Leo Messi roars to top of the Instagram charts with World Cup trophy photo
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022
Lionel Messi’s post showing him and his teammates holding the 2022 World Cup trophy has become the most-liked photo on Instagram.
The photograph was posted on Sunday (December 18) right after Argentina beat France 4-2 on in Qatar, in a match that many pundits called the best-ever World Cup final.
Argentina captain Messi, 35, scored twice in the match and bagged his nation’s third World Cup trophy, after wins at the 1987 and 1986 tournaments.
In just four days, Messi’s photo posted on the account @leomessi was liked 70.9 million times on Instagram, breaking Chris Godfrey’s record of 58 million likes for the photo of an egg on he posted on January 4, 2019.
In third position is another Messi post, this one showing him in bed with the Fifa World Cup Trophy. Posted on December 20, it had 50.3 million likes as of press time.
Messi also features in the fourth most-liked Instagram photo, which shows him and Cristiano Ronaldo playing chess in an advertisement for Louis Vuitton. It was posted by Portuguese football superstar Ronaldo’s @cristiano account on November 19 and has attracted 42.2 million likes.
Erik ten Hag says he is ‘pleased with a win’ against Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, but maintains that there is ‘definitely room for improvement’ in his Manchester United team.
The Reds defeated the Clarets 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening, thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford, either side of the half-time break.
United looked to be in control throughout the fixture, for which Erik selected five of his players who had been away at the 2022 World Cup in his starting XI.
There was, as expected, some rustiness in the display against Vincent Kompany’s side, following the lengthy break without a competitive club fixture, but the Reds’ quality shone through in the end to earn a spot in the Carabao Cup’s last eight.
A PLEASING WIN
“[We played] against a good team. I think they were good on the ball. It’s a difficult to get the press on [them] but I think we did. We had a lot of high regains, we had a lot of transitional moments. I think we need to take a little bit [from] that. There is definitely room for improvement, we have to work on that, but of course I am pleased with a win.”
A GREAT OPENING GOAL
“They are quite hungry [the United squad]. It was a good team goal, but it was good to see the way we finished [the move] with Bruno [Fernandes] and then, on the far side, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Christian Eriksen for the goal. Yeah [it was] a really great goal.”
MARCUS’S MAGIC
“I think he was a threat for the defending line of Burnley. He moved so often behind the defending line and they are the most difficult situations to get the ball there. But with the passing capabilities of players like Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno, we have the players that can get the ball there. [You have to] keep going and keep believing that the ball is going to get there, but it is an investment. [It] costs a lot of energy and costs a lot of power and today he got the benefit from it. It was a dribble and a great goal.”
CASEMIRO’S PERFORMANCE
“[It was] what you can expect: really experienced, really composed. [He was] leading [and had] a good combination with Victor Lindelof. So I was happy with the performance.”
WAN-BISSAKA IS READY
“All players are important but sure [Aaron did well]. Aaron, we missed him in the first 14 games of the Premier League and we need numbers in the squad but not only numbers, they have to play well and they have to perform. He had good preparation for the second half of the season so he’s ready to play and he did quite well today.”
SQUAD ROTATION
“I think after a break it’s always difficult to find the rhythm but I think we did quite well. Also, some different players came on and I think they played quite well. I had a routine [and it wasn’t] 100 per cent, but you see that the principles are there and I am quite happy with the game we played.”
Thais kick-off AFF Championship with 5-0 win over Brunei
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022
Thailand’s national football team thumped Brunei 5-0 on Tuesday to win their opening match in the 2022 AFF Championship at Kuala Lumpur Stadium in the Malaysian capital.
Bordin Phala and Teerasil Dangda each scored once, while Peeradol Chamrasamee scored twice. Putera Yunos of Brunei was credited with a goal for Thailand after scoring against his own team.
Head coach Alexandré “Mano” Pölking said that he was satisfied with the performance in the first match of the championship, saying the Thai team kept possession of the ball for most of the game and created many scoring opportunities.
