Cristiano Ronaldo's criticism of young players is understandable, according to his Manchester United team-mate Anthony Elanga, who has defended the forward following his comments.

Ronaldo has endured a torrid season after reportedly asking to leave United in the last transfer window, and his future is in doubt once again following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

As well as claiming senior figures at Old Trafford have "betrayed" him and admitting he has no respect for head coach Erik ten Hag, Ronaldo said the club's young players "don't care".

Asked about Ronaldo's comments by Swedish publication Aftonbladet, Elanga said: "Cristiano talks about young players in general.

"We are a new generation. I am always 100 per cent focused on what I am doing, but I can understand what he is saying.

"There are a lot of phones and a lot of technology. It's quite easy for young players to get distracted and lose focus. Young players at United are listening, but I can understand what he is saying."

Elanga also maintains that Ronaldo has been a positive influence on his development since the five-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to United last August.

"He has helped me a lot not only on the pitch, but off it as well," Elanga said. "He is an inspiration, not only to me but to all the young players at United. Sometimes it's just me and him at the gym.

"When I'm with him, he hasn't changed. He is still Cristiano Ronaldo to me. He has helped me a lot."

Vinicius Junior feared he would miss Brazil's World Cup campaign through injury after being targeted by "dirty" challenges in the build-up to the tournament.

The Real Madrid winger has contributed to nine goals in LaLiga this season (six goals, three assists) – a tally only bettered by Robert Lewandowski (17) and Borja Iglesias (10).

Vinicius has also won 16 senior caps for Brazil after making his international debut in 2019, emerging as a key part of Tite's team ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

With the mid-season scheduling of the World Cup being criticised after several big-name players including Sadio Mane and Paul Pogba were ruled out through injury, Vinicius says both he and team-mate Rodrygo were targeted with unsavoury challenges by opponents.

"What happens on the field stays on the field, but it went too far," Vinicius told Reuters.

"You can come strong, but they were being dirty with their challenges. Rodrygo and I suffered a lot in those last games and feared the worst, to get injured and miss the World Cup.

"When you start to become an important player, rivals come after you harder. You have to learn to deal with that.

"I learned a lot from Neymar when he played for Barcelona, he suffered a lot too. Cristiano [Ronaldo], when he played for Real, suffered a lot too.

"But it was Karim [Benzema] who told me to stay calm and have peace of mind, because if the rivals are chasing you it is because you are relevant, because they are afraid of you.

"So that's why when I take the ball and burst forward, I do it with a vengeance. Yes, I can get hurt. But I'm prepared for the challenge."

Brazil get their quest for a sixth World Cup under way when they face Serbia on Thursday, looking to defend a fine group-stage record at recent editions of the tournament.

The Selecao are unbeaten in their last 15 World Cup group games, winning 12 (D3), with their last such defeat coming against Norway in 1998.

Andrey Rublev produced a stirring fightback to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas and reach the last four of the ATP Finals for the first time on Friday.

Rublev had failed to make it out of the group stage on each of his first two appearances at the season-ending showpiece.

It initially looked as if he would fall short once again in this winner-take-all clash with Tsitsipas, with both men looking to join Novak Djokovic in progressing from the Red Group.

He was outclassed by Tsitsipas in the first set but showed the grit to recover from 0-30 down in the opening game of the second to find a crucial hold of serve.

That proved the catalyst for a stunning turnaround, as Rublev dominated with his fierce forehand and a series of superb passing shots to seal a 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory in Turin.

He will face Casper Ruud on Saturday for a place in the final.

Rublev told Prime Video of that semi-final encounter: "I'm really looking forward because Casper is such a nice person, great player, great fighter, he has achieved so many things this season, so it's going to be a really good challenge for me."

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Rublev – 10/2
Tsitsipas – 10/2

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Rublev – 36/22
Tsitsipas – 25/12

BREAK POINTS WON

Rublev – 3/5
Tsitsipas – 1/3

Bukayo Saka can thrive during England's World Cup campaign after handling the fallout from his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final "impeccably", according to Aaron Ramsdale.

