World Cup

GARETH BALE was hooked at half-time as Wales were dumped out of the World Cup by England.The Dragons’ main man was seen holding an ice pack on his calf after being replaced by Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson.
Gareth Bale was taken off after 45 minutesCredit: Alamy
He was seen with an ice pack on his legCredit: Getty
Bale’s touch map shows how he did not impact the game
Bale, 33, scored Wales’ only goal of the tournament when he converted a penalty in the draw versus USA.
But he only touched the ball EIGHT times in a goalless first half in Tuesday crunch clash before England rampaged to a comfortable 3-0 win.
And in those eight touches he lost the ball five times.
Bale attempted four passes completing just one, and failed to have a shot.
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Despite an ineffective showing, fans were left stunned by Bale’s early exit with Wales needing a moment of magic to avoid going home.
Marcus Rashford hit twice either side of a Phil Foden strike as England booked their spot in the last-16 as group winners and Wales crashed out.
And many feared they may NEVER see Bale in a Wales shirt again.
However, after the game he calmed fears he was going to retire from international duty.
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Wales next face Croatia in March when qualification for Euro 2024 begins. 
Bale said: “I hope to be there. 
“I’ll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m wanted.”
On their terrible tournament, he added: “It’s been difficult and we haven’t played very well. 
“But we’re all very proud of what we’ve achieved to get here, to do something only one other Welsh team has done, to have qualified.” More

CHRISTIAN PULISIC fired the USA to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a crucial first-half goal against Iran – but he soon found himself in the hospital.The Chelsea winger struck in the 38th minute to send the Yanks into the last 16 for only the fifth time in their history.
Christian Pulisic put the USA on the brink of the last-16 with the opener against IranCredit: REX
But the Chelsea ace ended up suffering an injury that led to his withdrawal at half timeCredit: AP
The 25-year-old was taken to hospital after the match for further assessmentCredit: GETTY
Pulisic tapped home from inside the six-yard box after getting on the end of a headed cross from Sergino Dest – a strike which proved to be the only goal of the goal.
The goal, however, came at a cost to the 24-year-old – who injured his abdomen in the process.
The Blues ace was subbed at half-time after being assessed by team doctors.
And he was taken to the hospital for further assessment after the match.
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The severity of Pulisic’s injury is not yet known, although the Americans will be sweating over his fitness ahead of their clash with the Netherlands on Saturday.
The Americans finished second in Group B – two points behind first-placed England.
They were level on points with the Three Lions at halftime but were in second place due to Gareth Southgate’s troops’ superior goal difference.
But a second-half double from Marcus Rashford and a Phil Foden strike saw England pull away from Gregg Berhalter’s side.
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Speaking ahead of the match, Berhalter said of the Iran clash “When I think about this match, I know that a lot of other constituents have another feeling towards it, but for us, it is a soccer game against a good team.
“It’s not much more.
“It’s a knockout game, both teams want to go to the next round and are desperate to go to the next round – and that’s how we’re looking at this match.
“We are very focused on what we do as a team, as are they.”
He added: “I don’t want to sound aloof or not caring, but the guys have worked really hard for the last four years.
“We have 72 hours between England and Iran. We really are just focused on how to get past Iran to go to the knockout stage of the tournament.
“Of course, our thoughts are with the people, the whole country, the whole team, everyone – but our focus is on this match.
“We are not looking backwards – there is no talk about the performance against Wales or England now.
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Christian Pulisic is a doubt for the USA’s last 16 clash with the NetherlandsCredit: GETTY
“It is really focused on how we can be successful against Iran, and what I see from the group is this tremendous amount of focus, there is no real distractions.
“I know there is a lot going on here, but the group is focused on how do we get a way (into the last 16).” More

WALES star Neco Williams had to be subbed off after taking a Marcus Rashford shot to the face. The full-back blocked an attempt at goal by the England winger with his head before falling back needing treatment.
🗣️ “That’s like taking a blow from a middleweight”Neco Williams makes way for Connor Roberts after blocking this Marcus Rashford shot with his head.#BBCWorldCup #BBCFootball— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2022

Neco Williams suffered concussion after blocking Marcus Rashford’s strikeCredit: Getty
The ball hit the top of his head and he had to go offCredit: Reuters
The 21-year-old looked dazed and was on the deck for two minutes.
He tried to carry on but just a minute later he was substituted with concussion as Connor Roberts replaced him after 36 minutes.
Fans felt sorry for him with one tweeting: “Feel bad for Neco Williams, kid was desperate to stay on.”
Another said: “Williams injured. The one thing nobody wanted to happen.”
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It proved to be his last action of the World Cup as Wales crashed out of the tournament after picking up just one point and losing to England 3-0.
Williams started all three of the Dragons’ group matches.
The Nottingham Forest ace made the headlines after the 1-1 draw to USA as he burst into tears at the end of the game.
He revealed his grandad died the day before his nation’s first match. in the competition.
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As the camera followed Williams off the pitch, he said into the lens: “That was for you, grandad.”
The defender then took to social media to reveal his loved one passed away saying it was the “toughest news” he’s ever received after getting a call from his mum.
Williams continued: “To go from crying all day to start in a World Cup game was extremely tough but I got through it from the support of my teammates and family.
“So I dedicate that game and an important point to him.” More

