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Messi or Mbappe? Bars, pubs all set for grand finale as football fever hits a crescendo

Yadav told that Kasa Kai Mumbai organises interest-based gatherings ranging from football to Formula 1, among others…reports Asian Lite News

The big screens are set, the chairs are aligned and the beers are ready to flow as bars and pubs in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai gear up for the mother of clashes when Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on defending champions France in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Doha on Sunday night.

Football fever is all set to hit a crescendo on Sunday when people from across the globe will have their eyes glued to their television screens to see whether Messi has the last hurrah, or Kylian Mbappe spoils his swan song in World Cup by helping France become only the second country after Brazil to defend the coveted title.

Celebrities from different corners of the world have already reached Doha to be a part of history. The night will also see Shah Rukh Khan and Nora Fatehi participate in the closing ceremony.

The pubs in India are also decked up to make the most of the memorable night, as they prepare to welcome football fanatics with great fervour and stadium-like atmosphere.

Rahul Yadav and his team from Kasa Kai Mumbai, an event management company, are putting up big screens in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, among many other places.

Yadav told that Kasa Kai Mumbai organises interest-based gatherings ranging from football to Formula 1, among others.

In Mumbai, they have put up screens at bars and pubs in as many as eight places, including at Kamala Mills, Andheri East, Khar and Borivali.

“This is what people want. They want to experience a stadium-like atmosphere. All the venues are sold out. It’s like an adrenaline rush as you get a stadium-like feeling sitting thousands of miles away,” he said.

In Gurugram, the newly-launched Orale Skybar has made special arrangements for football fans.

Hemant Nautiyal, owner of Orale Skybar, told: “We are screening the match live on giant screens. We are also encouraging people to come wearing the jersey of their favourite team. The first drink will be on the house.”

Prathi Tandon, Owner of Effingut, a BrewPub, agrees that “sports brings everyone together to celebrate and enjoy”.

Tandon said: “Even when supporters of two teams come together, they engage with each other, be it in the same group or different groups coming to the outlet. We want people to enjoy and have a good experience.”

From beer on tap to ‘2+1’ offers for three whiskey brands, BrePub is all set to make the final special for its patrons.

Local in Noida and Junkyard Cafe in Connaught Place too are decked up to ensure that their patrons make the most of Super Sunday. Both the joints are decorating their interiors with team flags and miniature footballs.

They will also offer special deals on beer buckets with complimentary popcorn bowls.

“Football matches are a great way of bringing people together, which definitely gives much more visibility and mileage to our restaurants. Also, beer combos and great food make our venue a one-stop destination,” said Umang Tewari from Big Fish Ventures.

So where are you headed to?

ALSO READ-Croatia clinches third place after win against Morocco

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Croatia clinches third place after win against Morocco

FIFA World Cup: Croatia stun Brazil in penalty shootout to reach semis. (Credit : FIFA.com)

Some of the Morocco players surround the referee at the end, but if anything it’s Croatia that should have had a penalty awarded in that second half…reports Asian Lite News

Croatia clinched their third top-three finish at the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 play-off victory over tournament sensation and history-makers Morocco on Saturday night at Khalifa International Stadium.

Zlatko Dalic’s side once again showed their class in Qatar having finished runners-up to France four years ago and confirmed their status as one of the elite footballing nations with another third-place finish to go alongside that secured in their competition debut in 1998.

Morocco finished fourth, the best result for an African nation in World Cup history.

A much more exciting 90 minutes of football was what fans saw than many had anticipated, as both sides have left the shackles firmly off.

Josko Gvardiol dived to head in his first goal of the World Cup and break the deadlock for Croatia in the seventh minute, but celebrations didn’t last long as Achraf Dari also used his head to equalize just a minute later.

But the Croatians had the final say still in the first half when Mislav Orsic pulled out a stunning curler from distance to put them ahead before the break.

Croatia’s opening goal was by one who is not even 21 years old and gives a glimpse of the future of Croatian international football. Gvardiol is the youngest Croatian to score in a FIFA World Cup match. Gvardiol put his team ahead with a header after a well-worked free-kick routine, 1-0.

