World Cup

HOLLAND are facing a major World Cup panic ahead of their last-16 clash against the USA.That’s after Louis van Gaal revealed his concern at a potential VIRUS tearing its way through his squad.
Louis van Gaal is concerned about a virus in the Dutch squad ahead of their USA gameCredit: Reuters
The former Manchester United boss delivered the grim news just a day before his side’s crunch clash against Christian Pulisic and Co.
Dutch media claim many players are suffering from coughs, sore throats and runny noses.
And despite it being labelled everything from a virus to just a cold, Van Gaal told reporters on Friday: “If this goes around in the group, then it is worrying.”
Frenkie de Jong confessed to feeling under the weather shortly before Holland’s draw with Ecuador last week.

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And he was joined by Marten de Roon ahead of Tuesday’s win over Qatar, with the anchorman speaking to reporters in a nasal voice.
It’s believed the air conditioners, cooling people down from the 30C Qatar heat, could be to blame.
Man Utd and Brazil star Antony slammed the constant cold blast for giving him a “cough and bad throat.”
And even USA boss Gregg Berhalter admits he and several of his players have been suffering.
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Responding to Van Gaal’s news, he said: “We all suffer from that here.
“I even felt very bad for a few days. That’s really because of those air conditioners.”
Meanwhile, Van Gaal hit back at critics of his pragmatic playing style.
And the ex-Man Utd boss insisted he was not changing his ways for anyone.
Van Gaal declared: “In 2014 it was exactly the same. No different. The media was very negative, so exact same thing now. Same old.
“I’m used to it and my players are also used to it so we are calmly going to continue on the path we’ve embarked on.” More

AUSTRALIA brilliantly stole Denmark’s tactical note towards the end of their crucial 1-0 World Cup win on Wednesday night.As the Danes chased a way back into the match with 20 minutes remaining, substitute Andreas Cornelius came onto the pitch carrying a piece of paper.
Christian Eriksen was handed a note which he read on the pitch
Mitchell Duke picked the note off the floor and handed it to manager Graham Arnold
Arnold quickly read the piece of paper and then handed it to his coaching staff
Assistant manager Rene Meulensteen then discussed the note with coach Andrew Clark who works in Denmark
He handed it over to midfielder Christian Eriksen who read it, before the camera cut away.
Moments later, Australian striker Mitchell Duke could be seen picking the note off the floor and carrying it over to the sideline for the coaching staff.
Manager Graham Arnold and assistant coach Rene Meulensteen both read what was written.
And so did Aussie coaching staff member Andrew Clark – the current strength and conditioning coach for Danish side FC Copenhagen.
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Two minutes later, the Socceroos then switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 5-4-1.
Australia then saw out the match despite late pressure from Denmark as they booked their place in the last-16.
After losing their opener 4-1 to France, 1-0 wins over Tunisia and Denmark have seen them reach the second round for the first time since 2006.
Reacting to the note debacle on social media, one person said: “Great s***housery.”
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Another added: “You kind of deserve what you get if you take hand written notes onto the pitch and leave it there for the taking 🤷‍♂️.”
And a third said: “That’s what you get for littering.”
But the sneaky note-stealing move is not the first crafty tactic Australia have used to get an edge in an important game.
During their World Cup play-off clash with Peru, keeper Andrew Redmayne hilariously succeeded in throwing away his opposition number’s water bottle.
The match went to penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, with spot kick specialist Redmayne coming off the bench in the final moments.
He quickly became aware Peru keeper Pedro Gallese had the Australian penalty takers names on his bottle.
And so Redmayne proceeded to launch it away as Gallese stood in goal waiting for Australia’s second penalty.
The Aussie shot-stopper then saw one Peruvian penalty hit the post, before he saved the decisive one to send his country to Qatar.
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And his antics in the goal captured headlines after the game, mostly in response to his enthusiastic dancing along the line while waiting for the penalties to be taken.
Australia will now face Argentina in the last-16 of the World Cup on Saturday. More

LUIS SUAREZ has been named Uruguay captain against Ghana – over a decade after his infamous World Cup handball. The striker takes the armand from Diego Godin with the centre-back placed on the bench.
Luis Suarez has been named Uruguay captain against GhanaCredit: Reuters
Suarez in 2010 prevented Ghana from scoring a late winner in their quarter-final in South Africa.
The Liverpool legend handled the ball on the line to stop Dominic Adiyiah’s goalbound header.
Ex-Sunderland forward Asamoah Gyan went on to miss the penalty with Uruguay later winning on penalties to dramatically progress.
Now the two sides will meet again over 12 years on from the incident – which Suarez feels no remorse for.

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He said: “I don’t apologise about that, I took the handball, but Ghana player missed the penalty.
“I’d apologise if I injured a player or took a red card for this, but I took a red card (for the handball).
“It wasn’t my fault because I didn’t miss the penalty. You see the player who missed the penalty, he said he would do the same.”
Even Ghana boss Otto Addo spoke out in defence of Suarez’s actions.
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Addo said: “In general it is about perspective, if the same incident would have happened the other way around and Ghana proceeded to the semi-finals, everyone would say it is normal that a player would do anything he can to help his team go to the semi-finals.
“For me, it’s not a big topic. This is what I wish from every player, to do all he can to help his team qualify. Sometimes even sacrificing himself with a red card.
“It was a very sad day for me, I watched it and I was sad, but this is my perspective. If I see it from another perspective, it is a normal thing.”
Ghana could end up having the last laugh as they currently sit second in the group, three points behind leaders Portugal.
Meanwhile Uruguay are bottom with just a point and must beat Ghana to give themselves a chance of qualification.
But even then, Suarez’s side will rely on South Korea dropping points against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Luis Suarez’s infamous 2010 handball against GhanaCredit: Reuters More