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    Man Utd’s Lisandro Martinez should be FURIOUS despite winning World Cup after ‘absolutely crazy’ snub says ex-club star

    FORMER Manchester United defender Paul Parker believes that Lisandro Martinez should be “furious” with his lack of game time during the World Cup.The current Red Devils star was much the second fiddle to first-choice defenders Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi as Argentina went on to lift the trophy in Qatar.
    Lisandro Martinez won the World Cup with ArgentinaCredit: Getty
    Former Man United star Paul Parker feels Martinez will be ‘furious’ over his amount of game time at the tournamentCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Martinez only started in two of the team’s seven games at the tournament, as well as appearing as a substitute three times.
    Manager Lionel Scaloni opted for the former Manchester City star and Tottenham defender as his centre-back partnership, which led to Martinez having to fill in as left-back when he did play.
    Parker has suggested that the 24-year-old did not “contribute to the team on the pitch” and that he will have had a “bad experience” at the tournament.
    He told BeMyBet: “When I looked at him, I never got the feeling that he didn’t want to be there.
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    “But, of course, he must have been furious that Nicolas Otamendi played instead of him, which is absolutely crazy.
    “He will be disappointed without a shadow of a doubt. He won the final, but he didn’t play in the final and that is a weird feeling.
    “It’s a different feeling to win a medal and put it around your neck when you didn’t really contribute to the team on the pitch.
    “He will return with a medal and a bad experience.”
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    Martinez is yet to return to Old Trafford following the celebrations back in Buenos Aires in Argentina alongside his team-mates.
    After a tricky start to life in England following his summer transfer from Ajax, he has become a key player for Erik ten Hag.
    And the Dutch manager has admitted that if he had not signed his former player in the summer, he would have joined Premier League rivals Arsenal.
    He told Dutch outlet VI : “If I found it hard to take Martinez away from Ajax? I had such a great time there, the way we build a project.
    “Out of nowhere, we brought Ajax back to the European top level. But Martinez himself wanted to leave.
    “If we didn’t take him, he would have gone to Arsenal.
    “At a certain point, Lisandro Martinez called me up and said, ‘coach, listen, I will leave Ajax no matter what. I can sign for Arsenal, but if you want me, I will go to Manchester United’.” More

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    World Cup goal of the tournament revealed as Richarlison’s bicycle kick wins award while Mbappe and Neymar are snubbed

    FIFA have announced that Richarlison has won the World Cup goal of the tournament.Tottenham’s Brazilian star, 25, enjoyed a stellar tournament for the Samba Boys as he found the net three times.
    Brazil’s Richarlison has won the World Cup goal of the tournamentCredit: AP

    The forward helped himself to a brace in the 2-0 victory over Serbia in his country’s opening group game.
    And he also got on the scoresheet in the 4-1 last-16 triumph over South Korea.
    But it was his outrageous overhead kick against the Serbs that has deen him pip his compatriot Neymar and France’s Kylian Mbappe to the crown of goal of the tournament.
    His moment of magic occurred after he had already reacted first from a Vinicius Jr shot to lash home the rebound just after the hour mark.
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    But 11 minutes later he doubled his tally for the evening in breathtaking fashion.
    Vinicius crossed into the penalty area and Richarlison did the rest, teeing himself up before acrobatically swivelling to lash an outrageous effort into the corner beyond Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
    That led to many supporters tipping him to win the Puskas Award.
    However, for now, he can take comfort in the fact that he has scooped this accolade despite him and Brazil ultimately going on to suffer penalty heartbreak against Croatia in the quarter-finals.
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    Neymar scored a brilliant goal in extra-time of that prior to Bruno Petkovic equalising to set up a penalty shoot-out.
    Many felt the Paris Saint-Germain’s wonderful effort would be a strong contender – but even more believed Mbappe’s volley against Argentina would be just as unstoppable as the forward’s strike.
    The Frenchman had just pulled a goal back from the spot before he instantly thundered home a volley to make it 2-2 and send the World Cup Final to extra-time.
    He would go on to make history by securing his hat-trick – but it would ultimately be Argentina that went on to win the shoot-out and be crowned world champions. More

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    ITV presenter Laura Woods in brutal slapdown of sexist troll as she mocks his ‘small’ manhood

