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☆ Dutch exit with tactics thrown out the window and purists upset
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But it fell well short on Friday as they went behind 2-0 to Argentina in the second half at the Lusail Stadium. Van Gaal had to abandon all niceties and throw on two imposing centre forwards, looking to find them in a 'hit and hope' fashion. Winning at all costs, even if ugly, had been Van Gaal's mantra through the tournament, but left many Dutch purists upset. Never short on self-confidence, Van Gaal brushed aside the critics with an insistence he knew best. But there will be an overriding feeling that he got it wrong and that the young Dutch side did not play to their strengths.

The stop-motion musical reimagines the classic tale through the unique lens of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. How to watch 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio'You can watch "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" at home exclusively on Netflix. Is 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' worth watching? "Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" has received critical acclaim. What is 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' based on?

☆ 'Pinocchio' review: A reimagined story is beautiful but comes with too many strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The mere title “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” announces that this stop-motion animated movie reflects the keen eye and visual style of the directing auteur, with a healthy dose of revisionism and reimagining baked into that. Yet despite its beauty, several of those narrative touches don’t fully work, leaving behind a movie that’s aesthetically lovely but narratively uneven. Perhaps foremost, del Toro makes the ill-advised decision to incorporate songs into the story, although he keeps interrupting them, which might speak to a certain lack of conviction about that particular aspect. It’s around that point where del Toro (who shares directing credit with animator Mark Gustafson) appears determined to connect this “Pinocchio” to larger and more ambitious themes. “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” premieres December 9 on Netflix.

☆ Spain coach Luis Enrique departs after World Cup exit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DOHA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Spain coach Luis Enrique has left his job after the country's elimination in the last-16 at the World Cup, the Spanish football federation said on Twitter on Thursday. Spain were beaten on penalties by Morocco after a goalless draw on Tuesday in an upset result after failing to turn their dominance in the game into a victory. The 52-year-old coach said after the match that he was to blame for the defeat. Enrique, who was first appointed Spain coach in 2018, had a contract until the end of the year. Repoting by Mark Gleeson, editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer swapped for Griner?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/2] Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is escorted by members of a special police unit after a hearing at a criminal court in Bangkok October 5, 2010. Russia got the jailed arms dealer back from the United States on Thursday after exchanging imprisoned U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner for him at Abu Dhabi airport. His notoriety was such that his life helped inspire a Hollywood film, 2005’s Lord of War, starring Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov, an arms dealer loosely based on Bout. For some experts, the Russian state's continued interest in Bout, plus his skills and connections in the international arms trade, hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties. “His case has become totemic for the Russian intelligence services, who are keen to show that they don’t abandon their own people,” Galeotti added.

☆ Messi's World Cup chase takes centre stage in quarter-final clash
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi's hopes of winning an elusive World Cup will come up against the tactical scheming of veteran coach Louis van Gaal as Argentina face the Netherlands in Friday’s quarter-final at Lusail. Messi can expect little in the way of sympathy from the 71-year-old Van Gaal, who is determined to give the Dutch their first World Cup title after runners-up finishes in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Messi can expect vocal support from Argentine fans in Qatar, who are set to vastly outnumber their orange-clad Dutch counterparts. On the losing side against Germany in the 2014 final, where Argentina failed to add to World Cup triumphs in 1978 and 1986, Messi was grateful for the support. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is still sweating on the fitness of Angel di Maria, who missed the Australia game due to a left thigh injury but returned to training on Tuesday.

☆ Analysis: Soccer-Morocco success hands Arab world its first World Cup quarter-finalist
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history. The ear-shattering cacophonic combination of singing, drumming, jeering and whistling from Morocco’s supporters has created an atmosphere like no other in Qatar’s stadiums. They were again the vast majority in the capacity 44,667 crowd at the Education City Stadium, completely drowning out the Spain fans. But most of them shuffled from one side to another, rarely producing the penetrative pass Spain were looking for. They will however be mightily concerned to have lost centre back Nayef Aguerd, who limped off in tears in the second half, having just made the World Cup after ankle surgery kept him out for most of the season at his new English club West Ham United.

☆ Cameroon football chief Eto'o apologises for 'violent altercation'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Samuel Eto'o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country's football federation, has apologised after a "violent altercation" with a fan as he left a World Cup match on Monday. "After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter," Eto'o said in a statement on Twitter. "During this World Cup, Cameroonian fans have been harassed and pestered by Algerians on the same subject. Eto'o noted that all the appeals by the Algerian Football Federation over the result of the qualifier had been rejected. Cameroon exited the World Cup at the group stage despite beating Brazil 1-0 in their final match.

