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      Georgina Rodriguez slams Portugal boss for benching Cristiano Ronaldo in damning statement after World Cup KO

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      GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ slammed Fernando Santos for benching Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal crashed out of the World Cup.Ronaldo started on the bench for the second game running as Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco.
      Georgina Rodriguez slammed Portugal boss Fernando Santos after the matchCredit: AFP
      The model was sterned faced as she watched on from the standsCredit: EPA
      Georgina criticised Santos for dropping Ronaldo against SwitzerlandCredit: Reuters
      Ronaldo came on in the second half but could not prevent Portugal’s defeatCredit: Reuters
      The superstar came on early in the second half but could not make a difference and broke down in tears at the end of the match.
      Georgina sent a message to Ronaldo on social media and aimed a dig at Santos for failing to play his “most powerful weapon”.
      She wrote on Instagram: “Today your friend and coach made a bad decision. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect.
      “The same as when you got into the game, he saw how everything changed, but it was too late.
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      “The best player in the world, his most powerful weapon, cannot be underestimated.
      “You can’t stand up for someone who doesn’t deserve it either. Life gives us lessons.
      “Today we have not lost, we have learned.”
      Georgina also showed support for Ronaldo by watching on from the stands at The Al Thumama Stadium.
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      The Spaniard also criticised Santos for dropping Ronaldo in the previous round against Switzerland despite Portugal’s 6-1 win.
      The 28-year-old model wrote: “Congratulations Portugal.
      “While the 11 players sang the anthem all the goals placed on you.
      “What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world during the 90 minutes.
      “The fans have not stopped claiming you and shouting your name.” More

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      England vs France World Cup quarter-final stopped in FIRST MINUTE as Harry Maguire boots flat ball out of play

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup quarter-final against France had to be halted after a matter of moments… due to a flat ball. Players almost immediately complained of a flat ball, causing officials to provide a new one with not even a minute played.
      Antoine Griezmann of France kicks offCredit: Getty
      England centre-half Harry Maguire was the one to knock the ball out of play to request a new one.
      The game resumed and the focus was back on the last eight match, with a place in the semis against Morocco awaiting the winner.
      It turned out to be a thrilling game, with Aurelien Tchouameni opening the score with a stunner.
      England skipper Harry Kane later levelled from the penalty spot after Bukayo Saka was brought down in the box.
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      Ex-Arsenal and England striker Olivier Giroud would go on to put France back ahead, but the drama did not stop there.
      Mason Mount won England a second penalty after being shoved in the box by Theo Hernandez, who escaped a red card.
      But England captain Kane would blaze over the bar, leaving the Three Lions dumped out of the tournament.
      Jordan Henderson told ITV: “We know how many penalties Harry has scored for us, how many goals he has contributed to even get us here.
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      “He will be stronger for this in the future. He is a world-class striker and our captain, he will bounce back.”
      He added: “We felt good, the performances were really good, the focus and hunger has been really good.

      “But you have to give credit to France who are a good team. I still feel it was there for us to win tonight.”
      Gareth Southgate consoles Harry KaneCredit: Reuters More

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      Morocco star Jawad El Yamiq KISSES Pepe on the head after he misses shot in their stunning World Cup win over Portugal

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      MOROCCAN star Jawad El Yamiq cheekily KISSED rival Pepe’s head after he missed a late effort in their shock win over Portugal.The Atlas Lions made history on Saturday by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
      A cheeky Moroccan kissed Pepe on the head after the Portugal ace missed a late chance

      Youssef En-Nesyri leaped high to beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa with a stunning first half header to seal the incredible victory.
      Walid Cheddira received a second yellow in the third of eight minutes of additional time to leave Morocco up against it as Portugal desperately pressed for an equaliser.
      Veteran defender Pepe, 39, came close with a chance at the death but his header missed – leading to the 30-year-old Moroccan centre-half….. consoling him by planting a kiss on his head.
      After witnessing the smooch, one fan tweeted: “This missed opportunity by Pepe and the kiss to the head is straight up disrespectful.”
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      Another wrote: “No way Morocco’s player kissed Pepe’s head after his 97th minute miss LMAOOO.”
      While a fellow viewer commented: “Top s***housery! Kisses Pepe on the head.”
      The final whistle was met by wild scenes of celebration from the Moroccans.
      But Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears as he trudged off the field in what is most-likely his last-ever World Cup game.
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      Morocco now know that they will face the winner of England’s clash with France in Wednesday’s semi-final.
      But Pepe was furious afterwards that Fifa had appointed Argentinian referee Facundo Tello to officiate the game less than 24 hours after the whistleblower’s home nation had secured their place in the semis.
      He said: “We conceded a goal that we didn’t see coming. But what I’ve got to say might come as a bit of a shock but I’m going to have to say it anyway.
      “It’s unacceptable that an Argentinian referee was taking charge of our game. They should just give Argentina the title.
      “I’m not saying that he was biased towards them but what was that all about in the second half?
      “Their goalkeeper spent most of it on the ground. They only added on eight minutes. Is that referee for real? Eight minutes?” More

