World Cup 2022 updates: Ronaldo makes history with goal

Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew, reporting from Rio de Janeiro, said “everybody was jumping up and down” following Brazil’s 2-0 win against Serbia.

“People were crying. They were very happy,” Yanakiew said from the iconic Copacabana beach, where thousands gathered at a fan fest.

“Brazil took a long time to get into the World Cup mood,” she said. “Last week there was almost nothing going on, but now there are thousands of people who are wearing the colours of Brazil, and they’re extremely happy because Brazil has always won its first [World Cup] match.”

The fifth day of the World Cup has concluded with the final whistle in the Brazil-Serbia game. Now all 32 teams have played, and a second round of group stage matches kicks off on Friday with a game between Wales and Iran.

The tournament has seen so far some emotional moments, eyebrow-raising scorelines and new records:

• Iranian players remained silent during their country’s national anthem ahead of their opener against England in an apparent show of solidarity with anti-government protesters at home.
• In perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament, Saudi Arabia bested Argentina 2-1.
• Japan delivered another shocker, beating four-time Champions Germany 2-1 as well.
• Spain ran riot against Costa Rica in a 7-0 win.
• Spain’s Gavi became the youngest World Cup goalscorer since Brazilian legend Pele.
• Cristiano Ronaldo got on the scoresheet in Portugal’s 3-2 victory against Ghana, making him the first player to score in five different World Cups.
• Richarlison scored a stunning volley in Brazil’s 2-0 victory against Serbia in what could be an early candidate for the goal of the tournament.

Brazil have dominated their opening game against Serbia, sending a warning shot to World Cup rivals with an easy 2-0 victory.

A brace from Richarlison broke down a resolute Serbian defence that managed to keep the game scoreless until the 62nd minute.

Qatar has created a joint security task force with partners from 13 countries to ensure a seamless World Cup.

In addition to thousands of troops, warships and jet fighters are securing the tournament. Eight Typhoon jets from the UK’s Royal Air Force are participating in the task force.

A sensational strike by Richarlison has doubled Brazil’s lead against Serbia in the 73rd minute: 2-0.

We may have an early candidate for the goal of the tournament.

Brazil have opened their World Cup account with a 62nd-minute goal against Serbia. Richarlison latched on to a rebounded shot by Vinicius Junior, giving Brazil a 1-0 lead.

Serbia had survived wave after wave of Brazilian attacks, managing to shut out the five-time World Cup champions for more than an hour of play.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in five World Cups – a feat unmatched by any other man. But two women had beaten him to the achievement.

Brazil forward Marta became the first player to score in five World Cups in 2019, and Canada’s Christine Sinclair joined her in that elite club the same year.

Thought you were lucky enough to score a selfie with Brazil’s star Neymar? You might want to take a closer look.

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has said he feels very motivated in advance of Saturday’s World Cup match against Argentina, when he will come up against the “magic” of Lionel Messi.

Ochoa, playing in his fifth World Cup, was Mexico’s hero when he saved a penalty from Poland striker Robert Lewandowski to earn his team a scoreless draw in their opening Group C match.

“We are ready to compete and stand up. Messi has that magic, he can do nothing, and from one minute to the next he can solve things and score a goal,” the 37-year-old Ochoa told reporters. “It’s going to be a nice challenge.”

Cristiano Ronaldo said that he had put his recent troubles at Manchester United behind him after scoring in a record-breaking fifth World Cup as Portugal squeezed past Ghana 3-2.

“It was a beautiful moment, my fifth World Cup, we won, and we started with our good foot. It’s a very important win, we know the first match is crucial, but the world record is also something that makes me very proud,” Ronaldo told reporters.

Premier League giants United announced this week that Ronaldo was leaving after he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag in a TV interview.

“This week we closed the chapter. The rest doesn’t matter,” he said.

Ghana coach Otto Addo has strongly criticised the awarding of a penalty which allowed Portugal to open the scoring in their 3-2 World Cup win.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the penalty and converted it to become the first man to score at five World Cups, but Addo felt his defender Mohammed Salisu had touched the ball first.

“We play the ball and then there is contact. I don’t know what they did, if the video referee was asleep. The fact that they don’t even look at this scene is madness,” the former Bundesliga player told reporters.

“It was a wrong decision,” Addo added, “I asked if I could have a quick word with the referee after the game. I got the answer that he was in a meeting and this was not possible. It would have been nice if he could have had a few minutes for the coach.”

A record 110th record appearance will not mean nearly as much to Gareth Bale unless it comes with a win when Wales play Iran on Friday in a World Cup Group B showdown.

“I haven’t really been focusing too much on the cap thing to be honest,” said Bale, who will move past Chris Gunter as Wales’s most capped men’s player.

“I’m just trying to focus on the game. Obviously, on a personal level it’s an amazing achievement, an honour to represent my country so many times, but it is more important that we try and get that victory tomorrow.”

The kickoff against Serbia marks the start of Brazil’s 22nd World Cup campaign.

The Selecao Canarinho are the only team to appear in every World Cup edition since the tournament’s inception in 1930.

The Group G game between Brazil and Serbia has kicked off in Doha’s Lusail Stadium. Follow live updates from the match here.

Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew, reporting from a Fan Festival in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, said some 25,000 people are expected to convene there to watch Brazil’s World Cup opener against Serbia.

“The fans we’ve been talking to all say they expect Brazil to win, and to win an unprecedented sixth World Cup,” Yanakiew said.

“Everybody is now finally getting into the mood of this game, and … many are wearing yellow t-shirts, which were not being used before, since it was being associated to politics and to the elections in October,” she said.

“Now, finally, Brazil is living up to its fame of being a football country here.”

Brazil have exited the last four world cups early after defeats by European heavyweights – France and Zinedine Zidane in 2006, the Netherlands and Arjen Robben in 2010, Toni Kroos and Germany in 2014, and Belgium and Kevin De Bruyne in 2018.

How will the Seleçao Canarinho fare against Europe’s elite in Qatar?

Read more about Brazil’s squad, preparations and expectations for the 2022 World Cup here.

The last time Brazil won the World Cup, it was partly thanks to the contributions of their then-number 9 – Ronaldo, who scored two goals in the final against Germany in 2002 to secure a 2-0 victory.

The legendary striker remains a beloved figure across Brazil. Earlier this year, Al Jazeera visited the Rio de Janeiro suburb where he grew up.

“I’ve known him since he was a baby … I have the fondest memories,” said 74-year-old Maria da Conceicao Perez Oliveira, who still lives in the neighbourhood.

“Now, seeing him achieve so much and winning the World Cup is just glorious, to see everything that he has achieved and overcome and bring the name of our neighbourhood and our street to the world, it’s just fantastic.”

Read the full story here.

Iranian authorities have arrested a prominent former member of its national football team over his criticism of the government as authorities grapple with nationwide protests.

The semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported that Voria Ghafouri – an outspoken critic of the Iranian authorities – was arrested for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandising against the government”.

Ghafouri recently expressed sympathy for the family of Mahsa Amini, and called for an end to a violent crackdown on protests in Iran.

At Iran’s opening match at the World Cup, the members of the Iranian national team declined to sing along to their national anthem and some fans expressed support for the protests.