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      Why are Wales fans wearing bucket hats at the 2022 World Cup?

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      WALES fans will be getting ready to cheer on their nation at a World Cup for the first time in 64 years – and they’ll be doing it in style.The Dragons’ campaign gets underway against USA with plenty of supporters expected to wear their eye-catching bucket hats.
      The bucket hats have become a symbol of Welsh prideCredit: Darren Fletcher – The Sun
      Wales beat Ukraine 1-0 to qualify for the World CupCredit: Reuters
      Despite success at the Euros, reaching the semi-finals in 2016, Qatar marks a new territory for many Welsh fans, having never seen their country compete at the World Cup.
      Those fortunate enough to have been in Sweden during 1958, will recall their last appearance in the competition.
      The match saw them fall short against five-time winners Brazil in the quarter finals. A certain teenager named Pele got the winner that day.
      Fast forward to 2022, Wales are back and fans won’t go unnoticed in Qatar.
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      Why do Wales fans wear bucket hats?
      The vibrant yellow, green and red bucket hat has become an iconic symbol of Welsh football, worn by thousands of fans across the country.
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      The hat was originally created by Tim Williams, a small shop owner from Bala, Gwynedd.
      His company, named Spirit of 58′, referencing Wales’ last appearance at the tournament was created in order “to bring a bit of colour and fun” to matches.
      Following Wales’ qualification for Euro 2016, sales sky-rocketed and Williams had to quit his day job, donating all of his time to the hats’ production.
      A giant bucket hat has been put on display in Cardiff ahead of the World CupCredit: Getty
      Today, the company sells all sorts of clobber, including socks depicting cult-hero Hal Robson-Kanu.
      The hats can be spotted at every Wales game, and represent the teams’ bold and defiant attitude.
      They are particularly useful for fans to recognise fellow Welsh supporters from a mile off.
      In addition to their striking appearance, the headgear will also provide some valuable protection from the Qatar heat.

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      Senegal vs Holland attendance announced as 1,700 MORE than stadium capacity… and empty seats spotted during clash

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      THE attendance of Holland’s win over Senegal was announced as 1,700 MORE than the stadium’s capacity.And a vast amount of empty seats were spotted around the Al-Thumama Stadium throughout the game.
      It was clear a large number of seats were empty for the gameCredit: Reuters
      Yet the attendance was still announced as 1,700 MORE than the stadium’s capacity
      The official capacity for the stadium is said to be 40,000.
      But the announcement over the loudspeaker towards the end of the Dutch’s 2-0 victory claimed 41,721 were present for the game.
      And those on social media ripped into the attendance figure given.
      One jokingly said: “The new rules are that official attendance must include people who would ‘quite like to have gone’.”
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      Another added: “They’re getting 104% attendance at their games 🤦🏻‍♂️.”
      And a third said: “Maybe they counted everyone twice?”
      The attendance being reported as more than the capacity of the stadia is already becoming a theme at this World Cup.
      Towards the end of the World Cup opener on Sunday, Qatar’s defeat to Ecuador was reported as raking in 67,000 spectators.
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      That was despite the Al Bayt Stadium holding a capacity crowd of 60,000.
      And fans have had difficulties getting into grounds after the Fifa ticket app went down ahead of England’s 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.
      Three Lions supporters who missed the start of the match ended up being allowed in for free due to the technical failure. More

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      Cheikhou Kouyate stretchered off after being hit in PRIVATES by Frenkie de Jong in Senegal’s World Cup clash

