Chelsea and USA winger Christian Pulisic is set to miss a few months on the sidelines after leaving Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Man City last week with a knee injury.

Pulisic left the January 5 fixture just 22 minutes in, and Chelsea boss Graham Potter revealed Wednesday that the player could be out of action until March.

‘Christian [Pulisic] is a couple of months we think. Raheem [Sterling] is less, hopefully less than that,’ he told reporters.

Pulisic was holding onto a ball in the box when a hard John Stones challenge looked to injure the American. This might have averted a goal.

Pulisic has battled injury issues throughout his Chelsea career and only started 13 games in the league last season.

But he appeared to be back in favour following an impressive World Cup with the United States, as he had started Chelsea’s last three league matches before being subbed off vs. City

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The injury could affect his long-term as well as the immediate future.

Pulisic was potentially set for a move away from the club in January – a prospect that could now be scuppered by his latest setback.

The winger has one goal and two assists in all competitions this season.

He recorded identical figures while the USA advanced to the round of 16 in Qatar, having contributed to all of the team’s goals and unfortunately enough to hit the crossbar against England.

Pulisic’s injury is one on a long list for Chelsea at the moment.

Key players like Reece James and N’Golo Kante were among the ten players who were absent from Sunday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester City.

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FIFA updates the national team’s world rankings following the 2022 World Cup. Despite winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina saw a justifiable increase in their position in FIFA’s updated men’s world rankings but failed to overtake Brazil for the top slot.

Argentina climbed into second place a day after defeating France in a thrilling World Cup final in Qatar, while rival South American nation Brazil remained in first place despite Selecao’s elimination from the tournament in the quarterfinals. World Cup finalist France moved up one place to third.

Argentina or France would’ve usurped Brazil had Sunday’s finale been decided within the allotted 120 minutes of playing time.

But since shootout victories are worth fewer points than a regulation win, according to FIFA’s calculation, Brazil’s place atop the rankings was assured when extra time was over at Lusail Stadium in Doha.

While Argentina won four games in regulation and two on penalties after losing its opening match to Saudi Arabia, Brazil won three matches in Qatar before losing to Croatia on penalties.

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While all was going on, the United States moved up three spots to 13th place, passing Mexico as the highest-ranked CONCACAF country. While Canada lost the most ground, falling 12 spots to 53rd, Mexico is rated 15th.

Following an unexpected run to the World Cup semifinals, Morocco shot up the rankings. The Atlas Lions are now the highest-ranked team in Africa after moving up 11 spots to place 11. Following exceeding expectations in Qatar, Australia and Cameroon also experienced double-digit increases, moving up to positions 27 and 33, respectively.

Belgium, however, dropped two spots from second to fourth after failing to advance through the group stage. The Red Devils are in front of sixth-placed Netherlands and fifth-placed England.

Top 20 rankings:

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The 2022  FIFA World Cup Qatar tournament has just two games left, and it has been spectacular, with some unexpected results and some of the top players in the competition winning the most Man of the Match awards.

FIFA World Cups, and football’s biggest stars living up to the expectation, stepping up their game, and making unforgettable experiences, are unavoidable facts of life.

Some of the greatest matches and biggest upsets from this edition in Qatar have been built, and a few players have wowed the world with their performances.

It has been an unbelievable delight to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022. Numerous players have constantly maintained their status in the biggest tournament in the world.

Despite the failure of numerous famous teams, some players displayed consistency and received numerous MOTM awards (Man Of The Match).

The Man of the Match award is given to a player who typically scores a crucial goal or otherwise directly contributes to the team’s victory.

In the FIFA World Cup 2022, Mp3bullet.ng unveils the following players who received the most Man of the Match awards:

• Christian Pulisic:

Christian Pulisic, the team’s Captain America, epitomized the Stars and Stripes’ fervour by leading the press from the front as Team USA brought a ton of energy and passion to the World Cup.

