World Cup 2022

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      Erling Haaland to MISS Man City’s warm-weather training in Abu Dhabi and take three-week holiday during World Cup 2022

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      ERLING HAALAND will not take part in a warm-weather training camp with the rest of the Manchester City squad. The club have arranged for all those not going to the World Cup to head to Abu Dhabi to maintain fitness levels.
      Erling Haaland will not go to Man City’s training camp during the World Cup despite not being in the tournamentCredit: Getty
      However the 23-year-old will not be joining up with his team-mates after being called-up by Norway for friendly matches against Ireland and Finland, report the Daily Mail.
      Haaland will then be given three weeks off to rest with manager Pep Guardiola reportedly encouraging his players to go on holiday.
      The manager himself is set to spend some time away from Manchester visiting family in Barcelona.
      But he is then expected to head to the warm-weather camp with a few senior players and youngsters not going to Qatar, such as Riyad Mahrez.
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      While at the training centre abroad Guardiola is set to meet with owner Sheikh Mansour alongside chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak to discuss his future at the club.
      The Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of this season but he remains relaxed about what’s next.
      He recently said: “Everything is under control, it’s perfect, the decision will be made together with the club the moment it has to be made.”
      Guardiola also hinted at not planning for after the World Cup because players could come back tired or injured.
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      But he won’t have to worry about that with Haaland as Norway did not qualify, therefore he should be fresh to continue his run of scoring that has seen him net 23 goals this season.
      He looks set to play a key role after the World Cup hiatus as City look to chase down league leaders Arsenal.
      After the Premier League champions lost to Brentford and Arsenal beat Wolves it extended the Gunners’ lead to five points at the top of the table. More

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      PSG to open Lionel Messi contract extension talks after World Cup as Barcelona eye up sensational transfer return

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN will reportedly open contract talks with star man Lionel Messi AFTER the World Cup with former club Barcelona eyeing a sensational reunion.The legendary Argentine, 35, is out of contract next summer and it is unclear whether he will stay at the Parc des Princes.
      PSG will open contract talks with Messi after the World CupCredit: AFP
      Messi appears to have finally settled in at PSG after a dismal first season, netting 12 times and assisting 14 across all competitions.
      Such form, as well as seemingly repairing their poor financial situation, has former club Barca purring over the thought of a reunion with Messi.
      Barca had to waive goodbye to their club legend in the summer of 2021 after being left financially paralysed and unable to renew his contract.
      MLS side Inter Miami are also said to be keen on trying to bring the 785-goal man to America.
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      However, according to Mundo Deportivo, PSG are keen to keep Messi and will look to extend his stay in the French capital.
      Talks will be opened AFTER the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which gets underway next weekend, as requested by the player himself.
      Argentina are among the favourites to win the tournament, which would add the final piece of silverware to Messi’s unmatchable trophy cabinet.
      PSG would like Messi to sign a two-year extension.
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      A return to Barca could be as equally attractive.
      Barca is “always” Messi’s home, according to club president Joan Laporta.
      Laporta reportedly said: “Messi’s return to Barca in 2023? Leo knows that Barcelona is always his home.” More

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      K-pop star Jungkook set to play World Cup 2022 opening ceremony alongside Robbie Williams and Co in Qatar

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      ROBBIE WILLIAMS and K-pop star Jungkook will perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup.The former Take That member will take to the stage to begin the tournament in Qatar just as he did four years ago in Russia.
      Robbie Williams performed at the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia in 2018Credit: Reuters
      Jungkook is the front man of pop group BTSCredit: Getty
      Williams, 48, has been slammed by critics for choosing to perform on November 20 as he is seen as a huge supporter of the LGBT community.
      Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and gay people face fines or up to seven years in jail.
      Fans have hit out at Williams saying he will have scored a “huge own goal” if he sings at the opening ceremony.
      Also part of the performances at the Al Bayt Stadium is lead singer of Korean pop group BTS – Jungkook.
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      BTS are worldwide sensations famous for songs such as Butter and Dynamite.
      A star-studded line-up could be completed by the likes of Shakira, Dua Lipa, J Balvin and the Black Eyed Peas who have all been rumoured to be part of the event.
      Shakira has been tipped to be involved this year after her 2010 World Cup song Waka Waka went down as a classic.
      Fans will also be treated to a performance of song Light the Sky from the World Cup’s official soundtrack.
      The track features Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad and Manal – some of the most popular musicians in the Middle East.
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      All the action will take place before the first match of the World Cup that sees host nation Qatar face Ecuador.
      Some 60,000 supporters will pack into the stadium in Doha as Qatar make their debut at the finals.
      England are involved in the second match of the tournament versus Iran the day after. More

