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      Arsenal star Granit Xhaka relaxes on yacht with wife and daughter as he relaxes in Dubai after World Cup exit

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      ARSENAL midfielder Granit Xhaka shared pictures relaxing with his family on a yacht in Dubai following Switzerland’s World Cup exit.The Gunners man, 30, headed to Qatar in scintillating form for Mikel Arteta’s men.
      Granit Xhaka is relaxing in Dubai with his familyCredit: Instagram
      He will return to play for Arsenal later this monthCredit: Instagram
      Xhaka reached the last 16 of the World Cup with SwitzerlandCredit: Instagram
      The Arsenal man has played a key part in his club’s Premier League title tiltCredit: Instagram
      And he impressed in the Middle East as the Swiss beat Cameroon and Serbia on their way to the last 16.
      But they were then thoroughly outgunned by Portugal as they were thumped in a 6-1 hammering.
      Their tournament departure on December 6 has left Xhaka with the best part of three weeks to recuperate before he resumes his campaign with Arsenal.
      Arteta’s side’s first game back comes against West Ham on Boxing Day.
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      Before that they also have friendlies with Milan in the UAE and Juventus back at the Emirates.
      But Xhaka is taking some much-needed time away from the pitch and has now posted images on social media showing him enjoying a holiday with his family.
      He was joined on the yacht by his wife, Leonita Lekaj, who he married back in 2017.
      And he was also accompanied on the getaway by daughters Ayana, 3, and Laneya, 1.
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      When Xhaka returns to action with Arsenal he will be hoping to ensure they maintain their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
      The Gunners have not won the league since 2004, but this could be their best opportunity since then.
      After taking on West Ham on December 26, they face home games against Brighton and Newcastle before an FA Cup third round tie with Oxford United on January 9. More

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      Who is Croatia’s ‘hottest fan’ Ivana Knoll at the 2022 World Cup and who has she dated?

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      CROATIA have been one of the bright sparks of the 2022 World Cup, defying the odds to reach the semi-finals in Qatar.While the performances on the pitch have been particularly spectacular, a fan in the stands has caught the eye of fans across the globe.
      Ivana Knoll is catching the eye in QatarCredit: PA
      Ivana Knoll is often spotted in the stands supporting her team, dressed in the colours of her country during their run in the tournament.
      And she will be back in front of the cameras when Croatia take on Argentina in the semi-final THIS WEEK.
      But just who is Knoll? We have all the information on the Croatia fan.
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      Who is Ivana Knoll?
      Knoll is a renowned Croatian model and social media influencer.
      The 30-year-old has over 2.4million followers on Instagram and her content has blown up during her time in Qatar.
      Ivana Knoll has gained many fans during her time in QatarCredit: Splash
      As the founder and owner of clothing brand ‘wearknolldoll’, the model has been showing off her outfits at the World Cup.
      This has included an several impressive pieces of clothing which showcase the Croatia flag.
      However, not is all as it seems with Knoll.
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      Where was Ivana Knoll born and why does she support Croatia?
      Some fans may be surprised to learn that Knoll was not actually born in Croatia, according to several sources.
      She was in fact born in Frankfurt, Germany, where she spent seven years before moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
      So why does she support Croatia? Well, she currently resides in Zagreb and is a fan of the national team.
      Ivana Knoll is former Miss Croatia and a modelCredit: Splash
      Who is she dating and who has she dated?
      Knoll keeps her private life behind closed doors, not showcasing a boyfriend on social media.
      Therefore, fans of hers have speculated that she is currently single but this is unknown.
      The same goes for her ex-boyfriends, who will no doubt be kicking themselves now after her rise to fame in Qatar.
      Knoll is sure to have plenty of suitors when she lands back in Croatia as the model hopes to return to Zagreb with the trophy with Croatia. More

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      France injury scare as Tchouameni and Upamecano miss training while Mbappe doesn’t kick a ball ahead of Morocco clash

