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Tag: World cup

  • Qatar 2022: I couldn’t sleep after England win – Bellingham

    Qatar 2022: I couldn’t sleep after England win – Bellingham

    Borussia Dortmund youngster Jude Bellingham admitted that he was so excited after his World Cup debut for England, that he could not even get to sleep.

    Bellingham played a starring role for the Three Lions during a 6-2 win over Iran this week in the group stages.

    He scored the first goal while playing a crucial midfield role for his team throughout the contest.

    Speaking on the FA’s Lions’ Den show, he said: “It is difficult to sleep, I was up all night trying to reply to messages and speak to people about the game.

    “It was a really nice day for us but there is a level of professionalism when it comes to being ready the next day, recovering, and just making sure we’re good to go again on Friday because in the World Cup you don’t get given a trophy for winning one game, you need to maintain it over the course of seven games.”

    Bellingham also scored his first goal for England and added: “I can’t stop smiling. I’ve scored quite a few goals this season, in some pretty big games, but that tops anything that I have ever scored. That feeling thinking, have I really just done that? … I was thinking this can’t be real.”

  • It’s unbelievable what Saka has done – Rice

    It’s unbelievable what Saka has done – Rice

    Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka earned huge praise from his England teammate Declan Rice.

    The 21-year-old Arsenal winger was instrumental for the Three Lions in an opening group stage 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.

    Saka scored twice and was a constant menace, redeeming himself after his penalty mishap during their Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.

    Midfielder Declan Rice said of his teammate post-game: “It’s unbelievable what he’s done. It says everything about his strength of character.

    “You saw what happened last summer, everyone was with him then. He’s flourishing with Arsenal.

    “He’s playing with a smile on his face. You see him around the training ground, he is the happiest person around the place. We’re all so happy for him.”

  • France players happy Benzema out of World Cup squad – Lugano

    France players happy Benzema out of World Cup squad – Lugano

    Former Uruguay captain and Paris Saint-Germain defender Diego Lugano believes that Karim Benzema is not liked within the French squad.

    The Real Madrid attacker had to withdraw from their World Cup squad due to an injury on the eve of the tournament.

    However, Lugano believes the Real Madrid star’s exit may be a blessing in disguise for Les Bleus.

    “I am certain, because I was a team-mate to some [France players] that they are very happy with the departure of Benzema,” he told ESPN.

    “[That kind of reaction] would never happen in Uruguay, Brazil or Argentina.

    “It depends a lot on the way the team was put together and on the care that the coach has with the player profiles, not only technical, but personality.

    “It has a lot to do with that.”

  • World Cup: Denmark held by Tunisia in Group D opener

    World Cup: Denmark held by Tunisia in Group D opener

    Denmark were held to a draw by Tunisia in their World Cup opener in a raucous atmosphere at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

    Despite fielding many Premier League regulars, the much-fancied Danes were given a tough workout in Group D.

    Both sides had goals ruled out for offside, while Denmark’s Andreas Cornelius somehow missed from a yard.

    There was 95th-minute drama when referee Cesar Ramos checked the pitchside monitor over a potential Denmark penalty for handball, only to stick with his original decision and award a goal-kick.

    One of the pre-tournament favourites, Denmark will need to find some form if they are to qualify from a group that also includes World Cup holders France.

     

  • Qatar 2022: England proved a lot of people wrong – Rice

    Qatar 2022: England proved a lot of people wrong – Rice

    West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has said England’s 6-2 win against Iran in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar proved most of their critics wrong.

    Southgate was under scrutiny after a run of six games without a win but England sent a message to the rest of the tournament with an impressive display.

    Young stars Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka starred and Rice says the squad wanted to send a message to their critics.

    “It was a positive start,” said the West Ham midfielder. “There were a lot of doubts about us before the tournament.

    “There has been a lot of talk about us not winning in our last six matches. By our standards, with the players we have got, we know that it hasn’t been good enough.

    “But this was a World Cup stage and you could see there was a fire in our bellies. We wanted to prove a lot of people wrong.

    “People will say ‘it’s only Iran’ but they have had some good results at past World Cups. In September, they beat Uruguay and drew with Senegal.”

