World Cup

LIONEL MESSI and his Argentina team-mates have shunned the five-star hotel treatment for STUDENT ACCOMMODATION at the World Cup. And the reason why? So they can host barbeques.
Lionel Messi and co have arrived in Qatar as one of the tournament favouritesCredit: AP
Argentina’s squad will be living a life similar to a Qatari student for the next monthCredit: Qatar University
The campus has a large canteen and has 90 rooms insideCredit: Qatar University
An open-air area has already been constructed to suite the team’s needsCredit: Qatar University
Argentina’s squad arrived in Doha during the early hours of Thursday morning, but rather than head for some of the slicker accommodation options they have headed to Qatar University to stay in the student halls there.
It’s not to say any of the Argentine team need further education – particularly in football given their Copa America triumph last year.
Instead, the decision was taken by Argentine officials in order to allow them to have asados, which is one of the country’s traditional culinary dishes.
A source from the Argentine FA told the Mail: “We visited the campus several times and chose it because not only does it have great facilities but it also has open-air space for asados.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
“This is very important to the players and Argentines in general, it’s part of our culture.
“We want to make them feel at home while they are in Qatar and the best way to do this is to make sure that they get a taste of home while focusing on the football.”
A custom-built barbeque has already been installed to allow the team to enjoy asados, which is typically barbequed meat coated lightly with coarse salt and then paired with a salad and wine.
While they will likely be told to not overindulge in the latter, the main dish of meat has been brought along for the ride along with a specialist asado chef.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
The accommodation itself houses start-of-the-art sporting facilities including an Olympic size swimming pool and a 10,000-capacity stadium.
The 90-room campus located on the edge of Doha is considered to be one of the leading Universities in the region.
Messi has already confirmed that Qatar will be his final World Cup.
As a result, he will be hoping to go out on a high after suffering in the 2014 final as Mario Gotze crashed home an extra-time winner for Germany.
However, a trio of pundits predict that Argentina will at best make it to the quarter-finals, while they also reckon Qatar will beat England in the last 16.
The campus is equipped with state of the art sports facilitiesCredit: Qatar University
The Campus is located just outside of DohaCredit: Qatar University
Messi has previously been pictured trying his hand at barbequeing More

IRAN star Alireza Jahanbakhsh has suggested there is an English effort to disrupt Iran’s preparations ahead of Monday’s World Cup opener.There have been mass anti-government protests in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by the country’s so-called ‘morality’ police for allegedly breaking their hijab rules.
Iran suggest England are trying to disrupt their World Cup preparationsCredit: Reuters
Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates 15,800 have been detained and 341 killed in the protests.
Some sports people have shown solidarity with the protestors, including Iran forward Sardar Azmoun.

Yet when asked about how the political situation back home has affected the squad ahead of their World Cup campaign, Jahanbakhsh hit back, hinting at an ulterior motive from his English inquisitor.
Speaking ahead of Monday’s group opener against the Three Lions, the former Brighton forward, 29, said: “So first of all to be honest I’m not surprised you are asking this question. 
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
“I think everyone is expecting this sort of question and I assume you’re from the English media probably. 
“I’m going to start with this that obviously it’s going to come up, similar questions, the next question definitely. 
“But like everyone of you know we are here for our duty and our duty is to play football. To be honest, I’m not sure if England wasn’t in our group you would have come with this question firstly. 
“And secondly we have been facing this already for a couple of weeks with all the English media – this was all the headlines as we get closer to the World Cup whatever the reason is.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
“What I’m trying to say – and I’m sure you’re going to ask Ali (Beiranvand, his team-mate) the same question – is that we are out here to play football and that is the main thing everybody is focused on. 
“Why are we here? To be honest if you ask this question outside my duty to the national team I would have answered the question with a different view. 
“But since I was a kid I was always dreaming to play for the national team and Team Melli has always been a big dream for me and I’m sure it’s the same for everyone in the squad. 
“We always want to respect the jersey and to respect Team Melli no matter what and every single guy who represents the Iran national team has worked so hard to be here and for the last World Cups. 
“We’ve been through a lot of difficulties and listen, throughout the years there have been a lot of up and downs in every way we can talk about but when football comes together I think we can make joy and we can make happiness for people.
“That’s all I want to say because listen to bring it this way – ok, play a mental game, ask a question about what’s going on here or there or whatever but we have just four days to go to play one of the biggest games of our lives – every single person involved in Team Melli – and all of us are focusing on that game.”

Jahanbakhsh was also asked whether he would celebrate a goal if he scored and if the team would sing the national anthem.
Players in the Iranian league have refused to celebrate goals for months now in a show of solidarity with those protesting against their government.
When they do net, usually the player brings their hands down – a gesture where the intention appears to be to remind those watching of what is going on in the country.
While some players in the squad have not sung their national anthem in recent games.
The ex-Albion ace, who famously netted an overhead kick against Chelsea on New Year’s Day 2020, replied: “You talk about celebrations?
“Celebrations are something very personal, every single player has different celebrations and you ask about the national anthem that is also something that has to be decided in the team, which we have already talked about and obviously everyone has talked about it. 
Read More on The Sun
“But we have never made a big deal out of it because everybody is only thinking and talking about football. 
“I’m just saying that for everybody who is here in this room, that’s the answer from me and every single player who is representing Team Melli.” More