World Cup

URUGUAY boss Diego Alonso was smashed in the face with the ball in their game against South Korea – and fans clearly felt his pain.The South American manager was taking charge of his first ever World Cup match as his side got their campaign underway in Qatar.

Woo-Young Jung headed the ball out for a thrown inCredit: @golscopa2022
But it went straight into the face of Uruguay boss Diego AlonsoCredit: @golscopa2022
It proved a difficult afternoon for Uruguay, who were frustrated by the Asian side and ended up drawing 0-0.
But it was an incident midway through the second period that has got everyone talking.

Urging his team on from the touchline, Alonso got more than he bargained for when Woo-Young Jung headed the ball straight into his face from close-range.
Despite the potentially painful moment, the 47-year-old responded with minimum fuss.
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But fans on Twitter felt his pain.
One fan joked: “Diego Alonso took one smack in the face and pretend it didn’t happen”
Another said: “Ouch!”
A third said: “He’ll have a shiner by the time he gets up in the morning.”
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A fourth wasn’t as sympathetic and said: “Good. Some bizarre decisions with the line up and subs.”
Uruguay are back in action against Portugal in their next Group H match on Monday. More

LUIS SUAREZ failed to get a nibble against South Korea as Education City was left hungry for goals.The famous chomper could not get his teeth into this game and was subbed in the 64th minute after having no effect.
Diego Godin’s header crashed against the post as Uruguay were held by South KoreaCredit: Reuters
Federico Valverde thundered a long-ranger against the woodwork late onCredit: Rex
South Korea’s Son Heung-min is sent sprawling by Uruguay’s Facundo PellistriCredit: AP
Luis Suarez was unable to make an impression during the draw before he was subbedCredit: Getty
Three times he has been banned for biting opponents including Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini which saw him thrown out the 2014 World Cup.
But he was part of a toothless Uruguay attack against South Korea.

It was Liverpool past and present as the 35-year-old veteran of now four World Cups paired up with Darwin Nunez up front.
But when Nunez failed to find Suarez with a square ball when there was a threat of a chance Uruguay coach Diego Alonso decided it was time to swap one 35-year-old for another as Suarez made way for Edinson Cavani.
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Suarez’s contribution was no shots, no chances created, two touches in the opposition box, and just seven passes one of which was from the kick-off.
Could Cavani do any better? We know how much he loves his country, after all, he asked to stay there for a couple of days after international duty rather than return to Manchester United and help them out in a Carabao Cup game against Middlesbrough during his time at Old Trafford.
He would have no joy either, although he was inches from directing Nunez’s curling shot home with a flick of his forelock, instead he missed it and the ball curled wide of the post.
No joy at the other end either for Tottenham’s Son Heung-min who was largely starved of the ball.
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The odd time it got near him there were roars from the South Korean fans for the Tottenham ace who only just made it to this World Cup having had surgery on a fractured eye socket this month.
He played in a mask but ended up being a Lone Ranger.
There was a chance each to break the deadlock in the first period.
After a very cagey half hour South Korea looked to have finally found the key to unlock the Uruguay defence. Jung Woojoung found Kim Moonhwan in space in the area to square the ball into the danger zone in front of goal. Nobody was on Hwang Uijo, but he leant back and scooped a side footed shot over the bar.
He laughed at his own error, sadly non of his teammates joined in as they held their heads in their hands. Rattled Uruguay then shook the woodwork just two minutes before half time.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde swung over a corner and captain Diego Godin rose highest to turn a thumping header goalwards. The goalkeeper was well beaten but the ball hit the inside of the post and shot back across the goal before being turned behind for a corner.
The woodwork would rattle again for Uruguay a minute before the end when Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde got forward and released a long-range drive that crashed off the left-hand upright.
Plenty to chew on for both coaches. More

WORLD CUP fans slammed Luis Suarez after he was hauled off just after the hour mark in Uruguay’s draw with South Korea.The veteran striker started alongside Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez up-front but failed to impact the match.
Suarez was replaced by Edinson Cavani in the 63rd minuteCredit: EPA
He is Uruguay’s all-time top scorer with 67 goals but he looked every bit his 35 years as he struggled to keep up with play at times.
Uruguay boss Diego Alonso put Suarez out of his misery in the 63rd minute and brought on another veteran in former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani to replace him.
But that did not prevent fans mocking Suarez and slamming his abysmal performance.
One wrote: “This performance from Luis Suarez has been one of the worst individual displays at a #FIFAWorldCup.
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“Looks like a competition winner right now.”
Another added: “Seeing Luis Suarez play like he’s living at a retirement home has brought immense joy to a regular thursday afternoon.”

