<p>Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of the capital city of Rabat, surrounding the open-top bus carrying the Moroccan players from the airport. Dozens of police cars and motorbikes surrounded the bus as the crowd cheered and saluted the players.&nbsp;The side of the bus was plastered with the Moroccan phrase 'Dima Maghrib' meaning 'long live Morocco' or 'Morocco forever'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supporters brought flares, wore team kits and waved red flags to create an unreal atmosphere as bewildered Moroccan players soaked in the admiration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/were-the-rocky-balboa-morocco-coach-walid-regragui-after-knockout-wc-win-over-portugal-542069"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'We're the Rocky Balboa...': Morocco coach Walid Regragui after knockout WC win over Portugal</strong></a></p>

<p>After the parade, the players and the support staff made their way to the royal palace where King Mohammed VI met them. According to local news reports, the king and crown prince Moulay Hassan handed awards to the players, coaches, and president of the Moroccan football federation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the World Cup, Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the semifinals in its 92-year-long history. During their fairy tale run, Morocco managed to beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-croatia-defeat-a-spirited-morocco-2-1-to-win-the-third-place-playoff-544095"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia defeat a spirited Morocco 2-1 to win the third-place playoff</strong></a></p>

<p>One of the wildest stat from the tournament belonged to Morocco which did not concede a single goal from the opposition till the semifinal against France.&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 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.</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>


Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them.

Morocco's national football team broke new frontiers in their heroic run-up to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was only inevitable that Moroccan heroes would come home to a boisterous crowd that wanted to have a glimpse of them. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of the capital city of Rabat, surrounding the open-top bus carrying the Moroccan players from the airport. Dozens of police cars and motorbikes surrounded the bus as the crowd cheered and saluted the players. The side of the bus was plastered with the Moroccan phrase 'Dima Maghrib' meaning 'long live Morocco' or 'Morocco forever'. Supporters brought flares, wore team kits and waved red flags to create an unreal atmosphere as bewildered Moroccan players soaked in the admiration. Read more: 'We're the Rocky Balboa...': Morocco coach Walid Regragui after knockout WC win over Portugal After the parade, the players and the support staff made their way to the royal palace where King Mohammed VI met them. According to local news reports, the king and crown prince Moulay Hassan handed awards to the players, coaches, and president of the Moroccan football federation. During the World Cup, Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the semifinals in its 92-year-long history. During their fairy tale run, Morocco managed to beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia defeat a spirited Morocco 2-1 to win the third-place playoff One of the wildest stat from the tournament belonged to Morocco which did not concede a single goal from the opposition till the semifinal against France. 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. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Morocco's World Cup heroes arrive home to a grand welcome

<p>The BBC has a long-running end-of-the-year sports review programme called Spoty that selects the Sports Personality of the Year. It is still one of sports' most coveted honours. The award goes to "the sportsperson whose sporting actions have most captured the UK public's imagination during 2022," according to the official announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Who are the nominees of The Sports Personality of the Year 2022?</h2>

<p>After a historic year for women's sport, Lioness Beth Mead is at the top of the first-ever gender-equal shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty). Mead, an Arsenal winger who won the Euros, is one of three women among the six candidates for the 69th award, which will be given out on Wednesday. The Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics Jessica Gadirova and the curling player Eve Muirhead, who ended her career by winning gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year, are also on the shortlist.</p>

<p>Ben Stokes, a World Cup-winning cricketer who earned the Spoty award in 2019, Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion in snooker, and Jake Wightman, who raced to an unexpected 1500-meter gold at the World Championships in July, are also there.</p>

<p>The BBC has previously come under fire for the paucity of female winners at Spoty, but they may soon have two consecutive female champions on their hands. Mead is considered the clear favourite to win the title this year following her exploits for England at the home Euros, when she won the golden boot. Emma Raducanu, who won the honour in 2021 after her victory at the US Open at the age of 18, was the first woman to do so in 15 years. The majority of the candidates are anticipated to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, along with hundreds of other celebrities, including numerous Lionesses, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Sir Chris Hoy.</p>

<h2><strong>Other titles&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Helen Rollason Award for remarkable performance in the face of hardship and Unsung Hero of the Year are among the other awards presented that evening. Usain Bolt, a former sprinting champion, will get the lifetime achievement award, while Lionel Messi has been chosen as the world's sports star of the year.</p>

<h2>When and where The Sports Personality of the Year 2022 event will be held?</h2>

<p>Voting will be available to the public on December 21 during the broadcast event. The programme airs on BBC One. Live coverage of the event will come from Salford's Media City. The coverage will start at 6.45 PM GMT and end at 9 PM GMT.</p>

<h2><strong>Where to watch live streaming?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Live coverage of the programme will be available on <strong>BBC One</strong> and <strong>BBC iPlayer</strong>. After serving as the principal presenter at the World Cup in Qatar, Gary Lineker will host the programme with Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott. You may also keep up with the event by reading our live blog. The winner will be announced during a live show on BBC One on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How is Spoty shortlist selected?</strong></h2>

<p>An independent group of experts, which this year comprised former Olympian Denise Lewis, Paralympian Kelly Gallagher, and former snooker star Stephen Hendry, will choose the shortlist. Ultimately, during the TV broadcast, viewers will vote to choose the winner.</p>

<h2><strong>Last year's award of&nbsp;The Sports Personality of the Year&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Emma Raducanu, a tennis pro who is 19 years old and from Bromley, won the US Open to become the first woman to receive the honour in 15 years. Tom Daley, who finished in second place, and Adam Peaty, who finished in third, were beaten by Raducanu. Her victory in her first grand slam broke several tennis records: she was the first qualifier to win a major, the first player to succeed in their second main-draw match, the first women's champion in 44 years, and the youngest in more than 60. Prior to her early retirement owing to lung problems at Wimbledon, she was the youngest British woman to make it to the round of 16 during the Open era.</p>


The BBC has a long-running end-of-the-year sports review programme called Spoty that selects the Sports Personality of the Year. It is still one of sports' most coveted honours.

The BBC has a long-running end-of-the-year sports review programme called Spoty that selects the Sports Personality of the Year. It is still one of sports' most coveted honours. The award goes to "the sportsperson whose sporting actions have most captured the UK public's imagination during 2022," according to the official announcement. Who are the nominees of The Sports Personality of the Year 2022? After a historic year for women's sport, Lioness Beth Mead is at the top of the first-ever gender-equal shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty). Mead, an Arsenal winger who won the Euros, is one of three women among the six candidates for the 69th award, which will be given out on Wednesday. The Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics Jessica Gadirova and the curling player Eve Muirhead, who ended her career by winning gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year, are also on the shortlist. Ben Stokes, a World Cup-winning cricketer who earned the Spoty award in 2019, Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion in snooker, and Jake Wightman, who raced to an unexpected 1500-meter gold at the World Championships in July, are also there. The BBC has previously come under fire for the paucity of female winners at Spoty, but they may soon have two consecutive female champions on their hands. Mead is considered the clear favourite to win the title this year following her exploits for England at the home Euros, when she won the golden boot. Emma Raducanu, who won the honour in 2021 after her victory at the US Open at the age of 18, was the first woman to do so in 15 years. The majority of the candidates are anticipated to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, along with hundreds of other celebrities, including numerous Lionesses, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Sir Chris Hoy. Other titles Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Helen Rollason Award for remarkable performance in the face of hardship and Unsung Hero of the Year are among the other awards presented that evening. Usain Bolt, a former sprinting champion, will get the lifetime achievement award, while Lionel Messi has been chosen as the world's sports star of the year. When and where The Sports Personality of the Year 2022 event will be held? Voting will be available to the public on December 21 during the broadcast event. The programme airs on BBC One. Live coverage of the event will come from Salford's Media City. The coverage will start at 6.45 PM GMT and end at 9 PM GMT. Where to watch live streaming? Live coverage of the programme will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. After serving as the principal presenter at the World Cup in Qatar, Gary Lineker will host the programme with Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott. You may also keep up with the event by reading our live blog. The winner will be announced during a live show on BBC One on Wednesday. How is Spoty shortlist selected? An independent group of experts, which this year comprised former Olympian Denise Lewis, Paralympian Kelly Gallagher, and former snooker star Stephen Hendry, will choose the shortlist. Ultimately, during the TV broadcast, viewers will vote to choose the winner. Last year's award of The Sports Personality of the Year Emma Raducanu, a tennis pro who is 19 years old and from Bromley, won the US Open to become the first woman to receive the honour in 15 years. Tom Daley, who finished in second place, and Adam Peaty, who finished in third, were beaten by Raducanu. Her victory in her first grand slam broke several tennis records: she was the first qualifier to win a major, the first player to succeed in their second main-draw match, the first women's champion in 44 years, and the youngest in more than 60. Prior to her early retirement owing to lung problems at Wimbledon, she was the youngest British woman to make it to the round of 16 during the Open era.

Sports Personality of the Year 2022 to get live today, check nominees, voting and live streaming details

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<p>Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is on a record-breaking spree at the moment after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Having already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the sport, Messi reached another landmark when his first celebratory Instagram post after the World Cup triumph became the most-liked social media post of all time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The previous record was held by TikToker Bella Poarch who had posted a video of her lip-syncing to Millie B's ‘M to the B’ and amassed 60.3 million likes. However, as of the last update, Messi's post had beaten Poarch's record by&nbsp;garnering over 67 million likes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven't fallen, I can't believe it," read the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do. The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines... We did it!!! GO ARGENTINA!!!!! we are seeing each other very soon," it added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmUv48DLvxd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)</a></p>
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<p>Earlier, Messi had beaten the record of the most-liked Instagram post by beating the photo of an egg that was posted in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi has been having a party after leading his country to the promised land. On Tuesday, he posted a picture of himself sleeping with the iconic, shiny-golden World Cup trophy in his bed with the caption 'Good Morning!'.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyND_OYMl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)</a></p>
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<p>Apart from breaking the internet with his photo, Messi has also broken the followers' record on Instagram. The Argentine maestro became the second person in internet history to reach the 400 million followers mark on the Meta-owned platform behind his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unbelievable-lionel-messi-becomes-second-person-to-reach-400-million-followers-on-instagram-544800" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: UNBELIEVABLE! Lionel Messi becomes second person to reach 400 million followers on Instagram</strong></a></p>

<p>Messi played a pivotal part in guiding Argentina to the victory shores. His seven goals and three assists formed the fulcrum around which Argentina turned around their World Cup dream after suffering a shock defeat in the opening match against Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is on a record-breaking spree at the moment after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Having already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the sport, Messi reached another landmark when his first celebratory Instagram post after the World Cup triumph became the most-liked social media post of all time.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is on a record-breaking spree at the moment after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Having already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the sport, Messi reached another landmark when his first celebratory Instagram post after the World Cup triumph became the most-liked social media post of all time. The previous record was held by TikToker Bella Poarch who had posted a video of her lip-syncing to Millie B's ‘M to the B’ and amassed 60.3 million likes. However, as of the last update, Messi's post had beaten Poarch's record by garnering over 67 million likes. "WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven't fallen, I can't believe it," read the post. "Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do. The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines... We did it!!! GO ARGENTINA!!!!! we are seeing each other very soon," it added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) × Earlier, Messi had beaten the record of the most-liked Instagram post by beating the photo of an egg that was posted in 2019. Messi has been having a party after leading his country to the promised land. On Tuesday, he posted a picture of himself sleeping with the iconic, shiny-golden World Cup trophy in his bed with the caption 'Good Morning!'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) × Apart from breaking the internet with his photo, Messi has also broken the followers' record on Instagram. The Argentine maestro became the second person in internet history to reach the 400 million followers mark on the Meta-owned platform behind his rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Read more: UNBELIEVABLE! Lionel Messi becomes second person to reach 400 million followers on Instagram Messi played a pivotal part in guiding Argentina to the victory shores. His seven goals and three assists formed the fulcrum around which Argentina turned around their World Cup dream after suffering a shock defeat in the opening match against Saudi Arabia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Record-breaking: Messi's World Cup Instagram picture becomes the most-liked social media post ever

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<p>Ahmed al-Salem is a busy man since the culmination of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Hundreds of shoppers are attempting to get their hands on the garments made by al-Salem at his family store in Doha's Souq Waqif. The reason is quite straightforward; al-Salem manufactured the black-gold-coloured transparent robe that the Emir of Qatar&nbsp;Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani shrouded Messi in before handing over the World Cup trophy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The robe, called 'bisht' and priced at $2,200 was made by Salem's family company. However, none of them knew if it was going to be used on such a big stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We did not know who they were for and I was stunned," al-Salem was quoted as saying by AFP. He added that the family handed two delicate handmade cloaks to World Cup officials, one in the size of Messi and the other to fit a relatively taller French captain Hugo Lloris.</p>

<p>According to al-Salem, Argentinians&nbsp;and Lionel Messi fans descended upon his shop in huge numbers, wanting&nbsp;to buy the robe.</p>

<p>"At one stage, there were dozens waiting outside the store. Nearly all were Argentinians."</p>

<p>The robe is made of camel hair and goat wool and is presented to revered individuals on special occasions. Each ‘bisht’ takes a week to complete and has to undergo seven-stage completion process with different tailors weaving their magic in each phase.</p>

<p>The robe is seen as a sign of appreciation and respect in the Gulf region. Messi being asked to don the robe was a way for Qataris to show their respect to the Argentine for his achievements.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/decoded-the-robe-that-messi-was-made-to-wear-during-the-presentation-ceremony-after-the-world-cup-final-544822" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: DECODED! The robe that Messi was made to wear during the presentation ceremony after the World Cup final</strong></a></p>

<p>The moment Messi was presented with the robe, it caught the attention of millions across the world. While several were critical of the garment saying it took the sheen away from the moment, others said it was Qatar attempting to share its culture and heritage with the world, which should be respected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former English player and commentator Gary Lineker commenting on the incident said: "Amazing scenes, great pictures from above and great pictures from inside the ground as Argentina win the World Cup for the third time." He added, "It seems a shame, in a way, that they've covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Ahmed al-Salem is a busy man since the culmination of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Hundreds of shoppers are attempting to get their hands on the garments made by al-Salem at his family store in Doha's Souq Waqif.

