Find the main information of the day on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on the 23rd day of the competition.
It’s a Monday without matches today before the start of the semi-finals, Tuesday at 8 p.m. with the meeting between Argentina and Croatia. On Wednesday, France will face the Atlas Lions of Morocco.
Olivier Giroud and Walid Regragui, teammates in Grenoble
Fourteen years later, the two former Grenoble residents will meet at the gates of the desert, Wednesday in Al-Khor, for a World Cup semi-final. Between Olivier Giroud and Walid Regragui, the story did not even last a summer. A few weeks, at most, in July 2008. Walid Regragui and Olivier Giroud crossed paths with the GF 38. The Moroccan defender and the young striker from Isère shared the Grenoble jersey during a training camp at Vittel. Formed at GF 38, the center-forward was returning from a loan to Istres, in National, where he had made a season with 14 goals. As for Regragui, he was a member of the Isère team which had just joined Ligue 1 after finishing third in Ligue 2 behind Le Havre and FC Nantes. Olivier Giroud was 21 years old and signed his first pro contract in 2005. At the time, he was chasing after playing time.
The table of semi-finals
Between Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi, it’s a bromance today
As soon as France qualified, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, Achraf Hakimi jumped on his phone to tweet in English and identify Kylian Mbappé: “See you soon my friend.” A few days earlier, the French striker had congratulated the Moroccan right-back for his victory on penalties against his native Spain and published a photo of the two players, arm in arm, taken on the eve of the meeting at the Moroccan training center. The kind of message that the prodigy of Bondy, not one of the most diligent on Twitter, does not publish to anyone. The French winger and the Moroccan side, club partners at PSG, maintain a strong relationship of friendship. They will meet in the duel on Wednesday evening in the semi-finals of the World Cup. More information here.
A humorous video of Kane chaining failed penalties resurfaces
In a sketch broadcast in 2018 a few weeks before the Russian world, we see Harry Kane receiving a private lesson from Jonny Wilkinson, illustrious opener of the XV of the Rose. In training at the Saint George Park center, we see the Tottenham striker listen carefully to the advice of the former rugby player, world champion with England in 2003 during the World Cup in Australia. In a humor so british, he explains to his young footballer disciple that it was by putting the ball over the bar that he won the competition against the Springboks. A video that resurfaced just hours after England’s defeat and a second missed penalty from the British striker.
The sadness of CR7
Distress, disappointment, sadness. There are many words to describe the state of mind in which Cristiano Ronaldo must have found himself, a few minutes after the final whistle of the match between Portugal and Morocco. After the victory of the Moroccans trained by coach Walid Regragui, the star striker of Portugal left the pitch. The isolated camera that follows him to the locker room shows him alone, sometimes congratulated by Moroccan players, before entering the tunnel and bursting into tears.
Encouragement from Karim Benzema
On vacation, the French Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema shared his support for his teammates, a few hours after their victory Saturday evening 2 goals to 1 against the Three Lions English. “Come on guys, 2 more games we are almost there… behind you… Vamonos”, wrote the Real Madrid striker. After Pogba, Kanté, Kimpenbe, Maignan and Nkunku, Karim Benzema had finally withdrawn for the 2022 World Cup on November 20, struck down by a new injury.
A second journalist dies in Qatar
A second journalist died following the competition in Qatar. After the American Grant Wahl, who died on Friday in Doha, it was the Qatari photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam who died.suddenly” Saturday. The information was communicated by the media Gulf Times. The state channel Al-Kass, al-Misslam’s employer, said on social media that it was in mourning, but did not specify the circumstances of its journalist’s disappearance.
Al-Kass channels mourn the death of Khaled Al-Musallam, a photographer at the Creativity Department. pic.twitter.com/OC3yo7o5lG
– Al-Kass channels (@alkasschannel) December 10, 2022
What if Jude Bellingham was Belgian?
Well, that reminds us of something. England midfielder Jude Bellingham reacted on Instagram to France’s elimination of the Three Lions on Saturday night. “The best team of the evening is out, sometimes it’s football. Either way, I’m so proud of my teammates’ effort, fight and performance throughout the tournament. Thanks also to the fans for the love and support over the last few weeks, stay with us even in this difficult time as we use this experience to continue to grow as a team for future tournaments. Keep the faith, our time will come.” The best team has lost, it was the refrain already sung by the Belgians in 2018 after their elimination in the semi-finals by the French team. Hey Jude, don’t make it bad…