World Cup

CLUELESS Croatia served up the World Cup’s third goalless draw in the space of nine games as they failed to make an early impression on the tournament.The beaten finalists in Russia are not a patch on the team who knocked England out in the semi-finals four years ago.
Hakim Ziyech and Luka Modric battled for possession in the Group F clashCredit: Getty
Achraf Hakimi tested the goalkeeper with his long-range piledriverCredit: Getty
And now they might struggle to even make it beyond the group stages after being forced into a stalemate by a Moroccan team who simply refused to accept their role as World Cup whipping boys.
Morocco might not have much of a World Cup pedigree, but all of their team play for leading European clubs and are certainly no mugs.
They have been boosted by the return of Hakim Ziyech, back in the fold after announcing his international retirement in February.
The Chelsea winger quit after a row with boss Vahid Halilhodzic and only agreed to return when the fiery Bosnian was sacked in August.

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Ziyech was clearly going to be his team’s main source of inspiration but even he struggled to light up this edgy encounter.
Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol was playing despite having his face rearranged in a collision with a Leipzig team-mate two weeks ago.

But no-one put themself around more than 37-years-young Luka Modric, who constantly tested the patience of the Argentine ref with the timing of some of his challenges. 
Yet what he lacks in pace he more than makes up for with his quality on the ball and barely a pass went astray from the Real Madrid maestro.

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The same couldn’t be said for Morocco’s Semil Amallah, who casually surrendered possession to Ivan Perisic and was a relieved man when the Spurs forward’s ambitious 35-yard effort flew narrowly over.
But the first shot on target didn’t arrive until first-half stoppage time, when Borna Sosa’s low cross was stabbed goalwards by Nikola Vlasic and required a sharp save from keeper Bono.
Seconds later Modric lashed just over as Croatia turned the screw and it wasn’t until the 51st minute that Morocco managed to seriously threaten when Sofiane Boufal’s shot was blocked and Noussair Mazraoui’s follow-up header was parried by keeper Dominik Livakovic.
But it was only a temporary reprieve for Morocco, who needed a goal-line clearance from Sofyane Amrabat to deny Dejan Lovren and keep the scores level.
Modric’s delicious free-kick into the danger zone saw striker Youssef El-Nesyri stretching to clear the ball over his own bar right in front of goal as Morocco clung on for dear life.
And as hard as they tried, Croatia simply could not find a way to break down the door to put early pressure on Group F rivals Belgium and Canada.
There was little by way of goalmouth actionCredit: Reuters
Morocco left-back Noussair Mazraoui was forced off on a stretcherCredit: AFP More

WE all enjoyed a bit of schadenfreude when reigning champions Germany were sent packing at the group stage in Russia four years ago.After all, they have won the World Cup FOUR times already and always seem to get to the latter stages of major tournaments, usually knocking out England along the way.
Joshua Kimmich played at right-back in Russia but is now a holding midfielderCredit: Getty
But for Die Mannschaft, it was an embarrassing and humbling experience that they have no wish to repeat.
Jogi Low’s side were heavy favourites in 2018 having triumphed in Brazil four years prior.
Yet an opening game defeat to Mexico at Moscow’s grand Luzhniki Stadium proved to be a setback from which they could not recover.
They did manage to beat Sweden in their second game – thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Toni Kroos.
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But two goals conceded in injury-time against South Korea saw them finish humiliatingly bottom of the group.
Joshua Kimmich started all three of those fixtures at right-back.
Bayern Munich’s Mr Versatile now plays as a holding midfielder for Team DFB and is desperate to exorcise those demons in Qatar.
On Wednesday Germany, now bossed by Low’s former assistant Hansi Flick, can make their first step to putting it right when they face Japan at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium, where England battered Iran on Monday.
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Kimmich, 27, said: “The motivation is huge after four and half years. 
“We know that was terrible what happened. We’ve had quite the wait.

