PSG’s World Cup-bound stars all unscathed as leader wins 5-0

13.11.2022 - 23:47 arabnews.com

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s stars came through their final game before the World Cup unscathed, with France forward Kylian Mbappe opening the scoring in the unbeaten league leader’s 5-0 home win against Auxerre on Sunday.

Argentina star Lionel Messi, Brazil’s Neymar and Mbappe all started against Auxerre as PSG maintained its five-point lead over second-place Lens.

Messi and Neymar came off with about 15 minutes left but Mbappe played the full match, despite coming off near the end last weekend with muscle fatigue.

Mbappe joins up with defending champion France’s squad on Monday before flying out to Qatar on Wednesday. PSG rested Brazil defender Marquinhos because of some muscle discomfort.

Ligue 1 England cup as Lionel Messi Carlos Soler Kylian Mbappe Nuno Mendes David Villa Gianluigi Donnarumma Achraf Hakimi Yasser Al-Misehal Qatar France Portugal Brazil Argentina Uae Morocco Saudi Arabia Pakistan Latvia Riga

France have progressed as Group D winners despite losing 1-0 to Tunisia at the Education City stadium.

Australia defender Degenek on World Cup mission to stop Messi

DOHA: Australia will put their bodies on the line to stop Lionel Messi and spring a surprise against Argentina in the World Cup last 16, tough-tackling Milos Degenek warned on Thursday. The defender, who made his World Cup debut in Australia’s 1-0 group win over Denmark on Wednesday, said Messi is his hero but all sentiments will be thrown aside when they meet on Saturday. “You know I have always loved Messi, I think he is the greatest to have played the game,” said the 28-year-old.

Unrepentant Suarez refuses to apologize for Ghana World Cup handball

DOHA: Uruguay great Luis Suarez refused to apologize on Thursday to Ghanaians over his infamous handball at the World Cup 12 years ago. The South Americans take on the Africans in a must-win Group H clash in Qatar on Friday that is a repeat of the notorious quarter-final in South Africa in 2010. Suarez deliberately handled the ball on the line at that tournament to prevent a certain goal from Dominic Adiyiah’s header right at the end of extra-time.

Boxing champ Alvarez sorry over Messi World Cup jersey rant

World boxing champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez issued an apology to Lionel Messi on Wednesday after accusing the Argentine World Cup star of mistreating a Mexican soccer jersey.

Messi misses penalty but Argentina advance at World Cup, Mexico exit on goal difference

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina still advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday.

Argentina, Poland Progress To World Cup Last 16; Mexico, Saudi Arabia Bow Out

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina still advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners after a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday. Poland also went through as runners-up although a 2-1 win for Mexico over Saudi Arabia in the group's other game meant Czeslaw Michniewicz's side advanced only on goal difference. Alexis Mac Allister's 46th-minute goal settled Argentina's nerves after a tense first half, before Julian Alvarez doubled their lead just over 20 minutes later. Argentina had been unable to find a way past Wojciech Szczesny in an opening 45 minutes in which the Poland goalkeeper saved his second penalty of the tournament.