<p>Canadian rapper Drake has grabbed eyeballs after he placed a whopping $1 million bet on Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup against France on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Drake took to his Instagram account to share a screenshot of the bet placed. If La Albiceleste manage to beat France, Drake will receive a paycheque of $1.75 million.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>However, fans are worried that Drake lending his support to Argentina could spell trouble for Lionel Messi and his men. The rapper has been infamously connected to a phenomenon called 'Drake curse'.</p>

<p>Under this phenomenon, any team or individual that receives&nbsp;support from Drake ends up suffering some kind of misfortune, meaning they either lose the game or end up playing decisively bad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-final-argentina-vs-france-live-updates-lusail-stadium-ready-for-the-final-showdown-544211"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Digital viewers overtake TV for the first time in India</strong></a></p>

<p>Netizens across social media platforms were not happy that Drake had decided to support Argentina.</p>

<p>Prior to the start of the World Cup, Canadian superstar and Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies had met his countrymen. Canada were expected to spring a few surprises in the tournament but according to netizens, the 'Drake curse' hit the North American side and they ended up losing all three group matches before exiting the WC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, this is not the first time that Drake has made headlines for his ultra-aggressive bets. The rapper had punt $649,000 on Barcelona to win the El Clasico against perennial rivals Real Madrid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Drake lost the bet as defending La Liga champions managed to usurp the Catalunya side by a 3-1 scoreline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentine fans across the globe have been praying for Messi to lift the World Cup and cement his legacy as one of the greatest to have ever played the sport and win almost everything. The 35-year-old came perilously close to the trophy in 2014 but Germany stood in his way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Saturday, Messi will have to overcome the defending champions France. It will not be an easy contest and Argentina will like the luck factor to play into their hands as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Canadian rapper Drake has grabbed eyeballs after he placed a whopping $1 million bet on Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup against France on Sunday. Drake took to his Instagram account to share a screenshot of the bet placed.

Canadian rapper Drake has grabbed eyeballs after he placed a whopping $1 million bet on Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup against France on Sunday. Drake took to his Instagram account to share a screenshot of the bet placed. If La Albiceleste manage to beat France, Drake will receive a paycheque of $1.75 million. View this post on Instagram A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) × However, fans are worried that Drake lending his support to Argentina could spell trouble for Lionel Messi and his men. The rapper has been infamously connected to a phenomenon called 'Drake curse'. Under this phenomenon, any team or individual that receives support from Drake ends up suffering some kind of misfortune, meaning they either lose the game or end up playing decisively bad. Read more: FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Digital viewers overtake TV for the first time in India Netizens across social media platforms were not happy that Drake had decided to support Argentina. Prior to the start of the World Cup, Canadian superstar and Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies had met his countrymen. Canada were expected to spring a few surprises in the tournament but according to netizens, the 'Drake curse' hit the North American side and they ended up losing all three group matches before exiting the WC. Notably, this is not the first time that Drake has made headlines for his ultra-aggressive bets. The rapper had punt $649,000 on Barcelona to win the El Clasico against perennial rivals Real Madrid. However, Drake lost the bet as defending La Liga champions managed to usurp the Catalunya side by a 3-1 scoreline. Argentine fans across the globe have been praying for Messi to lift the World Cup and cement his legacy as one of the greatest to have ever played the sport and win almost everything. The 35-year-old came perilously close to the trophy in 2014 but Germany stood in his way. On Saturday, Messi will have to overcome the defending champions France. It will not be an easy contest and Argentina will like the luck factor to play into their hands as well. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Will 'Drake curse' haunt Messi? Rapper places $1 million bet on Argentina

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidgau1wL9tgBrQ" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Honestly, I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is stale, almost silly,"&nbsp;Pochettino was quoted as saying by The Athletic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 50-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager cited the example of Maradona and Pele and said:&nbsp;"You can't pretend that Maradona or Pele - along with Messi, the most important players in football - were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can't participate in that. He just needs others to run for him."</p>

<p>Ever since the two teams for the final were decided, questions were asked if Argentina's defensive line will be able to keep France's rapid wide players like Mbappe and Dembele quiet.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-final-argentina-vs-france-live-updates-lusail-stadium-ready-for-the-final-showdown-544211"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Nora Fatehi to perform at the Closing ceremony</strong></a></p>

<p>In the front two where Messi and Alvarez play in manager Lionel Scaloni's system, France are expected to have Kylian Mbappe with fullback Theo Hernandez, bombing forward on the left flank.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, with Messi not tracking back akin to modern players born and brought up in high-pressing systems, it is his teammates like Rodrigo de Paul that have to pick up the slack and ensure that Argentina are not hurt.</p>

<p>This has been the formula for Argentina's success this tournament. Messi has been allowed to occupy the half spaces across the pitch.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pep-shouldve-been-fired-7-8-times-says-pochettino-when-asked-about-his-psg-sacking-539790" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: 'Pep should've been fired 7-8 times', says Pochettino when asked about his PSG sacking</strong></a></p>

<p>It was perhaps one of the reasons why at the young age of 35 years, Messi was able to beat Gvardiol and manage to net himself a beautiful assist during the semifinal clash against Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"That's the most important thing about this Argentina team and the reason why they are in the final. It's because the players understand their roles perfectly. When you have Messi on your team, you must run for him," said Pochettino.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If Messi begins to track back and embroil himself in dirty, defensive work, Argentina's offensive output suffers as he is the lynchpin, pulling string from the middle of the park by dropping deep.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentina and France will square up against each other, later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Messi's men&nbsp; will be seeking to break a 36-year-old WC trophy drought.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him.

Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clamour surrounding Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly and that he needs others to do the running for him. "Honestly, I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is stale, almost silly," Pochettino was quoted as saying by The Athletic. The 50-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager cited the example of Maradona and Pele and said: "You can't pretend that Maradona or Pele - along with Messi, the most important players in football - were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can't participate in that. He just needs others to run for him." Ever since the two teams for the final were decided, questions were asked if Argentina's defensive line will be able to keep France's rapid wide players like Mbappe and Dembele quiet. Read more: FIFA World Cup final Argentina vs France LIVE updates: Nora Fatehi to perform at the Closing ceremony In the front two where Messi and Alvarez play in manager Lionel Scaloni's system, France are expected to have Kylian Mbappe with fullback Theo Hernandez, bombing forward on the left flank. However, with Messi not tracking back akin to modern players born and brought up in high-pressing systems, it is his teammates like Rodrigo de Paul that have to pick up the slack and ensure that Argentina are not hurt. This has been the formula for Argentina's success this tournament. Messi has been allowed to occupy the half spaces across the pitch. Read more: 'Pep should've been fired 7-8 times', says Pochettino when asked about his PSG sacking It was perhaps one of the reasons why at the young age of 35 years, Messi was able to beat Gvardiol and manage to net himself a beautiful assist during the semifinal clash against Croatia. "That's the most important thing about this Argentina team and the reason why they are in the final. It's because the players understand their roles perfectly. When you have Messi on your team, you must run for him," said Pochettino. If Messi begins to track back and embroil himself in dirty, defensive work, Argentina's offensive output suffers as he is the lynchpin, pulling string from the middle of the park by dropping deep. Argentina and France will square up against each other, later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Messi's men will be seeking to break a 36-year-old WC trophy drought. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He needs others to run for him': Mauricio Pochettino on Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup final

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<p>South Africa captain Dean Elgar has slammed the 'Gabba' pitch by calling it 'unsafe' after Proteas lost the game in under two days on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I did ask the umpires how long it goes on for before it is essentially unsafe. That's where the umpires' discretion comes in - it's not up to us players," Elgar was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The nature of the way it started to play with some seriously steep bounce with the old ball, you're kind of on a hiding to nothing as a batting group."</p>

<p>Elgar added that the cracks on the pitch and the uneven bounce meant that the older ball was flying across.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The divots definitely played a big role with the sideways movement, the up and down and obviously the steep bounce, which is quite something to face. And also today the older ball was flying through which really shouldn't be happening."</p>

<p>Elgar also questioned whether the wrapping up of a five-day Test match in under two days was a good advertisement for the format or not.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You've got to ask yourself if that's a good advertisement for this format."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-sa-2022-australia-win-gabba-test-inside-two-days-beat-proteas-by-6-wickets-on-lush-green-pitch-544192" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: AUS vs SA 2022: Australia win Gabba Test inside two days, beat Proteas by 6 wickets on lush-green pitch</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>ICC's definition of a poor pitch</strong></p>

<p>Notably, according to ICC's pitch guidelines, a poor pitch is one “that does not allow an even contest between bat and ball by favouring the bowlers too much (seam or spin), and not giving the batters from either team the opportunity to make runs.”</p>

<p>The match wrapped up in 142 overs with 15 wickets falling on the first day while 19 wickets tumbling on the second.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australia, chasing a party total of 35 were on the ropes as Proteas managed to bag 4 wickets. Another 50-60 runs and there was a high possibility that the South African pace battery would have managed to skittle the Aussies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Batting first on the usual-than-greenish Gabba deck, South Africa huffed and puffed their way to 152 after losing four wickets at the score of 27.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response, Australia did not fare much better as they managed to score 218, primarily due to Travis Head's 96-ball 92 runs inning that eventually proved to be the difference between the two sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


South Africa captain Dean Elgar has slammed the 'Gabba' pitch by calling it 'unsafe' after Proteas lost the game in under two days on Sunday. "I did ask the umpires how long it goes on for before it is essentially unsafe.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar has slammed the 'Gabba' pitch by calling it 'unsafe' after Proteas lost the game in under two days on Sunday. "I did ask the umpires how long it goes on for before it is essentially unsafe. That's where the umpires' discretion comes in - it's not up to us players," Elgar was quoted as saying by AFP. "The nature of the way it started to play with some seriously steep bounce with the old ball, you're kind of on a hiding to nothing as a batting group." Elgar added that the cracks on the pitch and the uneven bounce meant that the older ball was flying across. "The divots definitely played a big role with the sideways movement, the up and down and obviously the steep bounce, which is quite something to face. And also today the older ball was flying through which really shouldn't be happening." Elgar also questioned whether the wrapping up of a five-day Test match in under two days was a good advertisement for the format or not. "You've got to ask yourself if that's a good advertisement for this format." Read more: AUS vs SA 2022: Australia win Gabba Test inside two days, beat Proteas by 6 wickets on lush-green pitch ICC's definition of a poor pitch Notably, according to ICC's pitch guidelines, a poor pitch is one “that does not allow an even contest between bat and ball by favouring the bowlers too much (seam or spin), and not giving the batters from either team the opportunity to make runs.” The match wrapped up in 142 overs with 15 wickets falling on the first day while 19 wickets tumbling on the second. Australia, chasing a party total of 35 were on the ropes as Proteas managed to bag 4 wickets. Another 50-60 runs and there was a high possibility that the South African pace battery would have managed to skittle the Aussies. Batting first on the usual-than-greenish Gabba deck, South Africa huffed and puffed their way to 152 after losing four wickets at the score of 27. In response, Australia did not fare much better as they managed to score 218, primarily due to Travis Head's 96-ball 92 runs inning that eventually proved to be the difference between the two sides. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

AUS vs SA 2022: South Africa captain Dean Elgar criticises Gabba pitch, calls it 'unsafe'

<p>Putting speculations to rest, the English FA on&nbsp;Sunday announced that England manager Gareth Southgate will continue in the position and lead the team to Euro 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are delighted to confirm that Gareth Southgate is continuing as England Manager, and will lead our Euro 2024 campaign," said&nbsp;FA CEO Mark Bullingham in a message posted on the official Twitter handle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Gareth and Steve Holland have always had our full support, and our planning for the Euros starts now."</p>

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<p>Ever since England crashed out of the World Cup after going down against France in the quarterfinals, aspersions were cast over Southgate's position as the England manager.</p>

<p>At the time, the 52-year-old had preferred to step back and not allow emotions to cloud his judgement regarding his future as the England coach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Whenever I've finished these tournaments I've needed time to make correct decisions because emotionally you go through so many different feelings and the energy that it takes through these tournaments is enormous so I want to make the right decision, whenever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-dont-think-we-should-be-speaking-about-referees-gareth-southgate-after-englands-wc-exit-542038"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;‘I don't think we should be speaking about referees’ – Gareth Southgate after England’s WC exit</strong></a></p>

