France striker Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football – on his 35th birthday – a day after Les Bleus lost against Argentina on penalties in the World Cup final. The Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 37 times in 97 appearances, was expected to lead the line for France in Qatar but missed the tournament after sustaining a thigh injury in training the day before it started.
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ionel Messi finally achieved his World Cup dream as Argentina won their third crown on penalties following one of the greatest finals in the tournament’s history at Lusail Stadium. Argentina won the shootout 4-2 after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between Messi and Mbappe, the Frenchman scoring a hat-trick but still ended up on the losing side.
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Gareth Southgate will remain as England manager until after the European Championships in 2024, the Football Association has confirmed. The 52 year old had said said he was “conflicted” about his future in the role after England’s quarter-final exit at the World Cup at the hands of France but he has been persuaded to see out his contract.
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Croatia showed their class once more by clinching their third top-three finish at the World Cup with a play-off victory over history-makers Morocco. In a frantic opening, Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead with a superb diving header but Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later before Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia.
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Sinisa Mihajlovic, who helped Red Star Belgrade win the European Cup in 1991 and went on to manage Serie A clubs including AC Milan and Bologna, has died at the age of 53, the Football Association of Serbia has confirmed. Mijajlovic bravely battled leukaemia while remaining manager of Bologna.
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