With Luka Modric looking likely to be retiring from international football, Croatia is understandably looking to see where their next generation of stars is to come from.

Dari levels it up with a header of his own. Modric flicks on a free kick from the right from Morocco, and the defender finishes from close range, 1-1.

Orsic puts his side back in front with a peach of a shot. Morocco fail to clear their lines and the Croat punishes them with the sweetest of curling efforts. Orsic scored a beauty to put his team back in front, but Morocco have had their chances as well, as they continue to show how good they are at attacking, as well as defending. Orsic, curling, looping try sailed over the keeper, but with power, clipping the inside of the post and ending in the nets.

After that frantic first 10 minutes inside the Khalifa International Stadium, this game has settled more into the expected pattern. Croatia are starting to dominate possession, with Morocco happy to sit deep and contain.

There wasn’t much to see on the pitch during the second half as both teams looked exhausted after a hard-fought first part and coming from intense semi-final games.

We may have not seen any more goals in the second half, but it was still an intriguing watch with both teams getting feisty as the game progressed. Croatia showed their class at this level, and had the better chances to score even as Morocco chased a leveller.

There was a spark of action in the 74th when Gvardiol was set to complete his brace but went down inside the box. Croatia players and bench screamed for a penalty but nothing was given.

In response, Morocco found Youssef En-Nesyri unmarked inside the box but his effort from close-range was denied by a massive save from Dominik Livakovic in the 77th.

This was the second time the teams met in Qatar after they played out a goalless draw in their Group F opener on November 23. While Croatia failed to reach the final following a 3-0 defeat to Argentina, Morocco lost 2-0 to champions France in the semi-finals.

Some of the Morocco players surround the referee at the end, but if anything it’s Croatia that should have had a penalty awarded in that second half.

Not a great look from the Atlas Lions, but they’ve been a great team throughout this World Cup.

ALSO READ-T20 signs five-year title sponsorship deal with DP World

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T20 signs five-year title sponsorship deal with DP World

Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE and Jafza said, “DP World is delighted to confirm our title partnership for the DP World International League T20 competition…reports Asian Lite News

International League T20 and DP World have today jointly announced a five-year title sponsorship that will see the upcoming six-team franchise competition, the International League T20 named as the DP World International League T20.

The agreement comes as 84 international cricket stars from across the world, such as Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Kieron Pollard and Wanindu Hasaranga, a number of  shining Associate players, including Paul Stirling, Mark Watt and David Wiese, as well as 24 of UAE’s current and rising talents, look to converge on the UAE and prepare for the inaugural season of UAE’s home-grown T20 competition, which will be played in Dubai (Dubai International Stadium), Sharjah (Sharjah Cricket Stadium) and Abu Dhabi (Zayed Cricket Stadium) from 13 January to 12 February 2023. 

The inaugural DP World International League T20 includes the teams Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates, and Sharjah Warriors. The teams will play for the magnificent, coveted trophy through a total of 34 matches, where all matches will be telecasted live on the expansive, global Zee Network. The league’s schedule can be found by visiting www.ilt20.ae.

Opening the League is the blockbuster match between Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Friday 13 January (2023) at the Dubai International Stadium (Dubai, UAE) and where the competition will be launched through a dazzling opening ceremony headlined by Indian rapper Badshah and RnB megastar Jason Derulo. The inaugural edition will reach its crescendo with the final played on 12 February 2023, also played at the Dubai International Stadium.

Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman International League T20 commented on the sponsorship, “We are exceptionally pleased to enter into this multi-year partnership with DP World as title sponsor of the International League T20. DP World, a Dubai-based company with strong international recognition and long-standing relationships, is synonymous with high profile sports and internationally renowned sporting events. This partnership between two UAE-based entities is incredibly gratifying, and we are extremely appreciative of their commitment in supporting a UAE-grown sporting-initiative as we launch the inaugural edition of the league across the UAE, and on to the international stage next year. We look forward to an extremely beneficial and rewarding relationship.”

Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE and Jafza said, “DP World is delighted to confirm our title partnership for the DP World International League T20 competition. The event, which reflects DP World, Dubai, and the UAE’s spirit of innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement, will help introduce the sport to new audiences in the UAE, leave a legacy, and affirm the region’s unique position as a hub for world-class sports. It will also give us an opportunity to engage with our customers, prospects, and colleagues, against the backdrop of what will be a highly enjoyable festival of cricket. We cannot wait to watch the action unfold and wish the ILT20 organisers, teams, players, and fans, an enjoyable tournament.”

Cricket fans across the world can catch the LIVE telecast of this exciting cricket league on the League’s Official Media Partner ZEE’s linear channels, digital platform Zee5, as well as Zee Cinema SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, &Pictures HD, &Flix SD, &Flix HD, Zee Zest SD, Zee Zest HD, Zee Bangla Cinema and Zee Thirai. 

Headquartered in Dubai, DP World has evolved into the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain solutions enabling the flow of trade across the globe. With a presence in 78 countries across six continents, powered by diverse professional team of more than 97,000 people, DP World is committed to delivering unrivalled value to its customers and partners.

ALSO READ-ICC Ranking: Labuschagne equals Kohli with a career-high rating

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Freya Kemp ruled out of 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup

England's Freya Kemp ruled out of West Indies tour with back injury

England are currently playing West Indies in a five-match T20I series and have won both of the T20Is played so far…reports Asian Lite News

 England all-rounder Freya Kemp sustained a stress fracture in her back and has been ruled out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in February next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday.

The left-arm quick and late-order batter had travelled with the squad to the Caribbean but flew back midway complaining of back pain. She missed the entire three-match ODI series in the West Indies, which England won 3-0.

After flying home early, the scans revealed that the 17-year-old has been diagnosed with a stress fracture.

“After receiving further exploratory scans in the UK, it has been confirmed that England Women and Southern Vipers all-rounder Freya Kemp has sustained a stress fracture in her back,” the ECB said in a statement.

“Kemp will not be available for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February 2023. She will now begin rehabilitation working together with the England and Southern Vipers medical teams,” it added.

Kemp, who made her T20I debut earlier this year, has played nine T20Is, taking eight wickets at an average of 18.62 and an economy rate just over seven runs per over. Earlier in September, she became the second-youngest women’s player to score a half-century for England, making an unbeaten 51 off 37 balls against India.

England are currently playing West Indies in a five-match T20I series and have won both of the T20Is played so far.

ALSO READ-Scaloni: No big celebrations, we still have one step ahead of us

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LaLiga well represented in FIFA World Cup final

No Spain, but La Liga well represented in World Cup final. (CREDIT: Xinhua)

FC Barcelona were the team that sent most players to the World Cup, (17), but now only Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde remain….reports Asian Lite News

The Spanish football team may have flown home after losing to Morocco in a penalty shootout in the last 16 but the Spanish football league is still going to be well-represented in Sunday’s World Cup final between France and Argentina.

Fifteen of the 52 players in the France and Argentina squads currently ply their trade in La Liga, with that rising to 16 if we count Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who flew back to Spain with a muscle injury but was never replaced in the French squad by coach Didier Deschamps.

Atletico Madrid may not be having the best of seasons, but they are the most represented club with Antoine Griezmann, Rodrigo de Paul, Angel Correa and Nahuel Molina all at Atletico, reports Xinhua.

Bayern Munich also have four players involved in the final, with: Pavard, Upamecano, Coman and Lucas Hernandez all in the French squad although Lucas is now recovering after damaging his cruciate knee ligament.

FC Barcelona were the team that sent most players to the World Cup, (17), but now only Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde remain.

The Premier League is also well-represented in the final, with 10 players who are currently playing in England, including Argentine forward Julian Alvarez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, eight players are in France, seven each in Germany and Italy and two in Portugal, with just one each in the U.S. and Argentina — showing perhaps how many top Argentinian players seek their fortune abroad.

