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France Vs Croatia: The Battle Between Two ‘golden Generations’ In The World Cup 2018 Final

Hack:

  • After over a month of exciting and enthralling football action, World Cup 2018 will come to a close when France and Croatia take on each other in the final hurdle
  • France are one of the strongest teams in the world, and given the fact their current squad is called as their ‘golden generation’, it isn’t much of a surprise to see them one step closer to the crown

After over a month of exciting and enthralling football action, World Cup 2018 will come to a close when France and Croatia take on each other in the final hurdle. Not many heading into the tournament would have predicted these two fighting it out on the last day.

France are one of the strongest teams in the world, and given the fact their current squad is called as their ‘golden generation’, it isn’t much of a surprise to see them one step closer to the crown.

Croatia, on the other hand, are a very good side. But few would have predicted them to reach the semi-finals, let alone the final. There is little doubt about the quality they possess, especially in the midfield, where they have the ‘Golden Ball’ probable Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.

So, ahead of the July 15 encounter, let’s see how the two ‘golden generations’ stack up.

FRANCE

Defense

They have reached the final only for the third time in their history, and no one can say they haven’t deserved it. The 1998 champions have been solid at the back, and have conceded a mere four goals in the tournament (three of them coming in the same game, against Argentina).

Hugo Lloris has been at his usual best in front of goal, and has produced some really good saves along the way. Though, he hasn’t been tested much, and that’s due to the back four in front of him.

In Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti, France have unearther a solid centre back partnership. Both the players are strong in the air, good with the ball, but more importantly, have pace. Take away the Argentina match, and the ever-present duo have let in a mere one goal in the tournament so far, which is incredible in it’s own rights. And the two have also shown their attacking threat, chipping in with a goal each.

Not many were sure about France’s full backs Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. But the duo have proved their critics wrong. While Pavard has been a rock defensively, Hernandez has been a willing runner going forward. Though, it comes as a surprise that out of the two, it is Pavard who has scored a goal. His screamer against Argentina was one of the moments of the tournament, and that backed Didier Deschamps’ decision to play him.

Midfield

Take away Croatia’s midfield, and France would stake claim to have the best duo in this position. In Ngolo Kante, they have a player who will run all day long, and even after the final whistle. His tenacity and composure has brought calmness in the defense, and confidence in the attack. His displays may never create headlines, or be highlighted, but he has undoubtedly been one of the ‘player of the tournament.’

If Kante is all about tenacity, then his midfield partner Paul Pogba is the complete opposite. With a giant like figure, Pogba is full of creativity. This may not have been one of his best tournaments till date, but he is capable of producing something extraordinary any moment.

France have tried and tested Blaise Matuidi and Corentin Tolisso as the third midfield option, someone who can play on the left side. Both the players have performed decently, but Matuidi edges his compatriot. The Juventus man has legs in him, which allows him to break forward when France have the ball, and help defensively when they are out of possession.

Attack

What can you say about France’s attack. There is a tall striker, a creative attacking midfielder, and a pacey youngster. The mixture of Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe has done wonders.

While Giroud hasn’t got the goals, his off the ball running, link up and hold up play has been important. His hardwork has meant the other two have enjoyed their time in the attacking half.

Griezmann started the tournament slowly. He was scoring goals, but struggling with his performances. But once the knockout round started, he has come to life. Against Argentina, his runs and movement were brilliant. Then in the quarter-finals against Uruguay, he tormented the opposition defense. With three goals and two assists in the tournament, he ranks high in terms of the most influential players.

His partner in crime has been Mbappe. Tasked with leading the attack at a tender age of 19, the Paris Saint-Germain man has grabbed onto the opportunity. Just like Griezmann, he was quiet in the group stage, but roared back to form with a sensational match-winning performance against Argentina. While there have been moments of his immaturity and selfishness, there is no denying he is the biggest threat to Croatia in the final.

