World Cup

FANS were left in disbelief as Achraf Hakimi dumped Spain out of the World Cup with an outrageous Panenka penalty.The Morocco star stepped up to take a crunch spot-kick for his country in today’s World Cup last-16 tie.
Achraf Hakimi sent Morocco to their first World Cup quarter-final with a winning Panenka penaltyCredit: Getty
Hakimi performed a hilarious penguin celebration as he dumped Spain out of the tournamentCredit: AP
Hakimi, who was born in Spain but chose to play for his parents’ nation, confidently slotted home to send Morocco to their first-ever quarter-finals.
And he even celebrated with an incredible ‘penguin’ dance before being mobbed by teammates.
Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe was the first to congratulate Hakimi, posting emojis of a penguin and a crown on Twitter.
Piers Morgan then hailed the right-back’s calmness on the big stage, adding: “To pull a panenka at THAT moment, under THAT pressure… wow… coolest dude in world football.”
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And football fans were equally gracious as they praised Hakimi’s stunning piece of skill.
One declared: “He has got nerves of steel! Man just did a panenka to win it for them!”
Another said: “Hakimi dumping out the country of his birth, imagine that pressure and responsibility.”
One noted: “Can’t get better than this honestly.”
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Another added: “Legendary stuff, GOATed.”
Former England star Joe Cole was full of praise for Hakimi afterwards, saying on ITV: “To do that, he’s show there, he’s just gone wallop, sat him down and said ‘we’re going to the quarters’.”
Cole added: “It’s a real honour and privilege to be here in front of all these Morocco fans and the emotion is palpable.
“This is why we love football. I said before the shootout, they were heroes whatever happened, but football is about moments.
“I’ve never taken a penalty, certainly not at this level. Unbelievable. I just can’t believe this, my eyes keep getting drawn towards the fans and the party going on.
“I don’t know when it’s going to stop tonight.” More

NO Cristiano Ronaldo? No problem, as his 21-year-old replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in Portugal’s 6-1 World Cup knockout win over Switzerland.The 819 career-goal man, 37, was dropped for Portugal’s World Cup round of 16 tie against the Swiss after enduring a torrid group stage campaign.

Ramos found the back of the net from a tight angleCredit: Reuters
The 21-year-old replaced the sulking veteranCredit: PA
Ronaldo celebrated the goal with his Portugal team-matesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Ronaldo netted just one goal, and it came from the penalty spot in the 3-2 win over Ghana.
He then tried to claim Bruno Fernandes’ opener in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.
And in Portugal’s final group game, Ronaldo played a part in South Korea’s equaliser, turning his back while defending a corner, which then fell to Kim Young-gwon.
Ronaldo was pulled off early in the second half and replaced by Andre Silva, which saw the five-time Ballon d’Or winner start to sulk – resulting in Euro 2016-winning boss Fernando Santos dropping him.
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He was replaced by Benfica ace Ramos and it took the young forward just 17 minutes into the game to find the back of the net in his first World Cup start.
Ramos was found by Joao Felix and he managed to sneak a powerful effort in at Switzerland’s near post.
Ronaldo did make sure to run to the corner flag to celebrate with Ramos and Co, though.
And to rub salt into the wounds further, Ramos has now scored a World Cup knockout goal BEFORE five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
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Ramos scored three from five shots on target
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Ronaldo hasn’t managed to find the back of the net in 514 minutes of World Cup knockout football.
Veteran Pepe, 39, took up the captain’s armband and also got on the scoresheet in Ronaldo’s absence to send Portugal in at half-time with a two-goal lead.
Portugal came out for the second half swinging for the fences and Ramos got his second of the night and Raphael Guerreiro added a fourth before Manuel Akanji pulled one back for Switzerland.
Ramos then completed his hat-trick with a clever dink into the back of the net and was replaced by Ronaldo in the 72nd minute.
Rafael Leao then pushed Ronaldo further down the pecking order, scoring Portugal’s sixth in added-time.
A quarter-final date with Morocco awaits.
Ramos completed his hat-trick with a clever dinkCredit: AP
Ramos has booked a starting spot for the quarter-final against MoroccoCredit: AP
Ramos was clinical in the final third More

GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ was seen smiling in the stands during Portugal’s World Cup clash with Switzerland – despite her partner Cristiano Ronaldo being dropped from the Portugal team.She was seen in the Lusali Stadium wearing a black dress and jacket while holding a luxury handbag.
Georgina Rodriguez came to support Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal took on SwitzerlandCredit: PA
But Georgina did not see Ronaldo from the start as he was on the benchCredit: EPA
Georgina will be hoping her partner comes on or it could be a wasted trip for the ArgentineCredit: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo looked forlorn amongst the subsCredit: Getty
Georgina had a shock when she arrived at the stadium as Ronaldo was named on the substitutes bench after he was replaced in the team by Goncalo Ramos for the last-16 World Cup clash with Switzerland.
It comes after Ronaldo’s falling out with manager Fernando Santos.
The boss subbed him off against South Korea and the 37-year-old appeared to sulk muttering under his breath.
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Santos revealed that he was unhappy with the 194-cap star saying: “Yes, I didn’t like it, not at all. I didn’t like it. I really didn’t like it.”
Ronaldo has netted just once at the World Cup so far, converting a controversially won penalty in the 3-2 victory over Ghana.
He believed he had scored another but Fifa awarded the goal against Uruguay to Bruno Fernandes as they deemed that Ronaldo had not touched it.