ALSO READ-ICC Ranking: Labuschagne equals Kohli with a career-high rating

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Gold-plated FIFA trophy, jerseys of stars up for auction

What started as a hobby has since turned out to be a full time business venture for Yael and his two partners Emiliano Abreu and Juan Manuel Pineiro…reports Asian Lite News

A gold-plated replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy along with 55 other football related items including shirts worn by late Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi has gone under the hammer at an online auction which began at the start of this month and one which ends on December 22.

With the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France a few days away, a new champion to be spotted on Sunday as the organisers have tried to catch on to the football fever and give away a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy.

“Taking advantage of the World Cup fever, we are auctioning off an exact replica of the gold-plated World Cup trophy ($9,000) and many national team jerseys,” said Yael Rodriguez, one of the three partners of the Matchday the Argentine company behind the auction, while talking in a Zoom interview.

With the football world fully immersed in the game’s biggest showpiece event and surrendering to the magic of Lionel Messi in Qatar some lucky ones will have the chance to feel the Argentinian super star from close quarters.

The organisers have called it as GOATS auction, since it involves the two greats of the game, Maradona and Messi, and the ones who have inspired hundreds of people over the period of time and a large number of shirts worn by them have been put up for auction.

“Among all the items are six Lionel Messi shirts, including one from the National Team signed by all the players who are currently playing in the World Cup in Qatar. The Argentina shirt was given to president of AFA, Claudio Tapia, for a charitable purpose. All the proceeds from that auction will be used for works at the Fernandez Hospital. This item will be featured in a special way within the auction and has a starting price of $5,500,” said Rodriguez.

What started as a hobby has since turned out to be a full time business venture for Yael and his two partners Emiliano Abreu and Juan Manuel Pineiro.

The event’s organising company was created in the midst of a pandemic by the trio, with the aim of auctioning off unique objects and collectibles from world football, highly coveted by collectors. To carry it out, they have a rigorous investigation process, which compares the real object with photos, videos and files from the time to authenticate the product. Even witness testimonies are used to confirm it.

“We specialise in game-worn jerseys, which in slang are called Match Worn, but we also offer jerseys and apparel that were prepared by the props for the game, but not worn, called Match Issue. We currently have more than 150 shirts of which only 15 per cent are in the auction stage.

“The most valuable is one from Boca Juniors used by Diego Maradona in the 1981 National tournament, the year in which the Ribera team became champion and Maradona’s was the star. There is also a Maradona Napoli shirt used against Juventus, Messi shirts at Barcelona and several more props prepared for Messi that he finally used on the field,” he added.

Regarding Maradona’s shirts, the most fanatics of Pelusa will be able to bid for one from Boca, which he used in the 1981 Nacional, and another from Napoli and from a very special season: the 1986/87 season, when the team Italian became champion for the first time in its history.

Besides Messi and Maradona jerseys, fans can also get memorabilia from other world figures such as Ronaldinho and Neymar (both from his time at Barcelona), Javier Zanetti (Banfield), Zico (Flamengo), Carlos Tevez (Seleccion) and Juan Carlos Lallana (River of 1967).

Some of the other items that will be auctioned are Luis Suarez boots, which will have a base value of $650, a medal from Boca, champion of the Libertadores in 2001 ($350) and an album from the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay ($750).

The auctions are conducted online, through their website www.matchdayauctions.com.

“It is a format that we find agile, dynamic, transparent and easily accessible to anyone. Those interested only have to register following the simple steps and thus they are ready to participate in any of the auctions. The site also has a news button where we upload information and news of interest to collectors. The other platforms that we use to communicate daily with our audience are Instagram, as the main network, Facebook to interact in the Marketplace with groups of collectors, Twitter and YouTube where all the material will be available,” said Rodriguez.

ALSO READ-ICC Ranking: Labuschagne equals Kohli with a career-high rating

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ICC Ranking: Labuschagne equals Kohli with a career-high rating

Head earns the rise on the back of his century against the West Indies in Adelaide and the 28-year-old could jump even higher during the upcoming Test series against South Africa…reports Asian Lite News

Australia’s in-form batter Marnus Labuschagne added another feather to his crown by drawing level with India great Virat Kohli on the all-time list and bringing up a new career-high rating on the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings.

