Olivier Giroud highlighted the importance of replacing Paul Pogba's influence on the France squad ahead of their bid to defend the World Cup.

Having lifted their second World Cup in 2018, France are considered one of the main contenders to emerge victorious in Qatar, though injuries to Pogba and other key players could harm their chances.

Pogba has not made a single competitive appearance since returning to Juventus in July, and was ruled out of the tournament after undergoing delayed surgery on a knee injury.

The midfielder, who scored in the World Cup final against Croatia four years ago, will be joined on the sidelines by N'Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku, and Giroud believes it is time for other players to assume senior roles.

"We will miss Paul Pogba a lot, like Kante and Kimpembe," Giroud said on Thursday. 

"Paul takes up a lot of space in this France team with his personality, but I am convinced that there are other young leaders who can emerge.

"I too will play my role of big brother for the youngest, be available for them, and speak up when necessary."

With 49 goals in 114 international appearances, Giroud is second in France's all-time goalscoring charts behind Thierry Henry (51), and is also his country's fifth-most capped player.

Giroud arrives at his third World Cup in fine form after scoring nine times for Milan this season, and will delay any decision regarding his international future until after the tournament.

"I feel good physically, in my game, in my club and in the France team. It's a period of splendour for me. It's a gift to feel like this at 36," Giroud said.

"I don't set myself any limits, it could be my last competition, but I don't want to announce anything. We'll see after the World Cup. My motivation to stay at the highest level is intact."

France fell short of expectations when they suffered a last-16 exit at Euro 2020 last year, and Giroud believes it would be wrong to consider them favourites to triumph in Qatar. 

"It's a childhood dream, when you have the chance to participate, you want to go to the end. I was lucky that it came true in 2018," Giroud added.

"Having the opportunity to play a third World Cup with this young, talented group gives us a lot of hope. We have a lot of hope but also humility, we do not make ourselves favourites. 

"We know that there are very big teams in this World Cup. I have a lot of confidence in this group."

Sven-Goran Eriksson believes England's current squad is not only another "golden generation", but might even be better than the teams he managed.

Eriksson was in charge of the Three Lions between 2001 and 2006, a period during which England's selection of players was labelled a "golden generation".

Despite managing the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, Eriksson could only reach the quarter-finals of both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as being eliminated at the same stage of Euro 2004.

Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Swede has praised the talent available to current manager Gareth Southgate, who he suggested might have even better options at his disposal.

"I think the squad here with England, that's a golden generation as well," Eriksson told The Mirror. "Some of these players maybe will not play in the next World Cup, so they have a lot of experience, and they are really, really good.

"They have a born goalscorer [Harry Kane], they have experience, and they have pace, a lot of pace in the squad. That's important in modern football. I think we talk in the past here, 2006, England had a really, really strong squad.

"A little bit unlucky that Rooney was coming from injury, so at that time I thought England could have reached the final and won it. I think it's the same now. But now, I think that England has more options, very, very strong, good options.

"Maybe it's even more difficult for Southgate because he has even more options than we had I think, good options... the team I picked was very, very strong and once again, 2006, we should have done better."

England lost to Portugal on penalties in the last eight at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and Eriksson admitted he should have planned more for the eventuality of spot kicks.

"In 2006, I should have taken in sports psychologists to mentally coach for penalty shoot-outs," he said. "I thought about it, we talked about it, but I thought the squad was so experienced and they had done these big tournaments before.

"So I thought it was not necessary. That was a mistake."

Southgate's men get their 2022 World Cup campaign underway against Iran on Monday.

England's players will discuss whether to take the knee ahead of their World Cup fixtures before Monday's Group B opener against Iran, says Conor Coady.

The vast majority of Premier League players took the knee in a show of solidarity with those facing racial discrimination at the end of the 2019-20 season and throughout the two following campaigns.

England continued with the gesture at Euro 2020 last year, and were jeered for doing so by Hungary supporters ahead of a Nations League defeat in Budapest this June.

Asked whether the Three Lions would take the knee before their matches in Qatar, Coady said Gareth Southgate's squad were yet to discuss the issue but would soon do so.

"At the minute, it's not something we've spoken about as a team yet. I think we've been concentrating in terms of the game itself coming up," Coady said on Thursday. 

"I'm sure that question will be brought up in the next few days in terms of how we're going to go about Monday."

Meanwhile, the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has attracted widespread criticism due to the country's criminalisation of same-sex relationships, and Coady described the prospect of LGBTQ+ supporters not feeling comfortable in travelling to the tournament as upsetting. 