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      CHEIKHOU KOUYATE was stretchered off injured in the World Cup after he appeared to be hit in the TESTICLES by Frenkie de Jong. The midfielder was caught in the nether regions by De Jong’s outstretched hand as he jumped for the ball in mid-air.
      An awkward and painful collision ended Kouyate’s match against the DutchCredit: Reuters
      The star appeared to be in some discomfort as he was led off the pitch on a stretcherCredit: AP
      Senegal’s game against Holland was a bit of a slow-burner and the pair spent much of the game cancelling each other out.
      But eventually the Dutch got two late strikes to get over the line.
      But before the goals, Kouyate was left flat on the ground in pain after being caught by De Jong.
      The Nottingham Forest man leapt into the air to win a header with 20 minutes to go.
      But De Jong clumsily leaned into Kouyate and hit his privates with a loose left-hand.
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      Left in a heap on the ground, the Senegal midfielder was quickly attended to by medical staff.
      They said he could not go on and the star was stretchered off.
      Things would go from bad to worse for the African side who conceded two late goals to lose their World Cup opener.
      Rising PSV star and Manchester United target Cody Gakpo scored a brilliant header seven minutes from time to give Holland the lead.
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      And former Everton striker Davy Klaassen took advantage of the huge injury-time triggered by Kouyate’s injured as he netted from off the bench.
      The 29-year-old took advantage of a poor save from Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy to latch onto the rebound and secure the points.
      Senegal will now likely need at least one victory from their remaining group games against Ecuador and Qatar to land a place in the knock-out stages.
      The game between the two nations followed England’s demolition of Iran earlier in the day. More

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      ‘I’m a bit fed up’ – Gareth Southgate says he’s ‘miserable so and so’ as he tells England they ‘must be better’ vs USA

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE was not happy with England’s performance against Iran.This is despite England recording their biggest ever win for a World Cup opener as they thrashed Iran 6-2.
      Gareth Southgate has warned his England stars they must improve in the futureCredit: Getty
      Southgate overtook Sir Alf Ramsey as the England boss with the most wins at major tournaments following the Iran victory but cast an unimpressed figure at full time.
      He said: “I’m a bit fed up with the end of it really.
      “To win by that margin, to play as we did for the majority of the game, I’ve got to be really happy.
      “But we shouldn’t be conceding two goals at that stage and we’ll have to be right on our game against the (United) States. It’s a great start but we’re going to have to be better.”
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      Despite dominating proceedings the Three Lions allowed two goals to be put past them as Mehdi Taremi lashed home a goal after slipping behind Harry Maguire before adding a penalty in the final minute.
      And former Middlesbrough manager Southgate warned his team they must improve when they face off against the USA on Friday.
      Southgate added: “It’s a consequence of the scoreline a bit.
      “We had 24 minutes of added time which is a long time to focus but we just lost concentration and when we play at a slower tempo we’re not anywhere near as effective.
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      “Our attacking players look a threat, our defence in the first hour controlled the game and were patient. The midfield were excellent and our forwards looked a threat…
      “I’m a miserable so and so. I should be more excited but I have to keep the team on the right track.”
      There were a number of notable performances from England players including Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham.
      However, Harry Kane and Harry Maguire have given Southgate injury scares after Kane was pictured limping with an ankle strap and Maguire fell ill.
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      England’s Friday opponent is in action against Wales this evening.
      The Dragons will be participating in their first World Cup game for 64 years.
      Here’s the breakdown of England v Iran More

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      Senegal 0 Holland 2: Man Utd transfer target Cody Gakpo heads late goal as Dutch win World Cup opener