The newly-crowned No.1 Test batter in the world, Labuschagne, who claimed the top ranking from England’s Joe Root earlier this month, moved further ahead at the top of the list for Test batters following an outstanding series against the West Indies.

The 28-year-old right-hander amassed a whopping 502 runs for the two-match series, with his magnificent knock of 163 during the first innings of the second Test in Adelaide helping Labuschagne join Kohli on a career-high rating of 937 points.

That brilliant performance sees Labuschagne now hold the equal 11th-best Test rating of all time and just three Australian players — Donald Bradman (961), Steve Smith (947) and Ricky Ponting (942) — have held better ratings, the ICC said in a report on its official website.

Labuschagne has four players just one rating point ahead of him on 938 rating points, with West Indies trio Gary Sobers, Clyde Walcott and Viv Richards and Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara.

Labuschagne isn’t the only Australian player achieving a career-high rating following the series against the West Indies — left-hander Travis Head also climbed up seven places on the Test batter rankings to sixth overall and a personal best of 774 rating points.

Head earns the rise on the back of his century against the West Indies in Adelaide and the 28-year-old could jump even higher during the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

England’s series triumph over Pakistan also saw a host of their players improve up the rankings this week, with young gun Harry Brook moving up 15 places on the Test batter rankings to 55th overall after his century in the second innings and Player of the Match performance in Multan.

Their pacers were also rewarded, with evergreen veteran James Anderson jumping one place to second overall on the Test bowler rankings and fellow quicks Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood also making ground on No.1 ranked Australian Pat Cummins.

Steve Smith has moved up two places to second with 875 points while Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had slipped one place to third with 871 points. Former England captain Joe Root dropped down a place to fourth with 848 points.

Rishabh Pant is the highest-ranked Indian, static at fifth with 801 points while Rohit Sharma retained his 10th position in the rankings with 746 points. Kohli is currently ranked 12th with 714 points. On Wednesday, he lost a chance of improving his position when could manage only 1 runs against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chattogram.

ALSO READ-Possession is not everything in Qatar 2022

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Messi inched a step closer to the biggest dream

Messi has made a record 18 appearances as captain in the World Cup. He is followed by Rafa Marquez (17) and Diego Maradona (16)…reports Asian Lite News

While leading Argentina to the final of the FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Croatia, Lionel Messi has inched a step closer to fulfilling his biggest dream — adding the World Cup crown to the dozens of titles he has won in club cricket.

The 35-year-old scored a goal in the match through a penalty, which is his fifth in Qatar 2022.

In the process of taking Argentina to the final, Messi set many records and also set himself up for bettering more marks in international football and FIFA World Cup when Argentina take on the winner of the second semifinal between France and Morocco.

Messi is one of only six men to have played in five World Cups alongside Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthaus, Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a report on fifa.com website.

He now shares the record with German World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus for the most World Cup appearances — 25. He will overtake Matthaus if he plays the final on Sunday.

Messi has made a record 18 appearances as captain in the World Cup. He is followed by Rafa Marquez (17) and Diego Maradona (16).

He is the only player to register an assist in five World Cup editions. His closest challengers are Pele, Grzegorz Lato, Diego Maradona and David Beckham, who set up goals in three editions apiece.

Pele and Messi share the record for the most assists in the knockout phase (6).

Messi is Argentina’s leading marksman in the World Cup with 11 goals. He is followed by Gabriel Batistuta (10), Diego Maradona (8), Guillermo Stabile (8), Mario Kempes (6) and Gonzalo Higuain (5).

Paolo Maldini has played the most minutes in World Cup history: 2,217. Messi is on 2,194 and could surpass the Italian in the Qatar 2022 final.

Messi is the only player to score in the World Cup in his teens, 20s and 30s. Pele missed out on accomplishing the same by four months.

Messi scored his first and latest World Cup goals 16 years and 180 days apart. The next biggest span in World Cup history belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo at 16 years and 160 days.

