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    Punter wins £240k after cashing out incredible seven-team acca moments before France lost World Cup final

    A GAMBLING genius has won £240,000 – after cashing out his seven-team accumulator moments before France’s World Cup final defeat.American Daniel Forte had backed Les Bleus to lift the trophy as part of a £21 bet he placed in March.
    Argentina won the World Cup to scupper the Daniel Forte’s accaCredit: Getty
    But luckily he cashed out to ensure he won £240,000Credit: Getty
    Forte correctly forecast Manchester City would win the Premier League.
    He also tipped AC Milan to win Serie A, and Los Angeles FC to lift the MLS Cup.
    Other spot-on selections included Golden State Warriors to win the NBA finals, Colorado Avalanche to win Ice Hockey’s Stanley Cup and Kansas to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
    Forte stood to win $557,770 – £457,738 – if France completed the final leg of his acca with odds of 21,453-1.
    READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
    But in an inspired decision, he opted to cash out for $283,583 – £240,000 – just hours before Didier Deschamps’ men lost on penalties to Argentina.
    Which is a result that would have left the Nevada-based punter with nothing.
    Forte said: “Thank God I cashed out.
    “I’d be leaving on a stretcher with a heart attack otherwise.
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    “There was a lot of thought and a lot of talking to my family.
    “We decided to take the £283K cashout, and change my life.”
    Forte had to make an emergency 700-mile drive from Las Vegas to Arizona to cash out in time – as his app with online sportsbook FanDuel did not work in Nevada. More

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    England must stop being good losers.. they need a snarling Dennis Wise in there to wind up the opposition

    OK England, now what are we going to do?Are we going to get to the next level and win Euro 2024 and mount a serious challenge for the World Cup in 2026?
    Tony Adams says England lost to France because the mentality was not rightCredit: Alamy
    Adams wants Gareth Southgate to get the Three Lions to ‘hate’ defeatCredit: Getty
    Right now we are top eight but we are not winning material. We have to alter the mindset.
    We have talented players who can match some of the very best but we have to change our mental approach.
    Argentina didn’t win the World Cup with the best team but boy did they have the right attitude.
    We have to believe we can beat the best. Don’t put ourselves down and think we are inferior.
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    France did us in the World Cup quarter-final because they knew how to do the job.
    Some England fans have been saying we were done by the worst refereeing in the tournament but I thought it was OK.
    That was an excuse for us not getting through.
    Kylian Mbappe may have scored a hat-trick in the final but I’m telling you that Bukayo Saka outshone him in our game.
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    We have the talent in the likes of Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
    Of course, the task is not going to get easier. Mbappe will get better and thank God Lionel Messi’s played his last World Cup, which takes one problem out of the equation.
    But we’ve still got the likes of Portugal and Spain to worry about and the African nations are improving.
    Like a lot of countries we’re still lacking defensively. A good defensive coach would not go amiss.
    I don’t want to sound like a broken record but now that Gareth Southgate is staying, I repeat my advice that he should call on one or two old experienced heads for advice from time to time.
    He doesn’t have to make it public but it would help him.And, as I’ve said before, we have to stop being good losers. We have to absolutely hate defeat.
    I’m not interested in the fair play trophy which we won in Qatar with Harry Maguire getting our only yellow card.
    I’d like to see us get a bit ‘Dennis Wise’. Wisey used to shake opponents’ hands, scrape them with his nails and stamp on their foot as he did it.
    Harry Kane blazed a second penalty over the bar as England exited the tournamentCredit: PA
    Southgate was quickly on hand to console the likes of Jude BellinghamCredit: Getty
    Adams has called on England to get nasty like Dennis WiseCredit: Getty
    I don’t want us to be cuddling opponents in the tunnel and laughing and joking with them. I want us to hate them and to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them.
    We need an edge to move forward. We need more aggression.
    And I want to see us play with the type of swagger which says, “We are better than you”. It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence.
    We have the talent, it’s that mindset that’s missing. We have to believe we are every bit as good as the opposition if not better.
    I remember many years ago, Arsenal coach Don Howe sitting me and Martin Keown down and telling us Arsenal were too soft and that was why we hadn’t won the league title since 1971.
    He was sick of teams like Liverpool coming to Highbury and knowing they could roll us over.
    He told us we had to get nasty, become impossible to beat and make them really fear playing against us.
    They had to know they had been in a game. Reputations would mean nothing.
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    He said it might take a few years but eventually we would win things and he was right. We became ruthless. We decided it was our turn.
    If England adopt that type of attitude we might yet turn into winners. More

