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      Arsenal and Man Utd face losing South American stars for Premier League clash as Conmebol ask Fifa for early release

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs could be without their South American stars for the final match before the World Cup as Conmebol requested they were allowed an early release. Conmebol, the equivalent of Uefa for South America, made a formal request to Fifa to grant their players are free to link up with the squad from Wednesday, November 9.
      Brazilian quarter Alisson, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino all want to go to the World CupCredit: AP
      That is earlier than initially expected – players were expected to go after that weekend’s matches – and could prompt the European, African, North American and Asian federations to make similar requests.
      TyC Sports report Fifa will now need to negotiate with clubs to work out the date players can jet off to Qatar.
      But South American countries are hoping it is just four weeks away – giving international managers at least 11 days to get ready for the tournament.
      Moises Caicedo’s Ecuador are involved in the opening game as they take on hosts Qatar in the curtain-raiser on November 20.
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      They are joined by five-time winners Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
      And an early release date could prove a major blow for title-chasing Arsenal and Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United – with both sides brimming with South American talent.
      Arsenal’s team includes Brazilian stars Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Jesus – who all have ambitions of making the expanded 26-man squad.
      United, meanwhile, boast compatriots Fred, Casemiro and Antony as well as Argentine Lisandro Martinez.
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      The Gunners travel to Wolves on Saturday, November 12 while United head to Fulham on the Sunday.
      Liverpool could also be hit hard if Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Darwin Nunez are unavailable to face Southampton on November 12.
      Other South American stars eyeing a World Cup spot featuring in England’s top flight include Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Alexis Mac Allister, Ederson and Thiago Silva.
      United’s 4.30pm kick-off at Craven Cottage is the final Premier League fixture before the six-week World Cup break.
      Matches return on Boxing Day with the traditional bumper day of games.
      Moises Caicedo is likely to start for Ecuador in the opening match at the World CupCredit: Getty
      Antony could join them but may miss United’s trip to FulhamCredit: Reuters
      Tottenham pals Richarlison and Cristian Romero will be on opposite teams in QatarCredit: AFP More

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      Has Poland’s Robert Lewandowski won the Ballon d’Or?

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      ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI will go down as one of the greatest players this generation.The Poland international has been one of the most prolific scorers in European football over the last 12 years, joining Borussia Dortmund in 2010, where he netted 103 goals in 187 appearances.
      Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski gives instructions during the Champions League group C soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)Credit: AP
      Joining league rivals Bayern Munich, Lewandowski cemented his place as one of the greatest players of his generation as he netted an incredible 344 goals in 375 matches in Munich.
      However, this summer saw the end to his spell in the Bundesliga as Lewandowski sought a new challenge, joining Barcelona in La Liga.
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      Has Robert Lewandowski won the Ballon d’Or?
      Last season, Lewandowski finished as runner up in the Ballon d’Or, with Lionel Messi claiming his 7th award ahead of the Poland star.
      This was the closest that Lewandowski has come to receiving the award.
      Robert Lewandowski has won FIFA’s Best Player award in recent seasonsCredit: AFP
      However, he was heavily tipped to win the Ballon d’Or in 2020, but the ceremony was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a winner was never named.
      Despite being snubbed for the Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski was recognised by FIFA as he received the ‘Best Player’ award in consecutive seasons, with the ceremony taking place in January each year.
      Lewandowski has had his say on not winning the Ballon d’Or, stating that he’d prefer to win the FIFA award instead.
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      “I’ve been thinking about these two awards lately: FIFA Best Player and the Ballon d’Or,” he said.
      “I’ve come to the conclusion that the FIFA award does matter more. Only journalists vote in the latter – there’s no clear verification.”
      Lewandowski is unlikely to win the Ballon d’Or in his career now, with Karim Benzema the clear favourite for the 2022 accolade. More

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      Man Utd and Chelsea among clubs to earn MILLIONS at 2022 World Cup with Fifa to pay teams £9,000 per player per day

