World Cup news LIVE: England offer Harry Kane fitness update ahead of USA clash
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England continue their World Cup campaign on Friday against the USA, with Gareth Southgate’s side boosted by the news that Harry Kane has escaped injury on his ankle following a scan.
The England captain has returned to training after fears he would miss the Group B clash, after receiving a blow to his ankle following a heavy challenge in the opening 6-2 win against Iran on Monday.
Southgate has now confirmed the striker will be fit to face the USA. “Harry is fine,” the England manager said. “He has worked slightly separately from the group but all good for Friday night. He had a scan [on Wednesday] to make sure everything is fine.”
Elsewhere, the dust is still settling on the second major shock of the World Cup, after Japan’s stunning victory over Germany. The result came after Germany made a protest of Fifa’s decision to impose sporting sactions on the ‘OneLove’ armband.
Spain caught the eye with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica while Belgium scraped past Canada in their opening match. Today’s action begins with Switzerland against Cameroon before attention turns to Group G with Uruguay’s match with South Korea and Portugal’s clash with Ghana.
All eyes will therefore be on Cristiano Ronaldo in his first match since leaving Manchester United - with Brazil also in action later as they take on Serbia. Follow all the latest news from the World Cup in our blog, below
World Cup news LIVE: Latest updates from Qatar
Harry Kane fit to face USA, Gareth Southgate confirms
Harry Kane trained on Thursday after ankle injury scare
Germany won’t be punished by Fifa for World Cup protest
Switzerland face Cameroon in opening match of the day in Group G
England issue Harry Kane fitness update
09:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Gareth Southgate says Harry Kane is “fine” and fit to start against the USA on Friday. The England captain had to undergo a scan after receiving a blow to his ankle against Iran, but fears he could miss the second match of Group B have been eased.
“Harry is fine. He has worked slightly separately from the group but all good for Friday night,” Southgate said. “He had a scan [on Wednesday] to make sure everything is fine.”
Fernandes not worried about United’s future after Ronaldo exit
09:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Bruno Fernandes is not concerned about the future of Manchester United following Cristiano Ronaldo‘s dramatic departure, insisting that he does not need to “pick a side”.
Ronaldo’s Old Trafford contract was terminated with immediate effect on Tuesday as a result of the damaging tell-all interview in which he criticised both the club’s hierarchy and manager Erik ten Hag.
The 37-year-old has left United without a pay-off and will now play alongside international team-mate Fernandes as a free agent in Portugal’s opening World Cup game against Ghana on Thursday.
Fernandes will return to Old Trafford after the World Cup in Qatar without his compatriot but said that he does not feel under pressure to side with either Ronaldo or his club in the dispute.
Bruno Fernandes not worried about Manchester United’s future
‘We are to blame’: German inquest begins after shock World Cup defeat to Japan
09:00 , Richard Jolly
“Some people were on the pitch. They thought it was all over. Because it was and the 11 Japan players were joined by the rest of the squad, all streaming across the Khalifa Stadium turf, headed for the corner in euphoric, exhilarating celebration of their greatest ever win. The turn of pace, it seemed, was not confined to the substitutes who overran Germany in a remarkable final half-hour.
“The buoyant Japanese were energised by the astonishing, by Shuichi Gonda’s quadruple save, by the goals the impact subs Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano delivered, by the sudden sense that, from a seemingly routine victory for Germany, this became the kind of occasion that will be remembered for decades. “A historical victory, to say the least,” stated their manager Hajime Moriyasu.”
‘We are to blame’: German inquest begins after shock defeat to Japan
Japan fans praised for cleaning up World Cup stadium after historic win over Germany
08:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Japanese football fans won praise on social media after cleaning up Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium following their momentous win over Germany at the Qatar World Cup.
Japan came back from behind to win 2-1 thanks to second-half strikes by Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano, the latter with a brilliant individual goal which secured the Group E victory over the four-time world champions.
Video on social media showed Japanese fans filling rubbish bags with litter and rubbish from around their seats after the full-time whistle.
Such images have become commonplace at major tournaments and were also seen at the men’s World Cup in Russia four years ago, garnering praise from around the world after their team were knocked out of the tournament by Belgium in the round of 16.
Japan fans praised for cleaning up World Cup stadium after historic win over Germany
Kyle Walker targeting ‘biggest prize of all’ after handing England fitness boost
08:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Kyle Walker is desperate to help this talented England side win the “biggest prize of all” after returning from injury just in time to go to the World Cup.
A regular starter in the last three major tournaments, it looked like the 32-year-old could be watching the tournament in Qatar from afar due to a persistent a groin complaint.
Sustained in early September when Manchester City played Aston Villa, Walker aggravated it on England duty against Germany and the derby clash with Manchester United on 3 October proved the “final straw”.
Germany won’t be punished by Fifa for World Cup protest
08:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Germany’s players will not face any disciplinary action from Fifa after taking the OneLove armband protest to a new level as their players covered their mouths during a team photo at the World Cup.
The move marked another day of tension between the seven European nations who supported the OneLove campaign and Fifa, with the group – which includes the English and Welsh FAs – exploring their legal options over the matter.
The Football Association declined to comment on whether the England team would copy the German gesture ahead of their match against the United States on Friday, while the Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said he was “furious” with Fifa’s behaviour.
England and Wales were only told hours before their opening matches on Monday that they would face sporting sanctions if captains Harry Kane and Gareth Bale wore the rainbow-coloured armbands.
Germany won’t be punished by Fifa for World Cup protest
Harry Kane trains for England after ankle injury scare ahead of World Cup clash with USA
08:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Harry Kane trained on Wednesday and England are optimistic the striker will be fit for Friday’s World Cup 2022 clash against the United States.
Gareth Southgate’s men enjoyed the Three Lions’ best start to a major tournament, thrashing Iran 6-2 as their quest for Qatar glory began in style on Monday.
Kane provided two assists and played 75 minutes of the Group B opener, having seemingly escaped injury despite going down gripping his right foot in pain early in the second half.
Southgate downplayed the issue but the 29-year-old left the Khalifa International Stadium with a slight limp and his right ankle lightly strapped following a poor challenge by Morteza Pouraliganji.
Kane was due for a scan on his right ankle ahead of the US game and it seems the striker has avoided injury as he trained with the group on Wednesday.
Kane trains for England after ankle injury scare ahead of clash with USA
World Cup news LIVE: Latest updates from Qatar
08:00 , Jamie Braidwood
England continue their World Cup campaign on Friday against the USA, with Gareth Southgate’s side boosted by the news that Harry Kane has escaped injury on his ankle following a scan.
The England captain has returned to training after fears he would miss the Group B clash, after receiving a blow to his ankle following a heavy challenge in the opening 6-2 win against Iran on Monday.
Elsewhere, the dust is still settling on the second major shock of the World Cup, after Japan’s stunning victory over Germany. The result came after Germany made a protest of Fifa’s decision to impose sporting sactions on the ‘OneLove’ armband.
Spain caught the eye with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica while Belgium scraped past Canada in their opening match. Today’s action begins with Switzerland against Cameroon before attention turns to Group G with Uruguay’s match with South Korea and Portugal’s clash with Ghana.
All eyes will therefore be on Cristiano Ronaldo in his first match since leaving Manchester United - with Brazil also in action later as they take on Serbia.