"Of course it is [upsetting], we want every England supporter to come and support us, they push us and drive us. That's what we want as a team, we'll keep on believing in what we believe in," he said. 

"We've come to a country where we'll respect rules and respect what goes on in the country, we're all here for one thing and that's to play football.

"But in terms of what we believe in as a team, that's football for all, and for everyone to be included in our great sport."

Mauricio Pochettino believes Lionel Messi needs to win the World Cup with Argentina to "confirm" his status as the best player in the world.

Messi has won 11 league titles and four Champions League trophies over an illustrious club career.

However, international success has largely eluded Messi, having lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and finishing as Copa America runner-up three times.

Though Messi finally did win the Copa America in 2021, Pochettino feels the 35-year-old needs to win international football's premier prize to certify him as the greatest player in the world.

"Like [Diego] Maradona or Pele, you need to confirm with the trophy," Pochettino told The Athletic. "When you lift the trophy, it's like, 'okay, he is the best in the world.'

"It is the only thing missing for Messi, to lift the World Cup, and I hope in Qatar that it happens.

"Because I am Argentinian, and of course my desire is for Argentina to win the World Cup, and to confirm Messi is one of the best, in the same place as Maradona and Pele."

Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona in 2021, giving Pochettino an opportunity to watch him up close as his head coach.

It also allowed Pochettino to assess Messi against another Argentina great, Maradona, who Pochettino played with for a brief spell at Newell's Old Boys.

Asked to compare Messi and Maradona, Pochettino explained: "Both different, but both great. I don’t want to compare, because when you compare, you are trying to show one better than the other.

"I think for me, Messi, [whether] winning or not winning the World Cup, for me needs to be on the same level as Pele and Maradona. With different energy, different style, different personalities. But both great."

Pochettino's spell as PSG head coach lasted just 18 months, but during that period he also got to observe Neymar, who is hoping for World Cup success in Qatar with Brazil.

Pochettino rates Neymar as one of the best ever, saying: "The way he doesn’t feel the pressure, he is an amazing player. Very charismatic, with an amazing energy.

"We can say Neymar is one of the best players in the history of football. Maybe he didn’t achieve all that Messi achieved, or Cristiano [Ronaldo]. But the quality is in the same level."

Mauricio Pochettino has hinted he would be "open" to succeeding Gareth Southgate as England manager if he were to leave the role after the World Cup.

Southgate led England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 before overseeing a run to the Euro 2020 final last year, with his side ultimately losing to Italy in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium.

However, Southgate has faced severe scrutiny following England's dismal Nations League campaign earlier this year, and he was jeered by his own supporters after a defeat in Italy in September.

During his time with Tottenham, Pochettino was credited with playing a key role in the development of several England internationals, including captain Harry Kane and defender Eric Dier. 

The Argentine has also spent the majority of his coaching career in England, enjoying almost nine years at Southampton and Spurs combined, and he has refused to rule out leading the Three Lions.

"Of course, my relationship with England has always been very good," Pochettino told the Athletic.

 "We have a very good relationship with the academies, trying to develop young players for the national team. I feel so comfortable here. You never know what happens. I am open to everything."

Asked about England's qualities ahead of the World Cup, he added: "Their mentality, they are so brave, they are so offensive, they go to provoke the opponent and try to dominate.

"They don't care about the team that is in front of them. They try to deliver their job. I like how they approach the game, and they have very good players."

England begin their Group B campaign against Iran on Monday. The Three Lions have won their opening match at six different World Cups, though their last two such victories have come by a single goal (2006 v Paraguay and 2018 v Tunisia). 

The French Football Federation (FFF) has condemned racist messages directed towards Eduardo Camavinga on social media after Christopher Nkunku was injured ahead of the World Cup.

Nkunku was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar after suffering a knee sprain in training on Tuesday and is reportedly facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.

Video footage circulated on social media purporting to show Nkunku sustaining the injury in a challenge with Camavinga, which led to the Real Madrid midfielder receiving discriminatory messages.

A statement released by the FFF on Thursday read: "Following Christopher Nkunku's injury, Eduardo Camavinga was the victim of racist messages on social media.

"The FFF condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms and is in full support of Eduardo."

Nkunku also defended Camavinga when addressing his social media followers on Wednesday, saying the 20-year-old had been "unfairly targeted" and calling for unity from supporters.

"Yesterday evening, following the medical examinations, I had to leave Les Bleus and forfeit the World Cup," Nkunku wrote on Twitter.

"Now, let's get to work with one and only objective, to come back even stronger.

