Category: Games

Football fans can’t think of a FIFA World Cup without Brazil, as the South American football powerhouse is leading the competition with the most titles and match wins.

World Cup frequenter Brazil are the only team to compete in all 21 World Cup editions.

The record holders won five world titles, the last in South Korea and Japan 2002. The Brazilian national team beat Germany 2-0 in Yokohama, Japan in the 2002 final.

The 2014 champions, Germany, are willing to level with Brazil as Die Mannschaft secured the World Cup four times.

In Qatar 2022, a Neymar-led Brazil will be on the pitch to extend their record.

In 21 World Cup tournaments, Brazil had 73 victories in 109 matches to lead in overall wins. They have 237 points in total.

Germany bagged 67 wins in 109 World Cup games to tally 221 points.

Italy are third on the list with 45 wins in 83 matches. They have 156 points in total.

The Italians, who last bagged the World Cup in 2006, did not qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.

Argentina, who were the 1978 and 1986 champions, have 144 points with 43 wins in 81 matches.

Defending world champions France are fifth on the list with 115 points.

Les Bleus played 66 matches to take 34 wins.

France won the World Cup twice in 1998 (hosts) and 2018.

79 nations played in World Cup

As of the 2018 World Cup held in Russia, 79 national teams played at the final tournaments.

Following Qatar’s debut this winter, this number will be increased to 80.

Eight countries including Brazil, Germany and Italy have won the World Cup.

Uruguay were the inaugural winners in 1930, and France are the current champions, beating Croatia 4-2 in the Russia 2018 final in Moscow.

England won it in 1966, and Spain secured the world title in South Africa 2010. These were both nations’ only World Cup triumphs.

Five nations reached the final but have never won the World Cup.

They were the Netherlands (1974, 1978 and 2010), Czechoslovakia (1934 and 1962), Hungary (1938 and 1954), Sweden (1958) and Croatia (2018).

World Cup champions as hosts

In 21 final tournaments, there were six times that the hosts won the World Cup.

The 1930 hosts, Uruguay, were the champions. Italy were the 1934 hosts and winners.

England won the 1966 World Cup for the first time after a 4-2 win against West Germany in London.

In 1974, West Germany won the World Cup title as the tournament’s hosts.

A Gerd Muller-led West Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in Munich.

The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina, which was their first.

Argentina beat the Netherlands 3-1 to be the world champions in Buenos Aires. Argentine star Mario Kempes scored six goals in that tournament to carry his nation to World Cup success.

The 1998 World Cup was staged in France as Les Bleus, who were led by Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane in the offense, were crowned the world champions at home.

France stunned 1994 world champions Brazil 3-0 in Saint-Denis to win their first world title.

In 1998, Brazil was a team composed of many special players such as goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel, left-back Roberto Carlos, right-back Cafu, midfielder Leonardo and forwards Rivaldo and Ronaldo but returned home with a silver medal after losing to France.

Qatar 2022, the first World Cup ever to be held during the Northern Hemisphere winter, will start on Nov. 20.

During the 29-day event, 32 teams will compete in a total of 64 matches for the 2022 World Cup trophy.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Spanish La Liga’s title contenders Real Madrid were handed their first loss of the season as a 3-2 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Monday evening sent Barcelona to the top of the league.

The first half of the Madrid derby was 2-2 at Rayo Vallecano’s Vallecas Stadium.

Santiago Comesana scored the opener for Rayo Vallecano, but Real Madrid came back from 1-0 deficit after Luka Modric scored from penalty and Eder Militao netted a header for the visitors.

Alvaro Garcia leveled the match near the end of the first half, firing a left-footed volley. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could not parry it.

Rayo Vallecano took the lead again after a penalty that was re-taken by Oscar Trejo in the 67th minute.

The home team secured a 3-2 win to end Real Madrid’s unbeaten streak.

Second-placed Real Madrid now have 32 points in 13 matches.

Barcelona have collected 34 points to lead the La Liga.

Real Madrid’s French star Karim Benzema missed his team’s last three matches due to muscular problems.

Without Benzema, Real Madrid drew with Girona 1-1 at home.

Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano increased their points to 21 to move to the eighth spot in the league table.

After matchday 14 this week, the Spanish league will enter a must break as the 2022 FIFA World Cup is approaching.

The tournament in Qatar will begin on Nov. 20, and go through to Dec. 18.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced Brazil’s squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Monday.

English Premier League regulars Alisson Becker of Liverpool and Manchester City’s Ederson have been called up as the national team’s goalkeepers along with Weverton of Palmeiras.

