<p>Injured Mohamed Salah will&nbspmiss the opening match of Group A against Uruguay on June 15 as the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has announced after meeting Salah in Spain, where he is undergoing treatment, that the Liverpool striker won't be able to play for minimum&nbspthree weeks.</p>

<p>"The football federation reiterates that Salah will be at the World Cup, God willing, and will be out for no longer than three weeks," said Egyptian FA.</p>

<p>Egyptian Federation officials including the president Hani Abu Reda and the team doctor paid a morale-boosting visit to Salah in Spain where he is getting his treatment done.</p>

<p>The doctors said that Salah will at least need three weeks to recover completely from the shoulder injury that he received during the finals of UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. In the absence of Mo Salah, Liverpool lost to Real 3-1.</p>

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<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">تحديث | أفاد الدكتور محمد أبو العلا طبيب المنتخب أن الجهاز الطبي بنادي ليفربول قد ابلغوه بعد إجراء الآشعة على كتف صلاح وأفادت نتيجتها بأن اللاعب أصيب بجزع في أربطة مفصل الكتف وأضاف انه وفقا لهذا التشخيص عن تفاؤله بأن يلحق صلاح بالمنتخب الوطني في كأس العالم ????<a href="https://twitter.com/MoSalah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoSalah</a></p>
— Egypt National Football Team (@Pharaohs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pharaohs/status/1000493162014629896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Salah arrived for rehabilitation in Valencia on Sunday, the day after he injured his shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Sergio Ramos in the Champions League final Real Madrid won 3-1.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Egyptian FA have confirmed Mo Salah will be fit for the Egypt's final two group games at the World Cup. Great news for Mo! <a href="https://t.co/BzGE7JO7JY">pic.twitter.com/BzGE7JO7JY</a></p>
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) <a href="https://twitter.com/LFCFansCorner/status/1001858111710351363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp</p>


Egyptian Federation officials including the president Hani Abu Reda and the team doctor paid a morale-boosting visit to Salah in Spain

Injured Mohamed Salah will&nbspmiss the opening match of Group A against Uruguay on June 15 as the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has announced after meeting Salah in Spain, where he is undergoing treatment, that the Liverpool striker won't be able to play for minimum&nbspthree weeks. "The football federation reiterates that Salah will be at the World Cup, God willing, and will be out for no longer than three weeks," said Egyptian FA. Egyptian Federation officials including the president Hani Abu Reda and the team doctor paid a morale-boosting visit to Salah in Spain where he is getting his treatment done. The doctors said that Salah will at least need three weeks to recover completely from the shoulder injury that he received during the finals of UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. In the absence of Mo Salah, Liverpool lost to Real 3-1. تحديث | أفاد الدكتور محمد أبو العلا طبيب المنتخب أن الجهاز الطبي بنادي ليفربول قد ابلغوه بعد إجراء الآشعة على كتف صلاح وأفادت نتيجتها بأن اللاعب أصيب بجزع في أربطة مفصل الكتف وأضاف انه وفقا لهذا التشخيص عن تفاؤله بأن يلحق صلاح بالمنتخب الوطني في كأس العالم ????@MoSalah — Egypt National Football Team (@Pharaohs) May 26, 2018 × Salah arrived for rehabilitation in Valencia on Sunday, the day after he injured his shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Sergio Ramos in the Champions League final Real Madrid won 3-1. The Egyptian FA have confirmed Mo Salah will be fit for the Egypt's final two group games at the World Cup. Great news for Mo! pic.twitter.com/BzGE7JO7JY — LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) May 30, 2018 ×

Mohamed Salah to miss opening Group A match against Uruguay due to injury

<p>The shimmering Mediterranean coastline of southern Turkey has provided an idyllic backdrop for Australia's World Cup preparations but coach Bert van Marwijk is far from relaxed as the Socceroos race to be fit for Russia.</p>

<p>Given only months to turn the world's 40th-ranked team into an outfit that can challenge France, Denmark and Peru in the group phase, the Dutchman has tried to fast-track fitness levels with an intense Bootcamp at their Antalya base.</p>

<p>The plans have been thwarted to an extent by late arrivals, however, and the full 27-man squad was not in place until Tuesday when captain Mile Jedinak turned up for a light session and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic finally landed after completing club duties.</p>

<p>Striker Tomi Juric has struggled with a knee injury, prompting the late call-up for the initially snubbed Scotland-based forward Jamie Maclaren, while midfielder Aaron Mooy had to be excused for a period to have a wisdom tooth removed.</p>

<p>The little frustrations have piled up for Van Marwijk, who admitted he was feeling the pressure to get the squad to meet his benchmarks before Russia.</p>

<p>"I am not nervous, but when I started I wanted to start with all players,” he told former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, now a pundit for local broadcaster Optus Sport.</p>

<p>"The first mission we have is to get them all on the same physical level. That’s not so easy. Because players (are) coming back from injury.</p>

<p>"It’s a very big difference and you want to prepare but you don’t have a lot of time.</p>

<p>"That’s my problem. I knew it before, I knew I can’t change it, I cannot blame anybody, but I’m happy everybody is here and I can train with all players."</p>

<p>Barring a few minutes at the start of sessions, media have been barred from training as Van Marwijk imprints his game plan upon a squad that made hard work of Asian qualifying and struggled to score goals.</p>

<p>The manager has been cagey about his set-up but has shelved his predecessor Ange Postecoglou's 3-2-4-1 formation in favour of four at the back.</p>

<p>Players are still being tested in different roles but defensive midfielder Mark Milligan has been told he will only be used as a central defender, meaning Jedinak is likely to retain his holding midfield role.</p>

<p>"I don’t mind," Milligan told Australian media. "It’s nice to know what position I’m being looked at."</p>

<p>Australia has never lacked for hard-working footballers and their discipline has impressed Van Marwijk, but he is concerned their eagerness to follow his orders has made them reluctant to improvise.</p>

<p>"But what I was a little bit surprised about was they did everything exactly the way I told them," said Van Marwijk.</p>

<p>"In life, you (also) have to take decisions for yourself.</p>

<p>"Sometimes, things change. Sometimes, they are different. Then you have to anticipate that.</p>

<p>"I like discipline, but I also like players who develop themselves and who sometimes take their own decisions."</p>

<p>After a 4-1 loss to Norway and a 0-0 draw against Colombia in March, Van Marwijk will see how far his squad have come in a friendly against the 45th-ranked Czech Republic on Friday in St Polten, Austria.</p>


The little frustrations have piled up for Van Marwijk, who admitted he was feeling the pressure to get the squad to meet his benchmarks before Russia

The shimmering Mediterranean coastline of southern Turkey has provided an idyllic backdrop for Australia's World Cup preparations but coach Bert van Marwijk is far from relaxed as the Socceroos race to be fit for Russia. Given only months to turn the world's 40th-ranked team into an outfit that can challenge France, Denmark and Peru in the group phase, the Dutchman has tried to fast-track fitness levels with an intense Bootcamp at their Antalya base. The plans have been thwarted to an extent by late arrivals, however, and the full 27-man squad was not in place until Tuesday when captain Mile Jedinak turned up for a light session and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic finally landed after completing club duties. Striker Tomi Juric has struggled with a knee injury, prompting the late call-up for the initially snubbed Scotland-based forward Jamie Maclaren, while midfielder Aaron Mooy had to be excused for a period to have a wisdom tooth removed. The little frustrations have piled up for Van Marwijk, who admitted he was feeling the pressure to get the squad to meet his benchmarks before Russia. "I am not nervous, but when I started I wanted to start with all players,” he told former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, now a pundit for local broadcaster Optus Sport. "The first mission we have is to get them all on the same physical level. That’s not so easy. Because players (are) coming back from injury. "It’s a very big difference and you want to prepare but you don’t have a lot of time. "That’s my problem. I knew it before, I knew I can’t change it, I cannot blame anybody, but I’m happy everybody is here and I can train with all players." Barring a few minutes at the start of sessions, media have been barred from training as Van Marwijk imprints his game plan upon a squad that made hard work of Asian qualifying and struggled to score goals. The manager has been cagey about his set-up but has shelved his predecessor Ange Postecoglou's 3-2-4-1 formation in favour of four at the back. Players are still being tested in different roles but defensive midfielder Mark Milligan has been told he will only be used as a central defender, meaning Jedinak is likely to retain his holding midfield role. "I don’t mind," Milligan told Australian media. "It’s nice to know what position I’m being looked at." Australia has never lacked for hard-working footballers and their discipline has impressed Van Marwijk, but he is concerned their eagerness to follow his orders has made them reluctant to improvise. "But what I was a little bit surprised about was they did everything exactly the way I told them," said Van Marwijk. "In life, you (also) have to take decisions for yourself. "Sometimes, things change. Sometimes, they are different. Then you have to anticipate that. "I like discipline, but I also like players who develop themselves and who sometimes take their own decisions." After a 4-1 loss to Norway and a 0-0 draw against Colombia in March, Van Marwijk will see how far his squad have come in a friendly against the 45th-ranked Czech Republic on Friday in St Polten, Austria.

FIFA World Cup: Australia coach Van Marwijk hears World Cup clock ticking

<p>Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has been implemented in the Football World Cup 2018 and it has become the major talking point for the event which will kick-off from June 14. The introduction of technology is considered as the game-changing by FIFA.</p>

<p>In October 2017, FIFA head Gianni Infantino said: "We can't imagine a World Cup in 2018 being decided by a referee's error."</p>

<p>The process of VAR will work on two ways, the referee will request a review after making a decision or the VAR team can recommend reviewing a particular decision.</p>

<p>VAR operates on a three-step process of the incident, review/advice, decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The referee can immediately overturn the call based on the VAR's advice, review the incident themselves on a monitor on the touchline or stick with their initial decision.</p>

<p>VAR will look to ensure that the correct decision was made regarding the award or non-award of a penalty, a goal, penalty decisions, after a straight red card or in cases of mistaken identity.</p>

<p>"If there is something away from the action that has been missed and it later comes to the attention of the VAR or the assistant VAR, then they can inform the referee and he can send the player off, even if it is later in the match," IFAB technical director David Elleray told The Times.</p>

<p>"We do not anticipate this happening very often... this would only be for serious red-card offences."</p>

<p>The VAR system will be rolled out for the first time at a World Cup at the June 14 to July 15 tournament in Russia.</p>


VAR can only be used when there is doubt surrounding any of four key game-changing situations: After a goal, penalty decisions, after a straight red card or in cases of mistaken identity

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has been implemented in the Football World Cup 2018 and it has become the major talking point for the event which will kick-off from June 14. The introduction of technology is considered as the game-changing by FIFA. In October 2017, FIFA head Gianni Infantino said: "We can't imagine a World Cup in 2018 being decided by a referee's error." The process of VAR will work on two ways, the referee will request a review after making a decision or the VAR team can recommend reviewing a particular decision. VAR operates on a three-step process of the incident, review/advice, decision. The referee can immediately overturn the call based on the VAR's advice, review the incident themselves on a monitor on the touchline or stick with their initial decision. VAR will look to ensure that the correct decision was made regarding the award or non-award of a penalty, a goal, penalty decisions, after a straight red card or in cases of mistaken identity. "If there is something away from the action that has been missed and it later comes to the attention of the VAR or the assistant VAR, then they can inform the referee and he can send the player off, even if it is later in the match," IFAB technical director David Elleray told The Times. "We do not anticipate this happening very often... this would only be for serious red-card offences." The VAR system will be rolled out for the first time at a World Cup at the June 14 to July 15 tournament in Russia.

Video Assistant Referee is a blessing for FIFA World Cup 2018

<p>Monaco midfielder Fabinho will join Liverpool following the World Cup finals in Russia, the French Ligue 1 club and the Premier League giants announced Monday.</p>

<p>Brazilian international Fabinho, 24, had agreed at the end of last year's title-winning campaign to remain one more season in the Principality.</p>

<p>But the agreement has now been reached with the Premier League club that will see Fabinho join the Reds after the finals in Russia.</p>

<p>No financial details were given by either club, although some reports claim the deal is worth £44m ($58m US).&nbsp</p>

<p>"AS Monaco has reached an agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Fabinho to the English club on July 1," said a statement on www.asmonaco.com.</p>

<p>Usually deployed as a defensive midfielder, Fabinho has scored 31 goals in 233 appearances for Monaco since arriving at the club in 2013 from Real Madrid, winning the French league title in 2017.</p>

<p>Liverpool, looking to bolster their squad following a great season in which the Anfield giants reached the Champions League final, only to suffer a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid, confirmed the deal on their website.</p>

<p>"Liverpool Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed for the transfer of Fabinho from AS Monaco," said a statement.</p>

<p>"The Brazil midfielder will formally seal a switch to the Reds on July 1 after successfully completing a medical and finalising terms on a long-term contract at Melwood."</p>

<p>Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to show his excitement at the signing.</p>

<p>"We have signed a fantastic player, but someone who is an equally fantastic person I think," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.</p>

<p>"His reputation as a character in the dressing room and his attitude in training has come through from everyone we speak to.</p>

<p>"He has the ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions. He can play ‘6’, ‘8’ and ‘2’. This is cool.</p>

<p>"He is tactically very strong and football smart. I think he improves our squad and there aren’t that many players you can say that about in this moment, because the quality we have already is so high.</p>

<p>"I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win. Also, international caps for Brazil tells you something about him.&nbsp</p>

<p>"This signing gives us new opportunities and for that I am excited. I’m sure our supporters will make him very welcome and at home at our wonderful club and in our amazing city."</p>

<p>Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com: "I am really excited about this move.</p>

<p>"This is something that I always wanted – this is a giant of a team. The infrastructures of the club look exceptional.</p>

<p>"A football club of this size coming after my services, I didn’t have to think that much about coming over.</p>

<p>"I will try to create my own history at this football club. Hopefully, on a personal level, I’m able to win titles with this club.</p>

<p>"I will try to grow and learn and improve myself, and to be part of the club’s history."</p>

<p>Fabinho, who has four caps for Brazil, becomes Liverpool's first signing of the summer transfer window.</p>


Monaco midfielder Fabinho will join Liverpool following the World Cup finals in Russia