"A thought for my team-mate Eduardo Camavinga, who was unfairly targeted. The World Cup must be a moment of togetherness and not of division."

France begin their Group D campaign against Australia on Tuesday, having suffered several injury blows ahead of their bid to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.

Midfield duo Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante will both join Nkunku in missing the tournament, as will Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, who withdrew from their squad on Monday.

Costa Rica cancelled their World Cup warm-up match against Iraq due to an issue over passports.

Luis Fernando Suarez's side were set for one final test before they begin their Group E campaign against Spain in Qatar next Wednesday.

Ahead of travelling to the Gulf State on Friday, Costa Rica had been staying in Kuwait, with the intention to cross into Iraq for Thursday's friendly.

But having travelled to the border on Wednesday, a request to have their passports not stamped was not honoured by local authorities, forcing them to return to their camp.

"The match against Iraq was suspended," Costa Rica's Football Federation stated.

"An agreement that was made with the non-stamping of passports was not respected and for this reason it was decided not to enter Iraq and cancel the match."

Costa Rica are competing in their third consecutive tournament, having reached a best-ever finish at Brazil 2014 by progressing to the quarter-finals.

A dismal Russia 2018 campaign saw them eliminated in the group stages, with Suarez's side likely to face a tough test in a group that also contains Japan and Germany.

Former England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are confident the Three Lions can go "all the way" at the World Cup in Qatar.

England begin their Group B campaign against Iran on Monday, looking to cast aside their poor recent form in the Nations League in a bid for their second World Cup triumph.

Gareth Southgate has led England to at least the final four in consecutive major tournaments – becoming the first manager to do so since Alf Ramsey in 1966 and 1968 - and Gerrard believes the team can build on their recent near misses in Qatar.

"I'm really optimistic. I've got a lot of belief and confidence in the boys, I'm sure they're extremely excited at the moment," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"I'm looking forward to going on a journey with them, now that I'm a fan and an ex-player. I've experienced where they are right now and I'm really looking forward to, hopefully, a positive start to build belief.

"They were millimetres away from winning the Euros, to get to a World Cup semi-final is a positive performance.

"I think, collectively, they should have belief, they should have confidence and togetherness. They're a real tight group with a fantastic manager, there's a lot of talent.

"I think if we get the right bits of luck and the right breaks, and keep the majority of the squad healthy, I'm confident we can go all the way."

Everton manager Lampard concurs with his former international team-mate, viewing England as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

"We've got a squad that has been building for a couple of years, they've had a couple of tournaments where they've had relative success and they're getting stronger, in my opinion," Lampard said.

"I think we can fairly put England as one of the favourites for the tournament, with the talent they have in the squad.

"I think it'll be about momentum in the tournament itself, who gets through the group, who builds that confidence and momentum, and then that can take you all the way."

England are the only European nation to have reached the semi-finals in each of the past two major tournaments.

However, since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966, England have only progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the competition on two occasions – finishing fourth in 1990 and 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in Portugal's World Cup warm-up game against Nigeria on Thursday because of illness, according to head coach Fernando Santos.

The Portugal boss also dismissed concerns about Ronaldo's explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised his club, Manchester United.

The player did not say anything derogatory about his national team, though he did receive a frosty reception from compatriot and United team-mate Bruno Fernandes when he arrived to prepare for the World Cup in Qatar, which begins on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference, Santos said: "Ronaldo has gastritis and did not train today in order to recover and rest. It's a condition that doesn't help much as it affects the players a lot, they lose a lot of liquid, they weaken. He won't be ready for tomorrow, for sure."

Santos also denied that it was an excuse for Ronaldo to stay out of the limelight while the media continues to discuss his comments about the likes of United boss Erik ten Hag and the general state of the club he rejoined last year.

"[Ronaldo] didn't have to inform us about the interview," Santos added. "Isn't he free [to make his decisions]?

"What I'm interested in is what is being spoken about in our camp and not what is being said outside. We have to respect his decision.

"We have to respect the interview he gave. It has nothing to do with the national team."

Portugal begin their World Cup campaign against Ghana on November 24, before also taking on Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.

Lionel Scaloni will consider making changes to Argentina's squad ahead of their World Cup campaign getting under way should players not prove their fitness.

Argentina head coach Scaloni named his 26-man travelling part for Qatar 2022 on Sunday ahead of his side's opening Group C fixture against Saudi Arabia on November 22.

Paulo Dybala made the cut after recently returning from injury for club side Roma, though he played no part in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the United Arab Emirates.

