World Cup 2022 LIVE: Rooney URGES Southgate to rest Kane, Gary Neville SLAMS Messi despite VITAL Argentina win – latest | The Sun
ENGLAND’S all-time top goal scorer Wayne Rooney has advised Gareth Southgate to rest Harry Kane for the Three Lions’ final group game against Wales.
Kane, 29, played the whole 90 minutes of England’s bore draw with USA despite undergoing an ankle scan days before.
And Rooney believes that the Tottenham ace was suffering from the effects of his minor injury.
Elsewhere Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a vital 2-0 win over Mexico last night but Gary Neville wasn’t impressed with the footballing icons body language.
Neville said: “Players aren't fearful of Lionel Messi anymore. They are taking the ball off him easily.
He’s walking around the pitch, he’s shrugging his shoulders at them.”
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Stay tuned with all the latest ahead from tournament…
- Joshua Mbu
Good morning, footie fans
FIFA is investigating the Serbian football team after players left an offensive message to Kosovo in their World Cup dressing room.
A picture circulated online shows a provocative flag hung between two lockers amid escalating tensions between the Balkan states.
The flag was draped across lockers belonging to Serbian players Milos Veljkovic and Andrija Zivkovic in their dressing room during the World Cup.
It features an outline map of Kosovo filled in with a the national flag of Russia-backed neighbour Serbia.
Over the top were the words “No Surrender.”
France star Lucas Hernandez reportedly considered retiring following his horrific World Cup injury – but his mum convinced him not to.
Bayern Munich star and World Cup 2018 winner Hernandez, 26, sustained an ACL injury in the early stages of the 4-1 win over Australia on Tuesday.
Hernandez’s injury was so bad that he considered quitting football, according to L’Equipe, via Get French Football News.
However, the defender was convinced by his mum to keep on playing.
All-time England top scorer Wayne Rooney has told manager Gareth Southgate to rest captain Harry Kane for their World Cup group clash with Wales.
Talking in his Times column, 53 England-goal Rooney said on resting Kane: “The other big change I would make for the Wales match would be to rest Harry Kane.
“Against the USA, he looked like he may have been suffering the effects of a heavy knock he took in the Iran game.
“It was from a tackle in the second half and in that match I felt that Gareth should have considered taking him off at half-time.
“England were leading 3-0, the game was already won and Harry is our most important player.
“When there are opportunities to protect him and help him stay fit, I believe Gareth should take them — and that is why I would keep Harry on the bench against Wales.”
- Jon Boon
Neville slams Messi
Gary Neville slammed Lionel Messi as he compared the superstar to the miserable ex-Manchester United strop Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi's long-range drive revived Argentina's Qatar hopes following their shock loss to Saudi Arabia.
But at half-time, former Prem star and now pundit Neville told ITV viewers that the skipper reminded him of Ronaldo's demise at United.
The 47-year-old said: “Players aren't fearful of Lionel Messi anymore. They are taking the ball off him easily.
“You can’t speak enough about how great this guy is.
"But honestly the devastation. I’ve seen at Old Trafford for 18 months, when a player of such stature has that body language, the impact it has on the players is devastating.
“He’s walking around the pitch, he’s shrugging his shoulders at them.”
- Jon Boon
Keane & Neville blast Di Maria
Roy Keane and Gary Neville have launched a blistering attack on a former Manchester United player.
That’s by sensationally claiming he “doesn’t have a heart.”
The Red Devils legends were both on punditry duty for ITV during Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup win against Mexico.
And one man who caught their eye – for the WRONG reason – was ex-United flop Angel Di Maria.
Neville started the attack, saying: “He’s the biggest disappointment ever to come to Manchester United. He’s no heart.”
This spurred on Keane, who roared: "He'd break your heart, I am not sure he's got one.
“We're getting up going 'go on and do something' and he is just guaranteed to give it away. He is going into bodies, he's not getting his head.
“You say about his career, my goodness, he's had some great moves and gone for a lot of money.
“But watching him out there, take him off, guarantee you'll score in the second half now.
“The decision-making from such a senior player, so poor.”
- Jon Boon
Serbia investigation
FIFA is investigating the Serbian football team after players left an offensive message to Kosovo in their World Cup dressing room.
A picture circulated online shows a provocative flag hung between two lockers amid escalating tensions between the Balkan states.