Saka's spot-kick was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma after England's tense draw with Italy last July, ensuring the Three Lions lost on their first major final appearance since the 1966 World Cup.

The winger then endured further disappointment on the domestic stage as Arsenal failed to secure a top-four finish last term, but he has bounced back in fine fashion this season.

With Arsenal flying high at the top of the Premier League table, only five players have bettered Saka's tally of 10 goal contributions in the competition this campaign (four goals, six assists), and his Gunners team-mate Ramsdale expects him to impress in Qatar.

Asked by ESPN how Saka handled last year's disappointment, Ramsdale said: "[I'm] trying to find the right words, impeccably, probably.

"The kid's a lovely boy, he has time for everyone, he works super hard throughout every week. 

"He very, very rarely misses a training session and he used all that motivation of criticism, but also the love that everyone gave him, [it] gave him an extra boost.

"Don't forget he had the pressure of the whole football club on him last year – him and Emile Smith Rowe were our main guys – and he has dealt with that, he's dealt with everything else. 

"He is thriving and I can't wait to see him thrive over here."

Recalling Arsenal's failure to qualify for the Champions League last season, Ramsdale said Saka blamed himself for the Gunners' inability to get over the line.

"When we missed out on the top four, he felt like it was all his fault because he couldn't provide for us," Ramsdale added.

"I was just able to reflect that the season before they finished eighth, [last] season we finished fifth, and if we go another step again, we will be in the top four. It's a game of football and there's a lot more to it."

Asked whether Saka had become a stronger character in the last year, he added: "Absolutely. There is no doubt about that, off the pitch and on it. He's a more complete person."

Luis Enrique believes it would be "unfair" for Lionel Messi to end his glittering career without winning the World Cup, and would like Argentina to triumph in Qatar if his Spain team fall short.

Messi will begin his fifth World Cup campaign when Argentina face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with the Albiceleste's 2014 final defeat the closest he has come to landing the trophy.

Despite scoring six goals at the World Cup (four in 2014), Messi has failed to find the net in 756 minutes of knockout action at the competition.

However, Messi approaches the tournament in fine form after a period of adaptation at Paris Saint-Germain, and if Luis Enrique is unable to lead Spain to glory in Qatar, he hopes his former Barcelona attacker emerges victorious.

"If Spain doesn't win the World Cup, let Argentina win it," Luis Enrique said on his Twitch channel on Friday. "It would be unfair for Messi to retire without a World Cup."

Asked who he thought would be the main contenders for the trophy, Enrique added: "Brazil and Argentina are the favourites that everyone has in mind.

"France and Germany, of course. Also, Spain and the Netherlands as a surprise."

Luis Enrique made 12 appearances as a player for Spain across three World Cup campaigns in 1994, 1998 and 2002, scoring twice.

However, La Roja never made it beyond the quarter-finals during his time as a player, eventually lifting the trophy for the first time under Vicente del Bosque in 2010.

Asked which players from that World Cup-winning side he would add to his current squad, Luis Enrique identified several other former Barcelona favourites.

"I would sign Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta from Spain's 2010 champions, like [Gerard] Pique and [Carles] Puyol," he said. "But I'll stay with [David] Villa to play with [Alvaro] Morata.

"The best Spanish player in history is Villa, for the number of goals he has scored for the national team.

"There are many others like [Laszlo] Kubala, Raul or [Emilio] Butragueno, and obviously Iniesta."

Kylian Mbappe is only playing at "40 or 50 per cent" of his full potential, according to Paris Saint-Germain's football advisor Luis Campos.

Mbappe was named Young Player of the Tournament as France won their second World Cup in 2018, and is looking to help Les Bleus defend the trophy in Qatar after making a fine start to the club season.

The forward has found the net 19 times in 20 appearances for PSG this term, a tally only bettered by Manchester City's Erling Haaland (23) among players in Europe's top five leagues.

