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      Italy legend looks unrecognisable as he arrives in Qatar ahead of World Cup final

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      AN Italy legend looked unrecognisable after touching down in Qatar for the World Cup final.Football fans around the globe are bracing themselves for an epic encounter between France and Argentina this weekend.
      An unrecognisable Italy legend touched down in Qatar ahead of the World Cup finalCredit: Instagram
      Countries including England, Brazil and Portugal have fallen by the wayside in their quest for world domination.
      And numerous football legends have made their way to the Middle East for Sunday’s showpiece event between Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
      One iconic figure who turned up in Qatar today used to be the Italian national team’s star player.
      He did not get to witness Roberto Mancini’s men in action after Italy failed to qualify less than a year after winning the Euros.
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      But he is no stranger to heartbreak on the pitch either.
      This legendary forward won numerous club and individual awards, yet he is best known for missing a penalty in Italy’s 1994 World Cup final defeat to Brazil.
      He scored 27 goals in 56 games for his country, while also netting 278 times in 605 club games.
      Yes, it’s none other than iconic Italian No10 Roberto Baggio.
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      The former player was none other than iconic No10 Roberto BaggioCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The Ballon d’Or winner infamously missed a penalty in Italy’s 1994 World Cup final defeat to BrazilCredit: AFP
      Now 55 years old, the former Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan star was mobbed by supporters as he touched down in Qatar.
      Once sporting long dark locks and beard to match, he was unsurprisingly looking a little greyer almost 30 years on from his infamous miss.
      Baggio, who helped Italy finish third at the 1990 World Cup, needed to score his penalty in the USA 1994 final shootout against Brazil to keep Italy’s hopes alive.
      But despite winning the Ballon d’Or the previous year, Baggio ended up blasting his spot-kick over the bar to give Brazil their fourth World Cup win.
      Even to this day, Baggio admits he has not forgotten the moment he skied Italy’s dreams wide.
      He said last month: “I will never forget it. That was a childhood dream come true and then it ended in the most absurd fashion and I never got over it.
      “The people always showed me great love and affection, they understood my suffering, but I am very demanding with myself.
      “I had a thousand opportunities to miss a penalty in my career, that was the one I really couldn’t miss.” More

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      Liverpool identify their ‘next Thiago’ as they enter talks for £30million World Cup star

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      LIVERPOOL have been keeping a keen eye on the World Cup in Qatar and may have found their next bargain.Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat could find himself in the Premier League in the new year with interest from Liverpool after his stellar performances during the World Cup with Morocco.
      Sofyan Amrabat has impressed for Morocco at the World CupCredit: Getty
      His displays were vital in helping Morocco become the first African team in history to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
      According to Footmercato, the 26-year-old would be available to the Reds for just £30million, the same price as Spanish maestro Thiago cost them from Bayern Munich in 2020.
      Jurgen Klopp has made it known he is looking for options to improve the midfield after injury worries with Jordan Henderson and Thiago earlier in the season.
      Jude Bellingham has been heavily linked to a move to Merseyside yet a price tag of over £100million has put that move in doubt.
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      Amrabat left fans impressed after his performances against Spain and Portugal.
      With a value way less than that of Bellingham’s, the Moroccan has reportedly become the more appealing option for Klopp.
      The midfielder is most comfortable playing just ahead of the defence, which he has excelled at for Morocco, helping them keep clean sheets in four of their six games during the tournament.
      Liverpool fans will see Amrabat as a perfect replacement for Fabinho who has struggled for form since the start of the season after being one of their key players.
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      If the Moroccan does make the move over to the Premier League, he will be following in his older brothers footsteps with Nordin Amrabat featuring in the league for Watford during the 16/17 season. More

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      Sinisa Mihajlovic dead aged 53: Inter Milan, Lazio and Yugoslavia World Cup legend passes away after long cancer battle