The flag was draped across lockers belonging to Serbian players Milos Veljkovic and Andrija Zivkovic in their dressing room during the World Cup.
It features an outline map of Kosovo filled in with a the national flag of Russia-backed neighbour Serbia.
Over the top were the words "No Surrender."
- Jon Boon
Rooney tells Southgate to rest Kane
All-time England top scorer Wayne Rooney has told manager Gareth Southgate to rest captain Harry Kane for their World Cup group clash with Wales.
Talking in his Times column, 53 England-goal Rooney said on resting Kane: "The other big change I would make for the Wales match would be to rest Harry Kane.
"Against the USA, he looked like he may have been suffering the effects of a heavy knock he took in the Iran game.
"It was from a tackle in the second half and in that match I felt that Gareth should have considered taking him off at half-time.
"England were leading 3-0, the game was already won and Harry is our most important player.
"When there are opportunities to protect him and help him stay fit, I believe Gareth should take them — and that is why I would keep Harry on the bench against Wales."
- Jon Boon
Game, set and match
Argentina have their first win of the World Cup.
Fernandez has put the Argies 2-0 up – adding to Lionel Messi's earlier strike.
That should banish the demons of Saudi Arabia.
- Jon Boon
Wett slams Mount
Porn star Astrid Wett slammed Mason Mount for his display in England’s drab draw with USA.
The 21-year-old Chelsea supporter, who is a famous Instagram star, Tiktoker, YouTuber and OnlyFans model, tuned in with the rest of the nation for Friday night's World Cup clash.
Astrid tweeted: “Mason Mount I love you, but this is the World Cup not Norwich at home.”
- Jon Boon
Saka meets up with former teammate
Bukayo Saka reunited with his former Arsenal academy teammate Yunus Musah last night following England’s World Cup clash with the USA.
The winger, 21, has been a stand-out player for England so far in the competition.
He scored twice in the Three Lions’ record-breaking 6-2 win over Iran earlier this week and earned the Player of the Match award for his efforts.
Saka was also named in Gareth Southgate’s unchanged starting line-up ahead of Friday’s grudge match.
But, like the rest of his teammates, he failed to impress as England were held to a bore 0-0 draw against the USA.
Despite the result, Saka was seen smiling and joking as he stopped to chat with his former academy teammate Musah, who started in midfield for Gregg Berhalter’s side.
- Jon Boon
I missed England v USA for FA Cup game
Non-leagueAlvechurch captain Jamie Willets had tickets to watch England's World Cup group match against USA in Qatar… but had to skip it to play in the FA Cup.
Lowest-ranked Alvechurch earned a shock spot in this weekend's round of FA Cup action after beating Cheltenham in the first round.
But while Alvechurch captain Willets would have been delighted to have his side progress, it meant he couldn't go to Qatar.
Willets even had tickets secured for England's Middle East dust-up with USA, according to BBC's Betty Glover.
Instead, he was in action against League One Forest Green – and unfortunately staying at home came to nothing as Alvechurch's cup ran came to an end on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat.
However, considering the boring 0-0 draw that England played out in Qatar, Willet might have been happy he stayed at home
- Jon Boon
Grealish's calves
England's World Cup superstar Jack Grealish has revealed the secret behind his low socks and large calves.
On those famous calves, he claimed it is all genetics, saying to the Daily Mail: "I actually don’t do anything. It’s just something that runs in the family.
"My grandad always had big calves when he used to play football.
"But I don’t do any calf exercises or calf routines in the gym or anything. Honestly, it’s just something that I’ve had since I was young."
- Jon Boon
Hernandez considered retiring
France star Lucas Hernandez reportedly considered retiring following his horrific World Cup injury – but his mum convinced him not to.
Bayern Munich star and World Cup 2018 winner Hernandez, 26, sustained an ACL injury in the early stages of the 4-1 win over Australia on Tuesday.
Hernandez's injury was so bad that he considered quitting football, according to L'Equipe, via Get French Football News.
However, the defender was convinced by his mum to keep on playing.
- Jon Boon
England's Mount rejects deal
Mason Mount has turned down a £200,000 a week contract offer from Chelsea, according to reports.
The England midfielder has just 18 months left on his deal at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues opened talks in September hoping to conclude things swiftly.
But according to the Mail, Chelsea and Mount remain a long way apart in their valuations.
