World Cup

LIVERPOOL are set for a boost as Jude Bellingham is reportedly set to tell Borussia Dortmund he wants to quit the club and switch to Merseyside.The England midfielder is starring at the World Cup in Qatar and his performances have increased his already high profile.
Jude Bellingham is currently in Qatar starring for England at the World CupCredit: AFP
Teams had already been showing interest in the Englishman since the summer.
However so far, he had stayed put in the Bundesliga and he has become one of the hottest prospects in Europe.
The midfielder is one of Dortmund’s crucial players and has even captained the team on occasion.
But according to a recent report by SPORT BLID, he is set to tell the club that he wants to quit the club in order to facilitate a move after the World Cup.
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Bellingham’s father Mark, mother Denise and adviser Mark Bennett are the main negotiators representing him.
It is believed that they have a “strong desire” for him to move to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The German manager sees Bellingham as key to the future of the team’s midfield with Jordan Henderson, 32, James Milner, 36, and Thiago, 31, entering into their final years.
They have been boosted after Bellingham and Henderson forged a friendship during the World Cup tournament.
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The report has suggested that Dortmund will demand £130 million for their prized asset.
Director of the club’s US owner Fenway Sports Group, Mike Gordon, has already agreed to give the club £86m towards the transfer.
Even though Klopp has a good relationship with BVB Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke it seems unlikely that they will give him a near £50m discount.
However, as FSG are looking to sell the club then a new investor could provide the rest of the money required.
The Reds will need to work hard if they are to win the race for Bellingham as Manchester City, PSG, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also in the hunt for him. More

BRIGHTON midfielder Alexis Mac Allister believes a spot of family down-time will prove Argentina’s secret World Cup weapon.Coach Lionel Scaloni gave his players two free days to spend with their loved ones after the last 16 squeak past Australia.
Lionel Messi is back refreshed as Argentina prepare to meet HollandCredit: Reuters
Alexis Mac Allister believes Argentina desperately needed their two days’ offCredit: Getty
Rodrigo De Paul gives Messi a friendly scare during training in DohaCredit: Reuters
That ended a hectic programme of four games in 11 days, starting with the upset defeat by Saudi Arabia.
And after Lionel Messi’s inspirational efforts led the Albiceleste to the last eight once again, Amex schemer Mac Allister suggested Scaloni’s instincts had been exactly what the squad needed.
He said: “Those moments with our families are important to unwind and enjoy the World Cup.
“We really needed that time off, to rest and recover.
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“The match against Australia came pretty close after the final group game but we’ve now had the chance to rest, see our families and unwind. 
“Those couple of days were excellent for us. We’re feeling great. We enjoy it and we are very much united.
“But the squad knows we are facing an important game and that this is the crucial part for everyone.”
Messi is the only survivor from the Argentine team that started the 2014 semi-final shoot-out win over Holland in Brazil.
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Mac Allister was just 15 at the time and recalled: “ remember I watched the match with my family at home. All of them. I enjoyed it. 
“Now I’m here and to be able to play gives me great pride. I’m super excited. I always think of my pathway, and everyone around me. It gives me enormous pride.”
Some 40,000-plus Argentine fans are expected to flood the Lusail Iconic Stadium this evening and Scaloni promised: “Our people should enjoy the game. 
“We will break our backs for our country and to represent them as best we can. 
“This is football. It’s sport and I really hope we can be happy. 
“But even if it isn’t a positive result, I hope the people can identify with these players, with how much they are giving for their country.”
Paulo Dybala and Enzo Fernandez are hoping to knock out the DutchCredit: Reuters
Messi will take centre stage in the World Cup quarter-finals on FridayCredit: Reuters More

GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ sported close to £1.6MILLION worth of jewellery as she showed off her incredible collection to fans.The 28-year-old model is currently in Qatar cheering on partner Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in World Cup action for Portugal.
Georgina Rodriguez showed off her amazing jewellery collectionCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
Georgina wore a selection of rings, bracelets and earringsCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
Georgina uploaded the pictures to her 40million Instagram followersCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
She posted pictures of herself showing off her amazing collection of rings and bracelets to her 40.3m Instagram followers.
And Georgina wore a whopping £1,595,000 worth of accessories, according to Zack Stone, Managing Director of jewellers Steven Stone.
Her outfit included a stunning £250,000 ruby necklace, a matching £150k bracelet, and a selection of rings with a combined value of £50k.
Another ruby cluster ring is thought to be worth £80k, plus two diamond line bracelets at a cool £25k-a-pop.
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Her eye-catching 18 carat white gold diamond earrings are also worth approximately 15k.
On top of that her 18 carat white gold Rolex GMT master II, set with diamonds, retails for a whopping £400k.
She also sported a £600k Cartier diamond engagement ring which includes a large sapphire and is encrusted with diamonds.
Although Ronaldo and Georgina are yet to officially announce their engagement
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Georgina took in a Valentino exhibition earlier this week in Doha, before heading to Portugal’s 6-1 last-16 win over Switzerland on Wednesday.
Not before she went for a walk in the desert in the Qatar sun.
But long-term partner Ronaldo was dropped for the game after sulking when he was substituted against South Korea in the group stages.
Despite raging at the decision to snub Ron, Georgina still appears to be enjoying herself in Qatar.
And she will be hoping boyfriend Ronaldo is restored to Portugal’s line up for Saturday’s quarter-final against Morocco.
Although the chances of that are unknown after his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick against Switzerland.
The winners of Morocco vs Portugal will take on the winners of England vs France in the World Cup semi-finals.
Georgina was in the stands to watch Portugal beat Switzerland 6-1Credit: PA
Georgina headed to the game despite Cristiano Ronaldo being dropped to the benchCredit: Instagram / @georginagio More

