FIFA on Friday announced it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina for “offensive behaviour” during their World Cup final triumph over France last month.
The South Americans downed holders France on penalties in Qatar after a dramatic 3-3 draw.
A member of Oman’s parliament, Ahmed Al Barwani, has offered Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi $1 million (Watch Video Here) for the bisht which the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, gifted him following his team’s victory over France at the finals on Sunday in Doha. (Watch Video Here)
The bisht is an Arabic robe traditionally worn for special or ceremonial occasions such as Weddings or religious festivals.
The Qatar Emir decorated the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner with the bisht as he was about to lift the coveted trophy. (Watch Video Here)
Making his offer in a Twitter post Al Barwani, who is also a lawyer wrote, “My friend Messi, I congratulate you on winning the World Cup. (the Emir of Qatar) dazzled me as he placed a bisht, a symbol of magnanimity and wisdom, over your shoulders. (Watch Video Here)
“I’m offering you a million dollars to give me that bisht,” he further said.
Argentina dethroned France as world champions following 4-2 victory on penalties after 3-3 draw in a dramatic 120 minutes of football that saw Mbappe score a hat-trick while Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi scored a brace for Argentina, with Angel Di Maria scoring the other goal for the South American champions
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on Friday accused (Watch Video Here) Argentine players of being “inelegant winners” and “vulgar” for mocking her country’s star Kylian Mbappe after winning the World Cup final. (Watch Video Here)
“As much as our French team knew how to lose with panache, so the manner in which this Argentine team acted after this victory was not worthy of the match we saw”, the minister told French radio station RTL. (Watch Video Here)
Oudea-Castera singled out goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen in the victory parade in Buenos Aires holding a baby doll, its face covered with a photo of French star Mbappe. (Watch Video Here)
Immediately after the match, a call for “a minute of silence… for Mbappe,” was heard from Argentina’s changing room. (Watch Video Here)
Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France twice fought back to take the game to a penalty shootout and then beat Martinez with the opening spot kick. (Watch Video Here)
“I find it pitiful,” said Oudea-Castera.
“It’s just vulgar, inappropriate, really not up to the occasion,” she said.
“This Emiliano Martinez is not distinguishing himself. It is rather pathetic”. (Watch Video Here)
The minister said she was pleased that the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet had written to his Argentine counterpart to complain of “abnormal excesses” in the celebrations.
The FFF has also said it intends to file complaints against French fans who posted racist comments on social media after Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed in the shootout and Kolo Muani squandered a chance late in extra time.
Lionel Messi will celebrate his World Cup triumph by agreeing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, local media claimed Wednesday, as he attempts to steer the French side to an elusive Champions League title.
The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup final against France in Qatar last weekend, will pen a one-season extension to his current deal in the French capital which expires in the summer.
Le Parisian and RMC Sport reported that Messi will sit down with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and other top club officials when he returns after his World Cup break.
Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a two-season deal with an option for another year after having spent his entire professional career with Barcelona.
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The increasingly contentious former FIFA head, Sepp Blatter, has gone public to vociferously denounce Gianni Infantino’s plans for a 48-team World Cup and an enlarged Club World Cup.
In an interview with the German weekly Die Zeit on Wednesday, Blatter said: “What is happening at the moment is an over-commercialization of the game. There are attempts to squeeze more and more out of the lemon. For example, with World Cup having 48 teams, or now with a Club World Cup that must be viewed as direct competition to the Champions League. FIFA is encroaching here on something that is actually none of its business, club football,” he was quoted as saying.
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The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the first 48-nation tournament, meeting Infantino’s election pledge of a bigger and more inclusive World Cup going beyond European and South American teams. This year’s version in Qatar featured 32 teams.
Earlier this month, Infantino called for a 32-team men’s Club World Cup in 2025.
Blatter announced in June 2015 that he would resign early as FIFA president in the fallout from a sprawling corruption investigation. He has long denied wrongdoing, saying in Wednesday’s interview: “I have never taken money that I did not earn, that’s why nothing on me could ever be proven in proceedings against me. And that will remain the case.”
Infantino, a fellow Swiss, succeeded Blatter in 2016. Blatter told Die Zeit that he has “no relation with Infantino” and that the current president “behaved disrespectfully because he has refused any contact with me since his election.” Blatter added, “He only communicates with me via lawyers.”
Blatter claimed that he had repeatedly “tried to control the business,” for example in attempting to limit transfers of talented South American or African players to Europe. An attempt to introduce a pay cap for players also failed. Blatter said: “We did not manage to protect football from economic and political influence. I really tried to always serve football. If in doing so I damaged it, then I am sorry.”
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The bank also denied reports that it wants to close some deposit money banks in Nigeria over their inability to dispense new naira notes amid a cash crunch in the…
Messi’s fans went on a bid to make his photograph the most liked picture on Instagram
Remember the picture of a brown egg that became the most liked photo on Instagram in 2019? Argentinian football team captain, Lionel Messi, just broke the record, as his photograph lifting the World Cup trophy became the top liked post on Instagram today.
On Tuesday morning, Messi’s fans went on a bid to make his photograph the most liked picture on the social media platform, just two days after his team won the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar.
Many fans took to Instagram and Twitter to say that they were “unliking” the picture of the egg to make their sport idol win.
On Tuesday morning, the Guinness World Records, on their official Twitter account (@GWR) shared a meme with the caption: “Us watching the amount of likes on Messi’s recent Instagram post against the world record egg’s current record.”
The record was previously held by the ‘photo of an egg’, which had garnered over 56 million likes after it was posted on Instagram on January 4, 2019, to beat the number of likes on Kylie Jenner’s post.
Messi, who reached 400 million followers on Instagram on December 20, now has over 60 million likes on his picture. His fans celebrated with memes and reposted his picture on their social media accounts, congratulating him.
