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      Son Heung-min in race against time to make World Cup with Spurs star to undergo surgery on facial fracture

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      TOTTENHAM ace Son Heung-Min is facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after it was revealed he will undergo surgery.Son was forced off after a heavy challenge from Chancel Mbemba saw his shoulder clash into his face.
      Son Heung-Min suffered an injury against MarseilleCredit: AP
      He was forced to leave the pitch and will now undergo surgeryCredit: AP
      The pair competed for a header with the former Newcastle man coming off better and unintentionally seeing his shoulder connect with Son’s face.
      And on Wednesday, Son was tested for a concussion, with the protocol dictating that if a player is found to have a concussion they must sit out for six days.
      However, those early fears have been beset by the fact Son could even be a doubt for the World Cup after Tottenham released a statement confirming surgery for the 30-year-old.
      A statement on their site read: “We can confirm that Heung-Min Son will undergo surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye.
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      “The South Korea international suffered the injury during the first half of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League victory at Olympique Marseille.
      “Following surgery, Son will commence rehabilitation with our medical staff and we shall update supporters further in due course.”
      It will mean he will almost definitely be out of Sunday’s clash against Liverpool.
      Tottenham are already contesting with a number of big injuries to their squad.
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      Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Christian Romero were all absent from the 2-1 win in France.
      It was worth noting however, that Man City star Kevin de Bruyne suffered a similar injury in the Champions League final and then proceeded to play in the following European Championships.
      While he did miss the first game, it should give Son some hope of making the tournament, especially considering South Korea are the final group to play – with their opener not until November 24. More

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      Dream Team World Cup: Price ranges and provisional teams explained

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      DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP is now live!With £50,000 in prize money up for grabs and free entry to everyone aged over 18 in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the best fantasy football game available is guaranteed to enhance your experience of this winter’s drama in Qatar.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!

      Since this year’s edition of the prestigious tournament is set to be a unique one, gaffers need to be aware of how Dream Team World Cup will work given the unusual circumstances.
      Allow us to explain…
      Dream Team World Cup is free to play
      The first thing to note is that the deadline for the 32 participating countries to submit their final squads is November 13th, meaning Dream Team World Cup won’t contain the complete allocation of players until November 14th.
      Since that only leaves a week until the tournament gets underway with Qatar v Ecuador on November 20th, we’re inviting you to select a provisional team in the meantime so you can start plotting your route to glory.
      Teams selected from now until November 14th are classified as ‘provisional’ because player prices will not be locked in until all the squads are officially confirmed.
      That’s why each player has been assigned a price range for the time being, so that gaffers can get an idea of a potentially workable XI.
      For example, Thiago Silva’s price currently displays as £5m – £5.5m but his exact price won’t be confirmed until November 14th.
      Players have been assigned price ranges for the time being
      When selecting your provisional team, you will see the total value of your XI displayed as a range – E.G £48m – £53.5m.
      This would mean that if all your selected players end up at the higher end of their range your XI will come in £3.5m over the £50million budget.
      At this stage you will be invited to edit your team so that it falls within the limit – please note that any XI with a finalised total value over £50m will not be eligible to score points.
      Alternatively, if all your selected players are finalised at the lower end of their price ranges, you would have a further £2m to invest on improvements available to you.
      The most important thing is that your team falls within the £50million limit by the time the tournament starts.
      You will not be able to submit a provisional team if the lowest value in your total range is above £50m – we recommend aiming for a lower end value of between £47m – £48m as this is likely to bring you closest to the £50m limit once squads and prices are finalised.
      What are you waiting for? Get involved!

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!

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      Everything you need to know about Dream Team World Cup – the best fantasy football game for this winter’s tournament

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      ARE you experiencing the symptoms of World Cup fever?Then we’ve got just the thing for you – Dream Team World Cup!
      Why not enhance your experience of this winter’s tournament by playing the best fantasy football game available to fans aged 18 or over in the UK and Republic of Ireland while also competing for £50,000 in prize money?
      Our World Cup game is completely free to play right now via our website or app (available via the App Store and Google’s Play Store) so whether you fancy your chances of winning a life-changing amount of money or simply want to have some fun with your mates, there’s every reason to get involved.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP – £50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!