☆ Morocco's Hakimi up against country of his birth at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid but will have little hesitation plotting the downfall of Spain when he and his Moroccan teammates take on the 2010 World Cup winners on Tuesday. The flying wingback is one of the key players in the north African outfit whose last-16 match in the Qatar World Cup against Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, gives them a chance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Hakimi could even have been on the opposite side, as he was called up when still a teenager for Spain's junior team. Hakimi was in the side that almost beat them in Kaliningrad in 2018, giving up an injury time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the last World Cup in Russia. WINNING MENTALITY"Spain are a top five team and always come to the World Cup to win.

☆ Croatia beats Japan on penalties to reach World Cup quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +28 min

CNN —Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made himself a national hero as Croatia beat Japan on penalties 1-1 (3-1) to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. Marko Djurica/ReutersJapan’s heartbreakDespite its defeat, Japan can look back at an impressive World Cup campaign. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago. He also became just the third goalkeeper to save three penalties in a single World Cup shootout.

☆ Henderson, Kane give England 2-0 lead over Senegal at halftime
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AL KHOR, Qatar, Dec 4 (Reuters) - England midfielder Jordan Henderson and captain Harry Kane both scored just before the break to secure a 2-0 halftime lead in the World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal on Sunday. The first goal in the 38th minute by Henderson came from England's first dangerous attack of a game that took time to warm up and striker Kane was at his deadly best to add a second with the final kick of the half. Speedy Senegal striker Boulaye Dia, who looked dangerous on the counter, came closest for the African side when he brought out a sharp one-handed save from Jordan Pickford after England's defence carelessly gave the ball away just past the half-hour. The two sides are battling to set up a quarter-final clash against holders France, who beat Poland 3-1 earlier on Sunday. Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ France reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 3-1 victory over Poland as Kylian Mbappé breaks Pelé’s record
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +30 min

CNN —France was made to work hard for its place in the World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming an improved Poland side 3-1 thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé. That is Mbappé’s fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and already his ninth World Cup goal overall, breaking Pelé’s record of seven World Cup goals scored before the age of 24. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Issei Kato/Reuters Kylian Mbappé scores his second goal on November 26, leading France to a 2-1 victory over Denmark. Mbappé was one of the leading stars of the team's World Cup triumph four years ago.

☆ USMNT’s youth and talent at Qatar 2022 bodes well for 2026 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

The Netherlands knocked the USMNT out of the Qatar World Cup on Saturday. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Qatar is the first Islamic country to host a World Cup.

☆ Japan vs. Croatia: Samurai Blue aiming to reach World Cup quarterfinals for first time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

CNN —In a World Cup of surprises, Japan has played a leading role in headline-making shock results. Croatia is a team undefeated in nine of its last 10 World Cup matches. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament.

☆ Dumfries delivers as Dutch head into last eight
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was another Dutch performance at the Qatar World Cup that will not please their demanding supporters as they were unusually cautious at times, played at a slow tempo, and lived dangerously by allowing the Americans plenty of possession. The response from the Dutch was swift. The lively start was quickly replaced with a more languid passage of play, the Netherlands sitting back as they waited for counter-attack chances. Those misses were swiftly punished as the Dutch broke again down the right and scored a carbon copy of the first goal when Dumfries pulled back his cross for 32-year-old left back Blind to score in his 98th international. Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netherlands move to World Cup knockout stages with 3-1 win over U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Striker Memphis Depay got the first goal as the Netherlands advanced to a seventh World Cup quarter-final. “We also lost a lot of ball possession, and it is not acceptable at a World Cup, especially if you are playing a top-level team,” he said. ALMOST IDENTICALThe second Dutch goal, on the stroke of halftime, was almost identical. “They were fantastic goals, they had a beauty about them but they were also team goals,” said Van Gaal. “We talked about the game being about moments," said U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, whose country co-host the 2026 World Cup.

☆ Beating Brazil tempers Cameroon disapppointment over World Cup exit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But a 1-0 victory over the five-time world champions, albeit fielding a second-string side, will temper the disappointment of yet another early exit for the Indomitable Lions, just as Tunisia beating World Cup holders France earlier this week softened the blow of their depature from the tournament. Cameroon might have been to more World Cups than any other African team but Friday's victory over Brazil was a first at the World Cup in two decades and only a fifth since they made the first of their eight appearances in Spain in 1982. Cameroon have long been riding on the reputation forged at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when they beat holders Argentina, Romania and Colombia on their way to the last eight, becoming the first African country to get that far. One win in 17 matches since that tournament showed stagnation and even with the win over Brazil, there is little left of the charisma that they created some 32 years ago. He won a tightly contested election one year ago to become the new Cameroon Football Federation president and has set about stamping out the foibles of old and adding a professionalism to their organisation that was missing when he was a player.