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      Morocco vs Portugal LIVE SCORE: Stream FREE, TV channel – En Nesyri heads Morocco into stunning lead, Ronaldo BENCHED

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      MOROCCO are leading Portugal 1-0 in their World Cup quarter-final.Cristiano Ronaldo has been benched again, and is watching on from the subs’ bench.
      The ex-Manchester United star had to watch from the bench as his team-mates thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in the last-16, with his replacement Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick.
      But it is Portugal who are behind at half-time, with Youssef En-Nesyri giving his side the lead, heading past Diogo Costa.

      Kick-off: 3pm UK time
      TV channel: ITV1
      Live stream: ITV X
      Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, El Yamiq, Saiss, Attiat- Allah, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal.
      Portugal XI: Diogo Costa, Dalot, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Guerreiro, Neves, Otávio, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramo

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      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
      Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal
      47, If anything the whistles from the Morocco fans are even louder in this second half.
      This is a big test for Portugal.
      Second half: Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal
      46, We’re back underway here at Al-Thumuma Stadium.
      Can Morocco hold on or will Portugal find a way back into it?
      Let’s find out!
      Inside the stadium
      SunSport’s Oscar Paul in Qatar:
      Yousseff En-Nesyri’s second goal of the World Cup is the difference here at a tense, loud and bouncing Al Thumama Stadium.It was a decent cross from left-back Yahia Attiyat Allah and a good header by the Sevilla striker – but what on earth was Portugal keeper Diogo Costa doing?He came off his line, indicating he was going to punch it clear, but was too weak and got nowhere near it as En-Nesyri nodded home.The game needed a goal, and it’s been absolute chaos ever since the 42nd-minute opener.Bruno Fernandes almost levelled up straight away but saw an audacious strike from a ridiculous angle cannon off the bar.And then right on the stroke of half time, Morocco broke at breakneck speed only for Attiyat Allah to lose all composure and spoon wide from a golden position.
      Oscar Paul SunSport
      Match stats
      Here’s the match stats from that first half.

      Disappointing Portugal
      Morocco have nullified Portugal’s front three.
      Goncalo Ramos has barely had a touch out there.
      If only Portugal had someone to come off the bench…
      He couldn’t could he?
      Half-Time: Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal
      Morocco lead at the break!
      Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal
      45+2, Attiyat Allah misses the chance to double Morocco’s lead just before half time.
      Morocco break forward with a three-on-three counterattack and ball eventually falls to the left back who slices an effort wide when he had time to set himself.
      Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal
      45, We’re going to play two additional minutes at the end of this half.
      The camera cuts to a shell-shocked looking Cristiano Ronaldo on the Portugal bench.
      GOAL! Morocco 1 – 0 Portugal

      42, Morocco take the lead!
      It’s a goal that the Portugal goalkeeper will not want to see again.
      He comes out to claim Attiyatt Allah’s looping cross from the left but is beaten to the ball by a magnificent leap from En Nesyri who heads into the unguarded goal.

