International Football
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana


Just a week after battering Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a pre-tournament friendly duel, Portugal, in Group H, take on Ghana, the team that was responsible for Nigeria’s absence.
This is Portugal’s sixth successive FIFA World Cup finals campaign as they square against Ghana, who, absent in 2018, return to face the same team they met in their closing encounter eight years ago – a 2-1 defeat that led to both teams’ exit in Brazil.
Although this is only their eighth FIFA World Cup appearance, Portugal have been ever-presents this century, coming fourth in 2006, the first of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling five tournament participations. The legendary forward will be looking to make history in Qatar as the first player to score in five FIFA World Cups.
Ghana also have something to look forward to. In 2010, they became the third African team to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
In André Ayew, a veteran of the 2010 and 2014 finals, they boast a local hero, with the Ghana skipper having inspired Al Sadd to victory in the 2021-22 Qatar Stars League.
Facts ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana
Ghana and Portugal meet today in a Group H contest of Qatar 2022 as both quest for major marks. Here are some of such.
• Portugal need just one goal to reach the landmark of 50 goals scored at the World Cup.
• Portugal have won three and drawn one of their last four World Cup matches against African opposition.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is featuring for a record-equalling fifth time at the World Cup.
• Ghana’s appearance at Qatar 2022 means they have qualified for four out of five World Cups since making their final competition debut in 2006.
• Ghana have only failed to score in two of their last 11 World Cup matches.
- Portugal team facts
Overall record: Play 30; Win 14 ; Draw 6 ; Lost 10 Goals For 49; Goals Against 35; Goal Difference: 14
Biggest win: 7-0 Portugal-Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Biggest defeat: 0-4 Portugal-Germany (16/06/2014)
Highest scoring draw: 3-3 – Portugal-Spain (15/06/2018)
Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Portugal 5-3 Korea DPR (23/07/1966)
Most goals scored in a match: 7 goals – Portugal 7-0 Korea DPR (21/06/2010)
Most goals conceded in a match: 4 goals – Portugal 0-4 Germany (16/06/2014)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 17 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 2 – 1986 (3 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 8 – 1966 (6 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 1 – 2010 (4 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 4 (1966, 2006)
Successive defeats: 3 (1986-2002)
Successive draws: 1 (six times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 5 (2006), 5 (2014-2018)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2006-2010), 4 (2010-2014)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 7 (1966-1986)
Successive matches without scoring: 3 (2010-2014)
Successive clean sheets: 3 (2010)
Ghana team facts
FIFA WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
Overall record: Play: 12 Win 4 ; Draw 3; Lost 5; Goals For 13; Goals Against 16; Goals Difference -3
Biggest win: 2-0 Ghana-Czech Republic (17/06/2006)
Biggest defeat: 0-3 Ghana-Brazil (27/06/2006)
Highest scoring draw: 2-2 Germany-Ghana (21/06/2014)
Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Germany 2-2 Ghana (21/06/2014)
Most goals scored in a match: 2 goals (four times)
Most goals conceded in a match: 3 goals – Ghana 0-3 Brazil (27/06/2006)
Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 5 – 2010 (5 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 6 – 2006 (4), 2014 (3)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup: 4 – 2010 (5 matches)
FIFA WORLD CUP STREAKS
Successive wins: 2 (2006)
Successive defeats: 1 (five times)
Successive draws: 1 (three times)
Successive matches without a defeat: 2 (three times)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2010-present)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 5 (2010-present)
Successive matches without scoring: 1 (three times)
Successive clean sheets: 1 (2006, 2010)
International Football
Like father like son, Davide Ancelotti becomes Brazil’s Botafogo manager

In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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International Football
Players’ union, FIFPRO, wants 20-minute halftimes, more cooling breaks amid extreme heat

Global players’ union FIFPRO is exploring whether extending halftime to 20 minutes and introducing more frequent cooling breaks could better protect players from extreme heat.
Nine of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup face conditions considered “extreme risk” for heat-related illness.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey and Philadelphia are expected to face dangerous levels of heat and humidity, posing player safety concerns and fuelling calls for mandatory cooling aids or schedule changes.
FIFPRO’s heat risk assessments are based on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure combining temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed to estimate how environmental conditions affect the body’s ability to cool itself.
Under FIFPRO guidelines, a WBGT reading above 28 degrees Celsius indicates conditions in which matches should be postponed or rescheduled to protect players’ health.
By comparison, world soccer governing body FIFA’s own guidelines set the extreme risk threshold higher, at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT – but even by that standard, six of the nine cities are still projected to exceed safe limits.
Major League Soccer in the U.S. has a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.
“Cooling breaks at the 30th minute and 75th minutes are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it does not make sense,” said Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s Medical Director.
“Even if you ingest more than 200 millilitres of fluid, you already cannot take it all. So I would definitely like to see some project where we look at the efficacy of perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling breaks – every 15 minutes, rather than only one during each half.”
LONGER HALFTIMES
Gouttebarge also questioned whether the traditional 15-minute halftime interval is sufficient when matches are played in extreme heat.
“You can imagine that halftime of 15 minutes might not be enough in order to decrease the core temperature,” he said.
“It could be a halftime of 20 minutes which would be significant. That has been shown in the laboratory and FIFPRO, together with the national union in Portugal in August, we are going to test this kind of mitigation strategy.”
The urgency of stronger heat protocols became clear at this month’s Club World Cup where two matches — Benfica-Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea-Esperance in Philadelphia exceeded the WBGT threshold FIFPRO considers unsafe.
“According to our position, those games should have been postponed later that day or rescheduled,” Gouttebarge said.
FIFPRO officials acknowledged that FIFA has responded constructively during the tournament by lowering thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and improving pitch-side hydration, but stressed that proactive planning is critical.
“FIFA have been quite responsive once the tournament was under way,” said Alex Phillips, FIFPRO General Secretary.
“They have actually modified how they’ve been dealing with heat during the matches based on FIFPRO’s input, which is credit to the work of the team. Obviously, it would have been better if that happened in advance, but it’s better that they have adapted.”
FIFPRO warned that the risks highlighted at the Club World Cup are a preview of what players could face at the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“This is not just affecting the Club World Cup, but also future tournaments either in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world,” said Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Policy & Strategic Relations.
“We need a better balance between commercial interests and the health and safety of players,” he added, referring to earlier kick-off times to accommodate European television audiences.
-Reuters
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International Football
Former England and Man Utd midfielder Ince charged with drink-driving

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Ince has been charged with drink-driving, police said on Monday.
Ince, who earned 53 caps for England and won two Premier League titles during his six years at United, has been released on bail and will appear in court on July 18.
“The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man,” the Cheshire police said in a statement.
“Paul Ince, of Quarry Road, Neston, has since been charged with drink-driving.”
Reuters has contacted Ince’s representative for comment.
After retiring as a player, Ince led Milton Keynes Dons to a League Two title in 2007-08. He most recently managed Reading during 2022-23.
-Reuters
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