MEXICO captain Andres Guardado has declared Canelo Alvarez’s beef with Lionel Messi is “silly”.Boxing superstar and proud Mexican Canelo threatened Messi after he appeared to kick a Mexico shirt following Argentina’s 2-0 win over their World Cup rivals.
Canelo Alvarez threatened Lionel Messi on social media after Argentina’s 2-0 win over MexicoCredit: Alamy
Footage emerged of Messi appearing to kick a Mexico shirt in the dressing roomCredit: Twitter
Mexico skipper Andres Guardado has leapt to Messi’s defenceCredit: Rex
Canelo took offence having seen footage of the Argentina captain seeming to make contact with the kit while leading the dressing room celebrations.
But Mexico skipper Guardado has leapt to Messi’s defence.
The 36-year-old, appearing at his fifth World Cup, swapped shirts with the Argentina captain after the game.
And Guardado told TyC Sports: “I know the person Messi is.
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“It’s a deal with the staff that when it’s all sweaty, it gets left on the floor. Be it your jersey or rival.
“Canelo doesn’t know what a dressing room is.
“It seems silly to me. That shirt was mine, I exchanged it with Leo.”
Four-weight world champion Canelo initially hit out at Messi for not showing “respect” to Mexico.
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He tweeted: “Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag.
“He better pray to God that I don’t find him. Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!”
Messi’s ex-Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero and former Barcelona pal Cesc Fabregas both fired back at Canelo for his accusations.
Aguero tweeted: “Mr. Canelo, don’t look for excuses or problems, surely you don’t know about soccer and what happens in a locker room. 
“The shirts are always on the floor after the games are over due to sweat and then if you see, he makes the movement to remove the boot and accidentally hits it.”
 While Fabregas wrote: “You neither know the person, nor do you understand how a locker room works or what happens after a game.
“All shirts, even the ones we wear ourselves, go on the floor and are washed afterwards. And more when you celebrate an important victory.”
Argentina can qualify for the World Cup knockouts with victory over Poland tomorrow.
Mexico meanwhile have to beat Saudi Arabia and hope Poland come out on top against Argentina. More

GERMANY players have been allowed to invite their Wags to stay at the team hotel ahead of their decisive World Cup game.The partners of the players were given permission to stay two nights at the luxury resort, according to Bild.
Christina Ginter cheered on Germany before visiting the team’s baseCredit: Getty
Izabel Goulart cheered on the Germany team on Sunday evening Credit: Splash
Ann-Kathrin Brommel is married to Mario Gotze
Kai Havertz and Sophia Weber are high-school sweethearts
Many of the players’ wives and girlfriends are in Qatar and were spotted in the stands during Germany’s 1-1 draw with Spain.
And they have reportedly made the trip to the isolated Zulal Wellness Resort outside Doha in the north of the country.
Rooms there range between £700 to £19,000-per-night.
The likes of Kai Havertz’s girlfriend Sophia Weber and Izabel Goulart, the fiancée of Kevin Trapp, supposedly spent time at the team’s base.
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Christina Ginter, who is married to defender Matthias was hopefully warmer with her husband after she complained the air condition inside stadiums were making her too cold.
The decision to let them stay could prove controversial if Germany do not make it out of the group, especially after failure to make the knockout rounds in 2018.
Germany suffered a shock defeat versus Japan in their opener and then they drew to Spain – next they will face Costa Rica on Thursday.
The four-time World Cup winners are bottom of the group and must beat Costa Rica and hope Spain beat Japan to ensure they go through.
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The hotel the players are staying at is located 111 kilometres outside the capital, where most of the World Cup action is taking place.
The distance between the isolated area and the main city was the reason cited by Hansi Flick as to why no player joined him in a pre-match press conference.
This broke Fifa rules and the German FA will be fined.
It only increases tension between them and the authorities after the OneLove armband ban and Germany’s team photo versus Japan where players covered their mouth in retaliation. More