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      HOLLAND left it late but got Louis van Gaal’s final World Cup off to a winning start.Goals from Cody Gapko six minutes from the end and substitute Davy Klaassen in injury time rescued a drab game and gave Van Gaal’s men all the points.
      Holland forward Gakpo rose above Mendy to head home the crucial goalCredit: Reuters
      Gakpo celebrated winning the game for his countryCredit: AP
      Klaassen doubled Holland’s tally in stoppage-timeCredit: Getty
      Netherlands midfielder De Jong was thwarted by Mendy in the first halfCredit: EPA
      Van Dijk had a good chance for Holland but couldn’t keep his header downCredit: Reuters
      Gakpo just nipped ahead of Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to meet Frenkie De Jong’s inswinging cross and head the ball home to break the deadlock.
      What a moment for the PSV striker voted player of the year in Holland last season.
      A big reason why both Manchester United and Leeds United were looking at taking him last summer.
      He has learned his trade under Red Devils great Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV as his former youth and now first team coach.
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      He used all Van Nistelrooy’s instincts to sniff out this chance and get the winner.
      Then injury time the Dutch broke and when Memphis Depay’s shot was parried Klaassen pounced.
      Up until that point it had been the Senegal fans band that had provided most of the entertainment in the Al Thumama Stadium with neither goalkeeper being tested.
      After a first minute scare for the Dutch the best of the chances fell their way in a goalless first half.
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      But when Ismaila Sarr nicked the ball off Matthijs de Ligt it looked like there could be a dramatic start.
      Sarr moved the ball on to Boulaye Dia whose first time shot was goalbound but deflected over by Frenkie de Jong.
      Shaken but not stirred the Oranje replied and with De Ligt now helping rather than hindering his team as he began the move that finished with a dangerous Gakpo cross that Steven Bergwijn stretched for but just failed to connect with.
      Next up it was former Manchester United player Daley Blind, watched by Dad and Dutch assistant boss Danny, sneaking in at the far post for a chance at goal but his header from Gakpo’s cross was the wrong side of the upright.
      Then came the real big chance on 19 minutes.
      Bergwijn did a turn that brought gasps to get away from two opponents and find Steven Berghuis to pinpoint De Jong in acres of space on the far side of the goal.
      But with Senegal players retreating quickly, De Jong delayed his shot, instead deciding to turn inside one man, then another before the opportunity was gone as Cheikhou Kouyate whacked the ball out of play.
      Virgil van Dijk was hailed by his manager on the eve of the game as an ‘excellent captain’.
      While he negates threats at one end of the pitch, he can instigate them at the other just as he did when he rose to meet a Gakpo corner in the 53rd minute, heading narrowly over.
      Frustrated with the lack of goals, Van Gaal sprung a surprise when he turned to Memphis Depay in the 53rd minute.
      Van Gaal had ruled him out of this game believing he had still not fully recovered from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since mid-September.
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      Here he was called from the bench to rescue this stalemate.
      But it would be Gakpo whose named was in lights, while Memphis did at least assist the second.
      Van Gaal’s side eventually found the breakthrough late onCredit: EPA
      Senegal midfielder Kouyate was stretchered off in the second halfCredit: Reuters More

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      Why Harry Maguire wasn’t given ‘stonewall’ penalty in England’s 6-2 World Cup win – but Iran were

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup campaign got off to a flying start as they smashed six goals past Iran.But a controversial late penalty saw the final score end 6-2 to the Three Lions.
      Harry Maguire did not get a penalty after appearing to be fouled against IranCredit: BBC
      John Stones gave away a late spot-kick for a tug on an opponentCredit: Getty
      John Stones was penalised by VAR in the dying moments, allowing Iran to pull back a consolation goal to soften the scoreline.
      However, video replays suggested there wasn’t much contact at all between Stones and his opponent.
      And England fans were left fuming as Harry Maguire failed to win a “stonewall” penalty after a foul by Iran earlier on.
      But ESPN claims there is a reason Stones’ tug resulted in a spot-kick, while the foul on Maguire was overlooked.
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      It’s reckoned that VAR were mainly concerned about whether the attacking player in each incident was able to challenge for the ball.
      In Stones’ case, his tug on Morteza Pouraliganji prevented the Iranian from being able to attack the ball sufficiently.
      Despite only being a minor infringement on replays, the ball was said to be in close proximity to Iran’s attacker.
      And referee Raphael Claus eventually agreed with VAR that Stones had stopped Pouraliganji from attacking freely.
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      In Maguire’s case, despite the foul appearing more obvious, this was deemed the opposite case.
      Despite being wrestled to the floor by Roozbeh Cheshmi, it’s said the ball was NOT in close proximity to Maguire.
      That means he was not in a position to properly compete for it as an attacker.
      And VAR also took into account the fact that Maguire’s arm was also wrapped around Cheshmi as he went down.
      But try telling that to England fans, who were left fuming over the two decisions.
      One wrote online: “Stone wall penalty.”
      A second tweeted: “A clear pen all day long.”
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      Another added: “Maguire is literally being rugby tackled.”
      While a fourth fumed: “England already robbed of a penalty 3 minutes in.” More