      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      39, Joao Felix sees a shot fly over the crossbar.
      Neither side have their shooting boots on today it seems.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      37, Morocco are growing into this game.
      All of a sudden they look comfortable in possession.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      35, The Portuguese defenders have been very wary to commit themselves when Boufal has the ball on the left wing.
      The former Southampton man drops his shoulder and sends an effort towards goal but it’s straight at Diogo Costa.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      35, Amallah sweeps the ball miles over the crossbar having been found by Attiat Allah’s cutback from the left.
      Good play there by Morocco.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      33, Portugal seem to have taken a leaf out of the Netherlands’ book yesterday and are just pumping the ball up to the big man up front.
      Seems a bit early to resort to those tactics – not that the Moroccan defenders have minded too much.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      30, So close from Joao Felix!
      His shot from the edge of the box gets a big deflection and lands on the roof of the net.
      Bounou had no chance of stopping it after he had thrown himself in the initial direction of Felix’s shot.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      27, Every Portugal touch is being met with whistles from Morocco’s sizeable travelling support at the stadium.
      It feels like this game is being played Casablanca.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      26, A decent chance for En-Nesyri as he heads Ziyech’s cross well wide of the Portugal goal.
      En-Nesyri got across his marker but couldn’t direct his header on target.
      If there’s going to be a goal in this game it seems as though it’ll come from a set piece.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      23, Oof! Bit of a collision between Bounou and Bruno Fernandes.
      The goalkeeper did well to claim the ball but was clattered into by the Portuguese midfielder.
      Bit of afters between Fernandes and some of the Moroccan defenders but all’s well that ends well.

      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      21, Morocco look quite insightful when they do venture forwards.
      They’ve got plenty of players who are good at progressing the ball up to the edge of the penalty area but nobody who you’d bet your house on finishing a chance.
      I write this as another dangerous looking Ziyech cross falls safely into the arms of Diogo Costa without a single Moroccan attacker challenging to get on the end of it.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      18, Ziyech cuts inside and shoots but it rolls harmlessly wide of Diogo Costa’s goal.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      16, This already feels like a game that could be decided late on by one of the substitutes…

      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      13, Another free kick from wide on the right sees Raphael Guerreiro have a goal-bound volley well-blocked by a Moroccan defender.
      Portugal are finding some joy with set pieces in the early stages here.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      12, Portugal are just popping the ball about, making sure that everyone gets a nice early touch in.
      Morocco are just watching them do it and only deciding to press once the ball progresses beyond the halfway line.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      9, There are a number of empty seats inside the stadium and reports that some ticketless fans have been trying to gain entry.
      Morocco 0 – 0 Portugal
      6, Morocco get forward for the first time.
      Attiat Allah gallops forward down the left wing and earns a corner for his side.
      The resulting corner is headed over by En-Nesyri when he should perhaps have done better.
      Load more entries… More

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      ‘I’m psychologically destroyed’ – Distraught Neymar reveals he was paralysed with tears after Brazil’s World Cup exit

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      NEYMAR has revealed that he was “physically distraught” and “paralysed for 10 minutes” after Brazil’s World Cup exit.The PSG star was left in tears as his World Cup dream ended following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Croatia.
      Neymar was left in tears as his World Cup dream was endedCredit: Rex
      Neymar’s extra-time goal looked to have put the Samba Boys into the semi-finals and on course to end 20-years of hurt.
      But Bruno Petkovic’s 116th minute strike sent the game to penalties and the 2018 finalists held their nerve after Rodrigo and Marquinhos missed.
      As a result, Neymar didn’t even end up taking a penalty, with the ex-Barcelona man in line to take Brazil’s fifth.
      The 30-year-old has already revealed that he might never play in the World Cup again and has now explained how he felt after the game.
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      On Instagram he said: “Psychologically, this was certainly the defeat that hurt the most, which made me paralyzed for 10 minutes and then I burst into tears nonstop.

      “It’s going to hurt for a loooong time, unfortunately.
      “We fought until the end, and I’m proud of my teammates because there was no lack of commitment or dedication.
      “This group deserved it, we deserved it, BRAZIL deserved it… But that was not God’s will! It was worth every sacrifice to feel the affection of each one on the field.
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      “Thank you all for your support with our selection. Unfortunately it didn’t work… it’s going to hurt for a long, long time.
      “Thank you for everything my GOD, you gave me everything and I can’t complain about anything.
      “Just thank you for taking care of me. All honour and all glory is always for you, regardless of the circumstances.”
      Neymar couldn’t prevent Brazil losing to Croatia on penalties More

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      Neymar slams former agent in X-rated post after he claims Brazil boss Tite ‘spent years deceiving people’