<p>While a significant portion of the England fanbase believes that Southgate has helped the team perform admirably well at world tournaments, the other half believes that his conservative approach is not allowing England to win the trophies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Southgate's refusal to bring James Maddinson or Trent Alexander-Arnold, arguably, two of the most creative players in the squad against France, when the team was chasing a goal brought a lot of flak for Southgate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pundits have often criticised Southgate for not maximising the creative and attacking prowess that the squad holds.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 begins in March when England face Italy in an away contest, followed by Ukraine at home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>England managed to reach the finals of the Euro 2020 under Southgate's watch but failed to get over the final hurdle. Italy beat them on penalties in front of the home crowd at Wembley Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prior to that, Southgate and his men had faltered in the 2018 World Cup where they reached the semifinals&nbsp;before exiting the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Putting speculations to rest, the English FA on Sunday announced that England manager Gareth Southgate will continue in the position and lead the team to Euro 2024.

Putting speculations to rest, the English FA on Sunday announced that England manager Gareth Southgate will continue in the position and lead the team to Euro 2024. "We are delighted to confirm that Gareth Southgate is continuing as England Manager, and will lead our Euro 2024 campaign," said FA CEO Mark Bullingham in a message posted on the official Twitter handle. "Gareth and Steve Holland have always had our full support, and our planning for the Euros starts now." pic.twitter.com/fDaNb9onJr — FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) December 18, 2022 × Ever since England crashed out of the World Cup after going down against France in the quarterfinals, aspersions were cast over Southgate's position as the England manager. At the time, the 52-year-old had preferred to step back and not allow emotions to cloud his judgement regarding his future as the England coach. "Whenever I've finished these tournaments I've needed time to make correct decisions because emotionally you go through so many different feelings and the energy that it takes through these tournaments is enormous so I want to make the right decision, whenever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA." Read more: ‘I don't think we should be speaking about referees’ – Gareth Southgate after England’s WC exit While a significant portion of the England fanbase believes that Southgate has helped the team perform admirably well at world tournaments, the other half believes that his conservative approach is not allowing England to win the trophies. Southgate's refusal to bring James Maddinson or Trent Alexander-Arnold, arguably, two of the most creative players in the squad against France, when the team was chasing a goal brought a lot of flak for Southgate. Pundits have often criticised Southgate for not maximising the creative and attacking prowess that the squad holds. The qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 begins in March when England face Italy in an away contest, followed by Ukraine at home. England managed to reach the finals of the Euro 2020 under Southgate's watch but failed to get over the final hurdle. Italy beat them on penalties in front of the home crowd at Wembley Stadium. Prior to that, Southgate and his men had faltered in the 2018 World Cup where they reached the semifinals before exiting the tournament. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Gareth Southgate to stay as England manager till Euro 2024, confirms English FA

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup Final 2022:</strong>The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike. However, amid the gloom, there is one heartening story of a referee that is set to register his name in the history books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Szymon Marciniak will be the first referee in the final between France and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Today (Sunday December 18). The 41-old-year referee, hailing from Poland will become the first Polish person to officiate a final of the FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marciniak finding himself at the centre of the biggest match of the sport is something that he himself could not have imagined a year ago. The Polish referee was forced to step away from officiating duties after being diagnosed with&nbsp;Tachycardia -- a heart condition where the heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I had a very difficult time for the last year-and-a-half. I had Tachycardia - it's a heart illness. In the beginning, it was very difficult,"&nbsp;Marciniak was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I missed the UEFA European Championship, it was a terrible feeling. Now, life gives back to me and I cannot even stop smiling because it's a great feeling."</p>

<p>Marciniak started his career in 2009 in Poland's top-flight tournament. Four years later, he joined FIFA's official list of referees. He was also involved in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia and is famously known for handing German player Jerome Boateng a red card.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marciniak will be joined by assistants Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz who also happen to be Polish. As for VAR,&nbsp;Tomasz Kwiatkowski will man the consoles with Ismail Elfath as the fourth official.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the controversy around referees?</strong></h2>

<p>Referees at the Qatar World Cup 2022 have had to endure a tough time ever since the knockout phase began. It all started during the highly physical quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Argentina where Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez slammed referees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi in a post-match interview.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-martinez-slam-referee-and-dutch-coach-after-tense-quarterfinal-win-541778"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, similar criticism was levelled by Portuguese players following their 1-0 defeat against Morocco. Portugal's midfield leader Bruno Fernandes said an 'Argentine' referee should not have been allowed to officiate their match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us," said Fernandes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>


FIFA World Cup Final 2022:The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike.

FIFA World Cup Final 2022:The ongoing World Cup in Qatar hasn't been short on controversies. Referees and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) have been at the receiving end of criticism from players and fans alike. However, amid the gloom, there is one heartening story of a referee that is set to register his name in the history books. Szymon Marciniak will be the first referee in the final between France and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on Today (Sunday December 18). The 41-old-year referee, hailing from Poland will become the first Polish person to officiate a final of the FIFA World Cup. Marciniak finding himself at the centre of the biggest match of the sport is something that he himself could not have imagined a year ago. The Polish referee was forced to step away from officiating duties after being diagnosed with Tachycardia -- a heart condition where the heart rate exceeds the normal resting rate. "I had a very difficult time for the last year-and-a-half. I had Tachycardia - it's a heart illness. In the beginning, it was very difficult," Marciniak was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I missed the UEFA European Championship, it was a terrible feeling. Now, life gives back to me and I cannot even stop smiling because it's a great feeling." Marciniak started his career in 2009 in Poland's top-flight tournament. Four years later, he joined FIFA's official list of referees. He was also involved in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia and is famously known for handing German player Jerome Boateng a red card. Marciniak will be joined by assistants Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz who also happen to be Polish. As for VAR, Tomasz Kwiatkowski will man the consoles with Ismail Elfath as the fourth official. What is the controversy around referees? Referees at the Qatar World Cup 2022 have had to endure a tough time ever since the knockout phase began. It all started during the highly physical quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Argentina where Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez slammed referees. "I don’t want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi in a post-match interview. Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win Notably, similar criticism was levelled by Portuguese players following their 1-0 defeat against Morocco. Portugal's midfield leader Bruno Fernandes said an 'Argentine' referee should not have been allowed to officiate their match. "I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us," said Fernandes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup Final 2022: Are you watching Argentina vs France final today? Find out who is Szymon Marciniak

