Tag: World Cup 2022

Louis van Gaal: World Cup was rigged for Lionel Messi

The former Dutch coach is still irked by how things went down in the World Cup quarterfinal

Former Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has charged that the World Cup was rigged so Lionel Messi and Argentina would win.

Messi finally lifted the game’s biggest prize in December, as Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final.

On its way to World Cup glory, Argentina got past the Netherlands on penalties in a contentious quarterfinal that ended 2-2. Following the game, Messi and Van Gaal had words on the sideline in what appeared to be an acrimonious exchange.

Nine months after the game and his subsequent resignation as Netherlands coach, it was clear that Van Gaal is still rather bitter about how things went down that night at the Lusail Stadium.

“I do not really want to say much about it,” Van Gaal told reporters on Tuesday. “When you see how Argentina scored their goals and how we scored our goals, and how some Argentina players overstepped the mark and were not punished, then I think it was all a premeditated game.”

Asked what he meant Van Gaal replied: “I mean everything I said.”

Van Gaal was then asked if he was saying that Messi was predetermined to be world champion.

“I think so, yeah,” was his reply.

After Van Gaal’s comments, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said he did not agree with his former manager.

“I heard it this morning, indeed. And that’s actually it,” the defender told NOS. “It is of course his opinion. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. I do not share the same opinion.”

Ironically, after the game in December it was Messi and his teammate Emiliano Martínez who were fuming at referee Mateu Lahoz, of whom Messi said: “FIFA has to review it. They can’t put a referee who is not up to the task in this instance.”

Martínez added: “The ref was just giving everything for them. He gave 10 minutes [stoppage time]. For no reason, 10 minutes. He was giving free kicks outside the box for them, like two, three times. He just wanted them to score, that’s basically it. So hopefully we don’t have that ref anymore, he’s useless.”

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Messi: I won’t play in the 2026 World Cup but also, maybe I will

The 35-year-old doesn’t appear ready to rule anything out

Lionel Messi won’t play in the 2026 World Cup, unless he changes his mind. In that case, he will.

That was basically the message that the superstar delivered to the media in China, where he is with the Argentina national team ahead of a friendly in Beijing on Thursday against Australia.

Messi has been pretty consistent over the last year, saying before, during and after the 2022 World Cup that the tournament in Qatar would be his last.

Although he basically reiterated that message on Tuesday, the 35-year-old did appear to leave open the possibility he would play at a tournament during which he’ll turn 39.

Asked by Chinese outlet Titan Sports if he’ll play in 2026, Messi answered: “I think not. This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but as it is right now, no, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”

The interpretation of Messi’s words depends on which part you focus on. Is it the “this was my last World Cup” part or the “I’ll see how things go” part?

There may now be an added incentive for Messi to play in three years: Having recently announced his intention to join Inter Miami, Messi could have something of a home World Cup if he’s still in MLS by the time the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada rolls around. Miami is even a host city.

Messi’s 2022 World Cup was the ideal way for him to bow out of the game’s biggest stage. But who’s to say that in three years if he’s still healthy and in form (admittedly big ifs), he won’t go for an encore.

His coach wants it. His teammates want it. The fans want it. Could it actually happen? Messi himself doesn’t look like he’s quite ready to rule it out just yet.

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Even Jordan Pefok’s mom didn’t think he deserved to make World Cup roster

She’s tough but fair!

When Gregg Berhalter released his World Cup roster last fall, many observers — including this very website — counted Jordan Pefok among the biggest snubs.

The Union Berlin striker was off to a hot start in the Bundesliga, tallying four goals and three assists by the time the roster was released.

Though many were quick to suggest Berhalter had made a mistake, one person thought the coach was totally justified: Pefok’s own mother.

Though he says his mom “knows nothing about football,” Pefok adds that she knew enough to look at his U.S. national team stats and conclude he hadn’t done enough to warrant inclusion.

“[Berhalter] called me and told me that he was not going to call me up for the World Cup. The first two days, it was tough,” Pefok told ESPN. “Then I spoke to my mum. She knows nothing about football. She asked me: ‘Are you sick?’ No. ‘Are your brothers and sisters sick?’ No. ‘Am I sick?’ No. ‘Do you have money issues?’ No. ‘So what’s the issue then?’ It put everything in context and perspective then.