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      AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI and Dayot Upamecano missed France training today, while Kylian Mbappe did not a kick a ball.Les Bleus narrowly overcame England 2-1 on Saturday night to set up a semi-final clash with Morocco on Wednesday night.
      Kylian Mbappe only took part in the warm up of his side’s sessionCredit: PA
      Mbappe remained in his trainers and didn’t lace up his boots for any ball workCredit: Reuters
      Didier Deschamps’ side have already been blighted by injuries – with the likes of Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Christopher Nkunku all missing the tournament.
      And the experienced French boss was without another set of key players today.
      Tchouameni, 22, scored a screamer against the Three Lions, but picked up a calf strain later in the match.
      He was able to complete the 90 minutes and is expected to play on Wednesday, but the lingering issue kept him out of training.
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      Defender Dayot Upamecano, meanwhile, has been feeling unwell.
      The Bayern Munich ace was missing today with a sore throat, report L’Equipe.
      Should he fail to recover in time for the clash with Morocco, Ibrahima Konate or William Saliba would step in.
      Four other players took part in a warm up, but did not get their boots on to take part in any football exercises.
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      These included superstar Kylian Mbappe, who also missed a session last week amid an ongoing ankle issue.
      Raphael Varane, Ousmane Dembele and Theo Hernandez were the other players not to take part in the full session.
      Defender Lucas Hernandez was sidelined during the first match of the tournament, devastatingly suffering an ACL injury against Australia.
      Aurelien Tchouameni scored against England on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
      Dayot Upamecano tussles with Harry KaneCredit: AP More

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      Argentina star Alex Mac Allister’s amazing football family, with dad, two brothers and uncle all playing professionally

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      ARGENTINA’s Alexis Mac Allister was born to do it.The Brighton midfielder, 23, has been instrumental in his country’s march to the semi-final of the World Cup.
      Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina and Brighton boasts a famous family tree in his homelandCredit: Getty
      Dad Carlos Mac Allister, centre, played with Diego Maradona at Boca Juniors
      And his rise as a Premier League star has been helped by having football in his blood.
      Dad Carlos played alongside Diego Maradona, although missed out on the 1994 World Cup squad.
      His older brothers Francis, 27, and Kevin, 25, turn out in the Argentine top flight for Rosario Central and Argentinos Juniors respectively.
      While uncle Patricio also enjoyed a successful career most notably with Estudiantes.
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      Football in the blood
      Alexis began his football education at Club Social Parque in Buenos Aires, alongside his two brothers.
      Famously, it’s where Maradona, Carlos Tevez and Juan Roman Riquelme all honed their skills on the small pitches there.
      They practically lived in the club – with the three consistently training with their own age group and sometimes together.
      A short stint at Club JJ Batista was then followed by a move to Argentinos Juniors.
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      “I think the three of them were born to be footballers, because they grew up with everything that had happened to my brother and me as footballers,” Carlos told The Athletic back in 2020.
      It was the Carlos and his sibling Patricio who paved for the way for the younger generation.
      Steeped in football, they branched into building their own club. This would also see Alexis involved.
      Club Mac Allister
      Not to be confused with a nightclub in Glasgow, Carlos and Patricio launched their own football academy in La Pampa.
      It bore their name and was launched as Club Mac Allister in 1998.
      Alexis played with Francis and Kevin, although they were so engrossed in the world of football – they took on additional responsibilities.
      Uncle Patricio Mac Allister set up a football academy with his dadCredit: YouTube / VIDEOSZONADEPORTIVA
      Kevin Mac Allister currently plays for Argentinos JuniorsCredit: Getty
      Francis Mc Allister also turned out for Argentinos JuniorsCredit: Getty
      Alexis Mac Allister with brothers Kevin, left, and Francis, right
      “I’d do scouting reports for a Spanish side, Osasuna, so they were with me and they helped me to put the report together,” Carlos explained.
      “I was following two or three players; one of the boys would follow one player, another would follow another player, the third would follow a third player — and we’d send reports on the teams from Argentina.
      “So they grew up around football.”
      Alexis, himself, confessed the same.
      “I was playing football [almost from birth],” he told Sky Sports.
      “Everything is about football with my family, we watch it and talk about it. We love football.
      “Growing up, I watched Juan Roman Riquelme because I supported Boca Juniors and he played there. He was amazing. I really liked Pablo Aimar, too, and of course, Messi is a hero as well.”
      They’re not Scottish
      Throughout the years, starting off with Carlos and Patricio, the family have had to field questions about their name.
      The assumption was their family tree would have Scottish links. Carlos put those suspicions to rest.
      Mac Allister has impressed for Argentina at the World CupCredit: Getty
      Carlos Mac Allister has explained where the surname has come fromCredit: AFP
      “According to our family, we came from Ireland, rather than Scotland,” dad Carlos reveals.
      He said: “We came to Argentina, to a place called Pergamino, but that was three or four generations ago, and later my father and mother married and moved to a different place — Santa Rosa in the Province of La Pampa, which is where Alexis was born.
      “Now, when we get together, they always say that our ancestors came from Ireland. I don’t know whether the ones before them were from Scotland, and went to Ireland from Scotland, and then our ancestors came here. But we say that we came from Ireland.”
      Alexis’s rise
      Like his brothers before him, his dad and uncle, Alexis followed family tradition by representing Argentinos Juniors.
      He made his debut for the club aged just 17 – when they played in the second tier.
      Incredibly, all three once played in a game away at San Lorenzo in a 1-0 defeat.
      But, for Alexis, there was a greater calling.
      In 2019, he signed for Brighton, before he was loaned back to Juniors and then Boca, where he once again teamed up with his brother Kevin for regular game time.
      Since 2020, Alexis has been a regular for the Seagulls – establishing himself in their engine room alongside fellow South American Moises Caicedo.
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      It comes as little surprise that he has been recently linked with a move to Spurs.
      Should he become a World Cup winner in the next week, expect that transfer fee to rise significantly.
      Alexis Mac Allister has been a revelation for Brighton since his debut in 2020Credit: AFP More

