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    Aaron Ramsey opens up on tragedy behind Wales’ World Cup 2022 bid and says squad is driven on by memory of Gary Speed

    AARON RAMSEY will be driven on by the cherished memory of Gary Speed as Wales kick off their first World Cup match since 1958.The emotional star midfielder, 31, fulfils a lifetime dream when he walks out for a poignant occasion against the USA on Monday at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
    Aaron Ramsey was possibly hardest hit by the death of then-Wales manager Gary Speed 11 years agoCredit: Getty
    The whole nation remembered Gary Speed, who was a hero as a player and then a manager, when Wales took on Estonia at Cardiff last yearCredit: Getty
    Finally reaching a global finals has been a long 64-year wait for the whole of Wales against a backdrop of qualification setbacks.
    But Ramsey, captain Gareth Bale and the old guard have rallied from personal adversity following the tragic death of former boss Speed, aged 42, in November 2011 to reach two Euros and now the Holy Grail.
    Rambo was perhaps the hardest hit by Speed’s passing, because he was then Wales captain after being appointed by his hero.
    Speed’s successor Chris Coleman replaced Ramsey with Ashley Williams as skipper in October 2012 because of the heavy toll it took on him.
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    And, as the memories flood back on the eve of his first World Cup tournament, the 75-cap star admits that Speed’s spirit will never be far from his mind in Qatar.
    Ramsey, who fought back tears with his voice close to breaking on the BBC  documentary Together Stronger, movingly said: “Gary is always in our thoughts with everything that we have done.
    “I get emotional because a lot has  happened along the way to achieving this. I’m so glad I get to live my dream.
    “But it was Gary’s dream and vision for us to qualify for Brazil in 2014.
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    “When he  came in, one of the targets he set was to qualify for a World Cup.
    “If you look at where we are now, you can see it has Gary’s fingerprints all over it. He was the one who got things moving for us and definitely got us ready for these experiences that we’ve had.
    “We didn’t manage to do so then —  to be finally able to do that now makes it even more emotional and special for us. This means everything.
    “He will forever be in our thoughts and definitely again on Monday before our first game.”
    Speed, who took over as Wales manager from John Toshack in December 2010, set the Dragons on their path to success.
    However, in August 2011, they recorded their lowest-ever Fifa ranking of 117th.
    But Ramsey, who told his childhood sweetheart wife Colleen at the age of 15 he would, ‘Take Wales to a World Cup one day’, says he was totally convinced by Speed’s masterplan.
    Ramsey added: “Gary had this way about him that you would believe anything  he’d say. He was a leader and convinced us all.
    “When he got the job I was really excited. He was brilliant for me, gave me a big responsibility at a young age and he could see a lot of himself in me because we played in a similar position.
    Ex-Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey is thrilled to finally be playing at a World CupCredit: PA
    “He was demanding on the field but such a nice guy. He helped  the players to try to achieve a big dream of ours.
    “From where we were to where we got to in that short space of time was remarkable. Anything was possible.”
    But tragedy rocked Wales on Sunday, November 27, 2011, when news of Speed’s shock  death broke.
    Ramsey recalled: “I was in my living room and it popped up on the TV. I had a couple of texts come through and I called Chris Gunter straight away to see if he had heard anything.
    “I didn’t quite believe it at the time, I don’t think anybody did.“It was a difficult time because I was just thinking of him and his family, his young boys at the time.
    “We had seen him a few weeks before, he seemed really happy.
    “In one of his last training sessions he nutmegged one of the players. He still showed he had class and could still play.
    “To get that news was shocking. It affected everybody, not just me but the Welsh public and the world of football.”
    Coleman rebuilt Wales, taking them to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France — with Ramsey a standout performer.
    To get that news was shocking. It affected everybody, not just me but the Welsh public and the world of football.Aaron Ramsey
    The ex-Arsenal ace, now at Nice in Ligue 1, also played at the Euros last summer  and helped Robert Page’s side book their spot for Qatar with a play-off  victory over Ukraine in June.
    Ramsey added: “It was huge. It was a massive dream and it became a reality. I remember after the game I just collapsed to the floor.
    “It’s almost like it has come full circle. We had qualified for a Euros but this was the one that meant the most really.
    “We all had dreams. You did think, ‘Are we actually going to get there?’ but we kept  belief.”
    After USA, Wales face Iran and then a final Group B clash with  England — who beat  Ramsey and Co with a late Euro 2016 victory — on November 29.
    Ramsey recalled: “We scored the goal early and it was a game where we wanted to protect that lead and hold on.
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    “We came very close to doing that but these things can happen.
    “The reality is we’re a small nation up against  giants of world football. This team is  humble but we try  to compete with the best. We’ve  shown we are capable of doing that over the last few years.” More