“It will be very important to start with a good game. The first game is very important, we’ve seen that in previous tournaments. I hope that against Japan we will be winning.”
Kimmich has won seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in 2020 with Bayern.
Prem in sight for YoshidaMAYA YOSHIDA hopes a strong World Cup for Japan could result in more of Far East nation’s players heading to the Premier League.
Currently there are only two Japanese plying their trade in England’s top flight.
Takumi Tomiyasu, 24, is with table-toppers Arsenal, though he has lost his place to Ben White at right-back.
While midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, 25, has impressed in his first few appearances for Brighton.
Japan captain Yoshida, who spent eight years at Southampton, said: “We are improving a lot. We are still on the way to catch up on the bigger countries. 
“Recently many players started playing European countries and leagues, including the Premier League. 
“I’m very glad to see another generation playing in the Premier League.
“I’m sure this kind of experience individually will help the team and squad and the future of Japanese football. 
“Hopefully we can do well in this tournament and more players can come to England. It’s going to be tough but everything is possible.”
Japan kick off their World Cup on Wednesday against Germany, where seven of the Samuari Blue squad are currently playing domestically.
Yoshida, 34, is one of those, lining up for Schalke, who lost 2-0 at home to Bayern Munich just ten days ago.
That meant he got to come up against the likes of DFB stars Jamal Musiala, who set up both goals, and Serge Gnabry, who netted the opener.
Yoshida added: “Since we knew that we would play against Germany, I started to analyse the strikers a lot. 
“But of course actually playing against them is better analysis than watching the video. It was a great experience. 
“The first match is a challenging one. The group is not easy. 
“We are aiming high to catch up with their level. Germany won the World Cup many times so we are excited.
“Many Japanese players are now playing in the Bundesliga.
“We have speed, pace and physical ability as well. The key is we have to defend well. 
“Probably we will have fewer opportunities attacking but we have to do good counter-attacks, of course. We already understand how much quality we have. 
“In football there is the game we should win, but it never exists a game where we should lose. So we still believe we have a chance.”

Yet despite racking up 71 caps for Germany, his only trophy for his country is the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Flick coached Kimmich to that historic treble with Bayern two years ago and was with the national team when they were crowned world champions in Rio as Low’s assistant.
And while he is loath to compare generations, he pointed out to any doubters of Kimmich’s crop that the likes of Lukas Podolski, Mats Hummels and Philipp Lahm had won no major tournaments either – until the day they did.
Flick added: “I was part of the team in 2014, with Podolski, Hummels and Lahm back then. 
“It was the same back then. Before the tournament people were saying they haven’t won big titles yet. 
“This generation is characterised by the fact they are very focused on the game and always push their limits. 
“They are players who always try to get better every time they step on the pitch. It’s wonderful to see as a coach. 
“Of course we know the competition is strong. Watching Argentina and Saudi Arabia, we can see everything is possible. 
“But that’s what makes football beautiful. Never underestimate your opponent.”
Germany have been handed a tricky group though, drawn with the ever-improving Japan, unpredictable Costa Rica and Spain.
Wednesday’s opponents should be well known to Flick’s side, with SEVEN Japan players currently plying their trade in the Bundesliga.
Just 11 days ago, Kimmich’s Bayern won 2-0 at Schalke, who had former Southampton centre-back and Samurai Blue captain Maya Yoshida at centre-back.
Flick said: “I have to admit I’m a big fan of Japanese football. 
“It is a team with players who are trained very well in terms of technical skills.”
Kimmich highlighted the skills of one particular Japan player, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, who certainly has the capacity to bite the German hand that feeds him.
Former RB Leipzig ace Kimmich said: “He is a player who is very smart. 
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“In the Bundesliga he scored quite a few goals, even two in one game I think.
“Generally speaking, we have to say many players from Japan play in the Bundesliga.All of them are very fast and have great technique. We have to watch ourselves.” More

SAUDI ARABIA defender Ali Al-Bulayhi has revealed what he screamed at Lionel Messi after his side’s second goal against Argentina.The huge underdogs produced one of the biggest ever World Cup upsets by stunning the Copa America champions in a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.
Ali Al-Bulayhi squared up to Lionel Messi after the Saudis scored their second goalCredit: Rex
And he has now revealed what he told the Argentine in a rather aggressive wayCredit: Getty
Argentina took the lead through a Messi penalty, before two Saudi goals in five minutes at the start of the second half turned the game on its head.
And immediately after taking a shock lead, Al-Bulayhi decided to turn and shout at Messi rather than celebrate with the rest of his team-mates.
He slapped the Paris Saint-Germain forward forcefully in the back to get Messi’s attention.
And now, as he confirmed after the game, he aggressively squared up to the Barcelona legend before screaming: “You will not win, you will not win!”
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Papu Gomez and Lautaro Martinez came over and proceeded to push Al-Bulayhi away from Messi, but not before the Saudi centre-back grabbed his own shirt as a way of showing his national pride.
And Argentina could not stop his 53rd minute prediction from becoming reality as Saudi Arabia successfully held on to clinch a truly remarkable win in their World Cup opener.
In the other game in the group, Mexico drew with Poland.
It leaves one of the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina, bottom of Group C heading into the second round of fixtures.
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Argentina will now face Mexico on Saturday in what effectively becomes a must-win game.
Speaking after the match, Messi said: “We knew that [Saudi] Arabia is a team with good players, that moves the ball well and that advances the line a lot. We work on it, but we speed up a bit.
“There are no excuses. We are going to be more united than ever. This group is strong and they have shown it.
“It is a situation that we did not have to go through in a long time. Now we have to show that this is a real group.
“It’s a very hard blow for everyone, we didn’t expect to start like this. Everything happens for a reason.
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“We have to prepare for what’s coming, we have to win or win and it depends on us.
“We have to go back to the base of who we are. We have to think about what’s to come.” More

