round of 16.
Germany vs Costa Rica:Germany, the 2014 world champion, needs to beat Costa Rica on Thursday and hope Spain beats Japan in order to progress into the Round of 16.
A draw in the group’s other game could be enough for Germany but its fate would then depend on goal difference, the standings tiebreaker.
Spain vs Japan: Spain, meanwhile, needs just a draw against Japan to ensure progression into the knockouts – it can even lose, depending on what happens in Germany’s game with Costa Rica.
Japan needs to beat Spain after losing to Costa Rica in its last match.
Meanwhile, these teams are already through to the knockout stages:
Group A: Netherlands, Senegal
Group B: England, USA
Group C: Argentina, Poland
Group D: France, Australia
Group F: Croatia, Morocco
Group G: Brazil
Group H: Portugal
12:55 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022
Stéphanie Frappart will make history as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match
From CNN's Issy Ronald
When a referee generates column inches, it is normally some indictment of their performance; the result of an uproar after a controversial decision.
But Stéphanie Frappart’s traditional anonymity has been broken for a different reason – she will make history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Díaz from Mexico, the Frenchwoman will form part of an all-female refereeing trio officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match.
Six female match officials have been officiating at this World Cup – referees Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita as well as assistant referees Back, Diaz and Kathryn Nesbitt of the US.
It’s a surprise, you cannot believe it and after two or three minutes, you realize that you are going to the World Cup. It’s amazing, not only for me, but also for my family and also for the French referees," she tells CNN Sport.
Analysis: Big moments for women at the men’s World Cup
From CNN's Zachary B. Wolf
An unexpected result of the US Men's National Team reaching the knockout round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is that the US Women's National Team will get its largest collective payday, equally splitting $13 million in winnings with the men.
It's a big deal for American women who have long sought pay equity, and it amplifies the extreme sliding scale of women's rights around the globe.
Consider that this payday for US women was won when the US men's team defeated Iran, a country where authorities are brutally tamping down protests by women who want basic human rights.
The US Women's National Team excels at soccer and fought hard for years for equal pay.
The earnings they'll split with the American men could grow if the men continue to advance in the World Cup.
FIFA pays bigger awards to the men's tournament, which draws in more revenue to the international soccer governing body, than to the women's. The agreement between the US men and women is unique.
"To everyone, it should indicate how big the disparity is that FIFA has made between their value of women's soccer and men's soccer, and this is the only way that equity could be achieved, if all parties agreed -- and they did," said Briana Scurry, a former US goalkeeper, appearing on CNN Wednesday.
