Stories By Graham Ruthven
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Sport
USA could be a nightmare opponent for England at the 2022 World Cup
England have good reason to feel good about their 2022 World Cup chances right now. Gareth Southgate’s side played a free-flowing game as they started their campaign in Qatar with an emphatic 6-2 win over Iran while rivals like Argentina and Germany have suffered shock defeats at the tournament.
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Sport
2022 will be Lionel Messi’s best chance to win the World Cup
Lionel Messi has won everything there is to win in football with one notable exception. The player seen by many as the greatest to have ever played the sport has never got his hands on the World Cup. Messi has played in a World Cup final, but the most prestigious prize in international football has thus far evaded him.
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Sport
France have no choice but to build a new-look team for the 2022 World Cup
France know how to win a World Cup. Indeed, Les Blues have been crowned world champions twice in the last 24 years with Didier Deschamps’ team lifting the trophy at the 2018 World Cup. France will once again be among the favourites in Qatar, but Deschamps will have to build a new team at the tournament.
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Sport
Julen Lopetegui is the ambitious appointment Wolves needed to mark the start of a new era
Wolves wanted Julen Lopetegui as their new manager even before they sacked Bruno Lage and they weren’t prepared to be denied in their pursuit of the Spaniard. At first, Lopetegui appeared unsure of the Molineux club’s offer, rejecting their first approach, but the former Sevilla manager will take charge in the West Midlands in the World Cup break.
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Sport
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Chelsea transfer now looking like a mistake for all parties
Eight touches is all Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could muster before he was hooked by Graham Potter after 64 minutes of Chelsea’s home defeat to Arsenal. The 33-year-old spent the rest of the match watching from the Stamford Bridge bench as his former club claimed another win to take them back to the top of the Premier League table.
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Sport
Gareth Bale’s MLS Cup final shows what he could still offer Wales at the World Cup
For the majority of the 32 minutes Gareth Bale played in Saturday’s MLS Cup final, the Welsh winger offered next to nothing. It was clear in the lack of movement from the 33-year-old that he was a long way short of full fitness, but the Los Angeles FC attacker still came up with a match-defining moment that ultimately sent his team to glory.
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Sport
Reiss Nelson can be secret weapon of Arsenal’s title challenge this season
Few expected Reiss Nelson to be Arsenal’s primary difference-maker against Nottingham Forest, but that’s the role he ended up playing as the Gunners claimed a 5-0 win to stay top of the Premier League table.
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Sport
Can Gareth Southgate really ignore the incredible form of James Maddison?
Only four players (Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Toney) have scored more Premier League goals this season than James Maddison. The 25-year-old is arguably in better form than any other English player right now, but it’s far from certain he will be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2022 World Cup.
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Sport
Gareth Bale’s fitness troubles becoming a serious problem for Wales ahead of World Cup
Los Angeles FC’s players clearly knew the significance of their MLS play-off win over the LA Galaxy. Celebrations continued into the dressing room after the 3-2 victory where the full squad posed for pictures, some of which will enter the history books if LAFC go all the way and win this year’s MLS Cup.
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Sport
Casemiro signing has given Man Utd their best midfield since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement
Erik Ten Hag waited for the right moment to install Casemiro as a key part of his Manchester United midfield. Signed for £70m in the summer transfer window, the Brazilian was given time to acclimatise to his new surroundings.
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Sport
Barcelona’s dreadful defence undermining Xavi Hernandez’s rebuild
Only a handful of clubs spent more in the summer transfer window than Barcelona. The Catalans did this despite the precarious financial position of the club, but there was widespread belief that the spending spree would help Xavi Hernandez build a team capable of winning the biggest honours.
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