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      Watch World Cup joker Emi Martinez gatecrash Sky Sports interview to kiss Aston Villa scorer Leon Bailey

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      EMIL MARTINEZ gatecrashed teammate Leon Bailey’s post-match interview with Sky Sports last night to plant a kiss on the Aston Villa goalscorer.The goalkeeper hit the headlines last month after helping Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar with crucial saves in their shoot-out victory over France.
      Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez was pumped up after the win over Leeds UnitedCredit: AP
      “It was really great to see the team be there for each other” 🙌Leon Bailey and Ashley Young reflect on a big win for Aston Villa with a brief cameo from Emi Martinez 😅 pic.twitter.com/quL1dhmyoG— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 13, 2023

      He returned to club action earlier this month after being granted time off to return to his homeland and celebrate that success with his international colleagues.
      The 30-year-old was back in Villa’s side for the 1-1 draw with Wolves on January 4.
      But he returned to winning ways at club level yesterday as they defeated Leeds United 2-1 in the Premier League.
      Winger Bailey, 25, neatly finished off a swift counter-attack to give the hosts an early lead at Villa Park.
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      Emiliano Buendia headed home midway through the second period to double that advantage before Patrick Bamford’s late strike for Leeds set-up a nervy finish.
      But Martinez and his pals held on to claim the crucial three points, and the ex-Arsenal stopper’s joy was on full display afterwards.
      Bailey and teammate Ashley Young were being interviewed on the pitch live on Sky Sports when the South American marched up behind them.
      He grabbed Bailey then planted a smacker right on the goalscorer’s head as they were mid-conversation.
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      Martinez, who has splashed out £20,000 on a guard dog used by the US Navy Seals to protect his medal and family, caused a furore moments after collecting the Glove Glove award after La Abliceleste’s World Cup triumph by putting the trophy to his crotch and thrusting it forward.
      His antics back in Buenos Aires then sparked more controversy after he goaded France’s Kylian Mbappe by holding a baby doll with the star’s face on it during the victory parade. More

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      Jose Mourinho reveals he TURNED DOWN Portugal job after World Cup despite Cristiano Ronaldo wanting him as new boss

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      JOSE MOURINHO revealed he rejected the Portugal manager’s job.That is despite Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wanting the Special One to succeed Fernando Santos.
      Jose Mourinho insists he rejected the chance to be Portugal managerCredit: Getty
      Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have wanted the Special One to replace Fernando SantosCredit: Getty
      Euro 2016-winning coach Santos was sacked after the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco in Qatar.
      The Portuguese FA appointed Roberto Martinez as his replacement, claiming he was the only manager they formally approached.
      But Mourinho’s version of events implies it was the current Roma chief who was the first choice before he turned them down.
      Part of the thinking was he would get the best out of Ronaldo, who was dropped during Qatar 2022.
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      Mourinho, who according to the Daily Mail would be Ronaldo’s preferred Portugal manager, said: “The fact that the president of the FPF said that I was not his first choice, but his only choice, makes me proud.
      “But I decided not to go. I’m here and that’s what matters.”
      Mourinho has hinted at stepping into international management and could be named as the next Brazil boss.
      But for now is staying put with Roma with 18 months left on his current contract.
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      He led the Serie A giants to the Europa Conference League last year and they are in the hunt for silverware and Champions League qualification this season.
      Martinez agreed to take over as Portugal chief just weeks after leaving his job with Belgium following their disastrous World Cup campaign.