The former Manchester United man continues to make the headlines since his explosive interview with Piers Morgan that led to him departing Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is currently without a club but has been heavily linked with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
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Meanwhile, his long-term girlfriend Georgina has been enjoying the sun in Qatar.
The 28-year-old relaxed on the beach before taking their children to the stadium for the previous game against South Korea.
Prior to the big match tonight versus the Swiss, she posed for photos in the dessert and Ronaldo met up his partner a couple of days ago as Georgina posted snaps of them cuddling.
Georgina Rodriguez spent some time in the desert in QatarCredit: Instagram @georginagio
She posed in stylish sunglassesCredit: Instagram @georginagio
The model attended Portugal’s defeat to South KoreaCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
Georgina Rodriguez headed to the beach in QatarCredit: Instagram / @georginagio More

GARY NEVILLE had the last laugh as Spain crashed out of the World Cup.The 2010 champions were unable to break down Morocco in 120 minutes of football.
Spain were dumped out of the World Cup on penalties against MoroccoCredit: Reuters
Gary Neville said before the tournament the Spanish team “lacks goals”Credit: ITV
They had an utter nightmare in the shootout as they missed all three of their efforts to be sent packing by the Atlas Lions.
And the performance ensured Neville was belatedly vindicated for his pre-tournament predictions.
The Manchester United legend boldly declared Spain’s team “have no goals in them” before their Qatar 2022 opener against Costa Rica.
He was left a little red-faced, though, as Luis Enrique’s men smashed seven goals past their helpless opponents.
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Afterwards, Neville doubled down on his claim and said: “We can’t just measure Spain at all off that.
“I think we will be proved right!”
And the stats in the goalless draw with Morocco before the shootout exit backed Neville up.
Spain, who scored once against Germany and then one past Japan, managed 13 shots against Morocco and racked up a simply staggering 1,019 passes – Rodri got 206 on his own.
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But even with eight corners and 77 per cent of the ball, Spain mustered a meagre one shot on target and failed to threaten Yassine Bounou’s goal.
Late sub Pablo Sarabia had a glorious chance to win the last-16 clash in injury time of extra-time.
But his side-foot volley shaved the far post – his next touch also hit the upright as he missed his penalty.
Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets both saw their efforts saved by Bounou before Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi kept his cool to dink a delicious Panenka down the middle and send Morocco through.

And fans on Twitter were quick to laud Neville for his expert analysis.
One said: “Remember when Gary Neville said that Spain lacked firepower and everyone laughed at him.”
Another wrote: “So turns out Gary Neville was spot on about Spain and a lack of goals… even from 12 yards!”
And a third added: “It’s actually scary how accurate Gary Neville was in saying Spain has no goals.”

Pablo Sarabia could not hit the target with his penalty from 12 yardsCredit: AP More

ENGLAND star Bukayo Saka has been left in stitches after testing his team-mates’ spelling skills.The Arsenal ace uploaded a number of TikToks called “Saka’s Spelling School” where he quizzed Declan Rice, James Maddison and Jack Grealish.
Bukayo Saka is a popular member of the England teamCredit: PA
James Maddison failed to pass Bukayo Saka’s examCredit: Tiktok
Declan Rice also had his English skills tested by Bukayo SakaCredit: Tiktok
Maddison was first up with Saka asking him to spell the word ‘aesthetic’.
The Leicester midfielder, who is yet to play at the World Cup, confidently answered and smiled but got the ‘H’ in the wrong place to Saka’s delight as he shouted “wrong”.
The man with three World Cup goals at the tournament so far then chased down Jack Grealish for a question.
He was tasked with spelling ‘rhythm’ but he also got it incorrect putting the ‘M’ in the middle rather than at the end.
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Saka reacted by bursting into laughter again.
The spelling test was then taken to the dinner table as Saka sat down with Declan Rice and Mason Mount.
Rice was given ‘pronunciation’ to spell but he got just six letters in before losing track of where he was but he had already got it wrong -to Mount and Saka’s amusement.

The West Ham captain saw the funny side commenting on the video saying: “Didn’t even get a chance to redeem myself.”
Saka is perhaps the smartest player in the Three Lions squad having achieved outstanding grades at school six months before playing for the Arsenal first team.
The top of the class student completed his GCSE’s in 2018 getting four A*s and three As at Greenford High School in Ealing.
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His former teacher Mark Harvey told talkSPORT: “He was a model student and academically sound across the board. He was very, very good at PE, a naturally talented sportsman.”
Saka will need all his brain power on the pitch to beat France in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday night.
After his wrong answer in spelling school, Maddison joked that he would let his sister date Saka because “he’s just such a nice kid” as he praised his character and personality.
It wasn’t the same answer for Grealish, Maddison laughed: “If I had a family member and they told me ‘I’m going on a date with Jack Grealish’, I’d be like ‘nah you’re not’.” More