      Play Dream Team World Cup this winter
      HOW TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP:

      Pick eleven players
      Make sure your team falls within the £50million limit when exact prices are confirmed
      Watch on as your players score points through goals, assists, clean sheets, 7+ match ratings, hat-tricks and Star Man awards
      Use your allocation of 30 transfers to react to the drama as the tournament progresses
      Compete in mini-leagues against your mates while aiming to land a chunk of the £50,000 prize pot

      The 2022 World Cup is a unique one in that it will take place from November 20th to December 18th, interrupting the regular season.
      Each of the 32 nations set to compete in the tournament have until November 13th, just one week before the first game, to submit their final squads.
      Because of this, Dream Team World Cup managers are invited to select a provisional squad first, before confirming their XI in the week leading up to the opening fixture when exact prices will be finalised.
      At this stage, players have been assigned price ranges to give you a guide on squad value – for example, Lionel Messi is £7m – £7.5m, Luka Modric is £4.5m – £5m, Jude Bellingham is £3.5m – £4m, and so on.
      You can submit your initial XI as long as the lower end of the total price range is below £50m limit – feel free to make as many changes as you like before the tournament gets underway.
      When all the squads are confirmed, all relevant players will be added to the game and exact prices will be finalised (November 14th) – you will then be invited to ensure your XI falls within the £50m budget, you will not score any points if your XI exceeds the limit.
      Join Gareth Southgate in his quest for glory in QatarCredit: getty
      SCORING

      Goal scored +5 points
      Hat-trick (three or more goals) +5 points
      Assist +2 points
      Star Man (as determined by WhoScored) +5 points
      7+ match rating (as determined by WhoScored) +3 points
      Yellow card -1 point
      Red card -3 points
      Penalty missed -3 points
      Clean sheet (goalkeepers and defenders only) +5 points
      Each goal conceded over one goal (goalkeepers and defenders only) -1 point
      Penalty save or miss (goalkeepers only) +3 points

      Please note that players are not able to score points in any penalty shootouts that may occur in the knockout stages.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP – £50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!

      TRANSFERS
      You’ll have 30 transfers available to you throughout the tournament, enabling you to react to the unfolding drama.
      No more than three transfers can be made on a single day.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in international footballCredit: getty
      Players will be locked out once the country they represent has kicked off on any given day and will therefore not be eligible to be transferred (in or out) until the following day.
      For example, if Argentina have played in the morning and France are due to play in the evening, you cannot transfer Lionel Messi out for Karim Benzema and hope to earn points for the Frenchman as the transfer will not go through until the following day.
      Generally speaking, it’s best to make transfers at the end of the day once all fixtures are complete or in the morning before the first game gets underway.
      See our terms and conditions for clarification if anything is unclear.
      What are you waiting for? Sign-up now!

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      World Cup 2022 – England vs Iran: Date, TV channel, live stream and kick-off time for Three Lions’ first Qatar clash

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      ENGLAND begin their 2022 World Cup campaign with a clash against unfancied Group B opponents Iran later this month. The Three Lions’ last World Cup campaign ended in agony as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in the semi-finals of the 2018 edition in Russia.
      England play Iran in their opening World Cup game in QatarCredit: Getty
      But four years on from then, and with a Euro 2020 final appearance in the bag too, Gareth Southgate’s men are looking to finally overcome the very last hurdle.
      It’s been 56 years since England won their first and only World Cup, and expectations of the team continue to grow every four years.
      Iran will be their first test, before further group stage clashes with rivals Wales and 2010 World Cup group rivals USA.
      This tournament could be make or break for Southgate, who may view the Qatar showpiece as his last opportunity to finally win major silverware as England boss.
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      When is England vs Iran?

      England’s 2022 World Cup opener with Iran will get underway from 1pm UK time on Monday, November 21.
      The game will be held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar’s capital Doha.
      The stadium was opened in 1976 and can hold up to 45,000 fans.

      What TV channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      England vs Iran will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The game is FREE to watch on the BBC, so long as you have a TV licence.

