World Football

Manchester United are reportedly "furious" after Cristiano Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan where he criticized the club and manager Erik ten Hag, per Rob Dawson of ESPN.

Ronaldo said on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he believes he was being forced out of the club by Ten Hag and others at the executive level:

According to Dawson, Ronaldo and his representatives were actively seeking an exit from the team during the summer transfer window but were unable to find a new home.

Manchester United leaders are also upset at the timing of the latest interview, which was released after the club's 2-1 win over Fulham in the final match before the World Cup. Ronaldo didn't feature in the match and has made just four starts in the English Premier League this season, tallying only one goal in 10 total appearances.

In October, the 37-year-old was suspended for one match after leaving the pitch early as an unused substitute.

It's been a significant change from last season, when Ronaldo scored 18 goals with three assists in 30 league appearances (27 starts).

After the turmoil of this campaign, the forward said he does not respect his own manager.

"I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me," Ronaldo said in the interview, via Dawson. "If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."

The full Piers Morgan interview will be shown Wednesday.

In addition to the disrespect to the manager, Ronaldo also claimed the club has not made upgrades since Sir Alex Ferguson retired:

The superstar played for Ferguson at Manchester United from 2003-09, winning three league titles with one Championship League trophy.

The club took offense to this statement as well, with Dawson reporting the recent changes.

"Sources told ESPN that the pool, canteen and recovery areas have all been revamped, while more than £200,000 was spent to build a state-of-the-art analysis and meeting room at the specific request of Ten Hag," Dawson wrote.

Ronaldo will now represent Portugal at the World Cup, but it's clear his time with Manchester United will not last too much longer.

Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the best playmakers in world soccer for years.

The 31-year-old Belgian will have yet another chance to show his class on the biggest stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

De Bruyne, who plays his club soccer for Manchester City, is aiming to score at his third World Cup in succession while leading Belgium to its third straight quarterfinal appearance.

The Belgian star is known most for his remarkable passing ability, but he can also unleash powerful shots from long distance.

This article was produced in partnership with Prada Luna Rossa.

Top Club Highlights

De Bruyne's accuracy from outside the box was on display in the weeks leading up to the World Cup in the English Premier League with Manchester City.

The Belgian midfielder unleashed a free-kick into the top right corner of the net against Leicester City and finished from distance after one touch versus Brighton & Hove Albion.

De Bruyne has the quality to stun even his world-class teammates at Manchester City, with Erling Haaland left impressed after this assist against Newcastle United.

De Bruyne typically is not a high-volume scorer, but he showed off his scoring class at a rapid rate at the end of the 2021-22 EPL season against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He had four goals in that match, and his strike to seal a hat trick demonstrated his poise and ruthlessness when given a sight of goal.

De Bruyne has been at the heart of Manchester City's success in recent years, which has included four Premier League titles.

Top Belgium Highlights

De Bruyne scored his first World Cup goal in 2014 against the United States in the round of 16. He also provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku to make it 2-0 in extra time, with the Red Devils eventually winning 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals in Brazil.

Four years later, he scored against Brazil in the 2018 quarterfinals to finish off a Belgium counterattack, striking crisply into the bottom right corner from just outside the penalty area. It proved to be the goal that sealed Belgium's passage to the semifinals, where they lost to tournament winners France.

He also distributed two assists in Russia, one in the group stage against Algeria and one in the third-place playoff against England.

The midfielder had one goal and three assists at UEFA Euro 2020. He struck first time from just outside the box to seal a comeback win for Belgium over Denmark in the group stage.

De Bruyne enters Qatar with 25 international goals, the last of which occurred in September against Wales in the Nations League. Three of his last five international tallies have come against the Welsh.

Biggest Strengths

De Bruyne does not appear to have any weaknesses.

He is one of the best passers in all of soccer, and his finishing has improved over the years. His strikes from distance are hard to stop thanks to his power and precision.

De Bruyne has played with some of the finest strikers in the world, and his passing has significantly aided the likes of Haaland, Lukaku, Sergio Agüero and other star strikers.

The Belgian ace can pick apart a team on his own, and that makes him one of the deadliest attacking players headed to the 32-team tournament in Qatar.