Ahmed al-Salem is a busy man since the culmination of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Hundreds of shoppers are attempting to get their hands on the garments made by al-Salem at his family store in Doha's Souq Waqif. The reason is quite straightforward; al-Salem manufactured the black-gold-coloured transparent robe that the Emir of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani shrouded Messi in before handing over the World Cup trophy. The robe, called 'bisht' and priced at $2,200 was made by Salem's family company. However, none of them knew if it was going to be used on such a big stage. "We did not know who they were for and I was stunned," al-Salem was quoted as saying by AFP. He added that the family handed two delicate handmade cloaks to World Cup officials, one in the size of Messi and the other to fit a relatively taller French captain Hugo Lloris. According to al-Salem, Argentinians and Lionel Messi fans descended upon his shop in huge numbers, wanting to buy the robe. "At one stage, there were dozens waiting outside the store. Nearly all were Argentinians." The robe is made of camel hair and goat wool and is presented to revered individuals on special occasions. Each ‘bisht’ takes a week to complete and has to undergo seven-stage completion process with different tailors weaving their magic in each phase. The robe is seen as a sign of appreciation and respect in the Gulf region. Messi being asked to don the robe was a way for Qataris to show their respect to the Argentine for his achievements. Read more: DECODED! The robe that Messi was made to wear during the presentation ceremony after the World Cup final The moment Messi was presented with the robe, it caught the attention of millions across the world. While several were critical of the garment saying it took the sheen away from the moment, others said it was Qatar attempting to share its culture and heritage with the world, which should be respected. Former English player and commentator Gary Lineker commenting on the incident said: "Amazing scenes, great pictures from above and great pictures from inside the ground as Argentina win the World Cup for the third time." He added, "It seems a shame, in a way, that they've covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

The maker of ‘bisht’ robe presented to Messi swarmed with customers after World Cup spotlight

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<p>Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday on penalties after the game ended 3-3 at the end of extra time. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez put in another incredible shift during the shootout as he managed to keep two French players at bay. Now, a Twitter thread by a netizen has revealed the tactics that Martinez employed during the shootout&nbsp;</p>

<p>The user noted that Martinez commanded the penalty shootout from the start when he stood alone in the penalty area while his compatriot and France captain Hugo Lloris went for the toss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lloris entering the warzone second meant that Martinez had established boundaries about the arena being his. Afterwards, Martinez gently started accessing referee Szymon Marciniak to the extent he could push his luck with him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take the kick, Martinez first went to him, shook his hands and gave an aura of friendliness. At the very next moment, he stepped back and pointed to the referee to keep the ball in its designated spot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ball was in the right spot from the beginning but Martinez was imposing himself in the situation. The referee bent down, took a look and gave a thumbs-up to the goalie.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentinas-emiliano-martinez-explains-reason-behind-his-lewd-gesture-with-fifa-golden-glove-award-544811" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Argentina's Emiliano Martinez explains reason behind his lewd gesture with FIFA Golden Glove award</strong></a></p>

<p>Though Mbappe converted the penalty, Martinez received the message that he could nudge the referee a little further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman came to the spot, Martinez upped the ante a little and again pestered the referee to check the ball, only to receive a not-so-positive response from the Polish official. The trick works this time and Coman misses the penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from trying to rattle the penalty takers, Martinez is street-smart enough to shield his teammates from the opposition goalkeeper. He picks the ball after French penalties and hands it to his player so that they can cooly take the kick.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Argentina is world champion after a penalty shootout master class. At the core of their performance is goalkeeper Emi Martinez' mind games.<br />
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Martinez dominated the French penalty takers, forcing two misses.<br />
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Here’s a step-by-step description of his tricks in the final. Thread. 1/ <a href="https://t.co/iujg2Sk1U0">pic.twitter.com/iujg2Sk1U0</a></p>
— Geir Jordet (@GeirJordet) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeirJordet/status/1604820622047150082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Martinez is not shy when it comes to using his verbal prowess to intimidate the opposition either. He senses that Kolo Muani can be thrown off so he begins mouthing, “I’ve watched you!”.</p>

<p>Martinez's bag of tricks is full of such antics which he has used throughout his career. It is perhaps the reason he has been able to have such a remarkable record when it comes to penalty shootouts. If Argentina are currently going gaga over the World Cup win, they owe a significant debt for it to Martinez and his crazy yet calculated tricks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday on penalties after the game ended 3-3 at the end of extra time. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez put in another incredible shift during the shootout as he managed to keep two French players at bay.

Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday on penalties after the game ended 3-3 at the end of extra time. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez put in another incredible shift during the shootout as he managed to keep two French players at bay. Now, a Twitter thread by a netizen has revealed the tactics that Martinez employed during the shootout The user noted that Martinez commanded the penalty shootout from the start when he stood alone in the penalty area while his compatriot and France captain Hugo Lloris went for the toss. Lloris entering the warzone second meant that Martinez had established boundaries about the arena being his. Afterwards, Martinez gently started accessing referee Szymon Marciniak to the extent he could push his luck with him. When Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take the kick, Martinez first went to him, shook his hands and gave an aura of friendliness. At the very next moment, he stepped back and pointed to the referee to keep the ball in its designated spot. The ball was in the right spot from the beginning but Martinez was imposing himself in the situation. The referee bent down, took a look and gave a thumbs-up to the goalie. Read more: Argentina's Emiliano Martinez explains reason behind his lewd gesture with FIFA Golden Glove award Though Mbappe converted the penalty, Martinez received the message that he could nudge the referee a little further. When Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman came to the spot, Martinez upped the ante a little and again pestered the referee to check the ball, only to receive a not-so-positive response from the Polish official. The trick works this time and Coman misses the penalty. Apart from trying to rattle the penalty takers, Martinez is street-smart enough to shield his teammates from the opposition goalkeeper. He picks the ball after French penalties and hands it to his player so that they can cooly take the kick. Argentina is world champion after a penalty shootout master class. At the core of their performance is goalkeeper Emi Martinez' mind games. Martinez dominated the French penalty takers, forcing two misses. Here’s a step-by-step description of his tricks in the final. Thread. 1/ pic.twitter.com/iujg2Sk1U0 — Geir Jordet (@GeirJordet) December 19, 2022 × Martinez is not shy when it comes to using his verbal prowess to intimidate the opposition either. He senses that Kolo Muani can be thrown off so he begins mouthing, “I’ve watched you!”. Martinez's bag of tricks is full of such antics which he has used throughout his career. It is perhaps the reason he has been able to have such a remarkable record when it comes to penalty shootouts. If Argentina are currently going gaga over the World Cup win, they owe a significant debt for it to Martinez and his crazy yet calculated tricks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022:Tricks used by Emiliano Martinez during penalty shootout explained in this viral thread

<p>Argentina's World Cup heroes touched down in the capital city of Buenos Aires in the wee hours of Tuesday, ahead of a planned grand parade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The victorious Argentina team pushed off from a flight in Rome before touching down at the Ezeiza International Airport where they were greeted by thousands of fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first to step out of the plane was Argentine talisman Lionel Messi who cradled the much cherished golden World Cup trophy alongside him. Following Messi was coach Lionel Scaloni whose brilliant man-management and tactical fluidity led Argentina to the promised land.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The players were given a red-carpet welcome after which they made their way to a white open-top bus with 'World Champion' in Spanish written on the side. Three stars, referring to the three World Cups Argentina has won were also placed along the quote.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-im-not-gonna-retire-announces-lionel-messi-after-wc-victory-544375"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p>Such was the excitement of fans that they were willing to stay with the team wherever they went.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will be here all night and tomorrow as well. Tomorrow we are not working, we won't do anything and we'll go directly to the Obelisk with Argentina," 25-year-old&nbsp;Ayrton Kerdocas, a student was quoted as saying by AFP outside the airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The players and staff will be spending the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex, near the airport.</p>

<p>After earning the well-deserved rest, the squad, around mid-day will head to the iconic Obelisk monument for a tour of the Buenos Aires city centre. Millions are expected to throng the streets of Buenos Aires and join the parade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, at one time, the plane carrying the Argentine heroes was being tracked by as many as 176,000 people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Argentina won on penalties</strong></p>

<p>Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday on penalties (4-2) after the game ended 3-3 at the end of extra time. Messi scored twice while France superstar bagged a hattrick to take the game to the very deep.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the end, it was goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's brilliance that allowed Messi and his teammates to fulfill the Argentine dream.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Argentina's World Cup heroes touched down in the capital city of Buenos Aires in the wee hours of Tuesday, ahead of a planned grand parade. The victorious Argentina team pushed off from a flight in Rome before touching down at the Ezeiza International Airport where they were greeted by thousands of fans.

Argentina's World Cup heroes touched down in the capital city of Buenos Aires in the wee hours of Tuesday, ahead of a planned grand parade. The victorious Argentina team pushed off from a flight in Rome before touching down at the Ezeiza International Airport where they were greeted by thousands of fans. The first to step out of the plane was Argentine talisman Lionel Messi who cradled the much cherished golden World Cup trophy alongside him. Following Messi was coach Lionel Scaloni whose brilliant man-management and tactical fluidity led Argentina to the promised land. The players were given a red-carpet welcome after which they made their way to a white open-top bus with 'World Champion' in Spanish written on the side. Three stars, referring to the three World Cups Argentina has won were also placed along the quote. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'I’m not...': Lionel Messi drops a BOMB on his future after lifting the mega title Such was the excitement of fans that they were willing to stay with the team wherever they went. "We will be here all night and tomorrow as well. Tomorrow we are not working, we won't do anything and we'll go directly to the Obelisk with Argentina," 25-year-old Ayrton Kerdocas, a student was quoted as saying by AFP outside the airport. The players and staff will be spending the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex, near the airport. After earning the well-deserved rest, the squad, around mid-day will head to the iconic Obelisk monument for a tour of the Buenos Aires city centre. Millions are expected to throng the streets of Buenos Aires and join the parade. According to reports, at one time, the plane carrying the Argentine heroes was being tracked by as many as 176,000 people. Argentina won on penalties Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on Sunday on penalties (4-2) after the game ended 3-3 at the end of extra time. Messi scored twice while France superstar bagged a hattrick to take the game to the very deep. In the end, it was goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's brilliance that allowed Messi and his teammates to fulfill the Argentine dream. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Argentina's World Cup heroes touch down in Buenos Aires ahead of the grand parade

<p>The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years. While the finale was thrilling, the entirety of the tournament was no different with several top talents coming to the fore and old stalwarts turning back the clock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the incredible array of talent at display, it was only inevitable that WION's sports team made its&nbsp;World Cup XI. However, it is to be noted that the dynamics of the individual players&nbsp;may not necessarily be great for the XI enlisted below. The XI&nbsp;is purely based on players that had an exceptional tournament in their respective positions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>(4-3-3&nbsp;formation)</strong></p>

<p><strong>Goalkeeper: </strong>Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper)</p>

<p><strong>Defenders: </strong>Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), Ibrahima Konate (France), Theo Hernandez (France)<br />
<br />
<strong>Midfielders: </strong>Jude Bellingham (England), Antoine Griezzmann (France); Luka Modric (Croatia)</p>

<p><strong>Forwards: </strong>Lionel Messi (Argentina) Kylian Mbappe (France), Julian Alvarez (Argentina)</p>

<p><strong>Manager: </strong>Louis van Gaal (Netherlands)</p>

<p><img alt="WION's World Cup XI" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ecacc85e-2200-4860-b063-38c58fad077f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/lineup%20%281%29.png" /></p>

