<p>It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, it was one man and phenomenon that stole the show and it was none other than Lionel Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi scored one and assisted two goals as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity.</p>

<p>While the scoreline may flatter, the start of the game was tentative for the South American side.&nbsp;Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes.</p>

<p>Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. During the first half-an-hour of the game, Croatia looked compact and the midfield three managed to gobble up most of the Argentine transitions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Against the run of time, the first save of the match came in 25th minute when Livakovic had to be on alert from a sweet strike from Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty box.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Messi starts to weave his magic wand</strong></p>

<p>Just when it looked like Croatia were dominating the ball, Messi rose to the challenge and started making things happen. The little master began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield.</p>

<p>This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, prior to the penalty, Modric had pulled off a nutmeg deep in Croatian territory to start a move that flowed beautifully up until it didn't. Messi took the penalty and promptly dispatched the ball to the back of the net.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Messi's 11th goal in 25 World Cup games and the fifth of this tournament which brought him level with&nbsp;Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Alvarez's fleet-footed, solo goal</strong></p>

<p>A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. &nbsp;Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where&nbsp;the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-julian-alvarezs-stunning-solo-goal-in-the-fifa-2022-world-cup-semifinal-542820"><strong>WATCH | Julian Alvarez's stunning solo goal in the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinal</strong></a></p>

<p>Trailing at half-time, Croatian coach&nbsp;Zlatko Dalić was forced to make two substitutes as Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orisic came on for Sosa and Pasalic. Few minutes into the second half, Croatia were dealt another blow as their midfield maestro Brozovic felt something and was forced to make way for previous match hero Bruno Petkovic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a two-goal lead to defend and Croatia bombing men forward, Argentine coach Scaloni went for defensive changes as he brought on Martinez for Fernandes. Till the hour mark, Croatia did not have a single shot on target, suggesting Argentina had done their part of the bargain decently well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Box-office Messi on display</strong></p>

<p>Perhaps, the most Messi-esque moment came in the 69th minute when Messi single-handedly beat Gvardiol in the Croatian penalty box to set up Alvarez for his second goal.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Classic Messi Move 🔥<br />
<br />
The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Croatia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Croatia</a> defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏<br />
<br />
Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGCRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGCRO</a> ➡ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📲📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/kMWpzRUQdB">pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1602767241199509504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The 2018 finalists kept knocking but with no finesse in the final third, the opening goal never arrived. While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Luka Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his last game on the world stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi's men will now look to earn Argentina their third World Cup trophy as they take on the winners of Morocco vs France game on Sunday. This will be Argentina's sixth appearance in the World Cup finals.&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>


It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

It was a match fitting for the occasion. Argentina and Croatia, the two powerhouses of modern football went toe-to-toe against each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. However, it was one man and phenomenon that stole the show and it was none other than Lionel Messi. Messi scored one and assisted two goals as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity. While the scoreline may flatter, the start of the game was tentative for the South American side. Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez. Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes. Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. During the first half-an-hour of the game, Croatia looked compact and the midfield three managed to gobble up most of the Argentine transitions. Against the run of time, the first save of the match came in 25th minute when Livakovic had to be on alert from a sweet strike from Enzo Fernandez from outside the penalty box. Messi starts to weave his magic wand Just when it looked like Croatia were dominating the ball, Messi rose to the challenge and started making things happen. The little master began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield. This allowed Argentina to knock the ball behind the Croatian defence with Julian Alvarez galloping forward, inviting goalkeeper Livakovic to foul him and earn a penalty. Notably, prior to the penalty, Modric had pulled off a nutmeg deep in Croatian territory to start a move that flowed beautifully up until it didn't. Messi took the penalty and promptly dispatched the ball to the back of the net. It was Messi's 11th goal in 25 World Cup games and the fifth of this tournament which brought him level with Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race. Alvarez's fleet-footed, solo goal A mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where the Manchester City player made a good 40-50 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run. While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic. WATCH | Julian Alvarez's stunning solo goal in the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinal Trailing at half-time, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić was forced to make two substitutes as Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orisic came on for Sosa and Pasalic. Few minutes into the second half, Croatia were dealt another blow as their midfield maestro Brozovic felt something and was forced to make way for previous match hero Bruno Petkovic. With a two-goal lead to defend and Croatia bombing men forward, Argentine coach Scaloni went for defensive changes as he brought on Martinez for Fernandes. Till the hour mark, Croatia did not have a single shot on target, suggesting Argentina had done their part of the bargain decently well. Box-office Messi on display Perhaps, the most Messi-esque moment came in the 69th minute when Messi single-handedly beat Gvardiol in the Croatian penalty box to set up Alvarez for his second goal. Classic Messi Move 🔥 The little 🧙‍♂️ tip-toes past the #Croatia defence to set up an easy finish for Julian Alvarez 👏 Watch #ARGCRO ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📲📺#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/kMWpzRUQdB — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 13, 2022 × The 2018 finalists kept knocking but with no finesse in the final third, the opening goal never arrived. While Argentine no. 10 Messi was weaving his magic on the field, his compatriot Luka Modric was taken off the pitch in the 81st minute to a rousing reception from the Croatian record, in what was perhaps his last game on the world stage. Messi's men will now look to earn Argentina their third World Cup trophy as they take on the winners of Morocco vs France game on Sunday. This will be Argentina's sixth appearance in the World Cup finals. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two