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      Supercomputer predicts World Cup 2022 winners after quarter-finals… will Messi finally get his hands on the top prize?

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      FRANCE have been tipped to win the 2022 World Cup by beating Argentina in the final.Les Bleus made it to the semi-finals after dumping England out last week with a controversial 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals.
      France are likely to win the World Cup for the second consecutive time
      France have been tipped to win the 2022 World Cup by beating Argentina in the finalCredit: Getty
      The Tricolores will take on this year’s unlikeliest giant slayers Morocco, who became the first ever African nation to make it to the last four by eliminating Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the process.
      Argentina, on the other hand, face another underdog in Croatia, who eliminated World Cup favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals.
      According to BonusCodeBets, the Albiceleste and the reigning world champions will both make it through and meet in the final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
      And France have been tipped to become the third country to win back-to-back World Cup titles after Italy and Brazil.
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      The supercomputer prediction has been forecast using a range of informative outright odds markets to formulate how the final fixtures will play out.
      According to the findings, Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will lock horns for the grand prize in Qatar.
      But Messi’s late bid for World Cup glory as Argentina captain will be in vain as Mbappe has been tipped to lead his country to the top of the mountain once more.
      A BonusCodeBets spokesperson said: “We will have a classic Argentina vs France final in our hands on the 18th December.
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      “Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappe, old versus young, Ballon D’or winner versus future Ballon D’or winner, what could go wrong?
      “It’s unfortunate for both Morocco and Croatia who will be knocked out against teams who are on another level, but their World Cup journeys have been nothing short of amazing.” More

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      World Cup 2022 LIVE: Thomas Tuchel in frame for England job after Qatar exit as Gareth Southgate considers future

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is in the frame for the England job after the Three Lions came crashing out of the World Cup.Aurelien Tchouameni’s long-range strike saw the French take the lead but Harry Kane netted from the spot to level the score.
      However, Olivier Giroud netted to put France ahead towards the end of the game and they have since returned home.
      Gareth Southgate is set to consider his future, with two years left remaining on his contract.
      Elsewhere, a new ball has been unveiled ahead of the semi-finals as Morocco shocked the world to make the next round.
      They join Argentina and Croatia, who both progressed, and will face France.
      Keep up to date with all of the action from our live match blogs ahead of the semi-finals:

