World Cup 2022

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      Why Italy fans could boo their OWN GOALKEEPER against England as captain Leonardo Bonucci sends out warning

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      ITALY could sensationally boo their OWN goalkeeper when they face England, according to Leonardo Bonucci. Juventus defender Bonucci has warned compatriot Gianluigi Donnarumma he could face a frosty return to the San Siro after leaving AC Milan for Paris Saint-Germain on bad terms, letting his deal run down.
      Gianluigi Donnarumma could be booed by his countryman, according to Leanardo BonucciCredit: AFP
      Bonucci has labelled any fan booing Donnarumma as ‘brainless’Credit: Getty
      And now he faces the wrath of the Milanese upon his return to his old stomping ground.
      But veteran Bonucci has declared any fan who boos the Rossoneri academy product is “brainless”.
      At the pre-match press conference, he said: “Whoever whistles a player of the Italian national team is, for me, a brainless person.
      “The player represents the whole nation and also whoever is whistling.
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      “I do not see why Donnarumma, who has only made a choice, has not been the first to be booed and he will not be the last.”
      Despite the less than stellar reception Donnarumma is likely to get, it is highly unlikely scenes similar to those seen in Colombia during a pitch invasion will repeat themselves.
      The clash this Friday will see a repeat of the 2020 European Championship final, where England lost on penalties to Italy – with Donnarumma the Azzurri hero that day.
      The Three Lions go into the game against Italy having suffered the ignominy of being beaten 4-0 by Hungary in their last Nations League game.
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      Now Gareth Southgate must mastermind wins against both Italy and Germany in order to secure England’s place as a top seed in the qualifying stages for the next European Championships and avoid a potential horror draw.
      Uefa have already kicked Russia out of that tournament owing to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
      These are the final matches before the World Cup starts in Qatar in November. More

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      Sven surprised ‘hot-tempered’ Rooney is a manager, says Beckham should never be boss and tips Man Utd flop for dugout

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      SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON admitted he was surprised to see his “hot-tempered” former striker Wayne Rooney as a manager.Rooney, 36, reached a $1million-a-year agreement this summer to return to the MLS and lead DC United.
      Eriksson said he was surprised to see his “hot-tempered” former striker Rooney as a manager
      Sven admitted that he ‘never thought Beckham should be a manager’Credit: Reuters
      He stepped down as Derby’s gaffer following their relegation to League One but gained a lot of respect for fighting a 12-point deduction.
      And Eriksson, now 74, spoke to BoyleSports and confessed that he wouldn’t have pictured England’s leading ever goal scorer on the sidelines.
      He said: “It surprised me as a coach, Wayne Rooney, I couldn’t see him as a manager when he was a player but of course he was very young when I had him.
      “Rooney for me was a surprise. But it’s nice to see ex-players being managers.
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      “Rooney’s way of being, he had a hot temper now and then at his young age of course.
      “It’s difficult, but of course I had him when he was 17 and I had him for three or four years so maybe he was too young to show those things at that time.
      The ex-England boss also discussed the rest of his Three Lions squad and their current roles in football.
      Eriksson also revealed that he always thought David Beckham should stay away from management.
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      But he reckons current Premier League gaffers Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are made for the role.
      He added: “Frank Lampard, he’s coming from a football family so I think he’s grown up with football every day. So it’s natural that he became a coach.
      “Steven Gerrard as a player was very quiet but very clever on the pitch, thinking a lot.
      “I thought Juan Sebastian Veron, who played for Manchester United and Lazio,  would be an excellent manager but he never tried I don’t think. 
      “Beckham. He’s one I never thought should be a manager.
      “I admire Beckham for many things of course, but he had so many things going on around him, not only football but a lot of other things, he could handle it in an excellent way.
      “I thought he would be a businessman or whatever when he was finished. He could be an ambassador for all the clubs he played for and for England of course.”
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      Eriksson has admitted Beckham’s wife Victoria “didn’t make it easy” for his team at the 2006 World Cup.
      He opened up on the infamous Wag summer that rocked his team at the Germany showcase. More

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      When did Wales last qualify for the World Cup?