      And one of the first moves the ex-Everton boss will play is holding talks with Ronaldo regarding the 37-year-old Al-Nassr star’s future for his country.
      Martinez said: “Football decisions have to be taken on the pitch. I’m not a coach that makes decisions in the boardroom.
      “My starting point is to get in touch with all the players, the list of 26 from the World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo is on that list.
      “He’s been with the national team for 19 years and he deserves the respect of being able to sit down and talk.
      “From there [the goal] is to create in ten weeks the best team for the qualification of the European championship.
      “Today is a day of satisfaction. Tomorrow we will start working, getting to know all of the players and Cristiano is one of them.” More

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      Fifa Puskas Award nominees for best goal of 2022 revealed including Balotelli’s rabona and Russo’s sensational backheel

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      MARIO BALOTELLI and Lioness hero Alessia Russo headline the list of Fifa Puskas Award nominees.The gong is handed out annually to the scorer of the year’s best goal.
      Erik Lamela is the Puskas Award’s reigning victorCredit: PA
      Its current holder is former Tottenham ace Erik Lamela for his sensational rabona against Arsenal during the 2020-21 season.
      Prem stars have dominated the award in recent years, with Son Heung-min, Mo Salah and Olivier Giroud all winning it while playing in England.
      SunSport takes a look at who is in the mix to win this year’s edition.
      MARIO BALOTELLI
      Former Manchester City and Liverpool star is now playing for Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
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      He netted five times in a 7-0 win over Goztepe last season, with his fifth a sensational rabona following a series of dazzling stepovers.
      Balotelli, 32, scored 18 goals in the Turkish top flight last term.
      Super Mario bagged an amazing rabona while playing in Turkey
      AMANDINE HENRY
      French midfield dynamo scored a remarkable goal on her way to winning last season’s Champions League with Lyon.
      Henry, 33, went into a crunching tackle, winning the ball high up the pitch.
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      She then unleashed an unstoppable effort from range into the top corner, her side beating Barcelona 3-1 to lift the trophy.
      Amandine Henry let fly from miles outCredit: FIFA
      THEO HERNANDEZ
      AC Milan star scored a sensational solo goal against Atalanta last season.
      The Frenchman picked up the ball deep in his own half and embarked on an amazing run.
      He slalomed his way through plenty of challenges into Atalanta’s box before falling into a remarkable finish.
      Theo Hernandez provided a clinical finish after a great runCredit: FIFA
      ALOU KUOL
      Aussie forward netted an outrageous scorpion kick while playing for his country’s Under-23s against Iraq.
      A cross was delivered from the right a little behind Kuol, but the Stuttgart forward miraculously contorted his body to somehow divert the ball goalwards.
      His brother Garang is a good player too, and signed for Newcastle in January.
      Alou Kuol executed a perfect scorpion kickCredit: FIFA
      KYLIAN MBAPPE
      The most high profile of the nominees was Kylian Mbappe’s sensational equaliser in the World Cup final against Argentina.
      Having netted a penalty to pull his side back to 2-1 moments earlier, Mbappe one-two’d with Marcus Thuram before unleashing a beautifully controlled shot beyond Emi Martinez.
      The France talisman went on to equalise again from the spot in extra time, before his side succumbed on penalties.
      Kylian Mbappe conjured a sensational World Cup final equaliserCredit: Alamy
      FRANCISCO GONZALEZ METILLI
      Argentine star bagged arguably the best volley on this list.
      Playing for Central Cordoba against Rosario Central, Gonzalez Metilli carefully watched the ball as it was floated towards him.
      The 25-year-old unleashed an amazing left-footed strike over the flailing keeper and into the top corner.
      Francisco Gonzelez Metilli unleashes a sensational volley
      MARCIN OLEKSY
      Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy wowed fans worldwide with his gravity defying bicycle kick.
      Oleksy sent his team-mates wild by swivelling with his crutches to produce an acrobatic finish.
      The Pole has great pedigree, having represented his country at the Amputee World Cup.
      Marcin Oleksy produced incredible athleticismCredit: FIFA
      SALMA PARALLUELO
      Spanish teenager announced herself on the global stage by scoring a sensational effort against Barcelona last term.
      The winger cut inside before perfectly curling an incredible strike into the top corner.
      Barca clearly took notice, signing Paralluelo just a few months later.
      Salma Paralluelo curled a remarkable shot into the top cornerCredit: FIFA
      DIMITRI PAYET
      Former West Ham star lit up the Europa Conference League for Marseille last season.
      During his side’s quarter-final with PAOK, a corner was chipped out to the Frenchman on the edge of the box.
      Taking the ball on the half volley, Payet smacked the cleanest of strikes right into the top corner, leaving team-mates with hands on their heads in disbelief.
      Dimitri Payet produced a sensational strike against PAOKCredit: FIFA
      RICHARLISON
      Tottenham star bagged the World Cup goal of the tournament gong for his amazing bicycle kick against Serbia for Brazil.
      The forward controlled Vinicius Jr’s cross, before swivelling in one motion to fire an incredible volley into the back of the net.
      He bagged twice in the match to hand his side a 2-0 win.
      Richarlison bagged the World Cup’s goal of the tournamentCredit: PA
      ALESSIA RUSSO
      Lioness star Alessia Russo all but sealed her side’s place in the Euro 2022 final in spectacular fashion.
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      Having played the role of super-sub perfectly throughout the tournament, Russo did so once again in the semi-final against Sweden.
      Collecting the rebound from her own shot, the Manchester United forward improvised superbly by back-heeling beyond the helpless goalkeeper to send her side into dreamland.
      Alessia Russo produces a brilliant back-heelCredit: Rex More

