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Cristiano Ronaldo
Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
Ronaldo's girlfriend hits out at Portugal coach Fernando Santos
8:03 a.m .:
In the World Cup quarter-finals against Morocco (0-1), Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was only on the bench, as he was in the round of 16 against Switzerland (6-1).
He came on at the beginning of the second half – but couldn't prevent Portugal's exit from their last World Cup.
His girlfriend Georginia Rodriguez sharply criticized Fernando Santos, Portugal's national coach, via an Instagram story: "Today your friend and coach made a bad decision.
That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect,” and further: “You can't stand up for someone who doesn't deserve it either.” Santos would have left his “strongest weapon” on the bench for too long .
FC Bayern represented with the most players in the semi-finals
7:49 a.m .:
No club team has more players in the semifinals than FC Bayern Munich.
In addition to the four French national players Kingsley Coman, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernández, the Croatian Josip Stanisic and the Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui can still become world champions.
Defender Hernández, who tore a cruciate ligament in France's opening game against Australia (4-1), will no longer be able to play.
Five players from each of the four semi-finalists (Argentina, Croatia, France, Morocco) earn their money with the two Spanish clubs Atlético Madrid and FC Sevilla.
World Cup speedster in a wheelchair
7:36 a.m .:
The quarter-finals between Argentina and the Netherlands have to be interrupted because of a streaker.
A Russian Youtuber runs onto the square – and then reports back from the wheelchair.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy – as the runabout's real name is – announced on Instagram that he broke his leg during the campaign.
Zdorovetskiy entered the field in the 76th minute with the score 2-0 for Argentina and was violently brought down by law enforcement officers when he stormed the field - he was injured accordingly.
Zdorovetskiy even showed himself from a wheelchair in his Instagram story.
The well-known YouTuber said: "I can't walk, I crawled out of the stadium."
In the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, "vitalythegoat", as he often calls himself on social media, stormed the pitch in Brazil.
His ex-girlfriend Kinsey Wolanski also caused a stir with a storm in the 2019 Champions League final.
The referee for the first semi-final has been chosen
7.18 a.m .:
The Italian referee Daniele Orsato directs the first semi-final of the World Cup in Qatar.
As the world association Fifa announced on Sunday, the 47-year-old was scheduled for the game between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday (8 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) at the Lusail Stadium.
Orsato officiated the opening match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador and the group stage match between Argentina and Mexico at the finals in Qatar.
Neymar says goodbye to Brazil coach: "Thank you, Professor Tite"
7:01 a.m .:
Brazil’s soccer star Neymar said goodbye to his long-time national coach Tite with emotional words.
He wanted to thank Tite for all the lessons – "and there were so many," Neymar wrote on Instagram: "You will always be one of the best coaches I have had and will have."
After the quarter-finals with Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar, Tite confirmed that he would retire as the Brazilian national coach at the end of the year as planned.
"Thank you Professor Tite for all the learning," wrote Neymar.
Above all, Tite's claim to be mentally strong, he will "never forget".
Croatia refrain from man marking for Messi
6.45 a.m .:
How do you stop Lionel Messi?
Without man marking, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic announced ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Tuesday (20:00 CET).
"But we have to close the ball's path to him," Dalic said.
Messi doesn't run much, he waits: "But when he gets the ball, he has full strength and energy.
We mustn't give him much space."
The quarter-finals against Brazil and top star Neymar served as a model for the vice world champion.
"If we defend like we did against Brazil, Messi won't get the space he needs," said Dalic, who has identified weaknesses in the Argentines.
“They led 2-0 against the Netherlands and let the opponent come back.
It shows they are vulnerable.«
mas/dpa/sid