<p>Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a worried man. Ahead of City's Carabao Cup tie against rivals Liverpool, Guardiola is worried that he does not have enough players.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"At the moment, we have four or five players, and we will have to wait and see how the others come back," Guardiola was quoted as saying by the club's official media channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Without&nbsp;naming FIFA or the organising body of the league cup, Pep took a dig at both of them for making such a congested schedule.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“But we just don’t have players because the big brains of football decided this schedule and we are going to play this game (against Liverpool)."</p>

<p>“People are coming back soon. Nathan, Aymer, and Rodri, and later the players from the England and Portugal teams.”</p>

<p>Usually, the World Cup is held before the beginning of the footballing season in Europe. However, with this year's host being Qatar, the dates were pushed midway into the season to avoid the scorching middle-east heat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the World Cup was crammed into the middle of an already hectic schedule, the players and coaches will have little to no time to get their preparations underway before heading into the busy festive season schedule of matches.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-manager-pep-guardiola-explains-key-difference-between-lionel-messi-and-erling-haaland-522148"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explains key difference between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, most Premier League clubs have been holding regular friendlies ahead of the club football resumption&nbsp;but Manchester City played their first mid-season friendly against Spanish side Girona on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though Guardiola lamented about not having all players at his disposal, he still had the services of Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>City managed to comfortably beat the opposition 2-0 with goals from Haaland and de Bruyne allowing Pep to further rotate the squad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Guardiola's worry ahead of a crucial knockout match is not without any substance.&nbsp;Lately, Liverpool have had the wood over Guardiola's City, the reigning Premier League champions.</p>

<p>City have not managed to beat Liverpool in their last five meetings.&nbsp;The only win came in February last year when City managed to beat an injury-hit Liverpool 4-1.</p>

<p>The most recent encounter between the two sides was in the Premier League where a lone goal from Mo Salah was the difference between the two sides.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a worried man. Ahead of City's Carabao Cup tie against rivals Liverpool, Guardiola is worried that he does not have enough players.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a worried man. Ahead of City's Carabao Cup tie against rivals Liverpool, Guardiola is worried that he does not have enough players. "At the moment, we have four or five players, and we will have to wait and see how the others come back," Guardiola was quoted as saying by the club's official media channel. Without naming FIFA or the organising body of the league cup, Pep took a dig at both of them for making such a congested schedule. “But we just don’t have players because the big brains of football decided this schedule and we are going to play this game (against Liverpool)." “People are coming back soon. Nathan, Aymer, and Rodri, and later the players from the England and Portugal teams.” Usually, the World Cup is held before the beginning of the footballing season in Europe. However, with this year's host being Qatar, the dates were pushed midway into the season to avoid the scorching middle-east heat. While the World Cup was crammed into the middle of an already hectic schedule, the players and coaches will have little to no time to get their preparations underway before heading into the busy festive season schedule of matches. Read more: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explains key difference between Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland Notably, most Premier League clubs have been holding regular friendlies ahead of the club football resumption but Manchester City played their first mid-season friendly against Spanish side Girona on Saturday. Though Guardiola lamented about not having all players at his disposal, he still had the services of Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan. City managed to comfortably beat the opposition 2-0 with goals from Haaland and de Bruyne allowing Pep to further rotate the squad. However, Guardiola's worry ahead of a crucial knockout match is not without any substance. Lately, Liverpool have had the wood over Guardiola's City, the reigning Premier League champions. City have not managed to beat Liverpool in their last five meetings. The only win came in February last year when City managed to beat an injury-hit Liverpool 4-1. The most recent encounter between the two sides was in the Premier League where a lone goal from Mo Salah was the difference between the two sides. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We don’t have players', laments Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of Liverpool clash

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<p>Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America.</p>

<p>“He doesn’t know enough about football. He never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn’t matter. We are a great team, recognised as such,” Martinez told the media on the eve of the final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Argentine goalkeeper was referring to statements made by Mbappe a few months ago where he said European nations are better prepared for World Cup compared to their South American counterparts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Argentina haven't played games of great quality to reach the World Cup. In South America football isn't as advanced as Europe. That's why if you look at the last World Cups it's always the Europeans that win," Mbappe had said at the time.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-final-is-lionel-messi-fit-to-play-against-france-get-the-latest-update-544175"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Is Lionel Messi fit to play against France? Get the latest update</strong></a></p>

<p>Mbappe was slammed even then for his statement with players like Lionel Messi, Lautaro&nbsp;Martinez and&nbsp;former Brazil coach Tite gently reminding the Frenchman to not make such unfair comparisons when conditions and oppositions were starkly different.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we returned from a qualifier, we told them: You don’t know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at altitude, in the heat, in Venezuela," Messi said in an interview.</p>

<p>Similarly, Inter Milan striker Martinez called Mbappe's statement unfair and added,&nbsp;"We are happy with how it's working and what we're doing on the field. I saw what [Mbappe] said, but Argentina and Brazil have players of great quality and talent. Brazil, just like us, has most of its players in Europe. I thought it was an unfair comment."</p>

<p>Argentina and France will square up against each other in the final of the FIFA World Cup later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Argentina will be seeking to break a 36-year-old trophy drought.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has criticised France superstar Kylian Mbappe over his previous statements about the quality of football in South America. “He doesn’t know enough about football. He never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, it may be better not to talk about it. But it doesn’t matter. We are a great team, recognised as such,” Martinez told the media on the eve of the final. The Argentine goalkeeper was referring to statements made by Mbappe a few months ago where he said European nations are better prepared for World Cup compared to their South American counterparts. "Argentina haven't played games of great quality to reach the World Cup. In South America football isn't as advanced as Europe. That's why if you look at the last World Cups it's always the Europeans that win," Mbappe had said at the time. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Is Lionel Messi fit to play against France? Get the latest update Mbappe was slammed even then for his statement with players like Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and former Brazil coach Tite gently reminding the Frenchman to not make such unfair comparisons when conditions and oppositions were starkly different. "Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we returned from a qualifier, we told them: You don’t know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at altitude, in the heat, in Venezuela," Messi said in an interview. Similarly, Inter Milan striker Martinez called Mbappe's statement unfair and added, "We are happy with how it's working and what we're doing on the field. I saw what [Mbappe] said, but Argentina and Brazil have players of great quality and talent. Brazil, just like us, has most of its players in Europe. I thought it was an unfair comment." Argentina and France will square up against each other in the final of the FIFA World Cup later in the evening at the Lusail Stadium. While Les Bleus will be attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy, Argentina will be seeking to break a 36-year-old trophy drought. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He doesn't know enough about football': Emiliano Martinez about Kylian Mbappe ahead of the final