World Cup Outlook

The expectations are high for De Bruyne and Belgium in Qatar.

Belgium advanced to the final eight in the 2014 World Cup and won the third-place match in 2018. It also reached the quarterfinal round at the last two Euros.

The Red Devils should top Group F, in which they'll meet Croatia, Canada and Morocco.

De Bruyne may be asked to do even more in attack since Lukaku has been dealing with injuries at Inter Milan throughout the 2022-23 Serie A campaign.

If he plays in every match and Belgium makes it to the final, De Bruyne will earn his 100th cap in what would be the most important game of his illustrious career.

The losing streak is over. For at least a moment, the United States national women's team can slowly back away from the panic button.

The USWNT earned a crucial 2-1 win over Germany on Sunday, a match that was a friendly in name only for an American side that has been struggling the past two months. The victory ended a three-match losing streak for the USWNT after defeats to Spain and England last month and Germany earlier this week.

Coming into the game, the U.S. was just 1-5-1 against top-10 ranked opponents in recent play. Sunday's turn of form was vital for the confidence of this team.

Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh were the heroes, scoring second-half goals in the span of two minutes to earn the win:

After the angst and consternation following the previous loss to Germany, USWNT Twitter responded with almost a sense of relief on Sunday:

But the sequence that truly changed the game came just moments before the goals, as a huge Alyssa Naeher save kept the game at just 1-0 and kept the door open for the comeback.

Will Sunday's win over Germany gloss over the other issues that plagued the United States the past two months?

It shouldn't. Manager Vlatko Andonovski's tactics deserve a longer look. Germany still moved through the U.S. midfield with virtual ease for much of the game on Sunday. For long stretches, the United States attackers struggled to put together cohesive moves in the final third, blowing a number of brilliant chances.

Sunday's performance wasn't surgery and a cast. It felt more like a leg brace and a ride to the hospital. Deeper issues remain that need to be resolved before next year's World Cup.

But a win's a win, and this one was very important for a struggling USWNT. It might just provide the jolt of confidence and cohesion this team has been seeking.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar begins in seven days, and while Cristiano Ronaldo has his sights set on winning Portugal its first-ever World Cup title, he took the time to reflect on his season with Manchester United.

In a candid interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said he feels "betrayed" by the way Manchester United has treated him in his return this season and feels the club is trying to force him out:

Ronaldo opted to return to Manchester United during the 2021-22 season after departing the club for Real Madrid in 2009. He spent nine seasons with Los Blancos before joining Juventus in 2018.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner played one game for Juventus in 2021-22 before signing a two-year deal with the Red Devils in August 2021 with the option for a third year.

However, Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford hasn't gone as he expected. While he scored 24 goals across all competitions last season, Manchester United finished sixth in the Premier League and were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16.

In addition, the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League this season and are instead participating in the UEFA Europa League. They are currently fifth in the Premier League table with an 8-2-4 record.

Ronaldo's desire to compete in the Champions League led to reports in July that he requested a transfer from Manchester United in order to "continue to play Champions League football" in 2022-23.

However, Ronaldo also told Morgan that he is unhappy with the lack improvements the club has made since he left in 2009.

"The progress was zero," Ronaldo said. "Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed."

Since July, things have unraveled further for Ronaldo, who has been relegated to the bench, making just four Premier League starts for the Red Devils this season. He has just one goal in 10 Premier League appearances, and tensions between himself and manager Erik Ten Hag continue to worsen.

The hostility between Ronaldo and Ten Hag appeared to hit its peak last month when the Portuguese international refused to come off the bench as a late substitute in a match against Tottenham and instead went back to the locker room.

That led to Ten Hag suspending Ronaldo for the club's next match against Chelsea, and he also did not train with the senior team during that suspension.

In his bombshell interview with Morgan, Ronaldo said he doesn't have respect for Ten Hag because the manager has no respect for him.

"If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you," Ronaldo told Morgan.

With the World Cup set to begin, Manchester United will not be back in action until Dec. 7 in a friendly against Cádiz CF.

It's hard to envision how Ronaldo can move forward with the club following his interview with Morgan. If he has played his final game with the Red Devils, it will be interesting to see whom he suits up for next.

Dua Lipa confirmed she isn't performing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and challenged Qatar to improve its human rights record.

