World Cup 2022

THOMAS TUCHEL is keen to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager if the current boss walks away.Southgate will consider his future as Three Lions gaffer following the quarter-final World Cup exit.
Thomas Tuchel will surely keep Raheem Sterling in the England teamCredit: EPA

He admitted he needs time to reflect on the tournament and wants to make the right decision after that review.
The FA are desperate for Southgate to stay on but, as revealed by SunSport, Tuchel would throw his name in the hat if the position became available.
The former Chelsea boss is currently back home in Germany following his Blues sacking in September.
But what would the England team look like if Tuchel was in charge?
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Well, the news would come as a major boost for a whole host of the Chelsea squad.
Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling started England’s 6-2 win over Iran and the 0-0 draw with USA.
Mount came on against Senegal while they were both subbed on against France.
Should Tuchel come in, he would no doubt keep the pair in the side – likely playing in attack either side of Harry Kane.
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Mount was a regular throughout Tuchel’s Chelsea tenure while he signed Sterling for £47.5million this summer.
Tuchel has always enjoyed a back three with wing-backs.
He may opt for a shake-up in goal with Aaron Ramsdale replacing Jordan Pickford as the long-term No1.
In front of him could be a back three with Chelsea academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah and John Stones either side of Harry Maguire – who was a shock transfer target for the Blues in August.
At wing-back, £50m Chelsea man Ben Chilwell would surely get the nod over Luke Shaw with Reece James arguably the best right wing-back in world football and thrived under Tuchel there.
James and Chilwell were on course to go to Qatar before injury ruled the pair out.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham may well be safe – with Ruben Loftus-Cheek an outside alternative.
Tuchel tried to sign Rice from West Ham at Chelsea as one of the best holding midfielders in the country while Bellingham is pretty much a certain starter as an exciting young talent wanted by many of the world’s biggest clubs.
However, it could be bad news for Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori.
Gallagher was a surprise inclusion in Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar – but did not get a minute of action.
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However, the midfielder struggled to make his mark under Tuchel and was regularly overlooked by the German boss at Stamford Bridge.
Similarly, Tomori and Abraham were sold under Tuchel’s management after failing to convince him of being long-term solutions.
Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount would also stay inCredit: Getty
Reece James and Ben Chilwell could be linking up for the Three Lions againCredit: Reuters More

SACKED boss Luis Enrique has said there is one flop he wish he never picked as he spilled the beans on Spain’s car crash World Cup. The 52-year-old did not have his contract renewed after La Furia Roja lost on penalties to Morocco at the last-16.
Luis Enrique is no longer Spain manager after taking over in 2019Credit: Getty
He has been replaced by Spain’s U21 boss Luis de la Fuente.
After an incredible 7-0 win over Costa Rica to kick off their campaign, Spain’s World Cup unravelled and they failed to win any of their next three.
Enrique revealed to Spanish internet personality Ibai Llanos during a Twitch interview that there was one player who let him down.
He said: “One player, but I won’t say the name. One player didn’t end up being what I thought and I would have changed him for another player.”
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But the former Barcelona manager had praise for PSG’s Pablo Sarabia and admitted he should have played him more.
The 30-year-old only played five minutes at the end of Spain’s loss to Morocco.
Enrique added: “I think Pablo Sarabia deserved more than the five minutes I gave him. Right now I would have even made him the starter.
“I’m not one of those who beats himself up, surely we would have lost the same, but in terms of justice he deserved it.”
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The boss admitted Spain’s campaign “went to hell” but defended the decisions he took.
He said: “In 90 minutes, everything went to hell. It is clear that we did not play a good game against Morocco.
“I saw it positively. Right now I am calm and satisfied with what we have done. We generated enthusiasm and desire to see the national team.
“We have seen it. Many young people and children came to see us at the hotel. We could do better, I am aware, but I tried to take the best players and those who embodied my ideas.”
After their victory over Spain, Morocco now face a huge semi-final against world champions France tomorrow.
Meanwhile Spain will look forward to Euro 2024 as they bid to bounce back from a series of disappointing tournaments. More

