World Cup 2022

WORLD CUP fans were left confused by Kim Seung-gyu’s attempt to save Neymar’s penalty.The superstar put his side 2-0 up from the penalty spot in Brazil’s last-16 clash against South Korea.
Neymar scored a penalty to give Brazil a 2-0 leadCredit: Reuters
Kim Seung-gyu tried to play mind games by standing on one side of the goalCredit: ITV
Kim tried to play mind games with Neymar by standing on one side of the goal as he prepared to take his spot-kick.
The shot-stopper then moved to the centre of the goal as Neymar began his stuttered run-up.
And the Paris Saint-Germain star came out on top after slotting his penalty to Kim’s left.
The shot lacked power and precision but deceived Kim, who began diving to the opposite corner.
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Fans found the incident both amusing and puzzling, with many baffled by the keeper’s attempts at distracting Neymar.
One supporter wrote: “What was the keeper doing. First trying to put Neymar off hilariously. Now letting a pea roller of a penalty in.”
Another added: “What was the keeper doing for that penalty.”
And a third said: “All that prancing about form the Korean keeper and he don’t even attempt to save the penalty,”
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Neymar also won praise for his poise with some suggesting he embarrassed South Korea’s no1.
One fan said: “That might be the most disrespectful penalty I’ve ever seen 😭. The keeper was playing checkers while Neymar was playing chess.”
Another commented: “That penalty embarrassed the keeper 😂.” More

BRAZIL players paid a touching tribute to World Cup hero Pele after he was rushed to hospital earlier this week. Pele, 82, was hospitalised earlier this week after he stopped responding to chemotherapy as he battles bowel cancer.
Players pay tribute to Pele by bringing a poster on to the pitch after their South Korea winCredit: Getty
And Brazil players paid homage to the World Cup great by bringing a special poster onto the pitch after thrashing South Korea 4-1.
Fans also paid their owner tribute before kick off as they brought a flag which shows an older Pele hugging a traditional black and white football paired with an image of him while playing for Santos.
Pele is the only man to have won three World Cups – doing so in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
And despite being in hospital the legendary striker revealed he was “rooting” for the Samba Boys as they faced South Korea for a place in the quarter-finals.
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Taking to Twitter, he said: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father.
“I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.
“I will watch the game from the hospital and I will be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”
Pele has remained in hospital throughout the week after falling ill with a Covid-aggravated infection.
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Brazil fans pay tribute to Pele with a striking flagCredit: PA
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Brazil fans in the stands hold up a banner for PeleCredit: PA
Reports had emerged stating Pele had been moved to palliative end-of-life care.
However, his family came out to deny these rumours and provided a positive health update.
Daughter Kely Nascimento said: “He is sick, he is old.
“But at the moment, he is there because of the lung infection. And once he feels better, he will go home again.
“He is not saying goodbye in a hospital at the moment.”
Pele’s other daughter, Flavia, added: “It is very unfair for people to say he is in the end of his life, in palliative care. Guys, that’s not true. Believe us.
“He is not in intensive care, he is in a regular bedroom. He is not in risk, he is in treatment.”
A fan at the Brazil game with South Korea wears a Pele shirtCredit: AP
A fan holds up a message for Pele outside the groundCredit: Reuters
Brazilian legend Pele is in hospital with a lung infectionCredit: AFP
Pele was in the thoughts of fans before Brazil’s game with South KoreaCredit: EPA More

FANS have been left in stitches after commentator Jermaine Jenas spoke about Japan star Takumi Minamino’s spell in Germany – although he has never played there. Jenas was talking supporters through the last-16 clash between Japan and Croatia.
Takumi Minamino did not play in Germany despite Jermaine Jenas thinking he didCredit: Getty
Jermaine Jenas make a mistake while on commentaryCredit: PA
Zlatko Dalic’s men were eventual winners on penalties after extra time ended 1-1 but during the 120 minutes of action viewers poked fun at the pundit.
One fan tweeted on Jenas’ mishap: “According to Jermaine Jenas, Minamino’s ‘time in Germany’ went well. Takumi Minamino has never played in Germany.”
The 27-year-old attacker currently plays for Monaco having previously played for Liverpool and Southampton.
Minamino burst onto the scene while playing for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga before coming to the Premier League.
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Some believed online that Jenas may have mistaken the Austrian Bundesliga for the German Bundesliga and RB Salzburg for the other Red Bull owned club in Germany – RB Leipzig.
But it didn’t stop fans poking fun at Jenas, another said: “Still thinking about earlier and Jermaine Jenas being complimentary about Takumi Minamino and his career in Germany.
“A country Minamino has never played in. Stunning piece of analysis.”
More bantered: “Another cracker added to the long list of waffle from Jermaine Jenas.”
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Despite his apparent “success” in Germany, it was not success in Qatar for Minamino as he missed Japan’s first penalty in the shootout.
The Samurai Blue’s missed another two spot-kicks in poor fashion and they crash out at the last-16 stage for the third time in the last four tournaments. More

