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‘Dream’ replaces ‘Journey’: Adidas unveils ball for World Cup semis, final

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

Adidas have unveiled the special match ball that will be used for the semi-finals and final of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

The Al Hilm ball will replace the Al Rihla used for group-stage, last-16 and quarter-final matches. Al Rihla means “the Journey” in Arabic while Al Hilm means “the Dream”.

Both balls incorporate the same high-tech and travel faster in flight than any other World Cup ball to match the accelerating pace of international football, Adidas said.

The Al Hilm ball has a textured gold colour imprinted with a subtle triangle pattern inspired by sparkling deserts, the colour of the World trophy, and the pattern of the Qatar flag, said the sportswear brand. Red accents make the ball easier to see for fans.

“Al Hilm represents a beacon of light on the power of sport and football to bring the world together,” gushed Adidas’s general manager Nick Craggs.

“Millions will tune in from almost every country around the globe, united by their passion for the game. We wish all teams involved in the final stages of the tournament the best of luck as they compete on the largest stage that football has to offer.”

Al Hilm also comes equipped with the same positioning sensor as the Al Rihla, offering real-time tracking of ball and player positions for Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to make quick and accurate calls. It also supports the semi-automated offside system by combining data captured by sensors within the ball and applying artificial intelligence.

Fifa’s director of football technology and innovation Johannes Holzmüller praised the new Adidas balls as game-changers.

“With the development of the connected ball technology, Adidas made it possible that an additional important layer of information is available to the video match officials. The data from the ball unlocks new insights for storytelling around the unique moments on the pitch at this World Cup.”

Croatia play Argentina in the first semi-final tonight (2am Thai time) followed by Morocco against France at 2am tomorrow night.

Related stories

• ‘France to win World Cup and Mbappe best player’ – Ronaldo on Les Bleus and England
• ‘There’s a whole country behind Messi’ Argentina prepare for Croatia
• England return home with World Cup consolation prize – meet Dave

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‘France to win World Cup and Mbappe best player’ – Ronaldo on Les Bleus and England

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

THE NATION

Two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo has tipped defending champions France to win Qatar 2022 and thinks that star striker Klylian Mbappe is the player of the tournament.

The former Brazil striker told a group of international media on Monday that Mbappe’s pace and goalscoring prowess reminded him of his own playing style which saw the 46-year old become the FIFA World player of the year three times and scoop two Ballon d’Ors.

Mbappe was kept quiet by England in ‘Les Bleus’ 2-1 quarter-final win on Saturday but the 23-year-old is still leading the race for the Golden Boot with five goals at this World Cup.

“I was talking about how fast he is and how good he is and how he reminds me when I played before. So, he knows how to use his ability, you know, how to go faster than the others and use that ability to assist or score. So, I think France is the favourite one to win the World Cup, as I told before the World Cup started. And Mbappe, for me, is going to be the best player for the World Cup.” Two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo said 

Ronaldo said England fans should “be proud of the World Cup they played” having tested France to the final minute of a tight game where their captain Harry Kane missed a crucial penalty with six minutes to go to level the score at 2-2.

“England played very, very good football against France. I think it’s happening the same as what happened with Brazil. I think England played very good, but at the end, you know, small details change the whole result of the match. But the English people should be proud of the World Cup they played.” Said Ronaldo 

France face the surprise semi-finalists Morocco in Wednesday’s semi-final with Tuesday’s match seeing Argentina play Croatia.

THE NATION

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‘There’s a whole country behind Messi’ Argentina prepare for Croatia

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

THE NATION

Momentum is building behind Lionel Messi’s push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game.

The 35-year-old Argentina playmaker has carried his team to the semifinals, almost in the same way Diego Maradona — the man with whom Messi is so often compared — led the South American nation to its second and most recent World Cup title in 1986.

“Well… First, we’ll see if he will continue to play (with Argentina) or not. Nevertheless, let’s enjoy having him. It’s the best thing for us and for the world of football. If he goes well, all of us will be well. there’s a whole country behind us. But we still have a long way to go, we will have a very tough match tomorrow. We must fully focus on that.” said  Lionel Scaloni, Argentina head coach

About critics saying ‘Argentina don’t know how to behave when winning’ 

“We need to remove this taboo that we are like this (don’t know how to behave when winning).” said  Lionel Scaloni

“We know how to lose and how to win. We lost our first match against Saudi Arabia and we went with our mouth shut to our hotel to prepare for what was ahead of us.”

