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      Fifa media chief and ex-Sky reporter Bryan Swanson comes out as gay during Infantino’s press conference in Qatar

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      FIFA media chief and ex-Sky reporter Bryan Swanson has come out as gay during Gianni Infantino’s press conference in Qatar. The FIFA president had been launching a staunch defence of the World Cup hosts who have come under sustained criticism in recent days.
      Swanson spent several years as Sky Sport News’ chief reporter before moving to FIFACredit: PA
      Fans have been in uproar over a sudden u-turn on Qatar’s alcohol policy, which followed far bigger controversies over the country’s stance on human rights and homosexuality.
      Swanson sought to defend FIFA over the issue with an impassioned defence of Infantino.
      The former Sky Sports Reporter, who joined FIFA as Director of Media Relations in 2021, came out as gay as he looked to calm nerves over the tournament.
      He said: “I have seen a lot of criticism of Gianni Infantino since I’ve joined FIFA, particularly from the LGBTI community.
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      “I am sitting here in a privileged position, on a global stage, as a gay man, here in Qatar.
      “We have received assurances that everyone is welcome and I believe everyone will be welcome in this World Cup.
      “Just because Gianni Infantino is not gay does not mean he does not care. He does care.
      “You see the public side. I see the private side. We have spoken on a number of occasions about this.
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      “I thought long and hard about whether to mention this in this news conference, this after all is a news conference for the FIFA president, but I do feel strongly about it.”
      Swanson’s intervention came after Infantino launched an astonishing attack on the “racist” and “hypocritical” west for daring to criticise Qatar.
      In an hour-long diatribe that left a room of international reporters open-mouthed in disbelief, the Swiss told European critics they were deliberately misrepresenting the host nation.
      He said: “This criticism is profoundly unjust.
      “You don’t start accusing, fighting, insulting. You start engaging.
      “We have heard many moral lessons from Europe and the western world.
      “But for what we Europeans have done over the past 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3000 years before starting to give moral lessons here.
      “Reform and change takes time. It took hundred of years in Europe. 
      “The only way to compare results is by engaging and dialogue, not by hammering and insults.”

      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World Cup

      On gay fans being welcome to the tournament, Infantino said: “I can confirm that everyone is welcome. I have had this conversation several times.
      “Anyone who says the opposite, it is not the opinion of the country or of Fifa. 
      “Everyone who comes to Qatar must be welcome and is welcome. Whatever religion, race, sexual orientaton. 
      “That is our requirement and the Qatari state will stick to that.
      “You will tell me there is legislation here, you can go to jail for being gay. 
      “But that legislation exists in many countries. It was there in Switzerland in 1954 when they organised the World Cup.
      “Yes, you can say that it is bad that it is not allowed to be publicly gay. Of course I believe it should be allowed but I went through a process.” More

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      Who is referee Danny Makkelie, how many major tournaments has Dutchman refereed at?

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      OFFICIAL Danny Makkelie is back on the world stage and is seen as one of the best referees on the planet.The Dutchman, a former policeman, was in charge for England’s Euro 2020 semi-final between England and Denmark.
      Makkelie has been selected as a VAR assistant for the World CupCredit: AFP – Getty
      He was also the ref for Finland’s defeat to Russia in the group stages.Has he officiated at major tournaments before?
      A former police inspector, Makkelie will accept no messing about in the Wembley match-up.
      He was first listed as a FIFA referee in 2011 and at 38 years old, still has plenty of seasons under his belt.
      Before this tournament, Makkelie was the referee for the 2020 Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter Milan, but this is his first major international tournament in the middle.
      What else has he done so far?
      Makkelie made his Eredivise debut in 2009 and has gone on to make over 180 appearances across nine seasons.
      He took charge of five Champions League fixtures in 2019, including the quarter-final first leg when Barcelona beat AS Roma 4-1.
      The Dutchman was blasted by the Italians’ boss Eusebio di Francesco for denying them a penalty in that game, but it proved irrelevant as Roma heroically won the second leg 3-0 to progress on away goals.
      Makkelie has also been involved in the Europe League, officiating 11 matches from 2012 to 2017.
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      Has he used VAR before?
      The Dutchman has been involved in two major controversies with the VAR system.
      Makkelie became the first referee to send-off a player using the technology after he changed his yellow-card decision to a sending off against Willem II’s Anouar Kalu in a KNVB Cup game in 2016.
      He was also involved in one of the most famous and controversial usages of VAR when he took charge of the Dutch Super Cup final between Feyenoord and Vitesse.
      During that match, Feyenoord saw a goal disallowed and a penalty awarded to Vitesse instead after a VAR review showed Makkelie should have given the spot kick before the goal was scored.
      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World CupWorld Cup 2022 LIVE: Latest news and updates from Qatar
      World Cup schedule: What are the kick-off times for all the matches?
      World Cup prize money: How much does each winner earn?
      Who are the ITV pundits and commentators?
      Who are the BBC pundits and commentators?
      Meet England’s World Cup wags who are staying on a £1bn cruise ship More