Pulisic lived up to the talismanic expectations that Team USA had for him by recording the most assists (2), most chances created (6), most take-on attempted (15), as well as scoring the momentous, heroic winning goal against Iran to advance the Yanks to the round of 16.

Pulisic deservedly won the player of the match twice.

USA have been knocked out but they can exit with their heads held up high.

Christian Pulisic was fantastic this World Cup with 1 goal, 2 assists and 2 Man of the Match awards 🌟 pic.twitter.com/ccswTzRum7

— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) December 3, 2022

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• Yassine Bounou:

The 2022 World Cup’s Cinderella team has been Morocco. They were placed in Group F, along with Canada, Croatia, and Belgium. Considering Belgium and Croatia’s squad, many deemed Morocco to stand last in the table.

In addition to winning the entire group, Morocco advanced to the semifinals. They defeated Belgium in the group stage, Spain in the round of 16, and Portugal in the quarterfinals on their historic run to the semifinals.

Their goalie Yassine Bounou is a key factor in this victory. Throughout the competition, Morocco’s unmovable goalie remained reliable.

However, he won Man of the Match for his outstanding effort against Spain. In order to keep Spain at bay for the full 120 minutes, Bounou made numerous stops. In the penalty shootout versus Spain, Bounou also made two saves.

The underdogs had only let up one goal before France defeated Morocco. It was an own goal for that one goal. Against Portugal, Bounou was also given his second Man of the Match award.

Yassine Bounou deservedly won 2 Player of the Match Awards.

3 – Yassine Bounou, who made his 50th appearance for Morocco tonight, is the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/xW3DEN6LAL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022

• Dominik Livakovic:

Honestly, Yassine Bounou and this goalie are the greatest of the FIFA World Cup 2022. In penalty shootouts, Livakovic was mostly responsible for Croatia’s unstoppable force. Dominik made three stops against Japan in the Round of 16 penalty shootouts. Up until Neymar Jr. conjured up an amazing goal for Brazil, Livakovic remained steadfast in the face of the test.

The penalty shootouts, though, were where Livakovic really shined. Brazilian penalty number one was stopped by Dominik. As Livakovic expertly stopped it, Rodrygo Goes was unable to score Brazil’s first penalty. Due to their victory over Brazil, Croatia gained momentum. For his bravery against Brazil and Japan, Livakovic received two Man of the Match Awards.

• Luka Modric:

Another Croatia player, Luka Modric, on the other hand, is not just any average footballer; he is timeless. He’s one of the most underappreciated midfielders in football today.

The 37-year-old midfielder is widely considered to be one of the best in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Luka Modric was named Man Of The Match two times during the FIFA World Cup 2022. In the group stage encounter against Belgium, Modric won his first Man Of The Match award.

In a game where there was no scoring, Modric was given the honour for his ability to both retain defensive composure and create outstanding offensive opportunities. Another matchup against Morocco ended in a scoreless draw, and the Real Madrid player was again voted Man Of The Match. Overall, Luka Modric was able to earn two FIFA World Cup 2022 Man of the Match accolades.

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• Kylian Mbappe:

The standout player for Paris Saint-Germain is inspiring the next generation of footballers. He may soon join the ranks of many renowned football players if he continues in this direction.

For a country hoping to win back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in its history, Kylian Mbappe has made it his mission to be the top goal threat.

France began their World Cup defence against Australia in the Group rounds. Kylian Mbappe shone as France defeated Australia 4-1. The teenager scored a goal and assisted another.