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      WALES secured their qualification for the 2022 Qatar World Cup after navigating past Austria and Ukraine in the playoffs.A 34th-minute deflected free-kick from Gareth Bale was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Ukraine in the final playoff game.
      Wales went to the 1958 World Cup after beating Israel in a playoffCredit: PA
      Wales secured qualification to the Qatar 2022 World Cup with victory over UkraineCredit: Getty
      In a post-match interview with Sky Sports the Welsh captain hailed it as “the greatest result in the history of Welsh football. We’re going to a World Cup!”
      It came off the back of impressive performances at the two most recent European Championships.
      They reached the semi-finals and round of 16 in 2016 and 2020 respectively and they will no doubt want to transform those performances onto the world stage in November.
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      When did Wales last qualify for the World Cup?
      Wales’ last Fifa World Cup appearance came back in 1958.
      The 1950s were a golden age for Welsh football with the likes of John Charles, Cliff Jones and Ivor Allchurch featuring.
      The tournament was hosted by Sweden and became the first to be played in a Nordic country.
      16 teams entered the competition of which 12 were European sides.
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      Who knocked Wales out of the 1958 World Cup?
      Wales made an unbeaten start to the tournament drawing all three of their group games against Hungary, Mexico and Sweden.
      A 2-1 win over Hungary in a group stage playoff game sealed their progression to the quarter-finals where they would face the mighty Brazil.
      But the Dragons’ chances were dealt a huge blow when John Charles was ruled out of the tie.
      A tense and tight affair saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat with a goal from the then 17-year-old sensation Pele enough for Brazil, who would go on to win the tournament.
      Have Wales come close to qualifying for World Cups since 1958?
      Wales have been on the verge of World Cup qualification a number of times, but Mexico 1986 and USA 1994 were the most painful qualifying campaigns for Welsh fans.
      The 1986 qualification pitted them against Scotland, knowing a home win in this fierce home nation battle would have sealed qualification.
      Mark Hughes opened the scoring, but a Davie Cooper penalty secured a draw and qualification for the Tartan army.
      Eight years on, the Dragons suffered another agonising qualification failure in their final group game against Romania.
      The late Gary Speed won a penalty that was taken by Paul Bodin.
      The then Swindon Town left-back smashed his effort against the crossbar and later in the match Florin Raducioiu grab the winner for Romania to break Welsh hearts.
      Had Wales scored the penalty and held out for victory they would have qualified. More

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      Uefa set to SCRAP plans for 32-team Euro 2028, but England set to host tournament with all five British Isles nations

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      UEFA is set to SCRAP plans to turn Euro 2028 into a 32-team tournament.But the decision will not impact on Nyon chiefs’ push to ensure the England-led British Isles bid is handed hosting rights.
      England will lead the British Isles in hosting Euro 2028 – which WON’T have 32 teamsCredit: Getty
      Senior figures from across Europe have been working on a qualification schedule that would have led to a 32-team tournament.
      The plan would have seen smaller groups and fewer games for national teams.
      There was, though, increasing concern that with only 55 Uefa members, including up to a dozen minnows who realistically have next to no chance of qualifying, it would destroy the financial value of the campaign, leading to an unwanted black hole in European finances.
      And that has led to the surprise rethink, backed by Uefa high command.
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      It is now expected that Uefa will confirm, as early as next month, that Euro 2028 will remain a 24-team event.
      Sticking with the current tournament model means 50 matches rather than an expansion to 61 as envisaged.
      That in turn requires fewer stadiums for the Finals, with matches planned for all five British Isles nations and the Final at Wembley.
      Sticking with 24 teams eases some of the burden that would have faced the rival bid from Turkey, which is currently determined to stay in the race despite clear signals from Uefa high command about the requirement for a major money-spinning event.
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      But Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin is understood to remain firmly in the Five Nation camp, with the final decision taken by the ruling executive committee he runs rather than a vote of the member associations.
      The decision, though, could mean just six English grounds being used, two of them – Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – in the capital.
      Villa Park, Old Trafford, the planned new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and St James’ Park  are likely to complete the English list.
      Other matches would be staged at the Principal Stadium in Cardiff, Hampden Park, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Croke Park and the Casement Stadium in Belfast, which is scheduled for redevelopment and far larger than Windsor Park. More

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      Javier Hernandez suffers World Cup 2022 heartbreak as Mexico confirm ex-Man Utd striker will NOT go to Qatar

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      JAVIER HERNANDEZ has been ruled out of Mexico’s 2022 World Cup squad.The decision was made by Mexican boss Tata Martino despite former Manchester United star Chicharito enjoying a fruitful campaign this season for LA Galaxy and his international goal record.
      Javier Hernandez is Mexico’s all-time top goal scorer.Credit: EPA
      Mexico have fierce competition in a quartet of centre forwards -including Wolves forward Raul Jimenez – but Martino has confirmed only three will travel to Qatar.
      That leaves Hernandez, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals in 109 matches, as the odd man out.
      Martino said: “In the case of Chicharito, we are simply going with other forwards.
      “We will try to choose the 26 players who are closest to our game.
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      “We have two [forwards] who can play and two who can’t. What I like is that we don’t have not enough players.
      “Four forwards are not going to go [to Qatar], but as long as they make it difficult for me to choose, I’m very happy about that.
      “Surely there will be talk of who is left out, but the problem will be abundance and not scarcity.”
      The door was also slammed shut on fellow MLS and Mexico star Carlos Vela.
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      Mexican manager Martino has marked Jimenez or Rogelio Funes Mori as serious doubts to feature against both Peru on Saturday at the Rose Bowl or against Colombia in California’s Bay Area on Monday.
      But he has emphasised the need for them to travel with ‘El Tri’ for training, recovery and connection with their teammates.
      Prolific poacher Hernandez has 20 goals and assists in 29 games in the MLS this season.
      He boasts a better international goals-to-game ratio than top CONCACAF strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
      Hernandez has made 12 appearances across the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups scoring four goals in the process.
      The Mexican established himself playing for Europe’s elite with spells at United and Real Madrid.
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      His time with the Red Devils saw earn two Premier League titles, a Champions League runner up medal and the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the 2010-11 season.
      Barring any injuries or decision changes by Martino, Chicharito’s final World Cup goal would have been in the group stage against South Korea in the 2018 tournament. More