THIBAUT COURTOIS has denied claims of a Belgium dressing room bust-up. And the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper declared the person responsible for the allegations will be axed from the national team if discovered.
Thibaut Courtois has denied claims of a dressing room clashCredit: Getty
Reports alleged Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen had to be separated from each otherCredit: Reuters
Reports claimed Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen had to be separated as tensions boiled over after the 1-0 defeat to Morocco.
But Courtois, 30, has slammed the allegations as an attempt to create disharmony in the dressing room.
He also issued a chilling warning to end the national team career of whoever made the claims of a clash between players.
Courtois insisted, via Walfoot: “We said things to each other, and sometimes it feels good.
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“I don’t think we missed it, but it’s one thing to talk to each other at the table or individually or to talk in a group, to solve everything together.
“The problem, it’s that what’s said in the press isn’t always the truth.
“Whoever leaked this? We don’t need to know that. If it gets out, it’s his last day in the national team.”
Courtois knocked back suggestions of a fractured dressing room, claiming there are “no problems” in the Belgium camp.
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The goalie added: “There are no problems in the team, it’s just an external attempt to create problems internally.
“Of course, after a defeat, nobody is happy, but it brings us even closer because we know that we will have to give everything on the pitch on Thursday.”
Skipper Hazard also refuted allegations, insisting “nothing happened in the dressing room” between the players.
The Real Madrid forward said: “We had a good talk among the players. A lot has been said. We talked for an hour about good things and less good things.
“Now we want to win against Croatia. We now have two days to prepare. We have to be ready.”
“Nothing happened in the dressing-room. Only the coach spoke. I spoke to Kevin De Bruyne, he does believe in the group.”
Manchester City playmaker De Bruyne incredibly wrote off Belgium’s World Cup chances due to the squad “ageing”.
Roberto Martinez’s side will qualify for the last 16 if they beat Croatia in their final group game on Thursday, while a draw would leave them depending on the result of Canada vs Morocco. More

ENGLAND and Wales fans were serenaded by pop legend Chesney Hawkes during their World Cup clash.And the infamous one-hit wonder proved a lucky omen for the Three Lions as they roared to a 3-0 win after a goalless first half in Qatar.
England and Wales renewed their rivalry in their final World Cup group matchCredit: Alamy
Chesney Hawkes proved to be England’s good luck charm after his half time showCredit: Getty
Both sets of fans were serenaded by a half-time show by pop star Chesney HawkesCredit: Getty
England fan Hawkes performed his hit song ‘The One and Only’Credit: AFP
Marcus Rashford hit twice either side of a Phil Foden strike as England booked their spot in the last-16 as group winners.
And fans were left in no doubt that Hawkes – in his first stadium show in nearly THIRTY years – was thank for England’s second-half rampage.
One said: “To what extent can Chesney Hawkes be credited with that result?”
Another said: “The country expects that @ChesneyHawkes gets a fingertip on the cup.”
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And another said: “Surely it’s no surprise that England scored twice after West Ham fan Chesney Hawkes graced the field?”
‘One and Only’ star Hawkes was looking forward to performing for both fans.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “They asked me to do it, what am I gonna say?
“This is the first stadium gig I’ve done in 30 years.”
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Hawkes, 51, added: “I’m a little nervous, but I’m just more excited.
“It’s just the one song and no guessing for what song I’m going to do. I could probably sing that song in my sleep.”
Hawkes said of England’s campaign so far: “It’s a game of two halves really, isn’t it?
“Because the first game we kind of made them look like a pub team, and it was amazing.
“We came out after that game like, ‘Wow, we’re gonna win the World Cup.’
“The second game, obviously a very different game. Felt like we’re playing for a draw.

Marcus Rashford struck a second-half double to fire the Three Lions to victoryCredit: Getty
“It was kind of very subdued in a way but maybe that’s the gameplay from Gareth [Southgate].
“You know, it was just kind of play for that draw, just don’t get anyone injured.”
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SPAIN manager Luis Enrique may resign after the 2022 World Cup – even if he wins the trophy – to return to club football.The Furia Roja are among the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar following some impressive performances against Costa Rica and Germany.
Luis Enrique may resign as Spain manager after the 2022 World CupCredit: Rex
However, Enrique, looks increasingly likely to leave regardless of the tournament’s outcome as the Spanish Federation’s president Luis Rubiales admits the body can’t compete financially with clubs looking to poach him.
Rubiales revealed he will hold showdown talks with the Spanish tactician about his future once they return to Spain.
Enrique, who rose to prominence during his stint as Barcelona boss and won the famous Treble in 2015, previously turned down a move to Chelsea in 2018.
The ex-Roma manager was also approached by Manchester United a few months ago before they landed Erik ten Hag.
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Rubiales told El Larguero: “We cannot compete with clubs that put down 10 or 20m euros.
“We will not do it and Luis Enrique knows that. He rejected a huge amount of money before. When we get back to Spain we will analyse everything together.
“Before accepting our offer, he rejected a huge offer a couple of weeks before from the Premier League.
“Then he accepted our offer, which was vastly inferior. It was as much as we could afford.
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Spain manager Luis Enrique looks set to return to club football after the World CupCredit: EPA
“We can’t match that sort of money but the financial side was not a problem because he was completely committed to us.”
Rubiales appears resigned to the possibility of losing Enrique after the World Cup.
But he insists he will remain “grateful” regardless of what the Spain manager decides.
Rubiales added: “I want to win the World Cup, after that if he stays or doesn’t stay because we can’t reach an agreement, we just have to be grateful.” More