Monaco midfielder Fabinho will join Liverpool following the World Cup finals in Russia, the French Ligue 1 club and the Premier League giants announced Monday. Brazilian international Fabinho, 24, had agreed at the end of last year's title-winning campaign to remain one more season in the Principality. But the agreement has now been reached with the Premier League club that will see Fabinho join the Reds after the finals in Russia. No financial details were given by either club, although some reports claim the deal is worth £44m ($58m US). "AS Monaco has reached an agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Fabinho to the English club on July 1," said a statement on www.asmonaco.com. Usually deployed as a defensive midfielder, Fabinho has scored 31 goals in 233 appearances for Monaco since arriving at the club in 2013 from Real Madrid, winning the French league title in 2017. Liverpool, looking to bolster their squad following a great season in which the Anfield giants reached the Champions League final, only to suffer a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid, confirmed the deal on their website. "Liverpool Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed for the transfer of Fabinho from AS Monaco," said a statement. "The Brazil midfielder will formally seal a switch to the Reds on July 1 after successfully completing a medical and finalising terms on a long-term contract at Melwood." Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to show his excitement at the signing. "We have signed a fantastic player, but someone who is an equally fantastic person I think," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com. "His reputation as a character in the dressing room and his attitude in training has come through from everyone we speak to. "He has the ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions. He can play ‘6’, ‘8’ and ‘2’. This is cool. "He is tactically very strong and football smart. I think he improves our squad and there aren’t that many players you can say that about in this moment, because the quality we have already is so high. "I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win. Also, international caps for Brazil tells you something about him. "This signing gives us new opportunities and for that I am excited. I’m sure our supporters will make him very welcome and at home at our wonderful club and in our amazing city." Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com: "I am really excited about this move. "This is something that I always wanted – this is a giant of a team. The infrastructures of the club look exceptional. "A football club of this size coming after my services, I didn’t have to think that much about coming over. "I will try to create my own history at this football club. Hopefully, on a personal level, I’m able to win titles with this club. "I will try to grow and learn and improve myself, and to be part of the club’s history." Fabinho, who has four caps for Brazil, becomes Liverpool's first signing of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool sign Brazilian mid-fielder Fabinho from Monaco

<p>Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah will travel to Spain on Tuesday for treatment on the injured shoulder that wrecked his Champions League final bid and threatens his World Cup participation.</p>

<p>Egypt's football federation (EFA) said Salah's entourage had chosen Spain for a rehabilitation programme that Egyptians will hope helps Salah return in time for next month's World Cup in Russia.</p>

<p>According to an EFA statement, Salah will be accompanied by Liverpool's medical staff "for the duration of the treatment period", having "started his rehabilitation on Sunday".</p>

<p>Salah, who hit a stunning 44 goals for Liverpool last season in all competitions, was forced out the Champions League final in tears on Saturday clutching his left shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.</p>

<p>It was feared the injury had ruled Salah out of the June 14-July 15 World Cup, but on Sunday the Reds' striker said he was "confident" he would be back in time.</p>

<p>"It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud," Salah wrote on his official Twitter account on Sunday.</p>

<p>Egyptian media reported Salah wouldn't kick a ball in anger for three weeks.</p>

<p>Egyptian federation officials meanwhile are set to pay Salah -- described by the EFA as "the symbol of Egypt" -- a morale-boosting visit on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Egypt, who were drawn in Group A, open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 15, before facing hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>The Pharaohs play a first warm-up match, against Colombia, in Bergamo, Italy on June 1.</p>


It was feared that the injury had ruled Salah out of the June 14-July 15 World Cup

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah will travel to Spain on Tuesday for treatment on the injured shoulder that wrecked his Champions League final bid and threatens his World Cup participation. Egypt's football federation (EFA) said Salah's entourage had chosen Spain for a rehabilitation programme that Egyptians will hope helps Salah return in time for next month's World Cup in Russia. According to an EFA statement, Salah will be accompanied by Liverpool's medical staff "for the duration of the treatment period", having "started his rehabilitation on Sunday". Salah, who hit a stunning 44 goals for Liverpool last season in all competitions, was forced out the Champions League final in tears on Saturday clutching his left shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. It was feared the injury had ruled Salah out of the June 14-July 15 World Cup, but on Sunday the Reds' striker said he was "confident" he would be back in time. "It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud," Salah wrote on his official Twitter account on Sunday. Egyptian media reported Salah wouldn't kick a ball in anger for three weeks. Egyptian federation officials meanwhile are set to pay Salah -- described by the EFA as "the symbol of Egypt" -- a morale-boosting visit on Wednesday. Egypt, who were drawn in Group A, open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 15, before facing hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Pharaohs play a first warm-up match, against Colombia, in Bergamo, Italy on June 1.

Mohamed Salah to travel to Spain for treatment: Egypt football federation

<p>Brazilian forward Neymar Jr admitted that he is not "100 per cent fit"&nbspfor the World Cup which is scheduled to start from June 14.</p>

<p>Paris-Saint Germain star player also mentioned that he feels discomfort while recovering&nbspbut believes that he will be better for the tournament.</p>

<p>The 26-year-old, who joined PSG for a world-record 222 million euros ($264 million) from Barcelona last year, suffered a fractured bone in his right foot in February in a match against Marseille.</p>

<p>"Physically I am well, my foot is fine. I am adapting in a few things. I still feel some discomfort, but it is not something that will trouble me," Neymar told journalists at Brazil's football confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.</p>

<p>Recently, he said, "Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup."&nbsp</p>

<p>Neymar, who missed Brazil's 7-1 semi-final thrashing on home soil by Germany through injury four years ago, is key to his country's hopes at this year's World Cup, which starts on June 14.</p>


Brazilian forward Neymar Jr admitted that he is not "100 per cent fit" for the World Cup which is scheduled to start from June 14

Brazilian forward Neymar Jr admitted that he is not "100 per cent fit"&nbspfor the World Cup which is scheduled to start from June 14. Paris-Saint Germain star player also mentioned that he feels discomfort while recovering&nbspbut believes that he will be better for the tournament. The 26-year-old, who joined PSG for a world-record 222 million euros ($264 million) from Barcelona last year, suffered a fractured bone in his right foot in February in a match against Marseille. "Physically I am well, my foot is fine. I am adapting in a few things. I still feel some discomfort, but it is not something that will trouble me," Neymar told journalists at Brazil's football confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Recently, he said, "Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup." Neymar, who missed Brazil's 7-1 semi-final thrashing on home soil by Germany through injury four years ago, is key to his country's hopes at this year's World Cup, which starts on June 14.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Neymar admits he is not '100% fit'

<p>When strongman Ramzan Kadyrov last month opened The Local, a United Arab Emirates-funded luxury hotel in the Chechen capital of Grozny and prepared to receive Egypt's World Cup qualifying a national team as its first guests, he was cashing in on more than the Russian region's Muslim identity.</p>

<p>Eager to forge close ties to Middle Eastern nations, Mr. Kadyrov, who tightly controls Chechen sports, was cashing in on the fact that he has aligned himself with like-minded governments that not only stand out in their repression of dissent but also their efforts to oppose Saudi-inspired ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim Islam.</p>

<p>Mr. Kadyrov, a barrel-chested man who recognizes the political utility of sports and is widely seen as a henchman of Russian President Vladimir Putin, earned his credentials by brutally suppressing an Islamist insurgency in Chechnya during his decade-long tenure.</p>

<p>Speaking to The Washington Post, Beslan Visambiev, a manager of a Grozny-based UAE investment fund, suggested that Mr. Putin was using Mr. Kadyrov as his point man in the Muslim world. "It seems like Putin delegated those powers to Kadyrov," Mr. Visambiev said.</p>

<p>Mr. Visambiev echoed Mr. Kadyrov's own words four years earlier when he addressed 20,000 members of his militia in a Grozny stadium.</p>

<p>"The time has come for us to make our conscious choice, and we say this to the whole world that we are the combat infantry of Vladimir Putin," Mr. Kadyrov said quoting a speech given by his father shortly before he was assassinated in 2004.</p>

<p>Criticism by human rights groups of the UAE's investment and Egypt's choice of Grozny has focussed on Chechnya rather than the Emirates and Egypt, even if both countries have recently been in the news for their own alleged violations of basic rights.</p>

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<h5>A close US ally, the UAE stands accused of being a "colonizing force" in Yemen that supports extremist militias responsible for violence against Yemeni activists and Islah</h5>
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<p>The US the House of Representatives last week voted to investigate a potential US role in torture in a UAE-operated network of prisons in Yemen.</p>

<p>A close US ally, the UAE stands accused of being a "colonizing force" in Yemen that supports extremist militias responsible for violence against Yemeni activists and Islah, a Muslim Brotherhood-linked political party, and a bete noire of UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed.</p>

<p>In recent days, Egypt, whose prisons are filled with an estimated 60,000 political prisoners, arrested &nbsp; Hazim Abdelazim, a one-time campaigner turned critic for general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and prominent blogger and activist Wael Abbas.</p>

<p>Mr. Kadyrov, whose human rights record, like that of Prince Mohammed and Mr. Al-Sisi, has been questioned, has denounced allegations of abuse as a "myth" designed to destabilise his government.</p>

<p>Yet, Mr. Kadyrov's notion of a more liberal interpretation of Islam is not dissimilar to that of Mr. Al-Sisi or Prince Mohammed, even if the effective UAE ruler has been not quite as harsh in measures against transgender, gay, and gender non-conforming people.</p>

<p>Both Chechnya and Egypt have in the last year brutally targeted gays, prompting Human Rights Watch to demand that world soccer body FIFA oppose a proposed Egyptian anti-LGBT law and to demand the release of Oyub Titev, the head of Chechnya's only still operating human rights group.</p>

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<h5>The fact that Egypt and the UAE are the vehicles Mr. Kadyrov is using to exploit this month's World Cup in Russia in a bid to project Chechnya on the world stage in a more positive light and polish his tarnished image is no coincidence</h5>
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<p>The bullet-riddled body of Mr. Titev's predecessor, Natalia Estemirova, was dumped by the road shortly after she was kidnapped in 2009.</p>

<p>The fact that Egypt and the UAE are the vehicles Mr. Kadyrov is using to exploit this month's World Cup in Russia in a bid to project Chechnya on the world stage in a more positive light and polish his tarnished image is no coincidence.</p>

<p>Both the UAE and Egypt have been in the forefront of efforts to counter political Islam and promote more quietist, apolitical interpretations of the faith that counter Saudi-style ultra-conservatism and are more in line with their vision of autocratic rule even if both countries are closely aligned with the kingdom.</p>

<p>The UAE has quietly nurtured the creation of moderate Islamic institutions such as the Muslim Council of Elders, the Global Forum for Prompting Peace in Muslim Societies and the Sawab and Hedayah Centres in a bid to counter the influence of controversial, Qatar-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood, and more militant Islamist forces.</p>

<p>Mr. Al-Sisi, an observant Muslim who in a 2006 paper argued that democracy cannot be understood without a grasp of the concept of the caliphate, has been advocating with limited success that Al Azhar, one of the Muslim world's foremost institutions and the world's oldest seat &nbsp;of Islamic learning, spearhead "a religious revolution" to counter militancy.</p>

<p>Mr. Kadyrov, who professes to be a Sufi, a more mystical interpretation of Islam, facilitated in 2016 a high point of the Emirati and Egyptian efforts when he hosted in Grozny a gathering of prominent Sunni Muslim leaders that effectively excommunicated Saudi-backed ultra-conservatism.</p>

<p>In a frontal assault on Saudi-backed religious movements such as Wahhabism, Salafism and Deobandism, the conference charged that the label Sunni had been hijacked by heretics whose deviant practices distorted Islam.</p>

<p>In defining Sunni Islam, the conference explicitly excluded Wahhabism, the version of Islam long propagated by Saudi Arabia, as well as Salafism and Deobandism from its definition.</p>

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<p>Mr. Kadyrov's alliance with the UAE and Egypt has allowed him to exploit Russia's hosting of the World Cup even if Chechnya will not be a venue for any of the competition's matches.</p>

<p>The alliance has also paid off in other ways. The UAE last year created the Zayed Fund that aims to support Chechen businesses and is funding construction of a gleaming skyscraper in the Chechen capital. UAE-based carrier Air Arabia launched in April direct flights from Sharjah to Grozny.</p>

<p>The UAE-Egypt-Chechnya alliance may have produced economic benefits but appears to have done little to improve the tarnished image of the Russian republic or Mr. Kadyrov himself.</p>

<p>"FIFA's decision to use Grozny for a World Cup team camp is absolutely shocking and outrageous. FIFA should reverse their decision and move the training camp to another city," said Human Rights Watch associate director Jane Buchanan.</p>

<p>FIFA last year conceded that anti-LGBT attacks in Chechnya were in "sharp contradiction to the values of FIFA as an organization and we firmly condemn them" but more recently insisted that it had "no grounds to believe that the choice of the Egyptian FA to locate its base camp in Grozny will cause particular adverse human rights impacts."</p>

<p>Countered Ms. Buchanan, the author of a report on World Cup worker abuses in Russia: Mr. Kadyrov runs Chechnya "like his own fiefdom and commits human rights abuses with impunity. FIFA's decision will only legitimize the utterly abusive Kadyrov regime."</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


The UAE-Egypt-Chechnya alliance may have produced economic benefits but appears to have done little to improve the tarnished image of the Russian republic or Mr. Kadyrov himself