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    Gary Neville blasted by ‘overworked’ staff at his hotel as he makes £70M while lecturing on workers’ rights at World Cup

    GARY Neville has been blasted by “overworked” former staff following his workers’ rights rant at the World Cup. Despite attacking the British government for “demonising” striking workers, he has previously been criticised for poor working conditions in his hotel.
    Gary Neville was slammed for launching into political rant during coverage of the World Cup finalCredit: ITV
    He has previously admitted to being a ‘champagne socialist’
    A former employee said they were ‘overworked and underappreciated’
    A former waitress at his Hotel Football said management ‘was not treating everybody equally’
    Neville, 47, has built an eye-watering £70million fortune whilst regularly posing himself as a people’s champion in the public eye.
    But the ex-England ace has been slammed by some former staff at his Hotel Football in Manchester, who say they were “overworked and underappreciated”.
    In a scathing review on job site Indeed, one worker said: “If you love being overworked and underappreciated then you’ve found you calling.
    “Typically understaffed and overworked. Training is non existent.
    READ MORE GARY NEVILLE
    “Always work over my contracted hours and never get overtime pay, I was told to take time in lieu but that’s impossible when they are no staff to cover that.
    “Management only interested in turning a profit and don’t really care how they achieve this.
    “I wouldn’t recommend working here right now as I know for a fact that most of the key staff are looking to move on due to the conditions.”
    Another ex-waitress gave the hotel just two stars as she vented on the employee forum Glassdoor.
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    She branded the working situation as “unfair” and said there were “no pros from my personal experience.”
    “I didn’t feel welcome in the team and management was not treating everybody equally,” she added.
    And despite Neville hijacking ITV’s coverage to attack poor working conditions, one former hotel staffer blasted his business as “greedy”.
    “Senior management is more concerned about cutting costs rather than generating money, providing a good service and good working conditions,” they added.
    ‘ABSOLUTE PITTANCE’
    The Manchester United legend angered viewers as he launched into a rant in the run-up to Sunday’s World Cup final.
    The pundit likened the human rights abuses in scandal-hit Qatar to the strikes taking place in the UK.
    He said: “The working system of Kafala which obviously through football the conversation has started and it’s been removed here now in Qatar but it is abhorrent and we should detest low pay, we should detest poor accommodation and working conditions.
    “We can never accept that in this region or any other region and it is just worth mentioning we’ve got a current government in our country that are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly nurses.
    “In our country we’ve got to look at workers’ rights but when football goes, we have to pick up on workers’ rights wherever it goes because people have got to be equal and treated equal.
    “We can’t have people being paid an absolute pittance to work, we can’t have people in accommodation that is unsavoury and disgusting. It shouldn’t happen here.
    “That shouldn’t happen here with the wealth that exists. 
    “But it shouldn’t happen with the nurses in our country either where our nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or two pounds.”
    ‘CHAMPAGNE SOCIALIST’
    The pundit has in the past admitted to being a “champagne socialist”, and viewers were quick to agree following his tirade.
    One fumed: “Had to switch World Cup over earlier due to Gary Neville’s rant about the government.
    “A champagne socialist there to talk about the World Cup. Thinks he’s now a third-rate politician.”
    Another said: “Switched to BBC despite wanting to watch Keane.
    “You have Neville being thick forgetting about the estimated 6500 migrant deaths equating that with strikes in U.K.”
    A third said: “Turned off as soon as you went all hypocritical again. Picking up millions for working in Qatar while justifying it because nurses are on strike. Not the brightest are you.”
    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also waded into the debate as he defended the government’s record.
    He told the Mail: “I think when most people are tuning in to watch Gary Neville they want to hear about the football and watch the football.
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    “They don’t want to discuss politics.”
    The Sun has reached out to Hotel Football and Neville’s representatives for comment.
    Neville has amassed a £70million fortuneCredit: Rex More

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    PSG chief confirms he will open talks with Lionel Messi over contract extension after Argentina star’s World Cup win