Messi finished the World Cup with seven goals, one behind tournament’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe, and three assists. He was honoured with the Golden Ball for his performance.
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Buhari, according to a statement issued on Saturday night by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, will unveil the equipment at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
France footballers Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni were subjected to abhorrent online racist abuse after their failed attempts to convert penalties during Sunday’s World Cup final defeat against champions Argentina, according to the BBC’s Monday report.
Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez heroically denied Coman’s penalty kick, while Tchouameni’s shot flew wide, as La Albiceleste captured their first world title in 34 years, and their third overall.
Coman’s club Bayern Munich have taken a strong stance against racism, posting a powerful message of solidarity and support for the 26-year-old, unequivocally condemning the unfair racist comments made toward him.
“The FC Bayern family is behind you, King. Racism has no place in sport or our society,” they said on Twitter.
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The incident follows the same racist abuses directed at England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after their Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy last year.
All three players endured scathing criticism on social media after failing to convert their penalties in the shootout, causing their team’s ultimate defeat.
Social media has been abuzz with support for the two French players, with many people feeling that they are being treated unjustly
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Germany could be a force to reckon with in the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, being held on their home turf, despite the disappointment of an early group stage exit at the Qatar World Cup but coaching legend Arsene Wenger believes they are in desperate need of a top caliber striker if they are to be competitive.
Wenger, the longtime Arsenal manager who is now global director for development at the ruling body FIFA and also chaired over is Qatar World Cup technical study group, told publishers RND that Germany should be among the favourites for the continental event.
“The team still needs a little time to get back to the top, but it will certainly be one of the favorites again at the 2024 European Championship at home,” Wenger said.
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“Because of the euphoria surrounding the team, and also because they have world-class players, especially in midfield and on the wings.”
Wenger remarked that it was certainly not happenstance that Germany had numerous clear cut chances to find the back of the net during the Qatar tournament’s group phase, but that they need to refine their proficiency in the final third.
According to Wenger, there is a systemic issue in the Bundesliga; he believes that there is a dearth of world-class strikers in the league, as the most prolific scorers tend to be from outside the country.
“In the past, every German club had a top striker within their ranks, now FC Bayern has Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Borussia Dortmund has Sebastien Haller and Anthony Modeste, Borussia Monchengladbach has Marcus Thuram, at Bayer Leverkusen Patrick Schick provides the goals and so on,” Wenger said.
Germany’s only proper striker in Qatar was Werder Bremen’s Niklas Fullkrug who had never been called up before. He scored the winner in a tuneup game against Oman and two goals coming off the bench at the World Cup.
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During the monitoring exercise, Jerry cans containing hoarded petrol were impounded in some fuel stations with the task force cautioning against such acts.
The victorious Argentine national team, accompanied by their illustrious captain Lionel Messi, arrived back in their homeland at the Ezeiza international airport in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Tuesday to a rapturous welcome, after having clinched the World Cup title on foreign soil.
Having beaten France in Sunday’s thrilling final, the players will now spend the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex near the Ezeiza airport where they arrived in Buenos Aires and where thousands of supporters were waiting to greet them.
They will then begin a tour of the Buenos Aires city center from midday on Tuesday with millions expected out in the streets on what is a public holiday.
“Crowned with glory,” read a banner on a newspaper kiosk in Buenos Aires on Monday, while Clarin and La Prensa dailies both sent a huge “Thank you” to Messi and his teammates for winning the country’s third world title, and first in 36 years.
Argentina won the final in Qatar 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw over 120 minutes of unparalleled drama.
Messi, who scored twice in the final, was the first player to emerge from the plane, holding the World Cup aloft, with coach Lionel Scaloni right behind him.
Forward Julian Alvarez, a revelation in Qatar with his four goals, was one of the next players to emerge.
A picture of Messi was emblazoned on the plane’s tail with the words: “one team, one country, one dream” on its side.
The players made their way from the plane along a red carpet straight to an open-top bus as their World Cup theme song “Muchachos” by ska band La Mosca blared out.
Better than 86 Excitement had been brewing since the party that began after Sunday’s final ahead of the players’ arrival.
“I’m going to greet them at the airport. Now that they have been crowned we have to greet them and thank them,” Jose Luis Quinoga, 56, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) at the Obelisk memorial in central Buenos Aires, where the night before more than a million people celebrated.
A private reception at a VIP suite in the airport had been arranged to greet the returning players and the AFA said they will celebrate with fans at the Obelisk on Tuesday.
“I will leave work and the first thing I will do is come here,” Julieta Rosel, 23, told AFP at the monument.
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
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In doing so he emulated his predecessor as Argentina’s idol, Diego Maradona who inspired the country to their second world title with a series of match-winning displays at Mexico 1986.
“I remember ’86 but this victory yesterday was much more emotional and much more stressful,” architect Ricardo Grunfeld, 65, told AFP.
“I don’t know if there’s any difference with ’86 but this comes at a good time,” added Zulema Guereri, 80.
Argentina had led 2-0 with 10 minutes of normal time left and 3-2 with only two minutes of extra time to go but Kylian Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat trick in history to take the gripping final to penalties, before Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick.
Despite the huge numbers of revelers during Sunday’s festivities “people acted in a very positive way,” a spokesperson for the municipality said.
Fewer than 20 people were arrested for isolated incidents of violence or theft.
It warms the heart France’s beaten players were given a rousing reception by fans in central Paris on Monday after their return from Qatar.
They appeared on the balcony of the Crillon Hotel overlooking the Place de la Concorde.
“Frankly, it’s magnificent, it warms the heart, it’s a great pleasure to see that we were able to make so many French people proud and happy,” forward Marcus Thuram told TF1 TV.
They landed at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport just before 8 p.m. (7 p.m. GMT) where a caravan of coaches took them straight to the center of Paris.
Goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris told TF1 that it was a chance to “greet them (the fans), to thank them for their support and, after yesterday’s pain, to seek their consolation.”
Football’s world governing body FIFA said the cumulative stadium attendance was 3.4 million spectators and that more than a million visitors traveled to Qatar to watch the matches.
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Gary Lineker and Pablo Zabaleta were astounded by the sight of Lionel Messi, resplendent in a sheer black robe, triumphantly hoisting the World Cup aloft.
Argentina captain Messi scored twice in the dramatic 3-3 draw with France before his side triumphed on penalties to finally win football’s ultimate prize at age 35.
At the trophy presentation, he was offered a bisht, a traditional Arab cloak, to wear by the emir of Qatar.
Messi allowed the emir to place the robe around his shoulders before taking the trophy from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and lifting it in front of his ecstatic teammates.
BBC presenter Lineker felt the decision spoiled what should have been a “magic moment.”
The former England striker said: “This is a magic moment. It seems a shame that they’ve covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt.”
Ex-Argentina defender Zabaleta agreed, saying on BBC One: “Just why? No reason to do that.”
FIFA has been asked to comment by the PA news agency.
The emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, wrote on Twitter: “I congratulate the Argentine national team for winning the Qatar World Cup 2022, and the French national team … and I thank all the teams for their outstanding play, and the fans who enthusiastically encouraged them.
“In conclusion, we have fulfilled our promise to organize an exceptional championship from the Arab countries, which provided an opportunity for the peoples of the world to learn about the richness of our culture and the originality of our values.”
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Dr. Mustafa Baig, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, told PA that the bisht is a formal robe worn by royalty, dignitaries, grooms on their wedding day and graduates at graduation ceremonies.
“So only a select few people would wear the best,” he said.
Baig said about Messi wearing the garment: “They honored him by putting it over his shoulders.
“It’s like a mark of honor and just kind of a cultural welcoming and acceptance.”
Baig said it is also representative of Qatar’s national dress – but only on important occasions.
“And this is a top occasion. I mean, there’s probably no bigger occasion, so they put it on him as a mark of honor,” he said.
Baig said he saw it as “an embrace by Messi of the local culture,” adding that it was “a pretty cool thing” for Qatar to do and “smart thinking” on their behalf.
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The triumphant Argentine manager, Lionel Scaloni, declared it was up to the illustrious Lionel Messi to determine whether he would be playing in yet another World Cup, as the South American nation rejoiced over their stirring victory against France in the title final match on Sunday.
Scaloni, who was emotional in his post-match news conference at the Lusail Stadium, praised his players for “breaking their backs” to win the nation’s third World Cup.
In a match for the ages in Doha, Argentina triumphed 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick ensured the game ended level at 3-3 following extra time.
Messi, 35, scored twice to win the first World Cup of his glittering career.
Earlier in the tournament, he said the tournament in Qatar would be his last but Scaloni said the ball was in the veteran forward’s court.
The coach told reporters it was up to Messi to set a timescale on his retirement when asked about the possibility of his playing at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or how he wants to proceed with his career. He is such a huge player for us. It is such a pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything he transmits to his teammates is unparalleled, something I’ve never seen before,” Scaloni said.
After the match, Messi vowed to continue playing international football despite realizing his lifetime ambition, but he admitted his career was in its final stages.
“I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion. My career is nearly over because these are my last years,” said Messi, whose next target will be to help his club side Paris Saint-Germain bag the first Champions League title.
Fighters Scaloni, who guided Argentina to bag the Copa America crown last year, praised his men for digging deep against defending champions France.
“We have fighters who were very strong despite the goals that we conceded,” he said.
“These players play for their people, play for Argentina fans. That’s what I have always seen. There are no rivalries. Everyone is headed in the same direction and this is for the whole country. It is the greatest pride to play for your country. The players broke their backs. They have achieved this today because they understand what they had to do on the pitch and we are happy and proud,” Scaloni elaborated.
The coach was asked what he had told his players at the beginning of extra time after France had come back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 in normal time, and before the penalty shoot-out.
“I told them we had to be optimistic,” he replied.
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“We knew if we played our game, we were going to create chances. We kept attacking and before the penalty shootout I told them the same thing: To remain calm,” he replied.
Scaloni said his goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, had crucial words of encouragement before the nailbiting penalty shootout.
“He was very positive. He told his teammates he was going to save some penalties and then we had so many players ready and willing to take penalties,” the coach said.
Scaloni was also asked about what his message would be to the late Argentine great Diego Maradona, who died just over two years ago.
Maradona captained Argentina to their second World Cup crown in 1986.
“You make me realize that he’s not here. Otherwise you think he’s amongst us. Fortunately, we managed to lift this trophy, something we have been dreaming about for so long. We’re such a football passionate country. If he’d been here I’m sure he would have been the first one on the pitch. You asking me this question makes me remember he’s not here,” he said, wearing a new Argentina shirt with three stars on it to represent their three triumphs.
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After a spectacular win against France in the World cup 2022, Lionel Messi and his teammates were due to arrive in Argentina to a hero’s welcome on Monday with many eagerly waiting to glimpse the precious World Cup trophy.
In the capital Buenos Aires and throughout the country, millions took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate the penalty shoot-out victory over France in a remarkable final in Qatar.
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
France had fought back from 2 to 0 down in the last 10 minutes of the match as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to equalize and force extra time in a pulsating match watched by an 89,000 crowd in Lusail Stadium.
Messi seemed to have decided the match in extra time with his second goal of the game before his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick in history to bring the score to 3-3 and force penalties.
Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick to win the shootout 4-2 for Argentina – but this was Messi’s moment.
And while the players were able to celebrate with about 40,000 fans inside the stadium on Sunday, 45 million people back home are eager to share the moment with them on Monday evening.