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      PREMIER LEAGUE and European giants are reportedly set to earn millions from the Qatar World Cup.Fifa will pay clubs £9,000 per player for each day they spend in the Middle East – including preparation time.
      Manchester United will receive a big payout if Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot reach the latter stages with PortugalCredit: Reuters
      England could earn Chelsea millions if Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount help the Three Lions reach the finalCredit: Getty
      The World Cup will not last as long as usual, running for just 29 days, but Fifa is set to splash out a record amount.
      A total of £157million was paid out to clubs in 2018 but that was at a rate of £6,440 per player per day.
      Now Fifa has increased the amount to £9,012 according to the Daily Mail.
      Manchester United and Chelsea are set to profit massively from Fifa’s Club Benefits Programme.
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      Chelsea alone could have 20 players heading to Qatar, earning the club around £180,240 per day, while United could have 18 players at the World Cup.
      Manchester City and Tottenham could have 17 while Arsenal have 14 internationals.
      City pocketed £3.78m at the 2018 World Cup and could benefit from the fact several of their players represent countries who are fancied to do well, including England, Spain and Argentina.
      That is because clubs will be paid out for the entire period a player spends with his country – so players who reach the final could earn their club hundreds of thousands of pounds.
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      After the conclusion of the tournament Fifa will pay out what is owed to the respective FAs, who will then give the money to the clubs.
      The scheme was set up for the 2010 World Cup but totalled just £36m on that occasion.
      The total has since risen sharply and reached £157m in 2018 based on 736 players being away for a combined 24,500 days – City were the biggest earners ahead of Real Madrid [£3.6m] and Tottenham [£3.3m].
      With 16 players in Brazil, City earned £236,099 per player, so United, Chelsea and the rest of the top six could expect to trump that figure – though it will depend on which countries reach the latter stages. More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury leaves brother Tommy embarrassed after smashing him at Fifa… before Love Island star storms out of room

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      TYSON FURY got one over on brother Tommy… by embarrassing him at a game of Fifa.The unbeaten boxers are training together for their next fights and pushing each other in the gym.
      Tyson Fury beat Tommy 6-0 on FifaCredit: Instagram
      Tommy Fury quits after losing at game of Fifa to brother TysonCredit: Instagram
      But the competition made its way to the games room as the pair went head to head at Fifa.
      Although little brother Tommy, 23, proved no match for Tyson, 34, who won a humiliating 6-0.
      It was so bad for the 2019 Love Island star he had to storm out of the room.
      Tommy will hope to perform better in his next fight, set for November 13 in Dubai against 5-2 American Paul Bamba, 33.
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      And Tyson is also in training to fight on December 3, with Derek Chisora, 38, in talks to be his opponent.
      He wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 35, next after Anthony Joshua, 32, was beaten twice on the spin.
      But the former cruiserweight king ruled himself out after returning to his war-torn home for the first time, where his family awaited him.
      Tyson then unexpectedly turned his attention to AJ but talks for a December 3 all-British blockbuster broke down.
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      That led to Chisora being given an unlikely trilogy bout, despite his pair of one-sided losses in 2011 and 2014.
      Tyson gave his fans an update while in camp, which consists of two sessions a day.
      He said: “It’s going really well, feeling fantastic and I can’t wait to fight on December 3, the GK [Gypsy King] is coming, beware.”
      Tyson Fury training for his boxing returnCredit: Instagram @tysonfury More

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      World Cup groups ranked from easiest to toughest as England land hardest possible opponents