Captain Theerathon Bunmathan said that the game was difficult because it was the first match of the competition. He praised Brunei’s goalkeeper for stopping several chances.
He said fans should be proud that his team won three points and scored five goals and vowed they would do its best in the next match.
General manager Nualphan Lamsam said the team will receive a reward of 5 million baht if they reach the semi-finals.
Thailand will face the Philippines on Monday at 7.30pm at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.
Argentina’s team abandon bus for helicopter at celebration parade
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022
Reuters
Millions of ecstatic Argentines flooded onto the streets of Buenos Aires to cheer the country’s World Cup-winning soccer squad led by Lionel Messi on Tuesday with the heaving crowd bringing the open-top bus parade to a standstill and forcing players to get on a helicopter to keep on with the celebrations.
The players were unable to reach the central Obelisco monument as planned due to security concerns because of the size of the crowd, estimated by local media at four million people. They were transferred from their parade bus to helicopters.
Images captured by Reuters showed people all over the city, including those waiting around the Obelisco and on surrounding highways trying to catch a glimpse of their returning champions.
Roads started to clear after the players were airlifted out, with some people left disappointed not to see the team.
The Argentine capital has been in party mode since the dramatic victory over France in Sunday’s final in Qatar, which has helped mask economic woes in the South American nation battling one of the world’s highest inflation rates.
Millions had already congregated in downtown Buenos Aires, with major roads shut down for the parade. People held up banners of Messi and late icon Diego Maradona, played instruments or climbed lamp-posts or bus stops.
The government made Tuesday a national holiday to allow fans to celebrate the win.
Crowd of 100,000 awaits Argentina’s World Cup winners in Buenos Aires city centre
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
THE NATION
Thousands of ecstatic fans gathered in the Argentine capital on Tuesday (December 20) ahead of a parade to celebrate the World Cup winning team.
Local media estimated that there were already more than 100,000 people waiting for the players at the iconic Obelisk pillar by mid-morning, with more crowds joining from streets on all sides.
The Argentine capital has been in party mode since their dramatic victory over France in Sunday’s (December 18) final in Qatar, which gave the country its first World Cup win since Diego Maradona hoisted the trophy 36 years ago.
The players are expected to spend a few hours at the Argentine Football Association facilities near the airport before heading at noon to the huge Obelisk monument in the centre of town.
Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a scintillating 3-3 draw, with Messi scoring twice and France’s Kylian Mbappe netting three times.
Messi, 35, said the final would be his last match in the World Cup, though he intends to play a few more games for the national side.
Argentina fans are seen ahead of the victory parade
General view as a Argentina fan kisses a replica trophy ahead of the victory paradeArgentina fans are seen ahead of the victory paradeFans gather outside of the Association of Argentinian Football Headquarters ahead of the team arrival
ArgentinaLionel Messi with the trophy during the team
World Cup winner Lionel Messi on Tuesday (December 20) posted pictures of himself in bed with the famous golden trophy.
Argentina’s squad arrived at Ezeiza International Airport, on the outskirts of capital Buenos Aires, in the early hours of Tuesday (December 20).
The team were led from the plane by captain Messi, who scored twice on the way to Argentina beating France on penalties in Sunday’s final in Qatar, labelled by many experts as the best ever World Cup final.
Messi posted three pictures of himself in bed with the trophy on his Instagram account.
The day after Argentina beat France to claim their third World Cup title, the streets of Doha, once packed with soccer fans and tourists, were eerily empty on Monday (December 19).
The teams have all left and with them, the fans and commotion, even the bunting around the city was being stripped along with the temporary fencing that corralled the throngs in town for the soccer tournament.
In the Corniche area, a picturesque boardwalk that served as the backdrop for countless social media posts, workers pulled down branding and World Cup installations and swept away the dust.
Charming wooden boats that had lined the bay had mostly lifted anchor and left the scenic area.
Argentina fans Tomas Capa and Jesica Inamorato, in town for the Cup, said it was a stark contrast to the night before when they celebrated their side’s title well into the early morning hours.