“I sat down, I was still cross, but she was right. She added: ‘I know nothing about football but I know that you went with the national team and you only scored one goal. Even if I was the national team head coach, I would not have called you up! A goal scorer has to score goals, that’s all.’ She was brutal. The disappointment went away and I started working hard again to make sure that I play at the 2026 World Cup at home. I will prepare well and do everything I can with Union to make sure that I am there in 2026.”

Pefok, who was most recently called up in March 2022, has scored one USMNT goal in nine appearances. For a women who doesn’t know anything about the game, Pefok’s mom does know a subpar strike rate when she sees one.

Hopefully Pefok at least reminded his mom that of his nine caps, only two of them were starts.

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Panama tried to murder Lionel Messi at his own World Cup party

Argentina just wanted to party, Panama wanted to maim the guest of honor

Argentina played Panama on Thursday in what was nominally a friendly, but really just an excuse to celebrate their World Cup title on home soil.

But nobody told the Canaleros they were there for a party, which was evidenced when they tried to maim the guest of honor in the first half.

Just 15 minutes into the match at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi was dribbling the ball 10 yards outside the box when Panama’s Jose Murillo went in for a challenge from behind.

Simultaneously, Panama defender Kevin GalvĂĄn flew in with as reckless of a two-footer as you’ll ever see. 

Not that this challenge would ever be acceptable, but on this night, on this player? Read the room, Kevin!

Somehow, Messi escaped with just a bloody knee and GalvĂĄn with only a yellow card.

Messi, as he usually does, would have the last laugh, scoring a picture-perfect free kick late in the game to mark his 800th career goal and cap off a 2-0 win.

The real scenes, though, took place before the game. Now this is how to celebrate a World Cup win.

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U.S. Soccer investigation exonerates Berhalter, implicates Reynas

Some ugly behavior by Claudio and Danielle Reyna is documented in the independent report

U.S. Soccer has concluded an independent investigation into the dramatic affair involving Gregg Berhalter, his wife and the couple’s former close friends Claudio and Danielle Reyna.

The investigation, conducted by Alston & Bird, has concluded that Berhalter and his wife Rosalind were forthcoming about the details of a 1992 incident of domestic violence, and that the firm had no reason to believe any further incidents had taken place between the couple.

The couple eventually reconciled, married and had four children. They are still together today.

Of Berhalter, whose contract as U.S. men’s national team head coach expired at the end of 2022, U.S. Soccer said: “Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the men’s national team.”

On the other hand, the report took a much dimmer view of the Reynas, saying the couple did not cooperate with the investigation and have been actively meddling into U.S. Soccer and the U.S. men’s national team for years — mostly looking to benefit their son Gio Reyna.

The Berhalter-Reyna affair exploded into public view in January, when Danielle Reyna admitted she had leaked information about the 1992 domestic violence incident to U.S. Soccer as retaliation for Berhalter not playing her son more at the World Cup, and then revealing details of the player’s poor attitude in Qatar that nearly led to him being sent home.

Amid the extremely public and messy affair, U.S. Soccer brought in Alston & Bird to conduct an independent investigation into the domestic violence incident, as well as any possible wrongdoing by the Reynas.

The investigation noted it did not consider the Reynas’ behavior to be blackmail, nor did it violate U.S. Soccer policies.

But the results were still stunning, painting an ugly picture of one of the most prominent families in American soccer history. Here are several incidents involving the Reynas documented within the report.

Messi also can’t believe Mbappe scored World Cup final hat trick and lost

Only two players have scored a men’s World Cup final hat trick — and only one has lost the game

Like the rest of us, Lionel Messi was blown away by Kylian MbappĂŠ’s World Cup final performance.

The PSG teammates clashed in the 2022 final at Lusail Stadium, with Argentina defeating France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw over 120 minutes.

Despite his country’s defeat, MbappĂŠ made history as just the second men’s player to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final. The treble saw MbappĂŠ clinch the Golden Boot at the tournament with eight goals over seven games.

Messi, who also scored in the final, recounted the incredible match in an interview with PSG TV.

