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      Why is Mo Salah not playing at World Cup 2022?

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      THE World Cup is here, but some notable stars are missing from the glitzy tournament.One player missing out on the action is Liverpool’s star-man Mohamed Salah.
      Mo Salah was on the losing side in the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2021Credit: Reuters
      Salah has managed six Premier League goals so far this season and Liverpool currently sit outside the top four.
      The 30-year-old has an impressive record for his national side with 47 goals and 25 assists in just 84 games, but won’t be able to add to his tally at the World Cup.
      Why is Mo Salah not playing at the World Cup?
      Salah won’t be at the World Cup because Egypt did not qualify for the tournament.
      The African side fell at the last hurdle of qualification after losing on penalties to Senegal.

      It was a penalty from Salah’s former Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane that ultimately knocked Egypt out of the running.
      Salah missed his penalty during the shootout, but was faced with lasers being shone into his eyes whilst he was trying to take it.
      The controversial ending to Egypt’s World Cup hopes mean that the Egypt captain will have to watch all the action from home this year.
      It wasn’t the first heartbreak Mane had caused his old strike partner with the Senegalese forward scoring the winning penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Egypt less than two months prior.
      Has Mo Salah played at a World Cup before?
      Salah was part of Egypt’s squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      Most read in Football
      He played in two of his nation’s games at the tournament and managed to score in both despite Egypt losing on both occasions.
      The forward wasn’t fit to play in The Pharaohs first game of the tournament after getting injured in the Champions League final following a tangle with Sergio Ramos.
      Egypt bowed out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stages after losing all three of their games.

      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World Cup More

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      Is Portugal vs Nigeria on TV TODAY? Kick-off time and team news for World Cup warm-up

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      PORTUGAL will be hoping to lift the 2022 World Cup in what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last, but first comes a friendly against Nigeria this week.With the tournament starting on Sunday as Qatar host Ecuador, Portugal are among the frontrunners to lift the trophy.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates are preparing for the World Cup.Credit: Getty
      Ronaldo’s rival in the ‘greatest of all time’ debate, Lionel Messi and his Argentina side are one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
      And after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo will be looking to do his talking on the pitch at the World Cup, but first must face Nigeria in a friendly.
      Read More football
      When is Portugal vs Nigeria?

      Portugal host Nigeria on Thursday, November 17.
      The clash will kick off at 6:45pm ~UK time in Portugal.
      Estadio Jose Alvalade, the home of Sporting, will be the venue for the clash and can hold up to 50,095 fans.

      How can I watch Portugal vs Nigeria?

      Unfortunately, Portugal vs Nigeria is not being televised in the UK.
      But you can keep up with all the action in our live blog below.

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      What is the latest team news?
      Ronaldo is expected to be involved but could feature off the bench in the friendly as Fernando Santos may look to protect his stars.
      Benfica star Goncalo Ramos could be leading the line after netting nine goals in 11 league appearances this season, while AC Milan’s Rafael Leao could also feature.
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      Most read in Football
      Antonio Silva is expected to start in defence after his impressive start to the season in Portugal.
      For the visitors, Victor Osimhen will not feature after withdrawing from the squad through injury while Orlando Pirates defender Olisah Ndah joined him by withdrawing from the team.
      Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Emmanuel Dennis could all feature for Nigeria after picking up form towards the international break.
      Latest odds

      Portugal to win – 2/9
      Draw – 9/2
      Nigeria – 12/1

      Odds courtesy of Betfair and correct as of time of publication. More

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      How to watch PART TWO of Cristiano Ronaldo’s BOMBSHELL full interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV TODAY for FREE

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO’s interview with Piers Morgan will be aired for FREE TONIGHT as part two is set to be released.The Portugal star did not hold back when asked about Erik ten Hag and the higher ups at Old Trafford, stating that he believes the club have betrayed him.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has sat down with Piers Morgan to deliver a two-part exclusive interview
      He has also hit back at former teammates Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney after their criticism of him in recent months.
      Part one has already been aired, with the second part set to come as Ronaldo lifts the lid.

      How to watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s bombshell interview?

      The second part of the interview will be available to watch on Morgan’s show ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’.
      This will be on TalkTV, which is available on television in the United Kingdom.
      Talk TV is available on Sky 526, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237, Freesat 217 and Sky Glass 508
      You can also stream via the TalkTV app, which his available for download on your mobile and tablet devices for FREE.
      Alternatively, you can watch online on the TalkTV website, also free of charge.
      And SunSport are live blogging the whole interview on our rolling blog.