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      Aaron Ramsey opens up on tragedy behind Wales’ World Cup 2022 bid and says squad is driven on by memory of Gary Speed

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      AARON RAMSEY will be driven on by the cherished memory of Gary Speed as Wales kick off their first World Cup match since 1958.The emotional star midfielder, 31, fulfils a lifetime dream when he walks out for a poignant occasion against the USA on Monday at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
      Aaron Ramsey was possibly hardest hit by the death of then-Wales manager Gary Speed 11 years agoCredit: Getty
      The whole nation remembered Gary Speed, who was a hero as a player and then a manager, when Wales took on Estonia at Cardiff last yearCredit: Getty
      Finally reaching a global finals has been a long 64-year wait for the whole of Wales against a backdrop of qualification setbacks.
      But Ramsey, captain Gareth Bale and the old guard have rallied from personal adversity following the tragic death of former boss Speed, aged 42, in November 2011 to reach two Euros and now the Holy Grail.
      Rambo was perhaps the hardest hit by Speed’s passing, because he was then Wales captain after being appointed by his hero.
      Speed’s successor Chris Coleman replaced Ramsey with Ashley Williams as skipper in October 2012 because of the heavy toll it took on him.
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      And, as the memories flood back on the eve of his first World Cup tournament, the 75-cap star admits that Speed’s spirit will never be far from his mind in Qatar.
      Ramsey, who fought back tears with his voice close to breaking on the BBC  documentary Together Stronger, movingly said: “Gary is always in our thoughts with everything that we have done.
      “I get emotional because a lot has  happened along the way to achieving this. I’m so glad I get to live my dream.
      “But it was Gary’s dream and vision for us to qualify for Brazil in 2014.
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      “When he  came in, one of the targets he set was to qualify for a World Cup.
      “If you look at where we are now, you can see it has Gary’s fingerprints all over it. He was the one who got things moving for us and definitely got us ready for these experiences that we’ve had.
      “We didn’t manage to do so then —  to be finally able to do that now makes it even more emotional and special for us. This means everything.
      “He will forever be in our thoughts and definitely again on Monday before our first game.”
      Speed, who took over as Wales manager from John Toshack in December 2010, set the Dragons on their path to success.
      However, in August 2011, they recorded their lowest-ever Fifa ranking of 117th.
      But Ramsey, who told his childhood sweetheart wife Colleen at the age of 15 he would, ‘Take Wales to a World Cup one day’, says he was totally convinced by Speed’s masterplan.
      Ramsey added: “Gary had this way about him that you would believe anything  he’d say. He was a leader and convinced us all.
      “When he got the job I was really excited. He was brilliant for me, gave me a big responsibility at a young age and he could see a lot of himself in me because we played in a similar position.
      Ex-Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey is thrilled to finally be playing at a World CupCredit: PA
      “He was demanding on the field but such a nice guy. He helped  the players to try to achieve a big dream of ours.
      “From where we were to where we got to in that short space of time was remarkable. Anything was possible.”
      But tragedy rocked Wales on Sunday, November 27, 2011, when news of Speed’s shock  death broke.
      Ramsey recalled: “I was in my living room and it popped up on the TV. I had a couple of texts come through and I called Chris Gunter straight away to see if he had heard anything.
      “I didn’t quite believe it at the time, I don’t think anybody did.“It was a difficult time because I was just thinking of him and his family, his young boys at the time.
      “We had seen him a few weeks before, he seemed really happy.
      “In one of his last training sessions he nutmegged one of the players. He still showed he had class and could still play.
      “To get that news was shocking. It affected everybody, not just me but the Welsh public and the world of football.”
      Coleman rebuilt Wales, taking them to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France — with Ramsey a standout performer.
      To get that news was shocking. It affected everybody, not just me but the Welsh public and the world of football.Aaron Ramsey
      The ex-Arsenal ace, now at Nice in Ligue 1, also played at the Euros last summer  and helped Robert Page’s side book their spot for Qatar with a play-off  victory over Ukraine in June.
      Ramsey added: “It was huge. It was a massive dream and it became a reality. I remember after the game I just collapsed to the floor.
      “It’s almost like it has come full circle. We had qualified for a Euros but this was the one that meant the most really.
      “We all had dreams. You did think, ‘Are we actually going to get there?’ but we kept  belief.”
      After USA, Wales face Iran and then a final Group B clash with  England — who beat  Ramsey and Co with a late Euro 2016 victory — on November 29.
      Ramsey recalled: “We scored the goal early and it was a game where we wanted to protect that lead and hold on.
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      “We came very close to doing that but these things can happen.
      “The reality is we’re a small nation up against  giants of world football. This team is  humble but we try  to compete with the best. We’ve  shown we are capable of doing that over the last few years.” More

