World Cup

SPANISH and Moroccan fans were caught up in crowd carnage as they were trapped in a crush outside their World Cup game. Riot cops were deployed as fans were pushed trapped against a chain link fence before the round of 16 kick off at the Education City Stadium.
Riot cops clashed with Spain and Morocco fans outside the stadiumCredit: Twitter
Security officials were confronted with a large crowdCredit: Twitter
Riot police in armour could be seen pushed back fansCredit: Twitter
Harrowing video shows World Cup fans of both teams stuck on a narrow pathway between two fences.
Riot cops and security guards are seen at the end blocking their way and shoving the supporters back.
Other footage shows a huge crowd as cops in helmets clash with the fans.
Security officials reportedly blamed the crush on fans attempting to enter the stadium without tickets.
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Men, women and children could all be seen stuck in the crowd pressed against the fence in footage shared from the scene.
Police lined up with riot shields as they corralled the fans waiting near the stadium.
Moroccan fans are some of the most numerous of any team left at the world cup.
Many of them live and work in Qatar and are hoping to see their team advance to its first quarter-final.
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Ahead of kickoff on Tuesday, security appeared tighter than at other games.
Rows of riot police were deployed on the ground, drones were seen flying overhead, and cops were seen on horseback.
Marshals at the stadium perimeter shouted “show your tickets please” at approaching fans and guards checked for tickets before letting them through.
A crowd of fans without tickets were waiting beyond the marshals.
“We hope to get in,” said one man, who declined to give his name.
While Morocco, in the last 16 for the first time since 1986, are the underdogs, the support of their vociferous, red-clan fans has been seen as a big asset in the first World Cup hosted by an Arab state.
“Atlas Lions carry hopes of a whole continent,” the Moroccan newspaper Maroc Le Jour declared in a front-page headline.
The match may gain piquancy from the familiarity of the opponents.
The Spanish mainland is visible from Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar and thousands of Moroccans live there for work.
As a colonial power, Spain controlled swathes of northern Morocco as well as the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Rabat sees as its own, and still retains two small North African enclaves at Ceuta and Melilla that Rabat says it should quit.
Diplomatic ties improved this year after Morocco had withdrawn its ambassador to Spain in 2021 in a dispute over Madrid’s handling of medical treatment for a Western Sahara separatist leader.
The Moroccan consulate has asked fans to “show sportsmanship regardless of the result” and to avoid doing anything that could trigger incidents with Spanish fans. 
Riot police lined up outside the stadium before the gameCredit: Reuters

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JAMES MADDISON has revealed the England player he would BAN his sister from dating… and the one he would be happy for her to marry.The Leicester playmaker, 26, is yet to feature for the Three Lions at the World Cup.
James Maddison revealed his ideal brother-in-law and the nightmare man for his sisterCredit: Twitter / @talkSPORT
He was plagued with a knee problem for the opening two games and failed to get any minutes in the subsequent wins over Wales and Senegal.
But that has not hampered Maddison’s spirits as he took to media duties on Tuesday – four days before England’s crunch quarter-final against France.
And he had very contrasting points to make about fellow international team-mates Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish.
When asked which member of the England squad would make the best son-in-law, he told talkSPORT: “The first one who springs to mind is Bukayo Saka. He’s just such a nice kid, man.
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“You just get this relationship with him where he’s such a nice guy to everyone that you build such a good relationship with him.
“If I had a sister or a daughter and they said to me ‘I’m going on a date with Bukayo Saka’, I’d be like ‘enjoy yourself, let him pay, but enjoy yourself’.
“But 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’.”
Saka, 21, has been joined in Qatar by partner Tolami Benson.
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Grealish, 27, has also seen his girlfriend Sasha Attwood fly out for the tournament.
Between them, Saka and Grealish have managed four goals at the World Cup so far, with the Arsenal man bagging three and his Man City counterpart netting one.
Both are in contention to feature against France at the weekend, but have serious competition for their places in the starting line-up.
Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount will all be hoping to land a spot in the XI.
Raheem Sterling could also be involved if he returns to Qatar after being forced to fly back to England following a burglary at his family home.
Sasha Attwood is the current girlfriend of Jack GrealishCredit: Getty
Tolami Benson is Bukayo Saka’s current partnerCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Senegal More

