World Cup

GARY NEVILLE hit out at World Cup referee Wilton Sampaio in a scathing attack after England’s loss to France. Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions were dumped out of the tournament in the quarter-final stages following a bitter 2-1 defeat.
Gary Neville hit out at World Cup referee Wilton Sampaio in a scathing attackCredit: Rex
But Sampaio was slated for questionable decisions throughout the match and faced Neville’s wrath after the final whistle.
He told ITV: “You see French defending it was startling, we knew it was the weak point in their team but I don’t think we knew they’d make those poor decision in those types of areas.
“The referee had a nightmare game, an absolute joke of a referee.
“I’m not saying that was all down to England’s defeat because that’s making excuses, he was just a bad referee, rank bad.”
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England fans fumed after Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka appeared to be brought down by defender Dayot Upamecano with no punishment.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni would just moments later open the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the box.
Sampaio was again under fire after Harry Kane was brought down by Upamecano and protested for a penalty.
The ref was not interested and neither was VAR – but that was not the end of the penalty drama.
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Saka was brought down in the second half and Harry Kane stepped up to score past Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris in the France goal.
Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud put the 2018 reigning champions back in the lead with an excellent header.
But England were awarded another penalty after Theo Hernandez shoved Chelsea’s Mason Mount in the box.
Sampaio amazingly waved off protests but after a VAR check, he changed his mind.
Hernandez escaped a red card despite Jude Bellingham & Co clearly feeling a clear goalscoring opportunity was denied.
Kane once more stepped up but this time blazed over as England were cruelly dumped out with France progressing to play Morocco.
Harry Kane misses from the penalty spotCredit: Reuters More

JORDAN PICKFORD ushered away a camera operator as they tried to film Harry Kane’s penalty agony.The England captain missed a late spot-kick to equalise in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against France.
Jordan Pickford ushered away a camera operator who was filming Harry Kane’s agony
Kane was devastated after missing a penalty in England’s defeat to France
It saw the defending champs cling on for a 2-1 win, setting up a semi-final against Morocco.
And devastated England players, including Kane, were overcome with emotion at the final whistle.
One camera operator decided to get a close-up of skipper Kane, who scored a penalty earlier on, as he leaned on his haunches with his head in his hands.
But teammate Pickford was having none of it.
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The goalkeeper angrily span around when he realised what was going on.
And he forced the camera operator to walk away from Kane with a wave of his hands while saying: “A bit of respect, please.”
Pickford himself came under the spotlight earlier in the game.
That’s after conceding a long-range shot from Aurelien Tchouameni after just 17 minutes.
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It prompted no-nonsense pundit Roy Keane to criticise Pickford’s efforts between the sticks.
He said: “Brilliant strike, keeper could he do better? Yeah, I think so.”
But fans were divided over Keane’s analysis of Pickford.
One said: “Agree with Keane, Pickford could do better. Could move his feet quicker and get across.”
Another quipped: “I just know Roy Keane is fuming at Jordan Pickford not saving that.
“And he’d be right, because Pickford should be saving that.”
One countered: “Let’s see Roy do better.”
Another added: “How’s keane blaming pickford for that? This guy is miserable.” More

ENGLAND fans were left in stitches after spotting Steve McClaren’s doppelganger in the stands during the 2022 World Cup quarter-final clash with France.The Three Lions suffered another World Cup heartbreak as they were eliminated from the competition after losing 2-1 to the defending world champions at the Al Bayt Stadium.

Steve McClaren’s lookalike was spotted in the crowd during England’s clash with FranceCredit: Rex
The Tricolores opened the scoring with a long-range stunner by Aurelien Tchouameni on 17 minutes before Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot after 54 minutes.
The reigning world champions regained the lead in the 78th minute as Olivier Giroud extended his scoring record to 53 goals.
Tottenham superstar Kane had the chance to equalise with another spot-kick but sent the ball way over the crossbar.
However, England fans still found a reason to lift their spirits as they spotted former Three Lions manager McClaren’s lookalike for the second time after the Last-16 clash with Senegal.
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The fan was pictured going wild with the rest of the crowd while Gareth Southgate’s men pushed for a second goal that would have sent the game to extra-time.
And he held the same World Cup trophy replica he had during the 3-0 victory over Senegal.
One fan tweeted: “That Steve McClaren!”
Another posted: “He’s been on a few times now, I think he looks like Steve McLaren’s long lost brother.”
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A third wrote: “STEVE MCLAREN GOING MENTAL IN THE CROWD.”
This one said: “Melted, Steve McLaren is in the crowd.”
And that one tweeted: “There’s f*****g Steve McClaren again.”
Manchester United assistant coach McClaren infamously took over as England boss from Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006.
But the former Newcastle manager was sacked within a year after failing to qualify for Euro 2008. More

ENGLAND fans were left raging after VAR failed to intervene to check a potential foul on Bukayo Saka in the build-up to France’s opener goal.Aurelien Tchouameni broke the deadlock against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in the World Cup quarter-final after just 17 minutes in their eventual 2-1 victory.
Bukayo Saka appeared to be fouled by Dayot Upamecano in the build-up to France’s openerCredit: Getty
Aurelien Tchouameni went on to fire the French into the leadCredit: Getty

The midfielder unleashed a beautiful strike from 25 yards that went through the legs of Jude Bellingham, meaning Jordan Pickford only saw it very late as he failed to keep it out.
England were on the attack when Arsenal attacker Saka was clattered by Dayot Upamecano.
No foul was given and France quickly broke as the Three Lions scrambled to get back, but ultimately Tchouameni’s strike proved too good to be stopped.
Further VAR frustration followed when Harry Kane was denied a penalty moments afterwards, but it was the decision not to rule out France’s goal that had most supporters up in arms.
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One Tweeted: “What a bull***t France goal.. coming from a foul against Saka that was not given. Absolute joke.”
Another said: “Clear foul on saka, what a joke.”
And even the much-loved pundit Chris Kamara fumed: “Foul not given on Saka but what a strike. Good game to win now.”
As tensions mounted, another wrote: “Foul on Saka for the French goal & a 100% penalty on Kane. This is a scandal.”
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And England legend Gary Lineker commented: “One of these days, just once, we might get a decision in our favour.”
He then added later: “One hundred percent foul on Saka. One hundred percent penalty on Kane.”
ITV pundit Gary Neville said at half time: “It’s not excuses. It’s a simple decision. He just kicks his leg away and I’m not sure why it’s not a foul.
“He’s nibbling and nibbling and it should have been a free-kick.”
Roy Keane agreed and said: “It should be a foul.”

The match was being shown live on ITV, and former Premier League ref Peter Walton said on their coverage that he did not believe it was a foul and stated that the 21-year-old had gone down too easily.”
But fortunately for England the referee did see sense moments after the restart when Saka was sent tumbling in the area by Tchouameni.
And Kane kept his cool after a lengthy delay to fire the Three Lions level.
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Olivier Giroud later headed England in front again but England were awarded ANOTHER penalty when Mason Mount was sent tumbling by Theo Hernandez.
But this time Kane blazed high over the bar and was left devastated as the Three Lions crashed out of the tournament. More