Mbappe became just the second teenager to score in a World Cup final (after Pele in 1958) at his first major international tournament in 2018, but PSG advisor Campos believes he still has room to improve.

"Mbappe is still only at 40 or 50 per cent of his potential, and I tell him that every day," Campos said at an event in Porto.

"He can still give a lot more because he is a player who has not yet finished his training.

"There is the speed of maturation, that is to say that not everyone evolves at the same rate. Mbappe at 16 was already developed at all levels. 

"Physically, he was very strong and had an understanding of the game worthy of a 26-year-old player."

The decision to schedule the World Cup during the middle of the European club season has attracted criticism after several big-name players – including France defenders Raphael Varane and Presnel Kimpembe – suffered injuries during a congested pre-tournament schedule.

However, Campos feels the timing of the World Cup means most players will be at the peak of their powers, which could make for a special tournament.

"I think it's the biggest competition in the world, at least for me, and for the first time in history the players will be at full speed, with pace and fresher than ever," he continued.

"It will be the most intense FIFA World Cup of all time."

The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings face off in Week 11 in a potentially pivotal NFC clash, and history says it will be a tense game that goes down to the wire.

Having stunned the Buffalo Bills in overtime last week, the 8-1 Vikings are only behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the race for the top seed in the NFC on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Philadelphia's loss to the Washington Commanders on Monday gave hope to the 6-3 Cowboys that they can catch the Eagles in the NFC East.

To bolster their hopes of doing so, the Cowboys will need to come through what will likely be a closely fought contest in Minneapolis.

The last six regular-season games between the Cowboys and Vikings have all been decided by four points or fewer, the longest streak between any two NFL teams since the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers had a six-game streak from 2008 to 2010. The last teams to do so in seven straight meetings were the Carolina Panthers and Washington from 1998 to 2009.

Minnesota have made a habit of winning close games in 2022. Indeed, seven of the Vikings' eight victories have been by one score.

And, even if the Cowboys do take a double-digit lead against the Vikings, they cannot be sure of it being safe.

Dallas gave up a 14-point lead against Green Bay Packers in Week 10 and lost in overtime. That snapped a Cowboys streak of 195 consecutive wins when leading by 14+ points entering the fourth quarter (including postseason). It was the longest such run in NFL history.

Now the Cowboys face a Vikings team that has overturned a fourth-quarter double-digit deficit to win three times in 2022, tying the 1980 Miami Dolphins, 2000 New York Jets, 2003 Indianapolis Colts and 2011 Detroit Lions for the most such victories in a single season.

Dallas will be looking for a significantly better performance in pass defense this week, having allowed a success rate through the air of 52.2 per cent against the Packers. Only six defenses allowed a higher rate of successful plays in Week 10.

If they fail to improve on their struggles in the loss at Lambeau Field, it figures to be a long day for the Cowboys' defense against arguably the top receiver in the NFL.

Justin Jefferson produced an astonishing 10-catch, 193-yard display in the win over the Bills, including his phenomenal fourth-down catch that kept the Vikings' hopes alive in the fourth quarter.

He has 814 receiving yards over his last six games, the most in a six-game span in Vikings history and the most by any NFL player over a six-game span in a single season since Antonio Brown had 868 in 2015.

The level to which the Cowboys are able to restrict his ability to add to that tally may have a significant bearing on whether Dallas can put themselves in the mix to be top dog in the NFC.

Roberto Martinez said "maybe we needed it" after Belgium suffered a 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their final match before heading to Qatar for the World Cup.

Goals from Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet condemned Belgium to a second consecutive defeat, despite Lois Openda pulling a goal back late on in Kuwait.

Belgium are ranked second in the world but looked well off the pace on Friday and a shadow of the team that made it to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.

However, Martinez is hoping the poor display and loss will shock his side into life, telling VTM after the match: "This was not the result or performance we wanted, but maybe we needed it.

"We showed that we are waiting for the World Cup to start, but not that we are ready.

"We're going to have to make sure every player is ready for what it takes. Because you can't go to a tournament like that and expect to perform if you're not at your best."

