World Cup 2022

MATEO KOVACIC is proud he and Hakim Ziyech proved their Chelsea team-mates wrong.The Blues sent 15 players to the World Cup and Croatia’s Kovacic and Morocco attacker Ziyech are the surprise last-men standing.
Chelsea team-mates Mateo Kovacic and Hakim ZiyechCredit: Reuters
Midfielder Kovacic, 28, said: “The African teams have played great football and I’m so glad, especially for Morocco to have come this far.
“I was in contact with Ziyech before the World Cup and my other club-mates. The others expected me and him to come back home first.
“But here we are, almost at the end. We’re happy to have done it.”
Morocco and Croatia made it through to the final weekend, while Chelsea players in other big teams fell by the wayside.
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Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic said: “Morocco is definitely the most pleasant and biggest surprise.
“They are like us four years ago. No one expected them to go so far.
“They have deserved to be where they are, they matured and went to a higher level with every game.
“They have grown into a team full of energy and self-motivation.
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“Spain, Germany, England, the Netherlands, not to mention Italy — who did not even participate — those are all great teams.“But they didn’t reach the semi-finals, so could have done more.
“This is a unique World Cup and the two teams in this play-off were not among the favourites.”
The match could the last World Cup appearances for a number of Croats — including 37-year-old captain Luka Modric.
But Dalic is confident that the midfielder will stay on for the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
He said: “Knowing how he feels about football and the national team, I’m quite sure he will — but it is his decision only.
“This might be the last World Cup for the golden generation.
“We have eight players with us from the last World Cup. That means we have 18 who were not, so we can already speak about a new Croatian team.
“We must maintain the excellence. We must not ruin what we have achieved, we must follow it up.”
Croatia arrived as a football team and as a nation at the 1998 World Cup, where they won the third-fourth place play-off.
I was in contact with Ziyech before the World Cup and my other club-mates. The others expected me and him to come back home first.Mateo Kovacic
Dalic said: “It was the first medal for the national team.
“It also achieved recognition for Croatia because it had only just gained independence.”
Today’s game means a lot and Kovacic added: “We remember how important it was for Croatia and how proud we were at the time.
“We only hoped that one day we would be in the same situation — fighting for the medal.
“This would be the second time in four years to come back home with a medal.”
The only sour note was struck when Dalic was asked about Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim taking charge of this match.
He said: “Fifa has taken a huge risk. I hope that after the match we aren’t talking about the ref.”
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Whatever happens, Kovacic and Ziyech will have plenty to talk about with their Chelsea team-mates when they return to England.
Mateo Kovacic ahead of Croatia’s match with MoroccoCredit: Getty More

ENGLISH referee Anthony Taylor has reportedly been blocked from refereeing the World Cup final between Argentina and France. The showpiece event in Qatar will stage the battle between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe on Sunday. 
Anthony Taylor has reportedly been blocked from refereeing the World Cup finalCredit: Getty
And it will be officiated by Pole Szymon Marciniak after Taylor was overlooked. 
According to The Times, English refs were unable to be involved in any Argentina match due to ill-feeling around the Falkland Islands.
So it eliminated Taylor’s chances of selection for the final between reigning champions France and Argentina. 
It is believed Fifa’s appointment system say that ensuring neutrality is deemed as a top priority and means that English referees would not be put on matches involving Argentina and vice versa.
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Despite no suggestion refs would be influenced, the aim is to avoid any situations where the teams involved could complain about bias.
Animosity around the Falklands War was displayed again this week after Argentina’s semi-final win over Croatia.
Players were heard singing a chant popular with their fans called Muchachos – which references the Falklands War and aims insults at England and Brazil.
Nicolas Otamendi filmed shirtless Argentina players singing “Ingleses putos de Malvinas no me olvido”, which has a rough translation of “f***ing English in the Falklands, I don’t forget”.
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The full chant goes: “Brazilian, what happened, the five-time champions screwed up.
“Messi went to Rio and he left with the cup [in reference to their Copa America win on Brazilian soil]. We are the Argentine band and we will always cheer them on, because we have the dream of being the world champion.
“I’m like that, I am Argentinian, f***ing English in the Falklands, I don’t forget. I’m like that, I encourage you, I follow Argentina everywhere.”
Argentina players sang an anti-English song in wild dressing room celebrations More