<p>A mesmerising, fleet-footed individual goal from forward Julian Alvarez allowed Argentina to double their lead over Croatia as the two sides locked horns in the high-pressure first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Croatia dominated the game in the first 30 minutes, Argentina rocked back to life after Alvarez earned a penalty, which was promptly dispatched to the back of the net by Argentine talisman Lionel Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, a mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. &nbsp;Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where&nbsp;the Manchester City player made a good 60-70 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The run 🏃‍♂️<br />
The pass 🎯<br />
The finish 💯<br />
<br />
Julian Alvarez's third goal of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> puts <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Argentina</a> 2️⃣-0️⃣ up in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGCRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGCRO</a> ⚽<br />
<br />
Watch the LIVE semi-final action on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JioCinema</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sports18</a> 📲📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConJioCinema?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConJioCinema</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWConSports18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWConSports18</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4qGqx7AZK">pic.twitter.com/Y4qGqx7AZK</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1602760424046239744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Taagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes.</p>

<p>Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and Rodri de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. However, after Croatia remained on the front foot at the beginning of the game, Messi weaved his magic by pushing Croatian defender Gvardiol with him to the midfield. Thereby allowing Argentine forwards and midfielders like de Paul to march forward which eventually led to the first goal.&nbsp;&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>


A mesmerising, fleet-footed individual goal from forward Julian Alvarez allowed Argentina to double their lead over Croatia as the two sides locked horns in the high-pressure first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

A mesmerising, fleet-footed individual goal from forward Julian Alvarez allowed Argentina to double their lead over Croatia as the two sides locked horns in the high-pressure first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. While Croatia dominated the game in the first 30 minutes, Argentina rocked back to life after Alvarez earned a penalty, which was promptly dispatched to the back of the net by Argentine talisman Lionel Messi. However, a mere five minutes after the goal, Argentina broke through the water-tight Croatian defence once again. Alvarez was served by Messi deep from the Argentine side of the pitch from where the Manchester City player made a good 60-70 yard dash with right-back Nahuel Molina providing the decoy run. While most players would have looked for options to the right and left, Alvarez, brimming with confidence went toe-to-toe with the Croatian defenders and courtesy of some luck and two ricochets, managed to finesse the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic. The run 🏃‍♂️ The pass 🎯 The finish 💯 Julian Alvarez's third goal of #Qatar2022 puts @Argentina 2️⃣-0️⃣ up in #ARGCRO ⚽ Watch the LIVE semi-final action on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📲📺#FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/Y4qGqx7AZK — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 13, 2022 × Argentina went into the game by making two changes from their last match against the Netherlands. Nicolas Taagliafico and Leandro Parades came into the squad replacing suspended Marcos Acuna and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez. Meanwhile, Croatia went into the game with the same team that beat Brazil on penalties. The midfield of Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic that ran through the Brazilian midfield of Casemiro and Paqueta was given a stiff challenge by Scaloni who made the tactical changes. Argentina played a midfield four with MacAllister, Enzo, Paredes and Rodri de Paul attempting to stop the tank of a Croatian midfield. However, after Croatia remained on the front foot at the beginning of the game, Messi weaved his magic by pushing Croatian defender Gvardiol with him to the midfield. Thereby allowing Argentine forwards and midfielders like de Paul to march forward which eventually led to the first goal. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Julian Alvarez's stunning solo goal in the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinal

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<p>A little more than 24 hours before the World Cup semifinal match, defending champions France are worried about the health of their two key players, according to a report by The Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report states that defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot are suffering from illness and could potentially miss out on the all-important knockout match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The duo missed out on the team training on Tuesday with&nbsp;Rabiot being under the weather and Upamecano nursing a sore throat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In case the duo misses out, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana are expected to step up and assume the responsibilities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Konate has experience playing high-stakes knockout games. The Merseyside player was involved in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid earlier this year. Despite the Liverpool loss, Konate was appreciated by fans and critics alike for keeping Vinicius Jr. quiet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other options for France manager Didier Deschamps include William Saliba, Matteo Guendouzi, Eduardo Camavinga and Jordan Veretout.&nbsp;</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>However, courtesy of the incredible depth of the squad, Deschamps did not have difficulty in fielding a squad that is one step away from defending its crown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>France have not managed to keep a clean sheet throughout the tournament. They will be up against a side that does not create a lot but can be incredibly incisive when it matters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Les Bleus will be hoping to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy.&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>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A little more than 24 hours before the World Cup semifinal match, defending champions France are worried about the health of their two key players, according to a report by The Sun.