“It’s crazy. It’s a ghost town here after such a big party, one day to the next in just a few hours,” Capa said.
“But yeah, who cares. Yesterday was amazing. We watched the sunrise dancing with our compatriots. You can tell by my voice what a good time we had,” added Inamorato.
A handful of tourists and diners still milled about the souq market area, but it was a far cry from the raucous crowds that packed the winding alley ways to celebrate World Cup victories throughout the tournament.
The shift leader at a souq restaurant, Amad Rammal, said he was surprised at how quickly the city had emptied out.
“When I woke up this morning, I thought it would also be busy, but it’s very quiet today. Not like before,” he said.
Polakrit and Alisa Granted 2-Year Junior Asian Tour Cards
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022
THE NATION
Polakrit Pawichai and Alisa Inprasit successfully earned their two-year membership on the Junior Asian Tour following their victories in the A Boys and A Girls’ events after the final round of the qualifying competition at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Cha-Am on Monday.
Starting the day with four over par, Polakrit was at the top of his game, firing five birdies against a lone bogey on the third hole to sign off with a 68 and a total even-par-216 to win the A Boys title (age 15-18) as overnight leader Kaichen Xia of China trailed four shots behind on 220.
“I stuck to my game plan, hitting the fairways and greens more than in the first two rounds. I wish I could have done better but an even par after three rounds should be fine,” said Polakrit who as the winner will receive a card for the 2023-2024 season to compete on the Junior Asian Tour which starts in January. Xia, meanwhile, received a 12-month membership on the 2023 tour.
“I can hardly wait to play next year. This year I have played mostly on the All Thailand Golf Tour and barely competed in amateur events. So, next year I plan to play more on the amateur tours so that I can have enough points to play in the Asia Pacific tournament,’’ he added.
National junior player Alisa recovered from back-to-back bogeys on the second and third holes to shoot four birdies after the turn and end her campaign with a final 70 and on six under-par-210 in the A Girls division.
“I’m pretty satisfied with my performance as I can shoot under-par after three days. I didn’t start well today by bogeying on the second and third holes. My wedge really let me down. Bu things started getting better after I made two birdies in a row on the 12th and 13th holes,” said the 16-year-old girl from Nakhon Ratchasima, a champion in an American Junior Golf Association tournament in Haymarket, Virgina this year.
In B class (age 13 – 14), Tantikorn Klinpeng, another product from the Thongchai Jaidee golf academy, closed with a 73 and on 10 over-par-226 to claim the boys’ title with Napat Thongjen falling six shots back. Nitchakamol Panapisal with four birdies against three bogeys produced a final 71 and on three over-par-219 to beat Louise Uma Landgraf from Phuket by five strokes.
The winners of each category (including those in C Boys and C Girls on Sunday) will be granted a two-year card on the Junior Asian Tour starting from next year. Players who finish no more than 12-over par in each category will receive a year membership for the 2023 season.
A total of six Asian Junior Tour events will be competed on the 2023 calendar starting from the inaugural tournament between January 27 and 29 at the Southern Hill and Country Club in Songkhla. The tour will be run in accordance with professional standards recognized worldwide.
Apart from opportunities to compete in international junior events, youngsters with outstanding results on the Asian Junior Tour will receive wildcards into prestigious events on the LPGA, Ladies European Tour, Asian Tour and TrustGolf Tour in Thailand.
The Junior Asian Tour 2023 Qualifying School is supported by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, Trust Pharmacy, Silicon Marina, Ditto, B. Grimm Company, Bangkok Bank, Bond Holdings, LMV, Bridgestone, Adidas Golf, Leborn, Balance Golf Nutrition and Lake View Resort & Golf Club. Fans can catch up the latest updates about the tour on Junior Asian Tour Facebook Fanpage.
Scaloni says they’ll have to save a spot for Messi in 2026
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022
Reuters
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said that he will keep Lionel Messi’s jersey ready in case the talismanic captain wishes to play at the next World Cup after he ended the country’s 36-year wait to hoist the golden trophy again.