<p>Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third-place playoffs of the World Cup at the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday evening&nbsp;to end the African side's dream run in Qatar. Goals from&nbsp;Josko Gvardiol and&nbsp;Mislav Oršić were enough for the 2018 finalists to get the better of a spirited Moroccan side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both teams came into the contest after suffering the disappointment of not making it to the final of the quadrennial event. Though many would have anticipated&nbsp;the third-place match to&nbsp;be devoid of any intensity, it certainly wasn't the case.</p>

<p>The passion and desire to win a football match was as high as the motivation that playing in a World Cup final brings - making up for an intriguing watch for the neutrals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>A blistering start to the match</strong></p>

<p>The two teams were off the blocks in a lightning-quick manner with Croatia drawing the first blood. A fee-kick curled from 40-50 yards out was cushioned into the back of the net, past a diving Bounou&nbsp;by Gvardiol, one of the stars of the tournaments, with much ease in the seventh minute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, before Croatian fans even had the time to rejoice their team's goal, Morocco, through a free kick two minutes later, managed to restore the parity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Walid&nbsp;Regragui and his men, known for their defensive solidity were often scruffy in their clearances. Croatia had numerous chances within the first half an hour to double the lead.</p>

<p>The half-hearted clearances from Morocco came back to haunt them when Mislav Oršić, given a starting place in the playing XI tied the laces behind a beautiful curling shot in the 42nd minute that flew past Bounou&nbsp;, who had no chance to stop that.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The goal came against the run of play as Morocco had amassed a flurry of chances in the 15 minutes prior to it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the break,&nbsp;Regragui made one substitution by replacing&nbsp;Abdelhamid Sabiri with Ilias Chair. However, it was the 2018 finalists that picked up the tempo first with goalscorer&nbsp;Orisic letting one fly that grazed the side netting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Perhaps Morocco's biggest chance of the match came in the 75th minute when&nbsp;Youssef En-Nesyri,&nbsp;loitering all alone at the far post was found by his teammate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>En-Nesyri, the hero of the quarterfinal against Portugal pulled the trigger but for the umpteenth time for Croatia, keeper Livakovic came to the rescue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afterwards, the Moroccan players had a tough time keeping their heads about it as tempers flared, trying to chase the equalising goal.&nbsp;Morocco tried hard but with no finesse in the final third, they had to pay dearly, once again.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Playing XI changes</strong></p>

<p>Croatia started the game with coach Zlatko Dalic&nbsp;making&nbsp;five changes to the starting XI from their defeat against Argentina. The most notable omission was of Marcelo Brozovic who had to leave the field during the last game, soon after halftime.</p>

<p>As for Morocco, their captain Romain Saiss could not break into the XI after failing to recover from an injury.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco may not have reached the finals or won third place but their fairytale run at the World Cup will be remembered for ages. They have&nbsp;given hope, not only to Asia, Africa or the Arab world hope but to all those nations that dream of making it to the World Cup one day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a bitter defeat but I think it's deserved.&nbsp;We have a team that never gave in. We'll remember a lot of matches, we're going to come back stronger. We've united our country for a month, everybody was happy," said&nbsp;Regragui ina post-match interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Croatia, it was the first time since 1998 that they finished third at the FIFA World Cup, having&nbsp;beaten Netherlands 2-1 at Parc des Princes that time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third-place playoffs of the World Cup at the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday evening to end the African side's dream run in Qatar. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Oršić were enough for the 2018 finalists to get the better of a spirited Moroccan side.

Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third-place playoffs of the World Cup at the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday evening to end the African side's dream run in Qatar. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Oršić were enough for the 2018 finalists to get the better of a spirited Moroccan side. Both teams came into the contest after suffering the disappointment of not making it to the final of the quadrennial event. Though many would have anticipated the third-place match to be devoid of any intensity, it certainly wasn't the case. The passion and desire to win a football match was as high as the motivation that playing in a World Cup final brings - making up for an intriguing watch for the neutrals. A blistering start to the match The two teams were off the blocks in a lightning-quick manner with Croatia drawing the first blood. A fee-kick curled from 40-50 yards out was cushioned into the back of the net, past a diving Bounou by Gvardiol, one of the stars of the tournaments, with much ease in the seventh minute. However, before Croatian fans even had the time to rejoice their team's goal, Morocco, through a free kick two minutes later, managed to restore the parity. Walid Regragui and his men, known for their defensive solidity were often scruffy in their clearances. Croatia had numerous chances within the first half an hour to double the lead. The half-hearted clearances from Morocco came back to haunt them when Mislav Oršić, given a starting place in the playing XI tied the laces behind a beautiful curling shot in the 42nd minute that flew past Bounou , who had no chance to stop that. Mislav Orsic with 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐭 🖌️🎨 Is this the goal that helps #Croatia earn the 🥉 in #Qatar2022? Find out in #CROMAR, LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲 Presented by @Mahindra_Auto#FIFAWorldCup #WorldsGreatestShow #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/jkkHXUYz7H — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 17, 2022 × The goal came against the run of play as Morocco had amassed a flurry of chances in the 15 minutes prior to it. After the break, Regragui made one substitution by replacing Abdelhamid Sabiri with Ilias Chair. However, it was the 2018 finalists that picked up the tempo first with goalscorer Orisic letting one fly that grazed the side netting. Perhaps Morocco's biggest chance of the match came in the 75th minute when Youssef En-Nesyri, loitering all alone at the far post was found by his teammate. En-Nesyri, the hero of the quarterfinal against Portugal pulled the trigger but for the umpteenth time for Croatia, keeper Livakovic came to the rescue. Afterwards, the Moroccan players had a tough time keeping their heads about it as tempers flared, trying to chase the equalising goal. Morocco tried hard but with no finesse in the final third, they had to pay dearly, once again. Playing XI changes Croatia started the game with coach Zlatko Dalic making five changes to the starting XI from their defeat against Argentina. The most notable omission was of Marcelo Brozovic who had to leave the field during the last game, soon after halftime. As for Morocco, their captain Romain Saiss could not break into the XI after failing to recover from an injury. Morocco may not have reached the finals or won third place but their fairytale run at the World Cup will be remembered for ages. They have given hope, not only to Asia, Africa or the Arab world hope but to all those nations that dream of making it to the World Cup one day. "It's a bitter defeat but I think it's deserved. We have a team that never gave in. We'll remember a lot of matches, we're going to come back stronger. We've united our country for a month, everybody was happy," said Regragui ina post-match interview. As for Croatia, it was the first time since 1998 that they finished third at the FIFA World Cup, having beaten Netherlands 2-1 at Parc des Princes that time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia defeat a spirited Morocco 2-1 to win the third-place playoff