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      Fulham boss calls for players to fill the void left by Mitrovic against Man Utd as star sweats on World Cup 2022 dream

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      MARCO SILVA has called on his Fulham players to stand up and show they can fill the void left by Aleksandar Mitrovic.Mitrovic will be missing from Sunday’s clash with the foot injury that threatens the Serbia striker’s World Cup hopes.
      Mitrovic will miss United’s visit with a foot injuryCredit: Getty
      Fulham boss Silva has declared he will ‘find solutions’ in attackCredit: Alamy
      And with Neeskens Kebano and Manor Solomon also sidelined, Silva’s forward choices are further limited.
      The Cottagers suffered heartbreak at Manchester City last week, losing 2-1 to a late Erling Haaland penalty despite playing with a man advantage for over an hour.
      And Silva believes having more available attacking options would put his team in a far stronger position to compete against the Premier League’s big boys.
      He said: “Last week we had some issues as well to fix in our squad.
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      “As you know, I had just one offensive player on the bench. Probably, with different solutions, the game could be completely different in the second half.
      “But I’m here to find solutions and I will do the same for Sunday’s match.
      “It’s not just Mitrovic. Unfortunately for us, there are many.
      “I’m not hiding that Mitrovic is a key player for me and for this football club. Probably some of you had these doubts last season and at the beginning of the season, but I didn’t have them.
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      “Mitrovic, in 58 games he has scored 50 goals under me. It’s an unbelievable number. Of course, if I don’t have this player, we are different, definitely.
      “But it’s a moment for others to pop up.”
      Fulham have defied expectations so far this campaign, winning 19 points from 14 games after being promoted from the Championship last season, and could go just a point behind Manchester United by beating them on Sunday.
      Like all Premier League teams, Fulham will not return to action until December due to the World Cup break and Silva questioned the decision to hold the tournament in the middle of the season.
      He said: “I think no one listened to the opinions of the players to decide that this competition would be in the middle (of the season).
      “The situation when they decided if it would be in Qatar or a different country, or in the middle of the season for the first time or the end of the season, I think they don’t listen to the players.
      “They decide and that’s it, the players have to prepare as best they can.” More

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      Gareth Southgate to let players see their WAGS for World Cup downtime if Covid permits

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      ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate wants players to see their partners for World Cup downtime but Covid may intervene.Southgate, 52, said: “We would like it to happen, we think it is a significant part of a team feeling relaxed and comfortable.
      England boss Gareth Southgate wants players to see their partners, such as Jack Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood, during downtime at the World CupCredit: Instagram
      Model Sasha Attwood, girlfriend of Man City’s Grealish, is among those expected to fly out for the tournamentCredit: Instagram
      Southgate said he thought it would make the team ‘relaxed and comfortable’Credit: PA
      “But at the moment none of us know what the transmission rate is likely to be out there.”
      On Friday, there were 307 new Covid cases in Qatar.
      Southgate added: “We need to monitor it quite closely.”
      Some of the players’ wives and girlfriends will be on the £1billion cruise ship MSC World Europa. 
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      Model Sasha Attwood, 26, girlfriend of Man City ace Jack Grealish, 27, is among those expected to fly out for the tournament, starting next Sunday.
      Southgate also revealed he has some special motivational plans up his sleeve – but was keeping it a secret for now.
      Actor Michael Sheen delivered a rousing pre-World Cup speech to the Welsh team, who will face England in the group stages.
      It was light-heartedly put to Southgate that perhaps he would bring in Brian Blessed to do likewise.
      Most read in The Sun
      Yet the England chief was giving nothing away, and joked: “Maybe we can go one better than Wales.”
      When Southgate was pressed to reveal details, he added: “No, we can’t. But we want them to do all the things that going to a World Cup involves the suits, the photos.
      “But thankfully there’s been no record, or song! We just want them to be excited about going.”
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      Sir Geoff Hurst was forced to go on DOLE when he retired from playing football despite World Cup final heroics

