World Cup

CHRISTIAN PULISIC was forced to watch the end of USA’s nervy clash with Iran from a hospital bed after injuring himself netting the winner.The Chelsea winger grabbed the only goal of the game in the 38th minute, which included a painful collision with Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Christian Pulisic cheered on his team-mates from hospital
The forward was injured scoring USA’s winning goalCredit: Rex
Pulisic collided painfully with Iranian goalkeeper Alireza BeiranvandCredit: Rex
After several minutes of treatment, Pulisic was taken off at half time, and went to hospital soon after having complained of dizziness and abdominal pain.
Yet he soon posted a picture of himself on social media lying in a hospital bed celebrating the win after keeping track of the score on his phone.
And ‘Captain America’ has assured worried USA fans that he will be fine for their last-16 clash with Holland on Saturday.
Boss Gregg Berhalter explained: “He was taken to hospital as a precaution. He was feeling some dizziness and suffered an abdominal injury.
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“We facetimed him after from the locker room [at full-time]. We got to see him and he is in good spirits.
“My guess is he brought his phone with him and he was just updating one of these football score apps.
“Christian makes those sorts of runs. That’s what he does and that’s the special quality he has. He makes it really difficult for defenders.”
Pulisic posted on social media: “So proud of my guys. I’ll be ready for Saturday, don’t worry.”
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On how far the Yanks can now go in Qatar, Berhalter said: “We had two goals. One was to advance through the group stage and then get into the knock-outs.
“From here, anything can happen. There is no need to project how far this team can go because the next match is against Holland and that’s our main focus.
“It is great to be in this format. We relish this. It is an opportunity to keep grinding and stick together and enjoy this experience.”
Iran began the evening ahead of USA in Group B, and needed just a point to qualify for the last-16 of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
But coach Carlos Queiroz said: “The dream is over. It is fair to say that we should score in the second half and the draw was the right result of this game but it is football.
“That thing of fair does not exist. The reality is this. Congratulations to the US, all the best to them in the second round of the World Cup.”
Pulisic was taken to hospital after feeling dizzyCredit: EPA More

ENGLAND’S Wags were out in full force as the Three Lions booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.Gareth Southgate and Co secured top spot in Group B with a rampant 3-0 victory against Wales.
Jack Grealish hugged girlfriend Sasha Attwood after England’s 3-0 win over WalesCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Wales
Grealish and Sasha shared a laugh at full-timeCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Wales
Sasha was in the stands to see the Three Lions ease to victory over WalesCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Wales
Bukayo Saka hugged girlfriend Tolami Benson at full-timeCredit: PA
Aaron Ramsdale shared a kiss with partner Georgina IrwinCredit: PA
And Jack Grealish celebrated with a hug from proud girlfriend Sasha Attwood as they reunited in the stands after the game.
Bukayo Saka also shared a cuddle with girlfriend Tolami Benson, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale kissed partner Georgina Irwin.
There was a well done embrace for Phil Foden from girlfriend Rebecca Cooke after the 22-year-old marked his first World Cup start with a goal.
Foden scored in between two goals from Marcus Rashford, who dedicated his stunning free-kick to a friend who passed away just days before the game.
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Elsewhere Luke Shaw enjoyed some time with girlfriend Anouska Santos, while captain Harry Kane shared a moment with wife Katie Goodland.
Some of the Wags had met up before the match a pre-game bite to eat
Harry Kane was joined by wife Katie GoodlandCredit: AFP
Luke Shaw looked loved up with girlfriend Anouska SantosCredit: Getty
Phil Foden hugged girlfriend Rebecca Cooke after scoring England’s second goalCredit: PA
Harry Maguire’s sister Daisy was out at the meal, with the defender impressing again in the heart of defence against Wales.
Conor Coady was on the bench once again, but his wife Amie was with the rest of the Wags and appeared to be enjoying a glass of fizz pre-match.
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Inside the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, they were joined by Kane’s wife Kate, while Grealish’s stunning girlfriend Sasha was also in the stands.
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Ramsdale’s partner Georgina was there too wearing an England goalkeeper shirt.
England ended the night as group winners to set up a meeting with Senegal on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Senegal saw off Ecuador to finish behind Holland in Group A.
The Dutch will meet the USA, who beat Iran 1-0 to finish second in England’s group, on Saturday afternoon.
Ramsdale’s partner Georgina wore an England goalie kitCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Wales
Kane’s wife Kate was supporting the England captainCredit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs Wales
Harry Maguire’s sister Daisy joined the rest of the Wags for a pre-match mealCredit: Instagram
Conor Coady’s wife Amie took to Instagram ahead of the gameCredit: Instagram
Saka’s girlfriend Tolami was at the mealCredit: Instagram
Maguire’s sister Daisy shared a family pic ahead of the gameCredit: Instagram More