CROATIA

Defense

You don’t always need big names in your back line to be strong. And Croatia have proved exactly that. Their goalkeeper Danijel Subasic is hardly considered world class. But in World Cup 2018, his performances have been extraordinary. Two match winning displays against Denmark and Russia has earned him the ‘legend’ tag in his country.

The back four of Croatia have been dependable. Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida have been neat and clean, and have played to their strengths. If anything, they have performed well above their expectations.

Full backs Šime Vrsaljko and Ivan Strinić, just like the centre backs, have to be lauded for their performances. Both of them have been strong defensively, but have not shied away from going in the attacking half every now and then.

Midfield

‘The Best’. This sums up the midfield duo of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. In reality, both of them are attacking minded midfielders, and many predicted them to be overrun by opposition attacks. But that hasn’t been the case one bit. Rakitic has dropped deep on several occasion to play as the anchor man. But when he goes upfield, Modric is always there to cover his space. The Real Madrid midfielder has arguably been the best player in the tournament, and she his side come victorious on Sunday, he will surely be ranked high amongst the Ballon d’Or candidates.

In few matches, Croatia have gone with a midfield three, playing Marcelo Brozović. His role has basically been to form a trio with Modric and Rakitic. But there is also the option of playing Mateo Kovacic, who is one talented midfield option.

Attack

‘Tenacity, fight and will’. In Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebić, Croatia have three attacking options who will fight till the end of the day. They have creativity in them, but it is their hardwork which wins praises.

Perisic on his day can be a lethal winger. Playing on the left wing, he can either cut on his right foot to unleash a shot, or go down the wing using his pace. The other two, Mandzukic and Rebic, are sloggers, who will fight for the ball day long. Their ability in the air is also very useful.

There is always another option in Andrej Kramarić, who can give the other attackers run for their money.

Kerber stuns Serena in final while Nadal crashes out of Wimbledon

Angelique Kerber won her first championship at the All England Club beating Serena Williams 6-3, 6-3. Separately, Novak Djokovic delivered a semi-final win over Rafael Nadal in a two-day thriller that lasted five hours and 15 minutes.

Germany's Angelique Kerber poses with the trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Serena Williams of the United States.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final match against Serena Williams of the United States. (Reuters)

Angelique Kerber became the first German woman to win Wimbledon for 22 years as the 11th seed shattered Serena Williams’ bid for Grand Slam history with a shock 6-3, 6-3 victory in Saturday’s women’s final.

Kerber avenged her defeat against Williams in the 2016 Wimbledon title match, overwhelming the seven-time champion with a stunning 65-minute upset on Centre Court.

“I knew I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena,” Kerber said.

“It was my second chance to play in the final. I think I’m the next one after Steffi who won. That’s amazing.”

Serena Williams returns the ball to Angelique Kerber during their women's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Serena Williams returns the ball to Angelique Kerber during their women’s singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. (AP)

Serena’s first time after becoming a mother 

Williams had hoped to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles by winning her first major prize since becoming a mother in September.

The 36-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open, went into the final as the title favourite, even though she was playing only the fourth tournament of her post-pregnancy comeback.

But instead world number 10 Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany’s first female champion at the All England Club since Steffi Graf in 1996.

“It’s obviously disappointing but I am just getting started,” said an emotional Williams after losing in the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2008.

“For all you mums out there I was playing for you. I really tried.”

Graf helped Kerber get her game on track earlier in the her career, so it was an especially sweet moment for the 30-year-old to follow in her footsteps at Wimbledon.

Germany's Angelique Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany's first female champion at the All England Club since Steffi Graf in 1996.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany’s first female champion at the All England Club since Steffi Graf in 1996. (AP)

Weary Nadal bows out of Wimbledon with pride

Meanwhile on the men’s semi-final, Rafael Nadal said he was proud and had nothing to reproach himself for after losing a top-quality Wimbledon game to great rival Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

The two-day, five-hour-15-minute match of breathtaking shotplay and tiny margins between two giants of modern tennis ended 6-4 3-6 7-6 (9) 3-6 10-8 in Djokovic’s favour.

