World Cup

EDEN HAZARD claims he is the key to Belgium winning the World Cup – but his teammate Kevin De Bruyne begs to differ.Belgium kicked off their 2022 campaign with a 1-0 win over Canada this week thanks to a Michy Batshuayi strike.
Hazard believes he can lead Belgium to World Cup gloryCredit: Getty
But, De Bruyne claims the squad is ‘too old’ to winCredit: Getty
But, their overall performance was far from convincing.
The Red Devils were made to look completely disjointed by John Herdman’s Maple Leafs, who were unlucky not to have taken more from the game.
Star players Hazard, 31, and De Bruyne, 31, were both off the boil throughout, but the former is adamant that he can still carry Belgium to World Cup victory next month.
Hazard said: “The more matches I play the better I am. It is up to me to play as well as I can. To make it clear I am still in top form and Belgium can be world champions if Eden Hazard is in top form.
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“I feel great, I played 65 minutes in the first game and played well. But we can improve as a team.
“I have been through three challenging years but I am happy when I go out on the pitch. It is up to me to ask for the ball and step up.”
However, De Bruyne claims Belgium are “outsiders” rather than favourites to take home the trophy due to the ageing squad.
He told The Guardian: “I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing.
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“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.
“I am fully able to do what I need to do, but I feel the difference compared with eight years ago. I need more treatment, more rest.”
Belgium’s “golden generation” finished third in the 2018 Russia World Cup.
They were knocked out at the semi-final stage by France thanks to a goal scored by defender Samuel Umtiti.
However, Roberto Martinez’s side went on to defeat England 2-0 in the third-place play-off match on the penultimate day of the tournament. More

CROATIA boss Zlatko Dalic went on an incredible Jose Mourinho-style rant accusing Canada’s John Herdman of lacking respect after his F-word taunt.Following their narrow 1-0 loss to Belgium, Canada head coach Herdman said: “I told [the players] they belong here and we’re going to ‘F’ Croatia. That’s as simple as it gets.”
‘You have a big mouth [but] do you have the balls?’Credit: 24 Sata
Herdman laughed off the mock-up from the paperCredit: Getty
In response, a Croatian tabloid photoshopped Herdman’s face onto a naked body with just two Canadian maple leaves covering his mouth and groin.
The headline read: “You have the mouth, but do you have the balls as well?”
Durham-born Herdman, 47, laughed off the mock-up, having been made aware of it by his wife – but raging Dalic has demanded more respect, using the word 11 times in one answer.
Ahead of their Group F clash on Sunday, Dalic said: “The Croatian team deserves respect from everyone. We have proven that by the way we played and our conduct during the World Cup.
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“Since the very beginning, we have deserved respect and dignity. We have two medals in the last 30 years. Only Germany and France have such achievements.
“We respect everyone equally so we expect opposing teams to respect us. We are worthy of their respect. The Canadians must have respect for us.
“This way of putting words together is not a sign of respect. We are [World Cup] runners-up.
“We are second in the world and we are worthy of respect in the way we play, behave and respect all others. They are the reasons why we are worthy of respect.
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“I shall not focus on the comments. We will be prepared and fit and demonstrate respect for Canada.”
Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic added: “I second the head coach and I cannot wait for the match to begin.”
Having also failed to win in their opener – a 0-0 draw with Morocco – Croatia and Canada are in desperate need of three points to keep their knock-out hopes alive.
Herdman admitted that for his team, it is “do-or-die” and a “defining moment”, one that has not been overshadowed by this week’s media coverage.
He said: “We have been on a media blackout from November 14.
“When you get a text from your wife telling you that you need to start working out before you get home, you think you know something is going on.
“My wife is coming after you. She wishes she had that guy. I have got a bit more of a belly than that. I have been eating too much.
“We have been waiting 36 years to get to a World Cup. There is no extra motivation needed for this team.
“I have had great moments in my life that have shaped me to get to this point. I have had a colourful life. I don’t know if I am a genius but there is definitely some madness there.”
Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio added: “Newspapers are not going to make someone like Luka Modric play better or feel more motivated.
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“With all due respect to Croatia, they have a very good team and it is going to be tough for us, but it is going to be tough for them as well.
“We showed we could outplay Belgium so anything can happen.” More