Mbappe had another appearance in the Group stage, this time against Denmark. Kylian scored two goals in the second half to help France advance to the Round of 16. Mbappe scored another brace against Poland in the Round of 16. Kylian Mbappe might also become the FIFA World Cup 2022 top scorer. Kylian has won three Man Of The Match awards at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

#Mbappe already has 3️⃣ Player of the Match awards at the 2022 #WorldCup 🏆

🤙 v Australia
✌️ v Denmark
👈 v Poland

Will he add to his collection in the #France 🆚 #England quarter-final on Saturday?! 😬#FRA #ENG #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/eJ4qxGHvZp

— Football Mad ⚽️ (@FootballMadUK) December 5, 2022

• Lionel Messi:

Lionel Messi, the national hero of Argentina, is on his way to the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals. In terms of Man of the Match accolades throughout the history of football, Lionel Messi now holds the top spot.

Argentina’s aspirations and hopes have been on Messi’s shoulders. But this time, perhaps as a result of the Copa America victory, the bond between Messi’s team and the fans has healed.

The Argentine skipper has therefore embraced his responsibility in this competition. The dream of the little Rosario lad has received much attention, but La Pulga has given his all on the field to turn that romanticism into reality for both himself and Argentina.

Furthermore, Messi is also dominating the rankings for the FIFA World Cup 2022. At the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Messi might also take home the golden boot. At the FIFA World Cup 2022, Messi received four Man of the Match awards.

In the match against Croatia, Lionel Messi gave his best Man of the Match performance. In the semifinal matchup against Croatia, Messi scored a goal and made a brilliant assist.

LIONEL MESSI WINS HIS 4TH MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD AT THE 2022 WORLD CUP 🐐🏆

No player has more. pic.twitter.com/5CIpjj45ik

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2022

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Players with most Man of the Match awards in the 2022 FIFA World Cup..

Netherlands and Argentina square off in a tantalising World Cup 2022 quarterfinal that is sure to feature goals on Friday night at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The South American champions defeated Australia 2-1 to maintain their chances of winning the tournament while Louis van Gaal’s team defeated the USA 3-1 to secure their place in the round of eight.

Before facing the Netherlands in their World Cup quarterfinal, Argentina is concerned about Rodrigo De Paul’s fitness. Argentina started the competition by losing to the World Cup’s second-lowest-ranked country (Saudi Arabia), but they have gotten better with each match since, displaying flashes of the confidence that let them go 36 games without a loss before facing Australia in the round of 16.

• Team News:

The Netherlands had a scare with Jeremie Frimpong (ankle) before the win against the USA, but he was part of a fully-fit squad for that game, and Van Gaal should have everyone available for the quarter-final as well.

Centre back for Inter Milan Due to pain, Stefan de Vrij was unable to train on Sunday, but he has since rejoined the squad to contest the existing hierarchy of Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk, and Jurrien Timber, even though he will probably be losing that fight.

In his last 30 appearances for the Netherlands, Depay has scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists. The Barcelona forward should once again team up with Gakpo in an untried Dutch starting lineup.

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Regarding Argentina, Sevilla attacker Papu Gomez is questionable for the match after leaving with a sprained ankle against Australia in the 50th minute. However, Angel Di Maria is making progress in his recovery from a quadriceps injury and should be able to take the place of his injured teammate.

In spite of relentless pressure from Lisandro Martinez, Scaloni has no other injury concerns and continues to have faith in the centre-back combination of Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi.

Leandro Paredes and Angel Correa, for example, were put to the test earlier this week in a training ground XI, but neither player will be expected to beat off Di Maria or the promising Enzo Fernandez for a starting position in the quarterfinal.

• Possible Lineup:

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Jong, De Roon, Blind; Klaassen; Gakpo, Depay

Argentina’s possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; Fernandez, De Paul, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

• Score Prediction:

Prediction: Netherlands 1-1 Argentina.

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After being brought to the hospital, Christian Pulisic provided an injury update. He is certain he will be ready for the USA’s World Cup match against the Netherlands in the round of 16.

In their final group match against Iran, the Chelsea star scores his team’s winning goal by latching onto Segino Dest’s cross late in the first half.

Pulisic crashed into Iran shot-stopper Alireza in the process however and the player was left needing treatment from the US medical staff.

