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Dec 16 (Reuters) - Argentina look set to keep Julian Alvarez in attack for Sunday's World Cup final against France after he scored twice in a devastating combination with Lionel Messi in the semi-final. He scored his first goal for the national side in the World Cup quarter-final against the Dutch, which Argentina won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Leandro ParedesA defensive midfielder with Juventus, 28-year-old Paredes has featured in four of Argentina's World Cup games - infamously booting the ball at the Netherlands' bench in the quarter-final. Rodrigo De PaulThe tough 28-year-old Atletico de Madrid midfielder has been a stalwart in Scaloni's World Cup starting lineup, even playing through injury against the Dutch. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward is on a mission to lift his first World Cup at his fifth and final attempt and has been simply magnificent, scoring five goals while creating others with his dribbling and passing wizardry.

☆ FIFA, UEFA rules compatible with EU competition rules, EU court adviser says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Soccer bodies UEFA and FIFA's rules giving them the right to block clubs from joining a breakaway league and penalise players who do so are compatible with EU antitrust laws, an adviser to Europe's top court said on Thursday. The case centres on the dispute between UEFA, FIFA and the European Super League last year but could also impact other sports, clubs and players tempted by lucrative deals offered by rebel bodies and seeking to cash in during relatively short careers. The Super League took its case to a Spanish court which subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). "The FIFA-UEFA rules under which any new competition is subject to prior approval are compatible with EU competition law," Advocate General Athanasios Rantos at the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe's highest, said. While the Super League is free to set up its own independent football competition outside the UEFA and FIFA ecosystem, it cannot at the same time continue to participate in FIFA and UEFA football competitions without their prior authorisation, he said.

☆ British nurses launch historic strike, as pay and staffing crises threaten the NHS
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The reality is, every day, nurses across the UK are walking into understaffed hospitals,” Mackay said. “I feel really sorry for the young girls who are now trying to get into the profession, they have to pay for their training. Nurses’ pay dropped 1.2% every year between 2010 and 2017 once inflation was taken into account, according to the Health Foundation, a UK charity that campaigns for better health and health care. Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesEarlier this year, the RCN rejected an offer by the government to increase nurses’ pay by a minimum of £1,400 ($1,707) a year, which amounted to an average rise of 4.3%, well below the rate of inflation. Members of Britain’s armed forces were being trained to drive ambulances and firefight in the event of strike action, ministers said earlier this month.

☆ Britain's new 'winter of discontent' deepens as widespread strikes mount over festive period
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In recent weeks, upcoming strike actions have been announced by nurses, rail workers, postal workers, ambulance workers, airport staff, Border Force agents, highway workers, Eurostar staff, civil servants, bus drivers, firefighters, charity workers, meteorologists and offshore workers. For the public sector, real earnings were 5 percentage points lower, and Hollingsworth suggested that the growing gap had become "unsustainable." "I think there's clearly a lot of pressure here for some catch-up on the public sector side of things, and it's clear that there is that labor bargaining power there." "However, the gap between private and public sector pay narrowed slightly, with private sector pay up 6.9%, while public sector pay is up by 2.7%." However, with negotiations remaining fraught and unions showing no signs of backing down, he said some catch-up on public sector pay growth will likely be required to prevent further disruption.

☆ King Charles visits Wrexham AFC, the soccer club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

King Charles and the Queen Consort visited Wrexham AFC on Friday, the soccer club owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Charles and his wife Camila were in Wrexham to celebrate its new city status and spoke to Reynolds and McElhenney about their plans for growing the club that they bought in 2021. Wrexham – the world’s third-oldest football club, currently plays in England’s fifth tier, far removed from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool. King Charles spoke with manager Phil Parkinson and some of the players. Charles spoke with the first-team players during his visit and wished them luck for their next match away at Eastleigh on Saturday.

