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    Arsenal 0-2 Juventus LIVE RESULT: Gunners lose in final mid-season after two unfortunate own goals

    ARSENAL have lost to Juventus in their final mid-season friendly.The returning Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding both scored own goals at the end of each of half.
    Table-topping Gunners now return to Premier League action, when they take on West Ham on Boxing Day.

    Result: Arsenal 0-2 Juventus
    Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Holding, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Vieira, Nelson; Nketiah
    Juventus XI: Perin; Rugani, Gatti, Riccio; Barbieri, Fagioli, Locatelli, Barrenechea, Soule; Miretti, Kean

    Argentina vs France: Get £40 in free bets & bonuses when staking £10 with 888Sport
    Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
    No time to dwell
    Mikel Arteta’s troops will have little time to dwell on that defeat as they’ll be back in Premier League action a week tomorrow.
    The league leaders will welcome West Ham to the Emirates and will hope to maintain the stellar form that has seen them mount a serious challenge for the title for the first time in nearly two decades.
    Soccer Football – Friendly – Arsenal v Juventus – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – December 17, 2022 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/John SibleyCredit: Reuters
    Arsenal 0-2 Juventus
    Full time: Arsenal have suffered defeat at the hands of a depleted Juventus side thanks to two own goals.
    Mikel Arteta will be bitterly disappointed with his troops’ failure to capitalise on their dominance.
    Arsenal 0-2 Juventus
    90. Juventus double their lead thanks to a deflected shot from Samuel Iling-Junior.
    A sucker punch to the Gunners – who have been dominant from start to finish.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    89. The ball is cleared but picked up on the edge of the box by the Gunners.
    Cedric puts the ball back in but Juve clear their lines.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    88. Another corner for the Gunners – who are piling on the pressure.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    87. Odegaard’s second successive corner is cleared only as far as Nwaneri – whose effort goes wide.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    87. Odegaard’s effort is initially cleared away by the ball falls to Nwaneri – whose effort is deflected wide.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    87. Corner to Arsenal in the dying embers.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    85. Nothing comes of the free kick but the Gunners retain possession.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    84. Free kick to the Gunners on the edge of the box.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    77. Arsenal are playing pretty football on the edge of the box but are struggling to break down the resilient and dogged Juve defence.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    72. Arsenal substitute Amario Coizer-Duberry appeals for a penalty but his calls are waved off by the referee.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    68. The crowd urges Kieran Tierney to shot from 30 yards and the Scot obliges.
    His effort, however, harmlessly bobbles out of play.
    Credit: Getty
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    64. Fagioli is giving far too much space outside of the box but fails to make Arsenal pay, blazing his effort high and wide.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    62. Gabriel receives medical treatment following the clash of heads but looks like he’ll be able to continue.

    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    60. Arsenal find the back of the net but the goal is ruled out due to a collision in the box.
    Nketiah found the back of the net in the second phase of play, but the ref had already blown the whistle for a foul from Gabriel.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    57. The threat is dealt with but another corner is looming for the Italians to defend.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    56. Corner to the Gunners
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    51. The ebb and flow of the second half is mirroring the first – with Arsenal dominating possession and Juventus restricted to sporadic forays into the opposition half.
    Credit: Reuters
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    48. Arsenal are turning the screw early and putting the visitors on the back foot.
    But Juve are holding firm, for now.
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    45. We are back underway at the Emirates
    Xhaka’s hard luck
    Here’s the moment Granit Xhaka accidentally put through his own net.

    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    HT. That accidental own goal from Granit Xhaka proved to be the final action of a first-half dominated by Arsenal.
    Plenty of food for thought for Mikel Arteta at half time.
    Credit: Getty
    Arsenal 0-1 Juventus
    46. Granit Xhaka has just put through his own net to give the visitors the lead.
    The Switzerland international tried to head a dangerous cross away but accidentally guided it into the far corner of the net right before the stroke of half time.
    Arsenal 0-0 Juventus
    40. Arsenal are continuing to run Juve ragged – with Odegaard at the heart of things.
    The Old Lady are looking anything but their usual defensively-sound self.
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    When is Argentina vs France – World Cup final 2022? Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for HUGE showpiece event

    ARGENTINA take on France in a HUGE World Cup final on Sunday afternoon.Croatia fell victim to a Lionel Messi masterclass in Tuesday’s dominant semi-final encounter as Argentina went through.