LOUIS VAN GAAL has dismissed Brazil as a “counter-attacking team” after their 4-1 thumping of South Korea last night.The Selecao wowed fans with their amazing goals during a thrilling first 45 minutes against the Koreans.
Louis van Gaal is not overly impressed by the Brazil teamCredit: AFP
Brazil were in sumptuous form against South Korea last nightCredit: AP
But Van Gaal, whose Netherlands side could face Brazil in the semi-finals, was nonplussed.
He said: “I’ve seen them, that’s just a counter team.
“I read in the Dutch media that it was sparkling, but that is just a counter team.
“South Korea has only attacked.”
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Prior to a potential meeting with the “counter-attacking” Brazilians, Van Gaal and Co must take on Argentina on Friday night.
On the prospect of playing against Lionel Messi, Van Gaal said: “He is indeed the most dangerous player who creates the most chances and makes them himself.
“But on the other hand he does not play much with the opponent when they have possession of the ball. That is where our chances lie.”
Under Van Gaal’s stewardship the Dutch lost to Argentina on penalties in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, following a 0-0 draw.
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And the ex-Manchester United manager is desperate to finally avenge that defeat eight years on.
He added: “We still have a score to settle.
“I don’t like to think about it because I thought we would win and then I also exchanged for the win.
“I would like to convince the people at home to just go and watch the game and cheer for us. Then we will derive a lot of support from that.”
ITV pundit Roy Keane was also unhappy with Brazil last night.
But it wasn’t their football that irritated him – more their vibrant celebrations.
The Irishman said: “It’s like watching Strictly. I can’t believe what I’m watching.
“I don’t like this. I think it’s disrespecting the opposition. It’s four [goals] and they’re doing it every time.
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“I don’t mind the first kind of little jig – whatever they’re doing – but they’re still doing it after that and then the manager getting involved with it.
“I’m not happy with it, I don’t think it’s very good at all.”
Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties in the 2014 World Cup semi-finalsCredit: Action Images – Reuters More

LUIS ENRIQUE has slammed critics of his Spain side, claiming the World Cup 2010 winners only dropped their high standards for TEN MINUTES despite recording just one group win.Spain scraped through World Cup Group E on four points.
Enrique has slammed Spain’s criticsCredit: Getty
They destroyed Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening group game, before drawing with 2014 winners Germany.
Spain were expected to beat Japan but lost 2-1, finishing second behind the Asian country and sending Germany packing.
Despite finishing second, Spain have been handed what some consider a more favourable draw.
They face Morocco in the round of 16 on Tuesday, and will avoid World Cup favourites Brazil up until a potential final meet.
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And boss Enrique has slammed Spain’s critics, claiming his team only dropped their standards for TEN MINUTES.
The ex-Barcelona boss said on Monday: “We had ten bad minutes, yes. Ten out of 270. You always look at the bad.
“If I stick with the performance in this World Cup, we are [at a] remarkably high [level] except for 10 minutes.”
Following Spain’s demolition of Costa Rica, the goals dried up.
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Spain appeared to run out of ideas, despite commanding 82 per cent of the ball in the loss to Japan.
Enrique is determined to not change his team’s approach in the knockouts.
He continued: “We are not going to change the idea. But that does not mean that we have to dominate the 90 minutes, because we play against high-level teams, players and coaches.
“We do not play alone. And we play against Morocco, which is a great team.
“We are going to play the same, we are not going to change.”
Morocco have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
The North African country topped a group consisting of 2018 finalists Croatia, Belgium’s golden generation and Canada.
But Enrique isn’t worried about a potential upset.
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Enrique said: “I am zero worried about the result. I am worried that the team will do things well.
“If we do things well, the normal thing is to win.”
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MAYA YOSHIDA fought back the tears after Japan’s heartbreaking elimination from the World Cup.The Samurai Blue were dumped out of Qatar 2022 at the last 16 stage by Croatia on Monday evening.
Japan suffered a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to Croatia on MondayCredit: Rex
Yoshida was one of three Japan players to miss their spot kicksCredit: Getty
The former Southampton defender had to fight back the tears in his post-match interiewCredit: BEIN SPORTS
The Japanese took the 2018 finalists all the way but came up short in the dreaded penalty shootout.
Yoshida was one of three Japan players to miss their spot kicks and was overcome with emotion in a post-match interview.
The former Southampton defender held back the tears as he said: “We did everything that we could do.
“We’re a great time and we showed great spirit in the performances in all of the tournament.
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“Beating Germany and Spain and playing until extra time against the finalists for the previous World Cup.
“I’m very proud of my team and very proud of my team-mates.”
He added: “Even the people in the stadium and the people watching on TV all around the world. I would like to thank you all.
“But it’s very difficult to accept.”
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Despite being heartbroken at his nation’s elimination, Yoshida is immensely proud of the team’s efforts in Qatar.
The Schalke ace said: “After the defeat against Belgium four years ago, we sacrificed a lot for winning this game.
“We spent all the time, four-and-a-half years, for today.
“As I said, that’s why it’s very difficult to accept.
Maya Yoshida is proud of Japan’s efforts at the tournamentCredit: REX
“But at the same time, we are very proud of what we have done. I really enjoyed this tournament.”
Croatia’s reward for beating Japan is a quarter-final clash with tournament favourites Brazil, whom they’ll face on Friday night. More