World Cup

THE World Cup’s “hottest fan” ruthlessly mocked Belgium after her beloved Croatia dumped the flops from the tournament in Qatar.The Belgians needed a win to progress to the knock-out stage but crashed out after drawing 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday.
Former Miss Croatia Ivana Knoll attended the Croatia v Belgium match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium last nightCredit: Getty
The glam model mocked Belgium after they dumped from the World CupCredit: Rex
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne was devastated by last night’s resultsCredit: Getty
Taking to Instagram to celebrate her home team progressing, alongside glam pictures of herself in a chequered bra and red sweat pants, Knoll said: “Apart from me, Lukaku also showed the most today. Let’s go!”
The Croat stunner was referring to the moment the Belgian footballing heavyweight destroyed his team’s dug out with one punch.
Roberto Martinez’s men knew a point was unlikely to be enough in their final group-stage match against Croatia to see them through to the last-16.
And with Morocco beating Canada 2-1 in the other game in Group F, Belgium became aware they needed to find a late goal against the Croats as the contest headed for a stalemate.
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They had several good opportunities in the dying moments – including ones which fell to Lukaku right in front of goal – but could not find a winner.
Lukaku, who came into the tournament carrying an injury, showed his frustration after the game, punching the side of the dugout which came loose.
He then headed down the tunnel in tears, but not before Belgium coach Thierry Henry consoled him pitchside.
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Belgium’s squad togetherness was called into question earlier this week as reports of a dressing room row surfaced.
They were thought to have stemmed from Kevin de Bruyne publicly stating that the squad was too old.
Speaking to The Guardian about Belgium’s chances of winning the competition, the Man City man said: “No chance, we’re too old. I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is aging.
“We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018.
“I see us more as outsiders.”
Following the game, manager Roberto Martinez announced he was leaving his job.
Knoll celebrated Croatia’s first win of the tournament by posing in a skimpy flag bikini.
Croatia came from behind to beat Canada 4-1 to maintain their unbeaten start to the World Cup.
After the match Ivana took to the beach where she posed for the camera in a red and white chequered bikini set.
She left little to the imagination after capturing fans’ attention during Croatia’s win.
The Croat said he isn’t worried about being arrested for breaching Qatar’s strict laws on modesty.
The 30-year-old German-born model and designer has been pictured cheering on her country at this winter’s tournament wearing a range of revealing outfits.
Many of her figure-hugging displays are in the distinctive red-and-white chequerboard design of the Croatian flag.
For the Balkan team’s World Cup opener against Morocco, Ivana was pictured in a full-length red-and-white checked dress with a hood.
At Croatia’s against Canada, the stunning brunette went one step further when she was filmed in a short low-cut dress red-and-white checked dress with matching socks that exposed her shoulders.
Smiling, the 5’11” model posed for selfies with supporters.
Ahead of the tournament, she also shared two pictures of herself in a Croatian-inspired thong bikini which she claimed were taken on a beach in Qatar.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Ivana moved to Croatia at a young age and makes it clear through her outfits where her loyalties lie.
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The UK Foreign Office advised female visitors to Qatar to cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts in the majority-Muslim country.
Knoll says she’s not worried about being arrested for breaking Qatar’s modesty lawsCredit: Getty
Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren celebrate after Croatia sealed second spot after the goalless drawCredit: Getty
Assistant coach Thierry Henry of Belgium comforts Kevin De BruyneCredit: Getty More

BOTH Serbia and Switzerland have it all to do to progress out of Group G and into the World Cup knockout stages.With Brazil needing just a point in their final game against Cameroon to finish top, it seems only second spot is up for grabs.

The Serbia XI that drew with Cameroon
Serbia have to win to go through, and hope that Brazil don’t lose to Cameroon in the other game.
A draw should be enough for Switzerland as long as Brazil do what most expect.
The pair have a fierce rivalry peaking in 2018, when they last met at the Russia World Cup.
SunSport takes a look at what to expect from Serbia vs Switzerland including our score prediction.
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How are they getting on?
Serbia: Boss Dragan Stojkovic couldn’t have had a tougher start to his World Cup campaign which ended in a blunt 2-0 loss to Brazil.
But the shooting boots were back on for game two against Cameroon – but it was only a point in a 3-3 draw.
Read the full Serbia vs Cameroon report here…