    The Argentine legend opened the scoring with an expertly-taken penalty, and went on a mesmerising run before setting up Julian Alvarez for their third on the night.
    But things will certainly be tougher for the little magician as he will be taking on a French side that managed to stop high-flying Morocco in their semi-final.
    Messi has created a thrilling final chapter to his World Cup career and the magician will arguably go down as the greatest footballer EVER should he replicate what Diego Maradona did in 1986.
    However, a win for Les Bleus would see them become the first nation in 60 years to achieve successive World Cup triumphs.
    Read more on World Cup 2022
    How did they get here?
    Argentina suffered a nightmare start to their tournament with a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
    But they battled back to top Group C with 2-0 wins over Mexico and Poland, setting up a last-16 meeting with Australia.
    After seeing off the Socceroos 201, they scraped past Holland on penalties in the quarters before breezing past Croatia.
    France also won two and lost one of their group games – although their defeat to Tunisia came after beating Australia and Denmark.
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    BETTING SPECIAL – BEST WORLD CUP BETTING OFFERS AND FREE BETS
    Les Bleus saw off Poland and then beat England in that dramatic quarter-final before eventually ending Morocco’s run on Wednesday night to secure their place in back-to-back finals.
    What is the team news and any injuries to worry about?
    Neither side have any suspensions to deal with after yellow cards were wiped after the quarters and may well be unchanged after semi-final wins.
    Argentina can welcome back full-backs Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel from their one-match bans while Lisandro Martinez may return to the starting XI if Lionel Scaloni goes for a back five.
    Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot sat out of the Morocco win with illness as France kept their first clean sheet – but will be hopeful of coming back in.
    The rest of the team should stay the same – although Karim Benzema could be a shock inclusion on the bench as he is back in Real Madrid training.

    Who will be the star men?
    Well, obviously Messi and Kylian Mbappe are the two main men for their respective nations – and all eyes will be on who comes out on top.
    Elsewhere, Julian Alvarez will want to continue on from his two goals in the semi-final while Enzo Fernandez may be tasked with stopping Antoine Griezmann.
    On the other side, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud will fancy their chances of scoring in the final.
    Aurelien Tchouameni is in strong form in midfield while Raphael Varane will lead his back line.

    What’s the head to head?
    The two heavyweights of international football have met 12 times in total – the first time coming in the first World Cup in 1930.
    Argentina have six wins, France have three wins while there have been three draws.
    But the French side came out on top in their most-recent clash – a thrilling 4-3 win in the last 16 of Russia 2018.
    SunSport prediction
    Argentina 3-2 France
    When is Argentina vs France?

    Argentina’s eye-catching World Cup final contest against France will take place on Sunday, December 18.
    It is scheduled to kick off at 3pm UK time.
    Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar is the allocated arena for this mammoth final fixture and it can host a whopping 88,966 spectators.
    Kylian Mbappe’s second-half double sent Argentina crashing out of the World Cup when the sides last met in 2018.

    What TV channel is Argentina vs France on and can it be live streamed?

    The World Cup final between Argentina and France will be shown LIVE on both BBC One and ITV 1.
    Coverage on BBC One is set to commence from 1.50pm UK time while ITV 1 get their show on the road from 1.30pm UK time.
    Viewers can also head to BBC iPlayer or ITV X if they prefer to stream the action online via tablet and mobile devices.
    You can listen to radio coverage of the match on talkSPORT – stream online, via smartphone apps or DAB radio.

    Can I watch the World Cup final for free?
    YES! The mouth-watering World Cup final in Qatar can be watched for FREE on both channels as long as you hold a valid TV licence in the UK.
    What are the odds?
    Argentina win 9/5
    Draw 2/1
    Read More on The Sun
    France victory 9/5
    Odds courtesy of Betfair correct as of December 16.
    Lionel Messi can seal his international career with a World Cup triumphCredit: Getty
    France have booked their spot in the World Cup finalCredit: AFP More

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    Why are Croatia fans wearing water polo hats at World Cup?

    FANS at the World Cup do everything in their power to stand out from the crowd.While some decide to wear fancy dress, Croatia supporters have stepped it up a level with their water polo hats.
    And they will bring their hats out once again when they Morocco in their third-place play-off tonight.
    Croatia fans have swarmed to Russia with their water polo hatsCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Why do Croatia fans wear water polo hats?
    The hat is a tribute to defender Vedran Corluka.
    He made history when he became the first player to wear a water polo hat during a match.
    Corluka suffered a serious head injury during a match against Turkey at Euro 2016.
    It kept opening up during a match against Czech Republic and he played the second half with the hat on.
    Vedran Corluka played until the final whistle against Czech RepublicCredit: Getty – Contributor
    The defender even managed to score and the game finished 2-2.
    UEFA checked it over and made him remove the ear protectors before he was allowed to carry on.
    In fact, the hat that he wore is now held in UEFA’s museum.
    Croatia’s physio Nderim Redzaj is credited with coming up with the idea.

