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

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      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.

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      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.

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      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?

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

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      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.
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      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?

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      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
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      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?

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      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

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      How old is Zlatko Dalic and which football teams has Croatia World Cup boss managed before?

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      ZLATKO DALIC has proven himself to be one of the best coaches at the World Cup.He has guided his Croatia side to the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament, just four years on from reaching the final in Russia.
      They face Argentina TONIGHT, looking to repeat the feat from 2018.
      Zlatko Dalic has a strong desire to prove himself on the biggest stagesCredit: EPA
      How old is Zlatko Dalic?
      BORN in Livno, the Croatian played as a defensive midfielder and enjoyed a 17-year career.
      After two spells at Hadjuk Split, he settled at Varteks and enjoyed a successful period of 108 appearances between 1992 and 1996.
      Dalic hung up his boots in 2000 and returned to Varteks in 2005 as boss.
      Jobs all around Europe and the Middle East followed, before he took over as Croatian boss in 2017.
      Dalic was born in October 1966 and is currently 51-years-old.
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      Which football teams has the Croatia boss managed before?
      SINCE going into management just over a decade ago, Dalic has been at eight domestic clubs.
      He joined Croatia only last year and was given a rolling contract that would be reviewed if he failed to qualify for the World Cup.
      And it’s fair to say he has exceeded expectations, leading Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final.
      Dalic’s full club history is as follows:

      2005–2007: Varteks
      2007–2008: Rijeka
      2008–2009: Dinamo Tirana
      2009–2010: Slaven Belupo
      2010–2012: Al-Faisaly
      2012–2013: Al-Hilal B
      2013: Al-Hilal
      2014–2017: Al-Ain
      2017–present: Croatia

      When is the Fifa The Best Awards?
      The awards ceremony will take place TODAY.
      It will get underway at 6.30pm.
      The show is being held at London’s Royal Festival Hall – home to the London Philharmonic Orchestra. More

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      Why do footballers spit on the pitch, and why do they spit out water after drinking?

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      THE World Cup is rolling on at pace in Qatar.The tournament is being watched by billions across the globe each day as footballers play for the game’s biggest prize.
      Lionel Messi spits during a game for Argentina
      Cristiano Ronaldo spits out his water on the touchline
      But you may have picked up a couple of trends that footballers seem to do in every game…spitting on the pitch and also spitting out their drinks on the touchline.
      Though there is a very scientific reason for this.
      Why do footballers spit?
      Players need to spit while performing exercise as excess saliva develops.
      Additionally, players often spit their drinks out onto the pitch after taking a small swig from the bottle.
      ENGLAND VS FRANCE – HOW TO WATCH
      This is due to a tactic called carb rinsing, which can reportedly improve performance.
      According to a New York Times article on England players at the 2018 World Cup: “Carb rinsing refers to the practice of swishing with sports drinks for five to ten seconds during exertion, but then spitting it out instead of swallowing.”
      Harry Kane spits water out after drinking
      The European Journal of Sport Science published a report in 2017 which found that carb rinsing boosted performance in a range of activities.
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      Running magazine added that during exercise: “Swishing with a carb-laden drink is refreshing and lets you avoid the feeling of bloating or cramping that may come with swallowing liquid.”
      Spitting is not an offence in football, so does not warrant any disciplinary card.
      However spitting at another player or official is a red card.

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      Why does the flag go up so late for an offside at the World Cup 2022?

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      THERE’S nothing more exciting than seeing your football team go through on goal – until the assistant referee raises their delayed flag for offside.Argentina was on the bitter end of this in their shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.
      Messi saw his expertly taken goal denied for offsideCredit: Getty
      But it has been something that referees have been instructed to do since the 2020/21 campaign.
      Find out why below…
      Why do assistant referees delay raising their flag for offside?
      Referees were told at the beginning of the 2020/21 season that they must keep their flags down during an immediate goal-scoring opportunity even if they think it is offside.
      And they must only raise their flag once the passage of play has come to an end.
      However, if a goal is scored and the assistant referee opts to call for offside, the incident will then be reviewed by VAR.
      VAR will then confirm or rule against the decision depending on what is shown on the monitor.
      When has this happened at the World Cup?
      Footballing legend Lionel Messi fell victim to the delayed flag during Argentina’s 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia.
      Messi, 35, thought he had dispatched his second of the day when coolly slotted home past Saudi goalkeeper Mohamed Alowais.
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      However, his celebration was cut short after seeing the assistant referee eventually raise their flag for offside.
      And Lautaro Martinez was haunted by the same problem minutes later.
      What else do they use for offsides at the World Cup?
      A semi-automatic offside tool has been used at the World Cup and it is a piece of technology introduced to make VAR decisions quicker and more accurate.
      It will be done by a system using a computer tracker of 29 body parts of each player, combined with a microchip inside the ball.
      Semi-automatic VAR has been used at the World Cup
      This is expected to determine the positions of the players at the exact moment the ball has been played.
      So in the case of an offside situation, the video operations room will receive an automated alert alongside an automatically selected point and instantly drawn lines within seconds of the incident.
      Match officials will then have to validate the proposed selected kick point and the drawn offside line before VAR communicates the final decision on the pitch.
      Extra VAR officials will be in charge of calling offsides with the algorithm providing a 3D animation to explain a call in an average of 25 seconds.
      And that illustration is then available on the giant screens within the stadium for TV viewers to take a look at in the next stoppage of play. More