The defeat to Egypt, a side that did not qualify for the World Cup, comes just five days before Belgium's opening match against Canada.

Friday's encounter was also their first since a Nations League defeat to the Netherlands in September, while many of Martinez's players were still playing for their clubs just last weekend.

The head coach rued the lack of preparation time the fixture list afforded him, adding: "In principle you need about five weeks to get ready for the World Cup, but that is simply not possible."

Substitute Dries Mertens echoed Martinez's positivity, saying: "Losing is not ideal, but it is good that we played again. There is still work to be done, but it will be fine.

"It is better that this happens now than at the World Cup."

After the match with Canada, Belgium will then take on Morocco and Croatia in Group F.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has confirmed the Reds' owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are "exploring" a sale of the club but says there is "no urgency" for a deal to be completed soon.

Reports suggested last week that Liverpool had been put up for sale by FSG, who acquired the club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2010.

The club's ownership group consequently released a statement saying it was seeking outside investment but remained "fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch".

On Wednesday, FSG partner Sam Kennedy, who is also the president and chief executive of the Boston Red Sox, revealed there has been "a lot of interest" in the club since that announcement, but said it was "early days" in terms of a deal being struck.

While Kennedy said he was unsure whether FSG would sanction a full sale of the club, Liverpool chairman Werner has revealed that is being discussed.

"We're exploring a sale, but there's no urgency, no timeframe for us, and as far as I'm concerned, it's business as usual," Werner told the Boston Globe.

"One outcome could be our continued stewardship for quite a while."

FSG's ownership has coincided with one of the most successful periods in Liverpool's recent history, with the club winning eight trophies – including the Premier League and Champions League – since the group took charge.

Pele "had Ghana in mind" when he predicted a team from Africa would eventually win the World Cup, the country's president said on Friday.

As the Black Stars set off for Qatar, hopes are high at home that the 2010 quarter-finalists can have another strong tournament.

Brazil great Pele forecast in the 1970s that a team from Africa would win football's greatest global title before the end of the century.

That did not come to fruition, and Africa has yet to produce a World Cup semi-finalist. Few would expect that to change in Qatar 2022, and Ghana enter the tournament as long shots.

The opening game for Otto Addo's team comes on November 24 against Portugal, who should have superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks.

President Nana Akufo-Addo said: "A long time ago, the greatest footballer that's ever lived, the Brazilian Pele, said that very soon an African country is going to lift that trophy, and I know that he had in mind Ghana.

"Let's all together rally around the young men and the team and make sure we give them our maximum support.

"They're going to go a long way away in Doha and Qatar, but they should know the entire nation, without distinction of politics, or religion, or ethnicity; the entire Ghanaian nation are 100 per cent solidly behind them."

Ghana will also face South Korea and Uruguay in Group H, and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) challenged the team to "hoist the flag of Ghana even higher on global football's ultimate stage".

"As the mother body of all professional footballers in the country, the PFAG expects a sterling showing from our gallant warriors to make all Ghanaians proud," the association said in a statement.

"We wish the playing body the very best as they lace up their boots to do battle on the world stage.

"To the technical bench, we urge you to continue doing your utmost and to leave no stone unturned in mapping out our assured paths to victory.

"Finally, to all teeming and passionate fans of the Black Stars, we ask that you enjoin us in fervent prayer and resounding support for our Stars!

"Let's chant and sing in one voice to push our team beyond all hurdles in their quest to shine bright in Qatar!"

Novak Djokovic finished with a perfect group-stage record at the ATP Finals after beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2) in a lengthy three-hour contest on Friday.

Djokovic – who is bidding to equal Roger Federer's record of six ATP Finals titles – sealed his spot in the last four by beating Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, but he was in no mood to do the already-eliminated Medvedev any favours in Turin.

The 21-time grand slam winner dominated the opening set, winning 89 per cent of points behind his first serve and hitting several outstanding cross-court forehand winners.

Djokovic began the second set in similar fashion, but saw his standards dip when he returned to the court following a long stoppage at 5-5.