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      Stay tuned with all the latest from the tournament…
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      USA’s Reyna upset team-mates
      The majority of the USA squad were unhappy with the efforts of their midfielder Gio Reyna at the World Cup.
      The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, was a peripheral figure in Qatar, and American boss Greg Berhalter revealed: “We had a player that was clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field.
      “[It was] one of 26 players – so it stood out.”
      ETH: Rashford can emulate Mbappe
      Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag believes their striker Marcus Rashford can reach the same level as Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
      Ahead of Rashford and England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Mbappe and France, Ten Hag drew parallels between the two pacy forwards.
      He said: “I believe when Marcus’s positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world.
      “There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him.
      “But when he (Rashford)’s getting in that position, he’s great and you see he’s really improved also out of possession.”
      Morocco’s Bounou believes in miracles
      Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou says their run to the World Cup semi-finals proves that “miracles” can happen.
      The Atlas Lions face holders France on Wednesday with a chance to progress to a final against either Argentina or Croatia.
      Sevilla star Bounou, 31, has been key to their success, and said: “I am in the same state as every fan of this team – I keep thinking, ‘pinch me, I’m dreaming’.
      “To get this far, we have had to change mentalities, get rid of this feeling of inferiority.
      “We are able to face anyone, regardless of the level of the competition.
      “Future generations will know that Morocco can perform miracles.”
      Four Gunners available after Qatar
      A number of Arsenal’s World Cup stars are available for them again after national team duty in Qatar.
      Swiss star Granit Xhaka, England’s Ben White, Ghana’s Thomas Partey and American Matt Turner have rejoined the squad ahead of a Dubai Super Cup friendly against AC Milan tomorrow.
      Ready for Martinez vs Varane?
      The World Cup final could well see two Manchester United team-mates go head-t-head.
      Argentina centre-half Lisandro Martínez will be hoping to shut out Croatia in one semi-final in Qatar.
      And France defender Raphael Varane will be hoping to shackle Morocco in the other last-four tie.
      However it goes down in Sunday’s final, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag will want them both back fit and focused for a Prem visit from Nottingham Forest on December 27.
      Does Saka really need rest?
      England’s exit from the World Cup means Bukayo Saka will be heading back to Arsenal for club duty now.
      Gunners boss Mikel Arteta may well give his 21-year-old winger a rest – but does he really need it?
      The guys on the Arsecast Extra podcast discussed this very issue in their latest episode, and it seems to be a point of debate.
      A promo for the show says: “We had an interesting question on the Arsecast Extra yesterday about the return of World Cup players.
      “[It was pointed] out that in the same time period last season, Saka played more minutes for Arsenal than he did for England in Qatar. Is there really any need for rest?”
      Last Gunner standing in Qatar
      The only Arsenal player still in with a chance of winning the World Cup is… William Saliba.
      Four Gunners – England duo Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka, Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli, and France’s Saliba – were called up for Qatar.
      Now it is only the 21-year centre-half, who is having a breakthrough season at the Emirates, in with a chance of becoming a world champion as the tournament enters the last-four stage.
      Holders France face Morocco on Wednesday for the right to meet either Argentina or Croatia in Sunday’s final.
      Ferdinand critical of Southgate substitutions
      Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand felt England boss Gareth Southgate got his substitutions wrong in their World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
      All four of the Three Lions’ changes came after Oliver Giroud had put the French 2-1 up and Manchester City’s mercurial Jack Grealish only got two minutes of injury-time to make an impact.
      Ferdinand, 44, who won 81 caps for England, said on his Vibe with Five podcast: “Our substitutions is where I think Gareth Southgate let us down.
      “I think he’s been pitch-perfect, touch-perfect in almost every decision he’s made up to this point.
      “But you get into a game like yesterday where this is really where it matters now, and I think Gareth Southgate came up short in the tactical element in terms of substitutions.”
      Referee Lahoz’s World Cup exit
      Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz has been sent home from the World Cup after his display in the fiery last-eight clash between Argentina and Holland, according to Cope.
      Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries was sent off and 15 players were booked during the chaotic clash at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
      USA’s Reyna upset team-mates
      The majority of the USA squad were unhappy with the efforts of their midfielder Gio Reyna at the World Cup.
      The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, was a peripheral figure in Qatar, and American boss Greg Berhalter revealed: “We had a player that was clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field.
      “[It was] one of 26 players – so it stood out.”
      Gunners tracking Chelsea star Pulisic
      Arsenal are one of a number of clubs interested in Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic, according to the Mirror.
      The 24-year-old United States play-making forward caught the eye with his displays at the World Cup and bagged a crucial winner over Iran to help them progress to the knock-out stages.
      Juventus keen on Chelsea’s Mount
      Juventus are lining up a surprise swoop for Chelsea star Mason Mount, according to CalcioMercatoWeb.
      The midfielder, 23, is coming into the final 18 months of his Blues deal and was on show with England at this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
      Apparently, the Old Lady are prepared to sell Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot and return on-loan Leandro Paredes to Paris Saint-Germain to fund a move to bring Mount to Serie A.
      Rashford set for deal extension
      Manchester United are set to trigger a one-year contract extension for England World Cup star Marcus Rashford.
      The Red Devils forward justified his selection for Qatar with three goals in five games and is said to be attracting interest from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
      Now United boss Erik ten Hag has confirmed they are ready to exercise their option to extend his deal at Old Trafford.
      Five potential Southgate successors
      Will he stay or will he go now? Gareth Southgate is said to be considering his future as England boss and SunSport have come up with five potential successors.
      Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is said to be interested if approached. The German is still a free agent after being sacked by the Blues in September.
      Fellow former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is another option. He has not pulled up any trees as Everton gaffer but he never let the Three Lions down as a free-scoring midfielder.
      Newcastle chief Eddie Howe has taken them from relegation battlers to Champions League hopefuls, albeit with a very decent transfer kitty. And with Toon stars like Callum Wilson coming into the England reckoning, Howe could fit the bill.
      Steve Cooper has done a terrific job in brining giants Nottingham Forest back to the top flight after a painful 23-year absence so he knows how to handle the pressure and expectation which would come with the England job.
      And finally, free agent Mauricio Pochettino could do it. He performed heroics at both Southampton and Spurs as – as a former PSG boss – he will have the inside track on Kylian Mbappe if the Three Lions ever come up against France again!
      Good morning footy fans!
      England’s stars and staff have touched back down on home turf following Saturday night’s heartbreaking World Cup exit.
      The Three Lions suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals at the Al Bayt Stadium.
      Les Bleus controversially opened the scoring with Aurelien Tchouameni’s long-range stunner and Harry Kane levelled things up from the penalty spot before Olivier Giroud extended his scoring record with 53 goals.
      England’s heroic captain had the chance to equalise once more with another spot-kick but he sadly missed the target.
      That meant that our boys were on the next plane home – but not before they showed their class off the pitch this morning.
      England showered hotel staff with gifts as they left to fly home from Qatar.
      Gareth Southgate claims England went “so close” to glory in Qatar and are now consistently “feeding at the top table of world football”.
      Southgate told England’s YouTube channel: “Ultimately we’ve fallen short, I can’t get away from that.
      “But we’re feeding at the top table of European and world football consistently now.
      “If we’re in that place with the depth of squad that we’ve got, then that’s exciting and important for England.
      “It’s a difficult time for everybody. We’re really aware of that. I think the players have represented them in the right way, played in the right way.”
      Olivier Giroud was reportedly seconds from being subbed when he broke England’s hearts.
      The Three Lions suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals at the Al Bayt Stadium last night.
      Get French Football News stated: “Didier Deschamps had decided to take Olivier Giroud off for Marcus Thuram before France’s all-time scorer netted – just 1 more stoppage in play & he would have been off. Fine margins indeed.”
      Kylian Mbappe has hailed “GOAT” Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford – after initially irking England fans.
      The France striker celebrated with a huge mocking laugh when Three Lions’ skipper Harry Kane missed a late match-saving penalty in the World Cup quarter-final.
      But he responded positively after icon Ronaldo and England sub Rashford posted touching messages following their weekend exits from Qatar.
      Manchester United discard Ron, 37, hinted he is considering his international future after appearing to accept his greatest remaining dream – Portugal winning the World Cup – is now over.
      Mbappe replied to the social media post with a GOAL emoji.
      And when Rashford posted to say England had given everything, Mbappe sent a heart emoji.
      Tuchel wants England job
      Thomas Tuchel wants the England job — if  Gareth Southgate decides to walk away.
      The former Chelsea chief is back in Germany after being sacked by the Blues in September.
      But Tuchel, 49, would love to make a swift return to England as boss of the Three Lions.
      He has seen first-hand all the young talent at the country’s disposal, both at Stamford Bridge and in opposition teams.
      Chelsea stars Mason Mount, Reece James, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have all been part of the current set-up.
      The FA is desperate for Southgate to stay on despite Saturday’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
      Giroud ‘seconds from being subbed’ before goal
      Olivier Giroud was reportedly seconds from being subbed when he broke England’s hearts.
      The Three Lions suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals at the Al Bayt Stadium last night.
      Get French Football News stated: “Didier Deschamps had decided to take Olivier Giroud off for Marcus Thuram before France’s all-time scorer netted – just 1 more stoppage in play & he would have been off. Fine margins indeed.”
      ‘We were so close’ says Southgate
      Gareth Southgate claims England went “so close” to glory in Qatar and are now consistently “feeding at the top table of world football”.
      Southgate told England’s YouTube channel: “Ultimately we’ve fallen short, I can’t get away from that.
      “But we’re feeding at the top table of European and world football consistently now.
      “If we’re in that place with the depth of squad that we’ve got, then that’s exciting and important for England. 
      “It’s a difficult time for everybody. We’re really aware of that. I think the players have represented them in the right way, played in the right way.”
      England arrive home
      England’s stars and staff have touched back down on home turf following last night’s heartbreaking World Cup exit.
      The Three Lions suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals at the Al Bayt Stadium.

