World Cup 2022

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      World Cup fan walks away in disgust at spending £2,500 on ‘unfinished’ Qatar fan village with brown water

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      A WORLD CUP fan has walked away from an unfinished fan festival despite paying more than $3000 to stay in the pop-up village.The 1,800 tent village just north of Doha has just opened up and is beginning to welcome fans.
      One French football fan paid £2500 for his stay
      But he has decided to leave the camp as he is unhappy with the living conditions
      Tents with two beds cost £175 a nightCredit: BBC
      Fans are given padlocks to secure their tents
      No air conditioning but just fans to cool the tents which can reach an “unbearable” heatCredit: BBC
      Shower and toilet facilities are sharedCredit: BBC
      Fans have complained water is not cleanCredit: BBC
      But building work is still ongoing at the site and fans’ experiences have not met expectations.
      Residents are given a tent containing two beds and a fan – with air conditioning not available.
      They are given padlocks to secure their possessions and there are shared toilet and shower facilities.
      But footage shows brown water which one fan does not trust.
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      While another supporter from France has decided to cancel his stay despite shelling out $3,300 (£2,500) on the £175-a-night village.
      He told the BBC: “For me it’s not a good experience. On my reservation [it says] it’s hotel. It’s not a village.
      “It’s very very expensive for me, and not good.”
      A World Cup fan park is situated next to the village with a big screen to show matches – but no protection from the desert sun.
      Construction work is still ongoing at the siteCredit: BBC
      One French fan bailed on his £2500 stayCredit: BBC
      Mexico fans Pedro and Fatima are unhappy with the experience on offerCredit: BBC
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      Fans can cool down in the sea and even buy beer which can be enjoyed on a sun lounger.
      But with construction ongoing and unclean water, Mexico fans Pedro and Fatima have been left disappointed by their purchase.
      They said: “When we saw photos online we thought it was a fun idea, a cool vibe like a festival.
      “But once we got here our impressions are not positive. The tents are made from this really thick plastic which makes it extremely hot. It’s unbearable to be inside.
      “The water is brown when you open it so it’s not really that exciting. I brushed my teeth with my water bottle because that was cleaner than the water over there.” More

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      World Cup 2022 – England vs Iran: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Three Lions’ opener

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup campaign begins TOMORROW as they take on Qatar in their World Cup opener. The Three Lions arrived in Qatar to much fanfare and have been training in sweltering conditions all week.
      Harry Kane and Co have been out training in sweltering conditions this weekCredit: Getty
      The players were greeted with gifts as they checked into their hotelCredit: Getty
      England’s last World Cup tournament ended in agony as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in the semi-finals of the 2018 edition in Russia.
      But four years on from then, and with a Euro 2020 final appearance in the bag too, Southgate’s men are looking to finally overcome the very last hurdle.
      It’s been 56 years since England won their first and only World Cup, and expectations of the team continue to grow every four years.
      Iran will be their first test, before further group stage clashes with rivals Wales and 2010 World Cup group rivals USA.
      This tournament could be make or break for Southgate, who may view the Qatar showpiece as his last opportunity to finally win major silverware as England boss.
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      When is England vs Iran?

      England’s 2022 World Cup opener with Iran will get underway from 1pm UK time on Monday, November 21.
      The game will be held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar’s capital Doha.
      The stadium was opened in 1976 and can hold up to 45,000 fans.

      What TV channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      England vs Iran will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The game is FREE to watch on the BBC, so long as you have a TV licence.

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      Who is in England’s 26-man squad?
      Gareth Southgate announced his 26-man England squad last week.

      Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Newcastle)
      Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Benjamin White (Arsenal), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
      Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea)
      Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City)

      Kyle Walker, however, has ruled himself out of the first game as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
      James Maddison is a major doubt for the game having yet to train with the Three Lions in Qatar.