” We won Copa America in Brazil and I believe we saw the most beautiful picture of sportsmanship that could ever happen in the world of football, with Neymar, (Lionel) Messi and (Leandro) Paredes, other players, sitting down at the stairs of the tunnel that leads to the locker room of Maracana (stadium). I don’t buy this idea that we don’t know how to win. We must remove this idea because we must have some pride in ourselves. And we do.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni during the press conference

Now in Argentina’s way is Croatia.

“About (Luka) Modric, it’s a pleasure to see him in the pitch, playing. He’s an example for so many, not just because of his skills as a player, but for his behavior as well. Like when we faced (Robert) Lewandowski, a great player. Someone who loves football wants these guys in the pitch.”

“We are expecting a very tough match against a squad that really put a meaning to what is a team. They are a great group, a great team and will make our lives harder

The teams go head to head at Lusail Stadium — also the venue for Sunday’s final — in a meeting between the last two runners-up at the tournament: Argentina in 2014 and Croatia in 2018.

THE NATION

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England return home with World Cup consolation prize – meet Dave

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022

England have returned home trophyless from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 2-1 defeat to France but the team did manage to bag a consolation prize.

Manchester City defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones decided to adopt a stray cat they befriended near their Souq Al Wakrah hotel.

The cat was named “Dave” by Stones, who fell for the characterful feline on his first day in Qatar.

He even took time out from the build-up to the quarter-final against France to update press on his adopted pet’s own battles.

“Dave is fine. He had a little scrap with another cat the other night. I think they are fighting over territory and the food. But he’s doing well,” said the centre-back.

“Hopefully I can stick to my promise that he will come home with us if we were to win the World Cup. Dave’s fine, thank you for asking.”

Meanwhile, Walker told the Football Association’s media channel: “’He was just there one day so we’ve just adopted him, me and Stonesy.

“Dave is welcome to the table. Some people really don’t like the cat, but I love him.”

The team’s new furry friend left the city just two hours after the players, heading to a local clinic for a blood test and vaccinations. Dave now faces four months in quarantine before he travels to his new home in the UK.

Dave’s caretaker said: “He’s going back with the team. They’re still undecided as to who’s having him but he’s going back.”

Related stories

• Captain America holidaying in Thailand after World Cup exit
• 8 teams eye World Cup history
• Morocco write World Cup history as they beat Portugal to reach semi-finals

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Captain America holidaying in Thailand after World Cup exit

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022

USA’s captain at the Fifa World Cup, Tyler Adams, is taking a short break in Koh Panyee in Phang-Nga province following his team’s exit in Qatar.

To recover from his team’s heartbreaking loss, he posted on Instagram on Sunday that he was visiting Koh Panyee for a short holiday and would return to England to join his club Leeds United on December 18.

Adams played football with local children and took a tour of the island with his girlfriend, Sarah Schmidt, including sightseeing on a boat.

The US team made it through the group stages to the round of 16 but was knocked out by the Netherlands 1-3 on December 3.

Adams won praise for his skill in leading the American team even though they could not secure a knockout win.

However, their performance has raised hopes for the next World Cup in 2026, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Related stories

• 8 teams eye World Cup history
• Morocco write World Cup history as they beat Portugal to reach semi-finals
• World Cup quarterfinal: Argentina beat the Netherlands in a battle of fury

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Thai world No 1 Dechapol/Sapsiree lose gold to bogey team

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022

Thailand’s world No 1 mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai had to settle for silver after running into their bogey team in the 2022 Badminton World Tour Finals in Bangkok on Sunday.

The Thai duo were bidding for a third successive title but ran out of gas against China’s world No 3 Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong in the final at Nimibutr Arena, going down 21-19, 18-21, 21-13.

Siwei and Yaqiong were crowned World Tour Finals champions for the second time after clinching their first title in 2019. They took home the first prize of US$126,000 (4.41 million baht) while Dechapol and Sapsiree pocketed $60,000 (2.10 million baht) as runners-up.

Despite being world No 1, the Thai pair have only won two of their 12 encounters against Siwei and Yaqiong.

More bad news for Thailand came in the women’s doubles final, where the Aimsaard sisters, Benyapa and Nuntakarn, lost to China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 21-13, 21-14.

In the women’s singles, Japan’s reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi took gold after beating Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan 21-18, 22-20.