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      When will England’s 26-man squad be announced?
      After a rule change by FIFA, World Cup squads will now be allowed to name 26-man squads rather than the previously permitted 23.
      Each manager has to select their 26-man squad by November 13, a week before the tournament starts. More

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      Harry Kane claims Tottenham getting through in Champions League will also boost England’s World Cup hopes

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      HARRY KANE says Tottenham’s dramatic win in Marseille provided a timely boost ahead of the World Cup.Spurs were heading into the Europa League when 1-0 down at half-time at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night.
      Kane played a key role in Spurs’ dramatic 2-1 win over MarseilleCredit: Getty
      Kane says Spurs’ knockout qualification has him on a high heading into the World Cup next monthCredit: Reuters
      But second-half strikes from Clement Lenglet and Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg turned things around completely and sent the North Londoners into the Champions League knockout stages.
      Kane teed up Hojbjerg for the Dane’s winner in the fifth minute of injury time, sparking wild celebrations on the French South-Coast.
      The England captain said: “It was really important just before the World Cup. 
      “If we’d have gone out, it would have been a real sting because you know you’re coming back from the World Cup and playing Europa League and it’s just not the same feeling. 
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      “So that was really vital. 
      “We’ve got three games before the World Cup and hopefully we can use tonight to finish strongly and if we can be there or thereabouts in the Premier League and get through in the Carabao Cup, it’ll be a really good start to the season.”
      Spurs have two home games in the Premier League before Qatar, facing Liverpool and Leeds, with a Carabao Cup trip to Nottingham Forest sandwiched in between.
      If they can maintain their current position of third in the league and make it into the next round of the League Cup before the World Cup begins, it will mark a very successful first half of the season for Antonio Conte, who celebrates a year as Spurs boss on Wednesday.
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      Performances may have been questionable at times but you cannot argue with the results which are even more impressive given Spurs’ injuries in attack.
      Dejan Kulusevski has been out since the last international break with a hamstring problem, while Richarlison injured his calf in mid October.
      In Marseille Spurs suffered another blow when Son Heung-min came off in the first half after damaging his cheek in an aerial challenge with ex-Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba.
      The South Korean’s eye was swollen but it was not clear if he had suffered concussion or not, which, if he had, would rule him out of Saturday’s hosting of Liverpool.
      Spurs will assess their No7 on Wednesday.
      Tottenham also had to deal with pesky Marseille fans setting off fireworks the night before the game in the early hours.
      But the disrupted shuteye ultimately did not affect them as they sealed victory in the cacophonous cauldron that is OM’s stadium.
      Kane added: “We expected it, we were told the fireworks might happen. I woke up on the first lot but the second lot I was fast asleep thankfully. 
      “Their fans were incredible, we knew the atmosphere would be special and that was with one of the stands closed as well. 
      “Credit to them, they’re doing everything to make sure their team wins. So proud of the boys, coming to a really tough place, the atmosphere was really hostile and we had to find something amongst ourselves, players and staff, and we managed to do that.”
      Spurs will find out who they face in the last 16 on Monday when the draw is held in Switzerland.
      Currently, their potential opponents could be: Club Brugge, Inter Milan, AC Milan, RB Salzburg, Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica.
      But before then comes the World Cup for Kane, even if he is doing his best to keep it off his mind.
      The 29-year-old added: “I said it before, you try not to think about it. 
      “I said the World Cup was going to come round really quickly, and it’s come round really quickly. We’re in November already and in a couple of weeks we’ll be on the plane and playing the first game in no time. 
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      “I think a lot of players have got it in the back of their minds but I think the top top players manage to give 110 per cent no matter what. The more you try to think about managing yourself, it sometimes backfires. 
      “So me personally I’m just trying to focus on the next three games. Of course it’s hard not to think about it but if we can have three good results it will put us in a really good place going into the World Cup.” More

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      England’s forgotten XI of stars who couldn’t remember played for Three Lions including Jack Cork and Lewis Cook

