SPORTS

Belgium entered the 2022 World Cup with lofty expectations. And yet, Roberto Martinez's side couldn't even advance past Group F.  

After dropping its second match against Morocco, Belgium knew it needed a victory over Croatia this Thursday to keep its dreams of winning the World Cup alive. 

However, Belgium was unable to get the three points it desperately needed. Instead, it had to settle for a scoreless draw. 

As a result, Belgium has been officially eliminated from the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to join Al-Nassr after the World Cup after agreeing a €500 million (£432m) contract with the Saudi Arabian club, according to reports in Spain.

The 37-year-old is searching for a new team after Manchester United terminated his contract last week in response to his controversial interview with Piers Morgan earlier this month.

United were furious after Ronaldo admitted he had no respect for Erik ten Hag and accused the club’s hierarchy of failing to improve facilities at the training ground.

Nayan Mongia, Maninder Singh, Shiv Sunder Das and Ajay Ratra are among the contenders vying to join the Board of Control for Cricket in India's new senior men's selection committee. The application deadline was Monday (November 28), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now expected to create a Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to undertake interviews before making a decision. The new selection panel's first task will be to choose the Indian side for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka at home in 2023.

Meanwhile, the outgoing panel, led by Chetan Sharma, will continue to function. Its members are now monitoring the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-overs competition, and the Cooch Behar Trophy knockout stages. Das is currently employed as a batting coach with Punjab. Prior to that, he worked as a coach at the National Cricket Academy and with the Indian women's squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration, acting as though he had scored once again at the World Cup. Not this time. Instead, it was Bruno Fernandes eventually credited with the goal that set up Portugal's 2-0 win over Uruguay on Monday (November 28), advancing the team into the FIFA World Cup 2022 last 16.

Fernandes curled in a cross from the left that barely went over the head of the leaping Ronaldo and bounced into the far corner of the net in the 54th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 lead. A grinning Ronaldo threw his arms in the air, suggesting he got the final touch, and was embracing Fernandes as multiple close-up replays were being shown on the big screens in Lusail Stadium.

England – along with Germany, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain and Italy – have been urged to quit FIFA after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

That’s the view of former Three Lions striker Stan Collymore, who feels that football’s governing body has disgraced itself with its handling of issues surrounding the tournament.

The ex-Liverpool and Nottingham Forest frontman took aim at FIFA officials in his latest column for The Mirror, arguing that the biggest nations in the game should break away from the ‘corrupt’ organisation.

Controversy has blighted the 22nd edition of the World Cup ever since it was awarded to the Gulf state 12 years ago – and issues have continued to overshadow the action on the pitch in the opening week of the tournament.