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      James Maddison OUT of England training again with midfielder sweating on World Cup 2022 spot just hours before Iran game

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      JAMES MADDISON is a major injury doubt for England’s World Cup opener against Iran.The midfielder was unable to take part in training once again today.
      James Maddison has missed England training three times in a rowCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Harry Kane was in good spirits on the eve of England’s World Cup openerCredit: PA
      England players trained for the final time before taking on Iran tomorrowCredit: Getty
      It means Maddison is still yet to train with the Three Lions squad since flying out to Qatar.
      The Leicester star is struggling with a knee issue which forced him off during a match against West Ham last week.
      But England are unable to call up a different player as teams cannot replace players less than 24 hours before kick-off.
      Gareth Southgate’s side began training on Thursday and also had a session on Friday – both in 33C heat.
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      Players used misting machines by the side of the pitch to cool off – leading some fans to worry they may not be ready to take on Iran on Monday.
      But Maddison was absent, only turning up for the pre-training talk conducted by the manager.

      He now faces a race to be fit in time with group games against the USA and Wales to follow.
      Every other England player has trained in all three sessions – including Manchester City star Kyle Walker who had been out injured.
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      Maddison had tried to downplay his injury, tweeting last week: “Injury isn’t too bad!”
      “A small problem that was causing a bit of soreness. Can’t wait to meet up with the lads Monday.” More

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      Germany chose a £19,000-a-night luxury resort as their World Cup base in Qatar – because stars can open the windows

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      GERMANY’S plot to win the World Cup is a breath of fresh air.England’s rivals have taken their national pastime of attention to detail to a whole new level in selecting their base camp in Qatar.
      Germany are living it up at the luxury Zulal Wellness Resort in Al Shamal
      Luxury rooms await Germany’s World Cup stars in Qatar
      After an indifferent half season at Chelsea, Havertz will be looking to turbocharge his campaign with a big World Cup performanceCredit: Getty
      The four times world champions are holed up in isolation in a luxury eco hotel in north Qatar on the shore of the Persian Gulf.
      And meticulous national team overlord Oliver Bierhoff targeted the expensive hideaway – because his players can open their windows.
      Germany have rocked up at the plush Zulal Wellness Resort in Al Shamal and block booked more than a quarter of the five-star rooms that range from £700 to a jaw-dropping £19,000 per NIGHT. The top end suites also include a personal butler.
      Former Germany striker Bierhoff is now the national team director of Die Mannschaft in charge of keeping his superstar players in the best possible shape.
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      Bierhoff said: “We love finding a home from home. It would have been nice to stay in Doha maybe but we saw hotels in the city centre where the windows do not even open. You feel a bit imprisoned.
      “Your dreams can’t always come true. We are happy to be here in this part of the country and we have told the players to move their bodies to get as used to the heat as much as possible.
      “Our hotel is fantastic and comfortable. The facilities are great for our analysts and scouts. The layout is lovely.”
      The Zulal is barely a year old and being a green resort no plastic is allowed on site. The Germany players are also banned from drinking fizzy stuff like cola.
      Deluxe rooms are waiting for the German team at their Qatar baseCredit: AFP
      The windows open at the Zulal Wellness Resort, which had been a concern of Germany’s national team directorCredit: Getty
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      Boss Hansi Flick’s 26-man squad while away the hours playing basketball in the nearby sports club where they underwent a gruelling double training session on Saturday.
      In their downtime they are also playing card games such as Uno and a competitive throwing game called Cornhole – which hails from the USA in which participants have to throw small bags of seeds onto a raised board and try to get it through a small gap at the top.
      Germany’s triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign was put down to their seclusion on an island in Brazil – away from prying eyes and pressure.
      They kick off in Group E against Japan on Wednesday.
      Bierhoff said: “It is difficult to survive in this humidity and heat if you are playing. But everyone is acclimatising and getting ready to go.” More

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      England World Cup stars to be shielded from trolls at World Cup by cutting-edge tech that blocks abuse from their phones