The British singer wrote in an Instagram story she "will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup."

Human rights advocates raised concerns almost immediately after Qatar was named the World Cup host country in 2010. Thousands of migrant workers have died in Qatar since then as well, with at least 37 of the deaths tied to the construction of World Cup venues.

"Despite government reforms, migrant workers continued to face labour abuses and struggled to change jobs freely," Amnesty International wrote. "Curtailment of freedom of expression increased in the run-up to FIFA World Cup 2022. Women and LGBTI people continued to face discrimination in law and practice."

As a form of protest, apparel company Hummel rolled out monochrome kits for the Denmark national team, announcing it "[didn't] wish to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives."

FIFA prohibited the Danes from wearing training shirts that read "Human Rights for All."

The World Cup kicks off on Nov. 20 with host Qatar playing Ecuador in the opening match of the tournament.

The United States women's national team continues the run-up to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Thursday against one of the top squads in the world.

Vlatko Andonovski's side will test itself versus Germany, which comes into the two-game set on American soil ranked third in the world.

The USWNT sit in a rare spot in need of a bounce-back performance after the two September friendlies in Europe did not go its way.

With defeats to England and Spain, the Americans lost consecutive games for the first time since 2017, and it needs a better showing against Germany to close out the calendar year.

Match Info

Date: Thursday, November 10

Start Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Live Stream: Fox Sports app & FoxSports.com

Preview

The USWNT comes into Thursday's game at DRV PNK Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, with something to prove.

That has not been the case for most of 2022, as the Americans ran rampant through the North American competitions and against weaker foes.

The losses against England and Spain likely lit a spark under the team when it comes to improvements that must be made ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand.

Against England, the USWNT conceded early before Sophia Smith knocked in an equalizer, but the Lionesses were back in front five minutes later and held on for the victory.

The pain cut much deeper against Spain because the 2-0 defeat to the European side came against a weakened lineup. Some of Spain's top players were not in action because of a dispute with the federation.

The USWNT was understandably drained on an emotional level during its European trip because it occurred on the heels of the release of the Yates Report, which detailed years of abuse and misconduct throughout U.S. Soccer.

The usual high level of play was not there for patches of the two games in Europe, and the weight of the off-field situations could have affected the team, especially on the back end of the European trip.

The American players have had a chance to reset over the last month and turn their focus to the pair of matches against Germany, which will serve as yet another test ahead of the World Cup.

Germany is ranked third in the world, and it has two opportunities to defeat the Americans on its own soil. The two squads will meet again on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

Germany reeled off three dominant wins after losing in the UEFA Euro 2022 final to England. The Germans beat Turkey and Bulgaria by a combined 11-0 scoreline in World Cup qualification and downed France, 2-1, in an October friendly.

Alexandra Popp leads a dangerous German attack that contains four players with a double-digit goal tally in international matches. The rest of the German squad carries a bit of inexperience. Seven of the nine midfielders and five of the nine defenders in the squad are 26 or younger. Only one defender and three midfielders have more than 30 caps.

Germany will pose a tough challenge because of the high quality of play it has displayed throughout 2022. It did not give up a goal at Euro 2022 until the semifinal round, and it conceded three goals in its last nine matches.

The USWNT had a similar streak in place before its trips to England and Spain. It produced nine consecutive clean sheets, including five at the Concacaf W Championship this summer.

Smith will once again be the USWNT's top threat up top. She has been in fantastic form all season long and will likely lead the forward line at the World Cup. Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Mallory Pugh will also contribute up top, but Smith has been the best forward in American soccer this season.

The concern for the Americans will come in defense. Becky Sauerbrunn and Crystal Dunn are in the squad, but after that, there are zero players with more than 25 caps. Some of the newer defenders to the program will get a chance to make their case for inclusion in the World Cup squad versus a tough opponent.

The Americans might hold an edge because the match is on home soil, but this is about as even as it gets in terms of a matchup in women's soccer, and it is a fantastic tune-up for the USWNT ahead of the World Cup.

Prediction: USWNT 1, Germany 1

The 26-man squad that will travel to Qatar for the upcoming World Cup is set. Manager Gregg Berhalter and U.S. Soccer announced the selections on Wednesday.