When strongman Ramzan Kadyrov last month opened The Local, a United Arab Emirates-funded luxury hotel in the Chechen capital of Grozny and prepared to receive Egypt's World Cup qualifying a national team as its first guests, he was cashing in on more than the Russian region's Muslim identity. Eager to forge close ties to Middle Eastern nations, Mr. Kadyrov, who tightly controls Chechen sports, was cashing in on the fact that he has aligned himself with like-minded governments that not only stand out in their repression of dissent but also their efforts to oppose Saudi-inspired ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim Islam. Mr. Kadyrov, a barrel-chested man who recognizes the political utility of sports and is widely seen as a henchman of Russian President Vladimir Putin, earned his credentials by brutally suppressing an Islamist insurgency in Chechnya during his decade-long tenure. Speaking to The Washington Post, Beslan Visambiev, a manager of a Grozny-based UAE investment fund, suggested that Mr. Putin was using Mr. Kadyrov as his point man in the Muslim world. "It seems like Putin delegated those powers to Kadyrov," Mr. Visambiev said. Mr. Visambiev echoed Mr. Kadyrov's own words four years earlier when he addressed 20,000 members of his militia in a Grozny stadium. "The time has come for us to make our conscious choice, and we say this to the whole world that we are the combat infantry of Vladimir Putin," Mr. Kadyrov said quoting a speech given by his father shortly before he was assassinated in 2004. Criticism by human rights groups of the UAE's investment and Egypt's choice of Grozny has focussed on Chechnya rather than the Emirates and Egypt, even if both countries have recently been in the news for their own alleged violations of basic rights. A close US ally, the UAE stands accused of being a "colonizing force" in Yemen that supports extremist militias responsible for violence against Yemeni activists and Islah × The US the House of Representatives last week voted to investigate a potential US role in torture in a UAE-operated network of prisons in Yemen. A close US ally, the UAE stands accused of being a "colonizing force" in Yemen that supports extremist militias responsible for violence against Yemeni activists and Islah, a Muslim Brotherhood-linked political party, and a bete noire of UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed. In recent days, Egypt, whose prisons are filled with an estimated 60,000 political prisoners, arrested Hazim Abdelazim, a one-time campaigner turned critic for general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and prominent blogger and activist Wael Abbas. Mr. Kadyrov, whose human rights record, like that of Prince Mohammed and Mr. Al-Sisi, has been questioned, has denounced allegations of abuse as a "myth" designed to destabilise his government. Yet, Mr. Kadyrov's notion of a more liberal interpretation of Islam is not dissimilar to that of Mr. Al-Sisi or Prince Mohammed, even if the effective UAE ruler has been not quite as harsh in measures against transgender, gay, and gender non-conforming people. Both Chechnya and Egypt have in the last year brutally targeted gays, prompting Human Rights Watch to demand that world soccer body FIFA oppose a proposed Egyptian anti-LGBT law and to demand the release of Oyub Titev, the head of Chechnya's only still operating human rights group. The fact that Egypt and the UAE are the vehicles Mr. Kadyrov is using to exploit this month's World Cup in Russia in a bid to project Chechnya on the world stage in a more positive light and polish his tarnished image is no coincidence × The bullet-riddled body of Mr. Titev's predecessor, Natalia Estemirova, was dumped by the road shortly after she was kidnapped in 2009. The fact that Egypt and the UAE are the vehicles Mr. Kadyrov is using to exploit this month's World Cup in Russia in a bid to project Chechnya on the world stage in a more positive light and polish his tarnished image is no coincidence. Both the UAE and Egypt have been in the forefront of efforts to counter political Islam and promote more quietist, apolitical interpretations of the faith that counter Saudi-style ultra-conservatism and are more in line with their vision of autocratic rule even if both countries are closely aligned with the kingdom. The UAE has quietly nurtured the creation of moderate Islamic institutions such as the Muslim Council of Elders, the Global Forum for Prompting Peace in Muslim Societies and the Sawab and Hedayah Centres in a bid to counter the influence of controversial, Qatar-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood, and more militant Islamist forces. Mr. Al-Sisi, an observant Muslim who in a 2006 paper argued that democracy cannot be understood without a grasp of the concept of the caliphate, has been advocating with limited success that Al Azhar, one of the Muslim world's foremost institutions and the world's oldest seat of Islamic learning, spearhead "a religious revolution" to counter militancy. Mr. Kadyrov, who professes to be a Sufi, a more mystical interpretation of Islam, facilitated in 2016 a high point of the Emirati and Egyptian efforts when he hosted in Grozny a gathering of prominent Sunni Muslim leaders that effectively excommunicated Saudi-backed ultra-conservatism. In a frontal assault on Saudi-backed religious movements such as Wahhabism, Salafism and Deobandism, the conference charged that the label Sunni had been hijacked by heretics whose deviant practices distorted Islam. In defining Sunni Islam, the conference explicitly excluded Wahhabism, the version of Islam long propagated by Saudi Arabia, as well as Salafism and Deobandism from its definition. Mr. Kadyrov’s alliance with the UAE and Egypt has allowed him to exploit Russia’s hosting of the World Cup even if Chechnya will not be a venue for any of the competition’s matches × Mr. Kadyrov's alliance with the UAE and Egypt has allowed him to exploit Russia's hosting of the World Cup even if Chechnya will not be a venue for any of the competition's matches. The alliance has also paid off in other ways. The UAE last year created the Zayed Fund that aims to support Chechen businesses and is funding construction of a gleaming skyscraper in the Chechen capital. UAE-based carrier Air Arabia launched in April direct flights from Sharjah to Grozny. The UAE-Egypt-Chechnya alliance may have produced economic benefits but appears to have done little to improve the tarnished image of the Russian republic or Mr. Kadyrov himself. "FIFA's decision to use Grozny for a World Cup team camp is absolutely shocking and outrageous. FIFA should reverse their decision and move the training camp to another city," said Human Rights Watch associate director Jane Buchanan. FIFA last year conceded that anti-LGBT attacks in Chechnya were in "sharp contradiction to the values of FIFA as an organization and we firmly condemn them" but more recently insisted that it had "no grounds to believe that the choice of the Egyptian FA to locate its base camp in Grozny will cause particular adverse human rights impacts." Countered Ms. Buchanan, the author of a report on World Cup worker abuses in Russia: Mr. Kadyrov runs Chechnya "like his own fiefdom and commits human rights abuses with impunity. FIFA's decision will only legitimize the utterly abusive Kadyrov regime." (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Football World Cup offers Chechnya opportunity to play Middle Eastern politics

<p>Mohamed Salah got injured during the finals of UEFA Champions League while playing against Real Madrid and there were speculations that he could miss the football World Cup due to a suspected shoulder injury.</p>

<p>The injury was identified as shoulder dislocations, however, Egypt's FA is optimistic and tweeted that the team doctor had spoken with Liverpool officials who confirmed an x-ray showed ligament damage in his shoulder, rather than a fracture.</p>

<p>Egyptian star has finally spoken about his injury and tweeted, "It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need. <a href="https://t.co/HTfKF4S70e">pic.twitter.com/HTfKF4S70e</a></p>
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoSalah/status/1000777691187109889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The incident happened at the 30th minute when Mo Salah's right hand got stuck with Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos and he fell to the ground injuring his left shoulder.</p>

<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/over-15-lakh-sign-petition-urging-punish-sergio-ramos-for-intentionally-hurting-mohamed-salah-140172">Over 1.5 lakh sign petition urging, 'punish Sergio Ramos for intentionally hurting Mohamed Salah'</a></strong></p>

<p>Although, Salah had returned to the field after receiving the treatment but the injury prevailed and led to his ouster from the game.</p>

<p>It was heartbreaking to watch 44-goal sensation leaving the field in tears and the injury was one of the causes that led to Liverpool's defeat.</p>


It was heartbreaking to watch Egyptian star leaving the field in tears after the injury

Mohamed Salah got injured during the finals of UEFA Champions League while playing against Real Madrid and there were speculations that he could miss the football World Cup due to a suspected shoulder injury. The injury was identified as shoulder dislocations, however, Egypt's FA is optimistic and tweeted that the team doctor had spoken with Liverpool officials who confirmed an x-ray showed ligament damage in his shoulder, rather than a fracture. Egyptian star has finally spoken about his injury and tweeted, "It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need." It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need. pic.twitter.com/HTfKF4S70e — Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 27, 2018 × The incident happened at the 30th minute when Mo Salah's right hand got stuck with Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos and he fell to the ground injuring his left shoulder. Over 1.5 lakh sign petition urging, 'punish Sergio Ramos for intentionally hurting Mohamed Salah' Although, Salah had returned to the field after receiving the treatment but the injury prevailed and led to his ouster from the game. It was heartbreaking to watch 44-goal sensation leaving the field in tears and the injury was one of the causes that led to Liverpool's defeat.

'I'm confident that I'll be in Russia,' says Mohamed Salah to dismiss World Cup doubts

<p>German&nbsp;goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is regaining full fitness and getting ready for the Football World cup which is scheduled to start from next month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On 16 September 2017, Neuer suffered the second metatarsal fracture within six months while playing against Mainz&nbsp;in a Bundesliga game.</p>

<p>German coach Joachim Loew is confident that the 32-year-old Germany captain, part of his 2014 World Cup-winning team, would play in Russia.</p>

<p>Although, time is running fast but Manuel Neuer has one last chance to prove his mettle for the world champions' title defence ahead of FIFA 2018.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Work, work, work, work, work, <a href="https://twitter.com/Manuel_Neuer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Manuel_Neuer</a>! ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DieMannschaft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DieMannschaft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZSMMN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZSMMN</a> <a href="https://t.co/TFntdxqhuC">pic.twitter.com/TFntdxqhuC</a></p>
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<p>The defending champions will play their second friendly match on June 2 against Austria.</p>

<p>However, Neuer had taken part in Germany's training session but the final 23-man squad will be announced on June 3.</p>

<p>Germany will begin their World Cup campaign against Mexico in Moscow on 17 June. Sweden and South Korea complete Group F.</p>

<p>Bayern Munich keeper Neuer has not played since breaking a bone in his foot back in September that required surgery, putting his chances of making the finals in doubt.</p>


Bayern Munich keeper Neuer has not played since breaking a bone in his foot back in September that required surgery, putting his chances of making the finals in doubt

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is regaining full fitness and getting ready for the Football World cup which is scheduled to start from next month. On 16 September 2017, Neuer suffered the second metatarsal fracture within six months while playing against Mainz in a Bundesliga game. German coach Joachim Loew is confident that the 32-year-old Germany captain, part of his 2014 World Cup-winning team, would play in Russia. Although, time is running fast but Manuel Neuer has one last chance to prove his mettle for the world champions' title defence ahead of FIFA 2018. Work, work, work, work, work, @Manuel_Neuer! ?#DieMannschaft #ZSMMN pic.twitter.com/TFntdxqhuC — Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) May 24, 2018 × The defending champions will play their second friendly match on June 2 against Austria. However, Neuer had taken part in Germany's training session but the final 23-man squad will be announced on June 3. Germany will begin their World Cup campaign against Mexico in Moscow on 17 June. Sweden and South Korea complete Group F. Bayern Munich keeper Neuer has not played since breaking a bone in his foot back in September that required surgery, putting his chances of making the finals in doubt.

FIFA 2018: Manuel Neuer's recovery big boost for Germany

<p>Former Australia skipper Steve Smith, who is serving a 12-month ban for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal, may return to the ground next month.</p>

<p>Smith has been named as one of the 10 marquee players for the proposed Global T20 Canada league.</p>

<p>As per reports, if the tournament proceeds as scheduled in June, it will mark Smith's first cricket action since Cricket Australia (CA) had put a 12-month ban on him from all international and domestic cricket.</p>

<p>However, the ban doesn't extend to club cricket or global leagues, but Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan chose to drop him for the 2018 edition.</p>

<p>Besides Smith, explosive opener Chris Lynn is the other Australian in the list which also features Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Darren Sammy (West Indies) and David Miller (South Africa).</p>

<p>The tournament will be commenced from June 28 to July 15 and comprises six teams - five from Canada and one Cricket West Indies representative team - playing 22 matches.&nbsp<br />
&nbsp</p>


It will be Smith's first cricket action since Cricket Australia (CA) had put a 12-month ban on him from all international and domestic cricket

Former Australia skipper Steve Smith, who is serving a 12-month ban for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal, may return to the ground next month. Smith has been named as one of the 10 marquee players for the proposed Global T20 Canada league. As per reports, if the tournament proceeds as scheduled in June, it will mark Smith's first cricket action since Cricket Australia (CA) had put a 12-month ban on him from all international and domestic cricket. However, the ban doesn't extend to club cricket or global leagues, but Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan chose to drop him for the 2018 edition. Besides Smith, explosive opener Chris Lynn is the other Australian in the list which also features Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Darren Sammy (West Indies) and David Miller (South Africa). The tournament will be commenced from June 28 to July 15 and comprises six teams - five from Canada and one Cricket West Indies representative team - playing 22 matches.

Despite ban, Steve Smith returns to cricket world next month

<p>Striker Harry&nbsp;Kane&nbsp;will wear the captain's armband for England at next month's World Cup, ending speculation about who would lead Gareth Southgate's squad in Russia.</p>

<p>The announcement was made in a video published on Twitter in which Southgate said Tottenham Hotspur's&nbsp;Kane&nbsp;had "outstanding leadership" qualities.</p>

<p>England's last full-time captain was Wayne Rooney but the armband has been worn by several players since the former Manchester United forward lost his place in the squad.</p>

<p>Southgate has often played down the significance of the position, preferring to nurture a collective leadership within the team, but&nbsp;Kane&nbsp;will be the figurehead as England go into their 15th World Cup.</p>

<p>Kane, who scored 30 Premier League goals for Tottenham this past season, has 23 caps for England and netted 12 times.</p>

<p>"For me the key for a captain is that you set the tone every day in everything that we do, the way we train, the way we prepare and the professionalism towards the task," Southgate said.</p>

<p>"Harry is an exemplary model of that. He is a meticulous professional and is prepared to challenge people.</p>

<p>"Now is a moment in his life where he is prepared to bring that into the team environment."</p>

<p>Kane, who first captained England in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland last year, said it was a "massive honour".</p>

<p>"I'm very excited for the World Cup, can't wait," he said. "Leading the lads out is going to be special."</p>

<p>England face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium at the World Cup in which they will send their third-youngest squad to a major tournament, with an average age of 26.</p>

<p>He will have some experience around him, however, such as Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Chelsea's Gary Cahill.</p>

<p>"Harry will need the support of the other good leaders we've got around him," Southgate said.</p>

<p>"You don't become a top team by just having a good captain with good values. That has to spread right throughout the group but I think he's the one ready to take that challenge on."</p>


The announcement was made in a video published on Twitter in which Southgate said Tottenham Hotspur's Kane had "outstanding leadership" qualities

Striker Harry Kane will wear the captain's armband for England at next month's World Cup, ending speculation about who would lead Gareth Southgate's squad in Russia. The announcement was made in a video published on Twitter in which Southgate said Tottenham Hotspur's Kane had "outstanding leadership" qualities. England's last full-time captain was Wayne Rooney but the armband has been worn by several players since the former Manchester United forward lost his place in the squad. Southgate has often played down the significance of the position, preferring to nurture a collective leadership within the team, but Kane will be the figurehead as England go into their 15th World Cup. Kane, who scored 30 Premier League goals for Tottenham this past season, has 23 caps for England and netted 12 times. "For me the key for a captain is that you set the tone every day in everything that we do, the way we train, the way we prepare and the professionalism towards the task," Southgate said. "Harry is an exemplary model of that. He is a meticulous professional and is prepared to challenge people. "Now is a moment in his life where he is prepared to bring that into the team environment." Kane, who first captained England in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland last year, said it was a "massive honour". "I'm very excited for the World Cup, can't wait," he said. "Leading the lads out is going to be special." England face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium at the World Cup in which they will send their third-youngest squad to a major tournament, with an average age of 26. He will have some experience around him, however, such as Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Chelsea's Gary Cahill. "Harry will need the support of the other good leaders we've got around him," Southgate said. "You don't become a top team by just having a good captain with good values. That has to spread right throughout the group but I think he's the one ready to take that challenge on."