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup stars will be shielded from racist trolls at the competition by cutting-edge tech that blocks abuse from their phones.Football stars Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were left in tears when they were bombarded with hate after missing penalties at the Euro 2020 Final defeat against Italy.
      Saka was left in tears after the Euro 2020 Final heartbreakCredit: Reuters
      Rashford was bombarded by disgusting racial abuse after his penalty missCredit: AP
      But FIFA world football bosses have confirmed players will be protected by an incredible new “Threat Matrix” troll-blocking system at Qatar 2022.
      Boffins have perfected an artificial intelligence programme which scans millions of online messages and identifies abusive words and emojis.
      Offensive messages will remain visible on favoured troll haunts like Twitter and Instagram and will not be erased from the web.
      But the incredible technology will act as a filter built into players phones – making sick jibes invisible to stars before they turn on the mobiles after games.
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      The matrix system is also designed to flag up the IP addresses used by trolls to enable police to track them down and take action if the law if broken.
      Unveiling the groundbreaking cyber shield, a FIFA report said: “Our game-changing technology protects players and athletes from vile online racist and discriminatory abuse.
      “Our focus is on moving the current reactive reporting process  -requiring a player to receive and report abuse – to a proactive response with earlier interventions to protect players.
      “Threat Matrix provides real-time monitoring and analysis of millions of open source social media posts across multiple platforms. 
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      “With a lead focus on Twitter and Instagram – historically the most problematic platforms for online abuse – the service has developed capabilities that include recognition of images, emojis, as well as keywords, phrases and a long list of abusive words, terms and profanities.
      “The service flags the vilest social media posts and provides evidence for removal to social platforms, building compelling evidential cases to take to relevant authorities.”
      Police arrested 11 people over the barrage of bigotry online after England’s penalties heartbreak at Wembley in July last year – with two receiving jail terms.
      Saka, 19, had not long been on the pitch when the game went to a penalty shootout with the score at 1-1.
      Within minutes of his shot being saved the England winger’s Instagram account was flooded with monkey emojis.
      Other Three Lions fans rallied to support the teenager, promising to get the offensive comments reported and removed.
      MPs and the FA blasted Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for failing to crack down on the culprits.
      But little has been done to drive haters off platforms since.
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      The FA said at the time it was “appalled by the online racism” aimed at some players on social media.
      A spokesman added: “Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.” More

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      How one company is helping England fans stay warm this World Cup – and tackle the cost of living crisis

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      A CLOTHING company has come up with a novel way to help England fans watch the World Cup in pubs – without freezing in their Three Lions shirts.The tournament is kicking off today in Qatar as the host nation takes on Ecuador at 4pm amid a wave of controversy.
      England fans wear knitted jumpers to keep warm during the World CupCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens
      The decision to host the World Cup in the Middle East means its start date had to be pushed back until November so players wouldn’t melt in the blistering summer temperatures.
      England are kicking off their campaign tomorrow in a balmy 27C heat against Iran.
      But fans stuck over here have been left wondering how to watch the game and still stay warm – especially with rain predicted for the afternoon.
      The Three Lions army has previously packed out boozers in the summer sunshine in their short-sleeved England tops.
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      One company has now come up with a way to help keep fans warm while still showing their support for England.
      Firm notjust clothing has made a range of knitted jumpers that are perfect for beating the chill.
      There are four jumpers to choose from that are modelled on England shirts from the past.
      Each features the Three Lions emblem – with one 90s retro jumper complete with a collar.
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      Those wanting to channel their inner Gareth Southgate can even snap up a festive knit with a waistcoast motif.
      Fans of Harry Kane can become their own skipper if they buy a jumper that includes a captain’s armband.
      The company donates 50 per cent of its profits to charities that help vulnerable Brits cope with the cost of living crisis.
      Half of money made from the England offerings also goes to grassroots football organisations.
      It comes amid fears already-struggling pubs would be left deserted as fans decide to watch the games at home.
      Some boozers have attempted to create a summer beer garden atmosphere to attract supporters.
      A survey of almost 5,000 landlords by the British Beer and Pub Association found they expect takings to be 10 per cent lower than during a summer tournament.
      GlobalData also predicted sportswear sales will be nearly 50 per cent as supporters can’t show their kits off under jumpers and coats.
      Matt Clarke, Co-Founder at notjust clothing said: “The World Cup is kicking off at the most wonderful time of the year. However we know this causes a few issues for Three Lions fans who are more used to wearing vintage replica footy shirts or even going fully topless whilst soaking up the summer sunshine (2018 was great wasn’t it!) 
      “So we’ve come up with a solution to not only keep England fans looking super slick and stylish during the Winter World Cup, but also to keep them toasty in their homes or down the pub whilst they watch the men’s squad bring it home, just like our Lionesses did earlier this year!
      “We also know that the cost of living crisis is having an impact on everyone’s lives, so we’re hoping that our winter football knits can at least go a small way in helping people enjoy the games fully kitted up with some added warmth.
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      “Our collection of unisex premium quality England Christmas Jumpers are designed and produced in the UK to help the local economy and are inspired by iconic England shirts and for one final year the famous Gareth Southgate Waistcoat jumper that took the nation by storm in 2018.
      “And not only that, we’ll also be donating  50% of profits to grass roots football organisations Football Beyond Borders and Bloomsbury Football so you can feel good about giving back whilst staying warm in your winter football kit knit!”
      The retro jumpers are aimed at keeping England fans warmCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens
      There’s a Gareth Southgate-inspired number that features a waistcoat motifCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens
      The knitwear will keep England fans warm in the pubCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens
      It comes amid fears Brits will swerve the pub to stay warm at homeCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens
      Half the profits are donated to vulnerable people and to help grassroots football organisationsCredit: Ja-Vanie Stephens More