“It really was a breathtaking final. It was crazy how the match went,” Messi said. “Kylian scored three incredible goals, in a final! Not being able to be champion after that was crazy.

“But he’s already won it too, and he knows what it’s like to be world champion. So yes, it was a great final for the football world. And now it’s true that it’s nice to be able to play in the same team with him, and I hope we can do great things here in Paris.”

As Messi mentioned, MbappĂŠ had already played and scored in a World Cup final before the 2022 showpiece. In 2018, the superstar forward lifted the trophy in Russia after a 4-2 win over Croatia.

By his standards, Messi’s debut season with PSG was far below expectations. But this season Messi has returned to form, saying that he needed time to adjust to a new team and new country in the 2021-22 campaign.

“Yes, it’s true that I feel very well,” he said. “The first year, I needed a little time to adapt to Paris for different reasons, but I started this season really differently, with a lot of desire.

“I feel more comfortable with the club, with the city, with everything that Paris means. And the truth is that I am really enjoying this season. I think my whole life has been like that.

“About dedication, work, effort and wanting more every day. I’ve arrived at a new club and I want to win the title with Paris, to be able to achieve the big goals we set ourselves at the beginning of the season.”

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2022 World Cup: What are the extra time (overtime) tiebreaker rules for Argentina – France final?

Here’s a breakdown of the extra time rules at the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.

The 2022 World Cup has reached the final: The winner is the champ, the loser is second place.

Which also means there are no more ties. And that, in turn, means we have the possibility of extra time (or, as it’s called in other sports, overtime).

If you’re here, it means you’re probably wondering what the rules are as we get set to potentially see Argentina and France go beyond the usual 90 minutes (plus stoppage time that’s tacked on).

There are four important things to know: The first is that extra time is a full 30 minutes. Second: They’re split into periods of 15 minutes each (so if you see a whistle blown after 15, you’ll know why).

Third, and maybe the most noteworthy: There’s no “Golden Goal” — a game-winner that immediately ends the match when it’s scored — when it comes to these games. The full extra time is played to the end even when one side scores.

The final note: If there’s a tie after those 30 minutes (plus stoppage time), we get a shootout: Five rounds of teams taking turns taking penalty kicks against opposing goalkeepers. If there’s a tie after that? It goes to sudden death, with each team getting a try. If one player scores and the other doesn’t, game over.

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5 reasons why the World Cup has the worst trophy in sports

The World Cup trophy is the worst. Here’s why.

This, I admit, is not a new take for me.

It was 2018 — the last time the World Cup was played — that I declared that the trophy given to the winner of the epic once-every-four-years soccer tournament didn’t match how huge it was to win the whole thing.

Heck, I even went further: I gave FIFA some ideas on how to improve the thing!

But the organization ignored me, so here we are again: The World Cup trophy is the worst trophy in all of sports.

Not kidding here! It’s true! Let’s break down the reasons why this is the case:

World Cup 2022: Argentina advance to final, become betting favorite after dominating Croatia

Will Argentina win the World Cup?

And then there were three.

On the third-to-last day of games at the 2022 World Cup, Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Croatia in the semifinals on Tuesday. And after entering the day with the second-best title odds (behind France), Argentina’s win has moved them up a spot to become the tournament’s odds-on favorite to win it all.

Argentina’s final match will be in Sunday’s championship game, where they’ll take on the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal matchup between France and Morrocco.

With only three teams remaining in the bracket, here is a look at the latest title odds, courtesy of BetMGM’s John Ewing.

We’ll see if France can knock off Morrocco and reclaim the shortest odds. But until then, Argentina is the favorite.

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Why Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol is wearing a mask for the World Cup

Here’s the answer.

If you’re watching Croatia play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, you may have noticed Josko Gvardiol — who plays for RB Leipzig when he’s not with the national team — wearing a large face mask.

Wondering what the deal is? Nope, it’s not just for looks, as cool as that would be.

It’s because last month, while playing in the Budesliga against Freiburg, he had a collision with a teammate that injured his face, which included a broken nose.

In order to prevent further injury, he’s donned a protective mask, like the ones we’ve see NBA players wear.

There you have it! That’s the answer.

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