World Cup

POLISH boss Czeslaw Michniewicz has been getting World Cup advice from Jose Mourinho, Max Allegri, Steven Gerrard and Xavi on how to beat the French.But striker Arkadiusz Milik reckons there’s only one way to stop Kylian Mbappe… with a motorbike.
Poland boss Czeslaw Michniewicz has been seeking advice from managers on how to beat FranceCredit: EPA
He has spoken to former Chelsea manager Jose MourinhoCredit: AP
He also spoke with former Aston Villa manager Steven GerrardCredit: Getty
Michniewicz has been revelling in his ‘Polish Mourinho’ nickname after pulling off a defensive master class to steer his nation through to the last 16 in Qatar.
And he makes absolutely no apologies for his cautious approach ahead of today’s clash with the defending champions at the Al Thumama Stadium. 
He says: “When I hear all the criticism, I can only smile. 
“Because all the teams who were not defensive and let their opponents score easily in the group stage are already back at home and watching on TV.
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“We were good at defending and our reward is a game against the world champions. If we can win against France, we could become the next champions. 
“The comparisons with Mourinho are out of date but I will just tell you that football is all about winning trophies and being successful.
“I have spoken with Mourinho, Allegri, Xavi, Steven Gerrard, Fabio Cannavaro and all the other coaches who have helped to prepare my players so well for this tournament.
“And I hope this is not my last chance to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
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“We always dreamed of leaving the group phase and we don’t care about any opinions of our team.
“The fourth of December in Poland is Barborka, the miner’s national holiday, and we will do our best to celebrate the day with victory against a wonderful opponent.”
But Juventus striker Milik knows just how difficult the task will be against French superstar Mbappe and says: “How do we stop him? With scooters!
“He is one of the best players in the world and he is so fast that it will be difficult to keep up with him without a motorbike.
“So we need to play collectively and have very good co-operation because no-one will be able to stop him on their own.”
But Milik believes that Poland also have an ace up their sleeve in his Juve team-mates Wojciech Szczesny, whose two penalty saves were enough to see them through the group stages on goal difference.
He says: “I am not sure why people are surprised by Wojciech, because it’s not as if he has just started to be a great keeper out here in Qatar.
“He has been showing his value for a very long time and has played for some wonderful clubs.
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“So we all knew what we could expect from him and we’re so happy that he is in such good shape.
“He has helped us a lot to get to this round and I hope he shows his best against France.” More

HOLLAND scored one of the goals of the World Cup so far against the USA as Memphis Depay finished off a breathtaking team move.The Dutch booked their place in the quarter-finals with an accomplished 3-1 victory over the US in Qatar on Saturday.
Memphis Depay finished off a wonderful Holland move to give the Dutch the leadCredit: Reuters

It was a sumptuous team goal that cut through the heart of the USA teamCredit: AP
Depay has now scored 43 goals for HollandCredit: Getty
And Depay’s strike caught the eye as Louis van Gaal’s men showcased the impressive talent throughout their team.
Holland played 20 uninterrupted passes in the lead-up to the Barcelona man’s finish.
That is more than any Dutch World Cup goal since records began way back in 1966.
And football fans were gushing in their praise for Van Gaal’s side as they produced a statement team goal during the last-16 clash.

Reacting on social media, one person said: “Arguably the best team goal we’ll see in #Qatar2022 because this will take something special to beat.
“Right from their own half, Holland worked it beautifully with tidy and timely passes until Depay fires home. Lovely move 👏.”
While former Ireland international David Meyler added: “That’s my favourite goal of the World Cup so far.
“Beautiful football by the Dutch. Lovely one touch passing from back to front and a quality finish from Depay 👏🏼.”
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And another fan said: “What a build up, what a goal. Memphis Depay 😮‍💨.”
Depay has scored 15 goals in 17 appearances for Holland since Van Gaal returned to the national team in August 2021.
He is now second on the list of his country’s all-time top scorers with 43 and is just seven behind record-holder Robin van Persie.
Next up for Holland is a quarter-final clash against either Argentina or Australia on Friday. More

PORTUGAL star Cristiano Ronaldo has refuted suggestions that he swore at coach Fernando Santos after being subbed against South Korea.Ronaldo’s side were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by the Koreans in the World Cup on Friday as both sides progressed to the knockout rounds.
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to be annoyed when he was subbed off by manager Fernando SantosCredit: Getty
However, he has said that he was talking to a South Korean playerCredit: Getty
The former Manchester United attacker was hooked in the 65th minute of the match, and Portuguese media suggested that he used some poor language towards the manager.
However, Ronaldo has since claimed that the comments he made were aimed at a South Korean player.
He was quoted by reporters saying: “What happened was before my substitution, the South Korea player told me to get off quickly.
“I told him to shut up as he doesn’t have that authority. There was no disagreement (with the coach).”
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Coach Santos was asked about the incident and he supported Ronaldo’s comments about the South Korean.
He suggested that the opposition player had been aggressive towards the former Real Madrid man.
Santos said: “I saw the interaction with the Korean player, and I have no doubts about what happened.”
Ronaldo has scored one goal at the World Cup so far as he tries to equal the national record of World Cup goals which is held by Eusebio, who scored nine times in the 1966 tournament.
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The 37-year-old’s single goal of the tournament was record-breaking as he became the first player ever to net in five World Cup campaigns.
But against Korea, Ronaldo was largely ineffectual and was partly at fault for one of the goals his side conceded as the ball deflected off his back for Kim Young-gwon to score. More

