Filtered by category "World Cup"

'You always have to be a good sportsman' – Kylian Mbappe not impressed by 'futile' Martinez taunts

Kylian Mbappe says he won’t ‘waste energy on such futile things’ in response to Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s [...]

December 29, 2022 / World Cup

Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup was the worst moment in football history

Whoever would have thought that Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup would be the worst moment in football history? Well, not the very worst. [...]

December 23, 2022 / World Cup

Ireland climb FIFA rankings as Argentina fail to knock Brazil off top spot

Ireland have climbed one place to 48th in the FIFA men’s rankings, while the women’s team have also risen one spot to 23rd – their [...]

December 22, 2022 / World Cup

Pantomime ‘Villan’ takes his role to new heights

At some point something odd happened to Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. From mild-mannered Arsenal back-up to Aston Villa. To world [...]

December 21, 2022 / World Cup

Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter denies financial wrongdoing and hits out at ‘disrespectful' Gianni Infantino

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has slammed successor Gianni Infantino’s plans for a 48-team World Cup and an expanded Club World [...]

December 21, 2022 / World Cup

Legacy of World Cup in Qatar casts a long shadow over football

The first thing you notice is the brilliance of the gold. It’s simply impossible to take your eyes off it. There was Lionel Messi walking through [...]

December 20, 2022 / World Cup

Kylian Mbappe leads football’s next generation of superstars

The events of December 18 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium will come to be remembered as the high point of Lionel Messi’s career and also, surely, the [...]

December 19, 2022 / World Cup

Highlights, lowlights and awards from the World Cup

The sun was shining as the morning flight from Doha to Dublin departed yesterday, a reminder that a Qatari winter is warmer than an Irish summer [...]

December 19, 2022 / World Cup

Argentina let more than ‘hair down’ with victory celebrations

Argentina’s players and staff danced on tables, leapt into bins, cavorted with a $10m cheque and held a “moment of silence” for Kylian Mbappe in [...]

December 19, 2022 / World Cup

How Argentina had shoot-out won in World Cup final before it even got started

The noise was deafening, and with each step, it got louder. Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 18, 2022 / World Cup

The heir apparent stands tall but historic feat proves in vain

The last act of the whole 120 minutes-plus was Kylian Mbappe cutting past Argentina defenders in that way that leaves opponents with so few [...]

December 18, 2022 / World Cup

Greatest World Cup final? No, this was greatest game ever with the greatest player at its heart

We’ll never see a better match. Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 18, 2022 / World Cup

World Cup final: Messi and Di Maria put Argentina in driving seat against France in Qatar

Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 18, 2022 / World Cup

Gareth Southgate to continue as England boss

Gareth Southgate is to stay on as England manager, the Football Association has announced. Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 18, 2022 / World Cup

The real power of football

“We are convinced of the power of our game.” A short phrase by Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, from his closing press conference at this [...]

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

Big question is, who deals with Antoine Griezmann?

Griezmann playing behind Argentina’s midfield Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

Living his life at the end of the rainbow

Wednesday morning at Doha Golf Club and the sun is shining on Niall Keogh, a 44-year-old Dubliner, sitting in what he calls his second office on [...]

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

Two worlds collide: This immoral tournament could yet reach an immortal conclusion

Ahead of a fixture of such a scale that it can overcome most players, a figure as experienced as Didier Deschamps knows exactly what he needs to [...]

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

I have a sneaking feeling that France are going to break Messi’s heart

I’m a happy man this weekend – waiting for the 2022 World Cup final to start. Source: Sport Soccer-.Independent

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

‘I have felt so proud to see the boys I represent be part of this group’

In the last of 64 matches, the World Cup final sees two-time winners Argentina face reigning champions France in a mouth-watering clash. [...]

December 17, 2022 / World Cup

Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time and like Diego Maradona he will stop at nothing to win the World Cup

Lionel Messi is one win away from settling the most enduring argument in football. If he lifts the World Cup for Argentina, he will cement his [...]

December 16, 2022 / World Cup

A victory for Lionel Messi’s Argentina is one the football world craves – but will it happen?

This will be Lionel Messi’s World Cup final, or his bitter World Cup farewell. Everything else is likely to be a sub-plot when tomorrow’s [...]

December 16, 2022 / World Cup

‘You need to respect football’ – Gianni Infantino defends FIFA stance on ‘OneLove’ armband

Gianni Infantino has defended FIFA’s stance on the ‘OneLove’ armband at the Qatar World Cup by suggesting football matches should be a time for [...]

December 16, 2022 / World Cup

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at PSG crossroads as the world awaits

It is remarkable to think that come Sunday evening Kylian Mbappe, who only turns 24 next Tuesday, could have already twice won the biggest prize [...]

December 15, 2022 / World Cup

Saudi Arabia plotting ambitious bid to host World Cup and Olympics in the same decade

Saudi Arabia is considering an audacious and controversial double bid to host the Olympics and World Cup in the same decade. Source: Sport [...]

December 15, 2022 / World Cup

World Cup final will be Lionel Messi’s last chance to escape the ghost of Diego Maradona

For all the bumps and broken teeth of a dark history, Argentina has always craved the reputation of beauty too and – right now – Leo Messi is an [...]

December 15, 2022 / World Cup

Argentina v France: What time, what channel, team news and all you need to know about the World Cup final

Holders France and Kylian Mbappe stand between his PSG teammate Lionel Messi’s hopes of adding the ultimate prize to his glittering trophy [...]

December 15, 2022 / World Cup

The Indo World Cup, episode 25: Marking Mbappe, heavyweight final, Qatar’s PSG victory

Gary Breen joins Dan McDonnell and Aidan O’Hara on The Indo World Cup to relive France’s 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco. Source: [...]

December 15, 2022 / World Cup

Courageous Morocco refuse to leave World Cup quietly

They were never going to go down quietly, Morocco. It is a World Cup that has been enriched by both their courage and colour. Source: Sport [...]

December 14, 2022 / World Cup

Despite ravages of time Messi’s commitment puts him above all others

The greatest years are long past him – when Barcelona could still afford to pay whatever it was Lionel Messi cost, and the players around him [...]

December 14, 2022 / World Cup