A little more than 24 hours before the World Cup semifinal match, defending champions France are worried about the health of their two key players, according to a report by The Sun. The report states that defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot are suffering from illness and could potentially miss out on the all-important knockout match. The duo missed out on the team training on Tuesday with Rabiot being under the weather and Upamecano nursing a sore throat. In case the duo misses out, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana are expected to step up and assume the responsibilities. Konate has experience playing high-stakes knockout games. The Merseyside player was involved in the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid earlier this year. Despite the Liverpool loss, Konate was appreciated by fans and critics alike for keeping Vinicius Jr. quiet. The other options for France manager Didier Deschamps include William Saliba, Matteo Guendouzi, Eduardo Camavinga and Jordan Veretout. 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. However, courtesy of the incredible depth of the squad, Deschamps did not have difficulty in fielding a squad that is one step away from defending its crown. France have not managed to keep a clean sheet throughout the tournament. They will be up against a side that does not create a lot but can be incredibly incisive when it matters. Les Bleus will be hoping to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup trophy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Key France players hit by illness ahead of the semi-final match: Report

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<p>Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hopeful that England defender Harry Maguire can bring his World Cup form to the club side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We want him to bring that back to Manchester with him so he can bring it on the pitch for United," said the United manager.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Dutch coach noted that Maguire has had good games for the national side almost whenever he is called.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's clear he is good enough to play at the highest level. He had a period in Manchester where he performed badly and then, of course, there are difficulties. For England, he has good games almost all the time."</p>

<p>"I think he had a really good World Cup. He was really consistent. When he is playing with his confidence like now, he is a massively important player for us and that is what everyone expects."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-manager-erik-ten-hag-makes-an-astonishing-mbappe-rashford-comparison-542188" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag makes an astonishing Mbappe-Rashford comparison</strong></a></p>

<p>Ever since Ten Hag came to Old Trafford, Maguire had been limited to the bench. Players like Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were preferred over him, primarily because the Dutch plays a high-pressing game with a backline that stays high.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maguire had a dip in form during the latter stages of Ralf Ragnick's era which unfortunately continued after the former Ajax manager took over.&nbsp;The injuries did not help the fortunes of the former Leicester City defender either.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, Maguire has only played four Premier league games this season. Experts believe if the 29-year-old is unable to break into Ten Hag's side after the solid World Cup campaign, he will have to move away from Old Trafford for different pastures.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-wanted-him-to-stay-reveals-erik-ten-hag-after-cristiano-ronaldos-manchester-united-exit-541793" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: 'I wanted him to stay', reveals Erik ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit</strong></a></p>

<p>United return to action in a Carabao Cup fixture against Burnley on December 21. The Red Devils will resume their Premier League campaign on December 27, facing Nottingham Forest.&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>


Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hopeful that England defender Harry Maguire can bring his World Cup form to the club side. "We want him to bring that back to Manchester with him so he can bring it on the pitch for United," said the United manager.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hopeful that England defender Harry Maguire can bring his World Cup form to the club side. "We want him to bring that back to Manchester with him so he can bring it on the pitch for United," said the United manager. The Dutch coach noted that Maguire has had good games for the national side almost whenever he is called. "It's clear he is good enough to play at the highest level. He had a period in Manchester where he performed badly and then, of course, there are difficulties. For England, he has good games almost all the time." "I think he had a really good World Cup. He was really consistent. When he is playing with his confidence like now, he is a massively important player for us and that is what everyone expects." Read more: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag makes an astonishing Mbappe-Rashford comparison Ever since Ten Hag came to Old Trafford, Maguire had been limited to the bench. Players like Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were preferred over him, primarily because the Dutch plays a high-pressing game with a backline that stays high. Maguire had a dip in form during the latter stages of Ralf Ragnick's era which unfortunately continued after the former Ajax manager took over. The injuries did not help the fortunes of the former Leicester City defender either. So far, Maguire has only played four Premier league games this season. Experts believe if the 29-year-old is unable to break into Ten Hag's side after the solid World Cup campaign, he will have to move away from Old Trafford for different pastures. Read more: 'I wanted him to stay', reveals Erik ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit United return to action in a Carabao Cup fixture against Burnley on December 21. The Red Devils will resume their Premier League campaign on December 27, facing Nottingham Forest. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We want him...': Erik ten Hag calls on this England defender to bring his WC form to United

<p>AC Milan striker Zlatan&nbsp;Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“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,"&nbsp;Ibrahimovic told reporters during AC Mila's mid-season tour of Dubai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Swede made the remark ahead of Argentina's semi-final clash with Croatia. If Messi wins the World Cup, it will be his second international trophy, having won the Copa America last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ibrahimovic played a season with Messi during his stay at Barcelona in 2009. Together, the duo won a La Liga title, Spanish Super Cup and a Club World Cup.&nbsp;However, after he had a feud with manager Pep Guardiola, the Swede went to AC Milan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Messi - Argentina's talisman</strong></p>

<p>Messi has been Argentina's talisman for a long time. However, during this World Cup, he has taken his abilities a notch above.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi has already scored four goals and assisted two in five matches. After Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game, many feared that Messi will be returning home without making it to the knockouts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-croatia-will-restrict-lionel-messi-from-having-the-best-game-of-his-life-in-sf-1-says-igor-stimac-542710"><strong>Read more: Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac</strong></a></p>

<p>However, the Argentine skipper regrouped his players and managed to get the best out of them. Messi's playmaking skills have been pivotal for the La Albiceleset during the crunch moments of the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was Messi's brilliance during the quarterfinal&nbsp;game against the Netherlands that allowed the South American side to progress into the final four.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/argentina-to-face-croatia-in-the-first-semi-finals-of-world-cup-542513"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Argentina to face Croatia in the first Semi-Finals of World Cup</strong></a></p>