He was able to come back onto the field to finish the first half, but after halftime, he was substituted.

The 24-year-old attacker was reportedly transported to the hospital for scans on an abdomen injury.

Despite concerns about missing Saturday’s vital match against the Netherlands, Pulisic has declared he will play.

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‘So f*****g proud of my guys, I’ll be ready Saturday don’t worry,’ Pulisic wrote alongside a picture of him celebrating the victory from his hospital bed.

Pulisic’s goal was enough to seal USA’s place in the next stages of the World Cup, qualifying as group runners-up behind England.

Teammates Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie paid huge tribute to the Chelsea forward for putting his body on the line to help his country go through.

‘We worked so hard as a group to be in this position,’ Lille forward Weah said. ‘Thanks to Christian. We love him and we thank him. It’s a great feeling.’

Juventus midfielder McKennie added: ‘Obviously we’re very thankful (Pulisic) threw his body there.

‘But we have 25 guys other than Christian who would do the same thing.

‘Everybody is ready to give everything. It’s unfortunate he had to come out but the fact he’s throwing his body on the line tells you how close this team is.’

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As long as he is still needed, Gareth Bale has stated that he has no plans to stop his playing career with Wales.

Bale suffered World Cup disappointment as a hamstring injury forced him off at half time in their final group game against England.

Wales’ first World Cup since 1958 ended in a 3-0 loss to the Three Lions, but Bale has said he intends to continue playing for his country internationally.

Asked if he will be part of Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Bale – who plays for LAFC – told BBC Sport: “I’ll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m wanted. It’s a difficult moment now but we go again.”

Wales was unable to claim a victory in Qatar, losing to Iran and England after drawing with the United States in the tournament’s opening match.

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Although Bale is pleased to have led Wales to a World Cup, he acknowledged they had higher expectations for themselves in Qatar.

“Everyone’s disappointed but we’re all proud of what we’ve achieved to get here,” he said. “We have to look how far we’ve come. Of course we wanted to get out of the group, but football’s difficult. We didn’t live up to our expectations at this tournament.

“If you’d told us two years ago that we would play in a World Cup, we’d have all pinched ourselves. We’ll all walk out of that changing-room with our held high and proud of each other.

“It’s been difficult at this tournament, we haven’t played very well. But we’ve given everything and we won’t have any regrets.”

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Gareth Bale gives update on his future following World Cup exit.

Wayne Rooney has advised Gareth Southgate to make three changes for England’s last World Cup group game against Wales, and he has rated the Three Lions’ prospects of lifting the title in Qatar as “quite good.”

In their first game of the competition, England defeated Iran 6-2, but they were brought back to reality on Friday night when they drew to the United States.

Anything less than a three-goal defeat ensures England’s spot in the next round. However, the manner of the USA draw has raised questions about Southgate’s team’s World Cup prospects.

England’s all-time leading scorer, Wayne Rooney, thinks his country has a “decent chance” of winning the World Cup but has urged Southgate to make changes for their match against Wales on Tuesday night.

Ahead of an important round of 16 match, the former Manchester United striker believes Three Lions captain Harry Kane should be rested. He also believes Chelsea’s Mason Mount should be benched.

That would enable Phil Foden of Manchester City, whose omission against the USA was questioned by some analysts, to make his first start in the competition.

Writing in a column for The Times, Rooney said: ‘England’s performance was not great on Friday and there is no getting away from the fact that they will need to play a lot better to have a chance of winning this World Cup.

‘Gareth Southgate needs to make changes for Tuesday’s game with Wales and given that it would almost take a miracle not to qualify, it’s the perfect opportunity for him to give minutes to players who have not been used much so far.

‘Top of the list is Phil Foden. I found it very strange that Foden did not come on as a substitute against the USA. He would be a key part of my starting XI if I were the England boss. Technically, he is the best footballer England have.