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed he will start talking to Lionel Messi about a contract extension.The 35-year-old superstar helped guide Argentina to their third World Cup trophy on Sunday night.
    PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has promised to talk contracts with Lionel Messi following his World Cup success.Credit: Instagram
    The thrilling final ended with a penalty shootout victory over France, following a 3-3 draw.
    And as Messi and his team-mates jet back to Buenos Aires with the trophy, his club chief has announced some more good news.
    Al-Khelafi was asked if he would tie down both the ex-Barcelona forward and final loser Kylian Mbappe.
    He told RMC Sport: “Keep Mbappe and Messi? Of course, one is the top scorer and the other is best player in the World Cup. ”
    READ MORE ON MESSI
    Messi’s contract expires at the end of this season.
    He will go back to the Ligue 1 champions after a short Christmas break.
    La Albiceleste celebrated long into the night as they won the already famous contest at the Lusail Stadium.
    The Argentine captain scored twice and then converted his penalty in the shootout as he finally got his hands on the famous trophy.
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    It all went down to pure penalty drama after Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick.
    Ultimately, Argentina held their nerve in the spot-kicks better than the French as Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed penalties and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel scored the winner in the shootout.
    Mbappe had completed his trio in extra-time to send a sensational final into penalties after Messi had put Argentina back in front. More

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    Fans convinced Sergio Aguero has fashioned his own World Cup medal after joining Argentina’s celebration party

    SERGIO AGUERO joined in the jubilant celebrations as Argentina lifted the World Cup, but fans spotted something rather peculiar. The former Manchester City ace posted a photo in the dressing room with the World Cup trophy in hand while smoking a cigar.
    Sergio Aguero celebrates with the World Cup trophyCredit: Getty
    Fans were convinced Aguero turned his ID around to try and claim it as a World Cup medal
    Aguero spotted celebrating with a medal and his IDCredit: Reuters
    However, fans noticed he had turned around his ID badge and they were left convinced he did so in order to claim it as a World Cup medal.
    One user said: “Can’t stop laughing at how he turned his ID badge around so it looks like a medal 😭”
    A second user said: “Aguero turned his ID badge around so it looks like a medal. He thinks we can’t see him 😭.”
    A third said: “Aguero turnt over his id badge so it looks like a medal☠️”
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    “Shameless 😭😭,” said another.
    Aguero was not in the Argentina squad after retiring from football in late 2021.
    It came after he was diagnosed with heart condition cardiac arrhythmia.
    Despite this, it did not stop the 34-year-old from donning a full Argentina kit as he joined the on-pitch celebrations.
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    This led to John Terry, who infamously did the same after Chelsea won the Champions League without him on the pitch in 2012, calling out the striker.
    He joked: “Aguero has gone for the full John Terry there hasn’t he?! I did it first.”
    He later added on Twitter: “If your going to do it, at least go for it and put the shin pads and boots on.”
    Aguero bizarrely aimed a dig at 20-year-old France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga as well. More

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    Famously harsh L’Equipe reveal WORST team of the World Cup with two Wales stars and a Premier League ace

    L’EQUIPE have named their worst team of the World Cup… with TWO Wales players making the side.The French newspaper are well-known for their harsh critiquing of players’ performances.
    Matty Cash’s Poland were eliminated by France in the last-16Credit: Getty
    L’Equipe’s worst team of the 2022 World Cup
    Gareth Bale and Wayne Hennessey had disappointing tournaments for WalesCredit: Getty
    That has already been shown in their refusal to give Ousmane Dembele any form of rating for his performance in the final – which saw him hooked before half-time.
    They also only rated one player in their team of the tournament above a seven – that being Kylian Mbappe.
    Even Lionel Messi – the Player of the Tournament and winning captain – had to settle for a 6.71.
    But L’Equipe really got their claws into the flops of the past month with a worst team of the competition.
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    And two of Robert Page’s Welsh squad made the unwanted cut in the form of keeper Wayne Hennessey and captain Gareth Bale.
    Hennessy was sent off for a dreadfully rash challenge in his side’s second group game – which they went on to lose 2-0 to Iran.
    And while Bale did score a penalty in the 1-1 draw with USA, he was largely anonymous for The Dragons as they crashed out with just one point.
    Aside from Wales, only Poland have more than one player in L’Equipe’s worst team.
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    Despite getting to the last-16, three of Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side were named in the XI – Krystian Bielik, Piotr Zielinski and Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash.
    Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi makes up one of the centre-back spots alongside Iran’s Hossein Kanaani – who played just 45 minutes but was booked without coming on in the loss to USA.
    Belgium flanker Yannick Carrasco slots in at left-back after a dismal campaign saw the 2018 semi-finalists exit in the group stage.
    Either side of central midfielders Bielik and Zielinski are Senegal’s Krepin Diatta And Denmark’s Andreas Skov Olsen.
    Then up front, Bale is joined by Costa Rica’s Anthony Contreras – who failed to score in any of his three matches in Qatar.
    Krystian Bielik and Piotr Zielinski had poor tournaments for PolandCredit: Getty
    Yannick Carrasco struggled to make any impact for a poor Belgium sideCredit: Getty More