The 23-year-old's fellow Cobham academy graduate Reece James agreed a new deal worth £250,000 a week earlier this season.
But Mount, who currently earns £85,000 a week, wants parity with Three Lions team-mate Raheem Sterling.
The winger, 27, moved to Stamford Bridge last summer on a deal reportedly worth £300,000 a week.
- Jon Boon
Mbappe with the winner?
You can't keep a good man down.
Kylian Mbappe has broken Denmark's hearts by putting France 2-1 up with just four minutes to go.
Mbappe has now scored the same number of goals for the French National team as Zinedine Zidane – 31… he's 23.
- Jon Boon
Five minutes to go!
Since the withdrawal of Olivier Giroud, France have struggled to keep hold of the ball up top.
Denmark equalised on 68 minutes and Les Bleus don't look like the same team at the moment.
Defensively, they are not quite up to scratch.
- Jon Boon
France lead!
The deadlock is finally broken.
Kylian Mbappe has put France ahead against Denmark, as Les Bleus look to secure their qualification for the last-16.
It was a lovely team goal from the World Champions.
- Jon Boon
Van Dijk hits back at Van Basten
Virgil Van Dijk has hit back at criticism from Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
The 58-year-old said of the centre-back's role in Ecuador's equaliser: "Van Dijk is just waiting and watching him shoot. What is he looking at? He needs to be on top of him!
"He just lets him shoot! He doesn't take the lead. He takes care of nothing in the team. He makes a sound, but he doesn't say anything. This is what he does."
In his post match press conference Van Dijk, 31, came out swinging – hitting back: "I don't think he is ever positive, so what am I supposed to do with it?
"It's easy to talk from the studio. Me failing as a captain? What do you want me to do with that info?
"I am always upfront. I lead the team the best way possible."
- Jon Boon
Hottest fan flaunts rules
A woman dubbed the "World Cup's hottest fan" dared to risk breaking Qatar's modesty laws with a very racy outfit to support her team.
Croatian beauty Ivana Knoll donned a plunging red and white checkerboard dress in honour of her country's coat of arms.
She proved her patriotism in the figure-hugging hooded ensemble as she headed to the Al-Bayat stadium for the game against Morocco.
The 30-year-old supporter snubbed strict warnings to keep outfits conservative despite the soaring temperatures.
Ivana uploaded two snaps to Instagram flaunting her curves and her country's colours to rally Croatia footie fans ahead of the game.
She even boldly tagged FIFA – who have reiterated Qatar's strict rules on clothing at the World Cup – in her posts on Wednesday.
- Jon Boon
Hazard & De Bruyne disagree
Eden Hazard claims he is the key to Belgium winning the World Cup – but his teammate Kevin De Bruyne begs to differ.
Hazard said: "The more matches I play the better I am. It is up to me to play as well as I can. To make it clear I am still in top form and Belgium can be world champions if Eden Hazard is in top form.
"I feel great, I played 65 minutes in the first game and played well. But we can improve as a team.
"I have been through three challenging years but I am happy when I go out on the pitch. It is up to me to ask for the ball and step up."
However, De Bruyne claims Belgium are "outsiders" rather than favourites to take home the trophy due to the ageing squad.
He told The Guardian: "I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing.
"We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders.
"I am fully able to do what I need to do, but I feel the difference compared with eight years ago. I need more treatment, more rest."
- Jon Boon
'Genius Ronaldo'
FIFA have labelled Cristiano Ronaldo a "total genius" for the "smart" way he won a controversial penalty in Portugal's World Cup opener.
Ghana boss Otto Addo was outraged by the soft spot-kick that Ronaldo converted to become the first player to score at five World Cups.
Oliseh told a briefing in Doha: "Maybe the strikers are getting smarter?
"The Ronaldo penalty, people can say what they want about him, but the smartness to wait for that second, to touch the ball, continue his leg and then get the contact. That is total genius.
"Let's give strikers the compliment for getting smarter.
"VAR is also a major reason why this (more penalties being awarded) is happening. Referees can look at it three or four times."
- Gary Stonehouse
Denmark v France line-ups
Here's a reminder of tonight's starting XIs with ten minutes until kick-off here in Doha.