    Fans have been wearing the head gear since 2016Credit: Reuters
    Croatia fans go crazy and light flares as they beat Russia in hotly contested World Cup quarter-final More

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    Is Arsenal vs Juventus on TV? Stream, kick-off time and team news for huge friendly match TODAY

    ARSENAL have one final chance to shake the cobwebs out of their legs TODAY when they take on Italian giants Juventus in North London.The Gunners secured maximum points in the Dubai Super Cup after beating Lyon and AC Milan.
    Martin Odegaard scored a sensational free-kick against AC MilanCredit: Getty
    And Mikel Arteta would have been delighted to see Eddie Nketiah get on the scoresheet as the Englishman will be under pressure to fill injured Gabriel Jesus’ boots.
    But league leaders are set to have a tough time on their hands against a Juventus side who have won three consecutive fixtures.
    When is Arsenal vs Juventus?

    Arsenal’s final mid-season friendly against Juventus will take place TODAY – Saturday, December 17.
    It is scheduled to kick off at 6pm.
    Emirates Stadium in North London is the allocated arena for this match and it can host approximately 60,000 spectators.
    Juventus went crashing out of the Champions League when they last met the Gunners in 2006.

    Read more on Arsenal
    Is Arsenal vs Juventus on TV and can it live be streamed?

    Unfortunately, Arsenal vs Juventus will NOT be shown live on TV in the UK.
    However, fans can head to Arsenal’s website or official app to gain access for the match.
    You will need to purchase a pass on the club website for £5.99.
    Alternatively, follow SunSport’s LIVE blog for the entire action.

    Most read in Football
    What is the team news?
    William Saliba is the last man standing as an Arsenal representative in the World Cup despite hardly playing for France.
    Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Martinelli are all due to return to training this week.
    But Granit Xhaka could make a return to the starting eleven alongside Ghanaian icon Thomas Partey.
    Meanwhile, Juventus boss Maximilian Allegri is set to be without a whole host of starts for today’s encounter.
    Allegri will be without, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Adrien Rabiot, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Weston McKennie, Bremer, Dusan Vlahovic, Filip Kostic, Woijciech Szczesny, Federico Chiesa, Leonard Bonucci and Paul Pogba. More

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    Where is the next World Cup being held in 2026?

    THE 2022 World Cup has proved to be an entertaining affair, with fans around the world already looking to the next tournament.England bowed out in the quarter-finals, losing 2-1 to France in an unlucky encounter.
    England crashed out in Qatar at the quarter-final stageCredit: PA
    The Three Lions will be hoping to go further when they take to the pitch in 2026, with what could be a new look squad.
    Although the World Cup is four years away, we have all the details on the next tournament.
    read more football
    Where is the next World Cup being held in 2026?
    The 2026 World Cup will return to the usual schedule, kicking off in the summer.
    This comes after Qatar’s edition in 2022 was played in the winter to avoid the heat of the Middle East summers.
    However, the tournament will be the first of its kind, the first to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.
    The USMNT will be hoping to go far in the 2026 World CupCredit: Getty
    These 48 teams will come from six different confederations in a larger tournament than before.
    Morocco were beaten in the final vote to decide where the tournament would be held and it is the first since 2002 to be held by multiple countries.
    The 23rd edition of the tournament will be hosted by 16 cities jointly as the USA, Mexico and Canada will be the host countries.
    Most read in Sport More

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    Do the winners of the third place playoff get a medal at World Cup 2022?

    THE 2022 World Cup in Qatar is coming to an end THIS WEEKEND, with just two games remaining.It has been quite the tournament so far with Morocco, Croatia, Argentina and France making up the final four.
    France celebrating making consecutive World Cup finalsCredit: Getty
    Argentina will join France in the finalCredit: Getty
    France came out victorious against Morocco, with Argentina beating Croatia to set up a Kylian Mbappe vs Lionel Messi final.
    But first, Croatia take on Morocco to find out who finishes third at the 2022 World Cup.
    read more world cup
    Do the winners of the third place playoff get a medal at World Cup 2022?
    Many see the third place playoff match at a World Cup as one to avoid as both teams go into the clash bitterly disappointed as they fall at the final hurdle.
    Last time out we saw a depleted England side face Belgium in the clash, where Gareth Southgate’s men fell to defeat in Russia.
    England took on Belgium in an uninspiring third place playoff in 2018Credit: The Mega Agency
    It looked like the players were already ready to head home as they had no real desire to win the match.
    However, with Morocco and Croatia in action this time out, the two sides could be keen to come out victorious and ensure that they do not leave Qatar completely empty handed.
    The winners of the clash will be given a bronze medal, an award to show that they finished in third behind Argentina and France.
    The 2022 third place playoff will be a more interesting affair, with Morocco looking to beat Croatia to a bronze medalCredit: Splash
    This will be awarded after the match, with the two finalists receiving silver and gold medals – and the winner taking the prestigious World Cup trophy.
    Most read in Football
    While Morocco have already won the hearts of the world as they became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final, they will be keen to add a medal to their collection when they face Croatia this weekend. More