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    Marcelo Bielsa gives another of his famous teamtalks to World Cup side… and he’s watched their last FIFTY games

    MARCELO BIELSA has surpassed even his own incredible standards of obsessiveness with his latest teamtalk for the World Cup.The mind-bogglingly meticulous, “murderball”-playing, maverick manager told stunned players he had watched their last FIFTY matches as they prepared for Qatar.
    Marcelo Bielsa is currently delivering a lecture at the Legia Warsaw stadium in Poland 🇵🇱According to one of the attendees, Bielsa, in preparation for this lecture, watched the last 50 matches of the Polish national team. He presented a minutes schedule of 65 players. pic.twitter.com/iPzv8lbT4a— Marcelo Bielsa بالعربي ☪️ (@MarceloBielsaAR) November 15, 2022

    Marcelo Bielsa is arguably the most meticulous manager in the worldCredit: PA
    And the former Leeds, Argentina and Chile chief wasn’t even assisting a South American nation.
    The Argentinian, 67, who is strongly tipped to take over at Bournemouth, helped out POLAND.
    Watched by a large crowd at the Legia Warsaw Stadium in Poland, he reportedly unveiled his comprehensive analysis of SIXTY-FIVE Polish stars.
    One observer on social media said: “Sounds like the kind of obsession levels Eddie Howe had with analysis and improvement. Would love to see him at Bournemouth.”
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    Bielsa is most famous for admitting spying on Championship rivals with Leeds.
    He even gave the media a 66-MINUTE powerpoint presentation showing how he had analysed Derby.
    No rules were breached but Leeds were fined £200,000 for “failing to act in good faith” towards rival teams.
    Bielsa had even shocked Elland Road chiefs when they first approached him – by revealing he had watched ALL their games the previous season and listed every formation used by their opponents.

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    His so-called “murderball’ sessions became notorious at Leeds, with players exhausted by the ball being constantly in play.
    But Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is among many of Bielsa’s extreme admirers – describing him as the world’s top manager. More

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    England star Alexander-Arnold shows off ripped physique as he models Calvin Klein underpants ahead of World Cup 2022

    ENGLAND star Trent Alexander-Arnold said “Calvin’s or Nothing” as he modelled some underpants ahead of the World Cup.The right-back will be hoping for more than a brief stay in Qatar as the Three Lions chase glory.
    Trent Alexander-Arnold models Calvin Klein pantsCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
    The Liverpool star shows off his chiselled physiqueCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
    Alexander-Arnold will surely have packed enough pairs for a deep England run in QatarCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
    And he’ll surely have packed enough pairs of pants if his latest endorsement deal is anything to go by.
    Alexander-Arnold, 24, has landed a modelling deal with Calvin Klein.
    In a new advertisement released to coincide with the World Cup, the Liverpool star can be seen wearing a variety of different pants.
    He dons a skimpy pair of briefs, as well as white and black boxer shorts.
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    In a brief clip posted to social media, the chiselled footballer stares into the camera as he says the slogan “Calvins or Nothing”.
    The underwear brand may have been sweating on their decision to select Trent as their man, when a dip in form threw his World Cup selection into jeopardy.
    But Reece James’ devastating injury secured Alexander-Arnold’s place in the squad for good.
    The talented technician will compete with Kieran Trippier for a starting berth at right wing-back in England’s World Cup opener on Monday.
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    Fellow right-back Kyle Walker won’t quite be ready for the clash, despite returning to training this week.
    The Manchester City star has been out of action since early October with a groin injury.
    Gareth Southgate’s men begin their campaign against Iran on Monday, before a meeting with the USA on November 25 followed by a Battle of Britain with Wales five days later.
    Alexander-Arnold, 24, will be hoping to start against Iran on MondayCredit: Getty More

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    England captain Harry Kane is STILL under-appreciated.. it’s time we started to cherish our goalscoring king