<p>Australian bowlers held their nerves to deny India a series-equalling win in the fourth T20I at Mumbai on Saturday, as 'women-in-blue' lost the match by a painful margin of seven runs despite a quality knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and late flourish from Richa Ghosh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chasing 189, India lost openers Smriti Mandhana (16) and Shafali Verma (20) in the powerplay itself, reducing India to 43/2. At the end of powerplay, India were 44/2, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease.</p>

<p>Alana King joined the party for Australia, dismissing key batter Jemimah for just eight runs, reducing India to 49/3. Following that, Harmanpreet joined forces with Devika Vaidya to rebuild the innings.</p>

<p>At the end of 10 overs, India were 77/3, with Harmanpreet (20) and Devika (7) unbeaten. The 72-run stand between the duo ended after King dismissed skipper Harmanpreet for 46 off 30 balls.</p>

<p>At the end of 15 overs, India were tottering at 130/4, with Devika joined by Richa Ghosh&nbsp;at the crease. In the 18th over of the match, Ashleigh Gardner landed another timely blow on India as she dismissed Devika for 32 off 26 balls. Half of the Indian team was back in the hut for 149 runs.</p>

<p>India could not successfully pull off the chase, finishing the innings at 181/5, losing the game by seven runs.&nbsp;Richa was unbeaten at 40 off 19 balls, while Deepti was unbeaten at 12.</p>

<p>King and Gardner took two wickets each. Darcie Brown took a wicket. Richa however continued her onslaught, smashing fours and sixes to bring India back into contention. India were left to score 20 runs in the final over.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-women-vs-australia-women-3rd-t20i-india-lose-by-21-runs-as-australia-lead-series-2-1-543095"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;India women vs Australia women: 3rd T20I: India lose by 21 runs as Australia lead series 2-1</strong></a></p>

<p>Earlier, it was Ellyse Perry's blistering knock of 72 of 42 balls that helped the Australia women's team set a massive target of 189 in 20 overs in the fourth T20I match against India at Brabourne Stadium here.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Put into bat, the Australian side got off to a brisk start but Deepti Sharma gave India the first breakthrough dismissing Beth Mooney for two as the visitors lost their first wicket for 24.</p>

<p>Captain Alyssa Healy was batting strongly at 30, which came off 21 balls but had to leave the field after getting retired hurt. Radha Yadav struck and gave India a second breakthrough dismissing Tahlia McGrath for nine as Australia lost the second wicket for 46.</p>

<p>Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry struck a partnership to take Australia`s total beyond the 50-run mark in seven overs. The Gardner-Perry duo notched up a 50-run partnership in just 34 balls and also took the team's total beyond the triple-figure mark in the 13th over. Ellyse Perry went on to score her half-century off 32 balls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India desperately needed a wicket and Deepti Sharma struck for the second time getting the prized scalp of Ashleigh Gardner who had made 42 of 27 balls. Australia lost their third wicket at 140.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The World Champions went past the 150-run mark in 17.2 overs with Perry and Grace Harris batting impressively. Perry remained unbeaten on 72 of 42 balls while Harris remained not out on 27 of 12 balls to guide the team to a massive 188/3 in 20 overs.</p>

<p><strong>Brief scores: </strong>Australia Women: 188/3 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 72*, Ashleigh Gardner 42; Deepti Sharma 2/35) beat India Women: 181/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 46, Richa Ghosh 40, Ashleigh Gardner 2/20).</p>

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Australian bowlers held their nerves to deny India a series-equalling win in the fourth T20I at Mumbai on Saturday, as 'women-in-blue' lost the match by a painful margin of seven runs despite a quality knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and late flourish from Richa Ghosh.