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    Why is Croatia player Josko Gvardiol wearing a mask against Morocco at World Cup 2022?

    JOSKO GVARDIOL is one of the most sought-after talents in European football and has shown just why at the World Cup and he is in action again TODAY.The RB Leipzig centre-back, 20, has attracted transfer interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid in recent months.
    Josko Gvardiol puts on his face mask after the anthems at the World Cup in QatarCredit: Reuters
    Gvardiol was sporting two black eyes when he was on the bench for Croatia’s World Cup warm-up match recentlyCredit: Alamy
    But he has remained loyal to the Bundesliga club, who are regulars in the Champions League.
    And fans will have noticed the Croatia star is wearing an unfamiliar facial decoration during their World Cup campaign, which concludes in the third place playoff against Morocco.
    Read more World Cup
    Why is Josko Gvardiol wearing a mask?
    Gvardiol was taken to hospital on November 10, during Leipzig’s 3-1 Bundesliga win over Freiburg.
    He collided with team-mate Willi Orban in the 17th minute and injured his face.

    Gvardiol wasn’t actually supposed to start the game but Abdou Diallo injured his knee in the warm-up.
    Unfortunately for Gvardiol, he injured his face, with a nose and eye problem and left the pitch with a bloody nose.
    Josko Gvardiol had a bloodied nose after a nasty collision with a team-mate during Leipzig’s 3-1 win over FreiburgCredit: Reuters
    Most read in Football
    Scans later showed he broke his nose and is therefore being forced to wear a face mask at the World Cup, with Croatia’s first game less than two weeks away.
    RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose said: “I heard he has a broken nose.
    “The eye is swollen. He looks like a boxer after 12 rounds against a tough opponent.” More

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    How tall is Luka Modric, how many caps does he have for Croatia, and which clubs has he played for?

    LUKA MODRIC has been hailed as one of the best midfielders of this generation after his performances at the World Cup this summer.Despite guiding Croatia to the final in 2018 and the semi-final this year where they face Argentina TONIGHT, the 33-year-old was once considered too small and weak to be a footballer.
    Modric has previously been rejected by clubs for his small statureCredit: Getty – Contributor
    How tall is Luka Modric?
    The Croatian magician stands at 1.72m tall or 5ft 7in.
    Modric has often been labelled as being too small, including by Eastenders’ star Mick Carter, ahead of the semi-final clash against England during the World Cup.
    He was even rejected by Croatian outfit Hajduk Split for his size, before eventually signing for Dinamo Zagreb years later.
    Yet, despite his diminutive stature, Modric has used it to his advantage, becoming able to evade taller and stronger opponents with quick feet and agility.
    How many caps does Modric have for Croatia?
    Modric has won 115 caps for Croatia since making his debut against Argentina in 2006.
    He sits in second on the all-time appearance holder list for the Balkans, behind only Darijo Srna (134).
    The midfielder is also his nation’s captain, assuming the role in March 2015.
    Modric has scored 14 goals for Croatia, including one each against Nigeria and Argentina at the World Cup in Russia.
    Modric has enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Real Madrid including winning four Champions League titles and the La Liga trophyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Modric has grown to become an indispensable player for Los Blancos as he enters his seventh season at the club this yearCredit: Getty – Contributor
    What club does Modric play for?
    The Croatia captain is currently one of Real Madrid’s biggest players, with fellow countryman Mateo Kovacic also on the books.
    Modric joined the Spanish giants in 2012 from Tottenham, having moved to London from Dinamo Zagreb four years earlier.
    He has gone onto win 13 trophies at Los Blancos, including four Champions League titles.
    His performances at Real Madrid have seen him named in the World XI on three occasions
    And he is fighting against former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for the chance to be the Men’s Player of the Year at the Fifa The Best Awards.
    He has already collected Uefa’s crown as the best player this year, beating the Portuguese and Egyptian attackers to the title.
    Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Keylor Navas all scoop awards at the Champions League UEFA Awards More