KYLIAN MBAPPE has trained for the first time, giving a major boost to France ahead of their match with England.The two sides are set to go head-to-head in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening.
Kylian Mbappe has returned to trainingCredit: Reuters
It appears that he will be fit to face EnglandCredit: Reuters
Mbappe has already scored five goals at the World CupCredit: PA
The French star missed training earlier this week, leading to English hopes that he might not be fit for the match.
Mbappe has starred at the tournament so far, having scored five goals and assisted two in his four appearances.
The PSG forward’s performances helped France top their group and beat Poland 3-1 in the round of 16.
England manager Gareth Southgate has been working with his number two Steve Holland on a plan to stop the dangerous forward.
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The Three Lions are hoping that Manchester City defender Kyle Walker will be on his best form in order to nullify the 23-year-old.
Ten years ago Holland managed to come up with a set-up that stopped Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Barcelona.
Messi failed to score in either tie as the Blues progressed to the final in which they went on to win against Bayern Munich.
Holland said: “In 2012, with the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Chelsea, there are a handful of players on the planet that you need to consider special attention to.
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“Messi has been one and probably still is. You’d have to put Mbappe in that category.
“We do need to look at trying to avoid leaving ourselves in situations where he is as devastating, as we’ve all seen.
“I remember a conversation with Jose Mourinho about it when he was with Real Madrid, they were playing Barcelona and had Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Dani Alves would be the right-back for Barcelona and flying forward in attack, Jose would play a ‘soldier’ against him to try to stop him but then you don’t get any threat from your team from the soldier as you’re just stopping somebody, not actually hurting them.
“Then he would try to play Ronaldo against him, one against one, because Alves was fantastic going forwards but maybe not as good defensively.” More

YOUSSOUF FOFANA has “full confidence” Kylian Mbappe can destroy Kyle Walker and England – because no one else has found an answer.Walker has spoken defiantly of combating Mbappe’s pace in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final but Fofana warned: “There are 19 Ligue 1 teams waiting for the solution.”
France frontman Kylian Mbappe has the swagger of a man with pace, form, goals and records all in his favour ahead of taking on Kyle Walker and EnglandCredit: AP
Walker has been called a ‘tank’ by Mbappe for his power and pace once he gets going – with the two key men on collision course this SaturdayCredit: Getty
PSG striker Mbappe is busting records, with five goals in Qatar taking him to nine WC strikes in all.
And many believe his form and finishing make the French favourites to earn a semi-final spot against Portugal or Morocco.
Right-back Walker – England’s only quick defender – is tipped to take the lead role in trying to curtail the 23-year-old’s explosive runs.
Mbappe has labelled the Manchester City star a “tank” and Fofana said: “If he knows how to stop Kylian, good for him.
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“But 19 other teams in Ligue 1, and others in the Champions League, have been waiting for the solution. 
“The truth will come from the pitch. We have full confidence in Kylian.
“He is focused on what the team has to do and what he has to do. I feel he is very calm and determined.”
Walker, though, believes his own concentration, self-belief and past experience against Mbappe make him well-equipped for arguably the toughest one-on-one role in Qatar.
Youssouf Fofana says England right-back Walker will have to do what all PSG’s Ligue 1 rivals have failed to do – stop Kylian MbappeCredit: PA
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The 32-year-old said: “I do understand what I need to do and that’s obviously to stop him. 
“It’s probably easier said than done, but I don’t underestimate myself. I’ve played him before.
“I have to take extra care and give him the respect he deserves – but not too much respect because he’s also playing England and we can cause them problems.” More

ENGLAND won their only previous World Cup with Sir Alf Ramsey’s “wingless wonders” in 1966.But if Gareth Southgate’s side are to repeat that success in Qatar it will be because of the threat they have out wide.
Olivier Giroud could be a key threat in Saturday’s quarter-finalCredit: Getty
Bukayo Saka has starred for England in QatarCredit: Getty
The most stand-out statistic of the first winter World Cup has been the return of old-fashioned wing-play.
Fifa’s statistical study of the opening phase showed an increase of a staggering 83 per cent in the number of goals scored from “open play crosses”.
England continued that theme against Senegal in their last 16 clash, with Jordan Henderson’s opener and Bukayo Saka’s clincher coming after low balls into the danger zone when the defensive line was breached down the left flank.
Indeed, England have been setting that tournament standard since the opening game of their magic carpet ride through the desert.
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Jude Bellingham put them on their way with his header against Iran from Luke Shaw’s centre, before skipper Harry Kane set up Raheem Sterling and Callum Wilson rolled inside for Jack Grealish to score.
Kane then repeated the dose for Phil Foden’s goal in the 3-0 win over Wales, before the two crosses were converted against Senegal.
Quarter-final opponents France have been equally deadly, with Kylian Mbappe scoring three of his five goals from crosses or cut-backs and Olivier Giroud twice converting inviting centres.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global technical development, predicted: “From what we have seen so far, the team with the best wide players will win the tournament.
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“Teams are blocking the centre of the pitch but are more open on the flanks where they think they can risk the consequences.
“But it seems from the group stage that the teams with the best wide players in such a tournament are the ones with the best chance to win.
“It was going to be interesting to see if that continued and it has.”
Jurgen Klinsmann, head of Fifa’s Technical Study Group, added: “If you put in quality crosses it is easier to lose your defender in the box.
“Coaches tend to focus their defensive block in the middle areas of the pitch and it makes it difficult for teams to break through there.
“Those defensive lines have made it difficult to pull the trigger from 20-25 yards but getting the ball wide and making crosses gives the forward players the chance to make the runs and get on the end of them.”
The Three Lions will have to try and keep Kylian Mbappe quietCredit: Getty More