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      SIR GEOFF HURST was forced to go on the DOLE when he retired from playing football.He might be the only person to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final but England’s 1966 hero was forced to sign-on to support his family.
      Sir Geoff Hurst had to go on the dole after he retired from football.Credit: Getty
      Hurst scored a hat-trick as England won the World Cup in 1966.Credit: PA
      Footballers in the 1960s and 70s earned nowhere near the millions they get in the modern-day game.
      And West Ham legend Hurst, 80, recalled: “It was an awkward time — out of work and with three kids at school.
      “You’ve very little money and you have to start doing something else.
      “I had applied for work at other clubs and had no responses or very little.
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      “What a lot of people did when out of work is go on the dole, and  I signed on the dole.
      “Whatever you had achieved in the game, on the salaries we were on — even as internationals — everybody had to go out and get a job. Simple as that.”
      Hurst ended up managing Chelsea for two years until 1981 and worked for a spell in Kuwait.
      Eventually he worked for a life insurance company for almost 20 years.
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      Hurst is now a national treasure and — along with George Cohen, 83, and Bobby Charlton, 85 —  is one of only three stars from England’s world champion side still alive.
      He added: “Every time you look at a picture of the group now it is tinged with so much sadness.
      “It’s such a sad thing that eight have gone.”
      l  Hurst: The First and Only airs on Sky Documentaries tonight at 7pm and will be available on streaming service NOW. More

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      Arsenal in huge blow as Granit Xhaka is forced off with sickness after just 15 minutes during Wolves clash

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      ARSENAL were dealt a huge blow after seeing Granit Xhaka forced off 15 minutes into the trip to Wolves.The midfielder went down on his haunches just a couple of minutes after kick off.
      Granit Xhaka went down on his haunches early on in the gameCredit: Reuters
      The midfielder initially carried on before having to be replacedCredit: Getty
      Xhaka grimaced as he trudged off the pitch past boss Mikel ArtetaCredit: Reuters
      Initially Xhaka carried on bravely, but in the end he could go no further.
      The midfielder had to come off with 15 minutes on the clock appearing to be suffering from sickness.
      The Arsenal ace was replaced by summer signing Fabio Vieira.
      Mikel Arteta’s side went into the game knowing that they would top the Premier League going into the World Cup regardless of the result thanks to Brentford’s stunning 2-1 win at Manchester City.
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      But three points at Molineux would see the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table.
      And with Xhaka, 30, enjoying a stunning resurgence this season, his inability to continue came as a huge blow to Arteta.
      He has started all 14 of Arsenal’s Premier League games this campaign, chipping in with three goals and three assists.
      In the end the Gunners managed to get the job done without Xhaka.
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      A Martin Odegaard brace saw the Gunners run out 2-0 winners and head into the World Cup break five points clear at the top of the league.
      Xhaka also part of the Switzerland squad for the World Cup, which gets underway a week tomorrow.
      The midfielder is due to captain his country in Qatar.
      And he will be hoping to shake off his apparent sickness as quickly as possible ahead of the tournament.
      Switzerland kick off their campaign in 12 days time against Cameroon, before further tricky tests against Brazil and Serbia. More

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      Reece James and Tammy Abraham react to Ivan Toney scoring twice and not being picked for England’s World Cup squad

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      IVAN Toney responded to his England snub by scoring a late winner against Manchester City – and then received support from Reece James and Tammy Abraham.Behind Harry Kane, the Brentford star is the top scoring English striker this season, netting 10 Prem goals.
      Ivan Toney responded to his England snub by scoring twice against Manchester CityCredit: Rex
      Toney celebrated by putting his fingers in his earsCredit: Reuters
      Reece James responded to Toney’s post on Instagram
      Regardless, Toney was still left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad.
      But he dusted himself down to score twice in a shock win at The Etihad.
      Toney’s first-half header looked to have only earned the Bees just a point after Phil Foden fired home a fine equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
      But he had other ideas, tapping home in the eighth minute of added-time.
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      For his first goal, ex-Peterborough star celebrated by cupping his ears, appearing to be aimed at Southgate, before producing a similar act for the winner.
      He took to Instagram to make his point even further, uploading a photo of himself with his fingers in his ears.
      And two other England players not going to Qatar replied.
      James, who’s missing out through injury, said: “If I speak I’m in big trouble 😂.”
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      Meanwhile, Abraham, who was also overlooked, responded with a death person emoji, replicating Toney’s celebration.
      Adebayo Akinfenwa also replied by calling Toney a “boss” while teammate Rico Henry said “no words needed”. More