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There might only be one day left before the final – and the third place playoff scheduled for tonight – but the news keeps on coming from Qatar. Here is the latest out of the FIFA World Cup.
France are sweating on the health of some of their key players after illness took hold in their camp. Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano already missed the semi-final with sickness, but Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman were all reported to be under the weather ahead of the World Cup Final this Sunday night (local time).
There was a moment of comedy as Randal Kolo Muani, the super sub who scored late to seal the deal against Morocco, spoke to the media about the illness of his teammates, telling reporters that “there’s a little flu that’s been spreading but nothing serious. They’ll be well soon and be ready for Sunday.”
This forced the French media team to clarify that the striker was not qualified to make such pronouncements, and that “As you know, Randal is not a doctor, we will communicate about it later.”
Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni are also nursing injuries and did not train, but are expected to play.
After a heartbreaking loss in the quarter-finals to France, England manager Gareth Southgate will meet top Football Association officials in January to debrief the campaign, with an eye towards the manager’s future.
Southgate, who has now taken the Three Lions to the final four and final eight from two attempts at World Cup level as well as the Euro 2020 Final on home soil, has been backed by England greats including Gary Neville and Ian Wright and it is understood the FA are keen for him to remain in the top job.
The former England international in his playing days has, however, expressed the need to re-evaluate whether he wants to stay as the qualifying campaign for the European Championships begins in March, and another World Cup cycle looms.
“I think whenever I’ve finished these tournaments I’ve needed time to make correct decisions because emotionally you go through so many different feelings and the energy that it takes through these tournaments is enormous,” Southgate said.
“I want to make the right decision, whenever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA, and I’ve got to be sure whatever the decision I take is the right one. I think it’s right to take a bit of time to do that because I know in the past how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments.”
Should Southgate leave the role, potential homegrown candidates to replace him include Graham Potter and Eddie Howe. Foreign options such as Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino have also been touted as possible replacements.
Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets, one of the best defensive midfielders of all time, has called time on his glittering international career after Spain’s second straight round of 16 in Qatar.
A veteran of 143 appearances for his country – beaten only by teammates Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos – the midfielder won the European Championship in 2012, and was an important cog in the engine room as Spain claimed their only World Cup crown in 2010.
“It has been an honour to represent my country at the highest level, to be a world and European champion, to be captain and play so many games, with greater or less success but always giving it my all,” Busquets said in a message posted on Instagram.
At club level the one-club man has worn the Barcelona shirt 463 times, notching 11 goals.
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