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      Iran keeper Beiranvand rushed to hospital after playing on with ‘serious concussion’ in 6-2 World Cup defeat to England

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      IRAN goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand has been rushed to hospital after suffering a concussion against England. Beiranvand was substituted early on after a brutal collision with a team-mate Majid Hosseini in the first half of the World Cup opener against England.
      Ali Beiranvand was stretchered off and has now been rushed to hospitalCredit: EPA
      Beiranvand collides with team-mate Majid HosseiniCredit: EPA
      He then received medical attentionCredit: EPA
      He suffered a bloody nose as he tried to claim a cross and subsequently received treatment from physios – before remarkably being allowed to play on.
      However, moments later he fell to the turf and was unable to continue.
      Beiranvand was then stretchered off the field of play and has now been revealed to have suffered a “serious concussion.”
      Iran manager Carlos Queiroz revealed the 30-year-old had sustained a broken nose from the incident.
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      He said: “According to my medical information and also the referee’s, they were not able to stop the player bleeding. It was something related to (his) broken nose.
      “When we were ready to make the substitution, he was able to stop bleeding, so we thought that he could keep going.
      “But we had some signs that the possibility of concussion, it happens with the player, it was not clear.
      “Unfortunately one minute later, the player was not able to keep going, and he suffered a serious concussion and at this moment he’s on his way to the hospital for more examinations.
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      “That’s why the delay happened. It was the doubt between the broken nose and the concussion.”
      England went on to win the game 6-2 with a brace of goals from Bukayo Saka.
      Luke Griggs of head injury charity Headway labelled Fifa’s concussion protocol as an “utter disgrace.”
      He said: “It was irrelevant that he came off a minute later, he shouldn’t have stayed on for a second, let alone a minute.
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      “He was clearly distressed and unfit to continue, this seems to be another case of the decision being made by the player and not medical staff.
      “This was the first test of the Fifa World Cup concussion protocol and it was an abject failure.” More

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      Harry Maguire forced off with illness in England’s win over Iran and told Gareth Southgate before conceding first goal

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      HARRY MAGUIRE has revealed he came off during England’s win over Iran due to illness.But the defender says his exit was just a “precaution” and is already looking forward to facing the US on Friday.
      Harry Maguire was subbed off against Iran due to illnessCredit: PA
      Manchester United star Maguire lasted just 70 minutes as the Three Lions kicked off their World Cup campaign with an impressive 6-2 victory.
      Maguire, who had an excellent game, looked to be in discomfort as he was helped off the pitch by two England medics.
      And writing on social media, the ace confirmed he was struggling at the time due to illness.
      However, Maguire expects to be fit and ready for Friday’s clash against the US.
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      Maguire tweeted: “I felt unwell in the second half so came off as a precaution. Looking forward to Friday.”
      Maguire’s exit occurred moments after Mehdi Taremi fired home for Iran, with the centre-back appearing to struggle with his defensive duties.
      And boss Gareth Southgate admits Maguire had warned the England bench about his problem shortly before the goal went in.
      The Three Lions boss said: “Harry Maguire felt ill. He flagged it before the goal.
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      “There was no point carrying on, but other than that there’s no causes for concern.”
      Meanwhile, BBC pundit Gary Lineker told viewers that Maguire was suffering from “blurred vision.”
      And he was advised by an England dressing room source that there was nothing for fans to be concerned about.
      Speaking before Southgate’s update, Lineker said live on air: “Harry Maguire was struggling at that time.
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      “And apparently he had blurred vision, nothing too serious, he’s OK, we’re led to believe.
      “That’s what’s coming out of the England dressing room.”
      Despite Maguire coming off with illness, he was well enough to join his wife Fern Hawkins and daughter Lillie Saint in the stands after the matchCredit: Dan Charity More