World Cup

DIDIER DESCHAMPS launched a damning assessment of his France side after watching his players get torn apart in the first half of the World Cup Final.The French boss likely could not believe his eyes as he watched outstanding Argentina dissect the World Cup holders in the opening 45.
France fell apart completely in the first halfCredit: Reuters
A penalty converted by Lionel Messi and a wonderful team goal finished off by Angel Di Maria opened up a two goal margin over France.
A desperate Deschamps even made a double first-half change to wrestle back some control.
The French manager was damning of his team after watching them get exposed in front of millions of TV viewers.
In a half-time interview with TF1, Deschamps said: “We utterly failed to show up in the 1st half.
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“We expected [their intensity], we neither had the correct attitude nor the correct response.
“It will take a lot to worry them & come back. They are really playing a World Cup final.”
France had shown weaknesses earlier in the tournament.
A rotated team in the group stages fell to defeat against Tunisia, while England and Morocco both gave Les Bleus plenty to worry about in the knockout stages.
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But few could had seen their first-half collapse coming.
They were swarmed all over by Argentina in the opening stages and conceded a penalty when Ousmane Dembele clumsily caught Di Maria.
Messi converted from the spot before helping Argentina move through the gears for a second goal.
Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister provided the final pass for Di Maria to put Argentina 2-0 up.
Despite the Argentina dominance, France launched an extraordinary second-half comeback.
However, it ended in heartbreak for the French after they lost 4-2 on penalties. More

LIONEL SCALONI was the calmest man in the stadium when his Argentina side took the lead against France this afternoon.The South Americans went ahead from the penalty spot after 23 minutes, Lionel Messi beating Hugo Lloris from 12 yards.
Lionel Scaloni remained calm as his bench wildly celebratedCredit: AFP
Messi’s strike prompted pandemonium in the stands, with wife Antonela among those to go wild.
Argentina’s substitutes also got up out of their seats to celebrate, as did most of their coaching staff.
Assistants including legends Walter Samuel and Pablo Aimar waved their fists in delight.
The only man that remained seemingly nonplussed, however, was Scaloni.
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Argentina’s boss was pictured with his arms folded and stony faced – giving little away.
Things got even better for his just 13 minutes later – with Messi again involved.
The Paris Saint-Germain star beautifully flicked the ball on as his side launched a counter-attack, with the ball eventually finding Alexis Mac Allister.
He then slid it over to Di Maria, who brilliantly beat Lloris one on one.
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Messi, 35, and his team-mates celebrate his goalCredit: Getty
France’s sluggish display led to boss Didier Deschamps taking drastic measures – making TWO substitutions just five minutes before half-time.
He withdrew attackers Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud – replacing them with Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram.
Scaloni, 44, hasn’t always kept his cards too close to his chest during the tournament.
Prior to the semi-finals, the former West Ham ace burst into tears during an interview, when asked about the support his side have received from back home.
He also cried after his side’s victory over Croatia, bursting with pride at his side’s achievement.
Lionel Scaloni was emotional after his side’s semi-final victoryCredit: Getty More

LIONEL MESSI’S World Cup boots have been revealed and they include a touching nod to his wife and children. The 35-year-old takes part in the biggest game of his career as he looks to lead his country to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986.
Messi is looking to lead his country to victory in his last ever World Cup gameCredit: Getty
Messi’s is wearing these golden boots during the World Cup FinalCredit: Getty
The Jules Rimet trophy is one of the few pieces of silverware missing from his long and decorated career.
Ahead of the huge clash against France, fans got a glimpse at his footwear for the showpiece event in Qatar.
The golden boots were pictured sat next to his white and black sliders.
There was a lovely nod to his wife and three children with their names visible on his boots.
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His youngest child, Ciro Messi, has his name and date of birth stitched alongside the side of his left boot.
Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, also has part of her name “Anto” below Ciro’s.
On the outside of his right boot bares the name of his other children and their dates of birthday: “Thiago 02 11 12” and “Mateo 11 09 15”.
The Argentine star is wearing a pair of specially customised Adidas X Speedportal Leyenda boots.
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Messi’s name can be seen visible on his sliders
The shoes are gold but have blue and white features which are meant to represent his country.
Alongside the boots are a pair of sliders where “Messi” is visible on the white and black striped shoes.
Messi will be hoping his special boots will help him produce his usual magic against France at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Along with the fight to win the World Cup, he’s also bidding to claim the Golden Boot.
Messi went into the final tied on 5 goals with PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe. More

FRANCE made a double substitution BEFORE half-time in a desperate attempt to rescue their World Cup dreams.Didier Deschamps’ side found themselves 2-0 down thanks to Lionel Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s team goal after just 36 minutes.
Olivier Giroud was one of the players taken off after just 41 minutesCredit: Getty
Ousmane Dembele also had his number lifted up in the first halfCredit: Reuters
Didier Deschamps consoled the French striker who had no impactCredit: Getty
And the French boss wasted no time in making the changes to try and claw their way back into the contest.
He hooked off Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele and sent on Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani with just 41 minutes on the clock.
Giroud was absolutely livid, launching a water bottle to the ground as he furiously took his place on the bench.
Viewers at home were split on the brave call by the French boss – but Roy Keane backed the “gamble” he had to make.
Michael Owen tweeted: “Huge decision that by Descamps. Needs to change the course of the game but with three mins to go until half-time? Dembele I get but Giroud?”
France have had a virus in the camp this week but is unclear if any players are still feeling the effects of the illness.
Dembele and Giroud made no impact going forwards as no French player managed a shot in the first half – meaning Les Bleus had more subs than shots in the first half.
However, Dembele gifted Argentina the spot-kick when he tripped Di Maria in the area.
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Messi made no mistake from 12 yards as he moved level with Pele on 12 World Cup goals – and now has the most goal involvements with 20.
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GARY Neville has been slammed for launching into a political rant over the UK’s crippling strikes during ITV’s World Cup final coverage.The Manchester United legend attacked the British government in the run-up to the Argentina vs France kickoff.
Gary Neville has been slammed for launching into a political rantCredit: ITV
Nurses are currently on strike in the UKCredit: Alamy
It comes as the World Cup in Qatar has been dogged by scandals.
It has been marred by controversy – from allegations of corruption to outrage over the country’s human rights practices.
Thousands of migrant workers have reportedly died in the Qatari construction industry since the World Cup was awarded to them in 2010.
Concerns were also raised over the rights of fans travelling to the event – especially LGBT+ individuals and women, who rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.
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And today Labour party member Neville, 47, likened the human rights disgraces in the Arab country 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.
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“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.”
Fans rushed to social media to blast his claims.
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.”
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However, some people praised the former footie star for speaking out.
One person said: “Well Gary Neville was being asked about Human Rights. Surely he’s entitled to state his opinion. It’s been a big part of the World Cup background.” More