ALSO READ-Scaloni: No big celebrations, we still have one step ahead of us

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Scaloni: No big celebrations, we still have one step ahead of us

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.(photo:@Argentina/Twitter)

“Of course, we say that Messi is (the best player ever) and maybe we are narrow-minded because as an Argentine, it’s enjoyable. But I have no doubt that he is the best,” he said…reports Asian Lite News

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said his team would enjoy muted celebrations after reaching the World Cup final with a 3-0 victory over Croatia.

Julian Alvarez scored a brace and Lionel Messi converted a penalty as Argentina won their fifth consecutive match in this tournament after starting with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.

“We’ll celebrate because we know it’s exciting to advance to the final,” Scaloni said after the semifinal. “But we still have one step ahead of us. It’s a historic moment that we need to enjoy but that’s it. We need to focus on the upcoming match.”

Scaloni heaped praise on Messi, who now has five goals and three assists in this tournament. His strike here saw him surpass Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 goals, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

“Of course, we say that Messi is (the best player ever) and maybe we are narrow-minded because as an Argentine, it’s enjoyable. But I have no doubt that he is the best,” he said.

“I have been saying it for a long time. I’m honoured to see him train and play. It’s exciting because every time you see him play it’s a huge source of motivation for Argentinians. It’s a privilege to have him in our squad.”

Scaloni also thanked the tens of thousands of Argentinian fans present at Lusail stadium, many of whom began singing hours before the 10 pm kick-off and finished well beyond midnight.

“I have the dream job of all Argentines,” he said. “Our people were supporting us throughout and you could feel it. It was unforgettable. We’re all pushing in the same direction and we’re grateful to them.”

ALSO READ-Possession is not everything in Qatar 2022

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Possession is not everything in Qatar 2022

FIFA World Cup: Semifinalists show that possession is not everything in Qatar ,

Morocco aren’t fooling anyone after rugged defensive displays against Spain and Portugal have earned them a historic semifinal tie against France…reports Asian Lite News

They are numbers that would make a football ‘purist’ such as Pep Guardiola break out into a cold sweat, or have former Spain coach, Luis Enrique trembling in his bed, but if there is one thing the current World Cup in Qatar is showing, it is that possession of the ball is not everything in football.

Maybe ‘tiki-taka’ isn’t dead (although it is badly wounded in Spain), but the World Cup is most definitely making a very solid case for the defense.

Morocco aren’t fooling anyone after rugged defensive displays against Spain and Portugal have earned them a historic semifinal tie against France.

The Moroccan side had just 23 percent of the ball against Spain and just 22 percent in their 1-0 quarterfinal win against Portugal. The story is a little different from the group stage, where they had less than 35 percent of the ball against Belgium and Croatia and 45 percent against Canada.

The irony is that Morocco conceded the only goal against them in this World Cup in the game where they saw most of the ball.

France, Morocco’s rival in the semifinals, also had less of the ball than England in their quarterfinal, which they won 2-1.

England had 54 percent of the ball, while the French had 36 percent, according to official figures, with 10 percent of the time the ball being ‘disputed’. England also had more chances than the French, but it was Didier Deschamps’ side that are into the semis.

The Netherlands had more of the ball against Argentina, with Louis Van Gaal’s men on top, especially in the second half when they had 50 percent of the ball, with Argentina having just 30 percent and the ball under nobody’s control for the remaining 20 percent.

It should also be pointed out that the Dutch didn’t get into the game until they abandoned their passing system and began hitting long balls into the forward for tall strikers Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst, reports Xinhua.

The first quarterfinal between Croatia and Brazil was the most even, with both teams having the ball for just about the same amount of time, although Brazil just shaded possession by 45 percent to 43 percent in the first half.

The decisive factor in that match was that Croatia made better use of the ball they had, with Luka Modric giving 115 passes to his teammates as Croatia once again proved their resilience.

With the semifinals just around the corner, it looks as if France will dominate possession against Morocco, while the clash between Croatia and Argentina promise to be a tactical battle and whether Luka Modric or Leo Messi has the best game will probably be the decisive factor.#

ALSO READ-Indian women’s hockey team triumphs over Chile 3-1