      Most read in Football
      When is the Cristiano Ronaldo and Piers Morgan interview?
      The interview is a 90 minute viewing as Ronaldo sits down with Morgan to discuss all things Man United.
      The first part has been released while the second will come out tonight.

      Ronaldo sat down with Morgan and the first part was released on Wednesday, November 16 at 8pm UK time.
      The second and final part will be released on Thursday, November 17 at 8pm UK time, live on the TalkTV app or on the TV channels above. More

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      Who is World Cup star Harry Maguire’s wife Fern Hawkins and do they have children together?

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      HARRY MAGUIRE has battled through the heavy criticism to make Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the World Cup.And Maguire’s wife Fern has always stuck by the Manchester United star through thick and thin.
      Fern Hawkins watches Harry Maguire’s England from the stands
      SunSport will be delving into who she is and if the long-term lovers have children together.Who is Fern Hawkins?
      Fern Hawkins is Harry Maguire’s fiancée and has a Bachelor’s degree in science and physiotherapy, graduating with a First Class Honours in 2017.
      Like Harry, she’s from Sheffield, and the couple have been dating for just over 10 years after getting together on June 19, 2011.
      Fern’s footballer beau isn’t the only target of her affections – her social media posts are littered with tributes to their adorable pet dog Simba.
      But it seems the England ace has done enough to win her heart.
      When did Fern and Harry get married?
      Fern and Harry got engaged on February 17, 2018.
      Fern revealed that he had asked her to marry him during a romantic getaway to Paris.
      She posted on Instagram: “On Saturday night, Harry made me the happiest girl in the world & asked me to marry him in the most perfect way.”
      Harry Maguire and wife Fern got married in 2022
      During the 2018 World Cup, she was snapped wearing a stunning engagement ring as she travelled around Russia supporting her husband-to-be.
      She was frequently seen in the stands enjoying the Three Lions’ stirring performances with a beer, and Harry sought her out after games to pose for loved-up selfies.
      But the long-term lovers officially got married earlier on this year in 2022.
      MORE ON HARRY
      Do they have any children?
      Fern Hawkins gave birth to the couple’s first child on April 3, 2019 – naming their new daughter Lillie Saint Maguire.
      This is the sweet photo that England hero Harry Maguire uploaded of his new-born daughter Lillie Saint MaguireCredit: Instagram @_fernhawkins
      She came into the world exactly nine months after England beat Colombia on penalties at the World Cup.
      That Round of 16 clash sparked huge celebrations, while Maguire was also pictured in a famous photo with the future mother of his child.
      In May 2020, Fern gave birth to the couple’s second daughter – Piper Rose. More

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      F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Date, UK start time, stream, TV channel, practice and qualifying for last race of the season

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      THE final F1 race of the season is upon us as the Grand Prix heads to Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen won his second consecutive F1 title earlier this year in Japan.
      Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were involved in a collision last week in BrazilCredit: Splash
      And now the Dutchman is looking to round his season off in style.
      Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, however, is still looking to tie up second place in the standings, as he’s currently levelled off with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
      Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will also be hoping to secure strong finishes to the season after their one-two finish in Brazil last weekend.
      But all eyes will be on champion Verstappen, as he returns to the scene of his first world title win last year.
      When is the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

      The F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, November 20.
      The race will get underway from 1pm UK time on Sunday.
      It will be held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      The F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
      You can live stream the action from the Sky Go or NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Most read in Motorsport
      F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix full schedule
      Friday, November 18

      Practice one – 10am GMT
      Practice two – 1pm GMT

      Saturday, November 19

      Practice three – 11am GMT
      Qualifying – 2pm GMT

      Sunday, November 20

      Grand Prix – 1pm GMT More

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      Why is Son Heung-min wearing a mask at the World Cup for South Korea?

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      SOUTH KOREA superstar Son Heung-min is set to wear a mask during his time at the winter World Cup – and it’s not to hide his identity.The Tottenham Hotspur ace was almost ruled out of the huge Qatar tournament before confirming that he wouldn’t miss it ‘for the world’.
      Son Heung-min wore a mask during South Korea’s World Cup trainingCredit: AFP
      And now, Son has been pictured in training wearing a marvel-type mask.
      Find out why the tricky winger has been forced to wear a mask below…
      Why is Son Heung-min wearing a mask?
      Son Heung-min is wearing a protective mask following a fractured eye socket he sustained in a Champions League win a couple of weeks ago.
      Son suffered a fractured eye socket in a Champions League win over MarseilleCredit: Reuters
      Son was forced to come off early in the win against MarseilleCredit: Reuters
      The Spurs star had a sickening collision with Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba’s shoulder.
      Read more on Son Heung-min
      And as a result, Son required immediate attention, before coming off the field early where he then needed to undergo surgery a few days later.
      Thankfully for the South Korea captain, the surgery was a success and he was then called up to the Asian giants World Cup squad.
      What has Son Heung-min said?
      The Tottenham forward revealed how honoured he is to play for his country and that it will take a lot more than a fractured eye socket for him to miss the World Cup.
      Son said: “Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too.
      “I won’t [miss] this for the world. I can’t wai to represent our beautiful country. See you soon. Sonny.”
      Most read in Football
      When is the World Cup 2022? More

