NEWS

17Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Josko Gvardiol, Luka Modric, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Croatia beat Morocco to finish third at World Cup

(L-R) Martin Erlic of Croatia, Josko Gvardiol of Croatia, Josip Sutalo of Croatia, Marko Livaja of Croatia, Luka Modric of Croatia, Mario Pasalic of Croatia celebrating the world cup third place during the World Cup match between Croatia v Morocco at the Khalifa International Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Doha Qatar.Croatia showed their class once more by clinching their third top-three finish at the World Cup with a play-off victory over history-makers Morocco. Zlatko Dalic’s side were runners-up tlo France four years ago and confirmed their status as one of the elite footballing nations with another third-place finish to go alongside that secured in their competition debut in 1998. In a frantic opening, Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead on seven minutes with a superb diving header b...

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17Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Adrien Rabiot, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Rabiot and Theo Hernandez expected to start World Cup Final for France

Adrien Rabiot of France stretches during the France Training Session ahead of their World Cup Final match against Argentina at Al Saad SC on December 17, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Milan left-back Theo Hernandez are back in training and should start for France in tomorrow’s World Cup Final against Argentina, as the illness is starting to abate. It kicks off on Sunday at 15.00 GMT. Les Bleus have seen their build-up to the Final dominated by the mystery flu virus that spread throughout the squad. Dayot Upamecano and Rabiot were the first to get ill and the Juve man was not even in the stadium for the semi-final against Morocco, as he was left in isolation in his hotel room, forced to watch his team celebrating from the balcony. It then spread to others includi...

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17Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ibrahima Konate, NEWS, Raphael Varane, World Cup 2022

Illness strikes France before World Cup final

24 Ibrahima KONATE (fra) - 04 Raphael VARANE (fra) during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Semi Final match between France and Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium on December 14, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.Several France players have caught colds, the French Football Federation said, as they prepare for the World Cup final against Argentina, with Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate the latest to fall ill on Saturday. Centre back Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot missed Wednesday’s 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco with the illness. Coach Didier Deschamps refused to panic after Wednesday’s game and said they were being careful to ensure the illness did not spread. Striker Randal Kolo Muani, who came off the bench to score France’s second goal in their win over Morocco, said on Friday: “There’s a little ...

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16Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Beth Mead, NEWS, Women Football

Beth Mead signs new contract with Arsenal Women

England's Beth Mead during the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Semi Final match between England and Sweden/Belgium at Bramall Lane on July 26, 2022 in Sheffield, United Kingdom.Beth Mead signs a new contract with Arsenal for whom she has scored 61 goals in 166 appearances since joining in 2017. Her new deal follows a stellar 2021/22 season for club and country, as she racked up 33 goal involvements (14 goals, 19 assists) in 40 appearances for Arsenal, before playing a key role in England’s Euro 2022 triumph. Beth was named Player of the Tournament and won the Golden Boot with six goals in six games, in addition to providing a tournament-high of five assists. Further recognition followed, as Mead was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2022 and England Player of the Year for 2021/22...

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16Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

EURO 2024, Luka Modric, NEWS

Luka Modric ‘will be there’ at Euro 2024 if Croatia qualify – Zlatko Dalic

Luka Modric of Croatia looks on during the Croatia Training Session at Al Erssal Training Site on December 14, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic strongly believes Luka Modric will take part in Euro 2024, should the national team qualify for the tournament. Modric, 37, has been the lynchpin of the Croatian team in recent years. He helped them to the 2018 World Cup final, where they lost 4-2 to France. At the 2022 World Cup, he led his side to a memorable quarter-final victory against tournament favourites Brazil before falling short against Argentina in the semi-final. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dalic said he is “quite certain” that the Real Madrid midfielder will continue to be present in the national team in the coming years despite his age. “I hope that h...

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16Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Croatia, Morocco, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Morocco, Croatia to battle for 3rd spot in FIFA World Cup

Boats with sails showing the flags of the nations Morocco and Croatia who will play in the third place play off match sail in-front of the Doha skyline on The Corniche during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Croatia will take on Morocco Saturday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff. The game will kick off at 1500GMT at Khalifa International Stadium and will be officiated by Abdulrahman Al Jassim. The group stage game between Morocco and Croatia ended in a goalless draw. Then Morocco defeated Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 to top Group F. Morocco met Spain to eliminate the 2010 winners in the last 16 and qualified for the quarterfinals after defeating the Spaniards on penalties. The North African team beat Portugal with a narrow win in the quarterfinal...