FRANCE aim to fully unleash Kylian Mbappe against Morocco after his night of frustration against England.Mbappe will look to cause mayhem tomorrow against the World Cup’s surprise package — who have conceded just once through an own goal.
Kyle Walker did a good job defending Kylian Mbappe at the weekendCredit: Getty
The Frenchman had his least efficient game of the tournament against the Three LionsCredit: Getty
Although the PSG superstar, who has scored five times in Qatar, celebrated wildly at the end of Saturday’s 2-1 win over England, he found himself well-marshalled by Kyle Walker.
French defender Jules Kounde said: “I have not discussed the England game personally with him.
“I do not think he is unhappy. He likes to be in the statistics for scoring goals, but he was intelligent in his choices, we knew what to expect and they blocked him a bit on the wing.
“We moved the ball around a lot, he was happy with the performance
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“It was a collective effort, we defended better compared to our win over Poland.
“We closed the passing lines and we made our job a bit easier.
“I have watched the video of the England game. Their left side was their strongest side and we managed to adapt to that.
“I played my game and tried to leave the least space possible — I thought we coped really well.
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“We are very aware of Morocco’s qualities. They are very efficient when they have the ball.
“They know how to play on the wings and they are great players. We are going to take that into account in terms of their defence.
“It is remarkable they have conceded once and it was an own goal.
“Look at the teams they have played against as well. We will have to be very accurate with our passing to try and score.”
Antoine Griezmann was France’s star man in midfield against England.
We can put him in a position he might not play as much but he gives 150 per cent.Jules Kounde
Barcelona’s Kounde added: “Antoine, over the last couple of years, has become a key player for us. He fights for the team — and it does not matter what position he is in.
“We can put him in a position he might not play as much but he gives 150 per cent, he runs, he presses and does it for the full 90 minutes.
“He also has above average technical capabilities. He is very important.”
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, Griezmann, Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud are the wise men of the world champions.
Varane said: “The four of us know each other very well.
“We know how to work together, we have a lot of experience and are trying to transmit this philosophy to the younger players and to guide the rest with mentality, team spirit — and trying to share the coach’s thoughts.
We all know what is expected of us now.Raphael Varane
“We know what direction we have to go to try to communicate during matches — to transmit our calmness and composure during games where stakes are high.
“It is important to do that. We know our role. We all know what is expected of us now.”
Asked about the clash with England, which France won 2-1 after Harry Kane missed a late penalty, Varane accepted it was similar to the 1-0 win over Belgium in the World Cup semi-final in Russia in 2018.
He said: “Yes, I kind of agree with Giroud about comparing the game against England to the Belgian one.
“England were tough, we faced a very good team.
“They kept the ball well, we suffered and we fought really hard to win.
“But four years is an eternity and the competition’s evolution goes on.
“Time goes very fast in football and now, there is more intensity, the team is tactically very strong and makes fewer mistakes — the level continues to improve, always.
“We are at the semi-finals now and the slightest mistake can cost us. We have a lot of experience in the team, to not fall into the trap of thinking we are favourites against Morocco. As they are through, it is not luck.
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“They defend very well and it will be a very difficult game but it is up to us, the players with more experience, to push forward.
 “We have to fight really hard and not think it is going to be easy — we have to give 100 per cent and fight to the end. You have to earn a place in the final.”
Jules Kounde and Raphael Varane have spoken ahead of Wednesday’s semi-finalCredit: Reuters More

THE FA are open to appointing a foreign England manager if Gareth Southgate decides to walk away, according to reports.The Three Lions produced an impressive display in their World Cup quarter-final with France on Saturday, but ultimately came up short in a 2-1 defeat.
Gareth Southgate says he needs time to decide his future with EnglandCredit: Getty
Thomas Tuchel has been linked with the England jobCredit: Getty
After the match, a disappointed Southgate, who has been in charge since 2016, insisted he needed time to consider his future.
His comments have left many speculating about his possible departure – with talks set to take place in the coming weeks.
The FA are extremely keen for Southgate to lead the national team into Euro 2024.
But if that plan is scuppered, The Mail claim they would be willing to consider appointing a non-English head coach.

Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is the bookies’ favourite to succeed Southgate, with ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel also linked.
That is because the two English coaches widely regarded as the current best – Eddie Howe and Graham Potter – are tied to Newcastle and Chelsea respectively.
Other homegrown candidates such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard remain somewhat unproven as top level managers.
Nottingham Forest’s Welsh boss Steve Cooper and Leicester’s Northern Irish head coach Brendan Rodgers are both named as potential bosses to take over from Southgate.
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However, it is believed that the likes of Pochettino, Tuchel and Rodgers would have to take a pay cut should they be appointed England manager.
Southgate is on around £6million, less than the three well-known club coaches would expect to earn.
And the FA are keen to tighten the purse strings after losing £300m during the pandemic.
That could mean they stick with an Englishman, with SunSport reporting on Sunday that the FA are keen to do so.
England have only ever appointed two foreign managers in their history.
Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson took over in 2001 and was in charge for five years – reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, as well as Euro 2004.
Italian Fabio Capello then succeeded him, but only managed to reach the last-16 of the 2010 World Cup. More