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      ONE THOUSAND, two hundred and seventy-one players have turned out for England… some will be remembered for a life time while others easily slip the mind.England teams have largely been picked based on reputation, but on the odd occasion, form and a player’s projected future can also influence a call-up.
      An England XI of ‘forgotten’ stars
      Southgate has tried to balance out his selections based on reputation and formCredit: Reuters
      Under current Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, he has picked his teams based on a mixture of reputation and merit.
      For example, England midfield mainstay Kalvin Phillips made his England debut before turning out for the first time in the Premier League.
      The now Manchester City ace joined a small club of players to play for their country while playing below the top flight.
      But such risks haven’t always paid off, with a number of footie stars failing to make an impact on the international stage.
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      Some England aces have a handful of caps, or less, to their name.
      That shouldn’t take away from their tremendous achievement, though.
      Nonetheless, they fall into the category of England players you may have forgot turned out for their country.
      SunSport takes a look at an XI of forgotten Three Lions stars with the World Cup around the corner.
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      Alex McCarthy
      The Southampton goalkeeper has always been regarded as one of the Prem’s consistent shot-stoppers.
      And it was at the South Coast club where McCarthy earned his first England cap.
      McCarthy’s debut came in 2018 in the 3-0 win over the USA, playing 45 minutes.
      However, his chances of claiming more caps are slim with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope and Dean Henderson all ahead of him in the pecking order.
      McCarthy played just once for EnglandCredit: Reuters
      Ainsley Maitland-Niles
      Utility man Ainsley Maitland-Niles played for England five times.
      The ex-Arsenal, now Southampton ace, made his Three Lions debut in 2020 in the Nations League against Denmark.
      England lost the game and Maitland-Niles played just 36 minutes.
      Maitland-Niles coming on as a sub against Denmark, replacing Trent Alexander-ArnoldCredit: Getty
      Lewis Dunk
      Brighton’s Lewis Dunk is the only man on this list who’s close to a return to the England set-up.
      The centre-back is a mainstay in the Seagulls team and is in Southgate’s 55-man pool of players to choose from for the upcoming Qatar World Cup.
      Dunk’s one and only cap for his country came in 2018 against the USA, where he started and kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 win.
      Dunk turned out for England against USACredit: PA:Press Association
      Steven Caulker
      Not many can say they scored on their England debut. Steven Caulker can.
      The ex-Tottenham, QPR, Southampton and Liverpool defender made his debut in 2012.
      He scored in the 4-2 loss to Sweden – a game which saw icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic score all four goals, including an outrageous overhead-kick from distance.
      Caulker never played for England again.
      Caulker scored on his debut in a 4-2 loss to SwedenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jon Flanagan
      Another player who played for England just once.
      Jon Flanagan rose through the ranks at Liverpool and gained international recognition in 2014.
      The now-retired star could play at both right-back and left-back.
      He played against Ecuador in a 2-2 draw, playing 27 minutes in total.
      Flanagan played for Liverpool while turning out for EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jack Cork
      Midfield lynchpin Jack Cork earned his first cap after switching from Swansea to Burnley.
      Cork played four minutes in the 0-0 draw with Germany in 2017.
      He now plays in the Championship and is still turning out for Burnley, where he is the club captain.
      Burnley regular Cork played against GermanyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Lewis Cook
      A once up-and-coming midfielder.
      Lewis Cook’s career got off to a flyer at Leeds before earning a big money move to AFC Bournemouth.
      It was at the South Coast club where he made his debut for England.
      He played 20 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Italy in 2018.
      Cook, now 25, is a regular for Bournemouth in the top flight.
      Cook took on Italy in his only Three Lions appearanceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Nathaniel Chalobah
      Chelsea had high hopes for Nathaniel Chalobah.
      But the midfielder failed to live up to expectations and spent most of his professional career on loan in England and in Italy.
      Chalobah did manage to earn an England call-up while playing for Watford, though.
      His only senior cap came in the 3-2 win against Spain in 2018.
      However, he only managed a minute on the pitch.
      Younger brother Trevoh is enjoying greater success at Chelsea.
      Although, he is yet to play for England.
      Chalobah managed one minute in a 3-2 win over SpainCredit: PA:Press Association
      Matt Jarvis
      Known for his blistering speed, Matt Jarvis earned rave reviews at Gillingham before tearing it up at Wolves.
      It was at the Midlands club where he was handed his England debut against Ghana in 2011.
      He then went on to join West Ham in 2012, but he struggled to live up to price tags.
      Jarvis then had a number of loan spells before dropping down the divisions and retiring in 2021.
      Jarvis earned international recognition at WolvesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Andros Townsend
      The most accomplished of the “forgotten” team.
      Andros Townsend made his England debut in 2013, where he scored in the 4-1 win over Montenegro.
      Ex-Tottenham ace Townsend went on to play a further 12 times for the Three Lions, adding another two goals to the one he scored on his debut.
      He is at Everton, however, his contract is due to expire next summer.
      Townsend scored three in 13 games for EnglandCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Dominic Solanke
      Dominic Solanke won’t have given up on an England career, to be clear.
      The striker is still just 25 years old.
      Solanke was handed an England debut in 2017 in a draw with Brazil.
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      He was called up after switching Chelsea for Liverpool.
      A call-up which could be put down to his predicted carer trajectory.
      A young Solanke was called up following a move to Liverpool from ChelseaCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun More