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<p>Usually cool, composed and collected on the pitch, Messi has not shied away from taking an aggressive stance whenever his team has required - the Netherlands game being a case in point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the road to the final is still not clear. 2018 finalists Croatia are in Messi's way. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was in 2018 only when Messi's men were beaten 3-0 by Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a midfield consisting of the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and&nbsp;Marcelo Brozovic, Argentina will have to dig deep if they are to go the distance. Croatia have time and again proved that they are not any pushovers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy. “I think it's already written who will win, and you know who I mean.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is written in the stars that Lionel Messi will be lifting the World Cup trophy. “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 reporters during AC Mila's mid-season tour of Dubai. The Swede made the remark ahead of Argentina's semi-final clash with Croatia. If Messi wins the World Cup, it will be his second international trophy, having won the Copa America last year. Ibrahimovic played a season with Messi during his stay at Barcelona in 2009. Together, the duo won a La Liga title, Spanish Super Cup and a Club World Cup. However, after he had a feud with manager Pep Guardiola, the Swede went to AC Milan. Messi - Argentina's talisman Messi has been Argentina's talisman for a long time. However, during this World Cup, he has taken his abilities a notch above. Messi has already scored four goals and assisted two in five matches. After Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game, many feared that Messi will be returning home without making it to the knockouts. Read more: Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac However, the Argentine skipper regrouped his players and managed to get the best out of them. Messi's playmaking skills have been pivotal for the La Albiceleset during the crunch moments of the game. It was Messi's brilliance during the quarterfinal game against the Netherlands that allowed the South American side to progress into the final four. WATCH | Argentina to face Croatia in the first Semi-Finals of World Cup × Usually cool, composed and collected on the pitch, Messi has not shied away from taking an aggressive stance whenever his team has required - the Netherlands game being a case in point. However, the road to the final is still not clear. 2018 finalists Croatia are in Messi's way. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was in 2018 only when Messi's men were beaten 3-0 by Croatia. With a midfield consisting of the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, Argentina will have to dig deep if they are to go the distance. Croatia have time and again proved that they are not any pushovers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'It's written...': Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup

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<p>Former German goalkeeper and current CEO of Bayern Munich Oliver Kahn said Manuel Neuer suffered a season-ending injury because he 'never listens to anyone'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Manuel decided to take a little break from the tournament. He needed rest after such stress. Neuer is a big fan of alpine skiing and went to the slopes," Kahn was quoted as saying by RG.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I know that he was warned several times that there was very little snow, stones were sticking out everywhere and it was dangerous to ride, but Neuer never listens to anyone."</p>

<p>Kahn, a winner of eight Bundesliga titles added that Bayern Munich had a problem to solve and that is to find Neuer's replacement for the season.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've lost our goalkeeper before the end of the season. It's terrible because he is one of the best in the world. A very serious loss for the team. But we believe that the recovery will go well and his return too, but for now, we have to solve the problem of a replacement. But this is temporary. Manuel will be back.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/germany-captain-manuel-neuer-breaks-leg-while-skiing-ruled-out-for-whole-bundesliga-season-541860" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Germany captain Manuel Neuer breaks leg while skiing, ruled out for remainder of Bundesliga season</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, after Germany suffered another shock exit from the World Cup, Neuer headed to the Alps to ski and clear his mind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Neuer took to Instagram last week to share the news of the accident and the subsequent successful surgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Hey guys, what can I say, the end of the year could have definitely gone better," read the Instagram post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While I was trying to get my head clear while ski touring, I suffered a lower leg fracture. Yesterday's surgery went well. Many thanks to the doctors! However, it hurts to know that the current season is over for me. Take care! Your Manuel."</p>

<p>The accident could have been avoided if Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had not given extended time off to the players who were still reeling from the repercussions of an early World Cup exit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bayern Munich currently sit atop the Bundesliga table with 34 points from 15 matches. However, with Freiburg and Salzburg breathing down the neck of the Munich-based club, Neuer's clutch ability to perform outrageous saves will be missed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former German goalkeeper and current CEO of Bayern Munich Oliver Kahn said Manuel Neuer suffered a season-ending injury because he 'never listens to anyone'. “Manuel decided to take a little break from the tournament.

Former German goalkeeper and current CEO of Bayern Munich Oliver Kahn said Manuel Neuer suffered a season-ending injury because he 'never listens to anyone'. “Manuel decided to take a little break from the tournament. He needed rest after such stress. Neuer is a big fan of alpine skiing and went to the slopes," Kahn was quoted as saying by RG. "I know that he was warned several times that there was very little snow, stones were sticking out everywhere and it was dangerous to ride, but Neuer never listens to anyone." Kahn, a winner of eight Bundesliga titles added that Bayern Munich had a problem to solve and that is to find Neuer's replacement for the season. "We've lost our goalkeeper before the end of the season. It's terrible because he is one of the best in the world. A very serious loss for the team. But we believe that the recovery will go well and his return too, but for now, we have to solve the problem of a replacement. But this is temporary. Manuel will be back.” Read more: Germany captain Manuel Neuer breaks leg while skiing, ruled out for remainder of Bundesliga season Notably, after Germany suffered another shock exit from the World Cup, Neuer headed to the Alps to ski and clear his mind. Neuer took to Instagram last week to share the news of the accident and the subsequent successful surgery. "Hey guys, what can I say, the end of the year could have definitely gone better," read the Instagram post. "While I was trying to get my head clear while ski touring, I suffered a lower leg fracture. Yesterday's surgery went well. Many thanks to the doctors! However, it hurts to know that the current season is over for me. Take care! Your Manuel." The accident could have been avoided if Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had not given extended time off to the players who were still reeling from the repercussions of an early World Cup exit. Bayern Munich currently sit atop the Bundesliga table with 34 points from 15 matches. However, with Freiburg and Salzburg breathing down the neck of the Munich-based club, Neuer's clutch ability to perform outrageous saves will be missed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Neuer never listens...': Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn on the skiing accident