Australian bowlers held their nerves to deny India a series-equalling win in the fourth T20I at Mumbai on Saturday, as 'women-in-blue' lost the match by a painful margin of seven runs despite a quality knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and late flourish from Richa Ghosh. Chasing 189, India lost openers Smriti Mandhana (16) and Shafali Verma (20) in the powerplay itself, reducing India to 43/2. At the end of powerplay, India were 44/2, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease. Alana King joined the party for Australia, dismissing key batter Jemimah for just eight runs, reducing India to 49/3. Following that, Harmanpreet joined forces with Devika Vaidya to rebuild the innings. At the end of 10 overs, India were 77/3, with Harmanpreet (20) and Devika (7) unbeaten. The 72-run stand between the duo ended after King dismissed skipper Harmanpreet for 46 off 30 balls. At the end of 15 overs, India were tottering at 130/4, with Devika joined by Richa Ghosh at the crease. In the 18th over of the match, Ashleigh Gardner landed another timely blow on India as she dismissed Devika for 32 off 26 balls. Half of the Indian team was back in the hut for 149 runs. India could not successfully pull off the chase, finishing the innings at 181/5, losing the game by seven runs. Richa was unbeaten at 40 off 19 balls, while Deepti was unbeaten at 12. King and Gardner took two wickets each. Darcie Brown took a wicket. Richa however continued her onslaught, smashing fours and sixes to bring India back into contention. India were left to score 20 runs in the final over. Read more: India women vs Australia women: 3rd T20I: India lose by 21 runs as Australia lead series 2-1 Earlier, it was Ellyse Perry's blistering knock of 72 of 42 balls that helped the Australia women's team set a massive target of 189 in 20 overs in the fourth T20I match against India at Brabourne Stadium here. Put into bat, the Australian side got off to a brisk start but Deepti Sharma gave India the first breakthrough dismissing Beth Mooney for two as the visitors lost their first wicket for 24. Captain Alyssa Healy was batting strongly at 30, which came off 21 balls but had to leave the field after getting retired hurt. Radha Yadav struck and gave India a second breakthrough dismissing Tahlia McGrath for nine as Australia lost the second wicket for 46. Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry struck a partnership to take Australia`s total beyond the 50-run mark in seven overs. The Gardner-Perry duo notched up a 50-run partnership in just 34 balls and also took the team's total beyond the triple-figure mark in the 13th over. Ellyse Perry went on to score her half-century off 32 balls. India desperately needed a wicket and Deepti Sharma struck for the second time getting the prized scalp of Ashleigh Gardner who had made 42 of 27 balls. Australia lost their third wicket at 140. The World Champions went past the 150-run mark in 17.2 overs with Perry and Grace Harris batting impressively. Perry remained unbeaten on 72 of 42 balls while Harris remained not out on 27 of 12 balls to guide the team to a massive 188/3 in 20 overs. Brief scores: Australia Women: 188/3 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 72*, Ashleigh Gardner 42; Deepti Sharma 2/35) beat India Women: 181/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 46, Richa Ghosh 40, Ashleigh Gardner 2/20). WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India women v Australia women: 4th T20I: India lose by 7 runs, Australia take unassailable 3-1 lead

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<p>After a tumultuous 48 hours where the French camp was battered by illness and injuries, a ray of hope has come for Les Bleus. The entire squad trained on the eve of the World Cup final, suggesting that France will be able to field their first XI against Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to an AFP report, all 24 members of the French squad were available at the start of the training session on Saturday evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The news would have given coach Didier Deschamps a booster shot of confidence as well. At a pre-match presser, prior to the training session, Deschamps looked rather pessimistic and said he did not have information about the players.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We make sure to manage the situation as well as possible. The players were sleeping when I left, I don't have the latest information. We are doing our best to manage calmly. There will be information today. I will have some tonight and until tomorrow to make sure we are ready for this big game."</p>

<p>Prior to the Wednesday semi-final clash against Morocco, France were dealt the first blow when Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano suffered illness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Coach Didier Deschamps was forced to make the change as Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana were picked as the replacement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/france-beat-morocco-2-0-to-set-up-world-cup-final-against-argentina-543124"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: France overpower a spirited Morocco 2-0 to set up the summit clash with Argentina</strong></a></p>

<p>Konate had a monstrous game as he managed to block several of Morocco's enterprising challenges. However, after the match, reports emerged that the centre-back pairing of Konate and Raphael Varane had fallen ill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The problems were compounded when new reports suggested&nbsp;that Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni suffered knee injuries and hip bruises, respectively.</p>

<p>Even before the beginning of the tournament, the French squad was hit by an injury crisis. Several big-ticket players such as N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku and Karim Benzema.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-france-as-karim-benzema-ruled-out-of-fifa-world-cup-due-to-injury-535704" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury</strong></a></p>

<p>Both Nkunku and Benzema got injured days before the World Cup was scheduled to begin. During the first match, Lucas Hernandez suffered a freak ACL injury, further adding to the chaos.</p>

<p>With the crisis all but over, Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. Meanwhile, Messi's men will look to emulate the glory of Maradona's 1986 team.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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After a tumultuous 48 hours where the French camp was battered by illness and injuries, a ray of hope has come for Les Bleus. The entire squad trained on the eve of the World Cup final, suggesting that France will be able to field their first XI against Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

After a tumultuous 48 hours where the French camp was battered by illness and injuries, a ray of hope has come for Les Bleus. The entire squad trained on the eve of the World Cup final, suggesting that France will be able to field their first XI against Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. According to an AFP report, all 24 members of the French squad were available at the start of the training session on Saturday evening. The news would have given coach Didier Deschamps a booster shot of confidence as well. At a pre-match presser, prior to the training session, Deschamps looked rather pessimistic and said he did not have information about the players. "We make sure to manage the situation as well as possible. The players were sleeping when I left, I don't have the latest information. We are doing our best to manage calmly. There will be information today. I will have some tonight and until tomorrow to make sure we are ready for this big game." Prior to the Wednesday semi-final clash against Morocco, France were dealt the first blow when Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano suffered illness. Coach Didier Deschamps was forced to make the change as Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana were picked as the replacement. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: France overpower a spirited Morocco 2-0 to set up the summit clash with Argentina Konate had a monstrous game as he managed to block several of Morocco's enterprising challenges. However, after the match, reports emerged that the centre-back pairing of Konate and Raphael Varane had fallen ill. The problems were compounded when new reports suggested that Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni suffered knee injuries and hip bruises, respectively. Even before the beginning of the tournament, the French squad was hit by an injury crisis. Several big-ticket players such as N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku and Karim Benzema. Read more: Big blow to France as Karim Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup due to injury Both Nkunku and Benzema got injured days before the World Cup was scheduled to begin. During the first match, Lucas Hernandez suffered a freak ACL injury, further adding to the chaos. With the crisis all but over, Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. Meanwhile, Messi's men will look to emulate the glory of Maradona's 1986 team. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: France get a lucky break as entire squad trains after virus setback

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<p>Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that Messi is like a lion-tamer in a circus when he has the ball at his feet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I've seen him here in the middle of three players and he's like a guy with a lion in the circus. He tells the ball 'you listen to me, my friend, I'm the boss here'," Wenger was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"And overall I would say that he has always had unbelievable quality for such a master of dribbling -- he knew always when to pass the ball and usually when players are very talented in dribbling they exaggerate a little bit."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-arsene-wenger-takes-a-dig-at-teams-more-focused-on-political-demonstrations-539997" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger takes a dig at teams more focused on political demonstrations</strong></a></p>