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      Marcelo Bielsa gives another of his famous teamtalks to World Cup side… and he’s watched their last FIFTY games

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      MARCELO BIELSA has surpassed even his own incredible standards of obsessiveness with his latest teamtalk for the World Cup.The mind-bogglingly meticulous, “murderball”-playing, maverick manager told stunned players he had watched their last FIFTY matches as they prepared for Qatar.
      Marcelo Bielsa is currently delivering a lecture at the Legia Warsaw stadium in Poland 🇵🇱According to one of the attendees, Bielsa, in preparation for this lecture, watched the last 50 matches of the Polish national team. He presented a minutes schedule of 65 players. pic.twitter.com/iPzv8lbT4a— Marcelo Bielsa بالعربي ☪️ (@MarceloBielsaAR) November 15, 2022

      Marcelo Bielsa is arguably the most meticulous manager in the worldCredit: PA
      And the former Leeds, Argentina and Chile chief wasn’t even assisting a South American nation.
      The Argentinian, 67, who is strongly tipped to take over at Bournemouth, helped out POLAND.
      Watched by a large crowd at the Legia Warsaw Stadium in Poland, he reportedly unveiled his comprehensive analysis of SIXTY-FIVE Polish stars.
      One observer on social media said: “Sounds like the kind of obsession levels Eddie Howe had with analysis and improvement. Would love to see him at Bournemouth.”
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      Bielsa is most famous for admitting spying on Championship rivals with Leeds.
      He even gave the media a 66-MINUTE powerpoint presentation showing how he had analysed Derby.
      No rules were breached but Leeds were fined £200,000 for “failing to act in good faith” towards rival teams.
      Bielsa had even shocked Elland Road chiefs when they first approached him – by revealing he had watched ALL their games the previous season and listed every formation used by their opponents.

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      His so-called “murderball’ sessions became notorious at Leeds, with players exhausted by the ball being constantly in play.
      But Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is among many of Bielsa’s extreme admirers – describing him as the world’s top manager. More

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      Keir Starmer admits his fave footie memory was watching England lose to Germany on penalties at Euro 96

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      SIR Keir Starmer last night admitted one of his favourite footie moments was watching England LOSE to Germany on penalties.The self-claimed footie mad Labour chief recalled watching the nation’s humiliation at Euro 96 ahead of the World Cup starting next week.
      Sir Keir is a self proclaimed football fanatic but admits shocking fave football memoryCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
      Sir Keir laughed as he described the “agonising” experience of sitting “up almost on top of” Gascoigne in the stands when the England legend missed an open goal during extra time.
      Away from footie, Sir Keir also confessed yesterday he HAS kissed a Tory and he’s not ashamed of it.
      The Labour leader’s admission came after lefty loonies sparked outrage this year for parading around in “never kissed a Tory” t-shirts.
      Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell joined in too, even posting a snap in the top on social media.
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      Sir Keir slammed the divisive garment in an interview with The Times, revealing: “I’m afraid I’ve broken that rule”.
      But the Labour chief, who insists he isn’t “tribal”, won’t kiss and tell.
      He said: “I’ve got very good friends who are Tories and they’ve been very, very good friends of mine for a very, very long time, and long may that last.”
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      England star Alexander-Arnold shows off ripped physique as he models Calvin Klein underpants ahead of World Cup 2022