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI finally scored his first World Cup goal – after swapping the colour of his boots at half-time.The legendary striker wore golden footwear in the first half against the Saudis, during which he teed up Piotr Zielinski for the opener.
Robert Lewandowski scored his first World Cup goal as Poland beat Saudi ArabiaCredit: EPA
He pounced on a defensive error and slotted inCredit: Getty
Lewandowski wore gold boots during the first halfCredit: AP
Lewandowski switched to yellow after the break and eventually buried the Green Falcons after capitalising on a horrendous error from Abdulellah Al-Malki.
All his team-mates bundled on a jubilant and emotional Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in the 0-0 opener against Mexico.
It put Poland into a strong position in Group C – and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny deserved a huge amount of credit for delivering it.
The Juventus man saved a penalty in first-half stoppage time from Salem Al-Dawsari, before making an even better stop to turn over the follow-up.
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The Saudis had provided the story of the tournament with their shock win against Argentina, and their fans may well be the loudest too.
They belted out their side’s national anthem and kept the volume pumped up as their side made a brilliant start.
Herve Renard’s men looked technically and physically up to the challenge and put Poland under considerable pressure in the opening stages.
Midfielder Mohammed Kanno came closest to making that early dominance count as he drew a terrific save from Szczesny after a neat one-two.
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The European side responded by becoming the first World Cup team in two decades to have three players booked in the first 20 minutes.
Polish boss Czeslaw Michniewicz said there had been a bit of stage fright from his team in the 0-0 opener against Mexico but promised there would not be here – yet the way his players began suggested otherwise.
They did eventually get going and on 39 minutes took the lead, with Aston Villa’s Matty Cash heavily involved.
The right-back bombed forward on the overlap and crossed for Lewandowski, who got in front of the goalkeeper but was pushed wide.
Still, Poland’s talisman had the presence of mind to cut back for Zilinski, who smashed into the roof of the net.
It momentarily silenced the raucous crowd, but the noise was cranked up to 11 when the Saudis were awarded a penalty in first-half injury time.
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Birmingham defender Krystian Bielik had caught striker Saleh Al-Shehri on the ankle.
And though Brazilian ref Wilton Sampaio did not initially give it, a quick check of his pitchside monitor on the advice of VAR, saw him change his mind.
Up stepped Al-Dawsari, scorer of the winner against Argentina and dubbed the Middle East’s best player, to take it.
But the effort from ‘the Tornado’, as he is nicknamed, was denied by Szczesny, diving low to his right, before the ex-Arsenal stopper did even better to tip over Mohammed Al-Burayk’s follow-up six yards out.
Saudi had fallen behind against Argentina and come away with the win, so one goal was never going to knock their confidence.

Especially with twinkle-toed Al-Dawsari, who found himself six yards out surrounded by players ten minutes into the second half, but once again he was denied by Szczesny.
Poland then were cursing their luck as they struck the woodwork twice in quick succession.
The first came from Arkadiusz Milik’s header against the bar, followed by Lewandowski hitting the post.
But the great man’s moment did eventually come with seven minutes to play, largely in thanks to Al-Malki’s dodgy touch.
Saudi’s No8, who had just missed a decent chance, got his control all wrong on the edge of the area, allowing Lewandowski to steal in.
The Barcelona forward did the rest, firing in his 77th goal for his country.
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Saudi were threatening a desert storm at this World Cup after their win over the Argies, sparked by the Tornado’s fabulous strike.
Yet now Renard’s men need a result in their final match against Mexico to keep them in it.
His team-mates mobbed him after he found the netCredit: AP
Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny were the stars of the showCredit: PA
Szczesny got down brilliantly to make a superb double save from the penaltyCredit: AFP
Lewandowski could not hold back the emotionsCredit: EPA
Piotr Zielinski fired into the roof of the net to break the deadlockCredit: Reuters More

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI cried after he scored his first World Cup – which came after changing his boots at half-time.The Barcelona striker, 34, fired blanks in his four World Cup appearances prior to Poland’s clash with sky-high Saudi Arabia.
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄Robert Lewandowski finally has his World Cup goal 🇵🇱👏Look how much that means to him 😢 pic.twitter.com/TTdOLH3ivS— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 26, 2022

Lewandowski cried after netting his first World Cup goalCredit: PA
Lewandowski wore bronze-coloured boots in the first halfCredit: AP
A change to yellow boots brought Lewandowski the luck he neededCredit: Getty
Poland’s first half wasn’t great for Lewandowski, prompting a change of boots at half-time to break his World Cup hoodoo.
And it worked as Lewandowski latched onto a sloppy mistake by a Saudi defender before sweeping the ball past the goalkeeper, adding to Piotr Zielinski’s first half goal.
Lewandowski was emotional as he celebrated, crying after being swarmed by his team-mates.
It was Lewandowski’s 77th strike for Poland and a career 604th.
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Lewandowski was denied by the woodwork before scoring, making his goal even sweeter.
The 2-0 win puts Poland in pole position to top World Cup Group C.
Poland are unbeaten after two matches, drawing their group opener with Mexico.
And Saturday’s 2-0 has Poland on four points with just Argentina left to play.
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Argentina play Mexico on Saturday in a 7PM kick-off with a defeat sealing an early exit for Lionel Messi and Co.
The pressure is on Argentina, who were seen as one of the favourites to win the tournament, after they lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia. More