<p>Wenger was reflecting on how Messi had rediscovered his old touch in the World Cup. Calling him the boss of the orchestra, the 73-year-old added every Argentine attack starts with Messi playing the music.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The boss of the orchestra is Messi and the music starts when he has the ball. What is surprising for me in this tournament is that he has rediscovered that physical capacity to accelerate again at the right moment."</p>

<p>The Frenchman is currently working as FIFA's head of global football development. His statements come a day before the final where Messi and his men will face France, the defending champions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Wenger issued caution by terming French forward Kylian Mbappe as a threat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mbappe has huge flexibility, huge power and he's very intelligent as well but in a different way.&nbsp;He uses his power and he knows how to use his physical potential but he is also very creative in the final third.</p>

<p>Messi will be attempting to win his first World Cup trophy and cement an unrivalled legacy. Meanwhile, Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. If France wins the final, Mbappe, at the age of 23 will have two trophies to his name.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that Messi is like a lion-tamer in a circus when he has the ball at his feet. "I've seen him here in the middle of three players and he's like a guy with a lion in the circus.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that Messi is like a lion-tamer in a circus when he has the ball at his feet. "I've seen him here in the middle of three players and he's like a guy with a lion in the circus. He tells the ball 'you listen to me, my friend, I'm the boss here'," Wenger was quoted as saying by AFP. "And overall I would say that he has always had unbelievable quality for such a master of dribbling -- he knew always when to pass the ball and usually when players are very talented in dribbling they exaggerate a little bit." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger takes a dig at teams more focused on political demonstrations Wenger was reflecting on how Messi had rediscovered his old touch in the World Cup. Calling him the boss of the orchestra, the 73-year-old added every Argentine attack starts with Messi playing the music. "The boss of the orchestra is Messi and the music starts when he has the ball. What is surprising for me in this tournament is that he has rediscovered that physical capacity to accelerate again at the right moment." The Frenchman is currently working as FIFA's head of global football development. His statements come a day before the final where Messi and his men will face France, the defending champions. However, Wenger issued caution by terming French forward Kylian Mbappe as a threat. "Mbappe has huge flexibility, huge power and he's very intelligent as well but in a different way. He uses his power and he knows how to use his physical potential but he is also very creative in the final third. Messi will be attempting to win his first World Cup trophy and cement an unrivalled legacy. Meanwhile, Les Bleus will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. If France wins the final, Mbappe, at the age of 23 will have two trophies to his name. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Arsene Wenger compares Lionel Messi to a lion-tamer. Here's why.

<p>Ashes might be more than six months away but England pacer James Anderson has already started with the mind games. Anderson believes that Australia will not be able to cope with 'Bazball' cricket that England has been playing in the longest format of the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Maybe the Aussies might be more brash than him [Stokes], but there might be something deep down where they’re not sure how they’re going to approach it against us," Anderson was quoted as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Bazball' is the nickname given to coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes' philosophy of playing super attacking cricket. The team imbibes the notion that attack is the best form of defence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The approach has yielded significant results for England as they have managed to beat the like if India, South Africa and now Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though confident about his team's abilities, Anderson added that Australia will look to come hard against England's 'Bazball' strategy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Having played against them a lot, I’m sure they’ll try to come back just as hard as they can."</p>

<p>Such has been the effect of England's attacking cricket that Anderson is mulling extending his international cricket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have been around for 20 years and [Stokes'] attacking mindset is making me think differently about the game," he said. "It has been a breath of fresh air and I feel I could carry on for a number of years in this regime."</p>

<p>However, Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith has cast aspersions over the sustainability of the brand of cricket that England have employed in recent times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Guys just keep joking about it – I think Ronnie has had enough of hearing about 'Baz-ball' to be honest – it's good fun to joke about.&nbsp;It's been exciting. I'm just intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it's sustainable,"</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-2022-ben-stokes-captaincy-style-is-like-breath-of-fresh-air-says-veteran-seamer-james-anderson-543976"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;PAK vs ENG 2022: Ben Stokes’ captaincy style is like breath of fresh air, says veteran seamer James Anderson</strong></a></p>

<p>Australia will be touring England&nbsp;for the Ashes in June next year. The last time England won the Ashes was in 2015. During last year's Ashes, Australia decimated the three lions by a 4-0 margin as England narrowly avoided a whitewash.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ashes might be more than six months away but England pacer James Anderson has already started with the mind games. Anderson believes that Australia will not be able to cope with 'Bazball' cricket that England has been playing in the longest format of the game.

Ashes might be more than six months away but England pacer James Anderson has already started with the mind games. Anderson believes that Australia will not be able to cope with 'Bazball' cricket that England has been playing in the longest format of the game. "Maybe the Aussies might be more brash than him [Stokes], but there might be something deep down where they’re not sure how they’re going to approach it against us," Anderson was quoted as saying. 'Bazball' is the nickname given to coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes' philosophy of playing super attacking cricket. The team imbibes the notion that attack is the best form of defence. The approach has yielded significant results for England as they have managed to beat the like if India, South Africa and now Pakistan. Though confident about his team's abilities, Anderson added that Australia will look to come hard against England's 'Bazball' strategy. "Having played against them a lot, I’m sure they’ll try to come back just as hard as they can." Such has been the effect of England's attacking cricket that Anderson is mulling extending his international cricket. "I have been around for 20 years and [Stokes'] attacking mindset is making me think differently about the game," he said. "It has been a breath of fresh air and I feel I could carry on for a number of years in this regime." However, Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith has cast aspersions over the sustainability of the brand of cricket that England have employed in recent times. "Guys just keep joking about it – I think Ronnie has had enough of hearing about 'Baz-ball' to be honest – it's good fun to joke about. It's been exciting. I'm just intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it's sustainable," Read more: PAK vs ENG 2022: Ben Stokes’ captaincy style is like breath of fresh air, says veteran seamer James Anderson Australia will be touring England for the Ashes in June next year. The last time England won the Ashes was in 2015. During last year's Ashes, Australia decimated the three lions by a 4-0 margin as England narrowly avoided a whitewash. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Australia will not be able to handle Bazball', says James Anderson ahead of next years' Ashes

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