ENGLAND’S line-up against France in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final will be night and day away in ability and personnel from the two sides’ last competitive meeting,Only midfielder Jordan Henderson, 32, who was a late sub in the 1-1 group draw at Euro 2012 under Roy Hodgson, remains from that mediocre-looking squad.

Liverpool workhorse Jordan Henderson is the sole survivor from the England squad who drew with France at Euro 2012, when he came on for Scott ParkerCredit: Getty
Chelsea and England legends Ashley Cole and John Terry also took on France a decade ago before England exited the Euros in the last eightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Three Lions’ starters included surprise scorer Joleon Lescott, Scott Parker and Danny Welbeck.
In fact, Ashley Cole, John Terry and Steven Gerrard were England’s only big names.
Step forward a decade, and current boss Gareth Southgate has established stars like Harry Kane and Kyle Walker, plus three of the world’s hottest young talents in Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.
The Three Lions topped their Euro group in 2012 but both they and France crashed out in the quarter-finals.

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It was the beginning of the end for the few players left from Sven Goran Eriksson’s “golden generation” early in the noughties.
Now England will hope the World Cup in Qatar is the end of the beginning for an era where, finally, the squad’s individual talent could be matched by collective achievement.
France too are much changed from ten years ago.
Just Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud plus back-up keeper Steve Mandanda remain.
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But strike legend Karim Benzema, 34, would be there had he not been injured.
Overall, England have beaten France 17 times, drawn five and lost nine.
The two European giants have met just twice since 2012 – in friendlies.

Dele Alli cracked a 25-yard special on his full debut before Wayne Rooney completed a 2-0 Wembley victory in November 2015.
That game was most notable for marking horrific attacks in Paris with a minute’s silence and more than 70,000 fans uniting to sing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise.
Then in June 2017 France deservedly won 3-2, despite a double from Harry Kane.
Here’s Roy Hodgson’s England’s squad from Euro 2012 as they drew 1-1 with France but lost to Italy on penaltiesCredit: AFP More

RIO FERDINAND has “ZERO amounts of fear for France” and has backed England to WIN the World Cup.Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions set up a quarter-final date with the current World Cup holders with a 3-0 win over African champions Senegal.
Ferdinand has backed England to beat FranceCredit: BBC
The Man Utd and England legend doesn’t fear the World Cup holdersCredit: Getty
France play England next SaturdayCredit: Getty
France held their nerve to run out 3-1 winners over round of 16 opponents Poland.
But England legend Ferdinand said Southgate’s side “are the best team I’ve seen in my lifetime” on the BBC’s coverage of Croatia vs Japan, and has “ZERO amounts of fear for France”.
The Manchester United legend has also backed England to win their second ever World Cup, ending 56 years of hurt.
Ferdinand said on the FIVE YouTube channel: “I watched France play [Poland] before the England game and I had them down as one of my favourites.
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“But they’ve got five first-team players missing so it’s a weakened France team.
“Having watched that game, I hold zero amounts of fear for France. The only fear is Kylian Mbappe.

“They didn’t show me anything yesterday, they rely on individuals. If England can contain Mbappe, I don’t see it being a problem against France.
“England played against the African champions [Senegal] by the way. France beat Poland, who have been so poor in this tournament.
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Mbappe is France’s main man
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“England are the better team, 100 per cent. I think England are going to win the World Cup.”
Ferdinand has, however, highlighted one team that can match England
He continued: “The only team I think can go toe-to-toe with England is Brazil.
“They’ve got the personality and the characters to do that. They’ve got hardened European players.
“I see weaknesses all over the place in the other teams and I think England can physically dominate the other teams.”
Kane’s playmaking has helped England top the goalscoring charts More