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      What is VAR and when is it used?

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      FOOTBALL is a fast-paced and contact sport which doesn’t always allow the referee to determine what is a foul or not at first sight.Sometimes, the ref and his officials need to take a close look at what happened to determine the outcome and that is why the Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) was created.
      VAR is used across several competitions in Europe such as the top five leagues
      How does VAR work?
      The video assistant referee can be called upon for four key on-field incidents.
      These are:

      Awarding goals
      Penalty decisions
      Red card decisions
      Cases of mistaken identity

      The video assistant referee will be the one to let the on-pitch referee know that a decision needs to be analysed.
      The VAR will liaise with the on-pitch referee to relay information on calls and at times the on-pitch official might need to go and take a look at the action himself from a screen installed in the stadium.
      The video assistant referee – a top official who is watching the game away from the stadium – has access to every camera angle and goal-line technology cameras.
      And interestingly, he will have to wear FULL KIT while on duty.
      The VAR also has an assistant watching the game with them.
      Most read in football

      What technology does VAR use?
      VAR uses over 30 cameras installed in the stadium to be able to capture every angle.
      This helps the virtual assistant referee to view an incident such as a penalty from every angle and determine whether there was contact or not.
      Types of cameras used include broadcast cameras, slow-motion cameras, high-definition wide-angle and tight cameras.
      There is also an audio communication system used which enabled the on-pitch referee to speak with the off-pitch one.
      By the dugout or in an appropriate place by the pitch line, you’ll also find a screen installed for the on-pitch referee to view any controversial incidents.
      In the Premier League, the Hawk-Eye’s virtual offside line technology is used to determine whether a player was onside or not.
      It has two levels.
      One of them is the gridline which shows a two-dimensional line that is positioned with the final player.
      This is mainly used when a player is clearly offside or not.
      On the other hand, sometimes two players may be too close to each other to determine whether a goal was offside or not.
      That is why there is another level of lines called crosshair.
      These two offside lines are drawn, one in correspondence with the last player of the defending team and the other with the player of the offensive team.
      It also features a 3D vertical line which shows whether another body part, such as an arm, is offside or not and in that case, the goal would be disallowed.
      Who created VAR?
      VAR was created by the Royal Netherlands Football Association.
      The project was created in 2010 and was tested across Eredivisie – the Dutch league – games.
      Testing was then further made throughout the Premier League, however, the system made its international debut in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
      What competition is VAR used in?
      Many European and South American domestic leagues introduced the VAR system such as:

      The Premier League together with domestic cups like the FA Cup
      Serie A and the Coppa Italia
      La Liga and the Copa del Rey
      Bundesliga and DFB Pokal
      Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France
      Major League Soccer in America
      Brasileirao
      Argentine Primera Division.

      It is also used across main FIFA and UEFA competitions such as the World Cup and the EUROs.
      We cannot leave out its use in the Champions League, Europa League and the Conference League. More

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      UAE vs Argentina LIVE: Lionel Messi in action as Di Maria DOUBLES lead in World Cup warm-up game – latest updates

