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      Costa Rica national anthem: The Himno Nacional translated into English

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      THE World Cup is looming and many players have already made the trip to Qatar.Among those competing for World Cup glory are Central American side Costa Rica.
      Costa Rica beat New Zealand in the play-off final 1-0 to book their place in QatarCredit: AFP
      18-year-old Jewison Bennette has become a feature of Luis Fernando Suárez’s new-look sideCredit: Getty
      Fans will have fond memories of 2014, when they beat Uruguay and Italy to top their group.
      Head coach Luis Fernando Suárez will be hoping to surprise again this year. To do so, they will have to navigate past both Spain and Germany in a difficult Group E.
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      What are the lyrics to the Costa Rica national anthem?
      The Himno Nacional de Costa Rica was written by José María Zeledón Brenes, and made official in 1949.
      However, the music has been in place since 1852.
      The anthem reflects the country’s peaceful attitudes, and decision not to deploy an army.
      Here’s how it goes:

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      Verse 1
      Citizens, the sun of the freehas risen radiantly to the zenith;its splendour gives us the breathto win for the Fatherland or die.
      Verse 2
      Costa Rica broke the chainsthat bound her to foreign power;she let loose her own flag to the windand founded the empire of law.
      Verse 3
      Liberty proclaimed enthusiastically,Liberty in order and good;she girded the garland of progresson her virgin and innocent temple!
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      Chorus
      The ambition of a suspicious foreignertried to submit her to the yoke,outraged, the peoples rose up,and they cried: “Back off, invader!”
      And Walker’s enraged troopslistened, tempering their voices,for over them, the heroic battles,Costa Rica nailed her banner.
      Verse 4
      For long years thereupon heavenwanted to give us happiness and peaceand in its benign shadow, progressfounded national wealth.
      Verse 5
      Constant and active workgave the people, generous, breadand Guardia was, the circumscribed duty,Of the right of the people, the guardian.
      Chorus
      The greed of jealous brothersagitated in constant restlessness:let us not consciously livein peace, progress and light;
      And they challenge us to a fratricidal fightpreparing the traitorous arquebus;Come, then, so that injustice never More

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      When is the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony, TV channel, how to stream FREE and who will be performing in Qatar?

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      WE are closing in on the highly-anticipated winter World Cup in Qatar – and fans can expect to see a great show before the opening match THIS WEEKEND.Host nation Qatar is scheduled to face a tough Ecuador side on the first day.
      Robbie Williams performed at the 2018 World Cup opening ceremonyCredit: Reuters
      But before the big kick-off, there are the usual formalities which include an opening ceremony.
      And SunSport has all the information on where it will be and who could be performing.
      When is the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony?
      The winter World Cup opening ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, November 20.
      It is expected to get underway at 3pm UK time – one hour before the Qatar vs Ecuador which kicks off at 4pm UK time.
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      Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of the capital of Doha is the allocated arena for this huge fixture.
      And Al Bayt Stadium can host around 60,000 spectators.
      How can I watch the opening ceremony?

      The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on TV in the UK.
      You can watch this on BBC One, where they will also be showing Qatar vs Ecuador after the ceremony.
      If you have a TV licence, you can stream the opening ceremony on BBC iPlayer or via the BBC Sport website.

      Who will be performing at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony?
      Bollywood star Nora Fatehi has officially been confirmed which is a big moment for the Indian entertainment industry.
      The other artist confirmed for the ceremony is BTS singer and K-Pop star Jung Kook.
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      Reports suggest that hip-hop artists Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin will be performing.
      Shakira is a strong candidate to get on stage having already had World Cup soundtrack experience with her “Waka Waka (this time from Africa)” song for the 2010 edition.
      Shakira’s Waka WakaCredit: Getty
      Nigerian artist Kizz Daniel is another name mentioned as well as American rap idol Lil Baby.
      But British fans will be disappointed to hear that Dua Lipa, who was claimed to be performing in the opening ceremony of the most prestigious tournament, has rubbished these rumours.

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      Who is referee Szymon Marciniak and how many World Cups has the Pole officiated at?