‘I think if you have a talent like Foden, you simply have to play him. He is now a different player from the one we saw at Euro 2020, when he struggled to make an impact.

‘He is more mature and came into this tournament on the back of a long period of brilliant performances for Manchester City. He has the form to go with the ability.

‘If I were him, I would be very frustrated that I didn’t get on the pitch at any stage of Friday’s game.

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‘My starting XI would have Foden on the left and Bukayo Saka competing with Raheem Sterling for a place on the right.

‘I would also bring in another holding midfielder to play alongside Declan Rice, releasing Jude Bellingham to play as a No 10.’

Rooney, who scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for England, added: ‘For the Wales game, I would also take out Mason Mount and bring in Kalvin Phillips if he is fit, and otherwise Jordan Henderson.

‘I know Mount did very well against Iran and that he gives you a lot in terms of work rate and energy, but sometimes you need to just let your flair players and your better footballers go and influence games.

‘That is why, if I were the England manager, I would make sure to get Foden on the pitch. Another of Foden’s strengths is his flexibility. If you need to change a game without making a substitution you can do that with Foden, because you can bring him inside if you need to, or you can play him out wide.

‘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.’

England remains one of the favourites to win the World Cup alongside the likes of Brazil, France and Spain.

Assessing England’s chances after their first two games in Qatar, Rooney said: ‘My overall message to everyone who follows England? Keep calm.

‘Before the tournament, if you had offered England the chance to have four points after two games and be practically through to the knockout rounds, they would have taken it.

‘The clean sheet against the USA is something to build on, and getting a decent result while not playing so well still has its positives.

‘The overall picture for England is that we have seen nothing to fear in the rest of the tournament. England have a great blend of youth and experience and arguably the best squad at the World Cup in terms of quality.

‘I think you still need a bit of luck, with draws and in individual games, but I do think England have still got a good chance in Qatar.’

While England is very certain to go to the round of 16, Wales, who lost to Iran after drawing with the United States in the tournament’s opening match, will need to defeat their neighbours to have any hope of moving on.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Wayne Rooney reveals the team Gareth Southgate should pick against Wales and rates their World Cup chances.

In their second 2022 World Cup match on Friday, the United States struggled to get past England despite being the better attacking team. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

The United States was dominant in attack but could not find a way past England as it was held to a 0-0 draw in their second 2022 World Cup game on Friday.

In a game with few clear-cut opportunities, the United States was the superior team. Midway through the first half, Christian Pulisic’s fierce effort shook the crossbar, but neither team was able to break the scoreless tie.

With two points from two games and a third-place finish in Group B as a result, head coach Gregg Berhalter’s team will need to defeat Iran on Tuesday to move to the knockout rounds. As long as England doesn’t lose to Wales by three goals, it will advance to the next round.

Harry Kane, the England striker who suffered an ankle injury in the team’s convincing victory over Iran on Monday, had been a doubt for the match, but he was cleared to play days before kickoff, allowing head coach Gareth Southgate to name an unchanged lineup.

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Berhalter only made one change from their opening draw with Wales, substituting attacker Haji Wright for Josh Sargent.

After FIFA threatened to prevent it, Kane once more declined to wear the “OneLove” captain’s armband, but the English Football Association instead lit up the iconic arch at Wembley Stadium in rainbow hues.

In a dull first half, the United States had better opportunities. Early in the game, Kane showed signs of being dangerous by timing his arrival in the six-yard box so that he could shoot and force Tim Ream, a defender for the opposition, to block.

But Berhalter’s side sprung into action soon after and provided a couple of inviting chances. First, midfielder Weston McKennie skied a first-time effort from just inside the 18-yard box, followed minutes later by Pulisic facing up England defender Luke Shaw before hitting a powerful strike, only to be denied by the bar.

The U.S. looked the most likely to break the deadlock, winning a number of corners amid regular attacking pressure, while England’s attack remained frustrated by the well-organized and resolute American defence.