“Of course, it’s what we’re all waiting for,” teacher Veronica Silva, 44, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) from the Plaza de Mayo square in central Buenos Aires.
“This will continue for a couple of days. It started now and it won’t end tomorrow because they arrive tomorrow: it will go on for longer.”
“Of course, we can’t wait to see the players, all of them,” added cleaner Rosa Rodriguez, 63.
“It’s a good team who did us proud. The biggest celebration will be when they arrive.”
‘I can’t ask for more’ Messi had tasted bitter defeat in the 2014 final against Germany but in his fifth and final World Cup, the 35-year-old finally emulated Argentina idol the late Diego Maradona by leading his nation to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986.
He told Argentine television: “My career is ending because these are my final years. What more could there be after this?”
But he said he would continue with the Argentina squad. “I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,” he added.
The disappointed France players became the last team to leave Qatar on Monday and after some confusion over their plans agreed to greet their fans in central Paris.
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Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said the team planned to go to the Place de la Concorde in Paris after their plane touches down.
But within hours, the chief of France’s football federation (FFF), Noel Le Graet, contradicted the minister, saying the players just wanted to go home.
“When you don’t win you don’t feel like wandering down the Champs Elysees or anywhere else,” Le Graet told the BFMTV broadcaster, in reference to the glamorous avenue running from Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.
However, the French federation said Le Graet had returned earlier than the team and had not been aware of their decision to meet with the fans.
France coach Didier Deschamps rued failing to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.
“I don’t want to take any merit away from Argentina but there were lots and lots of emotions and it was cruel at the end because we were so close,” he said.
The captivating final rounded off one of the most controversial World Cups in history.
Qatari organizers had to face persistent questions about the country’s treatment of migrant workers and its laws on homosexuality.
Football’s world governing body FIFA said the tournament attracted over 3.4 million spectators, making it one of the most watched ever.
The 1994 World Cup in the United States had the most spectators with over 3.5 million. Brazil in 2014 also had over 3.4 million spectators.
FIFA said more than one million visitors traveled to Qatar to watch the matches, matching predictions from the Gulf state that people would not be dissuaded by the negative publicity over its rights record.
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The ASUU president added that in order to adequately assess the extent of the harm caused by the crisis brought on by the country’s currency redesign, developmental economists would need…
Coming agonizingly close to capturing a second consecutive World Cup title, Didier Deschamps’ valiant efforts to lead France on a remarkable comeback ultimately culminated in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Argentina on Sunday.
Les Bleus, bidding to become the first team to retain the title since Brazil in 1962, went through the opening hour like ghosts and fell 2-0 behind after Lionel Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s goal before the unthinkable happened.
After Deschamps had made several changes, taking off Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez, France burst into life as Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and a stunning volley within 97 seconds to level the scores.
Messi struck again in extra time, but so did Mbappe with another penalty to make it 3-3, only for Randal Kolo Muani to be denied by Emiliano Martinez in the dying seconds before France lost the shootout 4-2, becoming the first team to taste defeat in a World Cup final after scoring three goals.
“We came back from the brink, that’s what gives us so many regrets,” Deschamps, who guided France to the title in 2018, told a news conference.
“We’ve got a World Cup ball in the last minute but it was not meant to be. If we’re 2-0 down and then we lose 3-0, it’s different. You say ‘bravo’ to Argentina and that’s it.
“I still congratulate them, they played a great game, with a bit of gamesmanship, but we were expecting that and it does not take any merit from their victory.”
Lack of aggression France were hit by a virus during the lead-up to the final and appeared to lack their usual aggression in the first half.
“We did not have the energy we had in our previous games but I was not worried about any player who started the game tonight,” Deschamps said.
“We were against a team who played a World Cup final while I had the feeling it was not our case.”
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Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram came on in the 41st minute, before Eduardo Camavinga and Kingsley Coman entered the fray in the 71st.
“(For the first two changes) I could not wait until halftime. Ousmane and Olivier took us to the final but they were not as good today. When things don’t work, you have to shake things up,” said Deschamps.
“In the end, I’m very sad for my players, my staff.”
Deschamps’s contract expires at the end of the year but having reached the goal of making it to the last four, he must decide whether to extend it.
“I’m having a meeting with my president at the beginning of the year. Then, you’ll know,” said Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012, reaching the Euro 2016 final, winning the 2018 World Cup, last year’s Nations League and making it to the World Cup final again.
The coin could have flipped the other way, especially thanks to Mbappe’s magnificent performance as he became the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
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Nweke said: “Our attention has been drawn to two news items concocted from the imagination of mischievous individuals and published on AnchorNews and TrendOnline platforms.
Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and Julian Alvarez struck twice as Argentina, backed by a huge majority of the crowd at the Lusail Stadium, produced their best display of the tournament to ensure they will meet the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal clash between holders France and Morocco in Sunday’s final.
Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and bringing Argentina a third title to add to those won in 1978 and 1986.
And after getting his team on the way to victory with a perfectly struck first-half penalty he made sure of the win by brilliantly creating the third goal.
Croatia, runners-up in Russia four years ago, paid the price for some untypically poor defending as they went out in the last four for the second time after their 1998 loss to France in their maiden tournament.
It was not until the 25th minute when the game showed signs of life with a low pot shot from outside the box by Enzo Fernandez but Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic did well to get across and keep it out.
It was a tight affair but then a simple lofted ball over the top from Fernandez caught out the Croatian defense, Alvarez latched on to it, knocking the ball past the advancing Livakovic who collided with the striker and Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot.
Scoring record Livakovic guessed correctly that Messi would go to his left but his dive was in vain as the Argentine’s sweetly struck drive flew high into the net to put his side 1-0 up in the 34th minute.
It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him joint top-scorer with France’s Kylian Mbappe. His 11th career goal – in a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance – also took him past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer.