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      ENGLAND and Wales have been confirmed as being in the TOUGHEST group at this year’s World Cup.Fifa’s final rankings before the big kick-off in Qatar in November saw Gareth Southgate’s England remain in fifth place in the global listings despite their six-game winless run.
      Based on Fifa’s latest rankings, England have drawn the short straw in Qatar
      Southgate has a good record in international tournaments so far, including a semi-final appearance at the last World CupCredit: PA
      Captain Kane is looking to lead England beyond the group and all the way to gloryCredit: Getty
      But with Rob Page and his Red Dragons 19th, USA 14th and Iran in 22nd, Group B’s average ranking per team is 15th, significantly higher than the other seven groups.
      The next tightest, according to Fifa at least, is group E, featuring Spain (seventh), 11th-placed Germany, Japan in 24th and Costa Rica (34th) for an average ranking of a fraction under 19th.
      That compares with Group A, where only Holland (11th) and Senegal (18th) are in the top 20, with Ecuador (44) and hosts Qatar (48) meaning an average ranking across the four teams of 29.5.
      Brazil retain their position at the top of the charts, with Belgium second, holders France third and Argentina fourth.
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      Indeed, the only riser in the top 10 is Italy, up to sixth after beating England and Hungary last month to win their Nations League group.
      But it will be scant consolation for Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini to know his side will NOT be the highest-placed side in the history of the rankings NOT missing out on a World Cup after their play-off disaster last year.
      That unwanted record remains held by Colombia, who were fourth in the Fifa standings ahead of the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
      The World Cup is only six weeks away with holders France and Brazil among the favourites to grab football’s most prestigious trophy.
      Gareth Bale has played a big part in helping get Wales to the World CupCredit: Getty
      Christian Pulisic will be hoping to impress after a difficult spell at his club side ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      Hosts Qatar will kick off the opening game against Ecuador after a last-ditch effort by Chile to get the South American side kicked out of the tournament failed.
      Then England will host Iran the next day as they look to begin their campaign on a high.
      Debate continues to rage about who should make Southgate’s World Cup squad, with James Maddison putting himself further in the frame after his performance against Nottingham Forest for Leicester.
      Meanwhile, with a busy club schedule until the tournament begins in Qatar players will be desperate to avoid an untimely injury.
      Kyle Walker’s place in the 26-man squad is already in doubt after it emerged he had suffered an abdominal injury. More

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      World Cup 2030 could be held in Ukraine as Spain and Portugal include war-torn nation in bid to host tournament

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      UKRAINE could host the World Cup in 2030 after Spain and Portugal included the war-ravaged nation in its bid.The Iberian countries were already planning to make an attempt to stage the tournament.
      Ukraine could be a co-host for the 2030 World Cup along with Portugal and SpainCredit: Reuters
      Fernando Gomes, Luis Rubiales and Andriy Pavelko stand together for the unified bidCredit: Reuters
      But they decided to add Ukraine as a classy gesture and act of European solidarity – and boost their chances of success.
      Ukraine is currently under illegal invasion by Russia after Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into the neighbouring nation on February 24, causing widespread death and devastation.
      It is hoped the war will be over soon and Ukraine will be able to stage World Cup matches.
      Uefa President Alexander Ceferin, determined to bring the tournament back to Europe, is understood to be fully in support of the proposals.
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      Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky is also an enthusiastic backer of the bid.
      Spanish and Portuguese FA chiefs, Luis Rubiales and Fernando Gomes, confirmed the plan at Uefa’s headquarters in Switzerland today alongside their Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Pavelko.
      Rubiales said: “Our bid is not an Iberian bid anymore, it’s a European bid.
      “I’m convinced that now our bid is much better than before.
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      “Football is universal and if it is capable of changing the life of people in so many ways it should also be used for doing good.”
      Portuguese boss Gomes insisted the details of adding Ukraine into the scheduling would be finalised in the coming months.
      An option would see one group at the 48-team event likely based in Ukraine, with two stadiums in operation.
      The other games, will, as planned, be played in Spain and Portugal, as will all the knock-out games with the final schemed for Real Madrid’s renovated Bernabeu.
      Gomes said: “We are convinced that by 2030 we will have peace in Europe and that Ukraine will be able to host the tournament in the best way possible.”
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      Uefa are keen to bring the World Cup back to Europe in 2030 following the controversial awarding to Qatar and then the joint-hosting by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
      However, Spain-Portugal-Ukraine bid will face competition from a three-continent proposal by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece which has the backing of Fifa boss Giani Infantino.
      In addition to the Saudi-led bid, a four-nation South American bid, with games in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, is already a contender.
      If that bid wins, the final would be played in Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, where the first World Cup Final was played in 1930.
      But Ceferin said in September he was confident the Iberian bid would come out on top – even before Ukraine’s late addition.
      He said: “I see it as a winning bid. We will do what we can to help the bid.
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      “It is time for Europe to host the World Cup. Both countries are passionate about football, you feel, you smell football in Spain and Portugal. The infrastructure is great, and we have some plans to help.
      “We have already spoken with Fernando Gomes and Luis Rubiales. I think and I am sure that the 2030 World Cup will be played in Spain and Portugal.” More