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      Meet ‘Iranian Messi’ Azmoun, the Arsenal target who owns race horses, risked World Cup axe and ‘retired’ at 23

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      THE ‘Iranian Messi’, a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the heir to Iran legend Ali Daei – those are just some of the names Sardar Azmoun is known by. But the Bayer Leverkusen star will be looking to create his own legacy at the Qatar World Cup.
      Sardar Azmoun scored six goals in qualifying to help Iran reach the World CupCredit: Getty
      And he could do so in Iran’s first game against England as Carlos Queiroz’s side aim to cause an early upset.
      To do so they will be counting on Azmoun, who scored six goals in ten games to help Iran qualify in style – the Persian Stars lost just once in 14 matches.
      The striker, 27, defied the Iranian FA by speaking out in support of the protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody.
      Azmoun has several interests outside of football, he owns an Iranian woman’s volleyball team and is a member of the Humanitarian Association of World Turkmens – but his biggest passion is horses.
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      Racing life
      Azmoun owns Serik Horse Complex which is based in his hometown of Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran.
      The stable owns several horses and runs a breeding programme – with Azmoun also developing a stable in Australia.
      Earlier this year Azmoun revealed he owns 52 horses in total and in 2020 spent £440,000 on Serlik, who is trained by former Melbourne Cup champion Michelle Payne.
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      Payne also looks after Sky Horse, who picked up a first win for Azmoun at Cranbourne in August.
      Azmoun also owns a £61,000 thoroughbred named Oubitsa who is the son of the hugely successful mare Palentino, winner of the Australian Guineas in 2016.
      Michelle Payne with Azmoun’s first winner Sky HorseCredit: Getty
      Hanging up the boots
      Azmoun knows all about the pressure of being Iran’s star man, having carried the expectations of 84million people going into the 2018 World Cup.
      The forward had scored 23 goals in 33 caps before that tournament but did not deliver in Russia, failing to score as Iran were knocked out in the group stage.
      That sparked significant criticism, so much so that Azmoun revealed it was affecting his mother’s health, so he decided to retire from international football.

