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      Emi Martinez branded a ‘vulgar clown’ by Souness and ‘stupid’ by Vieira as backlash over World Cup antics rumble on

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      EMI MARTINEZ has been branded a “vulgar clown” and “stupid” following his antics after Argentina’s World Cup triumph.The Aston Villa stopper caused a furore moments after collecting the Glove Glove award after La Abliceleste’s penalty shootout victory over France by putting the trophy to his crotch and thrusting it forward.
      Emi Martinez was the hero of Argentina’s World Cup triumph over FranceCredit: REX
      Martinez heroics throughout the tournament won him the Golden GloveCredit: REX
      Martinez’s gesture seconds after winning the award has been branded “vulgar”Credit: REX
      Emiliano Martinez taunted Kylian Mbappe by holding baby doll with his face on
      The gesture amused many, but not former Liverpool and Scotland star Graeme Souness.
      He wrote in his Daily Mail column: “Much of the debate post World Cup Final has centred on the behaviour of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during the penalty shootout.
      “I can accept those antics, to a point.
      “But what we should be talking about more is the crude gesture he made after collecting his goalkeeper of the tournament trophy.
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      “Do some people really find that sort of thing funny?
      “Martinez embarrassed himself and he embarrassed his country. He looked like a vulgar clown.
      “If that is what he wants to be remembered for, then God help us all.”
      Souness’ sentiment was echoed by Crystal Palace manager and World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, who also slammed Martinez’s goading of Kylian Mbappe.
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      He said: “When you are talking about the abuse and the comments that he received after the World Cup, I think that is damaging the game and himself.
      “Some of the pictures that I saw from the Argentina goalkeeper took away a little bit from what Argentina achieved at the World Cup.
      “I don’t think that they really needed that.
      “You can’t control sometimes people’s emotions or decisions, but that was a stupid decision from Martinez to do that.”
      The French Football Federation filed a formal complaint against Martinez after he was spotted holding a doll with a photo of Mbappe on it during Argentina’s celebrations in Buenos Aires.
      And he’ll receive a dressing down from club manager Unai Emery for his actions.
      The Villa gaffer said: “When you have big emotions, it is sometimes difficult to control them.
      “I will speak with him (Martinez) next week about some celebrations, but I respect that he is now with his national team.
      “When he’s with us, under our responsibility, we can speak about it.”
      He added: “We are so proud of him. He won the World Cup with his national team and it’s amazing.
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      “Fans of Aston Villa must be very proud of him. He’s coming back next week.
      “I want him to rest now because after big emotion and hard work, he has to have some days off to rest then he’ll come back to work with us.” More

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      Ex-Brazil coach Tite robbed on streets of Rio de Janeiro with thief attacking 61-year-old for World Cup failure

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      BRAZIL’S recently departed manager Tite has allegedly been robbed in Rio.Reports from Brazil claim that he was out walking at 6am when he was targeted by the thief.
      Former Brazil boss Tite has allegedly been robbed in RioCredit: The Mega Agency
      The thief took his chain and then blasted him for Brazil’s World Cup exitCredit: AFP
      He was reportedly robbed of a chain – before the individual then complained and blasted him over Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup.
      The 61-year-old had been in charge of the Samba Boys since 2016 and led them to Copa America success three years ago.
      He has just returned to his homeland after leading them to the last-eight of the World Cup.
      However, their hopes of becoming record six-time world champions was ended by Croatia in a penalty shoot-out.
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      That led to him resigning following the heartbreaking exit.
      Now things have reportedly got much worse for Tite after an incident at 6am – although it seems that he did escape without injury.
      A host of stars were quick to pay tribute to Tite after his resignation, with Paris Saint-Germain Brazilian superstar Neymar leading them.
      He said: “I knew you as a coach and knew that you were very good, but as a person you are great!
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      “You know who I am and that’s what matters to me.
      “I want to thank you openly for everything, all the teachings that you have given us – there were so many.
      “You will always be one of the best coaches I’ve ever had or will ever have.”
      Tite had promised to quit back in February, revealing he wanted one more shot at winning the World Cup after leading them to the quarters in 2018 too.
      He previously stated: “I’m going until the end of the World Cup.
      “I have no reason to lie here. I don’t want to win any way. I’ve won everything in my career, the only thing missing is the World Cup.”
      However, after the crushing Croatia loss, he said: “As I said, my cycle is over. I said it over a year and a half ago. I’m not a man of two words.”
      Both Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola have been linked with becoming his replacement. More