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      REFEREE Szymon Marciniak will also be looking to represent his country in an exemplary fashion at the World Cup.The Pole is one of the most experienced and respected in world football.
      Credit: Bongarts – Getty
      Marciniak has taken charge of Man City, Liverpool and Spurs games in the Champions League
      Who is Szymon Marciniak?
      Born in Plock, Marciniak had an odd path into refereeing.
      Starting out as a player, he was so incensed at being sent off in one match that he told the referee in a foul-mouthed tirade that he was the worst he’d ever seen.
      And the official replied: “If you think you can do better – you try it!”
      So he did.
      Marciniak rose through the amateur ranks to make his Ekstraklasa debut in 2009.
      He become a Fifa-listed referee in 2011, which made him eligible for selection at Europa League, Champions League and internationals.
      After taking charge of the Under-21 Euro 2015 final, he made his major championship bow the following summer in France.
      There Marciniak reffed Spain vs Czech Republic, Iceland vs Austria in the group stage, as well as Germany vs Slovakia in the knockout phase.
      Russia will be the Pole’s first experience of a World CupCredit: Reuters
      A ref less than a decade, the Polish whistler has established a reputation as card happyCredit: EPA
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      Has he officiated at the World Cup before?
      This will be the Pole’s second experience of a World Cup, after getting his cards out at Russia 2018.
      He has Euro 2016 experience under his belt – but took charge of Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs games in this season’s Champions League.
      At World Cup 2018 he reffed Argentina vs Iceland and Germany vs Sweden.
      He also took charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Real and Atletico Madrid in 2018.
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      World Cup schedule: What are the kick-off times for all the matches?
      World Cup prize money: How much does each winner earn?
      Who are the ITV pundits and commentators?
      Who are the BBC pundits and commentators?
      Meet England’s World Cup wags who are staying on a £1bn cruise ship More

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      Who is referee Danny Makkelie, how many major tournaments has Dutchman refereed at?

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      OFFICIAL Danny Makkelie is back on the world stage and is seen as one of the best referees on the planet.The Dutchman, a former policeman, was in charge for England’s Euro 2020 semi-final between England and Denmark.
      Makkelie has been selected as a VAR assistant for the World CupCredit: AFP – Getty
      He was also the ref for Finland’s defeat to Russia in the group stages.Has he officiated at major tournaments before?
      A former police inspector, Makkelie will accept no messing about in the Wembley match-up.
      He was first listed as a FIFA referee in 2011 and at 38 years old, still has plenty of seasons under his belt.
      Before this tournament, Makkelie was the referee for the 2020 Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter Milan, but this is his first major international tournament in the middle.
      What else has he done so far?
      Makkelie made his Eredivise debut in 2009 and has gone on to make over 180 appearances across nine seasons.
      He took charge of five Champions League fixtures in 2019, including the quarter-final first leg when Barcelona beat AS Roma 4-1.
      The Dutchman was blasted by the Italians’ boss Eusebio di Francesco for denying them a penalty in that game, but it proved irrelevant as Roma heroically won the second leg 3-0 to progress on away goals.
      Makkelie has also been involved in the Europe League, officiating 11 matches from 2012 to 2017.
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      Has he used VAR before?
      The Dutchman has been involved in two major controversies with the VAR system.
      Makkelie became the first referee to send-off a player using the technology after he changed his yellow-card decision to a sending off against Willem II’s Anouar Kalu in a KNVB Cup game in 2016.
      He was also involved in one of the most famous and controversial usages of VAR when he took charge of the Dutch Super Cup final between Feyenoord and Vitesse.
      During that match, Feyenoord saw a goal disallowed and a penalty awarded to Vitesse instead after a VAR review showed Makkelie should have given the spot kick before the goal was scored.
      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World CupWorld Cup 2022 LIVE: Latest news and updates from Qatar
      World Cup schedule: What are the kick-off times for all the matches?
      World Cup prize money: How much does each winner earn?
      Who are the ITV pundits and commentators?
      Who are the BBC pundits and commentators?
      Meet England’s World Cup wags who are staying on a £1bn cruise ship More

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      What is England’s World Cup ITV curse, and how have Three Lions results fared on BBC and ITV?

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      ENGLAND supporters will be hoping the Three Lions can give them a World Cup trophy as an early Christmas present this winter.And the announcement of their first match being broadcast on BBC ONE has filled fans with joy.
      England players trying to cool themselves down as they prepare for their World Cup opener
      What is England’s ITV curse?
      Compared to when England are shown on the BBC, the Three Lions have a lousy competitive record on ITV.
      Since France 98, England have played 27 games at the World Cup.
      They’ve won twelve of these matches.
      Fourteen of those games have been shown on the BBC – and just TWO games shown on ITV have been won.
      And the ‘curse’ struck again when England were knocked out by Croatia in 2018 which was shown live on ITV.
      England went crashing out to Croatia during the 2018 World Cup on ITV
      How have Three Lions results fared on BBC and ITV?
      Call it coincidence or what you will, but the stats speak for themselves.