    HE is just two goals away from Wayne Rooney’s all-time England scoring record and five behind the great Jimmy Greaves at Spurs.Here in Qatar, he will seek to become the first man to win Golden Boots at two World Cups.
    Harry Kane and Kyle Walker feel the heat in Doha as England prepare for their World Cup opener against Iran on MondayCredit: Getty
    Three Lions’ skipper Kane is long overdue recognition as an all-time great strikerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    And just one more goal will pull him clear of Gary Lineker as the highest-scoring Englishman in major tournaments.
    Yet, like his manager Gareth Southgate, Tottenham’s Harry Kane is often under-appreciated.
    On the eve of England’s first match at the last World Cup, against Tunisia in Volgograd, Kane was asked whether he could win the Golden Boot, given that Cristiano Ronaldo had opened Portugal’s campaign with a hat-trick against Spain.
    The question was asked with a tongue-in-cheek smirk, but Kane answered with the self-confidence of a man who expected to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.
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    Kane said: “He has put me under a little bit of pressure for sure, hopefully I can score a hat-trick and we’ll be level.”
    Some in that press conference greeted his response by laughing out loud but he was being deadly serious.
    Kane scored twice against Tunisia, six times in all at the tournament, and won the Golden Boot.
    But then Kane is used to exceeding expectations.  
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    As a youngster at Spurs, he was farmed out on under-whelming loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester with many at the club believing he would end up as a lower-league journeyman.
    There was no obvious attribute which marked Kane out as a future England centre-forward, aside from a fierce determination.
    But now he is the bookies’ favourite to top the scoring charts again in Qatar.
    Yet you rarely hear him being lauded by opposition managers or players, nor mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe.
    Perhaps it is the absence of a major trophy, the dearth of charisma, the lack of marketing hype or the increasing bitterness of club rivalries — with every other major London club holding a hatred of Spurs.
    Kane is not cherished to the same degree as previous England captains or talismanic goalscorers.
    Yet the man is a sporting obsessive — nerdish in his love of golf, cricket, American football as well as his chosen trade.
    And he is a dedicated pro, with some club-mates even gently humouring Kane for his intense focus.
    There are few quirks about him, although when England face Iran on Monday, there is one ritual Kane will keep in the dressing-room at the Khalifa International Stadium.
    As he does before every game for club or country, Kane will drink a latte coffee shortly before kick-off.
    Kane could again be the key man if England are to succeed in QatarCredit: Getty
    England manager Gareth Southgate has never faltered in his belief in KaneCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    What started off as a minor caffeine kick, has turned into something of a superstition.
    Kane is a throwback, a local hero in an era of Premier League cosmopolitanism and a one-club man.
    He was even swiftly accepted back into the fold after last year’s bungled jailbreak when he was unable to engineer a move to Manchester City.
    Even that saga said much about his character. There was something naive about the way Kane — whose affairs are looked after by his dad Pat and brother Charlie rather than any super-agent — tried and failed to force his way out of Tottenham.
    Yet on the pitch he possesses the sort of cynicism the Three Lions always craved when they were habitually beaten by more streetwise opponents.
    This is a player who can win penalties as adeptly as he scores them.
    Kane is the most complete footballer of all England’s great strikers.
    Greaves, Lineker, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen were not entirely one-dimensional goal poachers. But none could drop deep, provide so many assists and have such an influence on a team as Kane manages.
    A player who embraces such a heavy workload may find this winter World Cup to his liking.
    That Greaves record of 266 Spurs goals was believed to be untouchable in the modern era.
    But at the age of 29, Kane is five adrift, although he has played 24 more matches for his club than the most prolific scorer in English top-flight history.
    For England, Kane  is two behind Rooney’s record of 55.
    Ten goals in 13 appearances at the last two major tournaments is a far cry from his maiden effort where he drew a blank, after being made to take corners by Roy Hodgson in 2016.
    Kane looked shattered at the start of last summer’s Euros until his goals against Germany, Ukraine and Denmark helped fire England to their first major final in 55 years.
    His patchy injury record has been vastly improved by  medical guru Dr Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco to clear up frequent hamstring and ankle issues.
    And a player who embraces such a heavy workload with his club may find this winter World Cup to his liking.
    Kane has started the domestic campaign in excellent form  with 12 Premier League goals in 15 games, a record largely overshadowed by the intense gluttony of Erling Haaland.
    Again, Kane is overlooked, under-rated, somewhat unloved.
    But we should cherish him while he lasts. Any striker capable of out-gunning Greaves, Rooney and Lineker deserves a whole lot of love. More