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      Watch Lionel Messi turn on the style and finish stunning team goal in first game back for PSG following World Cup win

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      LIONEL MESSI was the star of the show in his first game since the World Cup as PSG beat Angers 2-0.The forward has had a few weeks off since his historic World Cup win but showed no signs of rustiness on his return.
      Lionel Messi is starting 2023 how he finished 2022 🤷‍♂️It was marginal, but the GOAT doubles PSG’s lead 🐐He makes it look so easy… pic.twitter.com/KujydPyEAn— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 11, 2023

      Lionel Messi paid tribute to the late Pele before the gameCredit: Getty
      Messi impressed with a goal on his PSG returnCredit: AP
      Messi started in attack alongside Neymar and Hugo Ekitike, who opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
      The 35-year-old then got in the act after he finished off a brilliant PSG move to slot the ball into the back of the net with his weaker foot.
      Messi started the passing move and played a one-two with Sergio Ramos before finding Ekitike.
      He continued his clever run into the box and was picked out by Nordi Mukiele before scoring.
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      The linesman raised his flag to spoil Messi’s celebration – only for VAR to rule the Argentine had in fact timed his run to perfection.
      With PSG cruising Messi decided to turn on the style as the clock wound down.
      The World Cup winner was surrounded in the corner of the penalty box by two Angers defenders yet still managed to wrangle himself free with the ball.
      He cleverly turned away from one before flicking the ball past the second and finding Mukiele.
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      PSG’s win means they have lost just once in 18 Ligue Un games and top the league by six points.
      Messi now has eight goals in 14 league games this season and he paid tribute to the late Pele ahead of kick-off. More

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      ‘He’s the best of the best… my ideal’ – World Cup’s hottest fan Ivana Knoll reveals bizarre celebrity crush