JOSKO GVARDIOL has admitted that he’s happy he got to play against Lionel Messi… even if he was on the losing side.The highly-rated defender was bamboozled by the Argentine as Croatia fell to a 3-0 defeat in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final.
Lionel Messi bamboozled Josko Gvardiol on TuesdayCredit: Getty
Messi, 35, put on a masterclass – made most memorable by his sensational assist for his side’s third – twisting and turning Gvardiol before laying the ball off to Julian Alvarez for a tap in.
The moment of magic gathered plenty of attention, but Messi’s 20-year-old victim has taken it in his stride – even labelling his tormentor the GOAT.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s third place play-off, Gvardiol said: “I am glad that I played against him even though we lost.
“It’s a great experience, and one day I’ll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I guess we will beat him next time.”
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Despite his embarrassment at the hands of Messi, Gvardiol’s stock remains sky high following a brilliant tournament.
He had already been strongly linked with Chelsea – who are reportedly ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign him, with Manchester City also interested.
Gvardiol isn’t the only Croatia star to have gushed over Messi.
His team-mate, former Leicester forward Andrej Kramaric, added: “Messi is the greatest player in history.”
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After previously unseen footage of Messi’s brilliant assist surfaced online this week, it was claimed that he drew up the entire sequence before he even received the ball.
As per reporter Juan Arango, Messi’s pal and former team-mate Sergio Aguero revealed on Argentine telly just what his pal wanted.
Arango tweeted: “Kun Aguero talked on Arg TV how Messi directs his team-mates to move around so he can receive the ball.
“Short pass to his feet is the secret.”
Twenty four hours after Croatia take on Morocco looking for a second consecutive World Cup podium finish, Messi and his Argentina side will take on France in Sunday’s final.
The 35-year-old is desperate to bring the trophy back to his home country, and could finally put the GOAT debate beyond doubt for good.
Gvardiol, 20, is thrilled he got to play against Lionel MessiCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI is on the verge of making history at the World Cup this weekend.But nobody could have predicted how things would turn out after Messi’s disastrous Argentina debut 17 years ago.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina debut did not go to plan in 2005Credit: Twitter / @TyCSports
The legend was sent off just 40 seconds after coming onCredit: Twitter / @TyCSports
That’s because the legendary forward was sent off after just 40 SECONDS.
Messi will lead Argentina out against France in Sunday’s World Cup final.
And in doing so, the 35-year-old will overtake Germany’s Lothar Matthaus for the most World Cup appearances in history.
Several other records are in danger of being broken on Sunday too, including most World Cup wins as a player and most World Cup assists.
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But Messi’s stunning international record was the last thing on people’s minds when he made his Argentina debut 17 years ago.
The then-Barcelona starlet was just 18 years old when Jose Pekermen selected him for the senior side in 2005.
Messi’s chance to shine came on 17 August when Argentina played Hungary in a friendly in Budapest.
With 63 minutes on the clock, the forward was brought off the bench in place of Lisandro Lopez.
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Messi could now make history with Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final against FranceCredit: Getty
And Messi immediately got stuck in just moments after his side took a 2-1 lead through Gabriel Heinze.
However, Messi managed to be a bit too enthusiastic on the ball.
As he dribbled towards Hungary’s goal only 40 seconds after joining the action, the teen was grabbed by opponent Vilms Vanczak.
This prompted Messi to swing out an arm, which hit Vanczak before sending him to the ground.
Players from both sides swarmed the referee as replays showed there wasn’t an awful lot of contact involved.
But this was pre-VAR days, meaning the ref did not get a chance to see the incident himself.
And after deciding it was a deliberate violent act from Messi, the official brandished a red card for the now-Paris Saint-Germain star.
It was reported that team-mates found Messi “weeping” in the changing room after the game.
But he certainly hasn’t looked back, going on to clock up 194 appearances for Argentina since then.
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Messi has also scored 112 goals for his country and helped them break their Copa America duck with victory in last year’s competition.
Messi is now hoping to add a historic World Cup to his collection, in what the legend has already declared will be his last tournament game for Argentina. More

ETHAN MBAPPE made his Paris Saint-Germain debut aged 15 just two days before older brother Kylian looks to win back-to-back World Cup titles with France.Midfielder Ethan was a second-half substitute in PSG’s friendly against Paris FC on Friday.
Ethan made his PSG debut in a friendly against Paris FCCredit: PSG
Older brother Kylian will look to win a second World Cup on SundayCredit: Getty
The youngster replaced Fabian Ruiz in the middle of the park.
PSG ran out 2-1 winners against their fellow Paris-based club, with Nordi Mukiele and 18-year-old Ismael Gharbi scoring.
Ethan was a part of a matchday squad consisting of the likes of Sergio Ramos, Marco Verratti and Renato Sanches.
The younger Mbappe often features in PSG’s academy ranks.
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He made his European debut in September for the U19s, where they took on – and beat – Juventus.
In October, he made his Uefa Youth League debut against Maccabi Haifa.
Older brother Kylian, 23, happens to be one of the best and most paid footballers in the world.
And Ethan made his PSG debut just two days before Kylian contests his second-ever World Cup final.
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Having won it in 2018, Kylian has again spearheaded France’s attack scoring five goals and assisting two in Qatar.
However, Les Bleus will have to defeat a resolute Argentina team including an in-form Lionel Messi – a club-mate of the Mbappe brothers.
The two PSG aces will go head-to-head on Sunday’s in a 3pm kick-off. More