JACK GREALISH says all of England’s fab five are desperate to start against Senegal – but the two that do will rally round the three that do not.Gareth Southgate has a serious headache – albeit a luxury one – over which two widemen to pick against the Lions of Teranga.
Jack Grealish insists England starters and subs are united in the 2022 World CupCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden look in the box seat after netting against Wales, but Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Grealish are pushing hard too.
The quintet have all netted at the World Cup too, making Southgate’s selection dilemma for Sunday’s last-16 clash even tougher.
Speaking on the Lions’ Den on the FA’s YouTube channel, Grealish said: “It’s going to be one of those games you’ll be desperate to play in. 
“It’s obviously difficult for the manager because he can only pick 11 players. I’m sure everyone is going to want to play in it. 
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“But no matter who he picks we’ll all be supporting each other. 
“Because that’s one thing we have here, we have massive togetherness. I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be a massive occasion.”
Grealish netted in the opening-game 6-2 thrashing of Iran – a moment he labelled the best of his England career so far.
The man signed by Manchester City from Aston Villa for £100million has come in each of the Three Lions’ group games.
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He is loving life on football’s biggest stage, which is a far cry from the Highgate United pitch, based in Solihull, that he used to play on under another name as a nipper in the Villa academy.
Grealish explained: “I was at Highgate when I was like four or five. Then I went there when I was a bit older, like 10, 11, 12.

“Villa would never let me play in these tournaments but sometimes I would sneakily play in them. Just because it was football.
“[I would play under the name] Jack Greaves. That was my dad’s idea, though. That weren’t mine. 
Manchester City star Jack Grealish insists there is “massive togetherness” in EnglandCredit: Getty
“Back in the day there was no social media, so no one was like ‘that’s Jack Grealish the 10-year-old from Villa’ would they. I wasn’t a big hitter back then!”
England copped flak for their bore draw against USA in the second group game.
But no nation won all three of their group matches and Grealish feels the team should be praised more for being tournament top-scorers.
The 27-year-old added: “We’re the top goalscorers, no one has scored more than us. 
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“We’ve only conceded two goals, one being a penalty. It weren’t a penalty either. 
“I think we deserve a bit of credit going into these knockout games.” More

SON HEUNG-MIN turned the air blue as emotions ran away with him during the most dramatic moment of his international career.South Korea’s captain told his team-mates how ‘f*****g’ proud he is at the way they fought back from the brink in the World Cup.
Son gave an x-rated team talk as they waited for confirmation from the other Group H gameCredit: Reuters
The Tottenham star lead the celebrations when qualification to the knockouts were finally realisedCredit: Rex
An injury time goal on Friday set up by the Tottenham striker secured a shock 2-1 win over Portugal but there was still an anxious wait for the other Group H game to finish before qualification to the last 16 was confirmed.
Son will now lead his team against awesome Brazil in Monday’s knockout game.
And he said: “It was the longest six minutes of my life. But in the circle we were really positive. The guys were saying, we deserve this. 
“Then I said, ‘look whatever happens, even if Uruguay score one more goal, I’m f***ing proud of this team and very happy we gave everything, we’ll see what is going to happen’. 
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“And everyone was just waiting but those minutes were long minutes.
“Everyone gave everything and I’m very happy and very proud to me with this team.
“We are spending more time together than with our friends and families. In the camp, the guys have already been here for more than a month so we are close, really close. 
“I’m grateful because those who didn’t play could be really sad but they didn’t show their disappointment, they gave everything on the bench to support us and this makes a huge difference to be one team. I’m happy and grateful to lead this team. It makes a huge difference.”
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The South Koreans are renowned for their demure ways and politeness, making Son’s X-rated address even more remarkable.
They will be huge underdogs against the five-times world champions but now it is down to a straight fight in a one-off game there is the chance to land one fatal punch.
South Korea’s Portuguese coach Paulo Bento will be back in the dugout after serving a one match touchline ban.  
He was given a red card by English ref Anthony Taylor for his outburst at the end of the second group game when his team was not given time to push for an equaliser against Ghana.
Son said: “The boss is really important. We didn’t want his last game to be not on the bench so the players knew we had to give everything to be all together so until yesterday we were training together. We trained well. He believed in us and in his coaching staff so it was perfectly done by him.” More