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    I’ve been moaning about this World Cup for nearly 12 years but here’s why it’s time to stop the whining and back England

    I HAVE been moaning non-stop for 11 years, 11 months and 17 days.That’s an awful lot of moaning.
    The decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has never felt rightCredit: Rex
    Now it’s here we should embrace the World Cup, says Adrian ChilesCredit: aecanter
    My moan-a-thon commenced on the afternoon of Thursday, December 2, 2010 — the day Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup.
    To be fair, for the first eight years I also had the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia to moan about.
    But ever since that one was done and dusted, I’ve been able to focus my fury ­exclusively on Qatar. And I’m not the only one.
    Just about everyone else has weighed in, with good reason, on more or less every single aspect of it.
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    The human rights record of the Qatari regime; the carbon footprint; the ­timing . . . you name it.
    Fifa has been good enough to give us plenty to go on.
    More came thick and fast this week as the hordes of journalists arrived in Doha and started whingeing about the pricey pints and soaring ­temperatures.
    To be fair, if I was lucky enough to be there, I’d ­probably have the nerve to be having a whinge of my own.
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    But really, what else was anybody expecting in a dry state in the Middle East?.
    Even some fans lucky enough to be there were at it.
    Some old boy was on the radio saying how he was being forced to fly in to watch every Wales match from nearby Dubai. Cue an orchestra of tiny violins.
    I think we call these gripes First World problems nowadays.
    Because the truth of the ­matter is — as ever — that the vast majority of fans won’t be at the World Cup.
    DESERVE BETTER
    They’ll be where they ­usually are every four years.
    They’ll be somewhere far more familiar, where it costs much less for a bevvy and you can drink it pretty much whenever you like.
    They call it home . . . or the pub.
    It’s time to blow the whistle on the Qatar complaints. Enough now. It’s happening.
    Let’s hold our noses and enjoy the party.
    This is what I’ve resolved to do, having frightened myself working out that I’ll probably only experience another six World Cups in my lifetime.
    And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Fifa or anyone else ruin any one of them for me.
    Sepp Blatter announced Qatar would host the World Cup way back in 2010Credit: AFP
    If I make it to 80, my last major tournament will be the 2046 World Cup, held God knows where. Mars, probably.
    I’ll be making the trip, no matter what the political ­situation is there.
    I feel sorry for the players. Extravagantly paid they might be, living lives of great luxury, but time stops for no man and they’ll be lucky to have the chance of playing in any more than three World Cups.
    If we’re not careful we’ll have them feeling like soldiers sent off to fight in an ­unpopular war, unheralded and uncelebrated.
    They deserve better from us. None of this is their fault.
    And yet they are now the only ones who can change everything about our attitude to this World Cup.
    As the old saying goes, when your team’s winning matches, even the pies taste good.
    Yes, they can turn it all round for us, and we’ve got to start getting right behind them to help them do it.
    A good start for our boys, followed by progress in the knockout stages accompanied perhaps by a few late dramas,, and nigh-on 12 solid years of moaning will all be forgotten.
    When it does, you can bet everyone over there will stop their whining.
    They’ll be popping corks on million pound bottles of ­champagne. Maybe.
    My mind goes back to ­something Gordon Strachan said to me at the World Cup of 2014.
    We were broadcasting from Copacabana Beach.
    Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini was one of the World Cup’s craziest momentsCredit: Pixel8000
    The story of the day had been Luis Suarez trying to make a snack out of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
    One player actually biting another? ­Disgraceful!
    The Uruguayan was in a world of trouble. A lifetime ban was even mooted.
    I suggested to Gordon that Suarez might never play again.
    “Of course he will,” laughed Gordon. “Because there is no morality in football.”
    He was right. It’s the worst thing about the game, but also the best.
    Yes, terrible transgressions of decent, human behaviour may be forgiven or overlooked, because brilliant football trumps everything.
    The Suarez-Chiellini chompfest is a case in point.
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    Chiellini himself wrote in his memoir that not only did he forgive Suarez the bite, he actually admired him for it.
    Football will always win out. It’s bigger than all of us, as we’ll see in the coming weeks.
    It’s bigger than Fifa or Qatar or Russia or whichever referee or players offend our sensibilities this time round.
    Once it gets going, I believe we’ll all get going.
    And once England get going, the sky will be the limit.
    Qatar — quite unjustly — will feel like the most normal place on Earth, and back home it’ll be like winter isn’t happening.
    But we, the fans at home, need to do our bit to get England out of the starting blocks.
    Ahead of the women’s Euros this summer I had a hunch our team was going to do something special.
    For once — and I mean once — in my football life, I was right. (I had to be right sooner or later. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.)
    Almost out of superstition, I hereby repeat the words I wrote in The Sun about England’s women before that tournament started.
    I said that it was important to get behind them from the beginning, because it would be no good jumping on the bandwagon when they got to the final and won it.
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    So, in the spirit of that, I pray to you, myself and all other interested parties: Let the moaning stop and the cheering commence as a ­joyous English march to the final begins.
    Bring it on.
    The nation will be backing England to end their long wait for the trophyCredit: AFP More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Qatar along with Portugal team-mates with Man Utd career doomed after explosive revelations