Thirty-nine-year-old right-back Daniel Alves, who is the third most capped Brazilian with 124 appearances, is also among those called up for the Brazilian squad. The other wing-backs are Sevilla left-back Alex Telles, who will play his maiden World Cup, and two Juventus players, Danilo and Alex Sandro.

Bremer of Juventus, Eder Militao of Real Madrid, Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva, who will play his fourth World Cup, are among the national team defenders.

Five Premier League players — Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta, Liverpool’s Fabinho and Manchester United’s Fred and Casemiro — will play in the midfield of the World Cup squad.

The Brazil squad will have several world-class attackers including PSG star Neymar and Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.

The other teammates of this trio, which include Manchester United’s Antony, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Tottenham’s Richarlison and Flamengo’s Pedro, are also forces to reckon with.

Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino didn’t make the cut to the squad despite having no known injuries.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Aston Villa on Sunday shocked Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 away victory in English Premier League week 18 game.

After a goalless first half, Aston Villa’s Argentine midfielder Emiliano Buendia opened the score in the 50th minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.

Douglas Luiz, Villa’s Brazilian midfielder, made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute.

Tottenham suffered their fifth defeat and fell to the 5th spot in the league, 13 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Manchester City are runners-up with 36 points while Newcastle United placed 3rd with 34 points.

Aston Villa are in the 12th spot with 21 points.

Week 18 Results:

Tottenham Hotspur-Aston Villa: 0-2

Nottingham Forest-Chelsea: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers-Manchester United: 0-1

Bournemouth-Crystal Palace: 0-2

Fulham-Southampton: 2-1

Manchester City-Everton: 1-1

Newcastle United-Leeds United: 0-0

Brighton and Hove Albion-Arsenal: 2-4

West Ham United-Brentford: 0-2

Liverpool-Leicester City: 2-1

Source: Anadolu Agency

Trabzonspor midfielder Marek Hamsik was honored with an order in his homeland Slovakia for his service for football.

Trabzonspor said in a statement on Sunday that Hamsik, 35, was handed the Order of Ludovit Stur 2nd Class by Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova for his contributions to the sports and representing his country abroad.

As part of events marking the 30th anniversary of Slovakia’s independence, the country honored 28 people including Hamsik.

Slovakia became an independent state in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Hamsik, a Trabzonspor player since 2021, spent majority of his career in Italy.

He played for Italian clubs Brescia (2005-2007) and Napoli (2007-2019) before moving to China’s Dalian Yifang in 2019.

Hamsik then played for Sweden’s Goteborg and Trabzonspor.

He won the Italian Cup twice with Napoli and secured an Italian Super Cup with this club.

Hamsik also helped Trabzonspor win the 2022 Turkish Super Lig title and a Turkish Super Cup before the ongoing 2022-23 season.

Playing in the center of the park, Hamsik amassed 135 international caps to score 26 goals for Slovakia.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) tasted their first Ligue 1 defeat of the new year with RC Lens beating them 3-1 on Sunday.

Lens’ Polish midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski drew first blood in the fifth minute at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

Just three minutes later, PSG responded in kind with a goal by young forward Hugo Ekitike.

Belgian attacker Lois Openda brought the lead to the hosts once more in the 28th minute and the first half ended 2-1.

The Parisians’ fans might have been hopeful for a comeback from their team in the second half, but Alexis Claude Maurice burst their bubble with another goal for Lens in the 47th minute and the match ended 3-1.

At the beginning of the game, players paid homage to Brazilian football legend Pele, who passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 82.

Another Ligue 1 club, Olympique Lyon, even played with special match jerseys dedicated to Pele against Clermont, which ended 1-0 in Clermont’s favor.

Following their second defeat this season, PSG remain atop the Ligue 1 standings with 44 points while runners-up Lens are behind 4 points.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Anadolu Efes 80-72 on Thursday in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 16 game.

US guard Lorenzo Brown led the Israeli club to victory with 23 points, seven assists and four rebounds at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.

Efes’ Will Clyburn’s 20 points and seven rebounds were not enough for the Istanbul club.

Anadolu Efes and Maccabi Tel Aviv each have 8 – 7 records and are in the seventh and eighth spots, respectively.

Virtus Bologna will take on Fenerbahce Beko in a Round 16 game Friday.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Brazilian football legend Pele has passed away at age 82, his daughter Kely Nascimento, announced on Thursday.

Seen as the greatest player of all time and named once by FIFA as “the greatest player of the 20th century,” Pele was the quintessential football model for generations of fans and players who followed him.

Pele, who helped Brazil win three FIFA World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, lost his fight against cancer.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pele was the son of Fluminense footballer Dondinho.