The men’s singles final saw world No 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark retain his title with a 21-13, 21-14 victory over Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.

Related stories:

• Thai sisters dispense with Korean pair to reach Badminton World Tour finals
• Dechapol/Sapsiree book semi-final, Ratchanok faces must-win match
• Ratchanok off to a winning start at World Tour Finals

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Panipak beats Turkish champ at Riyadh taekwondo meet

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

Thailand’s very own Olympic champion Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit recorded the 45th victory in her career by pocketing the top prize at World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

This is the second time that the 25-year-old gold medallist has won this tournament. On Saturday, she beat her Turkish opponent Merve Dincel 2-0 and took away the 200,000 baht cash prize.

This is Panipak’s fifth victory this year after the SEA Games in Vietnam, two 2022 World Grand Prix victories in Paris and Manchester and a win at the 2022 Spanish Open.

Panipak, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has gone undefeated in the 49kg category since 2014.

Related stories:

• Explainer: Why does it take so long to get Thai nationality?
• Panipak falls in semis, settles for bronze at World Taekwondo Championships
• Panipak stretches taekwondo winning streak with World Grand Prix gold

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8 teams eye World Cup history

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

As the Fifa World Cup in Qatar reaches the semi-final stage, The Nation looks back at the history of the tournament for clues on who will be crowned champions in 2022.

The first World Cup was hosted 92 years ago in 1930 by Uruguay, who also won the inaugural tournament – and added a second title in 1950. But their hat-trick bid this year ended in the group stage.

After a break for World War II, the World Cup was held every four years in a different country until Qatar was controversially picked as the first Middle East host.

The World Cup has been held 22 times but only eight countries have won the title.

The most successful is Brazil with five World Cup wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.

Next come European giants Italy and Germany with four titles each.

Italy won in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006 while Germany were crowned in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.

Uruguay, Argentina and France have each won two World Cups. France are the reigning champions.

England and Spain have won one each.

Europe has produced five champions while South America has produced three.

Related stories

• Morocco write World Cup history as they beat Portugal to reach semi-finals
• World Cup quarterfinal: Argentina beat the Netherlands in a battle of fury
• Croatia oust favourites Brazil 4-2 on penalties to reach semi-final

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Morocco write World Cup history as they beat Portugal to reach semi-finals

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

Reuters

Morocco wrote World Cup history on Saturday night (December 10) as the first African and Arab country to reach the tournament’s semi-finals, continuing their surprise run in Qatar with a shock 1-0 victory over the highly fancied Portugal.

In the 42nd minute En-Nesyri leapt above the Portugal defenders to meet a Yahya Attiat-Allah cross, getting just enough of his head to the ball to tip it past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who misread its flight and crashed into his own defender.
 

Portugal meanwhile struggled to break through the Moroccan defence, Bruno Fernandes coming closest with a shot off the bar shortly after Morocco’s goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench six minutes after the break but was unable to help his team avoid defeat, with Morocco coming out as the winner to seal a semi-final showdown with either England or France, who play later on Saturday.

Morocco’s Walid Cheddira was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession in extra time, meaning he will miss the semi-final.

Reuters

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Thai sisters dispense with Korean pair to reach Badminton World Tour finals

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

Thailand’s badminton sisters – Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard – dispensed with their South Korean opponents in two straight games on Saturday to enter the women’s doubles finals of the 2022 Badminton World Tour in Bangkok on Sunday.

The sisters are ranked 13th globally as a pair, while the South Korean team of Kim Hye-jeong and Jeong Na-eun is ranked 5th. Benyapa and Nuntakarn already bested them in the final round of Group A, also in two straight games.

Saturday’s match at Nimibutr Arena lasted for 43 minutes. Benyapa and Nuntakarnopponents squeaked through the first game 22-20 and handily took the second by six points, winning 21-15.

In Sunday’s final they will face China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, who clinched their spot after defeating another Chinese team – Zheng Yu and Zhang Shuxian – on Saturday in two straight matches: 21-19 and 21-13.

This year’s season-ending competition was switched from Guangzhou, China to Bangkok due to China’s ongoing struggle against Covid-19.

Related Stories

Dechapol/Sapsiree book semi-final, Ratchanok faces must-win match

Badminton World Tour finals kick off in Bangkok on Wednesday

Ratchanok off to a winning start at World Tour Finals