☆ England take unbeaten record against African teams into Senegal clash
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - England will take an unbeaten record against African opposition into Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal – the first meeting between the two countries. It will be England’s 21st clash against an African team, the last coming in March against Senegal’s regional rivals Ivory Coast, who a second-string England easily beat 3-0 at Wembley. Morocco were England's first African opponents at a World Cup in 1986 when a 0-0 draw at Monterrey proved a breakthrough result for African football. England beat Egypt at the 1990 World Cup in Cagliari and Tunisia twice in the 1998 and 2018 editions. If any England players need advice on scoring against an African team ahead of Sunday's clash they need look no further than their manager Gareth Southgate.

☆ Tunisia fail to advance despite 1-0 win over much-changed France
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | Daniel Wiessner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Tunisia needed not only to beat the already-qualified France but to hope for Denmark to avoid defeat against Australia in the other Group D game to advance. Tunisia thus keep their unwanted record of not progressing from the group stage in six World Cup appearances. Tunisia's win also ended France's six-match winning streak at the World Cup. Khazri said Tunisia were ending their World Cup journey with a "bittersweet feeling" - delighted to have beaten France but heartbroken by the outcome of the other group game. Mbappe and Griezmann energised the French, who were aided by Tunisia sitting back in the hope of preserving their win.

☆ Colonial history adds edge to France clash with Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ten of the Tunisia squad at this World Cup are French-born, some of them youth internationals for France before switching allegiance. Another two have lived in France since a young age and are also dual nationals, adding a familiarity to the clash. Experienced Tunisia striker Wahbi Khazri was born on the French island of Corsica and on the books of Ligue 1 club Montpellier. "I try to represent Tunisia in France every weekend by performing well and I like to represent Corsica too, because I was born there. "It’s insulting for France, it’s insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said at the time.

☆ Gakpo on target again as Dutch beat Qatar 2-0 to top Group A
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PSV Eindhoven forward Gakpo proved the difference once again but he was keen to share the spotlight with his team mates. I think we were better on the ball than in recent games, we had a little more control," he said. In truth, the Dutch never had to get out of second gear against the hosts, who had their moments in a dull first half. We never thought at any time to set a goal of reaching the round of 16 or the quarter-finals. Our goal was to get here, to compete and see what we could do," he told reporters.

☆ PREVIEW-Soccer-Qatar depart their party looking to avoid third successive loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

They were the first country eliminated on Friday, less than a week into the tournament, after losing 3-1 to Senegal. That followed a 2-0 defeat by Ecuador in the tournament’s opening game last Sunday where the Qataris, the Asian champions, blamed stage fright for their poor showing. Four points, though, has the Dutch level at the top of group standings with Ecuador, with Senegal one point behind. A win for the Netherlands over Qatar puts them through as Ecuador and Senegal compete their first-round programme at the same time. But it's not in our game or the way we play,” said Van Dijk after Friday’s 1-1 draw.

☆ Morocco switch goalkeepers before kick off against Belgium
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Morocco switched goalkeepers at the last moment before kickoff in their World Cup Group F game against Belgium as Munir El Kajoui came on to replace Yassine Bounou, who appeared to be unwell. El Kajoui then appeared for the team photo before kickoff and took Bounou's place as the game at the Al Thumama Stadium got underway. There was no immediate explanation for the late change with a tweet, posted after kickoff, from the Morocco Football Federation, simply saying: "Munir El Kajoui replaces Yassine Bounou for this match against Belgium". Images from the stadium showed Bounou slumped over with his hands braced on his knees. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Doha; Editing by Simon Jennings and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Goalless draws at World Cup come from cautious approach
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A cautious approach from many teams in the opening round of the World Cup was behind a record-approaching number of goalless draws at the tournament in Qatar, FIFAs technical study group said on Saturday. At the last World Cup in Russia, there was a single goalless draw, when Denmark and France failed to produce goals in a group phase clash. "Clearly many teams are relying on a cautious approach," added colleague Alberto Zaccheroni, who won Serie A with AC Milan and the Asian Cup when he was coach of Japan. There have been 14 goals at the tournament in Qatar from crosses in comparison to three at the same stage at the last World Cup four years ago. "This is a very different World Cup in that players get to sleep in the same bed every night and each team has its own base.

Copeland, who uses they/them pronouns, said their store manager held a team meeting this morning to talk about the Chesapeake store shooting. Share this -Link copiedInvestigators search Walmart gunman's house Investigators on Wednesday scoured the home of the Walmart employee who opened fire at the Chesapeake store where he worked. "We can and must do more to reduce gun violence in America," he tweeted, linking to a news article about the shooting at a Walmart store in Chesapeake. Warner, Kaine of Virginia condemn the violence Virginia's two Democratic senators — Mark Warner and Tim Kaine — decried the mass shooting at the Walmart store in Chesapeake. "The Walmart shooting in Chesapeake is horrific.

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