FIFA 2018: Harry Kane to lead England for World Cup

<p>There was no happy ending for Alvaro Morata at the end of the toughest season of his career, as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui left him out of his World Cup squad on Monday.</p>

<p>Chelsea's 60 million-pound ($81 million) striker slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after a dramatic form slump and niggling back problem in a chastening first season in London.</p>

<p>After joining from Real Madrid last year the Spaniard started well, notching seven goals in his first seven matches in all competitions for the Blues.</p>

<p>But as Premier League defences began to target him, Morata struggled with constant physical battles, sometimes angering his own supporters for going down too easily.</p>

<p>In a torrid period after Christmas, Morata, 25, failed to score in 13 games, picking up a red card and four yellows in the same spell.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">? OFICIAL | 46 millones de ilusiones en sus botas, en sus manos... ¡¡ESTOS SON <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NUESTROS23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NUESTROS23</a>!!<br />
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? ¡RT PARA APOYARNOS! <a href="https://t.co/XBx0e4uOcB">pic.twitter.com/XBx0e4uOcB</a></p>
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeFutbol/status/998520371547602944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chelsea manager Antonio Conte turned to January signing Olivier Giroud as Chelsea stumbled to fifth place in the Premier League and Morata appeared from the bench in the 89th minute as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the FA Cup on Saturday.</p>

<p>Lopetegui left the forward out of his Spain squad in March for friendlies against Germany and Argentina, citing his "physical problems and inactivity" as the reason.</p>

<p>The coach, however, said there remained a good chance Morata would make it to Russia, with the other centre-forward options relatively inexperienced, but in the end they were preferred.</p>

<p>Diego Costa has seven goals in 18 appearances for Spain, while Iago Aspas and Rodrigo Moreno, the other two strikers picked, have played eight and four times for their country respectively.</p>

<p>Atletico Madrid forward Costa spent the first half of the season on strike in Brazil, refusing to play for Chelsea, before returning to help his Spanish side lift the Europa League last week.</p>

<p>Morata, with 13 goals from 23 appearances for Spain, left Madrid looking for a key role at Chelsea to help him cement his position as Spain's World Cup striker, after being forced to rotate with Karim Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu.</p>

<p>As his season crumbled, the chances of making it to Russia became increasingly slim and the coach duly sounded the death knell.</p>

<p>"We believed we had other players in his position who could help us," Lopetegui said on Monday. "It's not something negative towards him. The truth is that he had a complicated end to the season."</p>

<p>Morata wished his compatriots the best of luck in a tweet shortly after Lopetegui announced his omission, but less than a year ago he would have expected to be leading the 2010 world champions' attack in Russia himself.</p>


There was no happy ending for Alvaro Morata at the end of the toughest season of his career, as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui left him out of his World Cup squad

There was no happy ending for Alvaro Morata at the end of the toughest season of his career, as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui left him out of his World Cup squad on Monday. Chelsea's 60 million-pound ($81 million) striker slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after a dramatic form slump and niggling back problem in a chastening first season in London. After joining from Real Madrid last year the Spaniard started well, notching seven goals in his first seven matches in all competitions for the Blues. But as Premier League defences began to target him, Morata struggled with constant physical battles, sometimes angering his own supporters for going down too easily. In a torrid period after Christmas, Morata, 25, failed to score in 13 games, picking up a red card and four yellows in the same spell. ? OFICIAL | 46 millones de ilusiones en sus botas, en sus manos... ¡¡ESTOS SON #NUESTROS23!! ? ¡RT PARA APOYARNOS! pic.twitter.com/XBx0e4uOcB — Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) May 21, 2018 × Chelsea manager Antonio Conte turned to January signing Olivier Giroud as Chelsea stumbled to fifth place in the Premier League and Morata appeared from the bench in the 89th minute as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the FA Cup on Saturday. Lopetegui left the forward out of his Spain squad in March for friendlies against Germany and Argentina, citing his "physical problems and inactivity" as the reason. The coach, however, said there remained a good chance Morata would make it to Russia, with the other centre-forward options relatively inexperienced, but in the end they were preferred. Diego Costa has seven goals in 18 appearances for Spain, while Iago Aspas and Rodrigo Moreno, the other two strikers picked, have played eight and four times for their country respectively. Atletico Madrid forward Costa spent the first half of the season on strike in Brazil, refusing to play for Chelsea, before returning to help his Spanish side lift the Europa League last week. Morata, with 13 goals from 23 appearances for Spain, left Madrid looking for a key role at Chelsea to help him cement his position as Spain's World Cup striker, after being forced to rotate with Karim Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu. As his season crumbled, the chances of making it to Russia became increasingly slim and the coach duly sounded the death knell. "We believed we had other players in his position who could help us," Lopetegui said on Monday. "It's not something negative towards him. The truth is that he had a complicated end to the season." Morata wished his compatriots the best of luck in a tweet shortly after Lopetegui announced his omission, but less than a year ago he would have expected to be leading the 2010 world champions' attack in Russia himself.

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata misses out on Spain World Cup squad

<p>The head of the Argentine Football Association has apologised for the publication of a World Cup&nbsp;manual&nbsp;that included advice on how to woo&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;women.</p>

<p>The advice, which has been condemned as sexist, was part of a course entitled ‘Language and Russian&nbsp;Culture – Thinking of the World Cup’ and included the tips, "Be clean, Don't be negative and Don't treat&nbsp;women&nbsp;as objects".</p>

<p>"An internal investigation ... concluded that part of the material was printed in error. It does not reflect the thinking of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), nor its president Claudio Tapia, nor any of its directors," the association said in a statement.</p>

<p>Tapia visited Russia House, a cultural institute, in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to personally apologise for the gaffe.</p>

<p>News reports said the information had been presented to players, AFA staff and media earlier this week at a special forum on how to prepare for the World Cup.</p>

<p>More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14.</p>

<p>Two-time winners of the World Cup,&nbsp;Argentina&nbsp;have been drawn to play Iceland, Nigeria and Croatia.</p>


More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14

The head of the Argentine Football Association has apologised for the publication of a World Cup manual that included advice on how to woo Russian women. The advice, which has been condemned as sexist, was part of a course entitled ‘Language and Russian Culture – Thinking of the World Cup’ and included the tips, "Be clean, Don't be negative and Don't treat women as objects". "An internal investigation ... concluded that part of the material was printed in error. It does not reflect the thinking of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), nor its president Claudio Tapia, nor any of its directors," the association said in a statement. Tapia visited Russia House, a cultural institute, in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to personally apologise for the gaffe. News reports said the information had been presented to players, AFA staff and media earlier this week at a special forum on how to prepare for the World Cup. More than 40,000 Argentines have bought tickets for matches in the tournament that kicks off in Moscow on June 14. Two-time winners of the World Cup, Argentina have been drawn to play Iceland, Nigeria and Croatia.

FIFA 2018: Argentina apologises for manual on seducing Russian women

<p>Police chiefs have urged England fans attending the World Cup not to display the flag of St George over fears it will be seen as antagonistic to their Russian hosts.</p>

<p>Mark Roberts of the National Police Chiefs' Council is heading to Russia with a team of fellow officers to work with their Russian counterparts to protect up to 10,000 England fans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think people need to be really careful with flags. It can come across as almost imperialistic... and can cause antagonism," Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Britain's Times newspaper.</p>

<p>"We really urge some caution about people putting flags out and waving them about in public.</p>

<p>"We would not expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph (the memorial to Britain's national war dead) so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad."</p>

<p>After Russian hooligans attacked England fans in Marseilles in 2016, they posted photos of dozens of "captured" St George's flags, the report said.</p>

<p>Roberts warned fans to be particularly careful in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, which hosts England's opening game against Tunisia on June 18.</p>

<p>Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year. Britain has blamed Russia for the attempted murder, a charge that Moscow has strongly denied.</p>


Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year

Police chiefs have urged England fans attending the World Cup not to display the flag of St George over fears it will be seen as antagonistic to their Russian hosts. Mark Roberts of the National Police Chiefs' Council is heading to Russia with a team of fellow officers to work with their Russian counterparts to protect up to 10,000 England fans. "I think people need to be really careful with flags. It can come across as almost imperialistic... and can cause antagonism," Roberts, the national lead for football policing, told Britain's Times newspaper. "We really urge some caution about people putting flags out and waving them about in public. "We would not expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph (the memorial to Britain's national war dead) so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad." After Russian hooligans attacked England fans in Marseilles in 2016, they posted photos of dozens of "captured" St George's flags, the report said. Roberts warned fans to be particularly careful in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, which hosts England's opening game against Tunisia on June 18. Tensions are high between Britain and Russia over the poisoning of former double agent Yuri Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year. Britain has blamed Russia for the attempted murder, a charge that Moscow has strongly denied.

FIFA 2018: England fans warned over flag-waving at World Cup in Russia

<p>When the World Cup is held aloft in July, it won't be an Italian lifting the trophy. The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine.</p>

<p>The four-time winners' humiliating exit in November's playoff defeat to Sweden cast a pall over one of the world's proudest football nations.</p>

<p>Italy are not going to the World Cup, but the World Cup will come to Italy.</p>

<p>Every four years, in an anonymous building in an industrial town near Milan,&nbsp;amid the clouds of metal dust and sound of presses and hammers, an Italian company gets its hands on the World Cup trophy itself -- and gives it a makeover.&nbsp;</p>

<p>GDE Bertoni, a small business with 12 employees based in the Milanese suburb of Paderno Dugnano, designed and created the current cup in 1971 after Brazil kept the Jules Rimet trophy after they won the World Cup for the third time, and every four years it returned home for a spruce up.</p>

<p>"It's always a special feeling when the original trophy comes back to us, even if we see the replica every day," says Valentina Losa, director of the company her great-grandfather founded in 1938.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The trophy was made by the company's then-artistic director, sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, helped by Valentina's father Giorgio, who suggested the globe at the top of the trophy.</p>

<p>"The original is the original. It's like the difference between seeing the original Mona Lisa or a copy. It's not the same feeling at all."</p>

<p><strong>"Amazing feeling"</strong></p>

<p>Standing in front of an autographed photo of Franz Beckenbauer, who in 1974 became the first captain to lift the new trophy, Losa recounts how her company bagged the contract.</p>

<p>"There were 53 proposals from all over the world, but we were the only ones to have made a model, a physical product," she says. "Having it in front of you, not just a drawing -- that plays."</p>

<p>Soon after every World Cup,&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;sends the trophy, which is 38 centimetres long and contains more than six kilos of solid gold and malachite, home to be tended to.</p>

<p>"For four years it travels and is exposed to the elements. It's a little damaged, but we put it back into shape," says Pietro Brambilla, one of the Bertoni workshop's eight specialist workers.</p>

<p>Brambilla has no interest in football but something changes when he sees the World Cup winning captain lift the trophy.</p>

<p>"I always shed a tear at that moment because that trophy passed through my hands. It's an amazing feeling," he says.</p>

<p>"Not many people can say that they've held the World Cup."</p>

<p><strong>Coveted</strong></p>

<p>As well as making the original, Bortoni is&nbsp;also responsible for making a replica which the eventual winners of each tournament get to keep.</p>

<p>The replica is made from brass, after which is undergoes a range of treatments&nbsp;including milling and polishing before being bathed in 24-carat gold.</p>

<p>"We do this by eye. Once we see that she is beautiful, it comes out," says Ahmed Ait Siti Abdelkader, depositing a varnish that will keep the trophy shiny for about a decade.</p>

<p>"The World Cup is something different," he adds. "We make a lot of cups here, for Africa, the Gulf, Europe, Central America ... but this one has an extraordinary effect on you, different from all the others."</p>

<p>On July 15 Neymar, Lionel Messi, Hugo Lloris, Sergio Ramos or Manuel Neuer could be lifting the trophy rather than Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, whose post-elimination tears captured a nation's heart in November. But a few months later it will come home again to an industrial corner of Italy for its regular once over.</p>

<p>"It's such a coveted trophy that when a team wins it, the players mess around with it and take advantage of it -- a bit too much," says Losa.</p>

<p>"Sometimes it comes back with a bit of work to do. Let's just say that in 2006 the Italians really partied."</p>


The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine

When the World Cup is held aloft in July, it won't be an Italian lifting the trophy. The eliminated Azzurri will not brighten the tournament, but Italians will still make the cup shine. The four-time winners' humiliating exit in November's playoff defeat to Sweden cast a pall over one of the world's proudest football nations. Italy are not going to the World Cup, but the World Cup will come to Italy. Every four years, in an anonymous building in an industrial town near Milan, amid the clouds of metal dust and sound of presses and hammers, an Italian company gets its hands on the World Cup trophy itself -- and gives it a makeover. GDE Bertoni, a small business with 12 employees based in the Milanese suburb of Paderno Dugnano, designed and created the current cup in 1971 after Brazil kept the Jules Rimet trophy after they won the World Cup for the third time, and every four years it returned home for a spruce up. "It's always a special feeling when the original trophy comes back to us, even if we see the replica every day," says Valentina Losa, director of the company her great-grandfather founded in 1938. The trophy was made by the company's then-artistic director, sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, helped by Valentina's father Giorgio, who suggested the globe at the top of the trophy. "The original is the original. It's like the difference between seeing the original Mona Lisa or a copy. It's not the same feeling at all." "Amazing feeling" Standing in front of an autographed photo of Franz Beckenbauer, who in 1974 became the first captain to lift the new trophy, Losa recounts how her company bagged the contract. "There were 53 proposals from all over the world, but we were the only ones to have made a model, a physical product," she says. "Having it in front of you, not just a drawing -- that plays." Soon after every World Cup, FIFA sends the trophy, which is 38 centimetres long and contains more than six kilos of solid gold and malachite, home to be tended to. "For four years it travels and is exposed to the elements. It's a little damaged, but we put it back into shape," says Pietro Brambilla, one of the Bertoni workshop's eight specialist workers. Brambilla has no interest in football but something changes when he sees the World Cup winning captain lift the trophy. "I always shed a tear at that moment because that trophy passed through my hands. It's an amazing feeling," he says. "Not many people can say that they've held the World Cup." Coveted As well as making the original, Bortoni is also responsible for making a replica which the eventual winners of each tournament get to keep. The replica is made from brass, after which is undergoes a range of treatments including milling and polishing before being bathed in 24-carat gold. "We do this by eye. Once we see that she is beautiful, it comes out," says Ahmed Ait Siti Abdelkader, depositing a varnish that will keep the trophy shiny for about a decade. "The World Cup is something different," he adds. "We make a lot of cups here, for Africa, the Gulf, Europe, Central America ... but this one has an extraordinary effect on you, different from all the others." On July 15 Neymar, Lionel Messi, Hugo Lloris, Sergio Ramos or Manuel Neuer could be lifting the trophy rather than Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, whose post-elimination tears captured a nation's heart in November. But a few months later it will come home again to an industrial corner of Italy for its regular once over. "It's such a coveted trophy that when a team wins it, the players mess around with it and take advantage of it -- a bit too much," says Losa. "Sometimes it comes back with a bit of work to do. Let's just say that in 2006 the Italians really partied."