“Nothing to complain. I think I played a great match. I have not much more inside me. I give it my best,” the 32-year-old Spanish world number one said.

“I think I did a great work. Is difficult to come back after injuries for a long time and have these kind of results, so I am proud of myself.”

It was Rafael Nadal's 52nd match against Novak Djokovic, a rivalry dating back to 2006.
It was Rafael Nadal’s 52nd match against Novak Djokovic, a rivalry dating back to 2006. (AP)

Nadal, who won the French Open for the 11th time last month, spent much of 2016 out of action with a wrist injury.

He has won the Wimbledon title twice but last reached the final in 2011 and has since struggled at the All England Club with a series of losses to lower-ranked players.

It was his 52nd match against Djokovic, 31, a rivalry dating back to 2006. Serb Djokovic leads the head-to-head 27-25.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, serves to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men's singles semi-final match at the Wimbledon.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, left, serves to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men’s singles semi-final match at the Wimbledon. (AP)

‘I go for holidays…’

“He’s probably the greatest fighter ever to play this game. I mean, he battles every single point like it’s his last. That’s something that is so impressive with Rafa. That’s what makes him so difficult to beat on any surface,” Djokovic said.

Nadal said he regretted losing an opportunity to win another major title.

“But that’s it. Nothing else. I go for holidays proud of the things that I’m doing.”

FIFA World Cup: Final schedule, TV time and storylines for Croatia vs. France

Two years ago when it hosted the European Championships, France was upset in the final — which was played in Paris — by Portugal.

France is back in the final of a major international tournament, and once again is the favorite to win. Croatia — which is playing in its first-ever World Cup final — is the opponent, and needed penalty kicks in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, and extra time in the semifinals, in order to get to this point. France, meanwhile, made it look easy getting to Sunday’s 2018 World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Despite its status as the established power, France is a youthful team and could be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage for years to come. Croatia’s veteran-laden team has been called its “Golden Generation.”

While Croatia might be a surprise finalist, the on-field star power is still impressive. Luka Modric — a candidate for the tournament’s Golden Ball award — is the key player for Croatia. France’s 19-year-old phenom Kylian Mbappe is also in the Golden Ball conversation and the favorite for the tournament’s Best Young Player Award.

World Cup final predictions: Will France or Croatia lift the trophy?

One of the best World Cups in history comes to an end Sunday in Moscow, as France and Croatia face off at the Luzhniki Stadium with the world championship on the line.

This is the third time France has reached the World Cup final, winning it all in 1998 and losing to Italy in the 2006 championship game. Croatia’s national team didn’t officially join FIFA until 1992 – with players previously competing for Yugoslavia – and is here in the final for the first time.

USA TODAY Sports’ soccer staff gives their picks for the World Cup final and who will win the Golden Ball – awarded to the tournament’s best player:

Martin Rogers

Prediction: France 3, Croatia 0

  • There isn’t much to choose between these teams except for the fact they are at the polar opposite ends of the “effort expended” spectrum. Croatia has played what amounts to an entire additional game thanks to three bouts of extra time. France has the movement to exploit those tired legs.

Golden Ball winner: Luka Modric, Croatia

Jim Reineking

Prediction: France 2, Croatia 1 (after extra time)

  • Croatia once again pushes an opponent into extra time, but this time succumbs to the uber-talented French, who crush the dreams of another “golden generation.”

Golden Ball: Luka Modric, Croatia

Adam Woodard

Prediction: France 2, Croatia 1

  • Croatia plays incredibly well as a team, and I expect Modric and Rakitic to put on a show. That being said, France is too strong in the attacking third, not to mention the advantage at the goalkeeper position with Hugo Lloris. Olivier Giroud scores his first goal of the tournament and Les Bleus are champions once again.