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      Angel Di Maria gets HUGE World Cup tattoo on his thigh after netting in another final in thrilling win over France

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      ANGEL DI MARIA has commemorated Argentina’s World Cup triumph with a massive tattoo.The Juventus winger scored in the final against France and helped his side on its way to their third title in the competition.
      Angel Di Maria got a tattoo to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup winCredit: https://www.instagram.com/angeldimariajm/
      The design is of the trophy on his right thighCredit: https://www.instagram.com/angeldimariajm/
      To celebrate the achievement, the 34-year-old has invested in a massive thigh tattoo of the World Cup trophy.
      Above the trophy, there are three stars to symbolise Argentina’s three World Cup wins, with the previous two coming in 1978 and 1986.
      Behind the ink, there is the Argentinian “Sun of May”, which is featured on the country’s flag.
      The tattoo was designed and done by artist Ezequiel Viapiano.
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      He shared the pictures with his 22.9 million Instagram followers alongside the caption: “On the skin for all eternity.
      “Thanks very much buddy. You had said it when we did the Copa America, the other leg was being saved for this moment.
      “It was written. Let’s go Argentina.”
      His fans loved the tattoo and were quick to comment their approval as well as their thanks to his efforts in the final.
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      One said: “Spectacular”.
      A second commented: “The best of tattoos”.
      A third added: “Well deserved for so much waiting and sacrifice sooner or later the divine reward arrived and this time it was your turn. From Cordoba capital champion, thanks forever”.
      After the final Di Maria flew back to his homeland to celebrate the victory in Buenos Aires alongside his team-mates.
      The team had an open-top bus ride through the capital city as they were hailed by their fans. More

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      Notoriously tough L’Equipe name their team of 2022 with four Premier League players making the XI

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      NOTORIOUSLY tough French newspaper L’Equipe have named four Premier League players in their team of 2022. The paper is renowned for their savage scoring of players, recently refusing to rate Ousmane Dembele after he was hooked in the World Cup final.

      But in their team of the year, they did name three French players, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Theo Hernandez.
      Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the Qatar final against eventual winners Argentina, finished the year with 55 goals for club and country.
      As well as a World Cup runners-up medal, the forward also had a Ligue 1 winners medal.
      Benzema ended the last 12 months with 31 goals while winning the Champions League, LaLiga titles and Ballon D’or award.
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      He pipped Lionel Messi to the trophy, with the legendary forward scoring 35 times for PSG and Argentina in 2022.
      But alongside club team-mate Mbappe, Messi lifted the Ligue 1 title and then at long last the World Cup.
      L’Equipe named Premier League quartet Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Casemiro and Virgil van Dijk in their team of the year.
      De Bruyne and Walker both led Manchester City to the Premier League title in the summer, pipping Liverpool and Van Dijk.
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      Casemiro joined Manchester United in the summer having helped Real Madrid to Champions League glory.
      Keeper Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric won the LaLiga title along with being named in L’Equipe’s team of the year.
      Left-back Hernandez, also included, helped AC Milan to a first Serie A triumph in 11 years.

      Rising defensive star Josko Gvardiol earned his spot in the XI having emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the world.
      Chelsea and Real Madrid are among the clubs eyeing up the Croatian in the transfer market.
      Josko Gvardiol has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the worldCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Time travelling’ fan predicted Lionel Messi would win the World Cup on December 18 2022 SEVEN YEARS ago

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      A “TIME TRAVELLING” football fan has become a hit on social media after a spooky prediction SEVEN YEARS ago came true.Back in 2015, a Twitter user named Jose Miguel Polanco prophesied that Lionel Messi would lead Argentina to World Cup glory on December 18, 2022.
      Lionel Messi fired Argentina to World Cup glory last week against FranceCredit: Getty
      Last Sunday, the South Americans overcame France on penalties to be crowned world champions for a third time.
      Argentina were cruising to a 2-0 win, with Messi scoring the opener, before a late double from Mbappe sent the match to extra-time.
      The legendary 35-year-old then put Argentina back in front prior to Mbappe securing his hat-trick.
      But Emi Martinez would prove to be the hero as the Argentina goalie’s heroics helped them secure glory with a 4-2 shoot-out win.
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      All of that kept most viewers on the edge of their seat, but not the seemingly mystical Jose Miguel Polanco.
      Back on March 20, 2015, he wrote: “December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times.
      “Check back with me in seven years!”
      Amazingly, it all came true… except for the fact that Messi is 35 rather than 34.
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      One fan Twitter user hailed him as a “time traveller” while another wrote: “This is just too weird man, how on earth did he get this so spot on?!
      “I demand to know the lottery results for the next ten weeks, I need to get paid man.”
      Another commented: “I’m checking back with you! The GOAT did it and ended the debate!”
      While a fellow fan wrote: “The best part of this tweet is somehow getting Messi’s age wrong, the one part that you would think it would be impossible to mess up.”
      However, it seems far more likely that the individual did in fact tweet numerous predictions and deleted the wrong ones to leave him with left with the one most accurate.
      And with regards to the final date, well that had already been confirmed by that point also! More