<p><strong>Manager/Coach</strong></p>

<p>Morocco coach Walid&nbsp;Regragui could have easily made it as the manager of the squad but was pipped by Louis van Gaal by a tiny fraction. The Dutch showed exemplary tactical fluidity when chasing the game against Argentina that tipped the scales in his favour. van Gaal put Wout Weghorst and Luuk de Jong into the XI and used their aerial prowess to inflict a stunning comeback.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Formation</strong></p>

<p>We have gone with a 4-3-3&nbsp;formation which is flexible as it allows Lionel Messi, the Golden Boot winner of the tournament to loiter anywhere in the middle and do what he does best. Essentially, in possession, it becomes a 4-4-2&nbsp;with Alvarez and Mbappe as the top two with the likes of Messi and Griezzmann feeding them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Goalkeeper</strong></p>

<p>Emiliano Martinez was a no-brainer in the goalpost after he carried his team through two penalty shootouts in the tournament. Prior to the final's penalty shootout, Martinez pulled off a miraculous save in the dying seconds of extra time to save the Argentines a massive heartache. For his shot-stopping ability and decent sweeping technique, Martinez makes the cut.</p>

<p>Alternatives: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia),&nbsp;Yassine Bounou (Morocco) and&nbsp;Wojciech Szczesny (Poland) were the other options that could have easily walked into the XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unmissable-argentina-captain-lionel-messis-table-dance-with-fifa-world-cup-trophy-goes-viral-watch-544444"><strong>WATCH | UNMISSABLE! Argentina captain Lionel Messi's table dance with FIFA World Cup trophy goes viral</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Defenders</strong></p>

<p>The back four was one of the preferred options by managers in the World Cup. The two central defenders flanked by the wing-backs who liked to push up the pitch was&nbsp;a strategy that reaped rich dividends.</p>

<p>In the playing XI, the backline is being marshalled by Josko Gvardiol, one of the brightest prospects to come out of the tournament and Ibrahima Konate.</p>

<p>The Liverpool defender may not have got as much game time as he would have liked but he was a Rolls Royce of a defender whenever he was given the opportunity. His shift in the semifinals was one of the reasons why France reached the final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To the right of Konate we have Morocco's Achraf Hakimi who had an extra set of lungs on him throughout the World Cup. Though Morocco focused on defensive solidity at the back where Hakimi had to concentrate most of his focus, his offensive output was worth nothing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The left fullback position is occupied by Theo Hernandez. The AC Milan defender is one of the most talented left-backs in the world, if not the best. Hernandez likes staying high up during the attacking phases and make underlapping and overlapping runs through the winger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Dayot Upamecano (France), John Stones (England), Roman Saiss (Morocco), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands)</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-messis-argentina-fulfill-the-dream-by-beating-france-on-penalties-in-the-wc-final-544328"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Midfielders</strong></p>

<p>The engine room of our playing XI is being led by 35-year-old Luka Modric who carried his team to yet another podium finish at the World Cup. Age appears to have not caught up with the Croatian maestro who alongside Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic formed one of the most lethal midfield trios of the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>England's 19-year-old Jude Bellingham is the obvious choice for the other spot as the teenage sensation lit up the WC with his physicality, ball progression and creativity. And when needed, the Borussia Dortmund player did not shy away from doing the dirty work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The last piece of machinery in the midfield is Antoine Griezmann who quietly had one of the best tournaments. He was involved in nearly every major moment for the French side during their journey to the final. The freedom given by Didier Deschamps to him to loiter anywhere in the midfield allowed the creator in Griezmann to come to the fore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Sofyan Amrbat (Morocco), Casemiro (Brazil), Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)</p>

<p><strong>Forwards:</strong></p>

<p>The attacking trio picked itself as their performances demanded an almost certain selection. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot winners respectively had a standout tournament. They both pulled their team out of the hard moments single-handedly and lit up the WC on their own. Joining them is Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez who managed to bag four goals in the tournament and prove his mettle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatives: Olivier Giroud (France), Ferran Torres (Spain), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years.

The 26-day grand spectacle of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar reached its fitting climax on Sunday night. Argentina overcame France, the defending champions to lay their hands on the WC silverware after a long, arduous wait of 36 years. While the finale was thrilling, the entirety of the tournament was no different with several top talents coming to the fore and old stalwarts turning back the clock. With the incredible array of talent at display, it was only inevitable that WION's sports team made its World Cup XI. However, it is to be noted that the dynamics of the individual players may not necessarily be great for the XI enlisted below. The XI is purely based on players that had an exceptional tournament in their respective positions. (4-3-3 formation) Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper) Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Josko Gvardiol (Croatia), Ibrahima Konate (France), Theo Hernandez (France) Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (England), Antoine Griezzmann (France); Luka Modric (Croatia) Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina) Kylian Mbappe (France), Julian Alvarez (Argentina) Manager: Louis van Gaal (Netherlands) Manager/Coach Morocco coach Walid Regragui could have easily made it as the manager of the squad but was pipped by Louis van Gaal by a tiny fraction. The Dutch showed exemplary tactical fluidity when chasing the game against Argentina that tipped the scales in his favour. van Gaal put Wout Weghorst and Luuk de Jong into the XI and used their aerial prowess to inflict a stunning comeback. Formation We have gone with a 4-3-3 formation which is flexible as it allows Lionel Messi, the Golden Boot winner of the tournament to loiter anywhere in the middle and do what he does best. Essentially, in possession, it becomes a 4-4-2 with Alvarez and Mbappe as the top two with the likes of Messi and Griezzmann feeding them. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was a no-brainer in the goalpost after he carried his team through two penalty shootouts in the tournament. Prior to the final's penalty shootout, Martinez pulled off a miraculous save in the dying seconds of extra time to save the Argentines a massive heartache. For his shot-stopping ability and decent sweeping technique, Martinez makes the cut. Alternatives: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia), Yassine Bounou (Morocco) and Wojciech Szczesny (Poland) were the other options that could have easily walked into the XI. WATCH | UNMISSABLE! Argentina captain Lionel Messi's table dance with FIFA World Cup trophy goes viral Defenders The back four was one of the preferred options by managers in the World Cup. The two central defenders flanked by the wing-backs who liked to push up the pitch was a strategy that reaped rich dividends. In the playing XI, the backline is being marshalled by Josko Gvardiol, one of the brightest prospects to come out of the tournament and Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defender may not have got as much game time as he would have liked but he was a Rolls Royce of a defender whenever he was given the opportunity. His shift in the semifinals was one of the reasons why France reached the final. To the right of Konate we have Morocco's Achraf Hakimi who had an extra set of lungs on him throughout the World Cup. Though Morocco focused on defensive solidity at the back where Hakimi had to concentrate most of his focus, his offensive output was worth nothing. The left fullback position is occupied by Theo Hernandez. The AC Milan defender is one of the most talented left-backs in the world, if not the best. Hernandez likes staying high up during the attacking phases and make underlapping and overlapping runs through the winger. Alternatives: Dayot Upamecano (France), John Stones (England), Roman Saiss (Morocco), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands) Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final Midfielders The engine room of our playing XI is being led by 35-year-old Luka Modric who carried his team to yet another podium finish at the World Cup. Age appears to have not caught up with the Croatian maestro who alongside Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic formed one of the most lethal midfield trios of the tournament. England's 19-year-old Jude Bellingham is the obvious choice for the other spot as the teenage sensation lit up the WC with his physicality, ball progression and creativity. And when needed, the Borussia Dortmund player did not shy away from doing the dirty work. The last piece of machinery in the midfield is Antoine Griezmann who quietly had one of the best tournaments. He was involved in nearly every major moment for the French side during their journey to the final. The freedom given by Didier Deschamps to him to loiter anywhere in the midfield allowed the creator in Griezmann to come to the fore. Alternatives: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Sofyan Amrbat (Morocco), Casemiro (Brazil), Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) Forwards: The attacking trio picked itself as their performances demanded an almost certain selection. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot winners respectively had a standout tournament. They both pulled their team out of the hard moments single-handedly and lit up the WC on their own. Joining them is Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez who managed to bag four goals in the tournament and prove his mettle. Alternatives: Olivier Giroud (France), Ferran Torres (Spain), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WION's FIFA World Cup 2022 best XI: Which players made the first team?

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<p>It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was&nbsp;a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup. And if the start against Saudi Arabia was as anticlimactic as they come, the end was just as romantic, thrilling and visceral as it could have been.</p>

<p>Argentina beat France 4-2&nbsp;on penalties after the match ended&nbsp;3-3&nbsp;at the end of extra time&nbsp;at the Lusail International Stadium in front of a majority Argentine crowd that never once let its voice down.</p>

<p>A spectacular save from Martinez to deny Aurélien Tchouaméni and a miss from Kingsley Coman allowed Argentina to clinch the WC trophy after going through a plethora of emotions through the course of the match.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two goals from Argentina's talisman Messi and one from Angel Di Maria were not enough for Argentina to get ahead as Mbappe smashed a first World Cup hat-trick to take the game to penalties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A bundle of narratives were weaved prior to the match, none as bigger and often asked as Messi or Mbappe? The answer, though, should have been a no-brainer from the get-go. It was merely the passing of the baton from one generation to another. Both players complete in their own styles and capable to take their team to victory shores fought hard and shone bright but it was Messi that came out on top.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Argentina nearly win it</strong></p>

<p>France were pinned back within the first 10 minutes as a powerful goal-inbound shot from de Paul in the eighth minute hit a French defender and crashed across the byline.&nbsp; Prior to it, a thumping effort from Alexis Mac Allister hit straight to Lloris was pouched by the Tottenham keeper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentina with their buccaneering attitude kept coming back and managed to earn the well-deserved advantage in the 23rd minute via a Messi penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work but came up short against the Argentine.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lusail witnesses the <a href="https://twitter.com/Oficial7DiMaria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Oficial7DiMaria</a> MANIA 💥<br />
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The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐<br />
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Keep watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> Final ➡ 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/ARGFRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGFRA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArgentinaVsFrance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArgentinaVsFrance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</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/1S9SNBnsjq">pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1604511426386677760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-argentina-lead-through-messi-and-di-marias-strike-in-the-final-of-fifa-wc-2022-544309" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Argentina lead through Messi and Di Maria's strike in the final of FIFA WC 2022</strong></a></p>

<p>After the goal, one would have thought that Deschamps' men would pick up the pace and counter-attack. However, it was Argentina that dictated the play and through sustained pressure managed to double the lead in the 36th minute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A swift move started by Messi with an outside-of-the-boot touch in the right-side half-space to Alvarez who guided it to Mac Allister. The Brighton player charged across the turf and calmly placed the ball at the feet of Di Maria who had no trouble in finding the back of the net from that distance.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lusail witnesses the <a href="https://twitter.com/Oficial7DiMaria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Oficial7DiMaria</a> MANIA 💥<br />
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The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐<br />
<br />
Keep watching the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> Final ➡ 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/ARGFRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARGFRA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArgentinaVsFrance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArgentinaVsFrance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</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/1S9SNBnsjq">pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq</a></p>
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1604511426386677760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>France make a comeback</strong></p>

<p>After the two goals, Deschamps was forced to make quick substitutions around the 40-minute mark as Giroud and Dembele were hooked and replaced by Marcus Thuram and last-match goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani.</p>

<p>With Argentina firmly in the driving seat, Scaloni opted for defensive changes in the second half as Di Maria was replaced by Acuna. And that turned the game on its head. France jumped to life in the 80th minute when Kolo Muani drove at full tilt in the opposition box and got Otamendi to foul him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mbappe converted&nbsp;from the spot and nearly 97 seconds later, rifled a half-volley past Martinez to bring France right back into the competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The game ended level after 90 minutes and the first quarter of extra time went without much development. However, in the second half of the extra time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance to beat Lloris and bring Argentina to the cusp.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just when it looked like France were dead and buried, Mbappe, the 23-year-old youngster brought another special trick from his drawer and managed to stun the full-house Argentine crowd.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Scaloni's tactical masterclass</strong></p>

<p>The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Demble not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Mac Allister and Di Maria teaming up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ploy worked like a charm as Di Maria, along with Messi remained one of the most influential players on the field for the men in blue-and-white stripes.</p>

<p><strong>A fairytale comes to draw</strong></p>

<p>The WC triumph by Messi and his men is all the more memorable because it comes in the backdrop of the start they had to endure. Argentina were flattened by Saudi Arabia in the opening league game and many believed that it was the end of the road for Messi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We should prepare for what’s coming; we have to win, and it depends on us," said Messi after the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after the Argentine victory, the World Cup has come to its fitting culmination after the grand spectacle began 26 days ago. It may have passed in a blink of an eye but has given fans across the world, memories, to be cherished for a lifetime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fairytales are often conjured in this game and fans had none but one&nbsp;they wanted to come true more than anything. Lionel Messi, the trailblazer of the sport lifting the shining golden WC trophy. It came true on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup.