Golden Ball: Kylian Mbappe, France

Jesse Yomtov

Prediction: France 3, Croatia 1

  • If there’s a group that can throw Croatia’s heralded midfield off its game, it’s the one featuring Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. The Croats aren’t going to be able to dictate the tempo like in past games, while the speed and creativity of France’s Antoine Greizmann and Kylian Mbappe should be able exploit a tired team.

Golden Ball: Kylian Mbappe, Franc

The Latest: Hundreds in anti-Trump protest in Scottish city

Protestors hold banners during the ‘Stop Trump’ Women’s March in London, Friday, July 13, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump’s pomp-filled welcome to Britain was overshadowed Friday by an explosive interview in which he blasted Prime Minister Theresa May, blamed London’s mayor for terror attacks against the city and argued that Europe was “losing its culture” because of immigration. (Tim Ireland/Associated Press)

LONDON — The Latest on protests in Britain against U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit (all times local):

6:55 p.m.

Hundreds of people have protested in Scotland’s largest city to protest against President Donald Trump’s visit to the U.K.

Pensioners, students, families and activists from a wide variety of pressure groups attended the demonstration in Glasgow.

Emily Bryce, from Stirling, proudly carried a homemade banner written in Gaelic, as recognition of Trump’s Highland roots, which translates as “Donald Trump, son of the devil.”

The 67-year-old Bryce said “it’s a disgrace that (British Prime Minister) Theresa May has allowed Trump to visit the U.K. and to meet the queen.”

Police estimated the crowd in Glasgow’s St. George Square at less than 1,600 people.

Despite the widespread anti-Trump feeling, there was overwhelming agreement that the U.K. protests aren’t anti-American.

Jonathon Gillies, a 27-year-old bar worker from Glasgow, said that “nobody here is against Americans. They are welcome to come here anytime. It’s just Trump we have a problem with.”

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5:10 p.m.

Tens of thousands of protesters are swarming the streets of central London to protest Donald Trump’s first visit to Britain as U.S. president.

Aerial views broadcast on British media showed densely packed crowds filling the shopping district near Oxford Circus before a rally at Trafalgar Square.

Organizers of the Together Against Trump mass demonstration estimated that more than 100,000 protesters had joined the march by mid-afternoon Friday.

Protesters chanted “Donald Trump’s not welcome here.” Among them was actress Laura Carmichael, who played Lady Edith Crawley in TV Series Downton Abbey.

The Together Against Trump march followed the Women’s March earlier Friday, when protesters banged pots and pans and sang songs like “We Are Family” amid a carnival atmosphere.

There were numerous signs poking fun at Trump, including “No Fan of Fake Tan Man” and “How Dare You Combover here.”

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2:30 p.m.

The lawyer who represents adult film star Stormy Daniels has joined thousands of protesters at a central London protest march against U.S. President Donald Trump.

Michael Avenatti said he wanted to send a message to “our brothers and sisters here in the U.K. and around the world that not all Americans support this president, there’s millions of Americans that are outraged by his conduct and by his behavior.”

Avenatti said he was invited to Friday’s demonstration and also wanted to be there to represent nearly 140 mothers and children who remain separated by Trump’s immigration policies.

Trump started a four-day visit to the U.K. on Thursday.

The lawyer added: “This family separation has no place in the world, let alone in the United States of America. It’s an absolute outrage.”

Daniels has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, when he was married. Trump has denied it.

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1:40 p.m.

Tens of thousands of people are marching in central London in the first wave of a whirlwind of protests against the visit of U.S. president Donald Trump, accusing him of torture, misogyny and racism.

Carrying placards reading “Dump Trump,” and “Can’t comb over sexism,” joyous crowds blew whistles before starting from Portland Place heading toward Oxford Circus. The main protest is set to begin later Friday

Phil Bond, 65, a musician, says that he knows that it is unlikely that the demonstrations will make any difference to the president, but he believes people in the United States will notice. He says he just wants to add “my little drop of water to the 50 gallons.”