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      Fifa say Neymar is just three goals off Pele’s record but Brazil claim PSG star has further to go

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      NEYMAR is three goals away from breaking Pele’s Brazilian record, according to Fifa.But the Brazilian Federation’s statistics say the Paris Saint-Germain forward is still a huge 21 behind the three-time World Cup winner.
      Neymar is closing in on the Brazilian goalscoring recordCredit: Reuters
      Pele is widely regarded as Brazil’s greatest ever playerCredit: Rex
      Neymar currently has 74 goals for his country, while Pele finished his international career with 77 Fifa-registered goals.
      Brazil take on Ghana and Tunisia in the next four days, so Neymar could theoretically break the record in those matches before the World Cup later this year.
      However, the Brazilian Federation insist Pele netted 95 times.
      This is because they count 18 goals he scored in friendly matches against the likes of Malmo, AIK, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Chivas Guadalajara, Leon, Bahia and Atletico Mineiro.
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      As a result, even if Neymar nets four times in Brazil’s upcoming two matches, his home football association is still not expected to consider him their record scorer.
      Neymar’s 74 goals have come in 119 appearances – a ratio of 0.62 goals per game.
      Pele managed his official tally of 77 in just 92 matches.
      The 81-year-old also lifted the World Cup three times in 12 years – with Brazil’s triumphs coming in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
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      Neymar is yet to win the tournament with his country – his nearest attempt coming on home turf in 2014 when they reached the semi-finals before being humiliated 7-1 by Germany.
      Now he heads to Qatar hoping to help Brazil claim their sixth World Cup and first in 20 years.
      The five-time champions are in Group G alongside Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. More

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      England captain Harry Kane could be BANNED from wearing rainbow OneLove armband as Fifa and Qatar must grant permission

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      ENGLAND skipper Harry Kane and other captains could be prevented from wearing rainbow armbands at the World Cup.The FA have joined together with nine other European countries to support a season-long ‘OneLove’ campaign for inclusion and fight against discrimination.
      Harry Kane might be BANNED from wearing the OneLove armband at the World CupCredit: PA
      But Fifa are yet to give permission for skippers to wear the armbands in Qatar, which will promote diversion, inclusion and anti-discrimination.
      Kane will wear the armband when the Three Lions face Italy in Milan tonight while Gareth Bale wore one in Wales’ loss to Belgium on Thursday.
      But now the FA and the other nations must play a waiting game.
      Hosts Qatar, along with Fifa, will now decide whether to accept the requests from the European countries.
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      Announcing he will wear the armband, Kane said: “I am honoured to join my fellow national team captains in supporting the important OneLove campaign.
      “As captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination.
      “This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society.”
      And Kane revealed sessions with a secret fitness guru have helped him stay injury free in the build-up to the tournament.
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      The Tottenham striker, who was once dogged with both ankle and hamstring issues, has suffered barely any problems since he started working with a  Spanish expert.
      In fact, since January 2020, Kane has missed just five games in total.
      The England captain said: “I’ve found a physio and he’s been really great.
      “We’ve worked for hours and hours, built up a really good relationship — he’s really helped me.
      “I’ve seen changes in terms of what my ankles were like before and now after. I’m just in a  different place.
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      “I was at a period where I struggled to play consistently over a season. Especially  for the major tournaments, it’s great to know your body is in a good place.
      “When you’re free in your mind and playing consistently, it helps.” More