World cup Archives - Page 2 of 5

02 Feb

Playing At The World Cup Was A Dream – Kamaldeen Sulemana

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Black Stars forward, Kamaldeen Sulemana, says playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was a dream for him and believes his involvement has given him a good foundation going forward in his career. The winger featured in Ghana’s 3-2 win over South Korea in Group H before also coming off the bench in the fixture against Uruguay. Following his return from Qatar, the 20-year-old has barely enjoyed game time with Stade Rennes leading to his transfer to Southampton. Reflecting on his time in Qatar, Kamaldeen said, “I think we learned a lot, especially the young players because there’s so much…

01 Feb

Messi Says World Cup Trophy ‘Called Out’ To Him

wontumionlineSportsArgentina, Lionel Messi, World cup

Lionel Messi won the World Cup because the sparkling solid gold trophy picked him to lift it, the Argentine star said in a radio interview aired on Monday. The 35-year-old inspired his country to World Cup glory last month by scoring two goals and a penalty in the South Americans’ shoot-out triumph over previous holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. “The cup called out to me, it told me: come and grab me, now you can touch me,” Messi told the Argentine Urbana Play radio station. “I saw it sparkling in that beautiful stadium and I didn’t…

19 Dec

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

wontumionlineSportsArgentina, Lionel Messi, World cup

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

wontumionlineSportsArgentina, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, World cup

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

wontumionlineSportsMorocco, spain, World cup

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

wontumionlineSportsBlack Stars, Elisha Owusu, World cup

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…