FIFA 2018: Italy not going to World Cup but World Cup comes to Italy

<p>Brazil's star striker Neymar admits "fear" ahead of his return for the World Cup after a lengthy layoff following surgery for a broken bone in his foot.</p>

<p>In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia.</p>

<p>"Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup," the 26-year-old, who has been out since the end of February, said.</p>

<p>The interview with Zico, a great from Brazil's 1980s team, took place last week, just before Neymar returned to France, where he is expected to restart training shortly with Paris Saint-Germain.</p>

<p>He still hopes to be completely rehabilitated by the June 14 start of the World Cup. Brazil's opening game is against Switzerland on June 17.</p>

<p>"The idea is that he can return to working on the field from next week provided that he responds favorably to tomorrow's test," Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told selected media, including AFP, in Paris.</p>

<p>Neymar said that at first his return to competitive levels was "complicated. I was always afraid of making complete movements and I'd end up compensating".</p>

<p>The star also lauded his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, who is just 19, as "the best in the world for his age".</p>

<p>"He's a phenomenon. I've already told (Brazil midfielder) Casemiro that he'll have to take care of him" if Brazil face France in Russia.</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>


In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia

Brazil's star striker Neymar admits "fear" ahead of his return for the World Cup after a lengthy layoff following surgery for a broken bone in his foot. In an interview published Friday on former Brazil legend Zico's YouTube channel, Neymar said he is in a race against time to get mentally ready for the tournament in Russia. "Everything's going well, thank God, but there's always this fear when you come back and I need to get rid of that fear as soon as possible to arrive at the World Cup," the 26-year-old, who has been out since the end of February, said. The interview with Zico, a great from Brazil's 1980s team, took place last week, just before Neymar returned to France, where he is expected to restart training shortly with Paris Saint-Germain. He still hopes to be completely rehabilitated by the June 14 start of the World Cup. Brazil's opening game is against Switzerland on June 17. "The idea is that he can return to working on the field from next week provided that he responds favorably to tomorrow's test," Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told selected media, including AFP, in Paris. Neymar said that at first his return to competitive levels was "complicated. I was always afraid of making complete movements and I'd end up compensating". The star also lauded his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, who is just 19, as "the best in the world for his age". "He's a phenomenon. I've already told (Brazil midfielder) Casemiro that he'll have to take care of him" if Brazil face France in Russia.

Neymar Jr feels 'fear' ahead of his return for FIFA 2018

<p>Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves suffered a knee injury while playing Coupe de France final match and immediately attended by a team of doctors. Now, it is confirmed now that he won't be able to recover in time to make it to Russia.</p>

<p>The Brazilian football federation (CBF) has confirmed it that Brazil right-back Dani Alves has been ruled out of the FIFA 2018.</p>

<p>Dani Alves' ouster is a major blow to the Brazil team as Alves has been a key figure for upcoming football world cup.</p>

<p><img alt="000_14S5ZL_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/000_14S5ZL_0.jpg" width="770" /></p>

<p>Brazil coach, Tite have already been dealing with injuries of star player Neymar and defender Filipe Luis and now Dani Alves ouster is a big concern.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although, Brazil team are aiming for a sixth title, starts in Russia on June 14.</p>


The Brazilian football federation (CBF) has confirmed it that Brazil right-back Dani Alves has been ruled out of the FIFA 2018 due to a knee injury

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves suffered a knee injury while playing Coupe de France final match and immediately attended by a team of doctors. Now, it is confirmed now that he won't be able to recover in time to make it to Russia. The Brazilian football federation (CBF) has confirmed it that Brazil right-back Dani Alves has been ruled out of the FIFA 2018. Dani Alves' ouster is a major blow to the Brazil team as Alves has been a key figure for upcoming football world cup. Brazil coach, Tite have already been dealing with injuries of star player Neymar and defender Filipe Luis and now Dani Alves ouster is a big concern. Although, Brazil team are aiming for a sixth title, starts in Russia on June 14.

Major blow to Brazil as Dani Alves ruled out of FIFA 2018

<p>Former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten on Thursday said that under skipper Virat Kohli, India have a great chance in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.</p>

<p>Kirsten said that though winning a World Cup requires a lot of hard work, he believes the Kohli-led side have a bright chance to clinch the coveted trophy."</p>

<p>You need a lot of luck along the way. There are a lot of good teams out there," he said."But, you know, India have a great team and you know they have got every chance under Virat Kohli to compete and do really well," he concluded&nbsp</p>

<p>The World Cup is slated to be held from May 30 to July 14 next year.&nbsp</p>

<p>The former South African cricketer is set to launch his first-ever cricket academy in India and he has chosen Pune as the location.</p>

<p>Kirsten is currently mentoring the struggling Bangalore in the ongoing 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>

<p>The team currently stands at number seven with just three wins out of 10 games played.</p>


Kirsten said that winning a World Cup requires a lot of hard work

Former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten on Thursday said that under skipper Virat Kohli, India have a great chance in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Kirsten said that though winning a World Cup requires a lot of hard work, he believes the Kohli-led side have a bright chance to clinch the coveted trophy." You need a lot of luck along the way. There are a lot of good teams out there," he said."But, you know, India have a great team and you know they have got every chance under Virat Kohli to compete and do really well," he concluded The World Cup is slated to be held from May 30 to July 14 next year. The former South African cricketer is set to launch his first-ever cricket academy in India and he has chosen Pune as the location. Kirsten is currently mentoring the struggling Bangalore in the ongoing 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team currently stands at number seven with just three wins out of 10 games played.

Virat Kohli-led team have every chance in World Cup 2019: Gary Kirsten

<p>The spat over Saudi Arabia's refusal to support a Moroccan bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the United States at whatever cost, and creeping Saudi and UAE efforts to strongarm countries into supporting their 11-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.</p>

<p>In the latest round of the spat, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority and a close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, broke with the decades-old, often farcical, principle of Arab solidarity, by suggesting that the kingdom would support a US-led rather than a Moroccan bid for the 2026 World Cup.</p>

<p>Adopting a Saudi Arabia First approach, Mr. Al-Sheikh noted that the United States "is our biggest and strongest ally." He recalled that when the World Cup was played in 1994 in nine American cities, the US "was one of our favourites. The fans were numerous, and the Saudi team achieved good results."</p>

<p>In an earlier tweet, Mr&nbsp;Al-Sheikh, noting that none of the contenders for the 2026 bid had sought Saudi support, said that "if someone ever asks, we will look for Saudi Arabia’s interests first."</p>

<p>Mr&nbsp;Al-Sheikh's Saudi Arabia First stance reflected Prince Mohammed's efforts to emphasise Saudi nationalism as a compliment, if not replacement of religion as his regime’s legitimising ideology.</p>

<p>Applying the principle to soccer, takes on added significance given the fact that few other things parallel the depth of emotion that religion evokes in what is a soccer-crazy part of the world.</p>

<p>Underscoring the importance of soccer, Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, in one of his first public acts after being released from three months of detention in Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel and in a demonstration of fealty to Prince Mohammed, donated in February $533,000 to Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal FC.</p>

<p>Prince Alwaleed, who was among the more recalcitrant of the hundreds of members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family, senior officials, and prominent businessmen detained last November in what amounted to a power and asset grab under the mum of an anti-corruption campaign, said the donation was in response to a call by the government.</p>

<p>Mr. Al-Sheikh's apparent support for a joint US-Canadian-Mexican bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup followed a veiled threat by President Donald J. Trump, in violation of guidelines regarding the political influence of world soccer body FIFA, against nations that may oppose the US-led proposition.</p>

<p>Morocco is the US-led bid's only competitor. FIFA is scheduled to choose the 2026 host on June 13.</p>

<p>"The US&nbsp;has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?" Mr. Trump said on Twitter.</p>

<p>"We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate," Mr. Trump added, implicitly linking support for the US-led bid to trade issues.</p>

<p>In his own tweets, Mr. Al-Sheikh made clear that Saudi support for the US-led bid was about more than preserving the kingdom's alliance with the United States.</p>

<p>He suggested that it was yet another indication of an attempt to strongarm countries into supporting the boycott of Qatar that has failed to garner international support and punish those who opposed it.</p>

<p>Morocco, despite close security, military and economic ties to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has refused to take sides in the Gulf conflict and has offered to mediate. As Qatar was scrambling last June to ensure food imports in the days that immediately followed the declaration of the boycott and the cutting of land, air and sea links, Morocco sent several planeloads of supplies to the Gulf state.</p>

<p>"Some people went astray. If you want to support, you should seek it in Riyadh. What you are doing is wasting your time. Now ask the pseudo-state to help you. A message from the Gulf to the Ocean," Mr. Al-Sheikh tweeted several weeks ago, referring to Qatar in derogatory terms and the fact that Morocco’s shores are on the Atlantic Ocean.</p>

<p>Adding insult to injury, Mr. Al-Sheikh posted his tweet at the very moment that his aide and namesake, Talal Al Sheikh, was meeting in the Moroccan capital of Rabat with the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa.</p>

<p>The linking of Saudi Arabia’s position on the World Cup came on the heels of the kingdom’s efforts to force prominent, multi-national financial institutions to take sides in the Gulf dispute. The Saudi push persuaded JP Morgan and HSBC to refrain from participating last month in a $12 billion Qatari bond sale.</p>

<p>The Saudi-Moroccan spat is the latest incident in which the World Cup has become a battleground in the Gulf crisis.</p>

<p>In an indication of the importance, Gulf leaders attribute to Qatar’s ability to garner soft power with its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, Dubai security chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan suggested in October that the UAE-Saudi-led boycott would be lifted if the Gulf state surrendered its hosting rights.</p>

<p>That may have been an overstatement by the notoriously bombastic law enforcement official, but nonetheless reflected thinking about the political importance of sports in Qatar and among its detractors.</p>

<p>The Saudi-Moroccan spat goes, however, beyond the political significance of soccer in the Gulf. It symbolizes the end of a post-colonial era in the Middle East in which Arab states look out for their individual interests rather than perceive themselves as a true bloc in anything but name. That may be a healthy development, albeit one that promises even greater fracturing in an already deeply divided part of the world.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


A Saudi Moroccan soccer spat speaks volumes about the depth of change in the Arab world

The spat over Saudi Arabia's refusal to support a Moroccan bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the United States at whatever cost, and creeping Saudi and UAE efforts to strongarm countries into supporting their 11-month old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar. In the latest round of the spat, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority and a close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, broke with the decades-old, often farcical, principle of Arab solidarity, by suggesting that the kingdom would support a US-led rather than a Moroccan bid for the 2026 World Cup. Adopting a Saudi Arabia First approach, Mr. Al-Sheikh noted that the United States "is our biggest and strongest ally." He recalled that when the World Cup was played in 1994 in nine American cities, the US "was one of our favourites. The fans were numerous, and the Saudi team achieved good results." In an earlier tweet, Mr Al-Sheikh, noting that none of the contenders for the 2026 bid had sought Saudi support, said that "if someone ever asks, we will look for Saudi Arabia’s interests first." Mr Al-Sheikh's Saudi Arabia First stance reflected Prince Mohammed's efforts to emphasise Saudi nationalism as a compliment, if not replacement of religion as his regime’s legitimising ideology. Applying the principle to soccer, takes on added significance given the fact that few other things parallel the depth of emotion that religion evokes in what is a soccer-crazy part of the world. Underscoring the importance of soccer, Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, in one of his first public acts after being released from three months of detention in Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel and in a demonstration of fealty to Prince Mohammed, donated in February $533,000 to Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal FC. Prince Alwaleed, who was among the more recalcitrant of the hundreds of members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family, senior officials, and prominent businessmen detained last November in what amounted to a power and asset grab under the mum of an anti-corruption campaign, said the donation was in response to a call by the government. Mr. Al-Sheikh's apparent support for a joint US-Canadian-Mexican bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup followed a veiled threat by President Donald J. Trump, in violation of guidelines regarding the political influence of world soccer body FIFA, against nations that may oppose the US-led proposition. Morocco is the US-led bid's only competitor. FIFA is scheduled to choose the 2026 host on June 13. "The US has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?" Mr. Trump said on Twitter. "We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate," Mr. Trump added, implicitly linking support for the US-led bid to trade issues. In his own tweets, Mr. Al-Sheikh made clear that Saudi support for the US-led bid was about more than preserving the kingdom's alliance with the United States. He suggested that it was yet another indication of an attempt to strongarm countries into supporting the boycott of Qatar that has failed to garner international support and punish those who opposed it. Morocco, despite close security, military and economic ties to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has refused to take sides in the Gulf conflict and has offered to mediate. As Qatar was scrambling last June to ensure food imports in the days that immediately followed the declaration of the boycott and the cutting of land, air and sea links, Morocco sent several planeloads of supplies to the Gulf state. "Some people went astray. If you want to support, you should seek it in Riyadh. What you are doing is wasting your time. Now ask the pseudo-state to help you. A message from the Gulf to the Ocean," Mr. Al-Sheikh tweeted several weeks ago, referring to Qatar in derogatory terms and the fact that Morocco’s shores are on the Atlantic Ocean. Adding insult to injury, Mr. Al-Sheikh posted his tweet at the very moment that his aide and namesake, Talal Al Sheikh, was meeting in the Moroccan capital of Rabat with the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa. The linking of Saudi Arabia’s position on the World Cup came on the heels of the kingdom’s efforts to force prominent, multi-national financial institutions to take sides in the Gulf dispute. The Saudi push persuaded JP Morgan and HSBC to refrain from participating last month in a $12 billion Qatari bond sale. The Saudi-Moroccan spat is the latest incident in which the World Cup has become a battleground in the Gulf crisis. In an indication of the importance, Gulf leaders attribute to Qatar’s ability to garner soft power with its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, Dubai security chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan suggested in October that the UAE-Saudi-led boycott would be lifted if the Gulf state surrendered its hosting rights. That may have been an overstatement by the notoriously bombastic law enforcement official, but nonetheless reflected thinking about the political importance of sports in Qatar and among its detractors. The Saudi-Moroccan spat goes, however, beyond the political significance of soccer in the Gulf. It symbolizes the end of a post-colonial era in the Middle East in which Arab states look out for their individual interests rather than perceive themselves as a true bloc in anything but name. That may be a healthy development, albeit one that promises even greater fracturing in an already deeply divided part of the world. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Saudi Moroccan soccer spat symbolises the Arab world’s new politics