      Les Bleus controversially opened the scoring with Aurelien Tchouameni’s long-range stunner and Harry Kane levelled things up from the penalty spot before Olivier Giroud extended his scoring record with 53 goals.
      England’s heroic captain had the chance to equalise once more with another spot-kick but he sadly missed the target.
      That meant that our boys were on the next plane home – but not before they showed their class off the pitch this morning.
      England showered hotel staff with gifts as they left to fly home from Qatar.
      Mbappe hails Ronaldo
      Kylian Mbappe has hailed “GOAT” Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford – after initially irking England fans.
      The France striker celebrated with a huge mocking laugh when Three Lions’ skipper Harry Kane missed a late match-saving penalty in the World Cup quarter-final.
      But he responded positively after icon Ronaldo and England sub Rashford posted touching messages following their weekend exits from Qatar.
      Manchester United discard Ron, 37, hinted he is considering his international future after appearing to accept his greatest remaining dream – Portugal winning the World Cup – is now over.
      Mbappe replied to the social media post with a GOAL emoji.
      And when Rashford posted to say England had given everything, Mbappe sent a heart emoji.
      New ball, please
      FIFA have revealed their new World Cup ball for the semis and finals.
      The “Al Hilm” ball – which translates to “The Dream” in Arabic – replaces Al Rihla – “The Journey”.

      Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who beat Netherland’s, face Croatia on Tuesday night.
      A day later, reigning champions France face Morocco following their dramatic win over England.
      Saka’s breaks silence
      Bukayo Saka has broken his silence after England’s World Cup exit with a touching social media post thanking the “special” squad, Gareth Southgate and supporters.
      He wrote: “I can’t explain how I feel today, but we gave everything out there and we really wish we could have brought it home for you all this time.
      “I just wanted to say a genuine thank you to our fans, you’ve all been amazing both at the games and at home this tournament and we felt it.
      “This group are really special and talented, so although we are disappointed now, I am really excited for our future. Thank you to my @England family – my team mates, Gareth, the coaching and all the backroom staff for all their hard work and dedication to help us get this far.
      “We will build from this and with your support we will keep improving and making progress together. See you all soon.”
      Fury supports England’s heroes
      Tyson Fury sent out a message of support to the heartbroken England squad after their World Cup KO.
      He tweeted: “Hold your heads up lions. We Go Again @EnglandFootball.
      “Support Our Team. Support Our Boys. Support Our Team. In Victory and In Defeat.”
      Generous England
      Caring England stars showered hotel staff with gifts as they left to fly home from Qatar following an agonising World Cup exit.
      The Three Lions departed as classily off the pitch as they had on it with their unlucky 2-1 quarter-final loss to France.

      England players handed out signed shirts and hugged workers, who in turn said Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad had “made them feel like princes” and became “like family”.
      Midfield sensation Jude Bellingham urged fans to “stick with us” as he went over to chat outside the hotel and sign autographs.
      Dave the Cat heading to UK
      It wasn’t all doom and gloom for England after their heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
      The Three Lions’ unofficial tournament mascot, Dave the cat, began his journey to the UK as Gareth Southgate’s squad also headed for home.

