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      Why is Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry coaching Belgium and does he manage a club side?

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      THIERRY HENRY would never have imagined that he would be associated with a team nicknamed ‘the Red Devils’ but thankfully for Arsenal fans, their legend is coaching Belgium rather than Manchester United. The Arsenal legend has made his desires clear as he wishes to become a head coach himself after learning under the likes of Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola during his playing career.
      Thierry Henry and Belgium boss Roberto MartinezCredit: Reuters
      However, for now, he holds the role as second assistant to Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.
      But why is the Frenchman part of the coaching team and does he manage a club side? We have all the answers.
      Read More Football
      Why is Thierry Henry coaching Belgium?
      Embarking on his coaching journey with Arsenal’s youth teams back in 2015, he was later offered the job of under-18’s coach but this decision was overruled by Wenger, wanting a full-time coach for the side rather than Henry, who wished to continue on a part-time basis alongside working for Sky Sports.
      This led the Frenchman to look for roles elsewhere before joining Martinez’s backroom staff at Belgium and remained part of the team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, helping the European giants finish third.
      Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness working for Sky Sports TelevisionCredit: Getty
      Does Thierry Henry coach a club side?
      Henry’s first club role came in October 2018 after speculation surrounding the Bourdeaux job in his home country, but declined this opportunity and took the reigns at his former club Monaco instead.
      However, the manager was dismissed from his role in France while his side were 19th in Ligue 1 with a four wins, five draws and 11 defeats from 20 matches.
      Thierry Henry took charge of MonacoCredit: Reuters
      10 months later, Henry embarked on his second spell in club management after being appointed at Montreal Impact, returning to the MLS for the first time since playing for New York Red Bulls between 2010 and 2014.
      Henry’s time in Canada was more successful than his stint at Monaco, leading his Montreal Impact team to their first play-off finish in four seasons. However, he stepped down in February 2021 to be closer to his children in London, having been unable to travel to see them for the whole of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
      Two months later, Henry re-joined the coaching staff of Belgium ahead of the rescheduled Euro 2020.
      Thierry Henry’s most recent managerial role was at Montreal ImpactCredit: Reuters
      Is Thierry Henry looking to return to club management?
      The Belgium coach has recently confirmed his intentions to return to club management, stating: “Yes, I would like to think so, maybe. I turned some down because I want to see it through with Belgium and not leave them on the way to the World Cup, because, you know, it’s a weird one to leave.
      Most read in Sport
      “I just want to go back and help, especially with the youngsters. After that (Monaco) I went to Montreal. People will say that’s not very glamorous, but it’s not about that.
      “It’s about me getting better and also, the best relationships I’ve had at those teams so far is with the youngsters.”
      Therefore, it looks like we could see Henry return to management in the near future. More

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      Do Saudi Arabia own Premier League side Newcastle United?

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      SAUDI ARABIA face Argentina, Poland and Mexico as they have it all to do in the World Cup group stages.The best finish Saudi Arabia have ever seen was when they reached the round of 16 back in 1994 and have only qualified for six World Cup tournaments.
      Saudi Arabia play at their sixth world cup in 2022Credit: AP
      They will be looking to match their highest ever finish but face a tough challenge, going into Group C as underdogs.
      The country were in the news last year when Newcastle United were taken over by a consortium headed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) – but do Saudi Arabia own Newcastle? We have all the details.
      Read More Football
      Do Saudi Arabia own side Newcastle?
      The Magpies were sold by former owner Mike Ashley in a deal worth a reported £300 million to the consortium back in 2021.
      PIF own 80 percent of the club and their chair is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of the king of Saudi Arabia.
      Newcastle United directors Amanda Stavely and Mehrdad Ghodoussi celebrating in the standsCredit: Reuters
      His involvement in the takeover led to opposition from human rights groups, labelling the purchase as “sportswashing”.
      Despite this, the Premier League approved the takeover of Newcastle following “legally binding assurances” that Saudi Arabia would not be in control of the club.
      Most read in Football
      The public face of PIF is Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is Chairman of Newcastle, while PCP Capital Partners received 10 percent of the shares and RB Sports and Media own the final 10 percent.
      Al-Rumayyan and Amanda Stavely, the owner of PCP, are seen as the face of the deal with the country of Saudi Arabia not owning Newcastle as the Premier League were assured. More

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      Why are Barcelona wearing Drake’s OVO owl on their jersey against Real Madrid?