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<p>A French court on Tuesday sentenced French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte to a two-year suspended term on corruption charges, less than a year before France hosts the World Cup.</p>

<p>Laporte was convicted after the court ruled he showed favouritism in awarding a shirt sponsorship contract for the national side to Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Top 14 champions Montpellier.</p>

<p>He was also banned from holding any rugby post for two years, but this is suspended pending an appeal that Laporte's lawyer said was imminent.</p>

<p>Laporte is also vice-chairman of the sport's global governing body, World Rugby.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court found that Laporte ensured a series of marketing decisions favourable to Altrad, who was given an 18-month suspended sentence and a $53,000 (50,000 euro) fine - in exchange for a $191,000 (180,000 euro) image licensing contract that was never actually carried out.</p>

<p>Altrad's lawyer said he would study the decision before deciding on whether to appeal.</p>

<p>At the trial's close in September, prosecutors said they were seeking a three-year prison sentence for Laporte, now 58, of which he should serve one behind bars, and the two others on probation.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-rugby-coach-eddie-jones-sacked-after-a-string-of-lowly-performances-540606"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;England rugby coach Eddie Jones sacked after a string of lowly performances</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the charges, which his defence said were "trumped up", Laporte carried out illegal influence-peddling and passive corruption, mostly for the benefit of Altrad.</p>

<p>The two men's friendship and business links are at the heart of the case.</p>

<p>It goes back to February 2017, when they signed a deal under which Laporte, head of the FFR, agreed to appear in Altrad group conferences, and sold his image reproduction rights, in return for the $191,000.</p>

<p>But while that sum was indeed paid to Laporte, prosecutors claim that he never actually provided the services he signed up for.</p>

<p><strong>Suspect deals</strong></p>

<p>Laporte did, however, make several public statements backing Altrad and, in March 2017, signed a $1.9 million deal with the businessman making his namesake firm the first-ever sponsor to appear on the French national team's jerseys.</p>

<p>Even now, Altrad's logo features on the shirts thanks to a follow-up deal negotiated by Laporte in 2018 and which prosecutors say bears all the hallmarks of corruption.</p>

<p>Laporte, formerly a highly successful coach who guided France twice to the World Cup semi-finals (2003 and 2007), was also found guilty of favouritism with regard to Altrad's Montpellier Herault Rugby (MHR) club.</p>

<p>He was convicted for intervening with French rugby's federal disciplinary commission to reduce a fine against MHR to $21,000, it was originally $74,000 after several telephone calls from Laporte.</p>

<p>While prosecutors saw this and several more incidents as proof of illicit favouritism, Laporte himself had claimed there was no "cause-effect relationship".</p>

<p>On the last day of the trial in October, Laporte's lawyer Fanny Colin accused the prosecution of "confirmation bias" by "taking into account only elements backing their original assumptions".</p>

<p>The verdict comes only nine months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on September 8, 2023, with matches played in nine stadiums across the country.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A French court on Tuesday sentenced French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte to a two-year suspended term on corruption charges, less than a year before France hosts the World Cup.

A French court on Tuesday sentenced French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte to a two-year suspended term on corruption charges, less than a year before France hosts the World Cup. Laporte was convicted after the court ruled he showed favouritism in awarding a shirt sponsorship contract for the national side to Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Top 14 champions Montpellier. He was also banned from holding any rugby post for two years, but this is suspended pending an appeal that Laporte's lawyer said was imminent. Laporte is also vice-chairman of the sport's global governing body, World Rugby. The court found that Laporte ensured a series of marketing decisions favourable to Altrad, who was given an 18-month suspended sentence and a $53,000 (50,000 euro) fine - in exchange for a $191,000 (180,000 euro) image licensing contract that was never actually carried out. Altrad's lawyer said he would study the decision before deciding on whether to appeal. At the trial's close in September, prosecutors said they were seeking a three-year prison sentence for Laporte, now 58, of which he should serve one behind bars, and the two others on probation. Read more: England rugby coach Eddie Jones sacked after a string of lowly performances According to the charges, which his defence said were "trumped up", Laporte carried out illegal influence-peddling and passive corruption, mostly for the benefit of Altrad. The two men's friendship and business links are at the heart of the case. It goes back to February 2017, when they signed a deal under which Laporte, head of the FFR, agreed to appear in Altrad group conferences, and sold his image reproduction rights, in return for the $191,000. But while that sum was indeed paid to Laporte, prosecutors claim that he never actually provided the services he signed up for. Suspect deals Laporte did, however, make several public statements backing Altrad and, in March 2017, signed a $1.9 million deal with the businessman making his namesake firm the first-ever sponsor to appear on the French national team's jerseys. Even now, Altrad's logo features on the shirts thanks to a follow-up deal negotiated by Laporte in 2018 and which prosecutors say bears all the hallmarks of corruption. Laporte, formerly a highly successful coach who guided France twice to the World Cup semi-finals (2003 and 2007), was also found guilty of favouritism with regard to Altrad's Montpellier Herault Rugby (MHR) club. He was convicted for intervening with French rugby's federal disciplinary commission to reduce a fine against MHR to $21,000, it was originally $74,000 after several telephone calls from Laporte. While prosecutors saw this and several more incidents as proof of illicit favouritism, Laporte himself had claimed there was no "cause-effect relationship". On the last day of the trial in October, Laporte's lawyer Fanny Colin accused the prosecution of "confirmation bias" by "taking into account only elements backing their original assumptions". The verdict comes only nine months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on September 8, 2023, with matches played in nine stadiums across the country. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French Rugby chief sentenced to two-year suspended term on corruption charges