    LAURA WOODS came out on top as she took on a sexist internet troll.The broadcaster has been in Qatar for the last month as part of the ITV team covering the World Cup.
    Laura Woods has hit back at a sexist comment on her social mediaCredit: Getty
    She is considered as one of the best in the business, having won the SJA Sports Presenter of the year on two occasions.
    During her coverage, she was often praised for her professionalism and analysis alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright.
    However, Woods still has to put up with online abuse from internet trolls.
    One user commented on her Instagram post telling her to “get back in the kitchen”, to which she brilliantly responded.
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    Woods wrote: “Ohhh Mick.
    “Nothing screams ‘I have a small penis’ more than this old phrase. X.”
    Her response was loved by her 582k followers as many posted support of her action to take on the troll.
    One wrote: “He later drove himself to hospital needing treatment for deep burns.”
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    A second commented: “She’s a goddamn banter black belt.”
    A third said: “I wish more figures in the public eye would take on the trolls like this. Superb stuff.”
    A fourth added: “Yet another example of why you’re the best in the business Laura.”
    It is the latest example of her owning her critics, as in May she got now over a Tottenham fan who fired a dig at her beloved Arsenal. More

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    ‘Emi Martinez taking notes’ – Watch keeper’s incredible ‘s***housery’ as Ever Banega skies penalty in Saudi cup clash

    GOALKEEPER penalty antics appear to be on the up, with another incredible case in the Saudi Cup which has left fans drawing comparisons to Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine used some controversial tactics during the World Cup final as he attempted to psyche out his opponent.
    Marcelo Grohe celebrates wildly in front of Ever BanegaCredit: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/zsx4vq/ever_banega_skies_the_last_penalty_and_then/
    Fans joked that Emiliano Martinez was “taking notes” with his anticsCredit: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/zsx4vq/ever_banega_skies_the_last_penalty_and_then/
    Martinez used some underhanded tactics on his way to becoming world championCredit: EPA
    This proved dividends for him and his nation as Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman were unable to net from 12 yards which handed the Jules Rimet to Lionel Messi and Co.
    And it would seem this “s***housery” is common among South American goalies, with Brazilian Marcelo Grohe producing some incredible mind games in the Saudi Cup.
    Grohe was facing former Sevilla and Inter Milan star Ever Banega to help his side, Al-Ittihad Club, win their clash on penalties.
    The 35-year-old bounced from side to side on his line before Banega skied his penalty and dropped to the floor.
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    Then to rub salt in the wounds, an ecstatic Grohe rushed towards a face-down Banega and celebrated wildly in front of him.
    An astonishing fact is Banega MISSED a penalty during the game too, with Grohe producing a stunning save to deny the Argentine just before half-time.
    But it was his shoot-out antics which got fans talking.
    One fan said: “Classic Brazilian vs Argentinian s***housery.”
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    A second crudely joked: “Somewhere in Argentina Emi Martinez just got rock hard.”
    A third said: “Damn this might be a bit too far hahaha.”
    Another added: “Emi Martinez taking notes.”
    Some fans were stunned that former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo was there too.
    Following his less-than successful stint at Spurs the 48-year-old was recruited by the Saudi Pro League side in the summer, with them yet to lose a game under him.
    Meanwhile, Martinez is set to miss Aston Villa’s Boxing Day clash against beaten Carabao Cup holders Liverpool due to him not yet returning from his World Cup party hangover. More

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    I am a time traveller from 2034 – I know who wins Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup & here are the scores

    A TIKTOK “time traveller” claims to know the winners of the next two major football tournaments – as well as other big news.It is the latest in a bonkers trend for social media users claiming to reveal sporting results before they happen.
    A TikTok user claims to have returned after time travel was invented a decade from nowCredit: TikTok/noahalahabibi2
    TikTok user Noahalahabibi2 posted a series of outlandish claims on the video site earlier this week.
    He said: “Hi! I am a time traveller from 2034!”
    He goes on to list a series of predictions – which he claims are historical fact.
    One is that defeated World Cup finallists France win the Euros football championships in 2024.
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    But two years later France will lose in another World Cup final, the TikToker reckons.
    He predicts Les Blues will lose 2-1 and the winners will be England.
    The triumph will allegedly come exactly 60 years after the Three Lions’ first World Cup victory in 1966.
    The TikToker also shares other news he claims is coming soon, with a big year in global politics in 2024.
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    He claims Russia “signs a peace treaty” on March 26, two years and two days after the invasion of Ukraine.
    And Belarus will become part of Russia the same year, he claims.
    Other predictions include Japan’s first female PM in 2028, and the first man on Mars in January 2029.
    He also claims time travel was invented “using wormholes” in 2032.
    The technology is presumably how he is able to come back and reveal all on TikTok.
    It comes after several TikTokers claimed to know the results of key World Cup games in Qatar.
    One crazy quantum leaper correctly predicted the final would be a goal fest.
    Sadly he got the final result wrong as he said France would edge a 4-3 thriller. More

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    Transfer blow for Man Utd and Liverpool as Jude Bellingham ‘wants Real Madrid move and has no plan to return to England’