  • BREAKING: Messi scores but Saudi Arabia shock Argentina

    BREAKING: Messi scores but Saudi Arabia shock Argentina

    Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina, winning the South American side 2:1 in their first encounter in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lionel Messi scored a penalty in the first half but was not enough to pull Argentina through.

    Saudi Arabia responded in the second half, scoring two goals in rapid succession to win the game and top their group, leaving Argentina at the bottom of the log.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina in World Cup shocker

    Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina in World Cup shocker

    A bold and brilliant Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the World Cup’s biggest shocks as they came from behind to stun two-time winners Argentina in a fantastic Group C opener in Lusail.

    Ranked 51st in the world, Saudi Arabia could have been done and dusted in the first half as Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Argentina had three goals ruled out for offside.

    But Saudi Arabia flipped the game on its head in a stunning 10-minute period after half-time, Saleh Al-Shehri levelling with a low effort and Salem Al Dawsari firing them ahead to spark pandemonium in the stands.

    Having shown their ruthlessness at one end, the Green Falcons demonstrated a ruggedness at the other, holding a stellar Argentina front line at bay to secure only their fourth World Cup win in history and throw the group wide open.

    Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina came into the tournament among the favourites, on the back of a 36-game unbeaten run that included winning the 2021 Copa America.

    They now have it all to do to keep alive their hopes of a first global triumph since 1986 and give Messi a fitting ending to what is very likely his World Cup swansong.

    They face Mexico on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia take on Poland.

    BBC

  • Arsene Wenger reveals 2022 World Cup favourites

    Arsene Wenger reveals 2022 World Cup favourites

    Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has declared France as favourites for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

    Wenger told wettbasis.com: “My number one favourite is France.

    Not because I’m French by birth, but because this Equipe Tricolore has the best offence.

    “If Didier Deschamps manages to ensure the necessary stability on the defensive, then the reigning world champion will have a good chance of successfully defending his title.

    “In the past 12-15 months, the Brazilian national team has made the best impression. A very experienced side with a leader like Neymar who has been in fantastic shape for the last six months.

    “Argentina will certainly also be a factor to be reckoned with. Lionel Messi will do everything to break this curse and finally become world champion.”

  • Super Eagles don’t deserve to be at World Cup – Amokachi

    Super Eagles don’t deserve to be at World Cup – Amokachi

    Former Nigeria international, Daniel Amokachi reacted to Super Eagles’ 4-0 defeat against Portugal in an international friendly match last week.

    Amokachi faulted the national team’s problems on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing the wrong coaches and calling up wrong players.

    He stated this during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday.

    “When you look at the Portugal game, that tells you that we don’t even deserve to be there (World Cup).

    “There are one, two, three different angles that you have to look at it, bringing in the right coach, bringing in the right players and getting the right environment to play.

    “We always bring the wrong coaches to handle a country like Nigeria; we always bring the wrong players,” Amokachi said.

  • Fans’ exodus during World Cup opening match in Qatar raises eyebrows

    Fans’ exodus during World Cup opening match in Qatar raises eyebrows

    World Cup hosts Qatar were criticised on Sunday because the stadium was half empty by the closing stages of the tournament opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.

    Thousands of fans left Al Bayt Stadium during the second half as Qatar were unable to fight back from two goals down at intermission in their 2-0 defeat.

    Organisers had said that the arena was sold out with 67,372 fans for the opening ceremony and the game.

    But many of those seemingly did not even appear to return to their seats for the second half, with the exodus continuing until the end.

    Qatar became the first hosts in the 92-year World Cup history to suffer defeat in an opening match.

    They can now share the fate of South Africa who in 2010 became so far the only hosts who did not make it into the second round.

    German 2014 World Cup winner Christoph Kramer compared the two countries.

    “South Africa also had a tough time as World Cup hosts, but somehow you had the feeling that with the country behind you and with the spirit and fire of the people, you can somehow develop a force.

    “You didn’t have that feeling at all today,” he said.

    The exodus contributed to “a flat atmosphere both off and on the pitch”, but Qatar coach Felix Sanchez insisted that the atmosphere was “great” and they felt backed.

    “We felt supported and we hope for the next game that people will feel prouder. I am convinced they will keep supporting us to the end of the tournament,” Sanchez said.

    “We are sorry that we could not contribute to this great atmosphere and the party. But we knew this could happen.”