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      SERBIAN football legend Sinisa Mihajlovic has died aged 53.The 63-cap Yugoslavia international, who was manager of Serie A side Bologna until September, had been suffering from cancer.
      Sinisa Mihajlovic has died aged 53Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Mihajlovic represented Yugoslavia at the 1998 World CupCredit: Reuters
      Mihajlovic, pictured here with Lazio, spent much of his club career in ItalyCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Mihajlovic announced he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2019 while manager of BolognaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mihajlovic, who was first diagnosed with Leukemia in 2019, confirmed in March that he was undergoing a fresh round of treatment.
      As a player Mihajlovic represented Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
      He spent much of his club career in Italy, playing for Inter Milan, Lazio, Roma and Sampdoria, as well as Red Star Belgrade and Vojvodina in his native Serbia.
      Tributes have poured in following news of his death, with Serie A describing Mihajlovic as “an icon of football and life” in an emotional statement.
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      It said: “Serie A is deeply saddened by the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic, an icon of football and life.
      “His pure class as a footballer and coach, his strength and his humanity are an example that leaves an indelible mark on Italian and world football.”
      Mihajlovic went into coaching after hanging up his boots, which included a year in charge of Serbia.
      He also had spells with the likes of AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Torino.
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      In 2018 he signed a three-year deal to manage Sporting Lisbon but was sacked just after just nine days when the club changed presidents.
      In 2019, while boss of Bologna, Mihajlovic announced that he had been diagnosed with an acute form of Leukemia.
      He kept his role while he battled the illness, before he was sacked in September of this year.
      Bologna wrote on Twitter following the news of his death: “Goodbye, Mister, you will forever be in our hearts.”
      While former club Lazio, who Mihajlovic spent six years playing for, wrote: “SS Lazio mourns the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic: a great Lazio man, a warrior on the pitch and in life.
      “His courage on the pitch was second only to that shown in the face of a serious illness, which never weakened him spirit and temper. 
      “An indelible trace in the history of Lazio will remain of this fighter with a big heart, not only for having been Champion of Italy, but for the message of hope in the face of the difficulties that he was able to represent up to the last moment of his life.
      “We will remember him as he deserves, with the infinite embrace of his team and his people. Our deepest condolences to the family.”
      In April emotional footage showed the moment he was paid a surprise visit by his players while undergoing treatment in hospital.
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      Known for his set-piece taking ability, Mihajlovic scored a free-kick for Yugoslavia against Iran at France ’98.
      At club level he won Serie A twice, once with Lazio and once with Inter, as well as the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991.
      Mihajlovic played for, and managed, a number of different Serie A clubsCredit: Getty More

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      Gary Neville calls on Gareth Southgate to decide England future in DAYS as FA give boss Christmas to make mind up

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      GARY NEVILLE has urged Gareth Southgate to decide his England future “in the next few days”.The Three Lions boss will be given the Christmas break to work out whether or not he wants to stay on in the dugout.
      Gareth Southgate has been given the Christmas break to decide his futureCredit: AP
      Gary Neville urged Southgate to decide in days whether or not to continueCredit: PA
      But Manchester United legend Neville, 47, reckons Southgate, 52, should make a decision sooner than that.
      Especially with England in Euro qualifying action against Italy and Ukraine in March.
      Neville told Sky Sports: “I think Gareth needs to come out in the next few days and put it to bed.
      “[He needs to say] ‘I’m staying,’ or ‘I’m not,’ because I don’t think it goes into the New Year.
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      “And obviously we’ve got games in March I think, and I don’t think that’s fair on the FA, because they need to find a successor.”
      Neville suggested Southgate could depart after the Euros in 18 months – with a new boss already lined up.
      He added: “Gareth obviously is honest and a man with great integrity, he’ll make the decision that’s right for him but right for the FA as well, he’ll do the right thing.
      “It feels to me like 18 months is right, and that they’re doing this next tournament and maybe Gareth doing that knowing that there’s a successor in place, there’s a succession plan in place, would feel right to me.”
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      But even if Southgate does call time on his spell as boss, Neville reckons he should stay within the England setup.
      Hoping Southgate doesn’t return to club management, Neville said: “He’s seen it all Gareth, and I think he should be kept in the system to design the future.
      “He’s been there for 10 years, we’ve had great success with the women’s team, we’ve had great success with the younger teams, I think we’ve had relatively really good success with the men’s team. 
      “I feel like he’s seen that over 10 years the improvement in performance, and that performance and culture have improved.
      “I’d like him to stay with the FA beyond his coaching role.”
      Southgate spent three seasons in charge of Middlesbrough before moving on to be England U21s boss, and then the first team.
      He took over in 2016 and has led the Three Lions to a Euros final and World Cup semi-final. More