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16Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

FIFA, Gianni Infantino, NEWS

FIFA announce 32-team Club World Cup from 2025

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to media during the Press Conference ahead of the Third Place and Final matches of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Main Media Center on December 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Speaking in a press conference ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that from 2025 the Men’s Club World Cup will switch to a 32-team tournament format. Following a FIFA council session which made Infantino late for his appearance in front of the press, the president announced a number of changes to FIFA competitions going forward, as well as the naming of Morocco as hosts for the current 2022 Club World Cup which will take place in February. Infantino said the following, as transcribed by RMC Sport: “The new Men’s Club World Cup will t...

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16Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS, Paul Pogba, World Cup 2022

Juventus unwilling to let Paul Pogba travel for World Cup final

Paul Pogba of Juventus during a training session at JTC on December 13, 2022 in Turin, Italy. L’Équipe report today that despite Emmanuel Macron’s apparent intention to bring along France’s injury absentees for Sunday’s World Cup final, Juventus are reticent on letting Paul Pogba make the journey to Qatar. With the 2018 winner having first undergone a knee operation in September and then sustained a thigh injury, he has instead been keeping contact with his international teammates in Doha – notably Antoine Griezmann and Kingsley Coman – and has posted several messages of support on social media. Pogba has told those within the squad that he would like to attend the final, but despite his efforts to convince them otherwise, the Bianconeri are not enthusiastic about letting him go whil...

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15Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Kylian Mbappe, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Ranieri: ‘Mbappe the most similar player to Ronaldo’

Kylian Mbappe (10) of France sprays water on his face at the end of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi final match between France and Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium on December 14, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. France beat Morocco 2-0, to face Argentina in 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Italian coach Claudio Ranieri believes Kylian Mbappe is ‘the most similar player to Ronaldo’ but warns France that Leo Messi ‘has never been this decisive’ with Argentina. Les Blues have reached their second World Cup Final in a row, the fourth since 1998, more than any other country in the last 24 years. They’ll meet Messi’s Argentina on Sunday. “These are two strong teams, they don’t only depend on their best players. France have coped without the likes of Pogba, Kante and Benzema,” Ranieri told Gazzetta. The Ital...

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14Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

FRANCE, Kolo Muani, NEWS, World Cup 2022

France edge past Morocco to set up Argentina final

Randal Kolo Muani of France scores the team's second goal during the Semi Final - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on December 14, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.France were pushed all the way by World Cup wild cards Morocco before the holders sealed a place in Sunday's final against Argentina. The first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final refused to buckle despite suffering the early blows of losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury after he was named in the starting line-up, and then going behind to Theo Hernandez's scrambled fifth minute goal. France, for all Morocco's endeavour and spirit, were more clinical and substitute Kolo Muani ensured they will defend their crown against Argentina and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium on Sunday wh...

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14Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Cristiano Ronaldo, NEWS, Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo spotted at Real Madrid training ground amid search for new club

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks dejected during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly back training with former club Real Madrid as he aims to reach a decision over his future. The Portuguese currently finds himself without a club following the cancellation of his Man Utd contract in the aftermath of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. He is now free to focus on finding a new club following Portugal’s World Cup elimination at the hands of Morocco on Saturday. Whilst he is currently not playing football, the veteran forward is attempting to keep up his fitness having returned to train with the Spanish giants Real. As per Spanish outlet Revelo, the str...

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14Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Gianluca Vialli, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Vialli leaves Italy role to focus on cancer treatment

Gianluca Vialli during Italy against England, Nations League, at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2022.Gianluca Vialli has stepped away from his role as Italy’s head of delegation as he receives treatment for pancreatic cancer. The 58-year-old revealed in December last year that he was dealing with the illness for a second time. Now, after consulting with doctors, Vialli will “suspend professional commitments”. Vialli said on the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) website: “At the end of a long and difficult ‘negotiation’ with my wonderful team of oncologists, I have decided to suspend, hopefully temporarily, my present and future professional commitments. “The goal is to use all my psycho-physical energies to help my body overcome this phase of the disease, in order to be able t...

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13Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Lionel Messi, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Messi & Alvarez fire Argentina to World Cup final

Argentina players celebrate after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium on December 13, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.Argentina’s master and pupil Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez combined to deadly effect as they reached their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium. Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career but Manchester City’s 22-year-old striker Alvarez claimed at least an equal share of top billing as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco. Argentina’s little genius looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but recovered enough to break the deadlock from t...