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      ENGLAND star Trent Alexander-Arnold said “Calvin’s or Nothing” as he modelled some underpants ahead of the World Cup.The right-back will be hoping for more than a brief stay in Qatar as the Three Lions chase glory.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold models Calvin Klein pantsCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      The Liverpool star shows off his chiselled physiqueCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      Alexander-Arnold will surely have packed enough pairs for a deep England run in QatarCredit: Calvin Klein via Instagram / @calvinklein
      And he’ll surely have packed enough pairs of pants if his latest endorsement deal is anything to go by.
      Alexander-Arnold, 24, has landed a modelling deal with Calvin Klein.
      In a new advertisement released to coincide with the World Cup, the Liverpool star can be seen wearing a variety of different pants.
      He dons a skimpy pair of briefs, as well as white and black boxer shorts.
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      In a brief clip posted to social media, the chiselled footballer stares into the camera as he says the slogan “Calvins or Nothing”.
      The underwear brand may have been sweating on their decision to select Trent as their man, when a dip in form threw his World Cup selection into jeopardy.
      But Reece James’ devastating injury secured Alexander-Arnold’s place in the squad for good.
      The talented technician will compete with Kieran Trippier for a starting berth at right wing-back in England’s World Cup opener on Monday.
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      Fellow right-back Kyle Walker won’t quite be ready for the clash, despite returning to training this week.
      The Manchester City star has been out of action since early October with a groin injury.
      Gareth Southgate’s men begin their campaign against Iran on Monday, before a meeting with the USA on November 25 followed by a Battle of Britain with Wales five days later.
      Alexander-Arnold, 24, will be hoping to start against Iran on MondayCredit: Getty More

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      I’ve been moaning about this World Cup for nearly 12 years but here’s why it’s time to stop the whining and back England