    CRISTIANO RONALDO and his Portuguese team-mates have touched down in Qatar.The Manchester United forward, who has caused shockwaves with his explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week, is heading towards his fifth and probably final World Cup.
    Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal squad have touched down in QatarCredit: Reuters
    The star was suited and booted as he hit the tarmac in the Middle EastCredit: AP
    He and his international colleagues were suited and booted as they landed at Hamad International Airport on Friday.
    Ronaldo, 37, missed last night’s 4-0 friendly victory over Nigeria due to a stomach bug.
    However, he showed no ill-effects as he looked a picture of concentration in front of the camera upon arrival in the Middle East.
    It comes amid news that United are preparing to take legal action against the legend over his bombshell interview.
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    SunSport revealed exclusively this week that the club wanted to rip up his contract and now a club statement has now seemed to confirm that.
    United have reportedly instructed Ronaldo not to return to Carrington once he gets back from the World Cup.
    It is also understood the club have begun the legal process to terminate Ronaldo’s £500k-a-week deal without paying him a single penny of the £16million he would have earned until he deal expires at the end of June.
    The statement read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview.
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    “We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
    He hit out at United for “betraying” him and making him feel like a “black sheep” as well as blaming him for everything going wrong at the club.
    The striker revealed he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and blasted the club’s lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 – the last time they won the title.
    And he also claimed that the club “doubted” him after he informed them that the reason he arrived late of pre-season was because his baby daughter was in hospital through illness.
    On the second part of the incredible interview he shockingly revealed he wants bitter rivals Arsenal to clinch the title if United can’t – that was after stating that he believes his side are three years away from challenging themselves.
    But for at least the nest fortnight the superstar is focussed on trying to land the one crown that has so far evaded him.
    Portugal kick-off their World Cup campaign next Thursday against Ghana.
    They then face Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. More

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    Gundogan reveals first World Cup experience was seeing winking Cristiano Ronaldo helping to get Wayne Rooney sent-off