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Five minutes later, Argentina doubled their lead when, after a break from a corner, Alvarez picked the ball up inside his own half and began a long dribble goalwards.
With the Croatian defense backing off, Alvarez rode weak challenges from Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa and then slipped the ball past Livakovic to send the heavily Argentine crowd into delirium.
Alexis Mac Allister then went close with an angled header from a corner, forcing a fine save out of Livakovic to avoid a third.
All Croatia could muster in response, before the break, was a low Juranovic cross-shot that Emiliano Martinez reacted well to.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic responded with a double substitution at the break, introducing Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orsic, and five minutes later and threw on striker Bruno Petkovic.
They were positive moves but still Argentina looked the more dangerous with Messi, after a swift exchange with Fernandez, forcing a save at the near post.
Messi saved his best for last though, tormenting Josko Gvardial down the right before leaving the 20-year-old defender behind and pulling the ball back to Alvarez who coolly slotted home.
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NMDPRA also assured that independent fuel marketers under the aegis of Independent Petrol Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) will now get petrol at the ex-depot price of N172 per litre…
As Qatar is on the world’s agenda with the World Cup, it also hosts a diverse collection in Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), offering a peek into diverse aspects of Muslim heritage.
An emerald inscribed for a Mughal emperor. A Safavid-period knotted wool carpet. An Ottoman-era curtain, intricately embroidered with metal threads, which was part of the covering of the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in Mecca that Muslims consider the metaphorical “house of God.”
In a capital where so much is new, the museum showcases a variety of the old and historic. And with soccer fans from around the world descending on Qatar, the story that the museum tells now has more listeners.
On a recent day, visitors – some wearing soccer jerseys or scarves – stopped to snap photos, inspect an object, read a label or browse shelves lined with books and souvenirs.
Qatari officials say they hope the tournament will help provide visitors with a better understanding of their culture and that of the larger region. The World Cup host has faced intense criticism over rights issues, including the treatment of migrant workers, and accusations of “sports washing” or attempting to use the event’s prestige to remake its image.
Sports is not the only area where Qatar, a small country with big ambitions and the vast wealth to match, has sought to leave its mark as part of a quest for global influence. It has also been aiming to carve out a name in the culture and arts arenas, including with museums like MIA.
“We have the ambition to show Islamic culture in all its diversity and sort of also show the regional differences,” said Julia Gonnella, MIA’s director. “The idea is really for education, for diversity, also to build up a society beyond oil and gas.”
The museum attracts both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors, she said, adding that MIA’s “first audience” is the people who live in Qatar.
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Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the MIA complex has a presence that is somehow both imposing and simple, with its waterfront location, light-colored exteriors and sharp and clean architectural lines. Geometric shapes and Islamic motifs appear inside. Windows drench the surrounding area in sunlight and provide a view of modern-looking buildings jutting into the sky across the water.
The museum’s collection includes metalwork, ceramics, woodwork and textiles. Items on display include jewelry, manuscripts of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, armor and arms.
The museum also offers glimpses into religious beliefs and rituals. Visitors can read about the five pillars of Islam – the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and hajj or pilgrimage – or learn about hajj rituals and different funerary practices in the Islamic world.
Initially opened in 2008, the museum closed in April 2021 and reopened a month before the World Cup with expanded interpretive materials to help provide more context for items on display.
A temporary exhibition titled “Baghdad: Eye’s Delight” celebrates the capital of Iraq as one of the “most important and influential cities in the Islamic world” and highlights its role as a city “of power, scholarship, and riches,” according to the museum. The exhibition features objects on loan from world-renowned institutions, MIA says.
Rob Humphreys, who was visiting from Wales, said he particularly enjoyed viewing Baghdad from a different angle.
“At least in Europe, we tend to associate Baghdad with … war and so on and the invasion,” he said. “Learning about how important Baghdad was as a cultural and scientific and trading city … was really interesting.”
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Ishaku said the Council of State members made it clear that the policy is accepted and has come to stay but that the resistance of the populace to its introduction…
Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup on Friday, beating the five-time champions 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals for the second straight time.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post.
The match had finished 1-1 after extra time, with both goals coming in the additional 30 minutes. Neymar scored late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the lead, but Croatia equalized when Bruno Petkovic scored in the 117th.
Neymar’s goal moved him into a tie with Pelé as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals.
Croatia will next face either Argentina or the Netherlands to try to return to the World Cup final four years after losing the title to France.
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Five of Croatia’s last six matches at World Cups have gone to extra time, including in its penalty shootout win over Japan in the round of 16 in Qatar. The team has been successful in eight of its last 10 knockout matches at the tournament.
Brazil was trying to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The team hadn’t made it to the last four since hosting the tournament eight years ago, when the Selecao was embarrassed by Germany 7-1.
Brazil was trying to defeat a European opponent in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2002 final against Germany, when the team won for the last time.
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Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout to keep Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream alive on Friday after the Dutch had snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat in an extraordinary quarter-final.
Emiliano Martinez saved the first two Dutch penalties to give Argentina a huge advantage and Lautaro Martinez sent Andries Noppert the wrong way to set up a date for the South Americans with Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Messi celebrated with arms aloft in front of the massed ranks of Argentina fans, his hopes of securing football’s biggest prize at the fifth attempt intact for a few more days.
“Argentina are among the four best in the world because they show that they know how to play every game with the same desire and the same intensity,” said the seven-times Ballon D’or winner.
“A lot of joy, a lot of happiness. We didn’t have to go to extra time or penalties, we had to suffer. But we got through and it’s impressive.”
A third bench-clearing brawl of the match was the backdrop to Messi’s celebrations as some of the Dutch players, distraught after coming so close to one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history, clashed with their Argentine rivals.
A total of 16 yellow cards were shown throughout the contest by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu and Dutch wingback Denzel Dumfries was sent off after the final whistle for his part in the final brawl.