A third said: “Nah Luis Suarez is finished. Runs like R9 when he was playing at 25 stone.”
Another remarked: “Luis Suarez has been incredible over the years but he’s in the Ronaldo bracket now. Uruguay basically down to 10 men at times.”
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Suarez is appearing in his fourth and likely final World Cup but many fans feel he is past his best after leaving Atletico Madrid in the summer.
The striker signed for Club Nacional on a short-term deal and scored eight goals in 20 games for the Uruguayan side, but was unable to replicate his form against South Korea. More

GARETH BALE appears to have banned himself from the golf simulator at Wales’ World Cup hotel.The legendary forward, 33, secured his country a point in their Group B opener with USA on Monday.
Gareth Bale, pictured in training with Joe Allen, has banned himself from the golf simulatorCredit: PA
The star’s love of golf is well-known from his time at Real MadridCredit: Getty
Now he and his team-mates are preparing for a crunch clash with Iran on Friday ahead of their final group showdown with England on Tuesday.
Bale has suffered a sore back and he is taking no chances out in Qatar – even if it means missing out on his other great love.
The now Los Angeles FC star is famed for his golfing exploits, and he would have been right in his element playing on the golf simulator machine at Wales’ base in the Middle East.
However, he is now leaving the swinging to others in the squad, despite the Daily Mail claiming that he had earlier won a “closest to the pin” competition amongst the players.
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Welsh winger Harry Wilson, 25, revealed: “He hasn’t played as much closer to the game because I think his back might be feeling it a bit.
“But obviously when Gaz has a swing, he’s very good.”
Bale’s affection for golf even led to Welsh fans singing “Wales, golf, Madrid” about him during his latter years at Real Madrid.
When Wales qualified for Euro 2020 back in 2019, the players took to the pitch to celebrate in front of their fans.
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However, Bale’s team-mates brought a banner on to the pitch during a time where he was facing criticism from Real Madrid fans.
The flag referenced Bale’s preference for international football as well as his love for playing golf during his time in Spain, with there being prior heavy criticism for the amount of time he spent on the golf course and injury table for Los Blancos.

Speaking on the banner, Bale previously admitted: “I’d seen the banner a few weeks before.
“The boys had shown me and they said ‘if we do qualify, let’s try and find it and bring it out.’ I was like ‘do what you want but I won’t be going over to get it.’
“They brought it down, we were all celebrating as a team and I’m not going to not jump around with my team-mates.
“It was a bit of banter. A bit of fun. People can see it how they like.”
The infamous banner stating Bale’s alleged preferencesCredit: Reuters More

EDEN HAZARD has told Germany they should have focused on the football rather than “political messages” after they lost to Japan.The German players covered their mouths for the pre-match team photo ahead of their clash with the Samurai Blue, which they lost 2-1.
Germany players covered their mouths in response to Fifa’s sanctions regarding the OneLove armbandCredit: Getty
Eden Hazard said that Germany should focus on the footballCredit: Rex
They were expressing how they felt silenced by Fifa after the governing body threatened the team with sporting sanctions if they wore the OneLove rainbow armband.
It drew praise from many across the footballing landscape – but Real Madrid star Hazard was not so impressed.

The Belgian said: “Germany’s gesture? They would’ve done better if they didn’t do it and tried to win.
“We’re here to play football, I’m not here to convey a political message.”
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Swiss star Granit Xhaka agreed with Hazard.
The Arsenal midfielder said: “I don’t think we need to do anything as the Swiss team.
“We need to respect the rules and concentrate on our football, that’s all I intend to do.
“We’re here to play football and not hand out lessons to anyone.”
The defeat leaves Germany’s World Cup hopes in dire straits after just one game.
They had looked on course to get their campaign off to the perfect start when Ilkay Gundogan put them ahead from the spot.
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But Hansi Flick’s side failed to take one of their umpteen chances to make the game safe.
And Japan made them pay twice late on in the final 15 minutes.
Firstly, Ritsu Doan restored parity before ex-Arsenal striker Takuma Asano fired home the winner seven minutes from time.
It means Germany find themselves in a precarious situation ahead of their clash with Spain this weekend.
If they lose and Japan avoid defeat against Costa Rica, they’re OUT.
Some German fans said the team ‘deserved’ to lose for focusing “only on politics.”
One fan wrote: “Germany deserved that for being so obsessed with rainbow armbands and politics.”
Another said: “Don’t get sidetracked by the ‘politics’ and just play your football.
“All this needless virtue signaling isn’t helping you win. Germany should’ve won this.” More