☆ 'Wonders of Wrexham': King Charles meets Hollywood stars at lowly Welsh club
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WREXHAM, Wales, Dec 9 (Reuters) - King Charles toured the grounds of the lowly Welsh soccer club Wrexham owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney on Friday, talking to the Hollywood actors about their dream of steering the team to sporting glory. Wrexham are currently second in the league and fighting for promotion. Charles and his wife Camilla were in Wrexham to celebrate its new status as a city and to hear about the redevelopment of the club. "A little earlier today, I had the opportunity to see one of the other wonders of Wrexham, namely the football club, which is busy putting Wrexham on the map as never before," Charles told dignitaries later in the day. Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; Editing by Kate Holton and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ World Cup quarterfinals: Morocco on the verge of history against Portugal as Kylian Mbappé’s France face England
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Moroccans have become the darlings of the World Cup. At the first “Arab” World Cup, they became the first Arab nation to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Cup and, as the first African side to qualify for the quarterfinals in over a decade, they represent so much more than just their own nation. Born in Madrid, Achraf Hakimi scored the goal to knock Spain out of the World Cup. No team has scored more than Portugal’s 12 at the World Cup, but will the unstoppable Portugal be able to beat the immovable Morocco? Mbappé has already surpassed Cristiano Ronalo's World Cup goal scoring record and is level with Lionel Messi on nine.

☆ Gonçalo Ramos: Meet the striker who replaced Cristiano Ronaldo and made World Cup history at Qatar 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Not only was it his first start at Qatar 2022, the tournament’s first hat-trick, but Ramos’ three goals in this last-16 tie puts Ronaldo record in one-off World Cup games somewhat in the shade. Ronaldo has never scored in a World Cup knockout match, despite competing in five tournaments. Michael Steele/Getty ImagesBenfica CampusRamos is a product of the famous Benfica academy. Never gives up!” Ramos’ Benfica teammate Grimaldo told Marca. His trio of goals ensured Ramos became the first player to score a hat-trick in his first World Cup start since Miroslav Klose against Saudi Arabia in 2002.

Yet for former Ghana star Derek Boateng, they hold a personal truth. “Football saved my life, because without football I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing,” he told CNN. Just four years earlier, Ghana had competed at its first ever World Cup, in Germany, with Boateng again featuring. “Playing the World Cup is everything to me, as a football player. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP via Getty ImagesThat mantra lay at the heart of Boateng’s playing career, and it is a message he repeats to aspiring student-athletes at the academy.

☆ What next for US soccer after an inspiring World Cup?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But the talented, telegenic and multiracial Americans left fans with soaring hopes before the US, Canada and Mexico host the 2026 World Cup. Often, the World Cup and Olympic gold medal-winning US women’s soccer team gets more attention than their male counterparts — although their pay is only just beginning to catch up. The idea of an unexploited market of soon-to-be-soccer fans has long beckoned to FIFA’s marketing teams, especially during the 1994 stateside World Cup, but has never been fully realized. US soccer fans are also increasingly sophisticated, glued to NBC’s Premier League coverage reportedly worth more than $2 billion. The beautiful game’s place in the country’s sports scene could be cemented if the US makes noise in the next World Cup.

☆ Bellingham has gone to another level, says Southgate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - England manager Gareth Southgate already knew Jude Bellingham was something special but even he has been surprised at how the 19-year-old has taken the World Cup by the scruff of the neck. After his goalscoring World Cup debut against Iran two weeks ago, Bellingham drove England into the quarter-finals with a commanding display in Sunday's 3-0 win over Senegal. In the last five months that has gone to another level," Southgate said of the Borussia Dortmund player, who is reported to be a 100 million pounds ($123.41 million) target for Liverpool. England team mate Phil Foden, 22, who set up two goals on Sunday, predicted Bellingham would become the best midfielder in the world. England were struggling to contain Senegal in the first half but Bellingham suddenly seized control of the match, and his first-half statistics said it all.

☆ Qatar World Cup lays bare environmental cost of a desert tournament
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Armelle De Oliveira | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

But as it hosts the soccer World Cup, controversy is also descending on the tiny Gulf kingdom. “The tournament has been labeled as the first ‘fully carbon neutral FIFA World Cup tournament,’ meaning its overall impact on the planet should be zero,” the letter said. People gather around the official countdown clock showing remaining time until the kick-off of the World Cup on Nov. 11. After winning the right to host the tournament, Qatar pledged to become the first carbon neutral World Cup host. “Events like the World Cup, like the football World Cup or like the Olympics bring joy and happiness to millions of people, sometimes even billions of people, right?” he said.