The rejuvenated Medvedev forced a tie-break with a delightful drop shot before taking advantage of a rare double fault from Djokovic to level the match. 

With the exhausted Djokovic visibly shaking ahead of the decider and his semi-final against Taylor Fritz looming, the Serbian's commitment to Friday's dead rubber could have been called into question, but he found a second wind to take the match away from Medvedev.

Djokovic was on the ropes when he saw his serve broken for the first time in the tournament nine games into the third set, but he hit back immediately and then forced another tie-break. 

The Serbian was back to his exquisite best from there on as he sealed the win by hitting a huge forehand winner down the line, though the drawn-out nature of his victory could yet play into Fritz's hands.

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Djokovic – 9/3
Medvedev – 16/2

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Djokovic – 53/43
Medvedev – 47/35

BREAK POINTS WON

Djokovic – 2/6
Medvedev – 1/6 

Robert Lewandowski harbours no ill will towards Poland's World Cup adversary Lionel Messi following the duo's battle to land the 2021 Ballon d'Or.

Messi saw off fierce competition from Lewandowski to capture his seventh Ballon d'Or last year, despite the Poland striker scoring 58 goals to Messi's 34 in club action in 2021.

In the aftermath of that triumph, Messi called for Lewandowski to be handed the 2020 Ballon d'Or, with the prize not being awarded after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted football that year.

With Poland set to face Argentina in their third group-stage match at the World Cup later this month, Lewandowski says he does not resent Messi for claiming the prize.

Asked whether he would shake hands with Messi to clear the air ahead of the teams' meeting, Lewandowski said: "I don't exactly understand the question.

"Why not? Why would I need to shake hands? Between me and Messi, everything is fine. I have nothing [bad] with him, I never had.

"Leo Messi is in great shape. At Barcelona, you can see everywhere he's a legend."

Poland will begin their Group C campaign against Mexico on Tuesday, with Lewandowski looking to score his first World Cup goal after failing to find the net at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The Barcelona striker contributed to 13 goals in Poland's World Cup qualification campaign (nine goals, four assists) – more than twice as many as any of his international team-mates.

Czeslaw Michniewicz's side will hope to cast aside their poor record in World Cup openers against Mexico, having only started one of their eight previous campaigns at the tournament with a win (D3 L4), beating Argentina 3-2 in 1974.

Belgium's final warm-up match before the World Cup ended in defeat as Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet struck to earn Egypt a 2-1 victory in Kuwait.

Mohamed took advantage of an uncharacteristic mistake from Kevin De Bruyne to fire the Pharaohs into the lead, before Trezeguet scored a minute after half-time to put them two goals to the good.

Lois Openda reduced the deficit with a close-range finish, but they could not find an equaliser as Roberto Martinez's men fell to a second consecutive defeat.

The defeat exposed¬ serious defensive deficiencies for Belgium ahead of their trip to Qatar, where they are hoping to better their run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup.

Belgium hit the bar within 10 minutes when Michy Batshuayi rattled the woodwork, though replays later showed the former Chelsea man was clearly offside.

After Thibaut Courtois twice denied Trezeguet, Arthur Theate sent a long-range curler looping onto the top of the net.

Mohamed gave Egypt the lead, capitalising on De Bruyne's poor touch before side-footing beautifully into the bottom right corner from outside the box.

Mohamed El Shenawy then made a big stop to save Yannick Carrasco's fierce drive and preserve his side's lead heading into the interval.

Egypt doubled their lead moments after the break, Trezeguet latching onto Mohamed Salah's excellent throughball before rifling home as Belgium continued to look shaky at the back.

Martinez's men screamed for a penalty when half-time substitute Openda was felled by Ahmed Hegazy, but a VAR review decided not to award a spot-kick.

Belgium pressed to pull a goal back but they struggled to break though Egypt's resolute defence, with Youri Tielemans firing well over from range almost out of frustration.

They did find a goal back through Openda when he was picked out by a superb Carrasco cross, but they could not kick on and find an equaliser.