Apparently, on their way home at 2-0 down with only seven minutes of normal time remaining, the Dutch had scored twice through substitute Wout Weghorst to send the match to two scoreless periods of extra time.
Messi, almost inevitably, had played a major role in giving Argentina their lead.
While it was Nahuel Molina’s goal that put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute, it was Messi who unlocked a suffocating Dutch defense that had snuffed out any previous chances.
Taking the ball 40 meters out, the 35-year-old ghosted to his left in front of a wall of markers before sliding a pass back to the right to Molina on the edge of the box.
The wingback took a touch and poked the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Andries Noppert to send the vast majority of the 88,235 crowd at Lusail Stadium into paroxysms of delight.
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There was more delirium for the Albiceleste faithful in the 73rd minute when Messi slapped a penalty kick in the right midriff of the net after Dumfries had fouled Marcos Acuna on the edge of the box.
With tactics more reminiscent of Sunday park football than Total Football, the Dutch got back into the contest by bombarding the Argentine area with high balls aimed at their tall target men.
They were rewarded with a goal in the 83rd minute when Steven Berghuis crossed from the right and his fellow substitute Weghorst headed the ball past Martinez’s dive.
The Argentines held onto their lead until 11 minutes into stoppage time when Teun Koopmeiners cleverly reversed a free kick and found Weghorst free to put the ball past Martinez and level up the match.
The Argentines were still shell-shocked by the turnaround in the first period of extra time but recovered their composure to pepper the Dutch goal with shots, Enzo Hernandez coming closest to scoring with a rasping effort that hit the post.
The late surge gave Argentina the momentum going into the shootout, and Martinez added to it when he stopped spot kicks from Van Dijk and Berghuis.
The defeat was the first for the Dutch in 20 matches going back to last year’s European Championship and brought an end to 71-year-old Louis van Gaal’s third spell as coach.
It was the second time a Van Gaal team had lost to Argentina via a shootout in the knockout stages of the World Cup after a 4-2 defeat following a 0-0 draw in the 2014 semi-finals.
“We practiced on penalties all year and then you screw it up,” said Van Gaal.
“That’s a pity. As a coach, I want to have everything under control. That is why I asked the players to take a penalty at their club, and they all did. If you miss two, you won’t win anymore.”
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Morocco wrote World Cup history on Saturday to become the first African and Arab country ever to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup after they beat Portugal 1-0, extending their dream run thanks to a towering headed goal from Youssef En-Nesyri as they out-thought and out-fought the Portuguese side.
Youssef En-Nesyri leapt high in the air to head home the game’s only goal just before half-time at the Al-Thumama Stadium to strike a significant blow against football’s established order and book a semi-final on Wednesday against either England or France, who meet later on Saturday.
The result will be widely celebrated across Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, desperate to see one of their teams in contention for the biggest prize in football.
Morocco had already taken the scalps of Belgium and Spain in this tournament but the win over Portugal is of much greater significance.
It was also one of Morocco’s better performances in Qatar, full of determined defending and canny counters, keeping at bay a collection of world stars despite losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury before the match and his back four partner and captain Romain Saiss early in the second half.
Portugal will see it as a missed opportunity against the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament and a disappointing curtain call for the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
Morocco, again noisily encouraged by the majority of the 44,198-strong crowd, said they were fatigued after their last-16 success over Spain and immediately went into defensive mode as Portugal attacked from the outset.
A fourth-minute free kick for Portugal from wide on the right was swung into the penalty area, and met by Joao Felix’s diving header, producing a fine save from Yassine Bounou.
But the supply quickly dried up thereafter as Morocco closed the passing lanes and frustrated the Portuguese attackers.
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Joao Felix had two more half chances in the first half but Morocco gained in confidence and found a sudden spring in their step, frequently breaking on the counter attack.
SURGING
Left back Yahya Attiat-Allah made several surging runs down the flank, presenting Selim Amallah with a good chance in the 35th minute, which he was unable to convert.
But seven minutes later, a high ball from the fullback into the Portuguese box was met by a towering header from En-Nesyri, outjumping both goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to hand Morocco the lead.
Portuguese frustration was evident as they swarmed the Argentine referee Facundo Tello at the end of the first half, complaining that several penalty appeals had been turned down.
Morocco came close to a second goal four minutes into the second half as Jawad El Yamiq got a touch to Hakim Ziyech’s in-swinging free kick but Costa was in place this time to block.
Ronaldo’s entry in the 51st minute was met with a loud chorus of jeers, but he did inject a new energy into the Portugal side for whom Goncalo Ramos, the hat-trick hero of their 6-1 win over Switzerland in the previous round, missed with a close-in header in the 58th minute.
Bruno Fernandes hit over the top of the crossbar five minutes later as Portugal threw more into attack and Morocco began to sit deeper. Bounou saved again from Joao Felix with seven minutes left.
Morocco’s Walid Cheddira was sent off in stoppage time after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.
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The Saturday World Cup quarterfinal between England and France promises to be a thrilling match-up as Kylian Mbappe, the tournament’s most feared attacker, goes up against Kyle Walker, one of the swiftest defenders in the game.
Mbappe has been on fire in Qatar, scoring fabulous goals and playing with freedom, zest and pure joy rarely seen at the international level and particularly within the sometimes stultifying tension of a major tournament.
For all his skill and adventure, however, his ability is underpinned by the knowledge that he can beat his man simply by pushing the ball past him and exploding out of the blocks.
He did it twice in the win over Poland, giving his defender a meter start but turning it into a meter deficit within a second. For all of football’s tactical developments in the last 150 years, explosive pace is a constant currency that trumps all.
On Saturday, however, Mbappe will come up against a man whose defensive prowess is built on the same foundation.