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13Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

AC Milan, ARSENAL FC, NEWS

Friendly: Tomori on target as Milan lose to Arsenal

Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan in action during the Dubai Super Cup match between Arsenal and AC Milan at Al Maktoum Stadium on December 13, 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Milan lost their opening Dubai Super Cup friendly 2-1 to Arsenal, with Fikayo Tomori grabbing a consolation goal and Divock Origi thumping the woodwork. The Rossoneri were still missing numerous key players, including Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud at the World Cup, plus injured Mike Maignan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, so Tommaso Pobega was turned into a makeshift left-back. Alexis Saelemaekers made his comeback after several months out, while Origi hit the crossbar just 11 minutes in with a scorcher from the edge of the area. However, it was Martin Odegaard who put Arsenal in front with a fantastic free kick that l...

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13Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Luka Modric, NEWS, Real Madrid

Luka Modric reveals ‘dream’ retirement plan

Luka Modric of Croatia looks on during the Croatia Training Session at Al Erssal Training Site on December 12, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Real Madrid star Luka Modric has said that it is his ‘dream’ to retire at the club, but will not make a decision about his future until after the World Cup. Modric has captained Croatia back to the semi-finals for a second successive World Cup, aiming to steer his country to another final after also getting there in 2018. The 37-year-old is out of contract with Real at the end of the season after signing a new 12-month deal last summer. But he remains a vitally important player for Los Blancos, having won his fifth Champions League title in May and starting all but one game in the last season’s competition. “What happens next, let’s see, there’s enough time to ...

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13Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Lionel Messi, NEWS, World Cup 2022, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it’s ‘already written’ for Lionel Messi to win the World Cup

  Lionel Messi of Argentina laughs during the Argentina Training Session at on December 12, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Zlatan Ibrahimovic thinks it's written in the stars for Lionel Messi to win the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar. The South American nation have made it to the last-four, and will face Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday night. This year's tournament has been full of upsets, with Brazil, Germany, Spain and Belgium all exiting earlier than expected. It has been one of the least predictable World Cups in recent memory, but Ibrahimovic is confident that he already knows who the eventual winners will be. 'I think it's already written who will win, and you know who I mean. I think Messi will lift the trophy, it's already written,' Ibrahimovic told r...

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13Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS, Neymar, Sandro Rosell

Neymar Junior and former Barcelona President cleared of corruption

 Judgement of player Neymar Jr, of the PSG and former presidents of FC Barcelona Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu on 17 October 2022 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.Former Barcelona President Sandro Rosell and former player Neymar Junior have been acquitted in their corruption case, after the a Barcelona judge settled the matter just over two months on from both testifying in court. A cast of important figures from Spanish football over the last decade appeared in court, including Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, to give evidence. Brazilian firm DIS, who used to own 40% of the rights to Neymar Junior, had accused Rosell, Neymar, and Neymar’s father of corruption between individuals, something the court cleared all parties of, as per Sport. This is of course the sec...

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12Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Modric and Croatia stand between Argentina and World Cup final

Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric (L) in Doha on December 9, 2022 and Argentina's forward Lionel Messi in Doha on December 3, 2022. - Argentina will play Croatia in the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match in Doha on December 13, 2022.Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup dream remains alive but an indefatigable Croatia side inspired by the enduring brilliance of Luka Modric stands in their way in Tuesday’s semi-final in Doha.Argentina have recovered from the shock of losing their opening game in Qatar to Saudi Arabia and made the last four with an exhausting win on penalties against the Netherlands at the end of a fractious quarter-final on Friday. Having been 2-0 up and cruising after 83 minutes, with Messi setting up one goal in sublime fashion and netting a penalty, they conc...

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12Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Aurelien Tchouameni, Dayot Upamecano, NEWS

Dayot Upamecano and Aurelien Tchouameni not involved in France training

Aurelien TCHOUAMENI of France and Dayot UPAMECANO of France during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Round of 16 match between France and Poland at Al Thumama Stadium on December 4, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Dayot Upamecano and Aurelien Tchouameni missed France training on Monday. The pair spent time in the gym rather than training with the rest of their France team-mates as they prepare for Wednesday night’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia. The 24-year-old Upamecano did not play in the group stage game against Tunisia but has featured in all four of France’s other games at the tournament. Tchouameni, 22, has featured in all five of France’s matches at the competition. Both played, with Tchouameni scoring, as France beat England on Saturday. Elsewhere, France defender Jules Kounde admitted there was...

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11Dec By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Cristiano Ronaldo, NEWS, World Cup 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo: My Portugal dedication didn’t change, I’d never turn back on my country

Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Cristiano Ronaldo has said his dedication to Portugal did not change “for an instant,” in reaction to his nation being eliminated from the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. Morocco progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament after beating Portugal 1-0 – a match that Ronaldo started on the substitutes’ bench. The 37-year-old came on in the second half of the game but failed to help Portugal mount a comeback and was seen in tears after the final whistle. The former Manchester United player was also left out of Portugal’s last-16 win over Switzerland after an angry reaction to being substituted in...

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