World Cup

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

THE top scorers at the World Cup are revered by football fans around the world.But very few would be able to rattle off the best playmakers in World Cup history.
Beckham is the only England man to make the listCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
That is what SunSport is looking at here as we list the top 10 assist-makers to have played in the tournament.
Here they are…
10) ROBERT GADOCHA – 5
Not a household name by any means, but former Polish winger Robert Gadocha assisted five goals during the 1974 World Cup.
He did not score at the tournament but was an inspirational playmaker as Poland finished third, beating Argentina, Italy and Brazil on their route there.
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9) BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER – 6
Bastian Schweinsteiger was a member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning side and went to three tournaments with his country.
He was always a creative presence in the German midfield and managed six assists at the world’s most famous football tournament.
Schweinsteiger was one of Germany’s best midfielders of the last generationCredit: Reuters
8) THOMAS MULLER – 6
The only active player in the list, Germany’s Thomas Muller could break the record in Qatar this summer if he assists three or more goals for Hansi Flick’s side.
Along with his eight World Cup goals, the Bayern Munich star has contributed six assists across his three tournaments to date.
Muller will look to add to his six assists at this year’s World CupCredit: Action Images – Reuters
7) PELE – 6
Arguably the most famous World Cup player in history and the only player to lift the trophy three times – in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Pele scored 12 goals at the World Cup and also managed an impressive six assists in the four tournaments he went to.
Pele led Brazil to win the World Cup three times in 12 yearsCredit: Getty
6) THOMAS HASSLER – 6
In Thomas Hassler’s 14 games at the World Cup, the German managed a superb six assists.
He went to three tournaments, lifting the trophy with the country in his first visit to the World Cup in 1990.
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The players with the most assists in World Cup history
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5) DAVID BECKHAM – 6
David Beckham is the only Englishman to make the top 10.
He went to three World Cups with the Three Lions – in 1998, 2002 and 2006 – racking up six assists in the process.
Beckham is by some distance England’s most prolific assist-maker in World Cup historyCredit: AP:Associated Press
4) FRANCESCO TOTTI – 6
Francesco Totti was a generational talent in Italian football and showed that on the grandest stage.
He went to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, contributing six assists and lifting the trophy in his final visit to the competition.
Totti was inspirational in helping Italy win the World Cup in 2006Credit: AP:Associated Press
3) GRZEGORZ LATO – 7
Grzegorz Lato is another name younger people may not be familiar with, but only one player in World Cup history has more assists than the former Poland international.
He went to the 1974, 1978 and 1982 tournaments, registering seven assists and picking up two third place finishes.
2) PIERRE LITTBARSKI – 7
The most prolific German assist-maker in World Cup history is Pierre Littbarski.
The former attacking midfielder went to the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups, contributing seven assists and lifting the trophy on one occasion.
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1) DIEGO MARADONA – 8
The great Diego Maradona holds the record for the most assists at the World Cup.
The Argentine legend racked up eight in total – five of which came on his way to lifting the trophy in 1986.
Maradona has assisted more goals than any other player in World Cup historyCredit: AFP More

JAMIE CARRAGHER branded the timing of the World Cup as “disgusting” with minor injuries threatening to rule players out. Raphael Varane will miss France’s defence at Qatar 2022 after the Manchester United man pulled his hamstring at Chelsea while Liverpool’s Diogo Jota is out for Portugal.
Son Heung-min is a doubt for the World Cup after getting a blow to the eyeCredit: Reuters
Raphael Varane was in tears when his hamstring pull ruled him outCredit: Rex
And Son Heung-min now faces a race against time to make it on the plane.
The Tottenham forward and South Korea captain suffered a horror eye injury after a blow to the cheekbone in Tuesday’s crunch Champions League win at Marseille.
Son had to be subbed off and has just three weeks for his swollen eye to recover before his country kick off their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on November 24.
The tournament starts on November 20, just seven days after the final Premier League matches – giving stars virtually no time to recover from even minor problems.
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Carragher is furious that placing the tournament in the middle of the regular season means some of the best players will not be there.
The Liverpool legend blasted to CBS Sports: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace that the World Cup is in the position it’s in, for lots of reasons.
“It was corrupt that Qatar were given the World Cup, we knew that at the time.
“They campaigned on having it in the summer, it is impossible there to have a World Cup in the summer with the temperature, it gets moved to the situation where it is now in the middle of the season.
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“Players who spend their whole lives dreaming of playing in a World Cup and now could be [out injured] – as we’ve seen with Son and players all around the world.
“Varane was crying coming off the pitch at Stamford Bridge. That’s how close we are to a World Cup.
“An injury, a ten-day or two-week injury, is going to keep players out of a World Cup and it should not be happening.
“And it all started with Fifa giving Qatar the World Cup and then moving it. I think it’s absolutely disgusting.”

As well as Varane and Jota, there are a whole host of other players either definitely out or desperately rushing to get back to fitness in time before the managers name their squads in less than a fortnight.
Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Pedro Neto will watch the tournament from home while Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Reece James, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Marco Reus, Raul Jiminez, Matthijs de Ligt and Ronald Araujo are doubts.
England trio James, Walker and Phillips are doing all they can to be back in time.
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Pep Guardiola admitted he would not give his Manchester City duo game time just to help Gareth Southgate – and acknowledged they may well be undercooked if they do go to Qatar.
Meanwhile, James told SunSport he is not giving up hope of recovering from his knee injury, despite still being in a brace and on crutches.
Jamie Carragher blasted the tournament taking place in the middle of the seasonCredit: CBS Sports
Reece James is battling to be back in time but is still in a braceCredit: Simon Jones More

GARETH SOUTHGATE has named a 55-man provisional England squad for the World Cup later this month.The Three Lions boss will need to trim that number down to 26 by November 14 – with the England manager expected to do so four days earlier on November 10.
Welbeck is a surprise inclusion in Southgate’s 55-man squadCredit: Getty
Eze is an outside bet to make England’s final 26-man World Cup squadCredit: Getty
But for the time being there are a host of fringe stars who will be hoping a late upturn in form or injuries could see them included in the final squad.
And SunSport has taken a look at the team Southgate could field from those who are expected to have made the 55-player roster.
In goal, Dean Henderson is thought to be the fourth choice behind Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope.
At the back, Leicester’s James Justin could be called upon on the left side if anything happens to either Luke Shaw or Ben Chilwell.
Southgate has a host of fringe players to call on outside of his favoured stars

At centre-half, Lewis Dunk has been confirmed in the provisional squad, with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez also making a late play for selection after a run in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Arsenal man Ben White props up the back line as he has shown his versatility this season, moving out to right-back.
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And with injuries to Reece James and Kyle Walker, Southgate could be tempted to pick the Gunners star.
In midfield, Chelsea man Loftus-Cheek and Crystal Palace talent Eberechi Eze are a pair already confirmed to be in the 55.
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Leicester playmaker James Maddison is another who has put himself in the frame following a superb start to the season.
And Everton youngster Anthony Gordon has also starred for his club and will be looking to translate that to a national team call up.
Then up front, Brighton’s Danny Welbeck was confirmed alongside Dunk as a fellow surprising Seagulls player in Southgate’s provisional World Cup squad.
And he is joined in attack by Newcastle striker Callum Wilson – who has not been capped since 2019 but is in the form of his life after six goals in his opening nine Premier League games. More