Southgate brought on Jack Grealish for Jude Bellingham in 68 minutes to add a spark to England’s attack but changed little as the U.S. continued to shut out their English counterparts, playing to its first 0-0 draw in 11 World Cup finals appearances.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on World Cup: USA tame England in a goalless stalemate..

Following a convincing victory in their initial 2022 World Cup match, England will try to increase their chances of taking first place in Group B when they face the USA on Friday night at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

The Three Lions enter this match in excellent spirits after crushing Iran 6-2, taking first place in Group B and needing just one more win to guarantee their place in the tournament’s knockout rounds.

As for the USA, they conceded a lead to draw 1-1 with Wales in their opening match, and given that Iran was their first opponent earlier in the day, they might find themselves in need of a significant victory today to stay in the game.

• Team News:

Following a scan on Wednesday, it was revealed that England’s captain Harry Kane had not sustained a significant ankle injury; the 29-year-old has since trained with the first-team group and is anticipated to keep his starting position up front.

Harry Maguire, who has recovered from sickness, is expected to hold his spot in the back four alongside Kieran Trippier, John Stones, and Luke Shaw. Southgate may choose to start with the same squad that played against Iran.

After recovering from groin surgery, Kyle Walker appears to be well enough to play against the USA. However, the Manchester City defender is not expected to start and is more likely to come off the bench in order to improve his match fitness.

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Due to a knee injury, James Maddison has yet to train with the Three Lions and is still questionable for Friday’s match. Bellingham, Declan Rice, and Mason Mount are all expected to start in center midfield instead of Maddison.

Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, two midfielders for the USA, were forced off the field during the draw with Wales due to respective groin and toe injuries, but they should be OK to keep their spots in the starting lineup alongside skipper Tyler Adams.

Adams is one of eight club-level British players in Berhalter’s team, and the Leeds United player is expected to start in front of a back four that includes Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson of Fulham. Matt Turner, the goalkeeper for Arsenal, is expected to remain in the starting lineup.

Timothy Weah, Joshua Sargent, and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea are anticipated to remain in the front three, but Giovanni Reyna of Borussia Dortmund will be looking to break through after last time out’s ineffective substitution.

Brendan Aaronson of Leeds and Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic were both listed as reserves against Wales, with the former player entering the game in the second half. On Friday, both players are expected to start as replacements once more.

• Possible Lineup:

England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Foden; Saka, Kane, Foden.

USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Ream, A. Robinson; McKennie, Adams, Musah; Weah, Sargent, Pulisic

• Score prediction:

With good reason, England will be the favorite going into this match. They easily defeated Iran, although the USA early success against Wales was fleeting and ultimately cost them two points.

Two of Berhalter’s preferred midfielders suffered injuries in his first game, which won’t help his case as he is already under fire and won’t be looking forward to facing this England team.

This England team, which was twice caught off guard against Iran, may always be exploited, but the Three Lions will bet on their ability to outscore their opponents.

Prediction: England 2- 2United States

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on England VS USA – World Cup Prediction, Team News, Potential Lineups.

Following reports of thousands of vacant seats at World Cup games on Monday, Qatar and FIFA are under fresh scrutiny.

The official attendance estimates are particularly puzzling because every game thus far has had a record-high crowd that exceeds the stadium’s capacity.

Although the Al Bayt Stadium can accommodate 60,000 people, an official attendance of 67,372 was reported for Qatar’s tournament opener versus Ecuador on Sunday. Additionally, a substantial portion of the stadium’s seats remained empty at the halftime interval.

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The same thing happened when England faced Iran in their World Cup opening, leaving Three Lions fans stranded outside the Khalifa International Stadium due to a problem with FIFA’s ticketing system.

Despite the stadium’s official capacity being 40,000, an attendance number of 45,334 was reported for that game.

At the Al Thumama Stadium, where the Netherlands defeated Senegal in the second game of the day, large areas of vacant seats could be spotted.