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    Watch Brentford striker Ivan Toney score from near HALFWAY line vs Wolfsburg as he gets over World Cup heartbreak

    IVAN TONEY looks to have stayed sharp during the World Cup break as he found the back of the net from the halfway line.Brentford drew 2-2 with German side Wolfsburg in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

    Brentford striker Ivan Toney scored from just inside the HALFWAY line in a behind-closed-doors friendlyCredit: Instagram @brentfordfc
    The striker was gutted to not make the World Cup squad but is hoping to carry on his fine club formCredit: PA
    And with the score level in the first period, the Bees striker, 26, picked up the ball on the halfway mark with eyes for goal.
    After hesitating for a second, the hot shot looked up and struck it from range.
    The Wolfsburg keeper was caught napping and the swirling effort hit the bottom corner, as seen on the club’s Instagram.
    Following some fine club form, the uncapped forward was hoping to gatecrash Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
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    Toney has 58 goals in 105 appearances for Brentford including 10 in 14 this term, but it was not enough to earn a call-up for Qatar 2022.
    Following the announcement in November, The Sun on Sunday revealed Toney is the subject of a seven-month probe over allegations of gambling during his lower league spells.
    The Brentford striker could face a huge ban after it was alleged he broke FA betting regulations 232 times between February 2017 and January 2021.
    Toney played for Northampton, Peterborough and on loan at four other EFL clubs before joining the Bees in 2020.
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    The striker took to Twitter to release a statement on the matter.
    He wrote: “I’m aware of a story about me in a national newspaper.
    “I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion.
    “I am a proud Englishman and it has always been my childhood dream to play for my country at a World Cup finals.”
    Toney, who has captained his club seven times this season, did not make the plane but will be hoping to continue his goal-scoring streak into the second half of the Prem season.
    He scored twice during his side’s stunning 2-1 win at Manchester City in November. More

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    Jordan Pickford denied World Cup Golden Glove despite joint most clean sheets due to Arsene Wenger’s Fifa group

    JORDAN PICKFORD was denied the World Cup’s Golden Glove Award despite having the same number of clean sheets as winner Emiliano Martinez. Both goalkeepers picked up three clean sheets in their time in Qatar.
    Emiliano Martinez picked up the Golden Glove Award at the World CupCredit: Getty
    This is despite Jordan Pickford having the same amount of clean sheetsCredit: Getty
    A Fifa Technical Study Group gave Martinez the awardCredit: Rex
    Pickford, 28, conceded in only two of his five games for England, while Martinez, 30, kept three clean sheets across seven games for Argentina.
    Martinez conceded over double the amount of the Everton stopper but was given the accolade after a review from Fifa’s Technical Study Group – headed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
    With a tie-break in hand – with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou also collecting three clean sheets – this year’s edition of the Golden Glove was deliberated over by the expert panel.
    It included a number of ex-pros and managers such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Alberto Zaccheroni, Cha Du-Ri, Sunday Oliseh, Faryd Mondragon and Pascal Zuberbuhler.
    READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
    In addition, the group was supported by a team of analysts, data engineers and scientists in order to come to the best decision – which they ruled to be Martinez.
    The Aston Villa shot-stopper became the hero of his nation after a string of fine saves across the knockout rounds and in penalty shootouts.
    This included his huge last-minute save to deny Randal Kolo Muani in the final and drag the game to penalties.
    Martinez was slammed for his “despicable” behaviour during the shootout – not that he will care due to it helping to win Lionel Messi and Co a first World Cup since 1986.
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    In the event of needing a tiebreak in previous editions, the award simply came down to a number of factors.
    Firstly, how far the goalie had progressed into the tournament.
    It would then be followed by how many saves they had made and the minutes played.
    Here’s how the World Cup final played out on paper More