☆ Elton John to headline Glastonbury in final UK show of farewell tour
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Elton John performs "Bennie and the Jets" as he wraps up the U.S. leg of his 'Yellow Brick Road' tour at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 20, 2022. REUTERS/David Swanson/File PhotoLONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Elton John will headline Glastonbury next summer, performing the last British show of his lengthy global farewell tour at the renowned music festival on Worthy Farm. John is coming towards the end of a "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour which began in September 2018. John ended the U.S. leg of his farewell tour with a star-studded show at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in November. He performs in Australia and New Zealand in January before kicking off the British tour in Liverpool in March.

☆ Analysis: Relentless Son drives South Korea into last 16
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Dec 2 (Reuters) - South Korea talisman Son Heung-min is still without a goal at this World Cup but he ran himself into the ground on Friday to ensure his team reached the last 16 in dramatic fashion. The Asian side simply refused to accept that their World Cup dream was over and it was captain Son who epitomised the Koreans' relentless energy with a selfless display. From a Portugal corner, the ball was cleared and suddenly captain Son found himself in acres of space on the lush turf. That saw South Korea jump from bottom of the group to second, above Uruguay who beat Ghana 2-0 but were left in third place by virtue of scoring fewer goals than South Korea. But Son led by example, summoning the spirit of 2002 when South Korea reached the semi-finals on home soil, having also beaten Portugal to get out of the group.

☆ Congrats, You’re a Billionaire. Which Sports Team Would You Buy?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jason Gay | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hypothetical question! Which of these sports franchises would you buy? (For the sake of arguing, you may purchase just one.) Manchester United Liverpool Phoenix Suns The Los Angeles Angels The Washington Commanders aka Dan Snyder’s Washington Sadness MachineIf you’re in the market, there’s never been a more intriguing billionaire’s bazaar for sports teams. Currently for sale are two iconic English Premier League soccer clubs, a well-known NBA franchise still chasing a title, an underwhelming baseball club with a historic duo, and a colossal NFL train wreck you’ll be a hero just for buying.

☆ Frappart ends 92-year wait for a female referee at a men's World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AL KHOR, Qatar, Dec 1 (Reuters) - France's Stephanie Frappart made history on Thursday when she became the first woman to take charge of a men's World Cup finals game during Costa Rica's Group E match against Germany. Frappart, 38, led the first all-female refereeing team in a men's World Cup in the game at the Al Bayt Stadium alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Mexico's Karen Diaz. Frappart entered the history books when she became the first woman to referee a French Ligue 1 match in 2019, officiating a game between Amiens and Strasbourg. The same year, Frappart also took charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea, becoming the first woman to officiate in a major men's European match. "The men's World Cup is the most important sporting competition in the world," said Frappart, who was also the fourth official during Mexico's goalless draw with Poland at the Qatar World Cup.

☆ France on a tightrope as knockout phase looms
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Until then, with Deschamps having made nine changes to the team who secured their spot in the knockout phase with a 2-1 win against Denmark, France looked clueless and were overwhelmed in the midfield. LACK OF 'COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE'"I know I haven't put them in the best conditions with all these changes because they don't have a collective experience," said Deschamps. The Liverpool centre back appeared a level above all his team mates, especially Varane, and it is a safe bet to say that Deschamps might consider fielding him from the start alongside Dayot Upamecano. "Another tournament is starting now," said Deschamps - which may come as a relief to France watchers after Wednesday's performance. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's BYD to sell EVs in Mexico in 2023, aims for up to 30,000 sales in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kylie Madry | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] The interior of the BYD HAN EV is displayed as the Chinese electric-vehicle producer announces its expansion to the consumer market next year in Mexico, in Toluca, Mexico November 29, 2022. As per Mexico's Automotive Industry Association, just 4.5% of cars sold in the first eight months of this year were hybrid, or around 31,000 of nearly 693,000 sold in total. While BYD declined to name starting prices of its vehicles in Mexico, Zou stressed the company's affordability. BYD's Zou also said the company aimed to sell cars through 15 licensed dealers in Mexico by the end of 2023 and hit 30 by 2024. Zou said as U.S. states such as California go fully electric, Mexico — which produces a vast amount of cars for its northern neighbors — will likely follow.