It was Lionel Messi's last dance on the World Cup stage, in perhaps one of the most thrilling finals ever. It was a grand finale to the tournament coinciding with the Argentine star’s last World Cup. And if the start against Saudi Arabia was as anticlimactic as they come, the end was just as romantic, thrilling and visceral as it could have been. Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 at the end of extra time at the Lusail International Stadium in front of a majority Argentine crowd that never once let its voice down. A spectacular save from Martinez to deny Aurélien Tchouaméni and a miss from Kingsley Coman allowed Argentina to clinch the WC trophy after going through a plethora of emotions through the course of the match. Two goals from Argentina's talisman Messi and one from Angel Di Maria were not enough for Argentina to get ahead as Mbappe smashed a first World Cup hat-trick to take the game to penalties. A bundle of narratives were weaved prior to the match, none as bigger and often asked as Messi or Mbappe? The answer, though, should have been a no-brainer from the get-go. It was merely the passing of the baton from one generation to another. Both players complete in their own styles and capable to take their team to victory shores fought hard and shone bright but it was Messi that came out on top. Argentina nearly win it France were pinned back within the first 10 minutes as a powerful goal-inbound shot from de Paul in the eighth minute hit a French defender and crashed across the byline. Prior to it, a thumping effort from Alexis Mac Allister hit straight to Lloris was pouched by the Tottenham keeper. Argentina with their buccaneering attitude kept coming back and managed to earn the well-deserved advantage in the 23rd minute via a Messi penalty. The penalty was earned by none other than Angel Di Maria who had Dembele on tenterhooks since the beginning of the game. With France tucked in a compact shape, the winger was forced to do the defensive work but came up short against the Argentine. Lusail witnesses the @Oficial7DiMaria MANIA 💥 The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐ Keep watching the #FIFAWorldCup Final ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#ARGFRA #ArgentinaVsFrance #Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 18, 2022 × WATCH | Argentina lead through Messi and Di Maria's strike in the final of FIFA WC 2022 After the goal, one would have thought that Deschamps' men would pick up the pace and counter-attack. However, it was Argentina that dictated the play and through sustained pressure managed to double the lead in the 36th minute. A swift move started by Messi with an outside-of-the-boot touch in the right-side half-space to Alvarez who guided it to Mac Allister. The Brighton player charged across the turf and calmly placed the ball at the feet of Di Maria who had no trouble in finding the back of the net from that distance. Lusail witnesses the @Oficial7DiMaria MANIA 💥 The man for the BIG OCCASION with a splendid finish ⭐ Keep watching the #FIFAWorldCup Final ➡ LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲#ARGFRA #ArgentinaVsFrance #Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/1S9SNBnsjq — JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 18, 2022 × France make a comeback After the two goals, Deschamps was forced to make quick substitutions around the 40-minute mark as Giroud and Dembele were hooked and replaced by Marcus Thuram and last-match goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani. With Argentina firmly in the driving seat, Scaloni opted for defensive changes in the second half as Di Maria was replaced by Acuna. And that turned the game on its head. France jumped to life in the 80th minute when Kolo Muani drove at full tilt in the opposition box and got Otamendi to foul him. Mbappe converted from the spot and nearly 97 seconds later, rifled a half-volley past Martinez to bring France right back into the competition. The game ended level after 90 minutes and the first quarter of extra time went without much development. However, in the second half of the extra time, Messi produced another moment of brilliance to beat Lloris and bring Argentina to the cusp. Just when it looked like France were dead and buried, Mbappe, the 23-year-old youngster brought another special trick from his drawer and managed to stun the full-house Argentine crowd. Scaloni's tactical masterclass The French camp had a tumultuous 48 hours leading into the World Cup final. A serious bout of illness and minor injuries meant that several players were having a race against time to get fit for, arguably, the biggest game of their careers. Deschamps decided to make two changes to the lineup from the one that played against Croatia. Defender Dayot Upamecaon and midfielder Adrien Rabiot replaced Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana. As for Argentina, Scalnoi brought his big match player Ángel Di María in place of Leandro Parades as the only change. With Ousmane Demble not tracking back and Tchoumaeni expected to be loitering high up the pitch, Scaloni's plan was to overload the left side with Mac Allister and Di Maria teaming up. The ploy worked like a charm as Di Maria, along with Messi remained one of the most influential players on the field for the men in blue-and-white stripes. A fairytale comes to draw The WC triumph by Messi and his men is all the more memorable because it comes in the backdrop of the start they had to endure. Argentina were flattened by Saudi Arabia in the opening league game and many believed that it was the end of the road for Messi. “It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We should prepare for what’s coming; we have to win, and it depends on us," said Messi after the game. However, after the Argentine victory, the World Cup has come to its fitting culmination after the grand spectacle began 26 days ago. It may have passed in a blink of an eye but has given fans across the world, memories, to be cherished for a lifetime. Fairytales are often conjured in this game and fans had none but one they wanted to come true more than anything. Lionel Messi, the trailblazer of the sport lifting the shining golden WC trophy. It came true on Sunday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Mesmerising Messi’s Argentina fulfill the dream by beating France on penalties in final

<p><strong>LPL 2022:&nbsp;</strong>The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has reached its business end. It is the final day of league matches with Jaffna Kings taking on Colombo Stars in the double-header Monday. Jaffna Kings come into the contest with five wins out of seven matches and sit pretty on the number two spot in the points table.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Colombo Stars, they are just behind their opponents at the number three spot in the points table. However, both teams come into the contest with contrasting fortunes. Jaffna Kings overcame Galle Gladiators by 16 runs in the previous match to emerge victorious while Colombo Kings received nine-wicket hiding at the hands of Kandy Falcons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars</strong></p>

<p><strong>Jaffna Kings:</strong><br />
Avishka Fernando, Ashan Randika, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (c), Dunith Wellalage, James Fuller, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Zaman Khan</p>

<p><strong>Colombo Stars:</strong><br />
Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Angelo Mathews (c), Charith Asalanka, Ravi Bopara, Dinesh Chandimal, Navod Paranavithana, Karim Janat, Dominic Drakes, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Naveen-ul-Haq</p>

<p><strong>Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars full squad</strong></p>

<p><strong>Jaffna Kings Squad</strong><br />
Thisara Perera (c), Shoaib Malik, Maheesh Theekshana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ashan Randika, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Hardus Viljoen, Evin Lewis, Shahnawaz Dahani, Binura Fernando, Tristan Stubbs, Suminda Lakshan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilshan Madushanka, Nipun Dananjaya, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theivendiram Dinoshan</p>

<p><strong>Colombo Stars Squad</strong><br />
Angelo Mathews (c), Seekkuge Prasanna, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dwaine Pretorius, Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq, Dominic Drakes, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Muditha Lakshan, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Kevin Koththigoda, Chathuranga Kumara, Navod Paranavithana.</p>

<h2><strong>Where to watch&nbsp;Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match live?</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars&nbsp;</strong>match can be watched on Sony Sports Network channels in India on TV. The match will also be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website. The match can be watched live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD TV channels in India.</p>

<p><strong>Where will the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match&nbsp;be held?</strong></p>

<p>LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will take place in Sri Lanka on December 19.</p>

<p><strong>When will the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match&nbsp;start? – Date</strong></p>

<p>LPL 2022 Colombo Stars vs Jaffna Kings match will begin at 3:00 PM IST on December 19, Monday.</p>

<p><strong>What Time the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match&nbsp;will begin?</strong></p>

<p>The LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will begin at 3:00 PM IST.</p>

<p><strong>What is the venue of the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match? – Venue</strong></p>

<p>LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium.&nbsp;</p>


LPL 2022: The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has reached its business end. It is the final day of league matches with Jaffna Kings taking on Colombo Stars in the double-header Monday.

LPL 2022: The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has reached its business end. It is the final day of league matches with Jaffna Kings taking on Colombo Stars in the double-header Monday. Jaffna Kings come into the contest with five wins out of seven matches and sit pretty on the number two spot in the points table. As for Colombo Stars, they are just behind their opponents at the number three spot in the points table. However, both teams come into the contest with contrasting fortunes. Jaffna Kings overcame Galle Gladiators by 16 runs in the previous match to emerge victorious while Colombo Kings received nine-wicket hiding at the hands of Kandy Falcons. Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars Jaffna Kings: Avishka Fernando, Ashan Randika, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (c), Dunith Wellalage, James Fuller, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Zaman Khan Colombo Stars: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Angelo Mathews (c), Charith Asalanka, Ravi Bopara, Dinesh Chandimal, Navod Paranavithana, Karim Janat, Dominic Drakes, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Naveen-ul-Haq Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars full squad Jaffna Kings Squad Thisara Perera (c), Shoaib Malik, Maheesh Theekshana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ashan Randika, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Hardus Viljoen, Evin Lewis, Shahnawaz Dahani, Binura Fernando, Tristan Stubbs, Suminda Lakshan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilshan Madushanka, Nipun Dananjaya, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theivendiram Dinoshan Colombo Stars Squad Angelo Mathews (c), Seekkuge Prasanna, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dwaine Pretorius, Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq, Dominic Drakes, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Muditha Lakshan, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Kevin Koththigoda, Chathuranga Kumara, Navod Paranavithana. Where to watch Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match live? Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match can be watched on Sony Sports Network channels in India on TV. The match will also be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website. The match can be watched live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD TV channels in India. Where will the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match be held? LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will take place in Sri Lanka on December 19. When will the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match start? – Date LPL 2022 Colombo Stars vs Jaffna Kings match will begin at 3:00 PM IST on December 19, Monday. What Time the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will begin? The LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will begin at 3:00 PM IST. What is the venue of the LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match? – Venue LPL 2022 Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars match will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Stars preview: LPL 2022 JK vs CS live streaming & TV channel, playing XI prediction

<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>

<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>


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>

<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 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>

<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>


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

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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>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></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>Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was a nice experience even though I played against him in the club last season. He is a completely different type of player in the club and in the national team," said the defender.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am glad that I played against him even though we lost. It's a great experience, and one day I'll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I guess we will beat him next time."</p>

<p>Gvardiol has been of the brightest stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The 20-year-old looked far more mature than his age and played like a man possessed throughout Croatia's run in the tournament. His performances&nbsp;have&nbsp;attracted attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world which will be looking to avail his services soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite having a stellar tournament, Gvardiol came second-best against Lionel Messi in the semi-final encounter, as have many prized defenders of the past. While many thought a youngster with a pedigree of Gvardiol will be able to keep Messi silent, the Argentine pulled one of the moments of the World Cup against him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi torpedoed&nbsp;through the heart of Croatian midfield and engaged with Gvardiol outside the penalty box. The defender did not do a whole lot by staying on his feet and pushing Messi to the outside.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2022-two-time-world-champions-argentina-beat-croatia-3-0-to-enter-the-final-542852"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, the seven-times Ballon d'Or winner managed to beat Gvardiol inside the box and place a laser-sharp pass at the feet of Julian Alvarez who slotted the ball to the back of the net.&nbsp;</p>

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<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>
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<p>Messi scored one and assisted one while playing a major part in another&nbsp;as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity.</p>

<p>Croatia dominated the game early one with their compact shape. It was only after Messi&nbsp;began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield, that the game changed.</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><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-marvellous-messi-fires-argentina-to-wc-final-as-alvarez-grabs-two-542824" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two</strong></a></p>

<p>Before heading home, Gvardiol has one last challenge left as his team plays the third-place playoff against Morocco on Saturday. The 2018 runners-up will look to win the playoff and end the campaign on a high.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it.