Despite the stadium’s nominal capacity of 40,000, a reported attendance of 41,721 was made.

FIFA claims that the Al Thumama Stadium in ‘event mode’ raises its capacity to 44,400, but a reason for the thousands of empty seats around the venue was not given.

Although 43,418 people were reported to have attended Wales‘ 1-1 draw with the USA, the stadium’s actual capacity is 40,000.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Qatar releases dubious World Cup attendance estimates, despite hundreds of vacant seats..

When the Three Lions of England play their first match at the FIFA World Cup, captain Harry Kane may have to deal with the wrath of FIFA.

The world regulatory body, FIFA, has barred the Tottenham Hotspur player from wearing the one love armband. Kane is wearing the rainbow armband to demonstrate his support for the LGBTQ community.

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Kane might receive a yellow card if he decides to defy FIFA’s ruling, according to reports from Qatar. Because of the country’s strict religious laws, it is not expected that visiting footballers in Qatar will show any support for the LGBTQ population.

England have been grouped alongside Iran, Wales and the USA.

🚨 FIFA has banned Harry Kane from wearing the One Love armband.

There are concerns he could be booked as soon as the game kicks off if he goes ahead and wears it. ©️🏳️‍🌈

✍️@TeleFootball pic.twitter.com/eKjVGgvICI

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 20, 2022

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In their Group B opening against the USA on Monday night in Al Rayyan, Wales will make their first appearance at a World Cup finals in 64 years. The result of this thrilling contest between the two nations will decide the fate of Group B at the FIFA World Cup.

The first round of Group B matches will be concluded with this match, which includes England and Iran and has the potential to be quite competitive.

These two teams will enter the match at the Ahmad bin Alli Stadium, Al Rayyan, with the knowledge that England faced Iran earlier in the day and was certain to win. Having not participated in a World Cup since 2014, the United States has qualified once more. Behind Canada and Mexico, they came in third place in their CONCACAF qualification group.

In a similar vein, Wales qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years after defeating Ukraine 1-0 at home in the World Cup qualifying playoff. Gareth Bale, a great player in his final World Cup, of LAFC, will be the leader Robert Paige will once more look to.

• Team News:

Zack Steffen was supposed to be the American goalkeeper in Qatar, but after a disappointing season with Manchester City that saw him supplanted by Stefan Ortega as a backup, he has been dropped from the team entirely.

Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath are vying to start in goal, and Turner, an Arsenal player, participated in both September friendlies, so he might have the advantage.

Although Weston McKennie has not played for Juventus since October, he should be able to start in midfield in this match.

The attacking third is where the US excels, and Berhalter has plenty of alternatives there. As a result, one or two players may be unfortunate to be left out, as Timothy Weah, Gio Reyna, and Jesus Ferreira are all vying to start in attack alongside Christian Pulisic.

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Gareth Bale said earlier this week that despite being limited to mostly cameo roles since joining LAFC in the MLS this year, he is ready and willing to play the full 90 minutes in each of Wales’ three group games if necessary.

Joe Allen has been sidelined with an injury since late September, but he expects to be able to play in this group opener.

Rhys Norrington-Davies, a defender for Sheffield United, will not represent Wales at the tournament due to an injury sustained against Coventry City last month. This is not as fortunate for the defender.

USA Possible Lineup: 

Matt Turner; Sergino Dest, Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long, Antonee Robinson; Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Brendan Aaronson; Gio Reyna, Jesus Ferreira, Christian Pulisic

Wales Possible Lineup:

Wayne Hennessey; Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies; Connor Roberts, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Neco Williams; Gareth Bale, Keiffer Moore, Daniel James

• USA vs Wales Score Prediction:

The difference between these two teams will be determined by specific high-calibre moments. Therefore, while having a young average age of 24, the USA will have superior ball skills and athleticism to outperform its European rivals.

Prediction: USA 3-2 Wales

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