World Cup

IT’S football but for Generation Z.A dizzying download of data, overlaid onto the pitch in front of your eyes.
FIFA’s app gives fans stunning live insight into matchesCredit: FIFA+
The app allows users to put their phone in front of the pitch and see an array of statsCredit: FIFA+
The VR technology is an insight to the future of the beautiful gameCredit: FIFA+
But this isn’t a vision of some hi-tech future.
It is the here and now at the World Cup, offering an insight into how fans will watch the game in the years to come.
Every supporter attending a match here in Qatar can download the FIFA+ app on their smartphones, unlocking the door to a very different approach.
You can get teams in their formations, text updates, real-time statistics, an overview of the competition and video clips after matches are completed.
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The real eye-opener, though, comes when you point your camera at the pitch in front of you.
Instantly recognising the venue, you have a choice of as-it-happens graphics.
If you want to know how far Marcus Rashford or Harry Maguire have run, how many passes made, or even how many passes misplaced, the app will tell you.
But you can also get heat-maps showing exactly where individual players or entire teams have dominated or been played off the park.
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In fact, there is almost too much information, although absolutely brilliant for the tactical nerd who wants to break down exactly how teams have set up to beat their opponents.
And there’s no reason why it couldn’t be introduced in the Prem, too.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. More

FANS are sharing a wild World Cup conspiracy theory with Spain’s loss to Japan handing them potentially an easier route to the final.World Cup Group E’s final fixtures didn’t disappoint with all teams in with a chance of reaching the knockouts before kick-off.
Germany were knocked out in the group stages for the second World Cup in a rowCredit: Reuters
Spain have an easier route to the final as a result of their loss to JapanCredit: Getty
Spain and Japan occupied first and second, while Costa Rica were a close third and Germany were in fourth.
At one stage, Japan and Costa Rica were heading through with Germany and Spain crashing out.
Costa Rica came from a goal down to capture a 2-1 lead, but collapsed late on.
The win for Germany would have been enough to see them through had Japan lost against Spain or played out a draw.

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However, Japan snatched a 2-1 win to seal top spot of Group E, knocking Germany out of the competition and making Spain settle for second.
Spain won’t be too fussed, though, as they’ve seemingly been handed an easier route to the World Cup final.
Mexico World Cup legend Hugo Sanchez has even suggested the Spanish lost on purpose.
The former Real Madrid forward, who played in three World Cups for Mexico, said as reported by Diario AS: “I assure you. I was not there and I’m not in the mind of Luis Enrique but he had thought about what was the best way to avoid playing Brazil in the quarter-finals.
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“Yes there is a risk but it’s a risk worth taking. It’s not that they fear Brazil but they respect them.”
Sanchez later added: “The coach is never going to admit it. Managers don’t say: ‘I let them win’.”
And some fans are spreading the same wild conspiracy theory.
Spain will face Morocco – topped Group F while knocking out Belgium – and then potentially Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The Spaniards would also avoid Brazil up until a possible final matchup.
One fan said on Twitter: “Spain intentionally lost to Japan to avoid a potential quarter-final meeting with Brazil.”
Another said: “Spain knew finishing second will favor them more.
“Who would u rather play against in a one-off match, Croatia or Morocco?
“By finishing second, Spain will avoid Brazil and Argentina too.”
A third quipped: “Spain has nothing to celebrate despite evading Croatia/Brazil and getting rid of Germany, all with one stone.”
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Before kick-off, Germany media Bild highlighted that Spain and Japan had recently struck up a cooperative relationship in youth football, women’s football and referee training. 
Japan will now take on World Cup 2018 finalists Croatia in the round of 16. More

THE furious German press slammed Hansi Flick and his “embarrassing disgrace” of a team following their shock World Cup exit.The 2014 world champions were dumped out in the group stages in Russia four years ago.
Germany were dumped out of the World Cup on ThursdayCredit: Getty
Germany were pictured leaving their camp the day after their exitCredit: EPA
Bild compared Japan’s goal to the 1966 final when Geoff Hurst scored
One paper labelled the early exit a “Katarstrophe”
And history repeated itself on Thursday night as Team DFB finished third in Group E – behind Spain on goal difference.
Germany lost to Japan in their opening game, which proved critical, before a draw with Spain and a comeback 4-2 win over Costa Rica.
But Japan’s victory over Spain meant Flick’s side can pack their bags and fly home.
And ready and waiting for them when they land will be a fuming German public and media.
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As well as Bild’s damning “embarrassing disgrace” assessment, the newspaper used the headline “wie Wembley” – “like Wembley” – in reference to the controversial Japan winner which bore resemblance to Geoff Hurst’s goal in the 1966 final.
However, English fans were quick to remind their rivals of the Frank Lampard ghost goal from 2010 as they celebrated Germany’s demise.
Even airline Ryanair could not resist a cheeky dig at Flick’s side and equally-pathetic Belgium with a tweet saying they were “carrying” the two teams home – while Wojciech Szczesny carries Poland and Kylian Mbappe does the same for France.
Back in the German media, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung hit out: “German football is at rock bottom again, four years after a historic first-round exit.”
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The Hamburg and Dresden Morning Posts went with the headline “Katarstrophe” in reference to the World Cup taking place in Qatar.
Die Welt said: “Germany is no longer a tournament team. It will take fundamental change to get out of this rut.”
FAZ added: “Things have been going downhill since winning the 2014 World Cup. The return to the top of the world is just an illusion for the DFB team.”
And the Bavarian Football Works demanded Flick resigns if he has “any dignity”.
Legendary former captain Lothar Matthaus added: “It was down to the defence, that was too easy for the opponent, against Japan, also against Costa Rica. Don’t be surprised if you make mistakes like this.
“It was also due to the conversion of chances, that was bad luck, but also inability. It would have been possible to score a lot more goals.”
National team director Oliver Bierhoff confessed Germany “lack the efficiency we always had” and Bastian Schweinsteiger was highly critical of the German defence.

The ex-Manchester United man declared: “Very, very bad. In defence, we only have one player who plays at a high level and that’s Toni Rudiger. The others – that’s normal Bundesliga level and we have to get back to having a good defence.”
Sami Khedira described the use of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka as a “gamble” – but both he and Thomas Hitzlsperger want Flick to stay on as boss.
Hitzlsperger said: “It was his first major tournament with primary responsibility.
“Are we really that good? Do we really have such great players?
“He has to get the chance to learn from these mistakes, which are now being revealed in the analysis.
“I think it’s absolute nonsense to kick the coach out now.”
Bayern Munich and Germany ace Joshua Kimmich was devastated with his side’s early exit.
He said: “For me personally, this is the worst day of my career.
“I’m afraid I’ll fall into a hole!
“It makes you think, these failures are connected to my person.
“We messed up in 2018, then we blew up the Euros last year.”
Team-mate Antonio Rudiger was equally hurting: “We’re back to zero, that’s the harsh reality.
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“A lot of talent, all well and good, but there are other things to it.
“That last greed, that something dirty, that’s what we’re missing. We are a very, very nice team.”
Hansi Flick is under pressure to keep his jobCredit: AP
It is back-to-back group stage exits for GermanyCredit: Getty
Antonio Rudiger recognised there was something missingCredit: Getty More