Walker’s ability to recover dangerous-looking situations simply by turning on the afterburners was one of the reasons Manchester City made him the then-most expensive defender in the world when they signed him for 50 million pounds ($60.87 million) five years ago.
Both players have been timed among the fastest in the game, with top speeds of around 36.5 kph (22.6 mph), but it is how quickly they get there that makes them different.
Sheer explosiveness over five and 10 meters is a commodity infinitely more valuable than 100-meter speed, and both have it.
Mbappe is sleeker than muscular Walker, with the Frenchman describing his rival as a “tank once he gets going.”
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While 23-year-old Mbappe is undoubtedly at the peak of his powers, it is still not clear whether Walker, 32, has fully recovered from the groin surgery he had in October that at one point put his World Cup participation in doubt.
He was twice bamboozled by Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr last weekend, though more by trickery than pace, and has yet to show, or been forced to show, whether he is back at 100%.
Speaking to the media ahead of the France game, Walker was in a confident mood, pouring compliments on Mbappe but reminding everyone that he was not about to “roll out the red carpet” for him.
“I do understand what I need to do and that is to stop him,” he said.” “It’s probably easier said than done, but I don’t underestimate myself. I have played against a lot of great players at Man City and England.”
Walker has faced Mbappe four times in the Champions League, earning rave reviews for his performances, and his potential to blunt France’s most potent cutting-edge might of course lead to coach Didier Deschamps asking Mbappe to operate on the right against the experienced but considerably slower Luke Shaw.
That, however, would involve shifting Ousmane Dembele, who has been not far behind Mbappe among France’s best performers in Qatar and is almost as fast and upsetting a system that has been working smoothly.
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South Korea beat Portugal 2-1 to reach the World Cup round of 16 on Friday, while both Uruguay and Ghana were eliminated even though the former defeated the latter 2-0.
Ricardo Horta scored in his debut at a major tournament to give group winners Portugal the lead in the fifth minute on Friday, but Kim Young Gwon leveled in the 27th from a corner.
The draw would have eliminated the South Koreans, but in the first seconds of stoppage time, Son Heung Min led a fast counterattack to find Hwang Hee Chan, who netted the winner and fired his country into the knock-out stage on goals scored.
After the final whistle between Portugal and South Korea, there was plenty of drama as Uruguay were still playing against Ghana and needed only one goal to change the fate of Group H.
“We watched the last minutes together on the field and really wanted to make it to the next round. We were very happy,” said South Korea’s Jae Sung Lee said.
Ghana missed a penalty in the 21st, just like they did in the famous 2010 World Cup clash between the two sides after Luis Suarez punched out a goalbound shot.
That penalty miss cost Ghana a place in the semifinal and history repeated itself in Qatar as André Ayew’s spot-kick was saved by Uruguayan keeper Sergio Rochet when the game was still 0-0.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Giorgian de Arrascaeta netted a rebound from Suarez just five minutes later and completed his brace in the 32nd with a lovely first-time finish and after another assist from Suarez.
Both of them, however, were already on the bench when South Korea scored the winner in the other game and could only watch as Uruguay failed to find a goal that would have sent them to the last 16.
This is the first time in four editions that the South American nation have failed to advance to the knock-out stages of the World Cup.
“We’re very sad with the result. It wasn’t up to us at the end because there were other factors,” scorer Arrascaeta said.
Coach Diego Alonso said his team “gave everything” and suggested referee Daniel Siebert was the one to blame for their exit. “It’s very clear what happened, that’s all we can say now.”
Germany’s Siebert decided against awarding Uruguay a penalty after Edinson Cavani went to the ground inside the box in the first minutes of stoppage time.
In some wild scenes, Uruguayan players surrounded the referee at the end of the game, with the cameras showing Suarez in tears on the bench.
Ghana, meanwhile, could have also advanced with a win and the missed penalty will probably haunt the squad for some time.
“We will learn from this. All great achievements have also come from great defeats,” coach Otto Addo said.
Portugal go through as group winners and will probably avoid Brazil in the last 16, but they were unhappy to lose at the death to the Koreans.
“It would have been better to win, we knew it was going to be complicated,” Portugal defender Diogo Dalot said. “We could have controlled the game better but we can learn from that.”
Coach Fernando Santos said the defeat should serve as “a wake-up call” for his team.
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Now 35, Messi made his debut on Oct. 16, 2004, when he came on late for Barcelona in a match against crosstown rivals Espanyol.
He went on to play 778 matches for Barcelona until 2021 and now has 53 for his new club Paris Saint-Germain.
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His start in Al Rayyan gave the Argentina captain a 169th cap, highlighted by the Cpa America title last year as he is yet to win the World Cup.
Saturday’s game was his 23rd at the World Cup since his 2006 debut, level with Italy’s Paolo Maldini, one behind German Miroslav Klose and two behind the record 25 of German Lothar Matthäus.
Messi could improve the record to 26 games if he plays in every game and Argentina reach the semi-finals which means they will then also play for third place or for the title
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three-member panel led by Justice Tertsea Kume had on that day nullified the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 16, 2022 governorship…
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Whenever the Three Lions have gone hunting against African teams, the odds have always been in their favor but Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal – the first meeting between the two countries – might end that streak.
It will be England’s 21st clash against an African team, the last coming in March against Senegal’s regional rivals Ivory Coast, who a second-string England easily beat 3-0 at Wembley.
But it was more than three decades ago that England had their most memorable encounter against an African side, fighting back from 2-1 down versus Cameroon to win 3-2 after extra time in the 1990 World Cup quarterfinal.
The Indomitable Lions were seven minutes away from continuing their upset run at Italia ’90 when tough-tackling defender Benjamin Massing gave away a penalty by fouling Gary Lineker, who converted to take the game to extra time.
Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N’Kono then conceded a spot kick when he brought down Lineker who netted the penalty to put England in the semifinals.