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      NEYMAR slammed his former agent in an X-rated blast as he leaped to the defence of outgoing Brazil boss Tite.The Samba Boys suffered a shock World Cup exit on penalties to Croatia yesterday, with Neymar not even taking a spot-kick.
      Neymar has leaped to the defence of ex-Brazil boss TiteCredit: EPA
      And despite being tipped as favourites to win in Qatar, Brazil are heading home after a fourth quarter-final defeat in their last five tournaments.
      Gaffer Tite announced his resignation immediately after the loss, ending his six-year spell in charge.
      And many in Brazil have been laying into the outgoing manager, including Neymar’s former agent Wagner Ribeiro.
      He posted a brutal message online, saying: “This gentleman was never a football coach. He spent years deceiving the people losing two cups.
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      “He only has to be the PRAYER of the alumni class.”
      But this prompted a furious response from Neymar, 30, who had shined as a No10 in Tite’s system.
      The Paris Saint-Germain ace boomed: “Don’t talk s**t Wagner!”
      It now remains to be seen if Neymar continues playing for Brazil.
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      He managed to equal Pele’s official international goal record of 77 strikes last night.
      But afterwards, Neymar hinted the pain of defeat was so strong that he may not play for Brazil again.
      Neymar said: “Honestly, I do not know. I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I’m not thinking straight.
      “To say that this is the end would be rushing myself, but I don’t guarantee anything either. Let’s see what happens going forward.
      “I want to take this time to think about it, think about what I want for myself. I will not close the door to playing with Brazil, nor do I say 100 per cent that I’ll come back.
      “I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.” More

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      Stony-faced Georgina Rodriguez watches Portugal vs Morocco from stands as Cristiano Ronaldo is dropped AGAIN

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      GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ was in attendance to watch Cristiano Ronaldo against Morocco – but the superstar was named on the bench.Ronaldo was dropped from the Portugal side to face Switzerland in the last-16 following a bust-up with manager Fernando Santos.
      Georgina Rodriguez did not look impressed after Cristiano Ronaldo was named on the bench again
      Georgina criticised Fernando Santos for dropping RonaldoCredit: AFP
      Ronaldo has started consecutive Portugal games on the benchCredit: Getty
      The striker reacted badly to being substituted against South Korea and Santos was not happy with his behaviour.
      Ronaldo’s replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick as Portugal beat Switzerland 6-1, though CR7 did play a cameo role.
      But he started on the bench against Morocco – and Georgina was not amused.
      She had a stern look as she watched on from the stands waving a Portugal flag.
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      Georgina also went to Portugal vs Switzerland and looked glamorous wearing black dress and jacket while holding a luxury handbag.
      The Spaniard managed a smile on that occasion but was a little irritated after the match as she showed support for Ronaldo.
      Georgina said: “Congratulations Portugal.
      “While the 11 players sang the anthem all the goals placed on you.
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      “What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world during the 90 minutes.
      “The fans have not stopped claiming you and shouting your name.”
      She then sarcastically referred to Santos’ relationship with Ronaldo, adding: “I hope that God and your dear friend Fernando continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night.” More

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      Who is Morocco vs Portugal referee Facundo Tello at World Cup 2022?

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      FACUNDO TELLO is no stranger to dishing out yellow and red cards.And the experienced Argentinian referee is in charge for Morocco’s quarter-final clash against Portugal.
      Facundo Tello is one of 39 referees officiating at Qatar and is not afraid of dishing out red cardsCredit: AFP
      Argentina’s Facundo Tello makes up a group of six South American officials travelling to the Middle East and is in charge as the Swiss take on the Indomitable Lions.
      Here is some more information on the Argentine’s career.
      Who is Facundo Tello?
      Facundo Tello was born in the Buenos Aires Province in 1982.
      Tello was quick to gain prominence in his homeland, officiating in the Primera Division after just four games in Argentina’s second tier.
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      He was asked to officiate the first-ever Superclassic in 2018, returning the same year to referee the final, defining Sarmiento’s promotion to the Primera Division.
      In 2019, the 40-year-old gained recognition on the international stage, joining FIFA’s refereeing list.
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      Tello was summoned to Chile where he was appointed the fourth official at the South American Under-20 Championship.
      A call-up to the 2021 Arab Cup followed, where he took charge of a match between Jordan and Morocco.
      He became infamous in Argentina for giving out 10 red cards during the Champions Trophy final where Racing Club played Boca Juniors and there was a massive melee.

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