WALES star Ethan Ampadu broke down in tears after Wales were demolished by England and sent packing from Qatar.The Welsh were in the game at half-time before the Three Lions went up a gear and won convincingly 3-0.
Ethan Ampadu was devastated after getting knocked out of the World CupCredit: Getty
Ampadu began to cry on the pitch
Chris Mepham couldn’t hide his pain eitherCredit: Getty
England players consoled AmpaduCredit: Getty
Ampadu started all three of the Dragons’ group games but could not help them make it through to the knockout stages.
Wales picked up just one point as they finished bottom of Group B after a 64-year wait to be part of a World Cup.
As the final whistle went on their campaign in the Middle East, Ampadu was seen crying into his shirt, knowing his dream of progressing was over.
He sat on the pitch in disbelief as he was consoled by his team-mates.
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Three Lions players such as Harry Maguire, Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson also went over to the 22-year-old to pick him up off the floor.
Team-mate Joe Rodon also shed a tear on the pitch as the players went over to applause from their fans.
Meanwhile, Chris Mepham hid his emotion covering his face with his shirt.
Neco Williams also left the pitch in tears earlier after he was subbed off during the game with injury.
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Ampadu is currently on loan from Chelsea at Spezia in Serie A.
He will return to club football needing to find form as his side currently 17th in the league.
The versatile player has been capped 40 times by his national side.
But he won’t add to that number in Qatar as Wales go home with USA and England making it to the last-16 with the Netherlands and Senegal waiting respectively. More

WE’D called it the Battle of Britain – but, ultimately, it was not much of a battle.More like a fight between two squabbling brothers with the older one always certain to win.
England booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over WalesCredit: REX
Manchester United hitman Marcus Rashford was the star of the showCredit: AP
Wales, in truth, were woefulCredit: GETTY
Yet here at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, 16 miles west of the centre of Doha, Gareth Southgate will have loved the way his England team bullied the Welsh in the second half.
Thanks to our not-so-noisy neighbours, Southgate’s team were allowed to grow into the tournament.
All the boxes were ticked with one exception. Incredibly, six players have scored here in Qatar but captain Harry Kane is still not one of them.
Equally, Southgate was more concerned about giving his striker a rest than scoring a goal.
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Because it was so easy, the Three Lions boss was afforded the luxury of replacing Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker before the hour with one eye on Sunday’s game against Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium. That one should be a proper scrap.
Let’s hope England do much better at the same venue where they struggled against the United States.
This is not a great Wales team, we should remember that. Pretty bad, to be honest.
The 6-2 win over Iran, followed by the goalless draw with the States, was also a tap on the should not get too carried away as the World Cup can bite you on the backside.
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But here was a good, professional performance which really gives Southgate something to build on.
Marcus Rashford, in his first start since a friendly against Romania in June 2021, shrugged off an awful first half to blitz the Welsh.
Phil Foden, the player the entire country was waiting for, did OK in the first half and then had a sizzling impact after swapping flanks in the second half.
He won the free-kick for Rashford, scoring the second and being an all-around nuisance.
The defence was once again solid – two clean sheets in a group stage is not bad.
And Walker, preferred to Kieran Trippier, was also given a start in his first minutes on a pitch since Manchester City battered Manchester United 6-3 on October 2.
Rice was decent and Jude Bellingham had more licence to roam forward with Jordan Henderson on the pitch.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kalvin Phillips would also have been delighted to both get over half an hour in their first minutes of the tournament.
The only downside was that, once again, Kane did not score. He played well in the first game and did well to set up Foden for the second goal.
Equally, a player who genuinely believed he could win the Golden Boot again has yet to set the tournament on fire.
To be fair, though, Wales were poor. Maybe, unsurprisingly, given that the squad has aged, they were much better at Euro2016 in Lens when they led at half-time through a goal from Gareth Bale although still lost 2-1.
So, it is Senegal next. We should not take the world rankings too seriously – just look at Belgium in second place. But Southgate genuinely places some importance on them.
The United States are 16th, Wales 19th and Iran 20.
Weirdly, Senegal are around that section in 18th so it gives you a vague idea of their strengths.
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As we saw with Iceland, being complacent can turn out very badly.
No chance with Southgate, though. And England, it seems, are now properly off and running in Qatar. More

