World Cup 2022 LIVE: England squad meet migrant workers in Qatar as Sadio Mane is ruled out for Senegal

“The shirt Pele wore in Wales’ last match in a World Cup ended up being used by a Sunday league pub team in Swansea. It may have cost Mel Charles, the defender who swapped shirts with the 17-year-old in Gothenburg, a small fortune in latter years when such memorabilia would have been valuable; as it was, Charles, who played in era when the maximum wage was £20 a week, could not afford a new kit for the amateur side he managed and so reached into his stash of former international shirts.

“Should, say, Joe Rodon or Chris Mepham end up with Lionel Messi’s top in a potential quarter-final in December, it is unlikely to meet with a similar fate. But it is one illustration of how times have changed since Wales last graced the global stage. In 1958, 25 percent of the teams were the Home Nations; there was a British pot in the draw. And if that ensured they could not face each other in the group stage then, now, as in Euro 2016, Wales are pooled with England.

“They topped that pool on their way to the semi-finals and a small country have shown they can go a long way.”

Here’s Richard Jolly on why Wales are ready to prove again that sidekicks can star in their own right:

“As England flew out to Doha this week, the ‘buzzing’ players immediately got back into old groups, but not cliques. This squad “isn’t built like that”. There’s a real team spirit, and sources both inside and outside the camp sincerely say you’d struggle to find a group more united at this World Cup. It might be England’s best advantage over everyone else.

“It might also, however, hint at a growing weakness.

“The group’s togetherness comes from the fact a core of the squad have been together for so long, their bonds fortified by the joy of an uplifting journey. This World Cup squad actually only features five names that are different from the original 26 for Euro 2020, before two enforced changes.

“It raises two major questions that are going to frame England’s entire World Cup…”

Here’s Miguel Delaney on whether this Three Lions group have already missed their chance at glory on the biggest stage:

A number of international friendlies took place last night, with Spain and Portugal among the nations to have taken to the pitch before the World Cup begins next week.

Spain, who will start their Qatar campaign against Costa Rica on Wednesday, comfortably beat home side Jordan 3-1 thanks to goals from Ansu Fati, Gavi and Nico Williams. Jordan pulled one back in the final minutes of the game, but Luis Enrique will be content with his team’s performance as they prepare to take on Costa Rica, Germany and Japan in Group E.

Elsewhere, Portugal were 4-0 victors on home turf as they faced Nigeria. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored twice, with Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario also netting as Cristiano Ronaldo missed the fixture altogether. Portugal, who are part of Group H at the World Cup, will line up against Ghana on Wednesday then Uruguay and South Korea.

Senegal star Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup after undergoing surgery for his leg injury, Bayern Munich and the Senegalese football federation said on Thursday.

Bayern said the 30-year-old Mane had an operation in Innsbruck, Austria late on Thursday to reattach a tendon to the head of his right fibula bone, treating an injury he sustained playing for Bayern in a Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen on 8 November.

“The FC Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days,” Bayern said.

Senegal team doctor Manuel Afonso earlier announced the end of Mane’s lingering hopes of playing at least some part in the World Cup.

“Unfortunately, today’s MRI shows us that the progress was not as favourable as we had hoped,” Afonso said. “The result is unfortunately us withdrawing Sadio from the World Cup.”

James Maddison was absent from England training on Thursday, leaving his potential role in England’s World Cup-opener up in the air.

The Leicester midfielder was somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad, despite his impressive form this season, due to the fact that the 25-year-old has just one England cap to his name – and that having come almost three years ago to the day.

Maddison was substituted during the first half of Leicester’s 2-0 win against West Ham on Saturday, in each team’s last Premier League outing before the World Cup.

Foxes coach Brendan Rodgers insisted after the match that the midfielder was simply taken off as a precaution, with Maddison having felt his hamstring as he exited the pitch.

England take on Iran in their Group B-opener on Monday, with Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker having already been ruled out of that game.

Gareth Southgate believes England have “made a rod for their own back” by speaking out on human rights at the World Cup but will not stop his players from talking on such issues in Qatar.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote to all 32 competing nations earlier this month urging them to focus on the on-field action and “not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists” during the contentious tournament.

Southgate has been asked about human rights issues in Qatar right back to England’s qualification campaign and his players have also fronted up when questions surrounding the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community and other societal talking points have been raised.

“We are now asked more of those types of questions than ever before,” Southgate said. “Perhaps it’s because we’ve made a rod for our own back in that we’ve dealt with some pretty hefty issues fairly well, I think, as a group.

“But the reality is, very few of us were university educated, we’re doing our best to make sure that we’re as informed as we can be and I think we will speak up when we think we can make a difference. I think the diversity of the team brings that difference in thinking because of the experiences in their own lives.”

Here’s more on England meeting migrant workers in Qatar:

An employee of the Qatar Supreme Committee said those taking part all had contracts with them, saying those involved had played in the Workers’ Cup or are currently involved in community football.

A couple of workers spoke to the assembled media after the session, including Ashlin, 27, from Kerala, India. “It’s a good opportunity,” he said, wearing his signed England shirt and holding his match ticket along with a mini replica World Cup football. “I am an England fan – Frank Lampard, John Terry and free-kick master in David Beckham. I’m also a Chelsea fan.”

An electrical technician who has been in Qatar for the past three-and-a-half years, Ashlin currently works at Al Bayt Stadium – the venue for England’s Group B clash with Wales. “Qatar is a good country and it’s a safe country,” he said. “There’s freedom in Qatar.” Asked about the living conditions, he said: “It’s good. The accommodation is good quality.”

Welcome to our coverage of all of Friday’s World Cup-related news!