Complete Clue List
Across
1. Male, as is each competitor in Qatar (though not all the officials)
4. Capital of country that finished third in Group D in Qatar 2022
6. Players' boastful interviews might include some ____ of truth
8. Wetland not suitable for kicking a ball around
9. TV police officers often hope to be cleared by this group (abbr.)
11. Mourn (a lost match, perhaps)(arch.)
12. Pre-match lunch, though not for the Italians, perhaps; chicken ____ (shortened)
14. Spanish daily futbol (and other sports) paper
16. Argentina's number 10 in Qatar (6,5)
19. Rapper who became agitated at son's soccer match (short name)
20. Peruvian player, b.1999; Jose ____
21. What is inside the football
22. Defensive strategy; shift and ____
24. Mantras for meditating players
25. Belonging to Brazilian player da Silva Santos Júnior
28. Cinematographer ____ Kilbourn; "Swim Team" (2016)
29. They upset Argentina 2-1 in their group match in Qatar (abbr.)
Down
1. French for the human structure designed to stop a free kick
2. Yearly matches, in other words (6,5)
3. Polish player's reaction to an unjust yellow card?
4. Number of players a team have after one is sent off
5. What a pitch might seem to be covered with during heavy rain
6. Type of gambling game
7. Continent that has produced players like Pele, Maradona and 16 Across (abbr.)
8. Not so healthy snack that Belgian players might put mayo on?
10. Having a good game plan can be the ____ of victory
11. English football club nicknamed The Robins; ____ City
12. Writing implement for the referee
13. Ship borne gunners during WWI, perhaps (abbr.)
15. What a young football/soccer player should call his or her manager
17. Former England player Clough OR Dutch player de Jong
18. Canadian player Adekugbe and namesakes
23. Indefinite article
24. Pray (Spanish slang)
26. Nickname of former Nigerian player Aiyegbeni; The ____
27. In the manner of (from French; 1,2)