The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is in the hot phase. What news is there about the early end of the German national team? How are the other teams doing? What happens off the pitch at the controversial desert tournament?
The most important news is here in the LIVE ticker sport.de.
Criticism for DFB team
Argentina coach gets emotional
Messi announces farewell
Croatia coach wants to remain in office
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+++ December 14th, 2022, 10:21 a.m .: Criticism for the DFB team +++
The former Bundesliga professional and Moroccan national soccer player, Abderrahim Ouakili, has not given the DFB team a good hair compared to Moroccan soccer. “It doesn’t hurt anymore when you play against Germany. It hurts against Morocco. It hurts a lot,” the 52-year-old told the “RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland” before his home country’s World Cup semifinals against France.
Ouakili explicitly directed his criticism at big names: “Manuel Neuer is past his best, someone else should have been in goal. Thomas Müller has great merit, but is no longer a great player at this level. Kai Havertz is closed came late.” In addition, the Germans “didn’t have a single world-class defender”, which should have been dealt with as a team.
That is exactly what would make Morocco so strong in comparison at the World Cup: “The team is the star for us. That was not the case with Hansi Flick.”
On the other hand, it is not a miracle that Morocco reached the semi-finals. It is rather “the result of work, discipline, passion, faith and love”.
+++ December 14th, 2022, 7:23 a.m .: South Korea coach says goodbye +++
Coach Paulo Bento said goodbye to South Korean football fans with emotional words. His four years as coach of the national team were “a wonderful experience that I will never forget,” said the Portuguese football coach.
Bento had led the World Cup semi-finalists from 2002 to the round of 16 in Qatar, where the South Koreans lost 4-1 to record world champions Brazil.
The 53-year-old Bento announced his departure immediately after leaving. “I am especially grateful to the players, they were very professional, hard working and showed a great attitude,” Bento said in a statement. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the Bento successor will be known by February.
+++ December 14th, 2022, 7:05 a.m .: Argentina coach gets emotional +++
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is overwhelmed by the emotions at home after reaching the World Cup final.
“It’s hard to put it into words. As an Argentinian, I always dreamed of that,” said the 44-year-old after beating Croatia 3-0 in the semifinals. Shortly after the final whistle, the ex-professional even had tears in his eyes again at the tournament in Qatar. “We feel the support of our compatriots, they have our back. It’s something unforgettable.” In the final on Sunday, the Argentines will now face France or Morocco.
Despite all the emotionality, Scaloni warned against too much euphoria. “It’s a historic moment that we have to enjoy. But that’s all,” he said. “Now it’s over and we have to focus on the next step.” Now one more step is missing. Then the Argentines would have their third World Cup title for sure – something an entire country has been dreaming of for weeks.
+++ December 14th, 2022, 7:03 a.m .: Modric still at the EM?
The World Cup semi-final against Argentina does not mean the end of the great Croatian football generation around their star player Luka Modric, at least for the time being. His Real Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos can’t imagine an end to Modric’s national team career either.
“If I had to guess, I would say: He’s still playing the European Championship in Germany. He’s also just crazy about football,” said Kroos on Tuesday evening on “MagentaTV” about the 37-year-old. Shortly before, vice world champions Croatia had missed the final by beating Argentina 0:3. The European Championships in Germany will take place in summer 2024.
“He’s still playing great. For his country anyway. He’s someone who stands out,” said Kroos about his long-time teammate at Real Madrid: “Luka is the first to be angry when he loses a training game.” Modric pays “extreme attention to himself,” said ex-national player Kroos: “He’s more about how you’re physically on it. He’s unbelievable. He’s a good role model for young players. It’s all hard work.”
+++ December 14th, 2022, 6:54 a.m .: Messi announces farewell +++
Next Sunday, the football world will see Lionel Messi perform magic on the World Cup stage for the last time. “I’m very happy to end my trips to World Cup tournaments with my last game in a final,” announced the 35-year-old a few hours after the 3-0 (2-0) semi-final triumph over Croatia. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s saying goodbye to the national team immediately.
But even before the final on Sunday in the Lusail Stadium in Qatar’s capital Doha, the six-time world footballer recognized: “It’s many years until the next World Cup and I don’t think I’ll make it until then. And to finish it like this, is the best.”
Of course, after losing the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, Messi hopes for a happy ending, to emulate his idol Diego Maradona (1986) or the World Cup scorer Mario Kempes (1978), and the trophy for the third time at the Rio de La Plata pick up.
+++ December 13th, 2022, 10:55 p.m .: Croatia coach wants to stay in office +++
Croatia’s national coach Zlatko Dalić plans after the defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar until after the EM 2024 in Germany.
“Yes, I will continue. My contract runs until 2024, until the European Championships,” said the 56-year-old after the 3-0 defeat against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium.
In the game for third place, the 2018 vice world champion will face France or Morocco. Dalić has been in office since 2017. “My plan and my goal is to lead Croatia to EM 2024,” said the former professional.
+++ December 13th, 2022, 7:56 p.m .: France mobilizes 10,000 police officers for the semi-finals +++
France mobilizes 10,000 police officers for the World Cup semi-final against Morocco. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that half of these will be used in the greater Paris area. The boulevard Champs-Élysée, on which thousands of fans had previously celebrated the progress of both teams, should be freely accessible.
Basically, it’s about everyone being able to celebrate, he explained. The main focus of the police is security, also in the face of terrorist threats, and in many places in the country the onset of winter is imminent. There may be restrictions in Paris when accessing the city center from the city highway.
The transport companies are also looking to ensure that crowds of people in the capital are channeled, for example by closing individual stops.
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