World Cup

ARGENTINA’S World Cup winners were evacuated by HELICOPTER as a victory parade was abandoned when fans leapt off a bridge onto the team bus.At least one supporter in the massive crowd was carried away on a stretcher as Lionel Messi and Co were escorted away overhead.
Incredibly this Argentina fan was thought to have escaped without serious injury from this leap onto the team bus
Huge throngs in Buenos Aires sparked safety problems
The players had crawled through the crowd before problems hitCredit: AP
Fans clambered down from a bridge in Buenos Aires onto the vehicle when it passed underneath but one MISSED it as he plunged head first onto the side of the bus.
Chaotic scenes suddenly became distressing ones.
But, incredibly, it’s understood he was able to walk away from his shocking fall.
The squad’s trip was due to cover 50 miles after departing from the Argentinian Football Association grounds.
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But it was stopped early on security advice.
Some reports suggested up to four million people had gathered to hail their heroes.
And from the start a joyous, raucous atmosphere was mixed with fans jostling for space.
But all seemed peaceful, if not calm, until the bridge incident.
Fans gathered at the famous Obelisk ahead of the players’ arrival by busCredit: Getty
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And Argentine football chiefs admitted their disappointment at ending the tour early – with the players instead completing their journey by helicopter.
A spokesman for the Argentina FA said: “The players of the Argentine soccer team ended the festivities by flying over in a helicopter over the crowd of fans who gathered in the city.
“They made that decision after verifying that they could not continue advancing by bus in the middle of the crowd.”
And AFA president Claudio Tapia said: “They don’t let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk.
“The same security agencies that escorted us don’t allow us to move forward.”
Supporters had little space to move as the capital city came out in force
Argentinians came from all angles to greet the homecoming heroesCredit: AP
Lionel Messi waved to fans from the bus before the parade was haltedCredit: AP More

FRANCE defender Benjamin Pavard “leaked dressing room secrets” and created a “toxic” atmosphere during the World Cup, sensational reports have claimed.Pavard, 26, started France’s opening game as they thrashed Australia 4-1, but was replaced by Jules Kounde late on and did not play again in Qatar.
Benjamin Pavard did not play after France’s first game at the World CupCredit: Getty
Didier Deschamps is thought to have had some strong words for PavardCredit: Getty
Didier Deschamps’ men went on to reach the final but lost on penalties to Argentina in one of the most dramatic games in World Cup history.
Now a L’Equipe report, translated by French journalist Romain Molina, has alleged that Pavard made “inappropriate comments” about his own team-mates from the bench during the loss.
Deschamps reportedly had “big words” with the player in response to his behaviour.
It comes after claims earlier on in the tournament that the French squad had become divided over Pavard’s inconsistent performances.
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Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele was reportedly among those who were “railing against” him.
However, the full-back received the backing of some of his veteran colleagues, such as captain Hugo Lloris and France’s all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud.
But now allegations of leaking team details to the media are said to have left Deschamps and his coaching staff “very disappointed”.
Speaking about Pavard’s omission from the team after the group stage, the France head coach said: “I took the decision not to play him, I won’t go into the details.”
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Pavard played an integral role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph – scoring one of the goals of the tournament in their last-16 4-3 victory over Argentina.
But he has struggled for form at club level in recent times, going through some difficult periods at Bayern Munich.
Pavard joined Bayern from Stuttgart in 2019 and has racked up 140 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists. More

THE bisht that Lionel Messi wore to lift the World Cup reportedly cost £1,650.Argentina triumphed in an all-time classic on Sunday as they beat France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar.
The bisht was put on by Lionel Messi moments before the trophy liftCredit: Rex
He the lifted the trophy alongside his team-mates while wearing the bishtCredit: Getty
Captain Messi then had the responsibility of lifting the trophy for his country in his fifth and final World Cup.
But seconds before he did so, Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani placed a bisht – which is a a traditional men’s cloak popular in the Arab world – over his shoulders.
Messi then joined the rest of his team-mates and proceeded to celebrate with the iconic gold trophy.
It has now been revealed that the two bishts – each worth £1,650 – were custom-made for the respective captains, Messi and France skipper Hugo Lloris.
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Qatar-based tailor Muhammad Abdullah Al-Salem was responsible for making the items of clothing.
He told Esquire Middle East Arabic: “At first, we were not aware when we were asked to design this bisht that it was for the World Cup champion.
“We were surprised that the bisht that Messi wore was from our store, and I felt proud when my knowledge is that our store was the first choice of officials to manufacture this bisht.”
Speaking specifically about what the design had to be, he then added: “The required specifications were for the bisht to be light, which we understood later and seemed logical to us, and its purpose is for the winning team’s uniform to appear clearly from behind the bisht.”
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Messi won the Golden Ball for his sensational performances at the World Cup – which included seven goals and three assists.
But he narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot as Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick saw him rack up eight goals in Qatar.
Argentina’s triumph is their first since 1986 when Diego Maradona inspired them to glory.
And their fans celebrated in their thousands on Tuesday as they flocked to the centre of Buenos Aires for the open top bus parade. More

LIONEL MESSI was left in hysterics after an Argentine fan threw a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy at him in a sly dig at Kylian Mbappe.Messi’s men beat Mbappe’s France on penalties in an all-time classic World Cup final on Sunday.
Rodrigo De Paul pointed out the fan with the turtleCredit: Twitter
Lionel Messi caught the turtle and had a quick look at itCredit: Twitter
He then began cracking up along with the rest of his Argentine team-matesCredit: Twitter
Messi then threw it back to the person who had hurled it at himCredit: Twitter
Kylian Mbappe’s PSG team-mates previously bought him a Ninja Turtle maskCredit: @Layvin Kurzawa
The pair of superstars both shone in the game as Messi bagged two and Mbappe netted a hat-trick.
But it was Argentina who enjoyed a parade through their home streets on Tuesday after Emi Martinez’s heroics in the shootout.
And as the players interacted with the fans, one supporter took it upon themselves to lob a Ninja Turtle toy at Messi.
This has significance as Mbappe has been nicknamed Donatello (one of the Ninja Turtles) in the past by Neymar and other team-mates.
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Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes all saw the funny side of the toy being chucked at them.
And the Barcelona legend proceeded to throw it back to them while in fits of laughter.
Reacting on social media, one person said: “Messi threw it away 🤣🔥.”
Another added: “The way they laugh…THEY KNOW!! 😂😂👍🏼.”
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A third replied: “Why you throwing Mbappe? 😭.”
And a fourth responded: “Messi: that’s Mbappe. De Paul and Parades: 😂.”
Messi contributed seven goals and three assists during Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
He picked up the Player of the Tournament award for his sensational performances, but narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot as Mbappe pipped him following his hat-trick in the final.
The superstar duo will return to the same team in the coming weeks as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to resume their campaign.
Christophe Galter’s side did not lose any of their 15 Ligue 1 matches before the World Cup break and opened up a five-point lead on the rest of the chasing pack.
Mbappe scored the first World Cup final hat-trick since 1966Credit: Getty More