    A FRESH report on Jude Bellingham’s future has delivered a huge transfer blow to Manchester United and Liverpool.The England World Cup star has his pick of Europe’s big guns after his stunning displays for Borussia Dortmund.
    Jude Bellingham ‘is not planning on returning to England’ and ‘wants to join Madrid’Credit: Getty
    Liverpool, Manchester City, Man United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all keen on the 19-year-old.
    But as Sun Sport exclusively revealed this week, it is Madrid that believe they have won the race to sign Bellingham in a £100m-plus-deal.
    Now Spanish publication AS have backed up our report and issued a further transfer blow to the likes of United and Liverpool.
    They claim that Bellingham himself “prefers Madrid” rather than the rest.
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    And they also add that he has no current “plans to return to England” from the Bundesliga.
    Madrid hope to continue their good relationship with Dortmund by agreeing a fee and make him their big 2023 signing.
    Bernabeu chiefs want to link him up with veteran Luka Modric next term to help his “adaptation” into LaLiga with the Croatian expected to retire 12 months later.
    Bellingham left boyhood club Birmingham City, who he recently returned to after the World Cup, for Dortmund in 2020 for £30m.
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    He has since scored 19 goals and 21 assists in 112 games.
    He was also handed the club captaincy earlier this season, before thriving with England in Qatar.
    Bellingham still has another four weeks until he returns to action with Dortmund’s next match against Augsburg due on January 22 following the league’s winter break. More

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    Man City’s title hopes suffer huge blow as Ruben Dias set to miss a MONTH after playing injured for 90 mins at World Cup

    MANCHESTER CITY’S hopes of defending their title against Arsenal have taken a huge blow.That’s after star defender Ruben Dias was ruled out of action for at least a month.
    Man City are without Ruben Dias for a month after he got injured at the World CupCredit: Getty
    The centre-back, 25, reportedly picked up a thigh injury while on World Cup duty with Portugal.
    The Mail claims Dias suffered the problem during his country’s last-16 win over Switzerland.
    But instead of taking time out, he then played the entirety of Portugal’s quarter-final defeat to Morocco just days later.
    And Dias is now looking at a return to action in February, dealing Pep Guardiola a big blow at the back.
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    The 2021 Prem Player of the Season will miss City’s crunch league clashes against Manchester United and Chelsea.
    And he will also be sidelined for City’s FA Cup battle against the latter, as well as the Carabao Cup quarter against Southampton.
    Guardiola must now decide how to shuffle his pack, with plenty of options still at his disposal.
    John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji all featured in last night’s Carabao win over rivals Liverpool.
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    But none are quite able to match the unique blend of strength, pace and leadership Dias brings to City’s backline.
    A £60million buy from Benfica in 2020, Dias has gone on to make 109 appearances for the champions.
    He’s already won back-to-back titles under Guardiola.
    But with City already five points off leaders Arsenal this term, his side cannot afford any more slip-ups at a key stage of the campaign. More

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    Lionel Messi risks huge spat with Kylian Mbappe as Argentina star ‘wants to parade World Cup trophy at PSG stadium’

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are reluctant to let Lionel Messi parade Argentina’s World Cup trophy around the Parc des Princes as they’re worried about potential backlash, a report says.The legendary 35-year-old captained his country to their third-ever World Cup and did so with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over France.
    Messi defeated France to lift the World CupCredit: Getty
    Messi would like to parade the World Cup at the Parc des Princes but the club fear it could provoke team-mate Mbappe and ParisiansCredit: PA
    Messi scored a brace inside 120 minutes of football, with ex-PSG pal Angel Di Maria getting the other for the South American champions.
    While for France, Messi’s current PSG team-mate, Mbappe, was on a one-man mission and scored a hat-trick, becoming the second-ever player to do so behind England 1966 hero, Sir Geoff Hurst.
    But as reported by Goal, Messi wants to parade the famous gold trophy at the Parc des Princes, but club chiefs are reluctant to grant his request.
    They’re concerned it could be seen as provocative to Parisians.
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    Mbappe was also left devastated by the final loss, which could rub the Frenchman the wrong way, considering Messi’s Argentina pal Emiliano Martinez has already gone to extremes to mock him.
    Martinez mocked the 24-year-old by asking for a “moment of silence” for him in the dressing room.
    He then held up a baby doll with his opponent’s face on it while next to Messi in their victory parade in Buenos Aires.
    Had Argentina beaten ANY other country it is unlikely PSG would have had an issue with Messi parading the glittering trophy.
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    PSG are back in action on December 28 against Strasbourg.
    Mbappe is already back in training, as are Brazil duo Neymar and Marquinhos.
    It is unclear whether Messi will play in PSG’s return to competitive action. More