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      BARCELONA are sporting an unusual logo on their kit when they face Real Madrid in El Clasico and everyone has the same question – why?The La Liga giants announced a partnership with music streaming service Spotify earlier in the year in a long-term deal.
      Barcelona usually take to the pitch with Spotify’s logo on their chestsCredit: Rex
      Xavi’s side usually take to action donning a gold version of the Spotify logo on their kit as part of the partnership.
      However, against Real Madrid, Barca are donning an unusual logo, with an owl appearing front and centre on their jerseys and the reason for this has been revealed.
      Read More Football
      Why are Barcelona wearing Drake’s OVO owl on their jersey against Real Madrid?
      Barcelona’s sponsorship with Spotify has opened up endless opportunities for the La Liga side after the long-term deal was announced.
      With the Camp Nou reportedly set to be renamed, and as Spotify are looking to take naming rights, the partnership has also allowed for a unique change of jersey sponsor.
      The OVO owl is the logo of Drake’s brandCredit: Instagram @spotify
      Xavi’s team will only sport the OVO owl on their kit for one match, and a big one at that against Real Madrid.
      With music artist Drake making history, becoming the first artist to reach 50 billion streams on Spotify, Barcelona opted to wear the OVO owl on their jersey in El Clasico to celebrate his success – the owl being the symbol of Drake’s brand.
      Barcelona explained the reasoning for this, stating that they are looking to bring football and music together with the sponsorship.
      Most read in Football
      They wrote: “One of the main ideas behind the alliance between FC Barcelona and Spotify is to bring football and music together in order to connect with new audiences around the world.
      “As both are capable of bringing people together and exciting fans, for the first time, the men’s football team will enter the pitch for Sunday’s Clásico wearing a jersey featuring the logo of an internationally acclaimed artist – rapper and singer Drake, winner of 4 Grammy awards and the first to surpass 50 billion streams on Spotify – rather than their main partner’s logo.” More

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      in Boxing

      Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius: UK start time, live stream, TV channel CONFIRMED, undercard for big heavyweight fight

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      DEONTAY WILDER is making his big boxing return against Robert Helenius this weekend. The Bronze Bomber was last in action back in October 2021, losing in the gripping third and final bout of his trilogy against Tyson Fury.
      Deontay Wilder has been out of the ring for 12 months
      Finn Robert Helenius is in Wilder’s way
      And Wilder says he is going for a FOURTH clash with the Gypsy King after he beats Helenius.
      Wilder told Sky Sports: “I think that there’s definitely a chance of a fourth fight again.
      “Boxing is a business. Many people call it a sport, but it’s not a sport.
      “The heavyweight division is very small. I’m still a big fish in the business, especially here in America. As long as we’re all in the same division and all still currently fighting, why not? It only can lead to that. With all that being said, it’s definitely a possibility.”
      Read more on Deontay Wilder
      When is Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius?
      Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius will take place on Saturday, October 15.
      Expect the main event at around 4am UK time – this is 11pm ET.
      The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, plays host.
      What TV channel and live stream is Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius on?

      Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius will be shown live on Fite TV PPV in the UK.
      The event will cost £12.99 and you can live stream it on the Fite TV app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      In the US, the event will be broadcast on FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view.

      Deontay Wilder is deep in his training camp
      What is the undercard?
      Caleb Plant takes on Anthony Dirrell in a huge co-main event.
      Plant is a former IBF super-middleweight champion, while Dirrell is a two-time WBC super-middleweight champ.
      Plant was last in the ring last November, in a losing effort to Canelo Alvarez.

      Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius (12 rounds, heavyweight)
      Caleb Plant vs Anthony Dirrell
      Frank Sanchez vs Carlos Negron
      Gary Antonio Russell vs Emmanuel Rodriguez

      Full undercard to follow…
      Robert Helenius has won 31 out of his 34 fights
      Who is Robert Helenius?
      Robert Helenius is a gigantic 6ft 7in Finnish boxer.
      The 38-year-old’s pro record stands at 31 wins from his 34 fights, with three defeats.
      Helenius heads into this fight on the back of successive wins over Adam Kownacki – the second of which was on the undercard of Fury vs Wilder 3.
      He is known over on these shores for a 2017 loss to Dillian Whyte, and a controversial 2011 win over Derek Chisora.
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      Who is Genoveffa Darone? The wife of Italy star Lorenzo Insigne

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      LORENZO INSIGNE recently left his beloved Napoli and the city of Naples, where he met his beloved wife.Genoveffa Darone does not hog the limelight, allowing for her husband to boss the back pages in Italy, as he did during their Euro 2020 campaign.
      Lorenzo Insigne was key to Italy as they lifted Euro 2020Credit: Getty
      Insigne was one of the outstanding performers for Roberto Mancini’s side as they lifted the European Championship at England’s expense.
      We know all about the Italian winger, but who is key to his success behind the scenes?
      Who is Genoveffa Darone and how old is she?
      Genoveffa, often referred to as Jenny as her Instagram suggests, was born on September 24, 1992 to her Italian parents in Frattamaggior.
      She is currently 29-years-old, two years younger than her husband Lorenzo.
      At a young age she is said to have helped her family financially as she took a job working as a saleswoman in a haircare shop but now she is tasked with the responsibility of looking after her family.
      Lorenzo Insigne and his wife Genoveffa Darone
      Genoveffa Darone poses on holidayCredit: jenny__darone/instagram
      When did they get married?
      Meeting her now-husband during a loan spell at Pescara, they began dating.
      The couple dated for just seven months before getting married but there was something unique about their wedding day.
      Tying the knot on December 31, 2012 – the pair opted for a New Years wedding. It remains unclear why they chose this date but there is speculation that it could be due to Lorenzo’s work schedule in Italy.
      They have been married for over 10 years now, with Genoveffa seeing her husband become a Napoli icon in this time before supporting him in his move to Toronto FC this summer.
      Lorenzo Insigne full of emotion celebrating for former club Napoli, where he spent 16 yearsCredit: Reuters
      Does Lorenzo Insigne have any children?
      The pair welcomed their first son on April 4, 2013 and named him Carmine.
      Two years later they added another son, Christian, to their family while Insigne remained at Napoli.
      Sadly, Genoveffa suffered a miscarriage in October 2022 and Lorenzo announced this to the press in the MLS.
      Genoveffa Darone alongside Ciro Immobile’s wife, JessicaCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      He said: “It’s well known that I have had to deal with personal problems in the last few weeks, but perhaps not everyone knows the reasons. So let me make it clear, my wife and I have lost a daughter, who will remain in our hearts forever.
      “But we had a big family problem. I find it hard to explain why I don’t feel like it. But we had a big loss together with my wife and it was not easy. We are trying to move forward together as we always have. 
      “We have two other beautiful children, they allow us to be carefree, but our thoughts are always with us. It’s always in our thoughts what happened to us.”
      Most read in Sport
      Does Genoveffa Darone attend Lorenzo Insigne’s matches?
      Genoveffa often attends Lorenzo’s matches, most notably during Euro 2020.
      She was spotted in the crowd every step of the way as Insigne and Italy lifted the trophy, watching her husband’s matches over Europe.
      Genoveffa Darone in attendance at an Italy clash
      Lorenzo’s wife lived in Naples with him and would be in regular attendance of Napoli’s games with her sons.
      However, it remains unclear as to whether she has attended any matches since his move to Toronto. More

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      in Soccer

      Are World Cup groups sorted by goal difference or head-to-head?

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      THE World Cup group stage promises to be an exciting affair this winter in Qatar.England will face Iran, the USMNT and Wales as they look to progress to the knock-out stages of the tournament.
      England will be looking to compete at the latter stages of the World CupCredit: Reuters
      No game will be easy as the Three Lions anticipate a tight group, with Gareth Southgate’s side taking to the biggest stage in November.
      But what will happen if teams finish on the same number of points in their group? We’ve got all the answers for you.
      Read More World Cup
      England may need to go out to score as many goals as possible during the group stages.
      How are teams that finish level on points sorted in the 2022 World Cup?
      Teams that finish level on points in the World Cup group stage are sorted by the following criteria.