Morocco were England’s first African opponents at a World Cup in 1986 when a 0-0 draw at Monterrey proved a breakthrough result for African football. Morocco finished ahead of England in their group, but both went through to the next stage.
There have also been goalless stalemates against Nigeria in Osaka in 2002 and Algeria in Cape Town in 2010.
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England beat Egypt at the 1990 World Cup in Cagliari and Tunisia twice in the 1998 and 2018 editions.
The 1998 clash in Marseille was overshadowed by fan violence with at least 32 people injured in three days of fighting between England supporters and gangs from Marseille’s North African community.
England’s other African opponents have been Ghana and South Africa in friendly internationals.
If any England players need advice on scoring against an African team ahead of Sunday’s clash they need look no further than their manager Gareth Southgate.
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Croatia advanced into the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar after a tension-filled 0-0 draw with stuttering Belgium that ensured the last hurrah of their opponents’ “golden generation” ended in a dismal group-stage exit on Thursday.
Roberto Martinez’s Belgium side, ranked second in the world and semi-finalists four years ago, needed a win at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium to keep their hopes alive but could not break down the Croats who finished as Group F runners-up behind Morocco.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku fluffed four golden chances to break the deadlock as Belgium cast off the shackles in the second half, although Croatia, who would have gone home had they lost, had their own opportunities to find a winner.
A lot has been made of Belgium’s “golden generation,” a collection of prodigious talents from the biggest clubs, who have perennially been among the favorites at international tournaments for the best part of a decade.
Yet they have never tasted glory and with the brightest lights, such as Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, already north of 30, it is unlikely they will get another chance at the World Cup.
In a symbolic act of closure, Martinez announced that his six-year spell with the national team was over, with his contract expiring at the end of the World Cup.
“That was my last game with the national team and it was emotional as you can imagine,” he told reporters.
Croatia, who next play the winners of Group E, finished with five points, two behind Morocco who beat already-eliminated Canada 2-1 to top the table. Belgium were third with four points after winning just one of their three games.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic, having shrugged off questions about their shortcomings compared to the side that finished runners-up four years ago, was in a confident mood.
“It doesn’t matter which team we face, if we play at this level we fear no one,” he said.
High tension With so much riding on the outcome, the tension was clear from the early stages and the encounter became something of a tactical chess match in the first half, with both sides careful not to take any unnecessary risks.
There was however still some drama. Croatia were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when Andrej Kramaric’s toe was clipped by Yannick Carrasco and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.
Just as Luka Modric was preparing to take the kick, however, Taylor was instructed to view the VAR monitor and swiftly reversed his decision after checking for an earlier offside.
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The automated system in place flashed up an image on the stadium’s big screen that showed Croatia’s Kramaric had perhaps strayed the width of a shirt sleeve beyond the last man.
There were few chances in the first half, however, and no shots on target.
Ivan Perisic flashed a shot wide for Croatia within seconds of the kickoff and Marko Livaja headed over, while Belgium’s Carrasco had a shot blocked and Dries Mertens scooped a finish hopelessly over the bar.
Martinez rolled the dice at halftime, summoning Lukaku off the bench and the striker probably should have scored within minutes of coming on but his header at the far post was directed straight at goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Croatia were then foiled at the other end when Mateo Kovacic’s shot was tipped over one-handed by Thibaut Courtois, whose palms were stung by Marcelo Brozovic and Modric minutes later.
It was then Belgium’s turn to pile on the pressure. First Carrasco stormed through on goal before his path was blocked and the ball found its way to Lukaku who somehow hit the post with the goal gaping.
He then inexplicably headed over from close range, although replays showed De Bruyne had probably taken the ball out of play before crossing.
Lukaku, whose tournament preparation was hit by injuries and who had not been fit enough to start any of Belgium’s three games, then missed two chances from point-blank range in the dying minutes.
He diverted Thomas Meunier’s crisp shot wide and then looked on bemused as the ball bounced into his midriff with the goal at his mercy before it bobbled harmlessly to the keeper as Belgium’s World Cup hopes ended in disappointment
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For the first time since 1986, an impassioned Moroccan team advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after defeating the already-eliminated Canadians 2-1 on Thursday, mercilessly capitalizing on their opponents’ blunders.
Morocco, who needed a win or a draw in their final Group F match to reach the knockout rounds, took advantage of a weak clearance by goalkeeper Milan Borjan that landed on the foot of Hakim Ziyech.
Cheered on by a boisterous crowd of Moroccan fans, midfielder Ziyech effortlessly lobbed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper to open the scoring in the fourth minute.
Borjan had been placed in an unenviable position by central defender Steven Vitoria, whose weak back pass forced the goalkeeper to race Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri to the ball.
En-Nesyri remained dangerous throughout the first half, doubling Morocco’s lead in the 23rd minute when he ran onto a long ball from Achraf Hakimi and beat Borjan at the near post.
En-Nesyri also thumped a volley into the Canadian net during stoppage time in the first half but that goal was ruled offside.
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Overwhelmed with emotion, Hakimi wept after the match.
“I didn’t think about it, but now I realize we made history,” he said. “We work very hard and we deserve it.”
With Croatia drawing with Belgium 0-0 in the other Group F game, Morocco finished first in the group and will face the second-place finishers in Group E, which comprises Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica.
Moroccan manager Walid Regragui predicted his side will prove capable of challenging a mighty opponent in the knockout stage.
“We are going to be a very difficult team to beat,” he said. “I think African teams can go far. Why shouldn’t we dream of winning the World Cup?”
Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd put Canada on the scoreboard with an own goal, the first of this World Cup, by accidentally flicking a cross by Sam Adekugbe past his own goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in the 40th minute.
Canada, who are exiting their first World Cup since 1986 without a point, automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.
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