<p>Twenty third March 2007 is one of the most forgettable days for the Indian Cricket. On this day India lost out to Sri Lanka in 2007 World Cup and crashed out of tournament even before going into last eight.</p>

<p>But I always remember this day in regard to MS Dhoni. Dejected and down, I was discussing the match with my cricket freak friend.</p>

<p>"Will we ever see another 25th June 1983 in our lifetime?" I asked. My friend quipped, out of nowhere "Rest assured, Dhoni will bring many such moments for you in days to come."</p>

<p>No doubt that even by March 2007, MSD had proved his credentials but still comment of my friend was bit intriguing because during that match against Sri Lanka, Dhoni was out for a first ball duck and was at the centre of anger of fans.</p>

<p>Dhoni took just six months to vindicate my friend when under his captaincy India won T-20 World Cup in September 2007. The same Ranchi crowd who pelted his house six months back after the World Cup debacle was garlanding him.</p>

<p>In next six years, Dhoni achieved everything which he could have dreamt – ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and top ICC Test ranking.</p>

<p>Now, let's switch over the discussion to the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League. After half the tournament is over, what are the key takeaways?</p>

<p>The first takeaway is that Gambhir, Yuvraj and Raina now don't have anything to offer and their prospects for national duty are now zilch.&nbsp</p>

<p>Second is that Ambati Rayadu can be a suitable option for number four position in India's One Day International squad.</p>

<p>The third is that youngsters like Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill are good future prospects.</p>

<p>But the most important takeaway from IPL-2018 so far is that MS Dhoni is still a force to reckon with.</p>

<p>Those who were sceptical about credentials and about his place in the Indian playing eleven must have changed their opinion.</p>

<p>Over the past 12-13 years, apart from being a mercurial captain, Dhoni has been one of the finest finishers of the game of all times.&nbsp</p>

<p>During an outstanding career, Dhoni created a sort of cult around him. His memorable six over the long-on that finished the final of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup remains one of the defining moments of Indian cricket.</p>

<p>MSD is a man of strong conviction. When he announced his retirement from Test in early 2015, it was surprising. When India crashed out of 2015 Cricket World Cup, many believe that it is perhaps the end of Dhoni as well. But Dhoni had other ideas. He very well knows his strengths.</p>

<p>Of late during the past couple of years, fraternity started believing that Dhoni magic was waning. His finishing touch had lost and he was taking so many balls to get off the block. This is typical Dhoni's template.</p>

<p>He would cautiously take the innings to the end and then he would provide the massive final blow to seal things. In recent months though, this style of Dhoni failed at few occasions and fans were frowning.</p>

<p>But this IPL, it is a rejuvenated Dhoni. The typical Mahi mojo is back, with a bang. He is finishing the match for his side and the main difference is that he has seemed to have regained the knack of getting off the block without wasting many deliveries.</p>

<p>As ICC World Cup is around 13 months away, the new Dhoni is refreshing news for Indian cricket and he can again play a role of wonderful finisher down the order to the batting line-up, which has likes of Kohli and Rohit Sharma at the top.</p>

<p>Dhoni still has the lot to deliver for Indian cricket. Come 2019, maybe Dhoni will once again prove my friend correct and he play a vital role in bringing yet another proud moment for the Indian fans.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


As ICC World Cup is around 13 months away, the new Dhoni is refreshing news for Indian cricket and he can again play a role of wonderful finisher down the order to the batting line-up

Twenty third March 2007 is one of the most forgettable days for the Indian Cricket. On this day India lost out to Sri Lanka in 2007 World Cup and crashed out of tournament even before going into last eight. But I always remember this day in regard to MS Dhoni. Dejected and down, I was discussing the match with my cricket freak friend. "Will we ever see another 25th June 1983 in our lifetime?" I asked. My friend quipped, out of nowhere "Rest assured, Dhoni will bring many such moments for you in days to come." No doubt that even by March 2007, MSD had proved his credentials but still comment of my friend was bit intriguing because during that match against Sri Lanka, Dhoni was out for a first ball duck and was at the centre of anger of fans. Dhoni took just six months to vindicate my friend when under his captaincy India won T-20 World Cup in September 2007. The same Ranchi crowd who pelted his house six months back after the World Cup debacle was garlanding him. In next six years, Dhoni achieved everything which he could have dreamt – ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and top ICC Test ranking. Now, let's switch over the discussion to the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League. After half the tournament is over, what are the key takeaways? The first takeaway is that Gambhir, Yuvraj and Raina now don't have anything to offer and their prospects for national duty are now zilch. Second is that Ambati Rayadu can be a suitable option for number four position in India's One Day International squad. The third is that youngsters like Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill are good future prospects. But the most important takeaway from IPL-2018 so far is that MS Dhoni is still a force to reckon with. Those who were sceptical about credentials and about his place in the Indian playing eleven must have changed their opinion. Over the past 12-13 years, apart from being a mercurial captain, Dhoni has been one of the finest finishers of the game of all times. During an outstanding career, Dhoni created a sort of cult around him. His memorable six over the long-on that finished the final of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup remains one of the defining moments of Indian cricket. MSD is a man of strong conviction. When he announced his retirement from Test in early 2015, it was surprising. When India crashed out of 2015 Cricket World Cup, many believe that it is perhaps the end of Dhoni as well. But Dhoni had other ideas. He very well knows his strengths. Of late during the past couple of years, fraternity started believing that Dhoni magic was waning. His finishing touch had lost and he was taking so many balls to get off the block. This is typical Dhoni's template. He would cautiously take the innings to the end and then he would provide the massive final blow to seal things. In recent months though, this style of Dhoni failed at few occasions and fans were frowning. But this IPL, it is a rejuvenated Dhoni. The typical Mahi mojo is back, with a bang. He is finishing the match for his side and the main difference is that he has seemed to have regained the knack of getting off the block without wasting many deliveries. As ICC World Cup is around 13 months away, the new Dhoni is refreshing news for Indian cricket and he can again play a role of wonderful finisher down the order to the batting line-up, which has likes of Kohli and Rohit Sharma at the top. Dhoni still has the lot to deliver for Indian cricket. Come 2019, maybe Dhoni will once again prove my friend correct and he play a vital role in bringing yet another proud moment for the Indian fans. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: MS Dhoni's return to form is major takeaway from IPL 2018

<p>Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers' Association, completing a sweep of England's individual prizes.</p>

<p>Salah was chosen as player of the year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions.</p>

<p>The 25-year-old is the first African player to win the prestigious award.</p>

<p>Salah has helped Liverpool, who are third in the Premier League, into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 10 years.</p>

<p>The Merseyside club faces AS Roma in the second leg in the Italian capital on Wednesday and leads 5-2 from the opening game at Anfield in which Salah scored twice and set up two other goals.</p>

<p>Salah will head to the World Cup in Russia to play for Egypt who has been drawn with the hosts, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A.</p>


Salah was chosen as player of the year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions

Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers' Association, completing a sweep of England's individual prizes. Salah was chosen as player of the year by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) after an outstanding season in which he has scored 43 goals in all competitions. The 25-year-old is the first African player to win the prestigious award. Salah has helped Liverpool, who are third in the Premier League, into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. The Merseyside club faces AS Roma in the second leg in the Italian capital on Wednesday and leads 5-2 from the opening game at Anfield in which Salah scored twice and set up two other goals. Salah will head to the World Cup in Russia to play for Egypt who has been drawn with the hosts, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A.

Mohamed Salah voted England's Footballer of the Year

<p>UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has expressed concern over the decision to employ the video replay system (VAR) at the 2018 World Cup, saying the technology still needed more testing before it can be considered for use in the Champions League.</p>

<p>Global&nbspsoccer&nbspbody FIFA voted in March to deploy VAR at the June-July tournament in Russia, only two weeks after its use was approved by IFAB, the organisation responsible for rule changes in the sport.</p>

<p>"I have some fear for the World Cup, where we will have referees who have never officiated with the VAR," Ceferin told Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.</p>

<p>"I hope there are no scandals or problems."</p>

<p>Ceferin has already said that VAR would not be used in the Champions League next season.</p>

<p>"The Champions League is like a Ferrari or a Porsche: you cannot drive it right away, you need training, offline testing. And everyone has to understand how it works," he said.</p>

<p>"It's too early for VAR. That doesn't mean we will never have it as the process is inevitable... We'll have it one day in the Champions League but there's no rush."</p>

<p>VAR is already being used in Serie A, the Bundesliga and Portugal's Primeira Liga this season, among others. IFAB insists it has reduced refereeing mistakes but critics say there has been confusion in a number of matches.</p>

<p>Goals have been annulled several minutes after being scored -- with the teams waiting to restart -- and penalties revoked with the ball on the spot.</p>

<p>Another criticism is that the spectators are not kept informed of what is happening when a decision is reviewed.</p>

<p>Ceferin said that VAR would not have made any difference in last week's Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Juventus, where a soft stoppage-time penalty led to the Spanish side advancing 4-3 on aggregate. "What would have changed with VAR? Nothing. There are those who have watched it 20 times, I've watched it 50, but for half the people it's a penalty and for the other half, it isn't."</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>


UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has expressed concern over the decision to employ the video replay system (VAR) at the 2018 World Cup

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has expressed concern over the decision to employ the video replay system (VAR) at the 2018 World Cup, saying the technology still needed more testing before it can be considered for use in the Champions League. Global&nbspsoccer&nbspbody FIFA voted in March to deploy VAR at the June-July tournament in Russia, only two weeks after its use was approved by IFAB, the organisation responsible for rule changes in the sport. "I have some fear for the World Cup, where we will have referees who have never officiated with the VAR," Ceferin told Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview. "I hope there are no scandals or problems." Ceferin has already said that VAR would not be used in the Champions League next season. "The Champions League is like a Ferrari or a Porsche: you cannot drive it right away, you need training, offline testing. And everyone has to understand how it works," he said. "It's too early for VAR. That doesn't mean we will never have it as the process is inevitable... We'll have it one day in the Champions League but there's no rush." VAR is already being used in Serie A, the Bundesliga and Portugal's Primeira Liga this season, among others. IFAB insists it has reduced refereeing mistakes but critics say there has been confusion in a number of matches. Goals have been annulled several minutes after being scored -- with the teams waiting to restart -- and penalties revoked with the ball on the spot. Another criticism is that the spectators are not kept informed of what is happening when a decision is reviewed. Ceferin said that VAR would not have made any difference in last week's Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Juventus, where a soft stoppage-time penalty led to the Spanish side advancing 4-3 on aggregate. "What would have changed with VAR? Nothing. There are those who have watched it 20 times, I've watched it 50, but for half the people it's a penalty and for the other half, it isn't."

UEFA president 'worried' over use of VAR at World Cup

<p>Recently, Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA warm-up matches. Although, former Argentine football legends have backed the team ahead of World Cup but the dependency of the team on Lionel Messi is very much visible by their current performance.</p>

<p>Lionel Messi, who is currently suffering from a muscle injury, was not there in the squad list of Argentina against Spain in the FIFA friendly match.</p>

<p>Though he was watching the game from the stands&nbsp;but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection.</p>

<p><em>Messi's reaction during the Argentina-Spain friendly match:</em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat.<a href="https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K">https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/979015254964281345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Mario Kempes, formers Argentine player said, on recent Argentina's performance, "There is time to correct mistakes, there is time to form that team."</p>

<p>Ricardo Villa, 1978 Argentina World Cup champion, said, "I am quite critical with the authorities of Argentine soccer. They have changed the head coaches very often."</p>

<p>Ricardo further added, "For Sampaoli this is a problem, he still doesn't have the team but I think he's going to do it."</p>

<p><em>2018 World Cup trophy unveiled in Argentina:</em></p>

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<p>Lionel Messi has suffered a hoodoo in the finals of the major tournaments like World Cup and Copa America.</p>

<p>In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions.</p>

<p>Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties.</p>

<p>The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already&nbsp;in his thirties and has already said&nbsp;he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup.</p>

<p><em>Lionel Messi during practice session:</em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">[SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Último entrenamiento de <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Argentina</a> previo al duelo ante <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Espa%C3%B1a?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#España</a>. <a href="https://t.co/3ZSFnpKhsm">pic.twitter.com/3ZSFnpKhsm</a></p>
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina/status/978293612290113542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already in his thirties and has already said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup

Recently, Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA warm-up matches. Although, former Argentine football legends have backed the team ahead of World Cup but the dependency of the team on Lionel Messi is very much visible by their current performance. Lionel Messi, who is currently suffering from a muscle injury, was not there in the squad list of Argentina against Spain in the FIFA friendly match. Though he was watching the game from the stands but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection. Messi's reaction during the Argentina-Spain friendly match: Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat.https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K — WION (@WIONews) March 28, 2018 × Mario Kempes, formers Argentine player said, on recent Argentina's performance, "There is time to correct mistakes, there is time to form that team." Ricardo Villa, 1978 Argentina World Cup champion, said, "I am quite critical with the authorities of Argentine soccer. They have changed the head coaches very often." Ricardo further added, "For Sampaoli this is a problem, he still doesn't have the team but I think he's going to do it." 2018 World Cup trophy unveiled in Argentina: × Lionel Messi has suffered a hoodoo in the finals of the major tournaments like World Cup and Copa America. In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions. Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties. The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already in his thirties and has already said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup. Lionel Messi during practice session: [SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Último entrenamiento de @Argentina previo al duelo ante #España. pic.twitter.com/3ZSFnpKhsm — Selección Argentina (@Argentina) March 26, 2018 ×