      Points obtained in all group matches
      Goal difference in all group matches
      Number of goals scored in all group matches
      Points obtained in the matches played between the teams level on point
      Goal difference in the matches played between the teams level on points
      Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams level on points
      Fair play points in all group matches

      The fair play point deductions are as follows (only one deduction can be applied to a player in a single match):

      Yellow card: -1 point
      Indirect (second yellow) red card: -3 points
      Direct red card: -4 points
      Yellow card and later a direct red card: -5 points

      These rules were present during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and came into play in Group H.
      Japan and Senegal finished level on points, with the above criteria followed as the two sides were also level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded.
      In this case, it went to the fair play points and Japan progressed with a deduction of -4 in comparison to Senegal’s -6 points.
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      What is the World Cup 2022 song?

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      FOOTBALL fans are preparing to hear the official World Cup song this winter as the tournament in Qatar approaches.Famous World Cup songs from the past include Wavin’ Flag and Waka Waka.
      Stadiums in Qatar are ready for the World CupCredit: Reuters
      Last tournament saw Nicky Jam’s song Live It Up featuring Will Smith and Era Istrefi as the official theme for when Russia hosted the tournament.
      With the first ever tournament at the back-end of the year, the Qatar World Cup will also see a new format for the anthem.
      Read More World Cup
      Rather than the usual one song for the World Cup, the tournament in Qatar will see multiple.
      What is the World Cup 2022 song?
      The World Cup has upped its output, releasing a playlist for fans to enjoy rather than a single tune.
      “As part of FIFA’s revamped music strategy, the multi-song soundtrack will bring passionate fans closer to the spirit of the FIFA World Cup like never before,” the football organisation confirmed.
      Doha has been hit by World Cup feverCredit: Reuters
      FIFA began by releasing the first single, Hayya Hayya (Better Together) as part of the official soundtrack. The song featured Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha.
      Months later, FIFA confirmed a second song for the soundtrack, titled Arhbo which is a slang word for welcome. Latin singer Ozuna and French Congolese rapper Gims are the artists for this song.
      Most read in Sport
      Atlanta rapper Lil Baby is one of the most notable names on the playlist, coming together with band Tears for Fears to produce The World Is Yours To Take.
      The final song is called Light The Sky, with four of the Arab world’s most notable singers featuring on the track. Balqees, Manal, Norah Fatehi and Rahma Riad released the song along with a music video celebrating female referees at the World Cup for the very first time. More

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      Tottenham vs Everton: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for big Premier League game

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      TOTTENHAM face Frank Lampard’s Everton in their next Premier League match-up on Sunday afternoon. Spurs beat Brighton 1-0 in the league last weekend while the Toffees lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Goodison Park.
      Harry Kane scored in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Brighton last weekendCredit: Reuters
      Everton lost 2-1 to Manchester United last weekend at Goodison ParkCredit: AFP
      Both sides have suffered somewhat inconsistent starts to the season, with Tottenham are looking to finish in the top four.
      Antonio Conte’s side were undefeated in the league until a 3-1 humbling by North London rivals Arsenal two weeks ago.

      What time does Tottenham vs Everton kick off?

      Tottenham’s clash with Everton will take place on Saturday, October 15.
      The game will get underway from 5.30pm UK time.
      Tottenham vs Everton will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London.

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Tottenham vs Everton will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
      You can live stream the action from the NOW TV or Sky Go app, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Most read in Football
      Team news
      Dejan Kulusevski could find his way back into the side, having been in training this week after recovering from a hamstring injury.
      Emerson Royal is suspended after his straight red card against Arsenal two weeks ago, with Matt Doherty set to start.
      Richarlison could start, with the Brazilian still searching for his first Premier League goal.
      Dwight McNeil could come back into Lampard’s XI for Everton.
      But Ben Godfrey, Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson are all still injured.
      Odds

      Tottenham – 40/85
      Draw – 7/2
      Everton – 6/1

      *Odds courtesy of Betfair and correct at time of publication. More