On a night of high drama, Messi scored two goals and again in the shootout as he led Argentina to an emotional 4-2 win on penalties over France on Sunday (December 18), with the match ending in a 3-3 draw following 120 minutes of breathtaking action.
After finally fulfilling a lifelong dream by lifting the ultimate prize in world soccer, many thought the 35-year-old Messi may never again come out wearing the famed blue and white stripes of Argentina. But within a few moments, Messi declared that he does not plan to retire from international duty in near future.
It was a decision welcomed by his coach.
“He can have the number 10 jersey as long as he wants,” Scaloni told a news conference.
“He earned the right to do whatever he wants with his career. What he transmits to his team mates is incredible. I have never seen such an influential person in the changing room.
With the World Cup triumph coming just two years following the death of Diego Maradona, who had famously led Argentina to their last title in 1986, an emotional Scaloni said: “You’ve just made me remember that Maradona isn’t here anymore. I still think he’s here sometimes.”
“Certainly, if he were still here, he’d have been the first fan to run onto the pitch. I’ll say it again, it’s only after you asked me the question that I remember he’s not with us. We wish he was here with us, but I hope he enjoyed it.”
He also wept as it dawned on him what the win meant to the millions of people who had followed the team’s journey from home, including his family and friends.
“It wasn’t in my plans being world champion. It’s madness,” Scaloni said.
“That is no bigger pride than representing your country and I hope we made our fans proud.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni celebrates winning the World Cup with the trophy
As for Scaloni’s French counterpart, Didier Deschamps, coming so close to winning the World Cup again made after staging an incredible comeback only to lose on penalties, made the defeat all the more difficult to swallow.
Les Bleus were bidding to become the first team to retain the title since Brazil in 1962, but went through the first hour of the match like ghosts.
Deschamps was forced to make several changes to his starting lineup, taking off Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez, before France burst into life as Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and a stunning volley within 97 seconds to level the scores.
France
“We came back from the brink, that’s what gives us so many regrets,” Deschamps, who guided France to the title in 2018, told a news conference.
“We’re one kick away from winning the World Cup in the last minute but it was not meant to be. If we’re 2-0 down and then we lose 3-0, it’s different. You say ‘bravo Argentina and that’s it.”
“I still congratulate them, they played a great game, with a bit of craftiness, but we were expecting that and it does not take any merit from their victory.”
France were hit by a virus during the lead-up to the final and appeared to lack their usual aggression in the first half.
“We did not have the energy we had in our previous games but I was not worried with any player who started the game tonight,” Deschamps said.
Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram came on in the 41st minute, before Eduardo Camavinga and Kingsley Coman entered the fray in the 71st.
“(For the first two changes) I could not wait until halftime. Ousmane and Olivier took us to the final but they were not as good today. When things don’t work, you have to shake things up,” said Deschamps.
“In the end, I’m very sad for my players, my staff.”
Deschamps’s contract expires at the end of the year but having reached the goal of making it to the last four, he must decide whether to extend it.
“I’m having a meeting with my president at the beginning of the year. Then, you’ll know,” said Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012, reaching the Euro 2016 final, winning the 2018 World Cup, last year’s Nations League and making it to the World Cup final again.
The coin could have flipped the other way, especially thanks to Mbappe’s magnificent performance as he became the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
“He wanted to make his mark on this World Cup. He did, but not as much as he wanted,” Deschamps said. France coach Didier Deschamps walks past the World Cup trophy after receiving the silver medal
Argentina fans are seen ahead of the victory parade
General view as a Argentina fan kisses a replica trophy ahead of the victory parade
Argentina fans are seen ahead of the victory parade
Fans gather outside of the Association of Argentinian Football Headquarters ahead of the team arrival
Messi wakes up with World Cup trophy in his bed
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni celebrates winning the World Cup with the trophy
France coach Didier Deschamps walks past the World Cup trophy after receiving the silver medal
SootinClaimon.Com 