      The BBC has shown 14 games with a record of 10 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats
      ITV has show 13 games with a record of 2 wins, 6 draws and 5 defeats

      During the group stages in Russia the BBC showed England’s wins over Tunisia and Panama.
      ITV were in charge for the defeat against Belgium.
      Ian Wright will be one of the pundits on ITV this winter
      Gareth Southgate will be eager for his men to break this ITV curse in Qatar alongside going one step further than the Euro 2020 by lifting the World Cup trophy. More

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      Why do England have Three Lions on their badge, and has the badge always been the same?

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      ENGLAND’s badge is one of the most unique in international football.The iconic Three Lions and ten red roses feature on this summer’s World Cup strip, along with a star representing the 1966 win on home turf.
      England’s iconic Three Lions badge and ten red rosesCredit: Alamy
      Why do England have Three Lions on their badge?
      ENGLAND are representatives of the Football Association – and therefore use their emblem on their shirts.
      That happens to be the Three Lions crest and was first used in 1872 when England played Scotland in the first ever international.
      The lion is a huge part of English history and can be traced back to the time of King Henry I and Richard the Lionheart.
      The great Stanley Matthews wearing England strip in 1954Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Banners sporting three golden lions were ridden into battle by Richard and every monarch following him has them on their Royal Coat of Arms.
      When the FA was formed the crest was designed to show that heritage – and has been a feature of England jerseys ever since.
      Because it is officially a royal emblem, the FA had to ask permission to use it with the team.
      You will notice that the crest also features 10 red roses and some believe that they hark back to the War of the Roses between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
      A young England fan shows her support for the team outside the Samara ArenaCredit: PA:Press Association
      Has the badge always been the same?
      THERE has been just one major change in the last 146 years.
      The England cricket team share the same badge and the two were difficult to differentiate between.
      Before 1949 the football version had crowns on the lions, but these were removed.
      Otherwise, the design – save for a few cosmetic differences – has remained since 1872. More

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      When was the last time an England match was broadcast in black and white?

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      A portion of England’s game against Switzerland in September 2018 was broadcast in black and white.This was done to celebrate 25 years of the Kick It Out campaign, 25 seconds of the coverage will be broadcast without colour as the Three Lions face the Swiss in Leicester.
      Many watched the 1966 World Cup win in black and whiteCredit: PA:Press Association
      When was the last time an England match was broadcast in black and white?
      YOU have to go back nearly 50 years for the last time this happened.
      The majority of the country watched the 1966 World Cup win in black and white, but colour television was very much the norm by the late 60s.
      So much so that Match of the Day went full colour in 1969, broadcasting a clash between Liverpool and West Ham from Anfield.
      Not everyone had a colour set by the time the 1970 World Cup, but every programme broadcast on both BBC1 and BBC2 by then was available to watch in technicolour.
      The move by The Football Association at Leicester aims to honour the 25th anniversary of the Kick It Out campaign.
      England will honour the campaign in their game against SwitzerlandCredit: PA:Press Association
      Viewers who tuned into the coverage saw the picture switch to black and white as the teams walked out onto the pitch.
      Paul Elliott, the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board Chairman, said: “Kick It Out have been a catalyst for the change in English football both on and off the pitch and we’re delighted to celebrate their inspirational work in promoting football for all.
      “Hopefully the footage will encourage the millions of viewers at home to spend at least 25 seconds thinking about the importance of diversity in this beautiful game of ours.”
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      Why is Hakim Ziyech playing for Morocco again at the World Cup?

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      NINE months since announcing his retirement from the Moroccan national side, Hakim Ziyech has made a sensational comeback by earning his place on the plane to Qatar.Ziyech returned to the fold in Morocco’s September friendlies against Chile and Paraguay.
      Hakim Ziyech in action for MorccoCredit: AFP or licensors
      And despite the Chelsea forward struggling for form at club level, he was an integral puzzle piece in the African nation as they had developed into a promising side looking to fulfil their potential.
      Now back in the team, Ziyech will be looking to add to his 18 goal tally he has amounted so far in 43 appearances alongside his impressive wonder strike against Georgia.
      Why is Hakim Ziyech playing for Morocco again at the World Cup?
      Ziyech was dropped from the side due to falling out with the former manager Vahid Halilhodzic who accused him arriving late, refusing to play and setting a bad example to the young players.
      Halilhodzic claimed “Ziyech’s behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player.
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      “As a leader of the team, he has to be a positive role model.
      “He arrived late, and then even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards – as a coach the answer is right there to see”
      As the door looked locked on international retirement for Ziyech, the Moroccan FA announced the sacking of Halilhodzic just three months before the beginning of the World Cup due to ‘differences in opinions’ about the appropriate preparation of the team.
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      In his place came Walid Regragui and he re-introduced Hakim Ziyech into the sides starting eleven.
      And Regragui has seen enough after three matches to gift Ziyech the opportunity of representing Morocco at the World Cup. More