      Dave became the squad’s mascot after joining England stars at meal times during their stay in Qatar.
      John Stones and Kyle Walker pledged to adopt their furry friend if England won the World Cup.
      But, despite crashing out 2-1 to France on Saturday, Dave is still heading to the UK to be rehomed.
      He was seen being loaded into a crate to begin his journey shortly after Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and Co left their Souq Al Wakrah hotel today.
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      Youssef En-Nesyri jumped 9ft 1inch for Morocco’s World Cup winner vs Portugal.. higher than Ronaldo for Juventus in 2019

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      MOROCCO became the first ever African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals thanks to a bullet header from Youssef En-Nesyri.The striker put Cristiano Ronaldo to shame – jumping to a whopping 9FT 1INCHES to crash home the winner.
      Youssef En-Nesyri was clocked at 9ft 1in in the air for his winning goal against PortugalCredit: Alamy
      En-Nesyri jumped eight inches higher than Cristiano Ronaldo did for his famous header back in 2019Credit: AFP
      En-Nesyri’s goal saw Morocco become the first ever African nation to reach a World Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo famously scored for Juventus against Sampdoria with a stooping header back in 2019.
      The Portugal forward, who was knocked out of the World Cup by En-Nesyri’s goal, rose to an incredible 8ft 4in.
      He was then hailed for his superhuman athleticism after the strike.
      But Sevilla star En-Nesyri took things to a whole new level with his effort on Saturday.
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      Both men stand at 6ft2, but En-Nesyri’s quarter-final strike saw him jump eight inches HIGHER than Ronaldo did three years ago.
      The Morocco man rose to a staggering 9ft 1in as he leapt above Ruben Dias to send his nation into the last four, according to the Daily Mail.
      En-Nesyri almost seemed to float in the air as he jumped into the gods to connect with Yahia Attiyat Allah’s cross.
      In doing so he set up a semi-final meeting with France on Wednesday.
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      Even Ronaldo was pictured looking impressed as he watched on from the bench as En-Nesyri powered home.
      The goal settled the game, and reduced Ronaldo tears at the final whistle.
      Ronaldo was seen crying as walked down the tunnel after the game, before he said in an emotional statement that his “biggest and most ambitious dream” of winning a World Cup has now ended.
      He is now jobless after being axed by Manchester United just days before the World Cup.
      En-Nesyri meanwhile will be looking to repeat the feat when he takes on Kylian Mbappe and Co for a place in the final.
      Whoever comes out on top will take on the winners of Argentina vs Croatia for the right to lift football’s greatest prize. More

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      Harry Kane ‘given a week to get over World Cup penalty heartbreak’ as Conte ‘plans talks to assess his mental state’

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      HARRY KANE will be given just a week to recover from his World Cup penalty heartache.And then Tottenham boss Antonio Conte plans to sit down with his star striker to assess his mental state.
      Harry Kane has just a week to recover before returning to Tottenham trainingCredit: Getty
      Antonio Conte plans to sit down with the skipper to assess himCredit: Getty
      Kane, 29, missed the critical spot-kick in the closing minutes of England’s quarter-final defeat to France as the Three Lions crashed out.
      The skipper – who landed back in the UK on Sunday – was understandably devastated and inconsolable after he blazed over, admitting it “will hurt for a while”.
      But he will not have long to get over the mental and emotional disappointment.
      According to the Daily Mail, Kane and team-mate Eric Dier are due back in for Spurs training on Monday, December 19.
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      The report adds Kane will be checked up on by his manager Conte to see how he is coping.
      Kane added after his painful miss: “It is a really tough night to take.
      “I am gutted, the team are gutted. We had full belief that we could achieve something special at this World Cup but it came down to small details.
      “It is hard to take for sure but I can be proud of the group, proud of each other for what we’ve done.
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      “This will hurt for a while but we will dust ourselves down to get ready in the future.
      “It comes purely down to execution so I will take it on the chin and of course it hurts now, and it will hurt for a long time, but that’s part of being captain and a leader in the team.
      “You have to take responsibility and I will take that for today.”
      Tottenham return to action against Brentford with the lunchtime kick-off on Boxing Day.

      And they will be desperate to have an in-form Kane scoring the goals to continue their charge for a top-four finish.
      Spurs are currently fourth on 29 points, three clear of Manchester United who have a game in hand.
      Kane will be reunited with Hugo Lloris at the Hotspur Way training ground after beating his pal from the spot once against France – but failing with his second attempt.
      Lloris will be in action in either the World Cup final on Sunday or the third-fourth place play-off on Saturday so will likely have a later return date than the English contingent. More