One of the biggest surprises was that goalkeeper Zack Steffen didn't make the cut, with Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Matt Turner (Arsenal) and Sean Johnson (NYCFC) instead filling out the position for the USMNT. Turner is expected to be the starter.

Ricardo Pepi's fall from grace for this USMNT side has been significant after he once seemed like the future of the position. So it wasn't a surprise that his exclusion was one of the main storylines.

"In some of the cases it's more about what we have then what we don't have," Berhalter said on the ESPN broadcast announcing the selections regarding Steffen and Pepi. "With the three goalkeepers on the roster we feel great. We feel good about it. We saw a lot of progess with Turner in his last six months. We know Horvath has been competing at a good level in the Championship. And Johnson has been a mainstay in this group since Day 1. So we're comfortable with that pairing."

"In the case of [Pepi], that was a really difficult conversation to have with him," Berhalter continued. "And it's always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, scores three goals in qualifying and isn't going to be a part of the program. And again, it's more about who we did add that we felt good about."

Twitter had its take on Berhalter's roster choices, per usual:

Most of the roster was to be expected, however.

Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson have been mainstays for the USMNT in its youth movement and will headline the 2022 World Cup Squad.

Others, like Yunus Musah and Timothy Weah, have continued to prove their value for the USMNT and should play a big role.

There were some question marks coming into Wednesday, however.

Had young midfielder Malik Tillman proven enough to earn his spot on the plane? (Apparently not.) Who was going to make the cut among the forwards, a huge position of concern for the Americans, between players like Paul Arriola, Pepi, Josh Sargent, Jordan Morris, Haji Wright and Jordan Pefok?

Another question was how injured players—most notably defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson—would be replaced on the roster. The answer on defense was Ream and Scally.

The absences of Steffen and Pepi in particular will cause debate. This wasn't a straightforward roster selection for Berhalter. But the USMNT will head into the World Cup with most of its best players healthy and hungry to prove they belong after missing the event four years ago.

Onward to Qatar.

The 2022 UEFA Champions League will feature some exciting matchups in the round of 16 after Monday's draw.

Liverpool and Real Madrid will battle in a rematch of last year's final, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will repeat the 2020 championship match.

Here are the full draws for each of the remaining clubs ahead of the knockout stage.

Round-of-16 Matchups

• RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City

• Club Brugge vs. SL Benfica

• Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

• AC Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur

• Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Napoli

• Borussia Dortmund vs. Chelsea

• Inter Milan vs. Porto

• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich

Fixture Dates

Round of 16 (1st leg): Feb. 14, 15, 21, 22

Round of 16 (2nd leg): March 7, 8, 14, 15

Quarterfinals (1st leg): April 11-12

Quarterfinals (2nd leg): April 18-19

Semifinals (1st leg): May 9-10

Semifinals (2nd leg): May 16-17

Final: June 10

The draw showed there are serious consequences to finishing second in the group stage because it leaves you open to facing elite competition right away.

Liverpool was second to Napoli in Group A and will face titleholders Real Madrid, which has become a familiar foe:

Real Madrid won 1-0 in last year's final with a goal by Vinicius Júnior, while Karim Benzema remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. Liverpool still have a loaded roster led by Mohamed Salah, but the club's inconsistency in 2022-23 could be an issue against a tough opponent.

Paris Saint-Germain will also have a challenge in the next round against Bayern Munich, the only club to win all six group-stage matches.

PSG remain a title contender with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but they have been stymied by difficult draws.

The French giants beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich in 2021 before falling to Manchester City in the semifinals. Last year, the team lost to eventual winner Real Madrid.

If the team is going to advance this season, there won't be any room for error.

Chelsea will face Borussia Dortmund in a matchup that will be intriguing for American fans. Not only could Christian Pulisic face his former club, he could also battle against fellow United States men's national team star Gio Reyna.

Manchester City remains one of the favorites to win a title and will look to continue the run against RB Leipzig. Erling Haaland, who's familiar with the German club after starring for Dortmund, will try to take the team over the top after falling short in the past few years.

There will also be plenty of fans tuning into the high-profile battle between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan that features plenty of star power on both sides.

The next round will begin Feb. 14.