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EFL Cup: Newcastle progress after close game

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Club football is well and truly back Newcastle United 1 - 0 Bournemouth Newcastle reached the last eight of the Carabao Cup with a hard-fought win over Bournemouth at St James' Park. Adam Smith's own goal proved decisive for the hosts. The defender inadvertently headed past Cherries goalkeeper Mark Travers from Kieran Trippier's superb delivery. This bit of fortune was no more than Eddie Howe's side deserved with the home team creating the bulk of the goalscoring chances. ⚫⚪ Newcastle 1x0 Bournemouth 🍒🔴 Analise do jogo 📉 pic.twitter.com/tjtaLsvio1 — 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 🇧🇷 (@InsiderCASTLE) December 21, 2022 Eddie Howe included goalkeeper Nick Pope, full-back Trippier and forward Callum Wilson, who were all part of England's World Cup squad in Qatar in the starting eleven. In front of a crowd of 50,000, Newcastle repeatedly pressed forward with Trippier, Schar, Miguel Almiron and Wilson all going close to breaking the deadlock in the first hal

Spain: Isco has contract cancelled

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There has been an interesting development with of La Liga's most decorated players. Sevilla have reached an agreement to terminate Isco's contract, just four months after signing the former Spain midfielder on a free transfer. He joined Sevilla on a two-year deal in August after long and successful spell with La Liga rivals Real Madrid. He signed from Malaga in 2013 and helped Real win the Champions League five times and La Liga three times. However, he has now been released after just 19 games for Sevilla, scoring once and claiming three assists. It will be certainly interesting to see where he ends up next. Could a Premier League club sign him? There will certainly be plenty of interest in signing a player with som much experience at the highest level of football. One Sevilla fan told us: "I'm always worried about these kind of transfers. When a player has been at a club like Real Madrid for so long, it can be very difficult to integrate into another side. This h

World Cup: Argentina triumph after classic final

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Argentina  3 - 3 France (Argentina won 4-2 on penalties) Lionel Messi finally achieved his World Cup dream  Argentina won their third crown on penalties in one of the greatest finals in the tournament's history. Argentina won the shootout 4-2 after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between the 35-year-old maestro Messi and his France opposite number Kylian Mbappe. France's own superstar scored a hat-trick but still ended up on the losing side in Qatar. Photo credit -  Joseph Hollick | Flickr   Messi looked to be securing the one major honour missing from his glittering collection in comfort as Argentina were cruising with a two-goal lead. There was then an explosive intervention from Mbappe, who scored two goals inside two minutes late on. Messi had given Argentina the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute following Ousmane Dembele's foul on Angel di Maria. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score in the

World Cup: Final Preview

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This article will preview the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final We'll also explore what has been a remarkable few The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has flown by. Wedged into the middle of the European club season, it has had to. It's hard to believe that the tournament began 26 days ago, yet so much has transpired in that time, including reducing down a field of 32 to just France and Argentina, who will meet in the final. Many would have expected France to be here. Argentina having suffered an upset to Saudi Arabia in their opening game so their rally to reach a second World Cup final in eight years is more of a surprise. However, when you have Lionel Messi, can you ever really be surprised to be in contention for a major trophy? Messi v Mbappe This is maybe the greatest individual matchup we have ever had in a World Cup final. Two world-class superstars. The fact they are club teammates at PSG as well only adds to the drama.  For Messi, it would be the perfect fairy-tale ending for a World

World Cup: England's journey comes to an end

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 England 1 - 2 France Football won't be coming home for Christmas England are out of a World Cup but, this time, it was in a desperately agonising quarter-final defeat. This time, more than any other time, and against the world champions France, it felt very different. They were not outplayed. They did not retreat. Instead they lost a tie which they should have won, which they deserved to win and which will sear into Harry Kane - Harry Kane of all people - who missed the penalty kick that would have forced extra-time; Kane missed the penalty that would have confirmed him as England’s all-time record scorer, with 54 goals, one ahead of Wayne Rooney.  History beckoned but for Kane but it wasn't to be. At the end Gareth Southgate wrapped his arms around Kane but he was in another place, staring into the distance. It felt incredibly sad after a fine performance laced with controversy. It was another player that was key for France The pre-match debate centred on how England could st

World Cup: Spain lose on penalties

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This World Cup has seen another dramatic moment Morocco 0 - 0 Spain (Morocco win 3-0 on penalties) Achraf Hakimi made himself a hero with a cheeky chipped winning penalty as his country stunned Spain in a shootout after a goalless draw to reach their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals.  The two teams played out a dramatic draw after two hours of football and Spain failed to convert any of their three penalties. Morocco fans had been making themselves heard all game but the atmosphere in the stands did not match the battle on the pitch. What a moment for them. Let's explore how it all happened.     Spain kept the ball well and Morocco sat back plugging the gaps and there was very few clear-cut chances being created. Luis Enrique's side came closest to breaking the deadlock courtesy of Dani Olmo, who struck an arrowed drive from the angle which Bounou pushed away, and the goalkeeper also did brilliantly well to keep out Olmo's dangerous free kick late on. MOROCCO KNOCK O

Non-League: Oldham struggle again

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Football is going on outside of Qatar Solihull Moors 2 - 1 Oldham Athletic Two goals at the start of the second half proved costly as Oldham Athletic fell to defeat at Solihull. The home side struck twice in the space of three minutes through Joe Sbarra and Andrew Dallas to pick up maximum points at Damson Park. Check out this video from  Solihull Moors Football Club - YouTube Substitute John Rooney scored directly from a corner with a minute of regular time to play but despite a late rally from the visitors, it wasn’t enough for them to find a way back into the game. The away side looked to have emerged as the stronger side as the first half progressed. Alex Reid was denied on his debut before Ben Tollitt struck a post with the interval approaching. But just when it appeared as though the visitors would gain a foothold, the good work quickly fell apart for the away side. Home side starts to get on top After a tight opening, it was the home side who first posed a threat, John Kelly