He was named after famous American inventor Thomas Edison but after a mistake in his birth certificate the “i” was removed and his parents decided to call him “Edson.”

In 1956, Pele joined a tryout for the professional club Santos FC and impressed his coaches.

Just one year later, Pele, who was 16 at the time, became the top scorer in the league.

After the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, famous European clubs, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United, tried to sign him. Inter Milan even managed to sign him in 1958, but the deal was later scrapped due to a revolt by Santos’ Brazilian fans.

In 1961, the Brazilian government declared Pele an “official national treasure” to prevent him from being transferred out of his home country.

Pele became a legend for Santos, where he bagged six Brazilian Serie A (called Taca Brasil at the time) titles in 1961-65 and 1968 and two Copa Libertadores trophies in 1962 and 1963.

He also bagged two Intercontinental Cups with Santos in 1962 and 1963.

He left Santos in 1975 after scoring an amazing 618 goals in 636 appearances to join US club the New York Cosmos.

Pele netted 66 goals in 107 matches for the Cosmos and won the North American Soccer League title in 1977 with them.

On Oct. 1, 1977, Pele hung up his boots after an exhibition match between the two clubs he played for, the Cosmos and Santos.

International career

Pele’s international debut was on July 7, 1957, in a game against Argentina, which was by Brazil 1-2.

When the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden came up, Pele was suffering from a knee injury. But he was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite that, along with his teammates’ insistence for his selection.

In the final against hosts Sweden on June 29, 1958, Pele, the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match at 17 years and 249 days, netted twice in the game, which ended with a 5-2 victory for Brazil.

He was named the best young player of the tournament.

One year later, Pele scored eight goals in the 1959 South American Championship, now known as the Copa America. Despite losing no matches, Brazil returned home with a silver medal.

In the next World Cup in 1962 in Chile, Pele netted twice against Mexico in the first game but was injured in the next one, against Czechoslovakia. He was out for the rest of the tournament but Brazil prevailed anyway, led by legendary winger Garrincha.

Brazil was the favorite in the 1966 World Cup in England, with an all-star squad including Pele, Garrincha, Gerson, and Gilmar. But it turned into a disaster for the South Americans, as they were shockingly eliminated in the first round, after three games.

Before the 1970 Mexico World Cup, Pele was unsure if he would return to play for the Brazilian National Football Team again. But eventually, he agreed and scored six goals in the qualifiers.

Pele scored his 100th World Cup goal in the final played between Brazil and Italy at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Brazil won the game 4-1 and bagged the Jules Rimet Trophy – the former World Cup named after FIFA President Jules Rimet, replaced in 1974 – while Pele won his third and last World Cup.

He played his last international game against Yugoslavia on July 18, 1971.

During his distinguished career, Pele netted 77 goals in his 92 caps for Brazil.

An active Brazil player, Neymar, 30, scored 77 goals in 124 matches for his national team to tie with Pele.

Playstyle, legacy

Pele was a versatile striker and could send accurate and powerful shots with either foot.

His ability to finish and anticipate opponents, combined with his exceptional vision and intelligence, made him a great threat to the opposition goal.

Pele was a team player thanks to his ability to link up with teammates and his hard-working nature.

“The Black Pearl” scored the most career goals of 1,283 in 1,363 games, including friendlies.

Also nicknamed O Rei (“The King”) after the 1958 World Cup, Pele is often seen as the best player in the history of football.

“Pele was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic,” Dutch legend Johan Cruyff once said about him.

Hungarian star Ferenc Puskas classified him as “more than a player.”

His 1958 World Cup final opponent, Swedish player Sigvard Parling, said: “When Pele scored the fifth goal in that final, I have to be honest and say I felt like applauding.”

Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona, his fiercest rival in the best player category, once said: “It’s too bad we never got along, but he was an awesome player.”

In December 2000, Pele shared the FIFA Player of the Century award with Maradona.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Manchester City beat Leeds United 3-1 on Wednesday in an English Premier League Week 17 match.

The first half seemed destined to end goalless until Manchester City midfielder Rodri found the net in the 46th minute at Elland Road in Leeds.

The Citizens picked up where they left off in the second half when Norwegian star Erling Haaland scored in the 51st minute.

Haaland netted again in minute 64 to score his 20th goal in the league and give a 3-goal lead to his team.

Pascal Struijk brought one back for Leeds with his header in the 73rd minute.

The Citizens raised their points to 35 and kept their chase of leaders Arsenal, who has 40 points.

Leeds United is in the 15th spot in the table with 15 points.

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Source: Anadolu Agency