ENGLAND players could meet their families after Friday’s United States match – but it depends on Covid rates in Qatar.Manager Gareth Southgate is hoping that the 26-man squad could have a proper catch-up with their partners, children and parents after arriving in Doha eight days ago.
Jack Grealish embraces Sasha Attwood after England’s win over Iran
Topless Jack Grealish smiles after reuniting with his girlfriend
Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood was spotted beaming in the standsCredit: Dan Charity / Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd
Bukayo Saka visits Wag Tolami Benson in the stands after the win over IranCredit: Getty
Marcus Rashford celebrates his goalscoring return to the England set up alongside girlfriend Lucia LoiCredit: Getty
James Maddison’s partner Kennedy Alexa was spotted in the groundCredit: Dan Charity / Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd
Harry Kane’s wife Kate takes their kids to watch him in actionCredit: Social media
Some players, such as Jack Grealish, saw their girlfriends on the pitch after the final whistle of their amazing 6-2 win over Iran.
Southgate insists – providing Covid rates remain low – they will be allowed at the team hotel.
During the women’s Euros, England’s players were forced to remain in a bubble due to Covid.
Southgate said: “I think towards the end, the women’s team had to batten that down a bit more because they had a few positive cases so we’re going to have to monitor it throughout.
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“There’s this balance of the spirit and happiness of the group and the medical line of zero risk, and sometimes if you’re going to take zero risks, it can kill it for everybody, so we’ve got to try and find that balance.
“We’re going to see how the next few days go and we’ve talked about maybe looking at something after the second game but we’ve got to monitor what the rates are out here as much as anything else.”
Stars were joined by their stunning other halves at the Khalifa International Stadium.
A topless Grealish rushed to celebrate with model Sasha Attwood, while the likes of Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and James Maddison went to see their Wags.
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During Euro2020, England’s players were kept away from their families due to Covid rates.
But at the World Cup in 2018, relatives and friends were invited to the team hotel in Repino, near St Petersburg, in Russia.
England Wags jetted off to Qatar with mountains of luggage on Sunday.
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They boarded the MSC World Europa, a £1billion luxury cruise liner, where they are staying during the tournament.
Meanwhile, Denmark have banned their players’ Wags from Qatar.
Kyle Walker’s partner Annie Kilner wore shades inside the Qatar stadium ahead of England vs IranCredit: Dan Charity / Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd
Phil Foden celebrated the win with girlfriend Rebecca Cooke and son RonnieCredit: Getty
Maguire celebrated his brilliant performance with his family after the gameCredit: Getty
Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan Davison celebrated during England’s first-half goal spreeCredit: Dan Charity / Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd More

GARETH SOUTHGATE fears England are being targeted by World Cup referees after they featured in a pre-tournament video nasty.The Three Lions boss wants urgent talks with Fifa, believing his side should have had a penalty in Monday’s 6-2 win over Iran.
Harry Maguire was denied a penalty despite being wrestled to the ground vs IranCredit: Getty
Gareth Southgate fears England are being targeted by refs at the World CupCredit: BBC
Harry Maguire was rugby-tackled by Roozbeh Cheshmi but VAR did not recommend a review.
Yet Iran scored a late spot-kick through Mehdi Taremi when John Stones was adjudged by VAR to have pulled the shirt of Morteza Pouraliganji.
Southgate revealed his worries after officials were shown a video of Maguire’s goal in a World Cup qualifier against Albania 12 months ago.
It would now be ruled out because Kalvin Phillips blocked a defender.
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Southgate said: “What worries me is we were used as an example in the referees’ video.
“We were told that incident in the first half would be a definite penalty.
“For the second half (Iran penalty), maybe there’s a shirt pull — but I’m a bit worried we were the example shown and then to get a decision as happened in the first half.
“We need some clarification really as to how it’s going to be.
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“We’ve got to have that dialogue with Fifa. We want clarity otherwise we don’t know where we stand.”
England also want clarity on the amount of extra-time being played after 24 MINUTES were added in their opener.
Southgate’s stars who did not start against Iran had a light training  session yesterday.
But James Maddison sat it out again as he nurses his knee injury and is in a race against time to be fit for Friday’s tie with the US.
The Three Lions hope to get another boost after Friday’s match — by  seeing their families.
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Southgate is willing to allow loved ones into the team hotel as long as Covid cases remain low.
The manager said: “We’ve talked about it but we’ve got to monitor what the rates are out here.” More