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<p>Brazil football star Neymar has been acquitted of all charges by a Spanish court in a fraud and corruption trial concerning his big-money transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013. The judgement comes a little more than a month after the trial was wrapped up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It has not been proven that there was a false contract or that DIS was intended to be harmed," the court observed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brazilian company DIS had brought the charges against the footballer, his father, and former presidents of Santos, and Barcelona for colluding and hiding the real cost of the transfer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>DIS argued that the transfer cost was hidden to avoid paying the money the defendants owed for being the partial holder of the player rights.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neymars-political-ideology-divides-brazilian-fans-as-the-world-cup-reaches-its-business-end-538420" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Neymar's political ideology divides Brazilian fans</strong></a></p>

<p>During the trial, the plaintiff sought a two-year prison term and a $9.8 million fine for Neymar. They also sought a five-year jail term for former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and a $9 million fine for the club.</p>

<p>meanwhile, Barcelona said the transfer cost $60 million (€57.1 million), with $42.6 million (€40 million) paid to N&amp;N, Neymar's parents' company, and $18 million to Santos, of which $7.2 million was given to DIS.</p>

<p>Spanish prosecutors initially said they believed the actual value was at least 83 million euros.</p>

<p>However, in a shocking turn of events, the prosecutors in November dropped all charges against Neymar and other defendants citing there was not enough evidence to show a crime had been committed.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neymar-corruption-trial-wraps-up-after-spain-prosecutors-drop-charges-530097" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Neymar corruption trial wraps up after Spain prosecutors drop charges</strong></a></p>

<p>Neymar had a fruitful four seasons at Barcelona where he practically won everything there was to win. In 2017, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain where he is still a vital cog in the wheel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Neymar represented the&nbsp;Brazil national team at the ongoing FIFA World Cup where his team crashed out of the quarterfinal stage after losing to Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Brazil football star Neymar has been acquitted of all charges by a Spanish court in a fraud and corruption trial concerning his big-money transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

Brazil football star Neymar has been acquitted of all charges by a Spanish court in a fraud and corruption trial concerning his big-money transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013. The judgement comes a little more than a month after the trial was wrapped up. "It has not been proven that there was a false contract or that DIS was intended to be harmed," the court observed. Brazilian company DIS had brought the charges against the footballer, his father, and former presidents of Santos, and Barcelona for colluding and hiding the real cost of the transfer. DIS argued that the transfer cost was hidden to avoid paying the money the defendants owed for being the partial holder of the player rights. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Neymar's political ideology divides Brazilian fans During the trial, the plaintiff sought a two-year prison term and a $9.8 million fine for Neymar. They also sought a five-year jail term for former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and a $9 million fine for the club. meanwhile, Barcelona said the transfer cost $60 million (€57.1 million), with $42.6 million (€40 million) paid to N&N, Neymar's parents' company, and $18 million to Santos, of which $7.2 million was given to DIS. Spanish prosecutors initially said they believed the actual value was at least 83 million euros. However, in a shocking turn of events, the prosecutors in November dropped all charges against Neymar and other defendants citing there was not enough evidence to show a crime had been committed. Read more: Neymar corruption trial wraps up after Spain prosecutors drop charges Neymar had a fruitful four seasons at Barcelona where he practically won everything there was to win. In 2017, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain where he is still a vital cog in the wheel. Neymar represented the Brazil national team at the ongoing FIFA World Cup where his team crashed out of the quarterfinal stage after losing to Croatia. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Brazil football star Neymar acquitted of all criminal charges by a Spanish court

<p>More than a year after shining light on the 'institutional racism' at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, former cricket Azeem Rafiq has said that cricket is 'still in denial'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If I was to look at 13 months on from me opening my heart out, all that's changed really is that me and my family have been driven out of the country. And that's a sad element of it," Rafiq was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I would love to come here and tell you how much cricket has changed, but unfortunately what it feels like is that cricket is very much in denial."</p>

<p>It was first reported in October that the ex-Yorkshire spinner was planning to&nbsp;move overseas to protect his family from further abuse and intimidation. A month later, Rafiq, along with&nbsp;his wife, children and parents moved to Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rafiq added he had some hope in the new England Cricket Board (ECB) leadership "but it's very little at the minute".&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/azeem-rafiq-to-leave-britain-to-protect-family-from-abuse-following-racism-scandal-525462"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Azeem Rafiq to 'leave Britain' to protect family from abuse following racism scandal</strong></a></p>

<p>Rafiq grabbed attention in November 2020 after he told British lawmakers that he lost his cricketing career to racism. The 31-year-old&nbsp;detailed discrimination within the English game in a compelling testimony.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He filed a legal complaint in December 2020 claiming to have suffered direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In August 2021, the Yorkshire Cricket Club released a statement and accepted that Rafiq had fallen prey to racism within the club.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld and that sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour. This is clearly unacceptable. We would like to express our profound apologies for this."</p>