DENMARK (3-4-3) Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Nelsson; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Maehle; Lindstrom, Cornelius, Damsgaard
FRANCE (4-3-3): Lloris; Kounde, Upamecano, Varane, T.Hernandez; Tchouameni, Griezmann, Rabiot; Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe.
REF: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
- Gary Stonehouse
Live from the ground
Greetings from the prefab Stadium 974, writes Mark Irwin, where the big question is can Olivier Giroud become France’s all-time top scorer?
He’s currently tied on 51 goals with Thierry Henry after his double in the 4-1 win against Australia and victory today will see France become the first team to qualify for the last 16.
Raphael Varane is playing his first game since straining a hamstring for Manchester United against Chelsa five weeks ago, with the unfortunate Ibrahima Konate dropping to the bench.
But it won’t be plain sailing for Les Bleus, who lost home and away against Denmark in the Nations League and have never been beaten three times in a year by the same team before.
Kasper Hjulmand has made four changes to the team held to a goalless draw by Tunisia in their opening Group D game.
I presume the ground is going to fill up because with half an hour to kick-off it’s less than a quarter full.
- Gary Stonehouse
BY JORDAN DAVIES
THERE IS a feeling of déjà vu seeping into the USA camp.
Back in 2010, the Yanks were on the cusp of a familiar World Cup group stage exit having tied their opening two matches out in South Africa.
A 1-1 draw with England and 2-2 result against Slovenia meant only a win versus Algeria in their last outing would be enough to send them into the Last 16.
It was looking bleak until Landon Donovan’s heroics in injury time to not only send the United States through, but also top a World Cup group for the first time since 1930.
USA skipper Tyler Adams remembers Donovan’s winner well, watching it as an 11-year-old in his hometown of Wappinger, New York.
But if history is to repeat itself, Leeds midfielder Adams would prefer it without the drama.
Reminded of the similarities, Adams chuckled: “It is exciting. Hopefully not as dramatic as that goal. We don’t want to leave it until the end.
“We are in control of our own destiny, and we had to earn that. We know what we have to do. That’s important.
“But we definitely can’t get ahead of ourselves. We can’t go all out or you can dig yourselves a hole when it is against a good team. We will have to compete and be ready for that.
“I watched a little bit of [Iran’s win over Wales]. They competed and fought very, very hard. When you play against teams like that, it is hard to beat them.
“We need to mentally be tuned into that. It won’t be easy by any means.”
- Gary Stonehouse
FRANCE VS DENMARK
The team news is in.
Here’s how the sides line up:
FRANCE (4-3-3): Lloris; Kounde, Upamecano, Varane, T.Hernandez; Tchouameni, Griezmann, Rabiot; Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe.
DENMARK (3-4-3) Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Nelsson; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Maehle; Lindstrom, Cornelius, Damsgaard
- Gary Stonehouse
FT: Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia
Poland picked up a big 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia with Robert Lewandowski finally breaking his World Cup duck at the Education City Stadium.
Czeslaw Michniewicz's men struggled throughout the match against a red hot Saudi side but found an opening on 39 minutes with Piotr Zielinski.
Matty Cash found Przemyslaw Frankowski with a wonderful pass in midfield and got the ball back down the right which is where he delivered a wonderful low cross to Lewandowski, who teed up Zielinski.
Saudi Arabia, though got a penalty at the death after Krystian Bielik brought Saleh Alshehri down but Salem Aldawsari's spot-kick was saved by Wojciech Szczesny who lunged to his bottom right corner and then denied the inconing Mohammed Alburayk with another stunning save.
Poland hit the post twice with Arkadiusz Milik and Lewandowski in their bid for a second to seal the win.
Saudi Arabia were solid throughout the match until a big error by Abdulelah Almalki who gave the ball away at the back and Lewandowski picked it up to beat Mohammed Alowais and score his first ever World Cup goal
Robert Lewandowski races off in celebration after ending his World Cup duckCredit: Getty - Gary Stonehouse
FRANCE VS DENMARK
Les Bleus can qualify for the knockout round of the World Cup with a win over Denmark in the group stages.
The French then continued their dominance on the international stage by securing a Nations League triumph in 2021.
But they now come up against a determined Denmark side who had a very impressive Euro 2020 despite the tragedy of Christian Eriksen collapsing on the pitch.
And the Danes are no strangers to grinding out a win against France as it something they have already achieved within the last calendar year.
We’ll have the team news very shortly ahead of the Group D clash.
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