Croatian centre-back Josko Gvardiol has said he was glad to have played against Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the World Cup semifinal and that he will tell his kids about it. "It was a nice experience even though I played against him in the club last season. He is a completely different type of player in the club and in the national team," said the defender. "I am glad that I played against him even though we lost. It's a great experience, and one day I'll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I guess we will beat him next time." Gvardiol has been of the brightest stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The 20-year-old looked far more mature than his age and played like a man possessed throughout Croatia's run in the tournament. His performances have attracted attention of some of the biggest clubs in the world which will be looking to avail his services soon. Despite having a stellar tournament, Gvardiol came second-best against Lionel Messi in the semi-final encounter, as have many prized defenders of the past. While many thought a youngster with a pedigree of Gvardiol will be able to keep Messi silent, the Argentine pulled one of the moments of the World Cup against him. Messi torpedoed through the heart of Croatian midfield and engaged with Gvardiol outside the penalty box. The defender did not do a whole lot by staying on his feet and pushing Messi to the outside. WATCH | FIFA World Cup 2022: Two-time world champions Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to enter the final × However, the seven-times Ballon d'Or winner managed to beat Gvardiol inside the box and place a laser-sharp pass at the feet of Julian Alvarez who slotted the ball to the back of the net. 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 × Messi scored one and assisted one while playing a major part in another as Argentina steamrolled the Croatian challenge 3-0 to give their talisman a chance at achieving greatness for posterity. Croatia dominated the game early one with their compact shape. It was only after Messi began dragging Gvardiol, arguably the best defender of the tournament from his left-centre-back position and into the midfield, that the game changed. 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. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Marvellous Messi fires Argentina to WC final as Alvarez grabs two Before heading home, Gvardiol has one last challenge left as his team plays the third-place playoff against Morocco on Saturday. The 2018 runners-up will look to win the playoff and end the campaign on a high. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I'll tell my kids...': Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol on facing Messi at the World Cup

<p>The national airline of Morocco announced that it was cancelling all of its scheduled flights for Wednesday to fly&nbsp;fans to Doha for the World Cup semifinal, citing what it claimed to be a decision by Qatari officials.</p>

<p>"Following the latest restrictions imposed by the&nbsp;Qatari&nbsp;authorities,&nbsp;Royal Air Maroc regrets to inform customers of the&nbsp;cancellation&nbsp;of their&nbsp;flights&nbsp;operated by Qatar Airways," the&nbsp;airline&nbsp;said&nbsp;in an emailed statement.</p>

<p>Requests for comments were not immediately answered by the international media office of the Qatari government. A source at a RAM travel agency who spoke to Reuters said on Tuesday that only 14 flights had been scheduled, despite Royal Air Maroc having previously stated that it would arrange 30 extra flights to make it easier for supporters to travel to Qatar for Wednesday night's semifinal match against France.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/france-vs-morocco-fifa-world-cup-semifinal-reliving-last-face-off-between-both-sides-in-2007-542957">France vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup semifinal: Reliving last face-off between both sides in 2007</a></p>

<p>Due to the seven scheduled flights for Wednesday being cancelled, RAM was only able to operate the seven flights on Tuesday, preventing fans who had already reserved match tickets or hotel rooms from travelling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>RAM&nbsp;said&nbsp;it would reimburse flight&nbsp;tickets&nbsp;and apologised to customers.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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The national airline of Morocco announced that it was cancelling all of its scheduled flights for Wednesday to fly fans to Doha for the World Cup semifinal, citing what it claimed to be a decision by Qatari officials.

The national airline of Morocco announced that it was cancelling all of its scheduled flights for Wednesday to fly fans to Doha for the World Cup semifinal, citing what it claimed to be a decision by Qatari officials. "Following the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities, Royal Air Maroc regrets to inform customers of the cancellation of their flights operated by Qatar Airways," the airline said in an emailed statement. Requests for comments were not immediately answered by the international media office of the Qatari government. A source at a RAM travel agency who spoke to Reuters said on Tuesday that only 14 flights had been scheduled, despite Royal Air Maroc having previously stated that it would arrange 30 extra flights to make it easier for supporters to travel to Qatar for Wednesday night's semifinal match against France. Also read | France vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup semifinal: Reliving last face-off between both sides in 2007 Due to the seven scheduled flights for Wednesday being cancelled, RAM was only able to operate the seven flights on Tuesday, preventing fans who had already reserved match tickets or hotel rooms from travelling. RAM said it would reimburse flight tickets and apologised to customers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Moroccan airline cancels World Cup fan flights citing Qatar restrictions

<p>Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards under pressure as Australian women showed clinical precision to record a comfortable 21-run victory in the third T20 International in Mumbai on Wednesday. Australia now lead the five-match series 2-1.</p>

<p>Chasing a target of 173, India were in cruise control mode at 106 for 2, riding on some cavalier hitting from Shafali Verma (52 off 41 balls) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (37 off 27 balls). The duo added 73 in just 8.4 overs and 67 off 40 deliveries looked eminently gettable.</p>

<p>But, once Shafali was holed out at the mid-wicket boundary, there was a slump as India lost four wickets for the addition of 17 runs in less than three overs as the match turned decisively in favour of Southern Stars. India were finally restricted to 151 for 7 in 20 overs.</p>

<p>Richa Ghosh (1) and Harmanpreet, the two other big hitters apart from Shafali were also dismissed while going for big hits and almost all the Australian bowlers reduced the pace of their deliveries to make it difficult for strokeplay.</p>

<p>Darcie Brown (2/19), Meghan Schutt (1/23 in 4 overs), and spinner Ashleigh Gardener (2/21) were exceptional on the day.</p>

<p>Deepti Sharma (25 not out off 17 balls), not exactly known for her power-hitting, would have never been able to consistently hit those big shots as it became a comfortable win for Alyssa Healy's women.</p>

<p>Earlier, Australia recovered from early jolts and rode on flamboyant Ellyse Perry's 75 off 47 balls to post 172 for 8 after batting first.<br />
Invited to bat, Australia made a disastrous start as captain Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath got out in the first and second overs respectively.</p>

<p>Renuka Thakur had opener Healy LBW for just one while Anjali Sarvani got rid of one-down McGrath, also for one, as Australia were five for 2 in the second over.</p>

<p>But Perry and then Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) played pivotal roles to take Australia to a competitive total. From 79 for 3 at halfway stage, Australia added 93 runs in the back end. For India, Renuka Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya took two wickets apiece.</p>

<p>Opener Beth Mooney (30) and Ellyse Perry (75 off 47 balls) resurrected the Australia innings with a 64-run partnership for the third wicket in seven overs.</p>

<p>Perry had another quickfire 55-run stand for the fifth wicket with Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) that took Australia to a good score.</p>

<p>The Indian bowlers got wickets at regular intervals but also conceded runs on a good batting track at the Brabourne Stadium.<br />
Australia were 43 for 2 at the end of Powerplay but Mooney and Perry scored at a brisk pace to take their side to 68 for 2 at the end of the eighth over.</p>

<p>Vaidya then provided India with the breakthrough in the ninth over as she cut short Mooney's promising innings.<br />
Perry, who had hit Deepti Sharma for a six, was still going great guns as she hit Vaidya for a six over the bowler's head in the 11th over.</p>

<p>But two balls later, Vaidya took revenge but in the form of Ashleigh Gardner with Richa Ghosh taking a fine catch. In the end, Australia managed to post a respectable total of 172/8 which proved more than enough in the end.&nbsp;</p>

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Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards under pressure as Australian women showed clinical precision to record a comfortable 21-run victory in the third T20 International in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards under pressure as Australian women showed clinical precision to record a comfortable 21-run victory in the third T20 International in Mumbai on Wednesday. Australia now lead the five-match series 2-1. Chasing a target of 173, India were in cruise control mode at 106 for 2, riding on some cavalier hitting from Shafali Verma (52 off 41 balls) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (37 off 27 balls). The duo added 73 in just 8.4 overs and 67 off 40 deliveries looked eminently gettable. But, once Shafali was holed out at the mid-wicket boundary, there was a slump as India lost four wickets for the addition of 17 runs in less than three overs as the match turned decisively in favour of Southern Stars. India were finally restricted to 151 for 7 in 20 overs. Richa Ghosh (1) and Harmanpreet, the two other big hitters apart from Shafali were also dismissed while going for big hits and almost all the Australian bowlers reduced the pace of their deliveries to make it difficult for strokeplay. Darcie Brown (2/19), Meghan Schutt (1/23 in 4 overs), and spinner Ashleigh Gardener (2/21) were exceptional on the day. Deepti Sharma (25 not out off 17 balls), not exactly known for her power-hitting, would have never been able to consistently hit those big shots as it became a comfortable win for Alyssa Healy's women. Earlier, Australia recovered from early jolts and rode on flamboyant Ellyse Perry's 75 off 47 balls to post 172 for 8 after batting first. Invited to bat, Australia made a disastrous start as captain Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath got out in the first and second overs respectively. Renuka Thakur had opener Healy LBW for just one while Anjali Sarvani got rid of one-down McGrath, also for one, as Australia were five for 2 in the second over. But Perry and then Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) played pivotal roles to take Australia to a competitive total. From 79 for 3 at halfway stage, Australia added 93 runs in the back end. For India, Renuka Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya took two wickets apiece. Opener Beth Mooney (30) and Ellyse Perry (75 off 47 balls) resurrected the Australia innings with a 64-run partnership for the third wicket in seven overs. Perry had another quickfire 55-run stand for the fifth wicket with Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) that took Australia to a good score. The Indian bowlers got wickets at regular intervals but also conceded runs on a good batting track at the Brabourne Stadium. Australia were 43 for 2 at the end of Powerplay but Mooney and Perry scored at a brisk pace to take their side to 68 for 2 at the end of the eighth over. Vaidya then provided India with the breakthrough in the ninth over as she cut short Mooney's promising innings. Perry, who had hit Deepti Sharma for a six, was still going great guns as she hit Vaidya for a six over the bowler's head in the 11th over. But two balls later, Vaidya took revenge but in the form of Ashleigh Gardner with Richa Ghosh taking a fine catch. In the end, Australia managed to post a respectable total of 172/8 which proved more than enough in the end. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India women vs Australia women: 3rd T20I: India lose by 21 runs as Australia lead series 2-1

<p>Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer had a lucky reprieve late on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Batting on 77 during the 84th over the match, Iyer faced a good length delivery from pacer Ebadot Hossain outside off. Iyer played the line of the ball which tailed back in late, went through the bat-pad gap and grazed the outside half of the offstump. It kept a tad low as well, not allowing Iyer to get anywhere near the ball.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though the ball was bowled at a decent pace, it failed to dislodge the bail out of the groove. The 'zing-bail' momentarily lit up before settling a little further from the groove.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Iyer wore a confused look as to what happened, bowler Hossain ran towards the stumps and pointed at the bail. Other Bangladeshi players also surrounded the stumps and looked equally perplexed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The commentators were equally stunned as one of them said, "I cannot believe it. Incredible. It just brushed the offstump. Everyone is foxed by that one. It lit up but it decided to stick to the top of the stumps. Very bad luck for Ebadot and another slice of luck for batter Shreyas Iyer."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">An incredible sequence of play in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BANvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BANvIND</a> Test match as <a href="https://twitter.com/ShreyasIyer15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShreyasIyer15</a> is bowled by Ebadot Hossain but the 𝗯𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 🤯<br />
<br />
Your reaction on this close 'escape' ❓🤔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShreyasIyer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShreyasIyer</a> <a href="https://t.co/q6BXBScVUz">pic.twitter.com/q6BXBScVUz</a></p>
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://twitter.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/1602980082179461120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ban-vs-ind-2022-jaydev-unadkat-misses-first-test-after-being-stuck-in-india-due-to-visa-issues-542894"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;BAN vs IND 2022: Jaydev Unadkat misses first Test after being stuck in India due to visa issues</strong></a></p>

<p>According to&nbsp;the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws of cricket, specifically Law 29.1, a batter can only be given out when the bail is fully dislodged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground."</p>

<p>After winning the toss, India decided to bat first, in an attempt to pile on a big total. However, the top order departed cheaply as three wickets fell before the Indian total could even reach 50.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taijul Islam, the left-arm spinner caused problems to the Indian batters throughout the day. he picked three wickets, including the scalp of former Indian captain Virat Kohli whose woeful run in the longest format of the game continued.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If it wasn't for the 149-run partnership between Pujara and Iyer, India could have been staring at a much different scorecard which wears a decent look at the end of Day 1.&nbsp;</p>

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Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer had a lucky reprieve late on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh. Batting on 77 during the 84th over the match, Iyer faced a good length delivery from pacer Ebadot Hossain outside off.

Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer had a lucky reprieve late on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh. Batting on 77 during the 84th over the match, Iyer faced a good length delivery from pacer Ebadot Hossain outside off. Iyer played the line of the ball which tailed back in late, went through the bat-pad gap and grazed the outside half of the offstump. It kept a tad low as well, not allowing Iyer to get anywhere near the ball. Though the ball was bowled at a decent pace, it failed to dislodge the bail out of the groove. The 'zing-bail' momentarily lit up before settling a little further from the groove. While Iyer wore a confused look as to what happened, bowler Hossain ran towards the stumps and pointed at the bail. Other Bangladeshi players also surrounded the stumps and looked equally perplexed. The commentators were equally stunned as one of them said, "I cannot believe it. Incredible. It just brushed the offstump. Everyone is foxed by that one. It lit up but it decided to stick to the top of the stumps. Very bad luck for Ebadot and another slice of luck for batter Shreyas Iyer." An incredible sequence of play in the #BANvIND Test match as @ShreyasIyer15 is bowled by Ebadot Hossain but the 𝗯𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 🤯 Your reaction on this close 'escape' ❓🤔#SonySportsNetwork #ShreyasIyer pic.twitter.com/q6BXBScVUz — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) December 14, 2022 × Read more: BAN vs IND 2022: Jaydev Unadkat misses first Test after being stuck in India due to visa issues According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws of cricket, specifically Law 29.1, a batter can only be given out when the bail is fully dislodged. "The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground." After winning the toss, India decided to bat first, in an attempt to pile on a big total. However, the top order departed cheaply as three wickets fell before the Indian total could even reach 50. Taijul Islam, the left-arm spinner caused problems to the Indian batters throughout the day. he picked three wickets, including the scalp of former Indian captain Virat Kohli whose woeful run in the longest format of the game continued. If it wasn't for the 149-run partnership between Pujara and Iyer, India could have been staring at a much different scorecard which wears a decent look at the end of Day 1. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Shreyas Iyer has the rub of the green as bail refuses to dislodge

<p>Former Moroccan player and coach Karim Bencherifa believes that the entire world, apart from the French supporters are rooting for Morocco ahead of the delicious semifinal contest between the two sides on Wednesday at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Speaking to&nbsp;WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo</em>,&nbsp;Bencherifa shared the plan that Morocco might be using against France to cause another upset. He also reflected that the Moroccan dream had&nbsp;given hope to not only Africa,&nbsp;Asia or the Arab world&nbsp;but to all those countries and teams dreaming of making it to the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Since Morocco qualified for the last eight and you notice the eight teams, Morocco was kind of new in that scenario. All the other teams were strong teams, they had won something...they had been in the World Cup semifinals or finals,"&nbsp;Bencherifa told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The other teams were among the top 10. Morocco became the representative of not only Africa,&nbsp;Asia or the Arab world but of all those teams that dreamed of participating in the World Cup."</p>

<p>"Most of the teams know how difficult it is to reach the World Cup. With the performances we had done, we gave hope to all. Now we are playing France. While France is being supported by the French supporters, the Moroccan team is being supported by the rest of the world. that is the general feeling we have."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/france-vs-morocco-fifa-world-cup-2022-semifinal-match-prediction-preview-head-to-head-lineup-542887"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;France vs. Morocco FIFA World Cup 2022 Semifinal, match prediction, preview, head to head &amp; lineup</strong></a></p>

<p>When asked about the tactics the 'Atlas Lions' will be employing to beat the 2018 champions, the 54-year-old who is a legend in the Indian footballing circuit said Morocco will not deviate from what they had been doing so far in the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The same way we did against other teams.&nbsp;We are happy to give the ball, give them the possession and stay compact and hit them on the counter."</p>

<p>"France's strength is also that. Though France is a stronger team, they also like to stay strong defensively and hit on the counter with fast skilful players like Mbappe."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-france-vs-morocco-543065"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;FIFA World Cup: France vs Morocco</strong></a></p>

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<p>When quizzed if how special this World Cup run was for the people of Morocco,&nbsp;Bencherifa cited the example of the Moroccan King breaking the protocol and celebrating with the public.</p>

<p>"I think after beating Spain, our king, the prince and his son were in the streets with their car, celebrating with the people which is amazing. This is something that doesn't happen every day and it shows how special is this occasion."</p>

<p>Morocco's fairy-tale run at the quadrennial event has been made all the more endearing by the special, familial post-match celebrations where players' mothers and fathers have joined them to relish the victories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bencherifa pointed out that the celebration by the players showed the culture of Morocco and the tight-knit family setup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Having families with the players in the World Cup is nothing special. Other teams have done it and do it all the time. But&nbsp;what is special about Morocco is that it showed the culture of the Moroccan family. Usually, in other teams, the fiances or the wives are there. For Morocco, it was more about family. The mother and the fathers were visible. in our culture, we stay tight as a family."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco is the first African country to have ever reached the last four stage in the 92-year history of the World Cup. If Morocco does manage to get the better of France they will square up against Argentina in the final on Sunday at the Lusail Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former Moroccan player and coach Karim Bencherifa believes that the entire world, apart from the French supporters are rooting for Morocco ahead of the delicious semifinal contest between the two sides on Wednesday at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar.

Former Moroccan player and coach Karim Bencherifa believes that the entire world, apart from the French supporters are rooting for Morocco ahead of the delicious semifinal contest between the two sides on Wednesday at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar. Speaking to WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, Bencherifa shared the plan that Morocco might be using against France to cause another upset. He also reflected that the Moroccan dream had given hope to not only Africa, Asia or the Arab world but to all those countries and teams dreaming of making it to the World Cup. "Since Morocco qualified for the last eight and you notice the eight teams, Morocco was kind of new in that scenario. All the other teams were strong teams, they had won something...they had been in the World Cup semifinals or finals," Bencherifa told WION. "The other teams were among the top 10. Morocco became the representative of not only Africa, Asia or the Arab world but of all those teams that dreamed of participating in the World Cup." "Most of the teams know how difficult it is to reach the World Cup. With the performances we had done, we gave hope to all. Now we are playing France. While France is being supported by the French supporters, the Moroccan team is being supported by the rest of the world. that is the general feeling we have." Read more: France vs. Morocco FIFA World Cup 2022 Semifinal, match prediction, preview, head to head & lineup When asked about the tactics the 'Atlas Lions' will be employing to beat the 2018 champions, the 54-year-old who is a legend in the Indian footballing circuit said Morocco will not deviate from what they had been doing so far in the tournament. "The same way we did against other teams. We are happy to give the ball, give them the possession and stay compact and hit them on the counter." "France's strength is also that. Though France is a stronger team, they also like to stay strong defensively and hit on the counter with fast skilful players like Mbappe." WATCH | FIFA World Cup: France vs Morocco × When quizzed if how special this World Cup run was for the people of Morocco, Bencherifa cited the example of the Moroccan King breaking the protocol and celebrating with the public. "I think after beating Spain, our king, the prince and his son were in the streets with their car, celebrating with the people which is amazing. This is something that doesn't happen every day and it shows how special is this occasion." Morocco's fairy-tale run at the quadrennial event has been made all the more endearing by the special, familial post-match celebrations where players' mothers and fathers have joined them to relish the victories. Bencherifa pointed out that the celebration by the players showed the culture of Morocco and the tight-knit family setup. "Having families with the players in the World Cup is nothing special. Other teams have done it and do it all the time. But what is special about Morocco is that it showed the culture of the Moroccan family. Usually, in other teams, the fiances or the wives are there. For Morocco, it was more about family. The mother and the fathers were visible. in our culture, we stay tight as a family." Morocco is the first African country to have ever reached the last four stage in the 92-year history of the World Cup. If Morocco does manage to get the better of France they will square up against Argentina in the final on Sunday at the Lusail Stadium. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Exclusive: Morocco has given hope to all, says Karim Bencherifa ahead of the semifinal clash

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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

A significant winter storm that hit several cities in the western U.S. over the weekend is now expected to move throughout the country. Watch this video to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Nationwide snow storm expected to hit parts of U.S.

<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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<p>The FIFA World Cup in Qatar has reached its business end. Only four games remain in what has been a tournament for the ages. Upsets have been the central theme with several dark horses&nbsp;punching well above their weight. The World Cup has also demonstrated that possession-based football is not the only way to win football games.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Teams like Morocco, Japan, South Korea and Australia managed to make their way to the knockouts without having the lion's share of possession.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Japan throughout their stay in the tournament had an average ball possession of 35 per cent. Compare it to Spain (75.8 per cent) who lost to Japan in the group stage and the difference in possession is a staggering 40 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the match between the two teams, Spain dominated the game with 83 per cent possession and 12 shots with five on target. However, Japan with a measly 17 per cent possession managed to edge out the 2010 champions, courtesy of goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, this was not the first time that Spain suffered a WC defeat despite bossing the game in possession. In 2018, Spain lost to Russia on penalties after having 79 per cent possession.</p>

<p>Japan followed a similar script against Germany where they only had 26 per cent possession. The game ended 2-1 in Japan's favour as Germany&nbsp;(3.53) only won on the expected goals metric.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-japans-controversial-goal-leading-germanys-fifa-world-cup-ouster-makes-heads-turn-vs-spain-539348"><strong>WATCH: Japan's controversial goal vs Spain that led to Germany's FIFA World Cup elimination</strong></a></p>

<p>Speaking of Asian teams, South Korea en route the round of 16 conducted a 2002-esque giant-killing operation by beating 2016 Euro champions Portugal.</p>

<p>During the match, Korea had 38 per cent possession to Portugal's 62 per cent. Yet the Asian outfit matched Portugal on number of shots and shots on target. Eventually, it was Korea's counter-attacking game that proved too hot for the Portuguese side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Of the four semifinalists, Morocco have the lowest possession percentage standing at 32.4 per cent. To give a perspective, the number is far lower than the possession figure of Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia, who fashioned some of the memorable upsets of the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco have reached the last four of the tournament solely based on the philosophy of defending deep and making incisive moves with royal efficiency. The Atlas Lions have defeated the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the World Cup without conceding a goal. Their xG (3.13) is the lowest of the lot yet they are the ones on the verge of creating history.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lionel Messi has accumulated more xG (4.16) at the World Cup than Morocco (3.13).</p>
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<p><strong>Top teams are also avoiding a possession-based game</strong></p>

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<p>Even teams like the Netherlands who narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth played a less pressing game. Manager Louis Van Gaal set up his team in a mid-block; meaning the men-in-Orange were happy to concede the ball, sit back, soak pressure and create high-quality chances in between.</p>

<p>However, in the Argentina game, Sacloni's men allowed the Dutch to have the ball which was antithetical to the philosophy they had followed in the World Cup till then. The goal by Molina and Messi threw a monkey wrench into the plans and the Dutch were forced to attack the ball.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Argentina had used a similar ploy in the Copa America the previous year where Messi dropped in deep and carried the transitions on his shoulder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>France under Didier Deschamps have also not shied away from surrendering the ball and allowing teams to dominate. In the game against Poland, France gave ample opportunities to Lewandowski and co. to create before countering on a stretched Polish defence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kylian Mbappe’s pace and Antoine Griezzman being allowed to roam free in the inverted regions have allowed France to counter with a lethal pace. It is reminiscent of the 2018 World Cup where Mbappe was the wide outlet while the likes of Blaise Matuiti stretched the midfield by hugging the touchline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Spain and Germany won successive World Cups with a possession-based game. However, since then, both have failed to make it big at the quadrennial event, suggesting that opposition teams are willing to allow them to knock the ball away from their final third while waiting to pounce on a counter-attack opportunity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The FIFA World Cup in Qatar has reached its business end. Only four games remain in what has been a tournament for the ages. Upsets have been the central theme with several dark horses punching well above their weight.

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar has reached its business end. Only four games remain in what has been a tournament for the ages. Upsets have been the central theme with several dark horses punching well above their weight. The World Cup has also demonstrated that possession-based football is not the only way to win football games. Teams like Morocco, Japan, South Korea and Australia managed to make their way to the knockouts without having the lion's share of possession. Japan throughout their stay in the tournament had an average ball possession of 35 per cent. Compare it to Spain (75.8 per cent) who lost to Japan in the group stage and the difference in possession is a staggering 40 per cent. In the match between the two teams, Spain dominated the game with 83 per cent possession and 12 shots with five on target. However, Japan with a measly 17 per cent possession managed to edge out the 2010 champions, courtesy of goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka. Notably, this was not the first time that Spain suffered a WC defeat despite bossing the game in possession. In 2018, Spain lost to Russia on penalties after having 79 per cent possession. Japan followed a similar script against Germany where they only had 26 per cent possession. The game ended 2-1 in Japan's favour as Germany (3.53) only won on the expected goals metric. WATCH: Japan's controversial goal vs Spain that led to Germany's FIFA World Cup elimination Speaking of Asian teams, South Korea en route the round of 16 conducted a 2002-esque giant-killing operation by beating 2016 Euro champions Portugal. During the match, Korea had 38 per cent possession to Portugal's 62 per cent. Yet the Asian outfit matched Portugal on number of shots and shots on target. Eventually, it was Korea's counter-attacking game that proved too hot for the Portuguese side. Of the four semifinalists, Morocco have the lowest possession percentage standing at 32.4 per cent. To give a perspective, the number is far lower than the possession figure of Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia, who fashioned some of the memorable upsets of the tournament. Morocco have reached the last four of the tournament solely based on the philosophy of defending deep and making incisive moves with royal efficiency. The Atlas Lions have defeated the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the World Cup without conceding a goal. Their xG (3.13) is the lowest of the lot yet they are the ones on the verge of creating history. Lionel Messi has accumulated more xG (4.16) at the World Cup than Morocco (3.13). — The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 11, 2022 × Top teams are also avoiding a possession-based game Even teams like the Netherlands who narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth played a less pressing game. Manager Louis Van Gaal set up his team in a mid-block; meaning the men-in-Orange were happy to concede the ball, sit back, soak pressure and create high-quality chances in between. However, in the Argentina game, Sacloni's men allowed the Dutch to have the ball which was antithetical to the philosophy they had followed in the World Cup till then. The goal by Molina and Messi threw a monkey wrench into the plans and the Dutch were forced to attack the ball. Argentina had used a similar ploy in the Copa America the previous year where Messi dropped in deep and carried the transitions on his shoulder. France under Didier Deschamps have also not shied away from surrendering the ball and allowing teams to dominate. In the game against Poland, France gave ample opportunities to Lewandowski and co. to create before countering on a stretched Polish defence. Kylian Mbappe’s pace and Antoine Griezzman being allowed to roam free in the inverted regions have allowed France to counter with a lethal pace. It is reminiscent of the 2018 World Cup where Mbappe was the wide outlet while the likes of Blaise Matuiti stretched the midfield by hugging the touchline. Spain and Germany won successive World Cups with a possession-based game. However, since then, both have failed to make it big at the quadrennial event, suggesting that opposition teams are willing to allow them to knock the ball away from their final third while waiting to pounce on a counter-attack opportunity. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Is possession overrated in modern football? The World Cup certainly proves so

