Let’s just start with a disclaimer, this doesn’t make up for FIFA awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in the first place. But at least world football’s governing body has abandoned plans to have 48 teams take part in the tournament in November 2022. Instead we will get another 32 team tournament although if the last qualification campaign is anything to go by, that might not help the Socceroos who only just scraped into Russia. As it so happens, qualification for 2022 gets underway in two weeks with the first round of Asian Qualifying featuring Mongolia, Brunei, Macau, Sri Lanka, Laos, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Pakistan, Bhutan and Guam. Now if only FIFA would abandon those plans to have it in Qatar at all…
FIFA says the number of teams at the next men’s World Cup will remain at 32.
FIFA had considered expanding the field for the 2022 finals, to be held in Qatar, to 48 teams. https://t.co/UbUqbre07p
— CNN (@CNN) May 22, 2019
Few people would have enjoyed last night’s Eels-Panthers clash but at least one person did, Nathan Cleary. The incumbent NSW halfback stepped up as the Panthers picked up their first win since Round 4. With Origin selection just around the corner (as mentioned ad nauseum by the commentary team), Cleary picked a good time to have his best game of the year.
Nathan Cleary puts his hand up for @NSWRL 🖐#TelstraPremiership Moment of the Match.#NRLEelsPanthers #NRLIndigenous Round pic.twitter.com/fE1Sv0fzcc
— NRL (@NRL) May 23, 2019
Believe it or not, there’s a Rugby World Cup coming up in September this year, you know, the sport Australia was good at for a while before New Zealand stopped choking? Anyway, former Wallabies winger David Campese has suggested Will Genia should be dropped for Reds halfback Tate McDermott. Frankly, Australian rugby might be better off seeing which players who didn’t make the All Blacks squad have Australian grandparents.
David Campese’s Wallabies backline for Rugby World Cup, shock halfback pick, via @ChristypDoran.
Story: https://t.co/VZT6MGAw58 pic.twitter.com/PmQw9UGdUQ
— FOX SPORTS Rugby (@FOXRUGBY) May 23, 2019