<p>Despite the apology, the&nbsp;Yorkshire club refused to take action against anyone.&nbsp;former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of the few people to publically apologise to Rafiq.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-azeem-rafiq-allegations-to-ecbs-response-all-you-need-to-know-about-yorkshire-cricket-racism-scandal-426962#what-azeem-rafiq-said-426920"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;From Azeem Rafiq allegations to ECB's response: All you need to know about Yorkshire cricket racism scandal</strong></a></p>

<p>Afterwards, Rafiq's old anti-semitic messages surfaced and his testimony and crusade against racism was dealt a blow.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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More than a year after shining light on the 'institutional racism' at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, former cricket Azeem Rafiq has said that cricket is 'still in denial'.

More than a year after shining light on the 'institutional racism' at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, former cricket Azeem Rafiq has said that cricket is 'still in denial'. "If I was to look at 13 months on from me opening my heart out, all that's changed really is that me and my family have been driven out of the country. And that's a sad element of it," Rafiq was quoted as saying by AFP. "I would love to come here and tell you how much cricket has changed, but unfortunately what it feels like is that cricket is very much in denial." It was first reported in October that the ex-Yorkshire spinner was planning to move overseas to protect his family from further abuse and intimidation. A month later, Rafiq, along with his wife, children and parents moved to Pakistan. Rafiq added he had some hope in the new England Cricket Board (ECB) leadership "but it's very little at the minute". Read more: Azeem Rafiq to 'leave Britain' to protect family from abuse following racism scandal Rafiq grabbed attention in November 2020 after he told British lawmakers that he lost his cricketing career to racism. The 31-year-old detailed discrimination within the English game in a compelling testimony. He filed a legal complaint in December 2020 claiming to have suffered direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race. In August 2021, the Yorkshire Cricket Club released a statement and accepted that Rafiq had fallen prey to racism within the club. "Several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld and that sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour. This is clearly unacceptable. We would like to express our profound apologies for this." Despite the apology, the Yorkshire club refused to take action against anyone. former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of the few people to publically apologise to Rafiq. Read more: From Azeem Rafiq allegations to ECB's response: All you need to know about Yorkshire cricket racism scandal Afterwards, Rafiq's old anti-semitic messages surfaced and his testimony and crusade against racism was dealt a blow. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Me and my family have been driven out of the country: Azeem Rafiq over the Yorkshire racism scandal

<p>Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made a comparison between&nbsp;Marcus Rashford and France superstar Kylian Mbappe.&nbsp;Ten Hag made the rather astonishing comparison at a time when Paris St-Germain (PSG) have shown interest in signing Rashford after the end of his current United contract.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;"From the first moment, I recognised huge potential. And now to get out the potential, I believe when Marcus's positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world.</p>

<p>"There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him. But when he (Rashford)'s getting in that position, he's great and you see he's really improved also out of possession," added Ten Hag.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Dutch hyped&nbsp;his striker by making the comparison, there have been rumours of Rashford's big-money move to PSG where Mbappe plays.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last week, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi heaped praises on Rashford and said his club may be on the lookout to avail the services of the 25-year-old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He's another player who's amazing and for free? To have Rashford for free, every club will run after him," said&nbsp;Al-Khelaifi</p>

<p>"Maybe summer, why not? If he is a free agent, we can talk to him directly. But we are not going to talk to him now and let him focus on the World Cup. In January, hopefully, we would be interested in talking to him."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-wanted-him-to-stay-reveals-erik-ten-hag-after-cristiano-ronaldos-manchester-united-exit-541793"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'I wanted him to stay', reveals Erik ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Responding to the rumours,&nbsp;the Dutch manager said it was up to Rashford to make a decision to stay in Manchester or leave for Paris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He has to make a decision, so we can only show him that Man Utd is the best club to be in," said Ten Hag.</p>

<p>According to Fabrizio Romano, Ten Hag is willing to trigger a contract extension for Rashford that will allow him to stay at Old Trafford for another one-and-a-half years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rashford's current deal expires at the end of the season. Alongside him, other United players such as David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Fred are also running out of time to sign a new contract. According to transfer experts, if&nbsp;Rashford is not tied down by the end of the winter transfer window, there is a high probability, he may leave United as a free agent.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made a comparison between Marcus Rashford and France superstar Kylian Mbappe. Ten Hag made the rather astonishing comparison at a time when Paris St-Germain (PSG) have shown interest in signing Rashford after the end of his current United contract.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made a comparison between Marcus Rashford and France superstar Kylian Mbappe. Ten Hag made the rather astonishing comparison at a time when Paris St-Germain (PSG) have shown interest in signing Rashford after the end of his current United contract. "From the first moment, I recognised huge potential. And now to get out the potential, I believe when Marcus's positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world. "There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him. But when he (Rashford)'s getting in that position, he's great and you see he's really improved also out of possession," added Ten Hag. While the Dutch hyped his striker by making the comparison, there have been rumours of Rashford's big-money move to PSG where Mbappe plays. Last week, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi heaped praises on Rashford and said his club may be on the lookout to avail the services of the 25-year-old. "He's another player who's amazing and for free? To have Rashford for free, every club will run after him," said Al-Khelaifi "Maybe summer, why not? If he is a free agent, we can talk to him directly. But we are not going to talk to him now and let him focus on the World Cup. In January, hopefully, we would be interested in talking to him." Read more: 'I wanted him to stay', reveals Erik ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit Responding to the rumours, the Dutch manager said it was up to Rashford to make a decision to stay in Manchester or leave for Paris. “He has to make a decision, so we can only show him that Man Utd is the best club to be in," said Ten Hag. According to Fabrizio Romano, Ten Hag is willing to trigger a contract extension for Rashford that will allow him to stay at Old Trafford for another one-and-a-half years. Rashford's current deal expires at the end of the season. Alongside him, other United players such as David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Fred are also running out of time to sign a new contract. According to transfer experts, if Rashford is not tied down by the end of the winter transfer window, there is a high probability, he may leave United as a free agent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag makes an astonishing Mbappe-Rashford comparison