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      Germany’s World Cup plans in crisis with emergency talks planned over where WAGS will stay

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      GERMANY’S preparations for the World Cup face being thrown into disarray by the team’s Wags.With many hotels in the country already fully booked throughout the tournament, the German management team are “despairing” over where the squad’s partners and families will stay.
      Germany are having a nightmare booking accommodation for their WagsCredit: Reuters
      Model Izabel Goulart was previously a Victoria’s Secret girl and has modelled for Sports IllustratedCredit: Getty
      Sara Arfaoui is a TV presenter in Italy
      Sophia Weber keeps a low profile away from the pitchCredit: Instagram @sophia.weber__
      It means the likes of Sandra Jerze, partner of Serge Gnabry, Kevin Trapp’s better half Izabel Goulart, Ilkay Gundogan’s wife Sara Afraou and Sophia Weber, the childhood sweetheart of Kai Havertz, are at risk of being apart from their loved ones during the finals.
      According to Bild, many of the players want to take their families along with them to the tournament, but the cost and availability of accommodation is proving to be a nightmare.
      Head coach Hansi Flick also wants to bring them along as he believes there is a “feel-good atmosphere with the families”.
      A number of high-profile players, notably Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich, will attend a meeting with the German team hierarchy later this week.
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      Kimmich has already gone on record with comments surrounding the inclusion of Wags at the World Cup.
      He said: “In general, many friends and family would come along, but it is very, very difficult as far as hotels are concerned – which I have noticed.
      “I hope a little bit on the DFB that you can do something there. As a private person, it’s not so easy to get hotels.
      “A World Cup is a huge thing for friends and family and of course I like to have my family with me.
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      “But I don’t know how it can be implemented in the end.”
      However, the Wags are not expected to remain with the team throughout the entirety of the tournament, with the DFB believing it could disturb the team’s focus.
      England’s own team of Wags have already sorted out their luxury accommodation after booking in at Banana Island.
      The resort boasts £6,000-a-night Chalets, as well as five-bed villas perfect for those travelling with families.
      However, England fans will be disappointed to know beer will not be permitted during games unless it is non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero.
      Arfaoui is married to Man City star Ilkay Gundogan
      Goulart is dating goalkeeper Kevin TrappCredit: @izabelgoulart
      Weber is the childhood sweetheart of Kai HavertzCredit: Instagram @sophiaaemelia More

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      Jordan Henderson joins Eric Dier in slamming fan abuse and says family will SKIP World Cup after Euro 2020 final hell

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      JORDAN HENDERSON has revealed his family are planning to avoid the World Cup finals in Qatar after horrific experiences at major matches.The Liverpool skipper’s dad, wife and children were caught up in the terrible problems before the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, while there were also major security issues at last season’s Champions League final in Paris.
      Henderson’s family will skip the World Cup after the chaos surrounding the Euro 2020 final as well as last season’s Champions League finaleCredit: Getty
      The England midfielder said: “My family and friends have had a couple of experiences over the last couple of years which have really shocked them and probably put them off going to future games.
      “My dad said after the Champions League final that he was done with it.
      “When you’ve had those experiences sometimes, you think whether it is worth risking but we will have to see.”
      Spurs defender Eric Dier admitted this week he has stopped his mum from going to watch matches due to abuse.
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      And now Henderson has revealed the aggro players’ families can face.
      His wife Rebecca and young children were caught up in the trouble at Wembley 14 months ago ahead of the Euro final penalties loss to Italy.
      Henderson said: “My wife and kids tried to get in a side door but people wouldn’t let them in and they were trapped.
      “She was trying to get the kids away from all the middle of what was happening and eventually, I think after about 15 or 20 minutes, somebody recognised that she was my wife and they were let in.
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      “But if that person had not done that they could have been in trouble.”
      Equally, Henderson’s family were caught up in crowd problems ahead of the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
      He added: “It was pretty horrific. As a fan, if you don’t feel comfortable and you feel threatened, you’re not going to want to go again.
      “It’s as simple as that really.” More