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      I HAVE been moaning non-stop for 11 years, 11 months and 17 days.That’s an awful lot of moaning.
      The decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has never felt rightCredit: Rex
      Now it’s here we should embrace the World Cup, says Adrian ChilesCredit: aecanter
      My moan-a-thon commenced on the afternoon of Thursday, December 2, 2010 — the day Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup.
      To be fair, for the first eight years I also had the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia to moan about.
      But ever since that one was done and dusted, I’ve been able to focus my fury ­exclusively on Qatar. And I’m not the only one.
      Just about everyone else has weighed in, with good reason, on more or less every single aspect of it.
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      The human rights record of the Qatari regime; the carbon footprint; the ­timing . . . you name it.
      Fifa has been good enough to give us plenty to go on.
      More came thick and fast this week as the hordes of journalists arrived in Doha and started whingeing about the pricey pints and soaring ­temperatures.
      To be fair, if I was lucky enough to be there, I’d ­probably have the nerve to be having a whinge of my own.
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      But really, what else was anybody expecting in a dry state in the Middle East?.
      Even some fans lucky enough to be there were at it.
      Some old boy was on the radio saying how he was being forced to fly in to watch every Wales match from nearby Dubai. Cue an orchestra of tiny violins.
      I think we call these gripes First World problems nowadays.
      Because the truth of the ­matter is — as ever — that the vast majority of fans won’t be at the World Cup.
      DESERVE BETTER
      They’ll be where they ­usually are every four years.
      They’ll be somewhere far more familiar, where it costs much less for a bevvy and you can drink it pretty much whenever you like.
      They call it home . . . or the pub.
      It’s time to blow the whistle on the Qatar complaints. Enough now. It’s happening.
      Let’s hold our noses and enjoy the party.
      This is what I’ve resolved to do, having frightened myself working out that I’ll probably only experience another six World Cups in my lifetime.
      And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Fifa or anyone else ruin any one of them for me.
      Sepp Blatter announced Qatar would host the World Cup way back in 2010Credit: AFP
      If I make it to 80, my last major tournament will be the 2046 World Cup, held God knows where. Mars, probably.
      I’ll be making the trip, no matter what the political ­situation is there.
      I feel sorry for the players. Extravagantly paid they might be, living lives of great luxury, but time stops for no man and they’ll be lucky to have the chance of playing in any more than three World Cups.
      If we’re not careful we’ll have them feeling like soldiers sent off to fight in an ­unpopular war, unheralded and uncelebrated.
      They deserve better from us. None of this is their fault.
      And yet they are now the only ones who can change everything about our attitude to this World Cup.
      As the old saying goes, when your team’s winning matches, even the pies taste good.
      Yes, they can turn it all round for us, and we’ve got to start getting right behind them to help them do it.
      A good start for our boys, followed by progress in the knockout stages accompanied perhaps by a few late dramas,, and nigh-on 12 solid years of moaning will all be forgotten.
      When it does, you can bet everyone over there will stop their whining.
      They’ll be popping corks on million pound bottles of ­champagne. Maybe.
      My mind goes back to ­something Gordon Strachan said to me at the World Cup of 2014.
      We were broadcasting from Copacabana Beach.
      Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini was one of the World Cup’s craziest momentsCredit: Pixel8000
      The story of the day had been Luis Suarez trying to make a snack out of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
      One player actually biting another? ­Disgraceful!
      The Uruguayan was in a world of trouble. A lifetime ban was even mooted.
      I suggested to Gordon that Suarez might never play again.
      “Of course he will,” laughed Gordon. “Because there is no morality in football.”
      He was right. It’s the worst thing about the game, but also the best.
      Yes, terrible transgressions of decent, human behaviour may be forgiven or overlooked, because brilliant football trumps everything.
      The Suarez-Chiellini chompfest is a case in point.
      SOMETHING SPECIAL
      Chiellini himself wrote in his memoir that not only did he forgive Suarez the bite, he actually admired him for it.
      Football will always win out. It’s bigger than all of us, as we’ll see in the coming weeks.
      It’s bigger than Fifa or Qatar or Russia or whichever referee or players offend our sensibilities this time round.
      Once it gets going, I believe we’ll all get going.
      And once England get going, the sky will be the limit.
      Qatar — quite unjustly — will feel like the most normal place on Earth, and back home it’ll be like winter isn’t happening.
      But we, the fans at home, need to do our bit to get England out of the starting blocks.
      Ahead of the women’s Euros this summer I had a hunch our team was going to do something special.
      For once — and I mean once — in my football life, I was right. (I had to be right sooner or later. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.)
      Almost out of superstition, I hereby repeat the words I wrote in The Sun about England’s women before that tournament started.
      I said that it was important to get behind them from the beginning, because it would be no good jumping on the bandwagon when they got to the final and won it.
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      So, in the spirit of that, I pray to you, myself and all other interested parties: Let the moaning stop and the cheering commence as a ­joyous English march to the final begins.
      Bring it on.
      The nation will be backing England to end their long wait for the trophyCredit: AFP More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Qatar along with Portugal team-mates with Man Utd career doomed after explosive revelations

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO and his Portuguese team-mates have touched down in Qatar.The Manchester United forward, who has caused shockwaves with his explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week, is heading towards his fifth and probably final World Cup.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal squad have touched down in QatarCredit: Reuters
      The star was suited and booted as he hit the tarmac in the Middle EastCredit: AP
      He and his international colleagues were suited and booted as they landed at Hamad International Airport on Friday.
      Ronaldo, 37, missed last night’s 4-0 friendly victory over Nigeria due to a stomach bug.
      However, he showed no ill-effects as he looked a picture of concentration in front of the camera upon arrival in the Middle East.
      It comes amid news that United are preparing to take legal action against the legend over his bombshell interview.
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      SunSport revealed exclusively this week that the club wanted to rip up his contract and now a club statement has now seemed to confirm that.
      United have reportedly instructed Ronaldo not to return to Carrington once he gets back from the World Cup.
      It is also understood the club have begun the legal process to terminate Ronaldo’s £500k-a-week deal without paying him a single penny of the £16million he would have earned until he deal expires at the end of June.
      The statement read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview.
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      “We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
      He hit out at United for “betraying” him and making him feel like a “black sheep” as well as blaming him for everything going wrong at the club.
      The striker revealed he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and blasted the club’s lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 – the last time they won the title.
      And he also claimed that the club “doubted” him after he informed them that the reason he arrived late of pre-season was because his baby daughter was in hospital through illness.
      On the second part of the incredible interview he shockingly revealed he wants bitter rivals Arsenal to clinch the title if United can’t – that was after stating that he believes his side are three years away from challenging themselves.
      But for at least the nest fortnight the superstar is focussed on trying to land the one crown that has so far evaded him.
      Portugal kick-off their World Cup campaign next Thursday against Ghana.
      They then face Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. More