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      IVANA KNOLL has revealed her bizarre celebrity crush – which has shocked her legion of fans.The Croatian model rose to global stardom during the World Cup with her array of sexy outfits in Qatar last year.
      Croatian model Ivana Knoll rose to fame during the World CupCredit: GETTY
      The 26-year-old was dubbed the World Cup’s ‘sexiest fan’Credit: ALAMY
      Knoll has rubbed shoulders with several celebs as of late – including DrakeCredit: INSTAGRAM@KNOLLDOLL
      Knoll says the Klitschko is her ‘ideal’ manCredit: BARSTOOL SPORTS
      Knoll – who was dubbed the World Cup’s sexiest fan – has rubbed shoulders with several celebs since the tournament, including Jamie Foxx and Drake.
      Her mingling with A-listers recently resulted in her being quizzed about her celeb crush during a recent appearance on a podcast.
      And the 26-year-old stunned listeners and her followers by revealing a former world heavyweight champion boxer to be her secret crush.
      She said: “I have one guy, who, for me, is the best of the best. Wladimir Klitschko, he’s one, nine, eight, six, six.”
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      The podcast host was left stunned by Knoll’s revelation, which she explained further.
      She said: “He’s like my ideal [man].”
      Through a fit of laughter, the podcast host replied: “Wladimir Klitschko, I mean, he’s good-looking.
      “But that’s a scary guy.”
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      Klitschko was the man at heavyweight until he ran into Brit Tyson Fury in November 2015, losing the unified titles to the Gypsy King.
      And he ended up retiring from boxing in August 2017, just a few months after losing a Wembley war for the ages against Anthony Joshua.
      Knoll was somewhat of an unofficial mascot during Croatia’s World Cup campaign, which ended at the semi-final hurdle.
      But she was proud of their efforts, taking to Instagram to write: “Sometimes we play amazing, sometimes not so well.
      “Sometimes in the semi-finals we have bad referee like yesterday to give penalty for nothing and losing the chance to get the trophy.
      “Sometimes we are underrated and then we show the way home to the most favored team, that is football…
      “But the most important thing, we are A SMALL COUNTRY WITH A BIG HEART and I am proud to be a Croatian forever and ever!”
      But she’s revealed ex-heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko to be her celeb crushCredit: GETTY More

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      Thierry Henry breaks silence on claims he has applied for Belgium manager’s job to replace Roberto Martinez

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      THEIRRY HENRY has broken his silence on rumours he’s after the Belgium job.The Red Devils are currently managerless following Roberto Martinez’s resignation on the back of a woeful group-stage exit at the World Cup last year.
      Roberto Martinez walked away from the Belgium job following a dismal World CupCredit: AP
      Martinez’s ex-No.2 Thierry Henry has been linked with the vacant Red Devils jobCredit: AFP
      But the Arsenal legend insists he hasn’t put his name forward for the roleCredit: GETTY
      Reports in Belgium have suggested Henry – who was Martinez’s No.2 – has made a beeline for the vacancy, although the footy great has dismissed that notion.
      During an appearance on Sky Sports, the Arsenal and France legend said: “I would like to make it abundantly clear that contrary to written reports, I have never contacted the Belgian FA offering my services as the new first team coach.
      “I think it’s vital that the truthful version of facts is always presented.
      The Belgium football association have wasted little time in trying to find a successor for Martinez.
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      An advert for the job read: “Even after the early elimination at the World Cup in Qatar, the RBFA remains very ambitious for the future.
      “The RBFA is looking for a full-time national team coach who knows how to win.
      “The new national team coach is extremely ambitious and has the necessary international experience at top level, football tactical knowledge and insights as well as the right personal skills.
      “He is a serial winner with experience in managing top players.
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      “He knows how to focus on creating a close-knit group and how to integrate young players.
      “The football association is looking for a tactical expert who supports his choices with data, technology and objective parameters and draws on RBFA’s sporting expertise and structure.”
      The writing was on the wall for Martinez when his star-studded squad failed to qualify for the last-16.
      The former Wigan boss said: “That was my last game with the national team and it’s emotional as you can imagine.
      “It was going to be the end whether we were world champions or out in the group stage. I has nothing to do with being eliminated at this stage.
      “This is the time for me to accept that this day is the last game. I took the decision just before the World Cup.
      “I always work in the long term. I believe the long-term projects need to be long term and they need to be set in advance.”
      Martinez’s underachieving during his six-year reign as Belgium chief, however, hasn’t held him back as he was appointed Portugal boss this week. More

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      People are only just realising Louis van Gaal’s real name with former Man Utd manager going by shortened version