Switzerland: Breel Embolo was the matchwinner as Murat Yakin’s boys opened their campaign with a 1-0 win against Cameroon.
But despite a determined and spirited performance, the Swiss fell to a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in the next game, thanks to a stunner from Manchester United star Casemiro.
Read the full Switzerland vs Brazil report here…
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Switzerland XI for the defeat to Brazil
Any injuries to worry about?
Serbia: No injury worries to worry about, but it’s likely Aleksandar Mitrovic’s fitness is being monitored ahead of the big game.
Switzerland: Shaqiri is Switzerland’s biggest doubt ahead of the vital clash.
The former Liverpool man is struggling with a thigh injury and missed the 1-0 loss to Brazil.
Who to watch
Serbia: Mitrovic will be the man charged with firing Serbia to victory and into the KO stages.
The Fulham man has made a blistering impact in the Premier League and will be looking to make his mark on the world stage here having scored in the last game.
Switzerland: Granit Xhaka is a man transformed at the moment.
And with a draw more than likely to be enough for the Swiss, his job marshalling the midfield and winning the second balls could prove vital.
Permutations
Serbia must WIN the game and then still need to rely on Brazil getting at least a draw against Cameroon to qualify.
A point is likely to be enough for Switzerland to qualify – so long as Brazil don’t lose to Cameroon.
A victory could even see them top the group if Brazil crash to a shock loss to Cameroon.
What’s the head-to-head?
Surprisingly, these two have only faced each other once before.
In the 2018 World Cup the Swiss won 2-1 in their Group E clash, Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri cancelling out Mitrovic’s fifth-minute opener.
Odds
Serbia 8/5
Switzerland 9/5
Draw 12/5
SunSport prediction
The bookies have this as tight as you’d expect – and it really could go either way.
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But Serbia are the ones under the big pressure, and over-reliance on Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic could prove their undoing.
Switzerland 2 Serbia 2 More

IT’S a grudge match 12 years in the making.And just like at the 2010 World Cup, one of these nations will be going home.

That year in South Africa, Luis Suarez’s outrageous, blatant, 120th-minute handball denied Ghana a last-gasp winner with a spot in the semi final at stake.
The Uruguay star was sent-off and Ghana awarded a penalty – missed by Asamoah Gyan.
The South Americans eked their way into the last-four on spot kicks in a cruel blow for Ghana, who would have become the first African side to ever reach a World Cup semi final.
Now they meet again, this time in the final round of group fixtures – and only one can progress to the knockout stage.
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SunSport takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of the big game, including scoreline prediction.
How are they getting on?
Ghana: In a word: exciting.
They lost their group stage curtain-raiser 3-2 against table-topping Portugal, before winning their next 3-2 against South Korea.
Ghana showed great strength to eke out a win against Son Heung-min and Co having led 2-0, before being pegged back to 2-2, eventually snatching a winner.

Uruguay: Not well at all, by their standards.
They drew their opener against South Korea 0-0 before losing to Portugal 2-0.
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Any injuries to worry about?
Ghana: Gideon Mensah insists he’s fit to start despite being taken off late in the 3-2 thriller against South Korea.
Uruguay: Ronald Araujo is yet to feature in this tournament and is unlikely to start.
But Luis Suarez could be given the nod, despite Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani being preferred against Portugal.

What’s at stake?
Ghana: It’s a slightly simpler route to the last 16 for Ghana.
If they win, they’re through.
A draw will be enough unless South Korea beat Portugal.
In that scenario, Ghana will need South Korea to win by no more than one goal, otherwise the Asian giants will beat them to the knockout stages.
Uruguay: It’s must-win time for the South Americans.
In fact, they need to grab all three points and hope South Korea don’t beat table-toppers Portugal.
If Uruguay and South Korea win, it’s all down to goal difference.
Uruguay trail South Korea by one, so would need to win their match by a bigger margin than their qualification rivals.
What’s the head-to-head?
These two nations have only ever met ONCE.. and it was that match in 2010.
Luis Suarez’s 120th-minute, goal-line handball saw him sent off and a penalty awarded.
But Asamoah Gyan missed it, as Uruguay made it into the World Cup semi-finals on spot-kicks, with Suarez calling his handball the “save of the tournament”.
Odds
Ghana 41-10
Draw 29-10
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Uruguay 10-13
SunSport prediction
Ghana 1 Uruguay 2 More

ENGLAND fans felt like it was sweet revenge as Germany crashed out the World Cup thanks to a controversial goalline decision. The four-time winners went out at the group stage once again despite beating Costa Rica 4-2 as Japan inched their way into the last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Spain.
Frank Lampard’s “ghost goal” against Germany in 2010Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Japan’s winner came after the ball appeared to go out of playCredit: AP

Japan’s second goal controversially stood despite claims that the ball had gone over the line.
But England fans felt the decision was 12 years in the making.
Frank Lampard was infamously denied an equaliser against Germany in 2010 when his shot crashed down off the bar but spun back and was not given as a goal – despite being way over the line.
One fan declared: “Justice for Lampard. He got 0 World Cup goals cause of that.”
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A second user said: “Let’s see Lampard’s shot off the post again shall we. Wiedersehen 👋🏼”
“I just know Frank Lampard is watching on with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, justice for his goal in 2010,” said a third.
Another user added: “Lampard’s ghost goal avenged.”
Ex-England ace Alan Shearer even posted his own reaction to Twitter which sees him, Gary Lineker, and Micah Richards laughing hysterically.
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Others shared a paired image of the two incidents, with one fan captioning their post: “What goes around comes around…”
Another echoed this by saying: “Funny old world, innit?”
One fan even poked fun at VAR, and said: “Clearly Frank Lampard is in the VAR control room, taking his revenge on Germany for the 2010 ‘not goal’.”
Another said: “Superb job from Frank Lampard in the VAR room 🤣.”
Many others poked fun by stating: “Auf Wiedersehen”
Germany’s elimination means they have now been knocked out of the last two World Cup at the group stages after winning the 2014 tournament.
Meanwhile, Japan have set up a tie against Croatia before possibly facing favourites Brazil if they make it to the quarter-finals.

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