<p>England snatched a thrilling 26-run victory against Pakistan in the second test in Multan on Monday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.</p>

<p>Chasing 355 for victory, Pakistan looked in the hunt before being all out for 328 in the second session on day four of the contest.</p>

<p>Saud Shakeel&nbsp;top scored for them with a valiant 94, while Imam-ul-Haq made 60 but it was not enough in the end.</p>

<p>Mark Wood was the pick of the England bowlers, claiming 4-65 as England registered their first series win in Pakistan since 2000-01.</p>

<p>"Things happened quickly this week compared to last week," England captain Ben Stokes said, referring to their victory in the opener in Rawalpindi.</p>

<p>"Going down to the wire again, (it's a) good game to be a part of."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-saud-shakeels-controversial-caught-behind-wicket-divides-netizens-542229"><strong>WATCH | Saud Shakeel's controversial caught behind wicket divides netizens</strong></a></p>

<p>"It was a tricky wicket for slower bowling. We were fortunate that with the cracks opening up our seamers became effective." top scored for them with a valiant 94, while Imam-ul-Haq made 60 but it was not enough in the end.</p>

<p>Harry Brook was adjudged player of the match for scoring the only hundred of the low-scoring match.</p>

<p>"To be honest, we were not up to the mark in the first innings," Pakistan captain Babar Azam said after the defeat.</p>

<p>"There were a couple of soft dismissals and...in the second innings we fought well but could not finish."</p>

<p>England will conclude their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005 with the third and final match beginning in Karachi on Saturday.</p>

<p><strong>Scores:</strong> England 281 and 275; Pakistan 202 and 328&nbsp;</p>

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England snatched a thrilling 26-run victory against Pakistan in the second test in Multan on Monday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 355 for victory, Pakistan looked in the hunt before being all out for 328 in the second session on day four of the contest.

England snatched a thrilling 26-run victory against Pakistan in the second test in Multan on Monday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 355 for victory, Pakistan looked in the hunt before being all out for 328 in the second session on day four of the contest. Saud Shakeel top scored for them with a valiant 94, while Imam-ul-Haq made 60 but it was not enough in the end. Mark Wood was the pick of the England bowlers, claiming 4-65 as England registered their first series win in Pakistan since 2000-01. "Things happened quickly this week compared to last week," England captain Ben Stokes said, referring to their victory in the opener in Rawalpindi. "Going down to the wire again, (it's a) good game to be a part of." WATCH | Saud Shakeel's controversial caught behind wicket divides netizens "It was a tricky wicket for slower bowling. We were fortunate that with the cracks opening up our seamers became effective." top scored for them with a valiant 94, while Imam-ul-Haq made 60 but it was not enough in the end. Harry Brook was adjudged player of the match for scoring the only hundred of the low-scoring match. "To be honest, we were not up to the mark in the first innings," Pakistan captain Babar Azam said after the defeat. "There were a couple of soft dismissals and...in the second innings we fought well but could not finish." England will conclude their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005 with the third and final match beginning in Karachi on Saturday. Scores: England 281 and 275; Pakistan 202 and 328 WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

PAK vs ENG 2nd Test: England clinch historic series win after beating Pakistan by 26 runs

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<p>Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo can be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle is blown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fan that ran into the field clattered into Ronaldo, who seemed too preoccupied to even notice the impact. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rarely has Ronaldo shown his vulnerable side on the football pitch and the&nbsp;fans were visibly upset after seeing one of the modern greats of the game bow out on such a sorry note.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo𓃵</a><br />
Can't see him likee thiss heartbroken😞💔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo%F0%93%83%B5Crying?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo𓃵Crying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/DWEiC4POmT">pic.twitter.com/DWEiC4POmT</a> <a href="https://t.co/H9jzaZHUUw">pic.twitter.com/H9jzaZHUUw</a></p>
— தகுதியட்ற கவிஞன்🚶🏻‍♂️ (@Drago58681858) <a href="https://twitter.com/Drago58681858/status/1601792066782081024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had all the more reasons to be sad as he was left out of the playing XI once again by manager Fernando Santos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ronaldo, playing his last World Cup wanted to sign off on a high. However, manager Santos preferred to keep him on the bench.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-morocco-defeat-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-1-0-reach-semis-for-the-1st-time-541924"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time</strong></a></p>

<p>While the tactic worked in the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, the Moroccan defence proved too hard for the Portuguese side to unlock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Santos 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," said Santos in a post-match presser.&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>Meanwhile, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to reach the last-four stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end. In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo can be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle is blown. A fan that ran into the field clattered into Ronaldo, who seemed too preoccupied to even notice the impact. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. Rarely has Ronaldo shown his vulnerable side on the football pitch and the fans were visibly upset after seeing one of the modern greats of the game bow out on such a sorry note. #Ronaldo𓃵 Can't see him likee thiss heartbroken😞💔#Ronaldo𓃵Crying #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DWEiC4POmT pic.twitter.com/H9jzaZHUUw — தகுதியட்ற கவிஞன்🚶🏻‍♂️ (@Drago58681858) December 11, 2022 × The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had all the more reasons to be sad as he was left out of the playing XI once again by manager Fernando Santos. Ronaldo, playing his last World Cup wanted to sign off on a high. However, manager Santos preferred to keep him on the bench. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time While the tactic worked in the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, the Moroccan defence proved too hard for the Portuguese side to unlock. However, Santos 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," said Santos in a post-match presser. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo Meanwhile, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to reach the last-four stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit

<p>Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup.&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," said Santos in a post-match presser.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Santos revealed that he had a conversation with Ronaldo prior to the match where he explained his decision to the striker.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Yes we did have a conversation, and it would be very bad if we didn't have this. Since I took the helm of the national team we need to talk and have a relationship with players, it's normal, that's my approach, to have a close relationship."&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-morocco-defeat-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-1-0-reach-semis-for-the-1st-time-541924"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time</strong></a></p>

<p>He added that Ronaldo was not happy at being left out of the playing XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I explained to him that it was better for the strategy that he wouldn't start, and that it was better for him to play in the second half. Cristiano was not happy about it. He has always been a starting player. He asked 'do you think it's a good idea?'"</p>

<p>Morocco on Saturday continued their fairy run at the World Cup by advancing to the semifinal. In the process, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to ever reach this stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portuguese-players-blame-argentine-referee-for-world-cup-exit-541963"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. Afterwards, it was a defensive masterclass from nearly every Moroccan player as they resolutely defended their penalty box to keep Portugal at bay, despite Ronaldo coming on in the second half.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup. “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," said Santos in a post-match presser. Santos revealed that he had a conversation with Ronaldo prior to the match where he explained his decision to the striker. "Yes we did have a conversation, and it would be very bad if we didn't have this. Since I took the helm of the national team we need to talk and have a relationship with players, it's normal, that's my approach, to have a close relationship." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time He added that Ronaldo was not happy at being left out of the playing XI. “I explained to him that it was better for the strategy that he wouldn't start, and that it was better for him to play in the second half. Cristiano was not happy about it. He has always been a starting player. He asked 'do you think it's a good idea?'" Morocco on Saturday continued their fairy run at the World Cup by advancing to the semifinal. In the process, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to ever reach this stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. Afterwards, it was a defensive masterclass from nearly every Moroccan player as they resolutely defended their penalty box to keep Portugal at bay, despite Ronaldo coming on in the second half. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo

<p>Brazil suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the quarterfinal contest against Croatia at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As soon as Brazil crashed out, there were speculations regarding the future of&nbsp;Neymar Jr - the team's superstar. While many suggested it was Neymar's last dance, the player cleared that he was not closing any doors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100 per cent that I will return,” said Neymar in a post-match conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before the beginning of the World Cup, Neymar said he was still undecided about his future but added that he will play the tournament like it was his last.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I can't guarantee that I'll play another [World] Cup. I honestly don't know. I'll play like it's the last. Maybe I'll play another one, maybe not. It depends. There's going to be a coaching change and I don't know if that coach will like me," said Neymar.&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"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Neymar's political ideology divides Brazilian fans</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>How did Croatia defeat Brazil?</strong></p>

<p>The quarterfinal contest between Croatia and Brazil on Friday could not be settled in the stipulated 90 minutes. Deep into the first quarter of extra time, it was a moment of brilliance from Neymar that allowed the Seleção to break open the game via a powerful shot rifled to the top of the net.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The move was orchestrated by none other than Neymar who started as well as finished it. After the goal, it looked certain that Brazil will see the game through. However, Croatia, the 2018 finalists increased the intensity and manage to pin the Brazilian defence back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the 117th minute, Bruno Petkovic equalised via a huge deflection from Brazil centre-back Marquinhos. As a result, the game went into penalties where&nbsp;Dominik Livaković saved a couple of penalties, thereby ensuring his team went ahead while Brazilians sunk to the ground in dismay.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-croatia-stun-brazil-4-2-on-penalties-become-1st-team-to-enter-semis-541696"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia stun Brazil 4-2 on penalties, become 1st team to enter semis</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Brazil suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the quarterfinal contest against Croatia at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As soon as Brazil crashed out, there were speculations regarding the future of Neymar Jr - the team's superstar.

Brazil suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the quarterfinal contest against Croatia at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As soon as Brazil crashed out, there were speculations regarding the future of Neymar Jr - the team's superstar. While many suggested it was Neymar's last dance, the player cleared that he was not closing any doors. “I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100 per cent that I will return,” said Neymar in a post-match conference. “I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team," he added. Before the beginning of the World Cup, Neymar said he was still undecided about his future but added that he will play the tournament like it was his last. "I can't guarantee that I'll play another [World] Cup. I honestly don't know. I'll play like it's the last. Maybe I'll play another one, maybe not. It depends. There's going to be a coaching change and I don't know if that coach will like me," said Neymar. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Neymar's political ideology divides Brazilian fans How did Croatia defeat Brazil? The quarterfinal contest between Croatia and Brazil on Friday could not be settled in the stipulated 90 minutes. Deep into the first quarter of extra time, it was a moment of brilliance from Neymar that allowed the Seleção to break open the game via a powerful shot rifled to the top of the net. The move was orchestrated by none other than Neymar who started as well as finished it. After the goal, it looked certain that Brazil will see the game through. However, Croatia, the 2018 finalists increased the intensity and manage to pin the Brazilian defence back. In the 117th minute, Bruno Petkovic equalised via a huge deflection from Brazil centre-back Marquinhos. As a result, the game went into penalties where Dominik Livaković saved a couple of penalties, thereby ensuring his team went ahead while Brazilians sunk to the ground in dismay. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia stun Brazil 4-2 on penalties, become 1st team to enter semis (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I am not guaranteeing...': Neymar on returning for another WC after knockout exit

<p>Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a 10th Australian Open title at the Adelaide International, organisers said Wednesday, after the Serbian was granted a visa to enter the country.</p>

<p>The world number five missed the opening Grand Slam of 2022 when he was deported over his vaccine status after a high-stakes legal battle.</p>

<p>Australia has since lifted the requirement for visitors to show proof of Covid vaccination, and his three-year ban was overturned by the government in November.<br />
Djokovic said at the time it was "a relief".</p>

<p>"The Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam," he added. "I made some of the best memories there."&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-rules-are-rules-australia-bars-novak-djokovic-from-australian-open-442759"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: 'Rules are Rules': Australia bars Novak Djokovic from Australian Open</strong></a></p>

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<p>Djokovic will face a strong field from January 1-8 that also features Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, ranked six, seven and eight, respectively, along with two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.</p>

<p>His longtime-rival Rafael Nadal, the defending Australian Open champion, will instead use the United Cup, a new mixed teams event in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, as his warm-up to the Grand Slam.</p>

<p>Four of the world's top 10 women will begin the year in Adelaide, with second-ranked Ons Jabeur, world number five Aryna Sabalenka, world number eight Daria Kasatkina and world number nine Veronika Kudermetova all entered.</p>

<p>The field also includes two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Grand Slam winners Bianca Andreescu and Jelena Ostapenko.</p>

<p>"We are thrilled to confirm such a world-class lineup for week one of the Adelaide International," tournament director Alistair MacDonald said in announcing the lineup for the ATP-WTA event.</p>

<p>The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a 10th Australian Open title at the Adelaide International, organisers said Wednesday, after the Serbian was granted a visa to enter the country.

Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a 10th Australian Open title at the Adelaide International, organisers said Wednesday, after the Serbian was granted a visa to enter the country. The world number five missed the opening Grand Slam of 2022 when he was deported over his vaccine status after a high-stakes legal battle. Australia has since lifted the requirement for visitors to show proof of Covid vaccination, and his three-year ban was overturned by the government in November. Djokovic said at the time it was "a relief". "The Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam," he added. "I made some of the best memories there." WATCH | Gravitas: 'Rules are Rules': Australia bars Novak Djokovic from Australian Open × Djokovic will face a strong field from January 1-8 that also features Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, ranked six, seven and eight, respectively, along with two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. His longtime-rival Rafael Nadal, the defending Australian Open champion, will instead use the United Cup, a new mixed teams event in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, as his warm-up to the Grand Slam. Four of the world's top 10 women will begin the year in Adelaide, with second-ranked Ons Jabeur, world number five Aryna Sabalenka, world number eight Daria Kasatkina and world number nine Veronika Kudermetova all entered. The field also includes two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Grand Slam winners Bianca Andreescu and Jelena Ostapenko. "We are thrilled to confirm such a world-class lineup for week one of the Adelaide International," tournament director Alistair MacDonald said in announcing the lineup for the ATP-WTA event. The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Djokovic to play in Adelaide International ahead of Australian Open return

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<p>Morocco are having a fairytale tournament at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Their round of 16 match against Spain went to the penalties and emerged not one but two heroes who would perhaps go down in the history books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made three brilliant saves during the shootout to become an overnight sensation but it was defender Acharf Hakimi's ice-cool 'panenka' penalty to seal the deal for his country that has become the topic of discussion.</p>

<p>After Spain failed to convert any of the spot kicks, Hakimi needed to slot one at the back of the net to ensure that his team became the only fourth African country in World Cup history to qualify for the quarterfinals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While most would have gone for power and attempted to blast the ball to either corner, Hakimi thought otherwise.&nbsp;Prior to the shot, Hakimi took a deep breath, accessing that a nation's hopes lie on his shoulder, approached the football with four short steps and like a surgeon's precision, dinked the ball right down the middle of the goalpost.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Achraf Hakimi, panenka to win the game! Incredible Hakimi, incredible Morocco, incredible atmosphere!! <a href="https://t.co/PjtUVOkVgs">pic.twitter.com/PjtUVOkVgs</a></p>
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<p>The Moroccan player, born and brought up in Madrid and coached in the Real Madrid academy took the rather audacious route and knocked a country where he has played the majority of his football.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The finesse on the shot was such that the spectators in the stadium and those watching on television were shocked alike.&nbsp;Even France forward and Hakimi's PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe&nbsp;was impressed as he tweeted an appreciation post.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/history-created-morocco-becomes-fourth-african-nation-to-enter-fifa-world-cup-qfs-after-stunning-spain-540788">Read more:&nbsp;History created! Morocco becomes fourth African nation to enter FIFA World Cup QFs after stunning Spain</a></strong></p>

<p>The Panenka penalty is named after former Czech player Antonin Panenka who played as an attacking midfielder. It was at the 1979 Euro Championship that the Czech while facing West Germany in the finals first successfully attempted such a type of penalty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 'Atlas lions' after beating Spain have set up a delicious encounter with Portugal on Saturday. Morocco may have created the least xG (expected goals) in the tournament but they have managed to beat the likes of Belgium, Canada and Spain while drawing with 2018 finalist Croatia.&nbsp;</p>

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Morocco are having a fairytale tournament at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Their round of 16 match against Spain went to the penalties and emerged not one but two heroes who would perhaps go down in the history books.

Morocco are having a fairytale tournament at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Their round of 16 match against Spain went to the penalties and emerged not one but two heroes who would perhaps go down in the history books. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made three brilliant saves during the shootout to become an overnight sensation but it was defender Acharf Hakimi's ice-cool 'panenka' penalty to seal the deal for his country that has become the topic of discussion. After Spain failed to convert any of the spot kicks, Hakimi needed to slot one at the back of the net to ensure that his team became the only fourth African country in World Cup history to qualify for the quarterfinals. While most would have gone for power and attempted to blast the ball to either corner, Hakimi thought otherwise. Prior to the shot, Hakimi took a deep breath, accessing that a nation's hopes lie on his shoulder, approached the football with four short steps and like a surgeon's precision, dinked the ball right down the middle of the goalpost. Achraf Hakimi, panenka to win the game! Incredible Hakimi, incredible Morocco, incredible atmosphere!! pic.twitter.com/PjtUVOkVgs — Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) December 6, 2022 × The Moroccan player, born and brought up in Madrid and coached in the Real Madrid academy took the rather audacious route and knocked a country where he has played the majority of his football. The finesse on the shot was such that the spectators in the stadium and those watching on television were shocked alike. Even France forward and Hakimi's PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe was impressed as he tweeted an appreciation post. Read more: History created! Morocco becomes fourth African nation to enter FIFA World Cup QFs after stunning Spain The Panenka penalty is named after former Czech player Antonin Panenka who played as an attacking midfielder. It was at the 1979 Euro Championship that the Czech while facing West Germany in the finals first successfully attempted such a type of penalty. The 'Atlas lions' after beating Spain have set up a delicious encounter with Portugal on Saturday. Morocco may have created the least xG (expected goals) in the tournament but they have managed to beat the likes of Belgium, Canada and Spain while drawing with 2018 finalist Croatia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Achraf Hakimi's ice-cool 'panenka' penalty to knock Spain out of the World Cup

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<p>South Korea captain Son Heung-min has apologised to fans after his side could not advance to the quarterfinals, following a humbling 4-1 defeat to Brazil in the World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I can only apologise to our fans for not living up to their expectations," said 30-year-old Son who played the tournament following a facial surgery last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tottenham Hotspur forward added that it was a difficult game and his players battled throughout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We did our best but I think we played a very difficult game. Still, there is no doubt that all the players battled proudly, devoted themselves and worked hard to get this far. The players and staff really did their best to prepare for this match, so I hope you understand."</p>

<p>After the ouster, South Korea's coach Paulo Bento stepped down, reaffirming his decision taken in September. Son reflected on Bento's coaching stint and hit back at the critics who were apprehensive of his playing style.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I never once had any doubt about the style of football he pursued. A lot of people had reservations about it but they all cheered for us when we played well at the World Cup here. We were able to execute things we'd worked on for the last four years."</p>

<p>South Korea came into the round of 16 after a hard-fought, injury-time victory against Portugal, courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Son who assisted Hwang Hee-chan for the goal. Son cried on the pitch and said waiting to confirm his team's place in the knockout rounds was 'the longest six minutes' of his life.</p>

<p>"It was the longest six minutes of my life, but we were really positive in the circle."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-longest-six-minutes-of-my-life-says-son-after-s-korea-advance-to-knockouts-539709" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'Longest six minutes of my life', says Son after S Korea advance to knockouts</strong></a></p>

<p>However, the challenge against tournament favourites Brazil proved a little too strong for the Asian team. Brazil raced out of the blocks by smashing four goals in the first half -- the second time such a scoreline has been recorded after Brazil were at the receiving end of it eight years ago against Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korea did manage to test Allison on numerous occasions but the Liverpool goalkeeper ensured Brazil never had to worry about any comeback from the Koreans. The Taeguk Warriors did manage to bag a 76th-minute consolation goal but it proved too little, too late in the end.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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South Korea captain Son Heung-min has apologised to fans after his side could not advance to the quarterfinals, following a humbling 4-1 defeat to Brazil in the World Cup in Qatar.

South Korea captain Son Heung-min has apologised to fans after his side could not advance to the quarterfinals, following a humbling 4-1 defeat to Brazil in the World Cup in Qatar. "I can only apologise to our fans for not living up to their expectations," said 30-year-old Son who played the tournament following a facial surgery last month. The Tottenham Hotspur forward added that it was a difficult game and his players battled throughout. "We did our best but I think we played a very difficult game. Still, there is no doubt that all the players battled proudly, devoted themselves and worked hard to get this far. The players and staff really did their best to prepare for this match, so I hope you understand." After the ouster, South Korea's coach Paulo Bento stepped down, reaffirming his decision taken in September. Son reflected on Bento's coaching stint and hit back at the critics who were apprehensive of his playing style. "I never once had any doubt about the style of football he pursued. A lot of people had reservations about it but they all cheered for us when we played well at the World Cup here. We were able to execute things we'd worked on for the last four years." South Korea came into the round of 16 after a hard-fought, injury-time victory against Portugal, courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Son who assisted Hwang Hee-chan for the goal. Son cried on the pitch and said waiting to confirm his team's place in the knockout rounds was 'the longest six minutes' of his life. "It was the longest six minutes of my life, but we were really positive in the circle." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: 'Longest six minutes of my life', says Son after S Korea advance to knockouts However, the challenge against tournament favourites Brazil proved a little too strong for the Asian team. Brazil raced out of the blocks by smashing four goals in the first half -- the second time such a scoreline has been recorded after Brazil were at the receiving end of it eight years ago against Germany. South Korea did manage to test Allison on numerous occasions but the Liverpool goalkeeper ensured Brazil never had to worry about any comeback from the Koreans. The Taeguk Warriors did manage to bag a 76th-minute consolation goal but it proved too little, too late in the end. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Captain Son Heung-min apologises after South Korea's tame exit from the WC

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<p>The repercussions of Germany's shock exit from the World Cup group stage in Qatar have started to emerge. The German Football Association (DFB) on Monday sacked sporting director Oliver Bierhoff.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Oliver Bierhoff has been of incredible service to the DFB. Even though we have fallen short of expectations on the pitch in recent tournaments, he has been behind big moments," said Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German FA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"His work will forever be intertwined with our World Cup triumph in Brazil. Even in turbulent times, he always followed his goals and visions and has helped shape the DFB in a sustainable manner," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bierhoff's sacking comes a day after reports suggested there had been a rift in the German dressing room. According to local German media, the political messaging by the group did not go down well with certain players in the dressing room who did not want to take part in such protests.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rift-emerges-in-german-dressing-room-after-world-cup-mouth-covering-protest-reports-540172" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Rift emerges in German dressing room after World Cup mouth-covering protest: Reports</strong></a></p>

<p>TV host Esther Sedlaczek was the first to report the rumours of the dressing room rift when she interviewed Bierhoff.</p>

<p>"Would you say that the One-Love armband could have been handled better? The fact is, according to our sources, not every player was OK with the gesture before the Japan game and they worried that it would cause issues in the team," she asked Bierhoff.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Annoyed at the question, Bierhoff said, “You can certainly discuss that at some point. But after three games that have taken place on the pitch, do you think that One Love armband has played such a big role?”</p>

<p>He later admitted that the armband controversy could have been handled better.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We could have done it better without a doubt. Whether that is decisive for the elimination is another matter.”</p>

<p>According to experts, Bierhoff's admission&nbsp;was perhaps the reason for his sacking. Aspersions have been cast over manager Hansi Flick's position as well. However,&nbsp;DFB is defiant that the former Bayern Munich manager will stay at the job, despite the setback.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The repercussions of Germany's shock exit from the World Cup group stage in Qatar have started to emerge. The German Football Association (DFB) on Monday sacked sporting director Oliver Bierhoff.

The repercussions of Germany's shock exit from the World Cup group stage in Qatar have started to emerge. The German Football Association (DFB) on Monday sacked sporting director Oliver Bierhoff. “Oliver Bierhoff has been of incredible service to the DFB. Even though we have fallen short of expectations on the pitch in recent tournaments, he has been behind big moments," said Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German FA. "His work will forever be intertwined with our World Cup triumph in Brazil. Even in turbulent times, he always followed his goals and visions and has helped shape the DFB in a sustainable manner," he added. Bierhoff's sacking comes a day after reports suggested there had been a rift in the German dressing room. According to local German media, the political messaging by the group did not go down well with certain players in the dressing room who did not want to take part in such protests. Read more: Rift emerges in German dressing room after World Cup mouth-covering protest: Reports TV host Esther Sedlaczek was the first to report the rumours of the dressing room rift when she interviewed Bierhoff. "Would you say that the One-Love armband could have been handled better? The fact is, according to our sources, not every player was OK with the gesture before the Japan game and they worried that it would cause issues in the team," she asked Bierhoff. Annoyed at the question, Bierhoff said, “You can certainly discuss that at some point. But after three games that have taken place on the pitch, do you think that One Love armband has played such a big role?” He later admitted that the armband controversy could have been handled better. “We could have done it better without a doubt. Whether that is decisive for the elimination is another matter.” According to experts, Bierhoff's admission was perhaps the reason for his sacking. Aspersions have been cast over manager Hansi Flick's position as well. However, DFB is defiant that the former Bayern Munich manager will stay at the job, despite the setback. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Germany fire team director Oliver Bierhoff after disastrous World Cup campaign

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