'Messi-dependent' Argentina might suffer again in FIFA World Cup

<p>World Cup-bound England had the wind taken out of their sails as Italy's Lorenzo Insigne scored an 86th-minute penalty, awarded by VAR, to cancel out Jamie Vardy's opener and secure a 1-1 draw in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The Video Assistant Referee will be used at this year's finals in Russia and as an example of things to come it rescued Italy as they gained some crumbs of comfort after a woeful run of form that cost them a place at the tournament.</p>

<p>It was tough on England who, apart from a sloppy opening spell, had looked reasonably assured in what was a high-profile audition for those players still hoping to grab a place in Gareth Southgate's final squad.</p>

<p>Vardy did his chances no harm at all when he thumped home after a quickly-taken free kick by Jesse Lingard in the 26th minute for his seventh England goal.</p>

<p>Burnley's James Tarkowski, handed a debut in a back three, also did little wrong although it was his tackle on substitute Federico Chiesa that allowed Italy a first goal in four games and ended England's run of five clean sheets.</p>

<p>Two of those shutouts were against Germany and Brazil while they also beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Amsterdam on Friday and, although they could not take the scalp of four-times world champions Italy, the England boss was upbeat.</p>

<p>"I feel that we have made positive progression," Southgate, who will name his provisional 33-man squad on May 14, said.</p>

<p>"In terms of the last four games we have played four of the biggest football countries in the world and we have been competitive in every game and our patterns of play have become a lot clearer to everybody."</p>

<p>What is not yet clear is the impact of VAR.</p>

<p>Chiesa's theatrical fall did not initially impress German referee Deniz Aytekin but after the intervention of VAR he pointed to the spot and, with boos ringing around the stadium, Insigne beat Jack Butland with a perfect spot kick.</p>

<p>It was a marginal call as Chiesa appeared to be already off balance when Tarkowski inadvertently trod on his foot.</p>

<p><strong>STEADY PROGRESS</strong></p>

<p>Italy arrived at Wembley in the doldrums after becoming the biggest casualties of the qualifying campaign.</p>

<p>England, on the other hand, are attracting quiet optimism after steady progress under Southgate's thoughtful stewardship.</p>

<p>There are still questions to answer, however, and John Stones did his best to undermine the growing confidence in England's defence with a sloppy opening in which he twice almost allowed Ciro Immobile to score.</p>

<p>First he played Immobile onside but the striker failed to react quickly enough and then Stones dallied on the ball in his own area and had his pocket picked by Immobile who again lacked the required sharpness to punish the Manchester City man.</p>

<p>Immobile wasted another chance when he headed over the bar after being left unmarked in the area.</p>

<p>Raheem Sterling was England's best attacking option with his driving runs causing panic at the heart of Italy's defence.</p>

<p>He had already carved out a chance for Vardy when he burst forward again only to be bundled over on the edge of the area.</p>

<p>Jesse Lingard took the free kick instantaneously and rolled the ball to Vardy who smashed his shot past Italy's teenage keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.</p>

<p>The goal settled England down and they began to assert some control with Ashley Young, given a first start under Southgate, rolling a cross-shot just wide after another Sterling burst.</p>

<p>England were comfortable after the break as Italy lacked any goal threat but the usual raft of substitutions from both sides disrupted what little rhythm the match had.</p>

<p>The Mexican waves were well underway when Italy finished with a late flourish.</p>

<p>Insigne went close with a volley after some slick passing and then Chiesa fell theatrically under the challenge of Burnley defender Tarkowski to change the mood in the stadium and send the small Italian contingent in the 82,000 crowd home happy.</p>


The two sides drew 1-1. (Italy, remember, is not going to the World Cup)

World Cup-bound England had the wind taken out of their sails as Italy's Lorenzo Insigne scored an 86th-minute penalty, awarded by VAR, to cancel out Jamie Vardy's opener and secure a 1-1 draw in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday. The Video Assistant Referee will be used at this year's finals in Russia and as an example of things to come it rescued Italy as they gained some crumbs of comfort after a woeful run of form that cost them a place at the tournament. It was tough on England who, apart from a sloppy opening spell, had looked reasonably assured in what was a high-profile audition for those players still hoping to grab a place in Gareth Southgate's final squad. Vardy did his chances no harm at all when he thumped home after a quickly-taken free kick by Jesse Lingard in the 26th minute for his seventh England goal. Burnley's James Tarkowski, handed a debut in a back three, also did little wrong although it was his tackle on substitute Federico Chiesa that allowed Italy a first goal in four games and ended England's run of five clean sheets. Two of those shutouts were against Germany and Brazil while they also beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Amsterdam on Friday and, although they could not take the scalp of four-times world champions Italy, the England boss was upbeat. "I feel that we have made positive progression," Southgate, who will name his provisional 33-man squad on May 14, said. "In terms of the last four games we have played four of the biggest football countries in the world and we have been competitive in every game and our patterns of play have become a lot clearer to everybody." What is not yet clear is the impact of VAR. Chiesa's theatrical fall did not initially impress German referee Deniz Aytekin but after the intervention of VAR he pointed to the spot and, with boos ringing around the stadium, Insigne beat Jack Butland with a perfect spot kick. It was a marginal call as Chiesa appeared to be already off balance when Tarkowski inadvertently trod on his foot. STEADY PROGRESS Italy arrived at Wembley in the doldrums after becoming the biggest casualties of the qualifying campaign. England, on the other hand, are attracting quiet optimism after steady progress under Southgate's thoughtful stewardship. There are still questions to answer, however, and John Stones did his best to undermine the growing confidence in England's defence with a sloppy opening in which he twice almost allowed Ciro Immobile to score. First he played Immobile onside but the striker failed to react quickly enough and then Stones dallied on the ball in his own area and had his pocket picked by Immobile who again lacked the required sharpness to punish the Manchester City man. Immobile wasted another chance when he headed over the bar after being left unmarked in the area. Raheem Sterling was England's best attacking option with his driving runs causing panic at the heart of Italy's defence. He had already carved out a chance for Vardy when he burst forward again only to be bundled over on the edge of the area. Jesse Lingard took the free kick instantaneously and rolled the ball to Vardy who smashed his shot past Italy's teenage keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The goal settled England down and they began to assert some control with Ashley Young, given a first start under Southgate, rolling a cross-shot just wide after another Sterling burst. England were comfortable after the break as Italy lacked any goal threat but the usual raft of substitutions from both sides disrupted what little rhythm the match had. The Mexican waves were well underway when Italy finished with a late flourish. Insigne went close with a volley after some slick passing and then Chiesa fell theatrically under the challenge of Burnley defender Tarkowski to change the mood in the stadium and send the small Italian contingent in the 82,000 crowd home happy.

World Cup friendlies: Late Italy penalty takes wind out of England's sails

<p>England striker Jamie Vardy believes the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) leaves players and fans with little idea of "what is going on" just three months before the system is to be used at the World Cup.</p>

<p>Vardy's first-half strike had England on course for another fine World Cup warm-up friendly result against four-time world champions Italy on Tuesday, until the visitors were awarded a penalty three minutes from time on video review.</p>

<p>German referee Deniz Aytekin overturned his original decision not to point to the spot when Federico Chiesa tumbled under the challenge of debutant James Tarkowski.</p>

<p>Aytekin came to the side of the pitch to review the decision himself and took less than two minutes to change his mind before Lorenzo Insigne dispatched the spot-kick to earn a 1-1 draw for the visitors.</p>

<p>However, Vardy believes the process still needs to be improved for those inside the stadium.</p>

<p>"They say they are using it at the World Cup so we have used it tonight," said Vardy. "Most of it is down to players and supporters not knowing what is going on.</p>

<p>"It is okay to come up and say VAR is in use but no-one knows what it is going on. It is obviously taking time as well, there were five minutes added on."</p>

<p>England manager Gareth Southgate complained Aytekin's initial decision wasn't a case of a "clear and obvious" error.</p>

<p>According to the rules regarding VAR, only clear and obvious mistakes should be reviewed.</p>

<p>And Southgate also called for better communication with fans inside the stadium, claiming those watching at home are currently more informed than the paying public.</p>

<p>"A better way of communicating with fans in the ground (is needed)," said Southgate.</p>

<p>"That was a little better tonight because at least they knew something was going on, but I think ideally in other sports there is a clearer communication with those in the stadium.</p>

<p>"When those at home have a better idea of what is going on than those in the stadium, I'm not sure that's the right thing."</p>


England striker Jamie Vardy believes the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) leaves players and fans with little idea of "what is going on"

England striker Jamie Vardy believes the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) leaves players and fans with little idea of "what is going on" just three months before the system is to be used at the World Cup. Vardy's first-half strike had England on course for another fine World Cup warm-up friendly result against four-time world champions Italy on Tuesday, until the visitors were awarded a penalty three minutes from time on video review. German referee Deniz Aytekin overturned his original decision not to point to the spot when Federico Chiesa tumbled under the challenge of debutant James Tarkowski. Aytekin came to the side of the pitch to review the decision himself and took less than two minutes to change his mind before Lorenzo Insigne dispatched the spot-kick to earn a 1-1 draw for the visitors. However, Vardy believes the process still needs to be improved for those inside the stadium. "They say they are using it at the World Cup so we have used it tonight," said Vardy. "Most of it is down to players and supporters not knowing what is going on. "It is okay to come up and say VAR is in use but no-one knows what it is going on. It is obviously taking time as well, there were five minutes added on." England manager Gareth Southgate complained Aytekin's initial decision wasn't a case of a "clear and obvious" error. According to the rules regarding VAR, only clear and obvious mistakes should be reviewed. And Southgate also called for better communication with fans inside the stadium, claiming those watching at home are currently more informed than the paying public. "A better way of communicating with fans in the ground (is needed)," said Southgate. "That was a little better tonight because at least they knew something was going on, but I think ideally in other sports there is a clearer communication with those in the stadium. "When those at home have a better idea of what is going on than those in the stadium, I'm not sure that's the right thing."

Video Assistant Referee confuses players and fans: Jamie Vardy

<p>Brazil coach Tite says the "ghost" of their 7-1 mauling by Germany at the 2014 World Cup still haunts the 'Selecao', as the teams prepare to meet on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Brazil suffered their heaviest home defeat when Germany hit four goals in six devastating first-half minutes of the Belo Horizonte semi-final nearly four years ago.</p>

<p>Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle both scored twice over the 90 minutes as Germany's attack ran riot en route to winning the World Cup title.</p>

<p>The teams meet in a friendly for the first time since at Berlin's Olympic Stadium and Tite says Brazil still bear the scars.</p>

<p>"This has a huge psychological meaning - no one needs to fool themselves about that," Tite told German magazine Kicker.</p>

<p>"The 7-1 from the World Cup is like a ghost.</p>

<p>"It's present, people still talk about it, but the more you talk about it, the less this 'ghost' disappears.</p>

<p>"It won't just be a sporting challenge, but a huge emotional challenge too.</p>

<p>"We are preparing to give our best performance, which will be important, but of course I also want a good result."</p>

<p>Tite has been in charge of Brazil since 2016, but Felipe Scolari was head coach for the mauling by Germany at the last World Cup.</p>

<p>"I was watching the game at home in Sao Paulo with my wife and after the third goal went in, she started to cry," said the 56-year-old Tite.</p>

<p>"That started me off.</p>

<p>"It was a moment of great inspiration for Germany, every shot was a goal - stuff like that doesn't even happen in video games.</p>

<p>"Sometimes you get that in football, a team comes close to perfection and that's what happened to Germany.</p>

<p>"The wound is still open and the match in Berlin is a part of the process of closing it."</p>

<p>Germany lost to Brazil on penalties in the men's final of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but this is their first meeting at the senior international level since the 7-1 rout.</p>

<p>Tite told Brazil reporters that Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho will replace Douglas Costa in the only change from the team which beat Russia 3-0 in Moscow on Friday.</p>

<p>Germany head coach Joachim Loew expects to make up to five changes from the starting line-up of Friday's 1-1 with Spain.</p>

<p>Stars Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller have been released by Loew to rest while Ilkay Gundogan is expected to start in Germany's midfield.&nbsp</p>

<p>Tite explained in depth why he sees Germany as one of the favourites to defend their World Cup title this June in Russia.</p>

<p>"Not only because of the football, but because of something hard to attain: continuity in their performances," said the Brazilian.</p>

<p>"It has been a process in the years under Joachim Loew.</p>

<p>"Tactically, Germany has a lot of options, you saw that at the Confederations Cup (which they won) with high-quality young players."</p>


Brazil suffered their heaviest home defeat when Germany hit four goals in six devastating first-half minutes of the Belo Horizonte semi-final nearly four years ago

Brazil coach Tite says the "ghost" of their 7-1 mauling by Germany at the 2014 World Cup still haunts the 'Selecao', as the teams prepare to meet on Tuesday. Brazil suffered their heaviest home defeat when Germany hit four goals in six devastating first-half minutes of the Belo Horizonte semi-final nearly four years ago. Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle both scored twice over the 90 minutes as Germany's attack ran riot en route to winning the World Cup title. The teams meet in a friendly for the first time since at Berlin's Olympic Stadium and Tite says Brazil still bear the scars. "This has a huge psychological meaning - no one needs to fool themselves about that," Tite told German magazine Kicker. "The 7-1 from the World Cup is like a ghost. "It's present, people still talk about it, but the more you talk about it, the less this 'ghost' disappears. "It won't just be a sporting challenge, but a huge emotional challenge too. "We are preparing to give our best performance, which will be important, but of course I also want a good result." Tite has been in charge of Brazil since 2016, but Felipe Scolari was head coach for the mauling by Germany at the last World Cup. "I was watching the game at home in Sao Paulo with my wife and after the third goal went in, she started to cry," said the 56-year-old Tite. "That started me off. "It was a moment of great inspiration for Germany, every shot was a goal - stuff like that doesn't even happen in video games. "Sometimes you get that in football, a team comes close to perfection and that's what happened to Germany. "The wound is still open and the match in Berlin is a part of the process of closing it." Germany lost to Brazil on penalties in the men's final of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but this is their first meeting at the senior international level since the 7-1 rout. Tite told Brazil reporters that Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho will replace Douglas Costa in the only change from the team which beat Russia 3-0 in Moscow on Friday. Germany head coach Joachim Loew expects to make up to five changes from the starting line-up of Friday's 1-1 with Spain. Stars Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller have been released by Loew to rest while Ilkay Gundogan is expected to start in Germany's midfield. Tite explained in depth why he sees Germany as one of the favourites to defend their World Cup title this June in Russia. "Not only because of the football, but because of something hard to attain: continuity in their performances," said the Brazilian. "It has been a process in the years under Joachim Loew. "Tactically, Germany has a lot of options, you saw that at the Confederations Cup (which they won) with high-quality young players."

