World cup Archives - Page 2 of 5

19 Dec

Behind Argentina’s World Cup Magic, An Army Of Witches

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Magalí Martínez knew something was off: The seemingly invincible star Lionel Messi was scuffling on the soccer pitch. To her, it looked like he was afflicted with a supernatural curse that has roots in different cultures across history, the “evil eye.” So Martínez, a self-proclaimed witch and part-time babysitter, got to work. She focused intensely on Messi, began repeating a prayer and drizzled a bit of oil into a bowl of water. If the oil remained dispersed, he was safe. If it collected in the middle, he was cursed. “It came together like a magnet,” she said. “I knew I…

19 Dec

2022 FIFA World Cup: Messi Leads Argentina To Third Title After Penalties Win Over France

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Lionel Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory after beating France on penalties in one of the most thrilling climaxes in the tournament’s history. Argentina looked to have thrown the trophy away, after Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the last 10 minutes to take the tie into extra time, after a Messi penalty and a sweeping finish from Angel di Maria had seen the Argentines 2-0 up in the first half. Messi restored their lead in the extra period, before Mbappe stunned the South Americans again from the penalty spot to force a shootout with his third – the…

16 Dec

World Cup 2022: Morocco Protest About Semi-final Referee

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Morocco’s football federation (FMRF) has protested to world governing body Fifa about the refereeing during Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final defeat by defending champions France in Qatar. The FMRF is unhappy that Mexican referee Cesar Ramos failed to award a penalty in the first half to the North Africans when Theo Hernandez made contact with Sofiane Boufal in the area. Instead of awarding a spot-kick, which several neutrals felt was appropriate, Ramos instead booked winger Boufal for a foul. The Moroccans were also unhappy that the hauling down of substitute Selim Amallah as he awaited the delivery of a set-piece also…

15 Dec

France Edge Past Morocco To Set Up Argentina Final

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France was pushed all the way by World Cup wild cards Morocco before the holders sealed a place in Sunday's final against Argentina. The first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final refused to buckle despite suffering the early blows of losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury after he was named in the starting line-up, and then going behind to Theo Hernandez's scrambled fifth-minute goal. France, for all Morocco's endeavour and spirit, were more clinical and substitute Kolo Muani ensured they will defend their crown against Argentina and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium on Sunday when he turned…

14 Dec

Moroccan Fans Brace For Fairy Tale Semi-Final Clash

wontumionlineSportsMoroccan Fans, World cup

Moroccans are eagerly anticipating their team’s semi-final World Cup match against reigning champions, France. Morocco became the first Arab and African side to make it to a World Cup semi-final, after defeating Portugal last week in a shock result. Across Casablanca, a port city in western Morocco, café owners are setting up for the biggest football game of their lives. Tables are being cleared out, and rows of chairs lined up in front of giant screens, ready for the throngs of supporters who will be pouring into the city’s many coffee shops to watch the game. Vendors selling flags and…

07 Dec

2022 World Cup: Morocco Beat Spain On Penalties To Book Quarterfinal Spot

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Achraf Hakimi made himself a hero with a chipped winning penalty as Morocco stunned Spain in a shootout after a goalless draw to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The two teams played out a draw after 120 minutes and Spain failed to convert any of their three penalties – goalkeeper Yaccine Bounou saving two – leaving PSG’s Hakimi to win it with a nerveless ‘Panenka’ to spark jubilant scenes. The north African side’s fans had been making themselves heard all game but the atmosphere in the stands did not match the attritional battle on the pitch. Spain hogged the ball…

05 Dec

Qatar 2022: Black Stars Will Be Back Hungrier Than Ever – Elisha Owusu

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Ghana international, Elisha Owusu, says the Black Stars will look to play with more hunger in their next assignment following their elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars suffered a group-stage exit in Qatar following their 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final group game at the Al Janoub Stadium on Friday, December 2. Ghana needed a draw to stand a chance of progress from the group heading into the final game but that result proved a difficult task as they succumbed to defeat. Reacting to the exit, Owusu, who was one of six not to have…

05 Dec

How Individual Mistakes Cost Black Stars A Round Of 16 World Cup Slot

wontumionlineSportsBlack Stars playbook, Mishael Quaynor, World cup

Disappointingly, the 2022 World Cup’s youngest team crashed out of the group stages in Qatar, after the final round of group stage games. And elimination followed a game where the barest Ghana needed was a draw. Yet it seemed an uphill task after conceding two goals to Uruguay. Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s brace came six minutes apart in a first half the Black Stars failed to convert a penalty versus Uruguay – again. But conceding a second to Uruguay quickly after the first, summed up Ghana’s 2022 World Cup headache. Besides the time gap between Portugal’s first and second, the Black…

01 Dec

Ghanaian Fans Arrested In Qatar For Selling World Cup Match Tickets

wontumionlineSportsGhanaian Fans Arrested In Qatar, World cup

Some Ghanaian football fans are in the grips of the police in Qatar for selling World Cup match tickets and charged to court, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has confirmed. He has appealed to the supporters to desist from selling the match tickets they have toiled to secure for them. He said "The police and the security agencies are always at the stadiums, monitoring things. We have toiled to get you tickets, we don’t want any of you to go out and sell them." "So far the authorities have arrested some people and are taking them to court,…

30 Nov

Workers Who Died While Building World Cup Stadiums For The Ongoing Tournament ‘Between 400 & 500 – Qatar

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A top Qatari official has said the number of workers who died while building World Cup stadiums for the ongoing tournament is 'between 400 and 500.' Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, disclosed this during an interview. British journalist Piers Morgan asked Mr al-Thawadi: 'What is the honest, realistic total do you think of migrant workers who died from… as a result of work they're doing for the World Cup in totality?' Mr al-Thawadi replied: 'The estimate is around 400, between 400 and 500… I don't have the exact number. That's something that's been discussed.' 'One…