World Cup

AUSTRALIA are through to the World Cup knockouts for the first time since 2006 – and Socceroos fans have been celebrating in style.Graham Arnold’s side stunned Denmark 1-0 to reach the last 16.
There were wild scenes in Melbourne as Australia beat DenmarkCredit: EPA
Socceroos supporters celebrated in styleCredit: EPA
Australia have qualified for the World Cup knockouts for the first time since 2006Credit: EPA
Mathew Leckie scored the winner to down DenmarkCredit: Reuters
But a 6pm kick off in Qatar meant it was nearly 4am in Melbourne by the time the full-time whistle blew.
Mathew Leckie’s goal saw them qualify behind 2018 World Cup winners France – sparking wild scenes on the streets of Melbourne.
Thousands of Australia fans gathered in Federation Square for the middle of the night clash.
The action on the pitch didn’t disappoint, and neither did their reaction.
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Cameras caught the bedlam after Leckie’s goal hit the back of the net.
And Socceroos supporters celebrated madly and lit flares when the goal went in.
There was more partying when the full-time whistle blew as fans danced in the streets to commemorate the win.
Fans had already celebrated in style following the 1-0 win over Tunisia on Saturday.
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The two wins saw them through to the knockouts for the first time in 16 years, and for only the second time in their history.
The Socceroos will now face World Cup holders France on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.
And a win against the current holders would be sure to cause even wilder scenes in Melbourne and beyond.
The Socceroos have not qualified for the World Cup knockouts for the first time since 2006Credit: Alamy More

CANADA will try and crush Morocco’s World Cup last-16 dreams in the final Group F encounter.Canada became the success story of North and Central America during qualification, topping their group above Mexico and the USA.
Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s only World Cup goalCredit: Reuters
Morocco are on the verge of last-16 qualificationCredit: AFP
But they are already out having failed to register a single point at the Qatar tournament after losing their first two matches.
However they have the chance to sign out in style against a Moroccan side who can cement their qualification spot with a win.

What time is Canada vs Morocco?

Canada’s clash with Morocco will take place TOMORROW – Thursday, December 1.
The game will kick off from 3pm UK time.
Canada vs Morocco will be held at the Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar’s capital Doha.
The two sides have played each other once before – in a friendly in 2006, and Morocco came away 4-0 winners.

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What TV channel is it on and cam it be live streamed?

Portugal vs Ghana will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which can be downloaded onto your mobile or tablet device.

Can I watch it for FREE?
Yes, you can! The match is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence.
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GET the popcorn at the ready football fans as Croatia are set to face Belgium in a mouth-watering Group F finale.Croatia surpassed all expectations in 2018 by beating Argentina and England to reach the World Cup final before falling short at the hands of winners France.
Luka Modric and Co are closing in on a last-16 spotCredit: Rex
Belgium were beaten by Morocco in their last encounterCredit: Rex
And Fans will hope that they can go one step further in Qatar, after a disappointing end to Euro 2020, crashing out at the round of 16.
But first, Luka Modric and Co will need to navigate past a Belgian side who are also in the run-in for a last-16 qualification spot.
When is Croatia vs Belgium?

Croatia’s clash with Belgium will take place TOMORROW – Thursday, December 1.
The game will kick off from 3pm UK time.
Croatia vs Belgium will be held at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
The two sides last played in a friendly in 2021, and Belgium edged it 1-0.

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What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

Croatia vs Belgium will be shown live on BBC one in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which you can download onto your mobile or tablet device.

Can I watch it for FREE?
Yes! The appealing contest is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence.
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ANTONIO RUDIGER must knock out his LANDLORD for Germany to reach the last-16 of the World Cup.Rudiger has been renting from ex-Real Madrid keeper Keylor Navas since swapping Chelsea for the Spanish capital on the summer.
Antonio Rudiger will come up against his landlord when Germany face Costa RicaCredit: Getty
Keylor Navas will be hoping to guide Costa Rice in the knockout stagesCredit: Getty
Now the two will come up against each other when Germany face Costa Rica in a must-win game for both sides.
Navas spent five years with the Spanish giants, winning one La Liga crown and three Champions League titles, before leaving for PSG in 2019.
Meanwhile, Rudiger arrived at Madrid in the summer after his contract expired at Chelsea.
And according to German outlet BILD, the 29-year-old moved in Navas’ villa.
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Rudiger was asked whether he expects to be thrown out if the Germans come out on top.

He said: “As long as you pay the rent on time, I don’t think that will happen.
“Keylor is a great goalkeeper, so I don’t underestimate him.”
Germany kept alive their hopes of avoiding a second consecutive group stage exit with a 1-1 draw against Spain in their last game.
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But the 2014 winners must win to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages after their opening loss to Japan.
Costa Rica on the other hand, sprung a surprise when they defeated the Japanese to ignite their own last-16 hopes.
But the Central America must better Japan’s result to qualify, meaning they need a favour from Spain. More

MANY football fans are only just learning why Germany play in white.The country’s flag is red, black and yellow, but their famous strip has little resemblance to those national colours.
Germany have always worn a white-dominated kitCredit: Rex
The white kit is nothing to do with the colours of the German flagCredit: Getty
And the origin behind that stretches back more than 100 years.
You have to rewind all the way to the 1800s to understand why their kit is predominantly white – to a time when the Prussian flag was flown.
Prussia was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea which stretched from France to the modern border of Russia.
The region had a white flag with a cross near the centre – which was later changed to a black eagle.
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As a result, when German football was founded in 1899, the national team adopted the black eagle as their emblem and the white colour from the Prussian flag for their kit.
And even when the state lost its political power during the Revolution of 1918/19, they continued with the white kit and have not changed more than 100 years on.
Germany have won the World Cup four times – with only Brazil claiming the trophy on more occasions.
Four years ago in Russia, they were knocked out in the group stage for the first time since 1938.
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And there is still a chance they could suffer the same fate this time around in Qatar.
Germany lost their opening game of this year’s World Cup, relinquishing the lead as Japan stunned them to secure a famous 2-1 win.
Hansi Flick’s men bounced back on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Spain.
But they will still need to beat Costa Rica in their final match on Thursday if they are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Irrespective of the result, World Cup history will be made in Germany’s final group game as Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee at the tournament.
Frappart, 38, will have support from assistants Neuza Back of Brazil and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina in an all-female officiating trio.
The German football team get their colours from the Prussian flagCredit: Alamy Stock Vector More