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      ITV stars Laura Woods and Eni Aluko enjoy night out with BBC rivals Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer before World Cup final

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      GARY LINEKER and Alan Shearer enjoyed a night out in Doha with ITV rivals Laura Woods and Eni Aluko.The presenters were enjoying an end-of-World Cup party ahead of the final between France and Argentina on Sunday.
      Laura Woods branded Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer “legends”Credit: Instagram / @LauraWoodsy
      Woods and Eni Aluko enjoyed a night out with the BBC gangCredit: Instagram / @LauraWoodsy
      Lineker and Shearer have appeared on the BBC while Woods presented on ITV with Aluko one of several analysts.
      But they all came together to enjoy each other’s company and a meal at Japanese restaurant Zuma Doha on Al Maha Island.
      Woods posed for a photo in between Lineker and Shearer which she captioned: “A coupla legends 🙌🏻.”
      The 25-year-old also took a selfie alongside Aluko, while she took a video of her meal which appeared to include the BBC’s Danny Murphy in the background.
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      Earlier in the day Shearer had his fellow BBC pundits in hysterics as he sang into a breadstick during their Qatar-based Christmas party.
      Shearer didn’t hold back when it came to the karaoke.
      In a video posted by Lineker, the Newcastle legend could be seen using a breadstick as a microphone – giving it some welly as he sang You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes.
      The 52-year-old attacked each note like he used to throw himself at crosses, not shying away from growling into his impromptu mic.
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      And his enthusiasm was infectious, with Richards also getting in on the performance and making it a duet.
      Even Murphy could be seen bobbing along in the background, with those off camera laughing at the brilliant exchange. More

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      Karim Benzema ‘WON’T attend World Cup final’ after France sent him home with injury ‘needing just three days treatment’

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      FRANCE striker Karim Benzema will reportedly not be at the World Cup final due to his treatment from manager Didier Deschamps.The Real Madrid star has missed all of the tournament in Qatar after he suffered a thigh injury during the team’s first training session in Doha.
      Karim Benzema will reportedly not be going to Qatar to watch the World Cup finalCredit: AFP
      The French star has been in training with Real MadridCredit: Getty
      The French have not missed Benzema, however, as they have battled their way to their second successive World Cup final.
      They will be taking on Lionel Messi’s Argentina side on Sunday, but according to Spanish outlet Libertad Digital it is suggested that Benzema will not be flying out for the match.
      The outlet claims that he is furious with Deschamps, who reportedly sent him home due to his injury.
      It is also said that the 34-year-old is not pleased with the comments from the manager made during press conferences.
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      Deschamps dismissed questions over whether or not Benzema would be able to play in the final.
      He said: “I don’t really want to answer that question, next question.”
      The striker has been in training with Real Madrid and only needed three days of treatment at the club’s training facility.
      Benzema is still registered in the France World Cup squad, so would be able to play for them if he was called upon.
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      Some of the player’s anger towards the boss has come after he was suggested to have been told to leave the French squad, as Deschamps reportedly told him: “What a pity Karim that you have to leave”.
      Benzema has since played for Real Madrid in a friendly match against Leganes in which Los Blancos drew 1-1.
      It is thought that if he was recalled to the France team that his club would not stand in his way of going back to Qatar. More

