The Indo World Cup

Of all the drama you would’ve predicted for Wednesday night’s final group games, Argentina avoiding any kind of fuss, drama or hysterics wouldn’t have been bandied about in too many quarters. But they got the job done so professionally (having missed a first half Messi penalty of course) that their role in Group C’s crescendo was very much making up the numbers as Poland and Mexico played out a ba...

It was always expected that England would make the World Cup quarter-finals – and it’s always been risky that they’d overlook a team like Senegal – and now they’ve cruised into the last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 dismissal of Wales. Dan McDonnell was in the stadium in Qatar was impressed with how efficient Gareth Southgate’s side were, without having to show too much quality. “I’m not saying Englan...

The trick to finishing with composure, with class, with conviction like Vincent Aboubakar? Finish like you think you’re already offside. Pico Lopes explained to The Indo World Cup podcast just how lethal the Cameroon forward was and he showed it to the world during a thrilling comeback against Serbia. Dan McDonnell was at the game but, having squeezed in Brazil’s win over Switzerland too, he joine...

Belgium and their (don't say it, don't say it, don't say it...) Golden Generation are in danger of being eliminated from their World Cup group after a humbling defeat to Morocco. Aidan O'Hara and Dan McDonnell discuss the latest installment of disappointment this team now predictably offers and, whilst Kevin De Bruyne has the admiration of every football lover, his comments and his antics around h...

Kylian Mbappe is 24 years of age and he's already adapting his game like an experienced, ageing player who had lost all his pace. Except, Kylian Mbappe hasn't lost any pace - not even a little bit. On The Indo World Cup, Aidan O'Hara is joined by Dan McDonnell in Qatar who witnessed France pick Denmark apart in a 2-1 win that puts them into the last 16, and the pair marveled at how Mbappe is addin...

Aidan O'Hara sits down with the Irish Independent's Kevin Beirne for a feature piece on how football is turning people away from the sport. Beirne speaks of his lived experience as a bisexual, the hyper awareness, the self-policing, the everyday difficulties simply not faced by many. And now, FIFA hosting a World Cup in Qatar is the latest edition of football's grappling with morality, so we discu...

What might have been if Inaki Williams didn’t lose his footing in the dying seconds of Portugal’s victory over Ghana. Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa got caught with an old classic, forgetting there’s one more player behind you, as he rolled the ball in front of him but, once again, we were denied a classic World Cup moment. On this morning’s episode of The Indo World Cup, Dan McDonnell spoke fr...

Germany struck a blow for everyone and every thing being silenced by FIFA with their pre-match photograph when the players all covered their mouths as if they were being muzzled. But within hours, they had one foot out of the competition. Another major shock of the Qatar World Cup saw Japan come from behind to beat the Germans and now the path is clear for an unlikely group stage place for the Asi...

Argentina stumbled to an opening World Cup defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi's penalty was pegged back and beaten by a brilliant Saudi team whose high line and manic pressing beat the Argentine's into panic. Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde defender Roberto Lopes has firsthand experience of international backlines and he heaped praise on Saudi Arabia for how they approached the game....

Daniel McDonnell arrives in Doha for the Qatar World Cup and joins Aidan O'Hara to run the rule over England's impressive victory against Iran, Gareth Bale's performance for Wales and, of course, more off-field controversies. Ahead of Tuesday's kick-offs which include champions France and Lionel Messi's Argentina, The Indo World Cup previews the day's action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Ireland beat Malta in the biggest event of the day... well, almost. Irish Independent football correspondent, Daniel McDonnell, is on his way to Qatar this morning but checked in to debrief on what he experienced in Malta last night as Stephen Kenny recorded his eighth victory as Republic of Ireland senior manager. Today, England kicks off the action with a tricky tie against Iran which splits opi...

Gianni Infantino put himself in front of the media on Saturday to defend the World Cup host nation, Qatar. But his bizarre comments gained traction for all the wrong reasons. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off today with Qatar playing Ecuador, the off-field issues continue to dominate and Aidan O'Hara and Dan McDonnell explain why. Ireland finish off their year with a game in Malta tonight and t...

The first episode of The Indo World Cup previews all the groups from the 2022 tournament and looks at which teams have a tougher path to glory. The Irish Independent's Aidan O'Hara and Daniel McDonnell discuss what will be a World Cup like no other, the off-pitch problems, and the on-pitch chances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Irish Independent's team of football writers come together every morning for the 2022 World Cup. With Dan McDonnell on the ground in Qatar, he joins host Aidan O'Hara back at the Dublin offices to bring the latest from the host country, discuss the biggest talking points of the tournament and preview the day's games. Along the way, some distinguished ex professionals will be stopping by as wel...