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      Salt Bae followers slam ‘uncomfortable’ Kylian Mbappe Insta video after ‘fame hungry’ chef’s World Cup pitch invasion

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      SALT Bae’s followers have slammed an “uncomfortable” resurfaced Instagram video with Kylian Mbappe. The celebrity chef has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after storming the pitch after the World Cup final and pestering Lionel Messi for a selfie.
      In a resurfaced video, Salt Bae is seen posing with PSG’s Mbappe at the chef’s Mykonos restaurantCredit: Instagram
      Salt Bae’s followers said Mbappe looked ‘uncomfortable’ in the awkward videoCredit: Instagram
      The Turkish cook and Instagram star – real name Nusret Gökçe – was seen even touch the winning trophy – against strict regulations.
      FIFA was forced to make a humiliating admission that he should never have been on the pitch in the first place.
      But it’s not the first time Salt Bae has rubbed shoulders with top footballers.
      In a resurfaced video, he was seen posing with PSG’s Mbappe at the chef’s Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Mykonos.
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      Sitting alongside the steakhouse magnate, Mbappe can be heard saying: “It was a good night.
      “A pleasure to come with my man.”
      Salt Bae replies: “Always.”
      The pair shake hands and Mbappe winks at the camera before Salt Bae gives the footballer a kiss on the cheek.
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      The chef’s followers said Mbappe appeared “uncomfortable” in the awkward footage from July 2021.
      One said: “Mbappe was uncomfortable as f***!!”
      Another wrote: “Me personally I wouldn’t let that slide.”
      It comes after other resurfaced photos show Salt Bae gatecrashing Real Madrid’s Champions League winning party in 2018.
      After Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the Champions League in Kyiv, the chef was seen in video posing with Cristiano Ronaldo.
      He was also spotted with Sergio Ramos with the pair miming the chef’s distinctive salt sprinkling arm action.
      And in a foretaste of what was to come, he even gets his hands on the Champions League trophy.
      The images finish with Madrid defender Marcelo also doing the routine, while Salt Bae gives a thumbs-up to the camera.
      Footage showed the chef pestering the Argentina squad as they celebrated their World Cup glory with their families after the tense shootout.
      In a series of videos posted on his own Instagram, he interrupted the likes of Angel di Maria, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez as they posed with the World Cup, leaving the trio looking awkward.
      He was seen grabbing hold of Lionel Messi by the shoulder at least twice as the baffled megastar tried to shrug him off.
      His persistence paid off as he finally got a selfie with the striker hailed the greatest of all time.
      The chef was also seen forcing himself into lineups with other stars as they clutched the famous golden trophy.
      He has now been barred from attending The US Open Cup, the equivalent of England’s FA Cup.
      Action will be taken against staff who allowed him access after social media footage showed his cringeworthy exchanges with players, who did his best to avoid Salt Bae.
      Fifa is conducting an internal investigation to see how the chef got onto the pitch.
      FIFA boss Gianni Infantino even unfollowed Salt Bae in the wake of his shameful antics.
      The Turkish cook has courted a years-long friendship with Fifa president Infantino.
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      They have been pictured together several times, and the football chief has been gushing in his praise for the flamboyant Instagram star.
      However the bromance seems to be over today after he unfollowed Salt Bae on Instagram. More

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      Man Utd ‘overtake’ Liverpool in Enzo Fernandez transfer chase with Red Devils willing to match £105m release clause

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly overtaken Liverpool in the chase to sign Enzo Fernandez.The Benfica midfielder has become one of the most-sought after stars on the planet after his displays helped inspire Argentina to World Cup glory.
      Man Utd are ready to meet Benfica’s £105m asking price for Enzo FernandezCredit: Getty
      Liverpool were big admirers of the 21-year-old Fernandez before his stellar Qatar 2022 displays.
      But his performances in the Middle East have now convinced United boss Erik ten Hag that he is the right man needed to bolster his own side.
      As reported earlier this week, both teams will have to shatter the Premier League’s  £100million record transfer fee to snap-up his services next month.
      That is due to Benfica having no desire to sell him for any less than his mammoth £105m release clause.
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      Now  UOL Esporte are claiming that United are willing to meet that figure – putting them in front of their Anfield rivals in the transfer chase.
      The publication’s journalist Bruno Andrade added that “talks are ongoing” between all parties involved.