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<p>England centre-back Harry Maguire has taken a shot at the match referee post their quarterfinal exit from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Referees at the World Cup have been receiving stick ever since the knockout phase began. After Argentina and Portugal, England have joined the list of countries irked by the decision-making of tournament referees.</p>

<p>"I thought the referee’s decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We always stand here, we as players, we get criticised, so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says whether he’s had a good game or not," said Maguire in a post-match TV interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There were so many decisions in that first half where France made five, six early fouls. I think [Kane] was outside the box but it was a clear foul," added Maguire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Manchester United player pointed at how Wilton Sampaio, the referee initially didn't give the penalty in the second half.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He doesn’t initially give the penalty in the second half. The one on Bukayo is a clear foul, leading up to their first goal. Just big moments, big decisions, and you expect a referee to get some right. Unfortunately tonight, he didn’t get any."</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."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portuguese-players-blame-argentine-referee-for-world-cup-exit-541963" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>While England and Portugal blaming referees could be understood as they have been knocked out of the tournament, a similar complaint was made by Argentina despite progressing to the semis.</p>

<p>Skipper Lionel Messi in an interview took a shot at referee Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process.</p>

<p>"I don’t want to speak about referees because 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.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-martinez-slam-referee-and-dutch-coach-after-tense-quarterfinal-win-541778" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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England centre-back Harry Maguire has taken a shot at the match referee post their quarterfinal exit from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Referees at the World Cup have been receiving stick ever since the knockout phase began.

England centre-back Harry Maguire has taken a shot at the match referee post their quarterfinal exit from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Referees at the World Cup have been receiving stick ever since the knockout phase began. After Argentina and Portugal, England have joined the list of countries irked by the decision-making of tournament referees. "I thought the referee’s decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We always stand here, we as players, we get criticised, so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says whether he’s had a good game or not," said Maguire in a post-match TV interview. "There were so many decisions in that first half where France made five, six early fouls. I think [Kane] was outside the box but it was a clear foul," added Maguire. The Manchester United player pointed at how Wilton Sampaio, the referee initially didn't give the penalty in the second half. "He doesn’t initially give the penalty in the second half. The one on Bukayo is a clear foul, leading up to their first goal. Just big moments, big decisions, and you expect a referee to get some right. Unfortunately tonight, he didn’t get any." 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." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit While England and Portugal blaming referees could be understood as they have been knocked out of the tournament, a similar complaint was made by Argentina despite progressing to the semis. Skipper Lionel Messi in an interview took a shot at referee Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process. "I don’t want to speak about referees because 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. Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: England defender Harry Maguire slams 'poor' referee after World Cup exit

<p>Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream," said Ronaldo in the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The five-time Ballon d'Or winner added he fought hard for the 'dream' and that it was 'nice' till it lasted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream."</p>

<p>"Not much more to say for now. Thank you Portugal. Thank you Qatar The dream was nice while it lasted...Now, it's hoping that the weather will be good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions."</p>

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<p>Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup&nbsp;following a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal. After the defeat, an&nbsp;emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. The video of&nbsp;his sobbing instantly went viral on social media platforms as fans speculated that it may have been the last they had seen of Ronaldo on the world stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-cristiano-ronaldo-cries-inconsolably-after-portugals-world-cup-exit-541988"><strong>WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Ronaldo's World Cup campaign was soured a touch after coach Fernando Santos decided to bench him in the two knockout games.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the tactic worked against Switzerland, Ronaldo's goal-scoring touch was missed against Morocco where he was subbed on after halftime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Santos, however, remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portugal-coach-santos-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-benching-ronaldo-541970" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career. "Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream," said Ronaldo in the post. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner added he fought hard for the 'dream' and that it was 'nice' till it lasted. "I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream." "Not much more to say for now. Thank you Portugal. Thank you Qatar The dream was nice while it lasted...Now, it's hoping that the weather will be good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) × Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup following a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal. After the defeat, an emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. The video of his sobbing instantly went viral on social media platforms as fans speculated that it may have been the last they had seen of Ronaldo on the world stage. WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit Ronaldo's World Cup campaign was soured a touch after coach Fernando Santos decided to bench him in the two knockout games. While the tactic worked against Switzerland, Ronaldo's goal-scoring touch was missed against Morocco where he was subbed on after halftime. Santos, however, remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo. “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I fought for it...': Cristiano Ronaldo opens up for the first time after World Cup exit

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