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      FOOTBALL fans are just learning Louis van Gaal’s real name – with the Dutchman going with the shorter version. The legendary manager has enjoyed an incredible career in football but has now re-entered retirement following the World Cup.
      Despite managing some major football clubs in his time, many football fans were not aware of van Gaal’s interesting middle nameCredit: PA
      Van Gaal took charge of the Netherlands for the third time as he led them to Qatar.
      His Holland team had been making steady progress before being knocked out in a frantic game with Argentina in the quarter-finals.
      Footy fans who had followed the 71-year-old’s career thought they knew everything about him.
      But some will still be shocked to learn one of his middle names is “Maria”.
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      The former Manchester United manager’s full name is Aloysius Paulus Maria Louis van Gaal.
      He opts for the shorter version professionally.
      Fellow Dutchman Wout Weghorst – who could be Old Trafford-bound – also shares the middle-name of “Maria”.
      The Burnley striker’s full name is Wout François Maria Weghorst.
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      Van Gaal revealed in April that he was battling prostate cancer.
      He later revealed that his treatment for the illness was going well.
      He also said that he would not be taking another job after the World Cup.
      Van Gaal’s coaching career goes all the way back to the 1980s with his first major role being the assistant manager at Dutch club AZ.
      His first senior management role was at Ajax in 1991 and he would win the league three times in his six years at the club.
      Van Gaal would then have two stints at Barcelona and take charge of AZ and Bayern Munich.
      His final club job would be at Man United between 2014 and 2016.
      He would deliver the club’s first piece of major silverware following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
      But then Van Gaal would be sacked only days later before being replaced by Jose Mourinho. More

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      ‘I can’t make a fool of myself in goal’ – Hugo Lloris takes swipe at Emiliano Martinez over World Cup final antics

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      HUGO LLORIS has aimed a thinly-veiled dig at fellow goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for his World Cup final penalty antics.Martinez helped Argentina win the World Cup final against Lloris’ France last month on a shoot-out after the game had finished 3-3 in extra-time.
      Hugo Lloris took a thinly-veiled dig towards Emiliano MartinezCredit: AFP
      Martinez’s World Cup final antics caused controversyCredit: Getty
      But the Aston Villa goalkeeper copped flak for the way he tried to put off the Les Bleus spot-kick takers.
      He threw the ball away before Aurelien Tchouameni stepped up and missed, while his dancing celebrations after saving Kingsley Coman’s effort annoyed many.
      The mind games worked though as Martinez tasted glory along with Lionel Messi and Co, while Lloris and many of his French team-mates were denied the chance to win back-to-back World Cups, having triumphed in Russia four years before.
      Tottenham stopper Lloris became his country’s leading-appearance maker out in Qatar by reaching 145 caps, but retired from international football on Monday.
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      And while the 36-year-old conceded Martinez was “instrumental” to the victory in Doha, he himself would never resort to the kind of gamesmanship his opposite number employed.
      Lloris told French sports newspaper L’Equipe: “There are some things I can’t do. 
      “Making a fool of myself in goal, rattling my opponent and crossing the line… I just can’t do that. 
      “I’m too rational and honest a man to go that way. I don’t know how to win like that, although I didn’t really want to lose like that either.“
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      Martinez received more stick for the way he celebrated his nation’s victory.
      The ex-Arsenal man made a lewd gesture with his Golden Glove prize during the trophy ceremony, which he later explained was a way of hitting back at the French fans who had booed him.
      While he mocked Kylian Mbappe – who scored a hat-trick in the final – during Argentina’s open-bus hero tour back in Buenos Aires by holding up a toy of the Paris Saint-Germain superstar which had been thrown towards him.
      The behaviour saw him branded “the biggest son of a b**** in football” by former France international Adil Rami, but Lloris decided not to add his voice to the criticism.
      Tottenham’s captain added: “He was instrumental. Concerning his celebrations, he has been judged enough for that, no need to add anything more. 
      “During the shoot-out, he used every trick in the books to destabilise us.” More