Teams can make injury-enforced changes to their squad from a list of 55 players previously submitted until the day before their opening game, something Scaloni is open to.

"We have some little problems and still have some days to decide the list," he told TyC Sports. "We can make changes, hopefully not, but there is the possibility. 

"There are several players who today have been left out of the side because they were either not fit to play or there was a risk of injury.

"I can't guarantee that these players are fine. In principle, they are, but you have to be cautious. That's why we have been careful with the minutes."

Argentina had no trouble extending their unbeaten run to 36 matches with their five-star showing against the UAE, with Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi playing big parts.

Di Maria scored twice and assisted one for Messi, who had earlier played in Julian Alvarez for the opener, before substitute Joaquin Correa added a fifth in the second period.

"We played with a World Cup mentality today," said midfielder Rodrigo de Paul. "I think this was a good test but we played well and also kept a clean sheet.

"If we want our opening [World Cup] match to go well, we have to arrive with this same mentality. We expressed ourselves well and continually want to improve."

Reigning South American champions Argentina follow up their opener against Saudi Arabia with game against Mexico and Poland.

Kyle Walker will miss England's first World Cup group game against Iran on Monday, but says he will be "ready to go" after that.

The Manchester City defender has not featured for club or country since undergoing groin surgery six weeks ago, but was still selected in Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar.

England's first match against Iran comes too soon for Walker, but the 32-year-old feels he will be fit to play in the Three Lions' second group game against the United States on November 25.

"To represent your country at a tournament is a great achievement due to the circumstances leading up to it," Walker told ITV Football.

"Just because of the injury, it was an operation I had and it was touch a go.

"But it's full credit to the physios, getting me back fit and healthy. I was never worried, I have to believe in myself. I was confident, just about, making sure I prepared right on and off the field.

"If selected, then that's down to the manager, the first game is a bit too short, but from then onwards I'll be good and ready to go."

Walker trained for England on Wednesday alongside City team-mate Kalvin Phillips, who himself was an injury doubt for the tournament having undergone shoulder surgery in September.

James Maddison is expected to be available for the fixture with Iran, despite limping off in his final club match with Leicester City before joining up with England.

Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria played starring roles as Argentina eased to a 5-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in their final outing ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Lionel Scaloni's men had no trouble in extending their unbeaten run to 36 matches heading into the tournament thanks to a commanding victory in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Di Maria scored twice and assisted one for Messi, who had earlier played in Julian Alvarez for the opener, as Argentina raced into a four-goal half-time lead.

Substitute Joaquin Correa scored the only goal of a disrupted second half as the reigning South American champions signed off for Qatar in style.

Messi was played clean through on goal but unselfishly squared for Alvarez to squeeze past Khalid Eisa as Argentina made their early dominance count with 17 minutes played.

Di Maria opened his account with a crisp volley that went in off the far post and then showed brilliant footwork to get away from his man, round the goalkeeper and add his second.

The UAE, who finished behind Iran and South Korea in qualifying to miss out on a place in Qatar, were further behind before half-time when Messi fired past Eisa after being played in by Di Maria.

Despite making four changes at the break, with Di Maria making way, Argentina continued to dominate and Correa slotted home a fifth on the hour despite being under pressure.

Caio Canedo went closest to pulling one back for the UAE with a shot that was cleared off the line late on, but La Albiceleste saw out a fifth clean sheet in a row.

Neymar revealed he and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi joke about a potential World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina in Qatar.

Neymar and Messi, alongside Kylian Mbappe, form a fearsome front three for PSG, one that has fired them to a five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League knockout stages.

But that alliance will be temporarily halted until PSG's next game on December 28, as the three superstars bid to win the World Cup for their respective countries.

While he was highly complimentary of Messi and Mbappe, Neymar jokingly hinted that he fancies his Brazil side's chances in a potential match-up with Messi's Argentina.

"We don't discuss it very much," Neymar told The Telegraph. "But sometimes we joke about crossing paths with each other in the final.

"I tell him [Messi] that I'll be champion and win against him and we have a good laugh.

"Playing with him and Kylian is a huge pleasure. They're two greats, with Messi long considered the best in the world.

"Kylian is a young player who’s been growing and showing his potential and still has a lot to grow. It's always great to play alongside the greats, I've always preferred that because the chances of winning are higher."

Neymar feels Brazil are one of the favourites, but also highlighted a number of other teams he believes are capable of making the final on December 18.

"The World Cup is full of surprises," he explained. "You get teams that unexpectedly get very far even in the competition even if many don't believe in them.

