FOOTBALL

World Cup Predictions: Poland vs Mexico

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

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Mexico and Poland will meet in a Group C encounter that could potentially shape their group stage fate on Tuesday evening.

Mexico have been a mainstay in the World Cup lately, having featured in each of the last seven editions.

They played knockout football in all of those campaigns but failed to progress beyond the round of 16. Poland have not been that regular in the competition and did not make it out of the group stages since 1986 when Mexico hosted the World Cup.

World Cup track record

Ex-Barcelona and Argentina manager Gerardo Martino will draw the blueprint to end their round-of-16 hoodoo and take them to the last eight of the competition for the first time since they did on home soil in 1986. In fact, Mexico made it to the quarterfinals only twice, and both times they were the hosts (1970 and 1986).

So, if Mexico can make it to the quarterfinals in Qatar, it will be the first time Mexico will do it in a World Cup outside their borders. A win against Poland will be a significant first step towards fulfilling that target.

Under Martino, Mexico have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019 but failed to defend it in 2021.

They had a stellar qualification campaign under the Argentinian tactician as they trailed table-toppers Canada by only goal difference.

Poland stunned the world by finishing third in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups. But they have failed to match those heights in subsequent years.

In their last three World Cup campaigns, which came in a span of 16 years, they could not get to the knockout stages.

Czeslaw Michniewicz is yet to complete his first year at the Poland job, but the ex-Legia Warsaw man has already risen to the ranks of a national hero in the country.

He oversaw Poland’s 2-0 playoff victory against Sweden, which confirmed the Baltic nation’s first back-to-back World Cup appearances since 1986.

Team News

Once again, Robert Lewandowski will shoulder Poland’s World Cup expectations. The Barcelona forward could not find the target in 2018, so he will be keen on getting on the scoresheet on Tuesday evening.

Raúl Jiménez did not get a lot of gametime lately because of his continuous injury struggles.

After a long head injury layoff, his career fell into limbo once again in August when he suffered another lengthy injury. The 31-year-old got off the bench in Mexico’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Sweden last week, but he did not seem to be back to his best yet. So, Club América striker Henry Martín is likely to lead the line for Mexico from the start.

Sevilla winger Jesús Corona will not be involved as he had to return home with an ankle injury.

Poland also had to let go of Adam Buksa, Bartłomiej Drągowski, and Jacek Góralski because of injuries.

Lewandowski did not come off the bench in Poland’s last World Cup warm-up game against Chile as Michniewicz wants his best attacker fully rested before the crunch clash with Mexico.

Matty Cash will be available for selection after the right-back recovered from a shoulder injury.

Our Prediction

Robert Lewandowski could be the only differentiating factor between these two teams. Otherwise, the squad strength look similar.

We think Lewandowski will get his first World Cup goal and grab a memorable victory for his nation. Our prediction is a 2-1 win for Poland.

FOOTBALL

WATCH: Georgina Rodriguez makes huge claim on Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement in Football

Published

9 months ago

March 3, 2024

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Georgina Rodriguez made a huge claim on the future of her husband and star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Football. In a brief interaction with a host recently, Rodriguez was asked about the time left for Cristiano to make an impact at the highest level. Georgina looked honest in her approach to the question of the host and claimed something the fans would not love to hear.

Georgina claimed that the Portugal star has maybe one year more from him at the highest level. She felt that Ronaldo might play two more years before retiring and not more than that. She was however not sure if he would play for just one or two years and added that the Al Nassr star could also play more than that.

Watch the video of Georgina Rodriguez here –

🚨🎙️| Georgina Rodriguez on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Paris Fashion Week yesterday:

“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know.”

(via @ArobaseGiovanny)pic.twitter.com/4dxw2j5DuC

— Pubity Sport (@pubitysport) March 3, 2024

“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know,” said Rodriguez in the little chat she had with the host. The video has gone viral on X and the fans have started sharing it on different platforms. Some of the fans feel that Georgina might be right, while others feel that she could be wrong, given the fitness and longevity of the star player.

Legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo

On the 5th of February, Ronaldo celebrated his 39th birthday. He is currently one of the oldest players in the world. In the past, players at this age would have retired way back. But the fitness and consistency of Ronaldo make him play the sport as long as he wishes. In his career so far, Ronaldo has won many major leagues for Portugal and league teams like Real Madrid, Al Nassr, and Manchester United.

With United, Portugal won some major leagues like the FA Cup and the Champions League. With Real Madrid, the 39-year-old won the leagues like the UCL, Copa Del Rey and La Liga. He won it three consecutive times for Real Madrid. For Portugal, Cristiano had a huge contribution to Portugal. He has the most number of appearances and goals for an international team and won the Euro 2016 with Portugal.

FOOTBALL

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham slapped with Red Card as he argued with referee

Published

9 months ago

March 3, 2024

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Jude Bellingham shown Red Card (Image Credit: Twitter)

England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham was slapped with a Red Card during the La Liga game against Valencia. In the game, the home team, Valencia was leading by 2-0 after 30 minutes before Madrid scored in the injury time of the first half. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Madrid while Hugo Duro (27′) and Roman Yaremchuk (30′) scored a goal each.

In the 76th minute, Junior scored an equalizer to keep the team in the game. However, in the injury time of the second half, Bellingham was given a red card as he argued with the referee against calling it a full-time before he could score. In reply, the match official decided to slap the England international with a Red Card. The team coach Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t happy with the verdict as the Three Lions player was making a pass at the time.

Jude Bellingham verbally abusing officials and other footballers at the slightest provocation needs to be talked about more. It’s embarrassing he gets applauded by Real Madrid Fans.

Mason Greenwood should’ve allowed La Liga to deal with this simp. pic.twitter.com/ixYSw6YxaC

— Herman Facundo© (@hermanfacundo_7) March 3, 2024

“I think what’s just happened is unprecedented. It’s never happened to me,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“We had possession of the ball and the match should have been finished when Valencia had the ball.

“What bothers us is the red card for Bellingham because he didn’t say anything insulting. He was frustrated of course,” said Ancelotti, adding that Bellingham had used a common English swearword when telling the referee it was a goal.

We are annoyed with Jude Bellingham’s Red Card: Carlo Ancelotti

“We were annoyed with Bellingham’s red card. He didn’t say any insults. He said in English ‘it’s a f—ing goal,’ but he was just saying what we were all thinking … [The referee] allowed play to continue. I think he made a mistake.”

“[Bellingham] was clear in what he said,” Ancelotti added. “He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that’s normal, after what happened. It wasn’t an insult, not at all.”

FOOTBALL

PL 2023-24: MCFC vs MUFC Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI, Fantasy League Today’s Captain, Vice-Captain, and more for Manchester derby

Published

9 months ago

March 2, 2024

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Super Sunday is set to witness the Manchester Derby in the Premier League 2023-24. The match between Manchester City (MCFC) and Manchester United (MUFC) is set to take place in Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City. The two teams have had a contrasting journey in the league till now. The fortunes of City changed ever since Pep Guardiola took over the club as the manager.

While the home side are placed in the second position in the points table currently, United are in the sixth place in the points table. In their previous encounter, City hammered Luton Town by 6-2 in the FA Cup. United have shown massive improvements in the last few weeks after not having a good start to their campaign. United were involved in a thrilling game where they beat Nottingham Forrest by 1-0 in their last game.

Both teams feature some of the best players in the world. The likes of Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and others would be taking part in the match. Manchester City will start the match as the favourites, given their record in the ongoing league so far and the match taking place in their home. United with their improved record can challenge the home side.

MCFC vs MUFC – Match Details

Match – Manchester City (MCFC) vs Manchester United (MUFC), Premier League 2023-24

Venue – Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Date and Time – 3^rd March 2024, 21:00 IST

Live Coverage – Star Sports Network and Disney plus Hot Star

MCFC vs MUFC – Head-to-Head

Both the teams from Manchester have a rich history in the sport. they have been up against each other in 191 instances. In as many games, Manchester United have been historically the better side with 78 wins to their name. City have managed to win 60 wins, as 53 games ended in a draw. In the last five games between the two sides in the Premier League, City have won four of the five games.