    ILKAY GUNDOGAN’S first taste of the World Cup was the famous clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.The Manchester City skipper was just 15 when he won tickets for the 2006 quarter- final    between   England  and Portugal in Gelsenkirchen.
    England hero Wayne Rooney was red-carded after his clash with Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho as Cristiano Ronaldo intervenesCredit: Getty
    Ronaldo’s famous gesture made him unpopular when he returned to EnglandCredit: BBC
    Rooney paid dearly for his flare-up as he saw red and England crashed outCredit: Getty
    So he had a close-up view as Ronaldo winked to the bench after playing a part in getting his then Manchester United team-mate sent off before the Three Lions crashed out on penalties.
    It still stands out for the Germany midfielder 16 years on as his own memories of the competition have so far been disappointments.
    He missed out through injury when his country lifted the trophy in Brazil in 2014.
    Four years later, Gundogan was in the squad but, as holders, they flopped badly and were dumped out in the group stage.
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    Yet the biggest prize in football still  fascinates him going into what could be his last chance of glory.
    Gundogan said: “In 2006, we had the World Cup in Germany. I was 15 and at one of those fan festivals in Gelsenkirchen, watching games with my friends.
    “I won two tickets for the England game against Portugal in the quarter-final, Ronaldo and Rooney, when they were fighting.
    “I was at that game, which went to penalties. That was the first World Cup game I went to as a fan — and the only one.
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    “It was amazing. Gelsenkirchen is a small town and the only thing we had was football, the joy of life was football.
    “At that time I was thinking I was quite good at football, but not dreaming of playing in a World Cup. I didn’t think it possible and was just a fan.”
    Yet eight years later, Gundogan was starring for Borussia Dortmund and  in the frame to make Joachim Low’s squad before a back injury ruled him out.
    He could not wait to be part of it in Russia in 2018 — but shock defeats to  Mexico and South Korea saw the holders crash out at the group stage.
    Gundogan said: “It was hard, of course. We had all these expectations, going there as the former champions.
    “To be brutally honest, we failed. We were not good enough and we kind of deserved to get knocked out at the group stage. It was very sad and frustrating for us.
    “The reasons were probably a mix of everything.
    “Maybe just the expectations of being champions from 2014, maybe most players were not prepared well enough, Maybe we were not hungry enough. But we were just lacking in everything a little bit.”
    Ilkay Gundogan believes this year’s World Cup is wide openCredit: AFP
    Much has changed in the German camp since then. Former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has taken over as boss, while  Gundogan is one of just a handful of ­survivors from Russia 2018.
    He told Arab News: “Even with the disappointment, I was hoping back then to play in another World Cup. Fortunately enough I will now and hopefully we can do much better.
    “Too many things have changed since then for that to affect us in Qatar.
    “We have a different coach, 95 per cent of the team has changed.
    “The experience is there and we can still use it. But it’s a completely new challenge, and the development over the past year has been positive even though we have had highs and lows.
    “It’s all a learning process and, if we are able to filter everything we have lived in the last few months and get to our best, we can have a really good tournament.”
    Gundogan says the expectation level is different for Germany this time around — and that could work to their advantage.
    Individually, they (England) have one of the best teams… They have in every position two players who are world-class.
    He added: “Not having the pressure can be good because not everyone is going to put us up there as a main contender.
    “But I always believe it’s what you make out of the situation.“I think there will be a lot of teams on the same level.
    “You will always have a pool of favourites and I guess Germany will be a part of it at least, but there are other teams who have the potential to surprise.
    “Japan are our first game and they have good players with good technical abilities so it will be tough, and we have Spain too in our group.”
    Gundogan has played in the Prem for 6½ years now and believes England cannot be discounted.
    He added: “Individually, they have one of the best teams.
    “They are now a bit unlucky with injuries but they have in every position two players who are on a world-class level.
     “They did well at the Euros, went to the final, and I would not be surprised if they also go very far at the World Cup.
    “Of course they can win it with the  quality they have in the squad.” More

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    SunSport’s World Cup 2022 columnist Wilshere reveals he used to RING UP pundits like Scholes if they criticised him

    FORMER England star Jack Wilshere knows criticism from ex-players and fans could affect  players at the World Cup.But when he was slagged off by ex-pros he took matters into his own hands — and rang them up!
    Wilshere is one of SunSport’s star columnists for the World Cup in QatarCredit: Louis Wood
    Ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere phoned up pundits who had given him a hard time – and got some thoughtful feedbackCredit: Getty
    The former Arsenal midfielder said: “I had a few comments from ex-players on TV, once from Jamie Redknapp and then from Paul Scholes, so I called them.
    “With Jamie it was when I’d come back from injury, I said, ‘I think you out of everyone should understand, you went through it too’.
    “He was very respectful and said he hadn’t really thought about it like that.
    “When Paul Scholes had a go at me he was really good  when I contacted him, he ended up helping me.
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    “You go in the dressing room after a game, players are straight on their phones going through Twitter.
    “You can get 2,000 good comments and there can be one negative one, especially if it’s detailed, that can really get into your head. It screws your mind.”
    England boss Gareth Southgate will be hoping for nothing but good reviews after their World Cup opener on Monday.
    But he goes into the game without Kyle Walker for Monday’s World Cup starter against Iran.
    Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also unlikely to be ready for a starting role.
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    Both players could be in contention for the Three Lions’ second game with the USA on Friday November 25.
    And the duo will certainly be anxious to be at peak fitness in time for the group finale with Wales the following Tuesday. More