Qatar 2022
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An open-air bus parade for Argentina’s World Cup heroes had to be called off part-way through to protect the safety of millions of fans who had poured onto the streets of Buenos Aires. Argentina captain Lionel Messi and his fellow teammates instead boarded helicopters for a flyover of the capital, which the government billed as an aerial…
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GIANNI INFANTINO (FIFA PRESIDENT) “We are convinced of the power of our game.” A short phrase by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, from his closing press conference at this winter’s World Cup. Compared with his opening speech some four weeks previously, a wild-eyed address that went viral in a manner unusual for sports administrators, it appears harmless…
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Gianni Infantino has secured backing from the FIFA Council to potentially extend his presidency until 2031 – beyond the 12-year limit envisaged in reforms of the scandal-plagued football body he helped to draw up. The job running world football pays around $3m (£2.46m) annually and he is unopposed to be re-elected in March. The FIFA…
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France have always known Karim Benzema is “not coming back” to the World Cup despite his return to training with Real Madrid, according to reports. The Real Madrid striker was honoured with the Ballon d’Or in October for his brilliant season in 2021/22, when he won a fifth Champions League title with the Spanish giants.…
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Rio Ferdinand reckons “the stars are aligning for Lionel Messi” as Argentina prepare to take on France in the World Cup final on Sunday. Argentina comfortably overcame Croatia in the semi-finals 3-0 to reach Sunday’s finale but it hasn’t all been plain-sailing with Lionel Scaloni’s side losing to Saudi Arabia in the group stage and needing…
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A cold virus is running through the France squad ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, affecting at least three players in the squad. Coach Didier Deschamps said two players with symptoms, defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot, were isolated earlier this week and didn’t play in France’s 2-0 semifinal win over Morocco.…
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France are back in the semi-finals thanks in no small part to Antoine Griezmann’s excellence in a new midfield role. With Antoine Griezmann in such stellar form, France are entitled to think big. The Atletico Madrid man turned in another sparkling performance against England in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, teeing…
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Qatar 2022 top goalscorers 5 goals Kylian Mbappe (France) 4 goals Lionel Messi (Argentina) Olivier Giroud (France) 3 goals * Goncalo Ramos (Portugal) * Alvaro Morata (Spain) * Marcus Rashford (England) * Enner Valencia (Ecuador) * Bukayo Saka (England) * Richarlison (Brazil) * Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) 2 goals * Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) * Harry Kane…
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France midfielder Adrien Rabiot has claimed that Harry Kane’s penalty miss for England “was justice” as the spot-kick should not have been given. The 2018 World Cup winners progressed through to the semi-finals of this year’s competition by beating England on Saturday night. The Three Lions fells behind early on as Aurelien Tchouameni fired the…
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Final thoughts: Ruthless tournament football strikes again! What a game. What a result. Tournament football is brutal, and Brazil have encountered that fact with all its might. Croatia deserve massive credit for their game plan, playing right out of the hands of the individually talented Brazilians, using the technical ability of their midfielders to keep…
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Kylian Mbappe said on Sunday that he dreamed of winning the World Cup for a second time after his brace helped France to a 3-1 win over Poland which advanced the holders to the quarter-finals in Qatar. “Of course, this World Cup is an obsession for me, it’s the competition of my dreams,” said the…
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England forward Raheem Sterling has headed home from the World Cup in Qatar after armed intruders broke into his house while his family were there, MEZIESBLOG understands. The 27-year-old was not part of Gareth Southgate’s squad as they beat Senegal 3-0 in Sunday’s last-16 encounter and set-up a quarter-final clash with France. Sterling’s absence is understood to…
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The goal that dumped Germany out of the 2022 World Cup initially didn’t count. Japan scored it to take the lead during its 2-1 win over Spain on Thursday, but referees initially disallowed it because the ball, a second before the goal, seemed to have crossed the end line. But the video assistant referee (VAR), after reviewing…
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Defending champion France won its World Cup group despite losing to Tunisia 1-0 Wednesday. Wahbi Khazri scored in the 58th minute to give the Tunisians the victory, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the round of 16. Australia beat Denmark 1-0 in other Group D game and finished second on goal difference. Khazri ran at…
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Christian Pulisic has been diagnosed with a “pelvic contusion” after leaving the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-0 World Cup win over Iran at halftime, and is considered “day-to-day” ahead of Saturday’s Round of 16 match against the Netherlands, according to the team. Pulisic suffered the injury while scoring the only goal of the match. He clattered into Iranian…
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The Belgium players attended what turned out to be an understandably “awkward barbeque” in the wake of their dressing room bust-up. Belgium fell to a 2-0 defeat to the African side on Sunday to leave their qualification to the last 16 at the World Cup in the balance ahead of their last group game against…
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