      And it reiterates that United will meet the huge £105m asking price in order to “avoid any competition” from elsewhere.
      Fernandez only arrived at Benfica from River Plate last summer but his international captain Lionel Messi admitted that he is not surprised so many clubs are keen on the World Cup’s Young Player of the Tournament.
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      He said: “I’m not surprised by Enzo.
      “I know him and I see him train every day.
      “He deserves it because he’s a spectacular player.” More

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      Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will warn Emi Martinez to ‘control his emotions’ after controversial World Cup celebrations

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      UNAI EMERY will speak to Emiliano Martinez about “controlling his emotions” following his controversial World Cup celebrations.The goalkeeper is due to report back to Aston Villa on Thursday after spending the week partying in Argentina with team-mates following Sunday’s dramatic final.
      Emiliano Martinez’s World Cup celebrations have proven controversialCredit: Reuters
      Unai Emery will warn Martinez about keeping his emotions in checkCredit: Getty
      Martinez’s antics in the penalty shootout edged his country to victory over France.
      But the 30-year-old, who will miss Villa’s Boxing Day clash with Liverpool, has come under fire for crossing the line with his conduct since.
      The French FA yesterday made an official complaint to Argentina over Martinez’s taunting of Kylian Mbappe.
      Emery said: “I am going to speak with him because I want to talk to him about controlling his emotions.
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      “When I knew him at Arsenal he was telling me in that moment ‘I want to be the first goalkeeper of Argentina.’ He achieved it.
      “The last time I met with him here I was talking about his ambition and he told me he wanted to be the best goalkeeper in the world.
      “I want players like that. His mind is so strong.
      “Maybe his celebration, the reason, is coming from that.
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      “Players like Emiliano, when we can control him, with a good balance between winning and losing with big emotions, he is the best Emiliano we can have.”
      Despite initially consoling Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the game and scored again in the shoot-out, Martinez was filmed calling for a “minute’s silence” for the forward in the Argentina dressing room post-match.
      And, during their open-top bus tour of Buenos Aires, he was seen carrying a toy doll with the France forward’s face taped over it.
      French FA president Noel Le Graet blasted: “I wrote to my counterpart from the Argentine Federation.
      “I find these excesses abnormal, in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand.
      “This is going too far. Mbappe’s behaviour has been exemplary.”
      And French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said: “I am not ruling out discussing this with my counterpart.
      “I find all of this quite pitiful.”
      After beating Holland in the quarter-final on penalties, spot-kick specialist Martinez claimed that “useless” Spanish ref Antonio Mateu Lahoz wanted Argentina to lose the game “because Spain were eliminated.”
      And he taunted Dutch boss Louis van Gaal on the pitch after the win, later saying he should “keep his mouth shut” for saying his side were favourites if the game went to penalties.
      Martinez has been celebrating back home in ArgentinaCredit: AFP
      Martinez also made a crude gesture after being presented with the World Cup Golden Glove award.
      And yesterday, speaking to fans in his hometown of Mar del Plata, Martinez aimed a pop at France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni — who missed a penalty in the final after the keeper rolled the ball away for him to fetch.
      Martinez said: “I knew the boy was tense and that he would lose his mind, so I provoked him.
      “I tried to play him mentally by throwing the ball away, talking to him. He f* it all.”
      Martinez is set to come up against France keeper Hugo Lloris — his opposite number in the final — on his Villa return at Tottenham on January 1.
      Emery says it is important that players show dignity and sportsmanship.
      Emery added: “We can’t know really how these things happen in the moments. When you win you are in the highest emotion possible.
      “It is difficult maybe to control some situation you lived before, with the opposition.
      “I prefer to be focused on how he performed and how he is going to win with us afterwards.
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      “We have to have values. We have to focus the behaviour with us, when we are together and with the opposition players.
      “We can speak 90 per cent about very good things, to be very proud of him, for his performance, for his win.” More