☆ China's BYD to sell EVs in Mexico next year, aims up to 30,000 sales in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Kylie Madry | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Chinese electric-vehicle maker BYD said on Tuesday it will launch its cars in Mexico next year, with a senior executive pegging its sales target at up to 30,000 vehicles in 2024. As per Mexico's Automotive Industry Association, just 4.5% of cars sold in the first eight months of this year were hybrid, or around 31,000 of nearly 693,000 sold in total. While BYD declined to name starting prices of its vehicles in Mexico, Zhou emphasized on the company's affordability. BYD's Zhou also said the company aimed to sell cars through 15 licensed dealers in Mexico by the end of 2023 and hit 40 by 2024. Mexican department store chain Liverpool will also sell the cars, BYD said.

☆ Opinion | Something Remarkable Is Happening in African Football
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Sean Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

African players are increasingly on the center stage of world football. Though African players have a long history in Europe, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that they began to star in the top leagues there. And there is a kind of continental solidarity that emerges for many African fans during the World Cup. African teams, meanwhile, usually showed poor form and were quickly eliminated. In the years that followed, as African teams began to have more success, drawing on their diasporas in Europe, many of us began to cheer for teams from the continent instead.

☆ Take Five: Everything to play for
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Markets are hopeful the Federal Reserve will soon slow the pace of its aggressive rate hikes. The U.S. economy likely created 200,000 new jobs, a Reuters poll of economists forecasts found, in what would be the smallest gain since December 2020. Manufacturing indicators, mainly PMIs, due next week might attest to the weakness already seen across the economy. Inflation in the euro zone was 10.6% in October, more than five times the European Central Bank's 2% target. Indeed, the Fed may be getting ready to slow the pace of its rate hikes, but the ECB is not there yet.

☆ The Saudi Arabian government would 'definitely support' private bids for UK soccer clubs Manchester United or Liverpool, sports minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's sports minister told BBC it will support private bids for Manchester United and Liverpool FCs. A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund already owns Newcastle United FC. A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund purchased Newcastle United FC in October 2021 for $409 million. Manchester United and Liverpool are among the world's most valuable sports teams. Forbes estimates Manchester United is worth around $4.6 billion, while Liverpool is worth about $4.45 billion.

☆ Saudi Arabia wants its investors to own Manchester United and Liverpool
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Rob Harris | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC on Aug. 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. Ash Donelon | Manchester United | Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia says it wants its investors to take over Manchester United and Liverpool – and hopes Cristiano Ronaldo comes to play in its domestic league. More from Sky Sports:Glazers open to selling Manchester United; Club valued around £5 billionWill Manchester United and Liverpool sales turn into bidding war? Manchester United sale Q&A: Who are the contenders? Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United walks on the pitch during a Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC on Aug. 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.

Deals for European football clubs this year, beginning with the sanctions-driven sale of Chelsea Football Club by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in May, have fetched top dollar. Those complaints were aired again this month by superstar player Cristiano Ronaldo, who parted ways with Manchester United for the second time. Spokespeople for the six members of the Glazer family that are major Manchester United shareholders could not be reached for comment. More deals are in the works, with Manchester United arch rival Liverpool Football Club also exploring a sale. In August, Elon Musk tweeted: "I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome" only to then clarify he meant it as a joke.

☆ Analysis: Tite's courage pays off as Brazil forwards deliver
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The answer came in an impressive 2-0 victory over a strong and organised Serbia team who did not make it easy for Brazil and frustrated them in a goalless first half. Tite's decision to start Vinicius Jr. alongside Neymar, Richarlison and Raphinha should not have been a surprise as the Brazil coach has been much more inclined recently to unleash his talented young forwards together. Thinking that he would leave Vinicius on the bench was an assumption of those looking at the 61-year-old manager’s past rather than his present. Though Richarlison scored a brace, Vinicius was arguably the best player on the pitch, creating most of Brazil´s chances. Brazil sent a clear message to their World Cup rivals.

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