PreviewSeven Reds set to begin World Cup group stage
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Ibrahima Konate, Darwin Nunez and Virgil van Dijk are set to participate in the tournament, which gets under way on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s all the details on how to follow their progress…
Alexander-Arnold and Henderson (England)
The Reds pair are with England’s 26-man squad in Qatar and will be the first of the club’s representatives to potentially take to the field at the tournament.
The Three Lions, semi-finalists in 2018, meet Iran at 1pm GMT on Monday in the second fixture of the opening phase as Group B gets under way.
Gareth Southgate’s team, who were also runners-up at Euro 2020 last year, then face USA and Wales as they seek a place in the knockout rounds.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
- v Iran – November 21, 1pm
- v USA – November 25, 7pm
- v Wales – November 29, 7pm
Van Dijk (Netherlands)
Van Dijk’s participation will also begin on the competition’s second day, with the centre-back to captain the Netherlands in their tilt at the trophy.
First up for the Dutch is a clash with Senegal – who will be without Liverpool legend Sadio Mane for the tournament due to injury – to kick off their Group A schedule.
Louis van Gaal’s charges will move on to meetings with Ecuador and hosts Qatar as they target the nation’s maiden World Cup success.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
- v Senegal – November 21, 4pm
- v Ecuador – November 25, 4pm
- v Qatar – November 29, 3pm
Konate (France)
Liverpool’s No.5 is a member of the France squad aiming to achieve back-to-back World Cup triumphs, with Didier Deschamps’ team the winners four years ago.
Having made an impressive return from injury for his club before the break, Konate was delighted to get the call from Les Bleus for the tournament, describing it as ‘a childhood dream come true’.
The French defence gets under way against Australia, and contests versus Denmark and Tunisia follow for the holders in Group D.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
- v Australia – November 22, 7pm
- v Denmark – November 26, 4pm
- v Tunisia – November 30, 3pm
Nunez (Uruguay)
With nine goals in 18 appearances for the Reds so far this season, Nunez will now aim to deliver on the world stage for Uruguay.
“Everyone is strong, but so are we. We want to go far, our goal is to win the World Cup,” said the striker ahead of the competition.
The two-time champions take on countries from three other continents in Group H, in the form of South Korea, Portugal and Ghana.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
- v South Korea – November 24, 1pm
- v Portugal – November 28, 7pm
- v Ghana – December 2, 3pm
Alisson and Fabinho (Brazil)
Brazil’s quest for a sixth World Cup victory will be aided by the talents of Alisson and Fabinho, with goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel also part of the contingent.
Tite’s hotly-tipped team qualified for the finals in emphatic style, winning 14 and losing none of their 17 preliminaries, with 40 goals scored and just five conceded.
They’ll be one of the last countries to commence their journey in the tournament and face Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
- v Serbia – November 24, 7pm
- v Switzerland – November 28, 4pm
- v Cameroon – December 2, 7pm