LIVERPOOL hero Danny Murphy believes only two Argentina stars would be good enough to make the England squad.That is none other than seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi as well as Tottenham ace Cristian Romero.
Danny Murphy believes only two Argentina players are good enough for the England squadCredit: Getty – Contributor
Tottenham ace Cristian Romero would be good enough for England, according to Danny MurphyCredit: Getty
Argentina captain Lionel Messi remains a top player, says MurphyCredit: Getty
The two countries endured very different starts to their World Cup campaigns in Qatar.
The Three Lions destroyed Iran 6-2 whereas the Copa America winners suffered one of the competition’s most shocking defeats of all time as they lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia.
Murphy watched both games and insists England’s squad is far superior to Argentina’s.
So much so that only Messi and Romero would be good enough to link up with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in Gareth Southgate’s team.
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Murphy told talkSPORT: “I was looking at the Argentina team, and sometimes you easily get drawn on the narrative from the press, they’re unbeaten in 35, they’ve got Messi, they must be one of the favourites.
“When I actually looked at the game and we were going through the players, I mean I’ll ask you now, how many of those players get in our team?
“Two? No more than three. You fit Messi in obviously, maybe Romero would get in at centre-half when he’s at it, I know he has been injured for Tottenham.”
The two teams also had a completely different run coming into the World Cup.
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Argentina were undefeated for a whopping 36 games across all competitions and also won the Copa America.
England, on the other hand, were winless in their last six matches, of which they lost three, and were relegated from the Nations League’s top flight. More

WORLD CUP fans were left baffled by referee Janny Sikazwe after he turned down two Canada appeals for a penalty against Belgium.The Zambian official did award Canada a spot-kick in the ninth minute after Yannick Carrasco handled in the area.
Fans felt Janny Sikazwe should have awarded Canada three penalties in totalCredit: Reuters
Axel Witsel appeared to trip Richie Laryea inside the areaCredit: Getty
Tajon Buchanan was tripped by Jan Vertonghen but was wrongly ruled offsideCredit: Reuters
Alphonso Davies missed the penalty Canada were awardedCredit: Getty
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies could not convert from 12 yards with Thibaut Courtois getting down low to save.
But Canada continued to pressure the Red Devils and thought they should have had a second penalty when Jan Vertonghen brought down Tajon Buchanan.
There appeared to be clear contact but Sikazwe did not even have a decision to make because the assistant referee flagged for offside – despite Eden Hazard making the pass.
Speaking of the failure to award a penalty, former Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg said: “Human error by the VAR and Canada should have had a second penalty.”
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That glaring error incensed fans, many of whom also felt Canada should have been given a penalty after Belgium’s Axel Witsel clashed with Richie Laryea.
Witsel appeared to push his opponent but neither the referee nor VAR felt there was sufficient contact to warrant a penalty.

One fan wrote on Twitter: “I’m sorry to bash a referee but missing three nail on penalties in play isn’t good enough in a world cup.
“One was corrected by VAR, but Canada should’ve had three penalties in this game and they’ve just been given one. Unacceptable at this level.”
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Another added: “Should have been a penalty as well because then Vertonghen fouls him. Canada getting robbed here.”
Sikazwe made headlines during the African Cup of Nations earlier this year and so far he is yet to redeem his reputation in Qatar.
During a match between Tunisia and Mali Sikazwe blew for the final whislte before the 90th-minute mark.
Sikazwe says he could have died from heatstroke, and that was why he decided to blow up 13 seconds before the 90.
He had already signalled the end of the game on 85 minutes – before re-starting.
It led to chaos on the pitch, as Tunisia players and officials stormed onto the pitch to confront the official.
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They were 1-0 down but playing against ten men.
Sikazwe later explained why he did what he did, saying that he could have ‘come back in a casket’. More

SON HEUNG-MIN looks unrecognisable from his first World Cup appearance back in 2014.The South Korean superstar won his fitness race in order to start for his country in their tournament opener against Uruguay this afternoon.
Son Heung-min sported a blonde barnet at the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty
The future Tottenham star played at his first World Cup aged 21Credit: Getty
This tournament in Qatar is Son’s third World Cup appearance, having played in Russia last time out and in Brazil in 2014.
At the last finals, the forward was already an established star in the Premier League with Tottenham.
But he was also in Brazil as a precocious 21-year-old while he still played for Bayer Leverkusen.
Son, now 30, sported a bleached blonde barnet at his first World Cup finals.
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He also made an impression, scoring in Korea’s second group game against Algeria.
The Spurs star added another two World Cup goals four years later in 2018, netting against Mexico and Germany in Russia.

This time around he is wearing a protective face mask – after suffering multiple facial fractures during Tottenham’s Champions League clash with Marseille on November 1.
He was subsequently named in Paulo Bento’s 26-man squad for the tournament anyway, ensuring his compatriots that he would give everything to play for them.
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Son’s statement read: “Hi everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you all for the messages of support I have received over the last week.
“I have read so many of them and truly, truly appreciate you all. In a tough time I received a lot of strength from you!
“Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too.
“I won’t miss this for the world. I can’t wait to represent our beautiful country, see you soon.”
After today’s clash with Uruguay Son and Co take on Ghana on Monday before rounding off their Group H campaign against Portugal next Friday.
Son scored twice at the 2018 World Cup in RussiaCredit: AFP
The 30-year-old is wearing a mask to play in QatarCredit: Getty More