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      ARGENTINA play their final match ahead of the 2022 World Cup as they face the United Arab Emirates in a friendly.Lionel Messi has been named in the starting XI as Argentina have named a strong side ahead of the World Cup.
      They will be hoping for a positive result before beginning their World Cup campaign on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia.
      Keep up with all the action by following our live blog below.
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      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      35 Argentina are pushing for a third before half-time with some high pressure.
      UAE have been unable to put anything together in almost 20 minutes
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      33 A solid display by Messi so far, who already got an assist.
      It will be interesting to see if manager Scaloni opts to play the second half without him to save him for the World Cup
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      31 Chance
      Messi takes on a free-kick just inches away from the box but just misses the crossbar
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      30 This is how the two teams look like today:
      Argentina in full blue, while UAE play in their white kit
      Credit: GETTY
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      28 UAE have been unable to put together an attack since Alvarez’s opener.
      Argentina are totally comfortable on the pitch after Di Maria’s stunner
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      25 What a goal by Di Maria! Absolute stunner!!!
      Acuna delivers a pinpoint cross from the left and finds the Juventus star at the far post.
      The winger immediately shoots with his right and nails the ball to the back of Eisa’s net!
      UAE 0-2 Argentina
      25 Goal!
      Di Maria doubles Argentina’s lead!!!
      UAE 0-1 Argentina
      23 Chance
      Argentina continue to knock on UAE’s door, with Alvarez coming close to a second.
      The Man City ace puts the ball down with a magnificent touch before turning around and seeing his shot getting blocked by a defender
      UAE 0-1 Argentina
      20 Argentina finally got their big opportunity and didn’t miss it.
      However, they are still leaving open spaces at the back that UAE have yet to take advantage of
      UAE 0-1 Argentina
      17 Argentina have broken the deadlock after some poor defending by UAE.
      Di Maria plays Messi with a stunning through ball that finds the hosts completely off guard.
      The captain has plenty of space to run and passes to Manchester City star Alvarez who beats Eisa with ease
      UAE 0-1 Argentina
      GOAL!
      Alvarez opens the scoring!!!
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      16 Chance
      Di Maria plays Messi through from the right and the captain tries a shot from a tight angle that is saved by Eisa
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      15 Argentina are leaving open spaces behind that fortunately for them UAE can’t take advantage of.
      Lisandro and Otamendi have to get a grip
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      8 Chance
      UAE show some teeth in the first few minutes with Abdullah attacking from the left but his shot gets deflected and just misses the crossbar
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      10 Argentina are slowly reimposing their dominance but miss the final pass or shot on target.
      Messi looking comfortable on the ball up front so far
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      8 After a dominant five minutes, UAE are getting more of the ball and gaining ground.
      The hosts are even applying some significant pressure on the visitors when they try to play out the back
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      5 Argentina are totally dominating the opening few minutes against UAE.
      The visitors;s midfield and attack are pummeling the hosts, who are barely holding them away from Eisa’s box
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      2 Another reminder:
      United Arab Emirates manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
      Khalid Eisa starts in goal with Khaled Al Dhanhani at right-back and Shaheen Rahman on the other side, while Al Hussain Saleh and Khalifa Al Hamadi team up at centre-back.
      Abdulla Hamad and Ali Salmeen link up in midfield with captain Ali Mabkhout at No10.
      Harib Abdullah plays down the right wing with Abdullah Ramadan on the other side, while Caio Canedo leads the attack
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      1 Tiny reminder:
      Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against the United Arab Emirates.
      Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez starts between the sticks with Juan Foyth at right-back and Marcos Acuna on the other side, while Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez team up at centre-back.
      Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul link up in midfield.
      Angel Di Maria, Captain Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez lead the attack
      UAE 0-0 Argentina
      Peep!
      Off we go in Abu Dhabi!!!
      Here come the teams!
      The Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium is set to host the international friendly between United Arab Emirates and Argentina.
      UAE captain Ali Mabkhout leads his team out in front of their home crowd.
      And of course Lionel Messi dons Argentina’s legendary armband for this encounter.
      Not long to go now…!
      Credit: GETTY
      UAE formation
      United Arab Emirates manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
      Khalid Eisa starts in goal with Khaled Al Dhanhani at right-back and Shaheen Rahman on the other side, while Al Hussain Saleh and Khalifa Al Hamadi team up at centre-back.
      Abdulla Hamad and Ali Salmeen link up in midfield with captain Ali Mabkhout at No10.
      Harib Abdullah plays down the right wing with Abdullah Ramadan on the other side, while Caio Canedo leads the attack
      Argentina formation
      Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against the United Arab Emirates.
      Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez starts between the sticks with Juan Foyth at right-back and Marcos Acuna on the other side, while Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez team up at centre-back.
      Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul link up in midfield.
      Angel Di Maria, Captain Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez lead the attack
      UAE subs
      Khasif, Al Shamsi, Jameel, Mohammed, Al Hashemi, Heikal, Hassan, Rashid, Nader, Al Zaabi, Saleh, De Lima, Al Ghassami
      Argentina subs
      1 Armani, 12 Rulli, 3 Tagliafico, 4 Montiel, 6 Pezzella, 14 Palacios, 15 Gonzalez, 16 Correa, 18 Rodriguez, 22 L. Martinez, 24 Fernandez, 26 Molina
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