'Ghost' of 7-1 Germany mauling still haunts Brazil: Tite

<p>After the global soccer body announced it had received bid books from two candidates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday described the bid process for the 2026 World Cup as fair, objective and transparent.</p>

<p>"I challenge anyone to point out an organisation that conducts a bidding process as fair, objective and transparent as the one that FIFA is carrying out for the 2026 FIFA World Cup," Infantino said in the statement.</p>

<p>As FIFA is due to choose the hosts at its annual congress in Moscow in June, a statement from their side said it had received one bid from Morocco and a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico.</p>

<p>"FIFA has been heavily criticised for how it conducted the selection of hosts in the past it was our obligation to learn from this and leave no room for any doubt or subjectivity," Infantino added.&nbsp</p>

<p>The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations.</p>

<p>"This is why the rules of this process... include the highest standards in terms of ethical conduct, participation and commitment to sustainability and human rights," the FIFA President concluded.<br />
&nbsp</p>

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The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations.

After the global soccer body announced it had received bid books from two candidates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday described the bid process for the 2026 World Cup as fair, objective and transparent. "I challenge anyone to point out an organisation that conducts a bidding process as fair, objective and transparent as the one that FIFA is carrying out for the 2026 FIFA World Cup," Infantino said in the statement. As FIFA is due to choose the hosts at its annual congress in Moscow in June, a statement from their side said it had received one bid from Morocco and a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico. "FIFA has been heavily criticised for how it conducted the selection of hosts in the past it was our obligation to learn from this and leave no room for any doubt or subjectivity," Infantino added. The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations. "This is why the rules of this process... include the highest standards in terms of ethical conduct, participation and commitment to sustainability and human rights," the FIFA President concluded. Related Iceland leaders won't attend FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer Xavi appointed as global ambassador of Qatar for FIFA World... 'Ghost' of 7-1 Germany mauling still haunts Brazil: Tite British fans will be safe in Russia: Russian ambassador Yakovenko

World Cup bidding process fair and transparent: FIFA Presiden

<p>After the global soccer body announced it had received bid books from two candidates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday described the bid process for the 2026 World Cup as fair, objective and transparent.</p>

<p>"I challenge anyone to point out an organisation that conducts a bidding process as fair, objective and transparent as the one that FIFA is carrying out for the 2026 FIFA World Cup," Infantino said in the statement.</p>

<p>As FIFA is due to choose the hosts at its annual congress in Moscow in June, a statement from their side said it had received one bid from Morocco and a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico.</p>

<p>"FIFA has been heavily criticised for how it conducted the selection of hosts in the past it was our obligation to learn from this and leave no room for any doubt or subjectivity," Infantino added.&nbsp</p>

<p>The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations.</p>

<p>"This is why the rules of this process... include the highest standards in terms of ethical conduct, participation and commitment to sustainability and human rights," the FIFA President concluded.</p>


The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations

After the global soccer body announced it had received bid books from two candidates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday described the bid process for the 2026 World Cup as fair, objective and transparent. "I challenge anyone to point out an organisation that conducts a bidding process as fair, objective and transparent as the one that FIFA is carrying out for the 2026 FIFA World Cup," Infantino said in the statement. As FIFA is due to choose the hosts at its annual congress in Moscow in June, a statement from their side said it had received one bid from Morocco and a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico. "FIFA has been heavily criticised for how it conducted the selection of hosts in the past it was our obligation to learn from this and leave no room for any doubt or subjectivity," Infantino added. The two bids will be evaluated by a task force which will visit all the potential host nations. "This is why the rules of this process... include the highest standards in terms of ethical conduct, participation and commitment to sustainability and human rights," the FIFA President concluded.

World Cup bidding process fair and transparent: FIFA President

<p>Xavier Hernandez, former Spanish professional footballer who currently plays as a central-midfielder for Qatari club Al Sadd SC was named as a global ambassador for the 2022 World Cup local organising committee in Qatar on Sunday.</p>

<p>The 38-year-old who is known for playing for the Spain national team and Barcelona will be an ambassador for the organisation "responsible for delivering the infrastructure" for the World Cup.</p>

<p>"I have seen first-hand what football can achieve in communities in Qatar and across the region," the former Barcelona midfielder said in a statement.</p>

<p>"Football has the power to unite people, dispel stereotypes and break down social barriers," he further added.</p>

<p>Xavi is the first player in Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches, Xavi played for Barca for 17 years from 1998, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns while claiming the World Cup with Spain in 2010.</p>

<p>For his excellence&nbspin sports, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2012.</p>


The 38-year-old who is known for playing for the Spain national team and Barcelona will be an ambassador for the organisation "responsible for delivering the infrastructure" for the World Cup

Xavier Hernandez, former Spanish professional footballer who currently plays as a central-midfielder for Qatari club Al Sadd SC was named as a global ambassador for the 2022 World Cup local organising committee in Qatar on Sunday. The 38-year-old who is known for playing for the Spain national team and Barcelona will be an ambassador for the organisation "responsible for delivering the infrastructure" for the World Cup. "I have seen first-hand what football can achieve in communities in Qatar and across the region," the former Barcelona midfielder said in a statement. "Football has the power to unite people, dispel stereotypes and break down social barriers," he further added. Xavi is the first player in Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches, Xavi played for Barca for 17 years from 1998, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns while claiming the World Cup with Spain in 2010. For his excellence&nbspin sports, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2012.

Xavi appointed as global ambassador of Qatar for FIFA World Cup 2022

<p>Diego Maradona, the former football World Cup winner and Argentine legend&nbsp;defended Lionel Messi ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018.</p>

<p>Lionel Messi, who is famously jinxed in the finals of the&nbsp;major tournaments like&nbsp; World Cup and Copa America has experts baying for his blood once again as Argentina gets set for Russia.</p>

<p>In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions.</p>

<p>Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the&nbsp;Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties.</p>

<p>Recently, Messi said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn&#39;t win the World Cup.</p>

<p>Responding to this, former Argentine legend Maradona said, &quot;Messi always showed he loves football, that doesn&#39;t change whether he plays or doesn&#39;t play in a World Cup. Messi is Messi, with or without a World Cup.&quot;</p>

<p>Maradona also supported the use of video review (Video Assistant Referee-VAR) to help referees at the World Cup. He hailed it as a landmark decision.</p>

<p>He said, &quot;I think that technology now is doing good in football...and I think it will be at the forefront for transparency in this new FIFA.&quot;</p>

<p>In a recent interview to a TV news program which broadcast on the America TV channel, Messi said, &quot;I have seen in many places in the world that people want this to be a good World Cup for me. The truth is I find this amazing.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">????️???????? | &quot;I have seen in many places in the world that people want this to be a good World Cup for me. The truth is I find this amazing&quot;<br />
<br />
???? <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Argentina</a>&#39;s Lionel Messi, speaking with <a href="https://twitter.com/LaCornisaok?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaCornisaok</a> ahead of important <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> preparation matches <a href="https://t.co/A9tpEMUDmp">pic.twitter.com/A9tpEMUDmp</a></p>
&mdash; FIFA World Cup ???? (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/976590665852293121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Maradona also supported the use of video review (Video Assistant Referee-VAR) to help referees at the World Cup

Diego Maradona, the former football World Cup winner and Argentine legend defended Lionel Messi ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018. Lionel Messi, who is famously jinxed in the finals of the major tournaments like World Cup and Copa America has experts baying for his blood once again as Argentina gets set for Russia. In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions. Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties. Recently, Messi said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup. Responding to this, former Argentine legend Maradona said, "Messi always showed he loves football, that doesn't change whether he plays or doesn't play in a World Cup. Messi is Messi, with or without a World Cup." Maradona also supported the use of video review (Video Assistant Referee-VAR) to help referees at the World Cup. He hailed it as a landmark decision. He said, "I think that technology now is doing good in football...and I think it will be at the forefront for transparency in this new FIFA." In a recent interview to a TV news program which broadcast on the America TV channel, Messi said, "I have seen in many places in the world that people want this to be a good World Cup for me. The truth is I find this amazing." ????️???????? | "I have seen in many places in the world that people want this to be a good World Cup for me. The truth is I find this amazing" ???? @Argentina's Lionel Messi, speaking with @LaCornisaok ahead of important #WorldCup preparation matches pic.twitter.com/A9tpEMUDmp — FIFA World Cup ???? (@FIFAWorldCup) March 21, 2018 ×

Messi is Messi, with or without World Cup: Diego Maradona

<p>Lionel Messi begins his road to World Cup redemption on Friday as Argentina take on Italy in a glamour friendly, desperate to win a major international prize to crown his glorious career.</p>

<p>In Barcelona&#39;s colours, Messi has experienced nothing but success, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns, while earning FIFA&#39;s Ballon d&#39;Or award five times.</p>

<p>But pulling on Argentina&#39;s blue-and-white striped shirt has brought the forward some of the most painful moments of his career.</p>

<p>Rarely able to hit the same heights with Argentina that he routinely scales with Barcelona, Messi has endured stinging criticism from &#39;Albiceleste&#39; fans at times.</p>

<p>Nobody would dispute Messi&#39;s status as one of the all-time greats, but many in Argentina believe he cannot be considered on the same level as Diego Maradona until he wins a major honour with his country, as his compatriot did at the 1986 World Cup.</p>

<p>Rubbing salt into those wounds, Messi has lost in three successive major finals with Argentina as the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America titles slipped from his grasp.</p>

<p>&quot;I cried many times because of games like these, for lost finals, for what they mean and for not being able to achieve the dream of a country. It was a hard blow to take,&quot; Messi recently told Argentine television programme La Cornisa.</p>

<p>The last World Cup was devastating to Messi as he missed a golden opportunity to put Argentina ahead in the final against Germany, who went on to win 1-0 in extra-time.</p>

<p>As if that was not bad enough, for the first time in his career, he missed in a penalty shootout when Argentina were beaten by Chile in the Copa America final two years ago.</p>

<p><strong>Last chance?</strong><br />
Although Messi is still in his prime, the 30-year-old realises the World Cup in Russia, which starts in June, could represent his last chance to hoist the famous gold trophy.</p>

<p>He will be approaching the twilight of his career by the time the 2022 edition kicks off in Qatar. Messi will have also noted that key Argentina team-mates Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi and Javier Mascherano will all be 30 or over this year.</p>

<p>&quot;Obviously, we depend on results and therefore the thinking in this group is that having got to three finals and not being able to win and even then people say a lot of things about us, if we are not champions then we won&#39;t have another one (opportunity),&quot; Messi said.</p>

<p>Having edged through to the finals thanks to Messi&#39;s treble in a 3-1 win over Ecuador in October, Argentina are focused on peaking in Russia, where they will play Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria in the group stage.</p>

<p>First up is an intriguing test against an Italy side that failed to qualify for the World Cup.</p>

<p>Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli believes the match at Manchester City&#39;s ground will help to sharpen his side before a second friendly in Spain next week.</p>

<p>&quot;Each match and training session is fundamental for us in preparation for the World Cup. Playing against Italy, in a venue as important as Etihad Stadium, is an invitation to a great event,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Every Argentine in the world wants to be there when the national team plays. We are certain they will accompany us for this one.&quot; AFP</p>


This could be Messi's last chance to win the World Cup

Lionel Messi begins his road to World Cup redemption on Friday as Argentina take on Italy in a glamour friendly, desperate to win a major international prize to crown his glorious career. In Barcelona's colours, Messi has experienced nothing but success, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns, while earning FIFA's Ballon d'Or award five times. But pulling on Argentina's blue-and-white striped shirt has brought the forward some of the most painful moments of his career. Rarely able to hit the same heights with Argentina that he routinely scales with Barcelona, Messi has endured stinging criticism from 'Albiceleste' fans at times. Nobody would dispute Messi's status as one of the all-time greats, but many in Argentina believe he cannot be considered on the same level as Diego Maradona until he wins a major honour with his country, as his compatriot did at the 1986 World Cup. Rubbing salt into those wounds, Messi has lost in three successive major finals with Argentina as the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America titles slipped from his grasp. "I cried many times because of games like these, for lost finals, for what they mean and for not being able to achieve the dream of a country. It was a hard blow to take," Messi recently told Argentine television programme La Cornisa. The last World Cup was devastating to Messi as he missed a golden opportunity to put Argentina ahead in the final against Germany, who went on to win 1-0 in extra-time. As if that was not bad enough, for the first time in his career, he missed in a penalty shootout when Argentina were beaten by Chile in the Copa America final two years ago. Last chance? Although Messi is still in his prime, the 30-year-old realises the World Cup in Russia, which starts in June, could represent his last chance to hoist the famous gold trophy. He will be approaching the twilight of his career by the time the 2022 edition kicks off in Qatar. Messi will have also noted that key Argentina team-mates Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi and Javier Mascherano will all be 30 or over this year. "Obviously, we depend on results and therefore the thinking in this group is that having got to three finals and not being able to win and even then people say a lot of things about us, if we are not champions then we won't have another one (opportunity)," Messi said. Having edged through to the finals thanks to Messi's treble in a 3-1 win over Ecuador in October, Argentina are focused on peaking in Russia, where they will play Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria in the group stage. First up is an intriguing test against an Italy side that failed to qualify for the World Cup. Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli believes the match at Manchester City's ground will help to sharpen his side before a second friendly in Spain next week. "Each match and training session is fundamental for us in preparation for the World Cup. Playing against Italy, in a venue as important as Etihad Stadium, is an invitation to a great event," he said. "Every Argentine in the world wants to be there when the national team plays. We are certain they will accompany us for this one." AFP

Football World Cup friendlies: Argentina take on Italy

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