"But I believe the favourites are Argentina, Germany, Spain and France. I think those four along with Brazil are fully capable of reaching the final."

At the age of 30, the Qatar World Cup could be Neymar's last attempt at glory with Brazil, having fallen short in his two previous experiences at international football's premier tournament.

One of those was particularly painful, when Neymar suffered a back injury in a victorious quarter-final meeting with Colombia at Brazil's home tournament in 2014.

Neymar was ruled out of the semi-final with Germany, a match Brazil went on to lose by a humiliating 7-1 scoreline.

But the former Barcelona forward says his career would not feel incomplete if he were to never win the World Cup, saying: "No, in my career I've achieved things beyond my imagination.

"So, if it ended today, I would still be the happiest person in the world."

The number 10 jersey that Neymar dons for Brazil is steeped in history, having been worn by Selecao legends like Pele, Ronaldinho and Zico.

Neymar does not experience the pressure that could come with following those Brazilian idols, declaring: "I don't feel under pressure, quite the opposite.

"I'm happy to be able to wear the number 10 on the Brazilian team and make history. It's a great pride and honour to be part of the group of players that wore it and I only feel happiness about it."

Lionel Messi is unsure how much longer he will continue playing, but is enjoying his football following a tough period of adaptation at Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi endured a difficult first season after swapping Barcelona for PSG last August, scoring 11 goals in 34 appearances – his lowest scoring campaign since 2005-06, when he was 18 years old. 

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has looked rejuvenated this season, though, already hitting the net 12 times as well as laying on 14 assists. 

PSG team-mate Neymar and Manchester City's Erling Haaland are the only players in Europe's top five leagues to have matched his total of 26 goal involvements this term.

However, speaking to Movistar ahead of Argentina's World Cup campaign, the 35-year-old hinted the end of his playing career may not be too far away, though he expects to stay in football when he does retire.

"I love playing and I enjoy it, the only thing I've done all my life is play football and I'm sure it [a future role] will be related, although I don't know what," Messi said.

"I don't think I'll play much more. I don't know, so many things happen. It was a dream that I always had as a child, to be able to play for Argentina. 

"But today it depends on many things. I have my family, three children, I just had a very big change in my life that cost me and my whole family a lot. Today I got over it, and we feel spectacular."

Asked whether he feels more comfortable on the pitch after spending a year bedding in at the Parc des Princes, Messi said: "That's true, I am enjoying it much more, I am discovering the city and I think it's beautiful. 

"The first year was a huge change for me, everything went wrong because it all came out of the blue and it was not a decision I was aiming for, leaving Barcelona was sudden. 

"After this long process and tough moments, today I'm happy to be living where I live, and me and my family are enjoying Paris."

Recalling his first season in Ligue 1, Messi said: "It was hard, we had been in the same place all our lives. I had never moved and I didn't know how it would be, plus it was not a decision we made. 

"It came all of a sudden. We had to leave Barcelona overnight and found ourselves where everything was new. 

"We had our lives in Barcelona with friends, places and people, and you have to get to know other places, with another language, other football, other weather.

"I suffered a lot, it was hard. But today I am enjoying everything, including football."

Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has backed fans who have decided to boycott the World Cup in Qatar.

After a 12-year wait loaded with controversy, the first World Cup to be played in the Middle East begins on Sunday when Qatar face Ecuador.

There has been scrutiny on the hosts surrounding human rights issues, the treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality, with FIFA having written to all participating nations and urging them to "focus on the football".

That seems unlikely to happen, however, with a number of nations already speaking out, and Van Gaal has issued his support to any fans boycotting the tournament.

"I think that they are right to do that because they believe in that and they have to do that, so no problem with that," he said.

"And I hope that we play so fantastic that at the end of the tournament when we play the final, they shall look for the television how good we are.

"I think that you have to play in football countries, more experience with everything, but also to stimulate that country in another way, in the right way.

"This is also a small country, my family or my friends have a lot of difficulties to find the place, so that's also a remark.

"The organisation and the pitches and everything, the facilities, these are very good."

On the field, Van Gaal admits that he does not have the best players at his disposal in the Netherlands squad but still feels they can be successful.

"I believe that we don't have the best players on earth in our team, but I believe in team building and tactics and I believe that we can come to the end but we need also luck, that is also important," he explained.

"And because of that and because I believe in imagination, I speak about to be the world champion at the end of the tournament because when you can imagine that, you can do it also on the pitch, because we have players who can execute the tactics of the coaches of the Netherlands."

The Netherlands begin their campaign against Senegal on November 22, before facing Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.