Football
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Dec- 2022 -19 December
Kylian Mbappe wins Golden Boot, plus top stats from 2022 World Cup
Kylian Mbappe ended the Qatar World Cup with the Golden Boot after a sensational hat-trick in an ultimately losing effort in the final. Thirty-two teams started out on the path to hopeful World Cup glory, but that was whittled down to Argentina and France in the final. Mbappe scored eight goals, one better than the seven scored by Lionel Messi – who scored a brace in what was one of the greatest finals of all time. Here is the Qatar World Cup in numbers. Most team goals scored As would be expected, it is finalists France and Argentina leading the way in this battle. England, who scored six against Iran in their opening match, are third with 13 goals scored. Golden…
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19 December
World Cup 2022 prize money: How much do the winners get paid?
Argentina have won their third World Cup after beating France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time. Whilst players compete for the love of the game and to bring joy to their nation, it is also a fact that the victorious team will win a substantial pot of prize money. But exactly how much money will Argentina get for winning the World Cup 2022? Here is everything you need to know. How much will the World Cup 2022 winners receive? Qatar 2022 is the richest ever World Cup with a total prize pot of almost £590 million set aside by FIFA for teams competing in the tournament. The winning team will receive around £35 million, which is an increase of £3 million compared to…
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19 December
Messi tastes World Cup glory, Argentina beats France on penalties
Lionel Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete. The Argentina superstar is finally a World Cup champion. Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Now there’s no debate. Messi is definitively in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest ever players, alongside Pelé — a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil — and Diego Maradona, the late Argentina great with whom Messi was so often compared. Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986, dominate a World Cup for Argentina. Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and played a part in…
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18 December
Lionel Messi and a date with destiny
His silken feet, magical ball skills, mesmeric dribbles and darting runs into rival boxes have seen him attract a host of prefixes against his name. New Delhi: Even considering the galaxy of legends that came before him and made football the beautiful game that it is, Lionel Messi has evoked comparisons with the best in the way that he is admired by his friends and foes in the game. His silken feet, magical ball skills, mesmeric dribbles and darting runs into rival boxes have seen him attract a host of prefixes against his name. From being nicknamed ‘La Pulga’ (The Flea) back home in Argentina for his diminutive stature, ‘Messiah’ to simply, the G.O.A.T, Messi has drawn every praise and compliment that there…
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18 December
FIFA WC 2022: Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place
Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match on Saturday. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note, if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match. At the age of 37, that seems likely, even if there are hopes he will lead his country at the 2024 European Championship. Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the seventh minute, but Achraf Dari evened the score in the ninth. It is the second time Croatia has taken…
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17 December
France squad struck by virus ahead of World Cup final against Argentina
Raphael Varane shows mild signs of the virus, and fellow defender Ibrahima Konate has not left his room since feeling ill as per ESPN. Lusail: Defending champions France have been affected by a virus that could cause the team’s starting centre-back duo to miss the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday. Raphael Varane shows mild signs of the virus, and fellow defender Ibrahima Konate has not left his room since feeling ill as per ESPN. Varane and Konate were two of five French players who did not report to training two days before the World Cup final versus Argentina. Dayot Upamecano, Adrien Rabiot, and Kingsley Coman were all sick at the start of the week and did not practice on…
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15 December
‘Argentina will be really hard in the World Cup final’: French keeper Lloris
France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris said he expect a difficult World Cup final when his side takes on Argentina on Sunday. While Lionel Messi is looking to lift his first World Cup, France are looking to retain the title they won in 2018 in what promises to be a tough game for both sides, Xinhua news agency reported. “Argentina are a really great team. They have shown how competitive they are, and they have this player (Messi) who has left his mark on the sport,” said Lloris after Wednesday’s 2-0 semifinal win over Morocco. “There is everything in place for it to be a great game, but we will try to turn things our way,” he was quoted as saying by the news agency.…
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15 December
This Messi interview is so beautiful it will give you shivers
The 35-year-old produced one of his best performances yet and played a starring role in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Croatia. Messi scored the first goal and then set up the third with a brilliant assist. Argentina will now face either France or Morocco in the World Cup final on Sunday. The game will be Messi’s second-ever World Cup final after he also made it in 2014. Messi has rolled back the years in this tournament and several pundits and fans have recognised his genius. Gary Neville was full of praise for him after the match. The pundit told ITV: “It was a moment of genius that third goal, absolutely unbelievable. They’ve got 10 fighters, who were scrapping like hell for…
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15 December
France are into their second consecutive World Cup final. They face Argentina on Sunday.
Sunday is going to be dubbed as Lionel Messi v Kylian Mbappe so you may as well get used to that now. Two Paris St-Germain team-mates. Battling it out for the Golden Boot too. They both have five goals but Messi leads by one assist. Argentina 🆚 FranceThe #FIFAWorldCup Final is SET! 🇦🇷🇫🇷— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 14, 2022 2018/2022 – France are the first nation to reach back-to-back World Cup finals since Brazil in 2002, and first European country to do so since Germany in 1990. Generation. pic.twitter.com/wWiJfKMq8r— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 14, 2022 Kylian Mbappe went straight over to console his good friend and teammate Achraf Hakimi.🤗 pic.twitter.com/IvbwKbemEu— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 14, 2022 Source
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14 December
Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina past Croatia into World Cup final
DOHA: An inspired Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and Julian Alvarez struck twice as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to reach their second World Cup final in eight years. The two-times world champions, backed their passionate, singing followers at the Lusail Stadium, produced their best display of the tournament to ensure they will meet the winners of Wednesday’s semi-final between holders France and Morocco in Sunday’s final. Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and a third for Argentina after wins in 1978 and 1986. And after getting his team on the way to victory with a perfectly struck first-half penalty…
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