VICTORIOUS England fans threw beer and waved flags in Tenerife as they celebrated England’s World Cup victory over Wales.The Three Lions surged into the last 16, cheered on by a large contingent of fans who have shunned host nation Qatar to soak up the sun in the Canary Islands during the tournament instead.
England fans have flocked to Tenerife to soak up the sun while watching the tournamentCredit: Reuters
Beers were thrown as fans celebratedCredit: Javier Tabasco Gomez for The Sun Online
Booze flowed freely as fans roared their team to victoryCredit: Javier Tabasco Gomez for The Sun Online
Flags were waved as they celebrated the 3-0 winCredit: Reuters
There was no shortage of good feelings among the English fansCredit: Javier Tabasco Gomez for The Sun Online
England flags were everywhere and the booze flowed freely as Gareth Southgate’s men gathered momentum in their campaign for World Cup glory.
Some of that booze, though, didn’t make it to thirsty lips as pints were hurled into the air in the ecstatic celebrations for each of the team’s three goals.
Marcus Rashford put in a spectacular performance to come away with a brace, including England’s hundredth World Cup goal.
Phil Foden slotted one just a minute after Rashford’s first before the Manchester United star put the gloss on the win with another.
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Back in Tenerife, fans went wild in the island’s bars, which were turned into a sea of white shirts.
Tense passages of play saw everyone silent in their seats, but just moments later they were up again, revelling in taking a step closer to an elusive tournament triumph.
St George’s crosses waved and hugs were exchanged as the final whistle confirmed England’s qualification for the knockout stages.
After the game, clubs were packed with supporters eager to bask in their footballing heroes’ success.
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It comes after a fiery build to the grudge match, which saw yobs brawling in the island’s streets after last week’s games.
Punches were thrown and chairs brandished during the clash in Playa de las Américas in the south of the Spanish resort.
Footage shows both sets of fans fighting outside the CC Veronicas shopping centre.
Dozens of people – some wearing the white of the Three Lions and others wearing the red shirts and bucket hats of Wales – appear to be involved in the rumble.
Spanish daily El Dia reports several people were injured in the brawl outside the bars.
Tense passages saw everyone silent in their seatsCredit: Reuters
Moments later they were up again to revel in their team’s gloryCredit: Reuters
Bars and clubs were packedCredit: Reuters
People hugged and cheered as the final whistle blewCredit: Javier Tabasco Gomez for The Sun Online
Many have been on the island since the tournament beganCredit: Mirrorpix
It comes after brawls between England and Wales fans last weekCredit: Javier Tabasco Gomez for The Sun Online More