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      Two more France stars fall ill days before World Cup final as virus rips through squad and players isolate

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      FRANCE have suffered a fresh scare ahead of the World Cup final after two more of their stars fell ill.Les Bleus sealed their place in the showpiece by defeating Morocco 2-0 in the semis on Wednesday.
      Didier Deschamps is now sweating on two more of his stars ahead of the World Cup finalCredit: Getty
      A virus has been sweeping through the squad over recent days in QatarCredit: Rex
      Holders France will now face Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday after the South Americans had booked their place by beating Croatia 3-0.
      Didier Deschamps has managed to guide his reigning champions to the verge of another crown despite suffering a number of crippling injury blows.
      Midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante were both ruled out of the tournament.
      Karim Benzema was selected for action before he was ruled out too, while Lucas Hernandez was injured in their first game and is now set to miss the rest of the season.
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      France are now desperately trying to stem the flow of a flu-like virus which threatens to derail their World Cup final hopes.
      Midfielder Adrien Rabiot and centre-back Dayot Upamecano were confirmed to have caught the bug before the semi.
      Both players missed that game with Rabiot staying in the hotel and Upamecano remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.
      Winger Kingsley Coman was also said to have been feeling feverish and sat with the subs throughout the game.
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      Now journalist Fabrice Hawkins has claimed Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate are the latest to fall ill just two days before the showpiece.
      Deschamps revealed yesterday how his team were taking significant precautions, saying: “In Doha, temperatures have fallen a little bit, you have air conditioning which is on all the time.
      “We’ve had a few cases of flu-like symptoms.
      “We are trying to be careful so it doesn’t spread and players have made great efforts out on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.
      “Dayot Upamecano felt sick immediately after the match [against England].
      “It happens when you make such an effort, your body is weakened and you are more prone to be infected by these viruses.
      “We are taking all necessary precautions, we are trying to make sure it doesn’t spread but viruses are of course infectious and we have to take precautions against it.
      “We separated him from others and Adrien as well.” More

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      Paul Pogba ‘ordered not to travel to watch France in World Cup final by Juventus despite Real Madrid letting Benzema go’

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      JUVENTUS midfielder Paul Pogba will miss out on watching France in the World Cup final as he has been ordered to remain in Italy.The midfielder has been told he will not be allowed to travel to Qatar to watch his national side as they look to become only the third team in history to retain the World Cup when they take on Argentina this Sunday.
      Paul Pogba hasn’t featured for France at the World Cup due to an injury he suffered in JulyCredit: PA
      Pogba, 29, was an integral part of France’s 2018 winning side, featuring in all but one of their games and even scoring in their 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.
      Yet a torn meniscus suffered during pre-season in July brought his hopes of featuring in Qatar to a swift end.
      Despite his absence, the former Manchester United player has been vocal in his support for his national team on social media, posting good luck messages for his teammates.
      After experiencing many injuries to key players in the build up to the competition such as Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema, the French President Emmanuel Macron was keen to bring them to Qatar for the final to cheer on Les Bleus.
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      Juventus are reluctant to let Pogba travel while he’s recovering as they hope for him to return to action before the end of the season.
      A player in a similar position is Lucas Hernandez, who tore his ACL during France’s first game against Australia.
      Even though the defender wishes to return to Qatar to support the side, his club Bayern Munich has vetoed this and will be keeping him in Germany.
      However Benzema has been granted permission from Real Madrid to return to Qatar to support France.
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      The 2022 Ballon D’or winner was included in Didier Deschamps 26-man squad list yet was forced to head back home after suffering an injury to his left thigh whilst out in Doha.
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      Benzema, 34, has since returned to action with Real Madrid featuring in their friendly with Leganes on Tuesday.
      With this return to action, rumours have been circulating that Benzema could make a triumphant return off the bench against Argentina, yet Deschamps was quick to shut these down.
      The French manager said when asked about the return of Benzema: “I don’t really want to answer that question. Next question. I do apologise.” More