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      Pep Guardiola rejects invitation to go to World Cup in Qatar as Man City boss reveals his plans during tournament

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has rejected an invitation to go to the World Cup in Qatar.And instead he will watch the drama unfold from the comfort of his sofa – with a glass of wine in his hand.
      Pep Guardiola is going to enjoy some time off to watch the World Cup at homeCredit: Getty
      The Manchester City boss will see many of his players head over to Qatar, with the World Cup kicking off on November 20.
      It means he will not have a Premier League match to manage between his side’s clash with Brentford on November 12 until they face Leeds on December 28.
      But rather than flying out to Qatar on a scouting mission, Guardiola wants to enjoy the World Cup as a fan at his luxury Manchester flat.
      He will also treat the likes of Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez to some holiday time before some warm-weather training in the UAE.
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      Guardiola said: “The best way to enjoy the World Cup matches is at home with red wine.
      “We will have one or two weeks off and then we will work here, maybe go to Abu Dhabi, maybe organise a friendly game.
      “It’s not definite, but we will train, come back on December 28th and be ready as much as possible for the return.
      “We will spend three weeks here in the winter time in Manchester.
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      “Then take a break with good training sessions and good weather where our owners are there.
      “It’s not 100 per cent confirmed, but we’re going to try.”
      City have four more matches this side of the World Cup break, starting against Sevilla in the Champions League tonight.
      Julian Alvarez is expected to lead the line with Haaland still unavailable through injury.
      And the £14million signing revealed Guardiola has picked his forward’s Argentina side to go all the way and lift the iconic trophy in Doha next month – and break Lionel Messi’s duck on the global stage.
      Alvarez said: “Yeah, it came out when we were having a chat with team-mate.
      “I don’t know if he said it with conviction. It was quite a while ago now.
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      “We’re on a good road but it’s a tough tournament, a World Cup.
      “We believe in ourselves and I think we’re going to have a good tournament.” More

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      Who are the confirmed referees for the World Cup 2022?

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      FANS are preparing themselves to see some entertaining free-flowing football at the World Cup – but that depends on the referee in charge.FIFA have officially announced their lengthy list of match officials to referee at football’s biggest cup competition.
      Michael Oliver is one of the most well-known referees in footballCredit: Getty
      And among those, are some highly-rated referees who have officiated on numerous big occasions.
      Find out what refs will be at the winter World Cup below…
      Who are the confirmed referees for the World Cup 2022?
      There will be a total of 39 referees to officiate at the World Cup in Qatar.
      And history will be made as this will be the first FIFA men’s tournament where women have also been selected to officiate games at the tournament.
      Stephanie Frappart will be officiating at the World Cup 2022
      Here is the full list of referees for the World Cup 2022:

      Ivan Barton (Slovenia)
      Chris Beath (Australia)
      Raphael Claus (Brazil)
      Matthew Conger (New Zealand)
      Michael Oliver (England)
      Anthony Taylor (England)
      Ismail Elfath (United States)
      Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
      Alireza Faghani (Iran)
      Stephanie Frappart (France)
      Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
      Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
      Victor Gomes (South Africa)
      Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
      Ning Ma (China)
      Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
      Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
      Antonio Mateu (Spain)
      Andres Matias Matonte Cabrera (Uruguay)
      Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed (UAE)
      Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)
      Maguette N’Diaye (Senegal)
      Daniele Orsato (Italy)
      Kevin Ortega (Peru)
      Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
      Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
      Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)
      Daniel Siebert (Germany)
      Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)
      Facundo Tello (Argentina)
      Clement Turpin (France)
      Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela)

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      When is the 2022 World Cup? More