      Azmoun described that decision as “painful” having represented his country since he was 19-years-old.
      But his retirement lasted just a few months and he has since highlighted his importance to the side, while his 41 goals make him Iran’s third highest goalscorer.
      He will have to cope with big expectations again in Qatar, particularly as the comparisons to Daei, the second highest international goalscorer of all time, have not gone away.
      Azmoun quit international football in 2018 as he was concerned criticism was affecting his mother’s healthCredit: Instagram /@sardar_azmoun
      The Bayer Leverkusen star has been compared to Iran legend Ali Daei
      Iran protests
      Azmoun risked being left out of Iran’s World Cup squad by supporting on ongoing protests in the country, which were sparked by the death of Mahsa Animi.
      But the former Rubin Kazan star revealed he is happy to do that, and took to Instagram to publicly show his support.
      He wrote: “My heart really broke for Mahsa Amini and the likes of Mahsa Amini who are innocent of this.
      “They left the world and left a pain in the hearts of people that history will never forget. I will always be your supporter when something bad happens to you.
      “I want you to be the first one to feel that I am with you. You are like my sisters. I am proud of you that I am beside you and I hope one day it will be a place.
      “At worst I’ll be dismissed from the national team. No problem.
      “I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women. This story will not be deleted. They can do whatever they want. Shame on you for killing so easily; long live Iranian women.”
      The striker has publicly support
      Premier League links
      As well as impressing for his country, Azmoun caught the eye at Zenit St Petersburg, where he scored 52 goals in 79 league games.
      He also struck in the Europa League and Champions League and that helped to capture the attention of Arsenal and Tottenham.
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      Azmoun revealed he had received an offer from Spurs but Zenit rejected the bid.
      He claims Roma and Lyon also battled to sign him before Bayer Leverkusen matched Zenit’s £3.8million asking price with Azmoun completing a the move in January. More

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      Fortune teller predicts how far England will get in the world cup using asparagus

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      A FORTUNE teller who makes predictions using asparagus has revealed how far she believes England will get in the 2022 World Cup.Jemima Packington, from Bath, correctly predicted the Queen’s death and Brexit using asparagus spears.
      Jemima correctly predicted the Queen’s death, and Brexit using asparagusCredit: Newsteam
      She has now turned her talent to sport and has given a prediction that she says “will not make her very popular” among England fans.
      Jemima said: “I only see England getting as far as the quarter-finals, I don’t see them progressing any further.
      “I have predicted that Croatia will win, and I could also see the letter B, so that suggests that they will be either facing Brazil or Belgium in the final.”
      Also known as ‘Mystic Veg’ Jemima makes her predictions by casting a handful of asparagus in the air and interpreting how the spears land.
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      She has travelled around the world giving her predictions on everything from politics to Premier League winners.
      Jemima claims to be the world’s only “Asparamancer”.
      She said: “I see initials, symbols, and numbers, and if it is something to do with royalty I always see a crown.
      “If the buds at the end of the spear fall off, that either means it will be something jolly, or deep sadness.”
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      Jemima was eight years old when her family started to think she may have this special gift, and she believes that she inherited it from a great-aunt who used to read tea leaves.
      She said: “My parents never encouraged or discouraged me, they just let me find my own way with it, and I am so grateful they did that.
      “I feel very lucky to have this unique gift, it has led me to meet some wonderful people.”
      Jemima has also given a recent prediction regarding controversial jungle campmate Matt Hancock.
      The former Health Secretary is a contestant on the reality TV show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
      She said: “I did predict recently that Matt Hancock would be forced to resign as an MP, and then shortly after he had the whip removed.
      “The majority of my predictions do come true, but some can be a wee bit off.
      “I was asked who would succeed Liz Truss, and predicted Boris Johnson would return, which he obviously didn’t.
      “I was right about him becoming Prime Minister though, I predicted he would be PM four years prior to him getting the job and everyone laughed at the time, but I was right in the end.”
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      It comes after a psychic camel called Camilla has predicted England for victory in World Cup match with Iran.
      ‘Living Nostradamus’ who foresaw Covid and Putin’s invasion gives his predictions for England’s World Cup.
      Jemima says she is the world’s only Asparamancer
      She makes her predictions by casting a handful of asparagus in the air and interpreting how the spears land
      Jemima has previously predicted Brexit and Boris Johnson becoming PMCredit: Rex Features More