Many protesters used humor to convey their opposition. One sign read “Trump wears poorly tailored suits,” while another proclaimed: “Overcomb Brexit.” One man was selling rolls of “Trump toilet paper” emblazoned with a picture of the president

More protests are planned in Windsor, where the Trumps will meet the queen later, and in Scotland, where the president plans to spend the weekend at one of his golf courses.

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11:20 a.m.

Hundreds of people in London have crowded under a balloon depicting Donald Trump as a screaming baby as protests across the U.K. accompanying the U.S. president’s arrival got underway.

Some 16 balloon minders in yellow vests identifying themselves as “babysitters” minded lead lines to the 6-meter (20-foot) inflatable as the curious gawked and took pictures.

Dominique Blum, 31, and Mia Parker, 50, from Pensacola Florida, were overjoyed with the spectacle.

Parker says she hopes the protest will encourage more people to get creative and organized in protesting Trump’s policies. She says “it’s brilliant. I just want to party with these people forever.”

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9:30 a.m.

Demonstrators plan to mock U.S. President Donald Trump with a giant balloon depicting him as a screaming orange baby as tens of thousands march through the streets of London to protest the American leader’s visit to the U.K.

The diaper-clad balloon infant, with a quiff of hair and a mobile phone for tweeting, is to soar Friday over the Houses of Parliament in London. It’s the centerpiece of demonstrations across the country protesting Trump’s policies on issues ranging from immigration and race relations to women and climate change.

Kevin Smith, one of the 16 people behind the balloon, says “this is what people need to be doing — to come together in their communities to organize and work out how to stand against right wing populism and xenophobia that we’re seeing not just in the U.S. but in Europe.”

Protest organizers say they plan to stage demonstrations in some 50 cities around the U.K.

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9 a.m.

President Donald Trump’s visit to Britain is one of the biggest operations for police in recent years, requiring similar resources to the 2014 NATO summit in Wales.

Protests are planned Friday in some 50 U.K. cities. In London, a screaming orange baby balloon will be featured in the anti-Trump protest.

The 20-foot (6-meter) tall balloon’s creators, who call themselves babysitters, admit they borrowed the idea from comedian Jon Stewart, who in 2016 called Trump a “man-baby.” A crowd-funding campaign raised 20,000 pounds ($26,400) to make it a reality.

Matthew Bonner, one of the organizers, says “depicting Trump as a baby is a great way of targeting his fragile ego, and mocking him is our main motivation.”

He says Trump “doesn’t seem to be affected by the moral outrage that comes from his behavior and his policies. You can’t reason with him but you can ridicule him.”

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Trump twice repeats falsehood that he was in the UK the day before Brexit and predicted it would happen

President Donald Trump once again falsely claimed he “predicted” Brexit. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
  • President Donald Trump twice on Friday the falsehood he was in the United Kingdom the day before Brexit and predicted the British people would vote to leave the European Union.
  • But Trump was actually at the opening of Turnberry the day after the Brexit vote occurred, meaning his “prediction” came after the fact.
  • He then repeated the claim during a Friday morning press conference with the UK prime minister.

President Donald Trump on Friday twice repeated the false claim he was in the United Kingdom the day before the so-called Brexit vote and predicted the British people would vote to leave the European Union.

He first retold the false story in an interview with The Sun, a British newspaper.

“I predicted Brexit. I was cutting a ribbon for the opening of Turnberry — you know they totally did a whole renovation, it is beautiful — the day before the Brexit vote,” Trump said.

He added, “I said, ‘Brexit will happen.’ The vote is going to go positive, because people don’t want to be faced with the horrible immigration problems that they are being faced with in other countries.”

But Trump was actually at the opening of Turnberry the day after the Brexit vote occurred, meaning his “prediction” came after the fact.

He repeated the falsehood during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

“All of you remember,” he said to reporters. “I was opening Turnberry the day before Brexit.”

“I said Brexit will happen and it did happen,” he added.

This not the first time Trump has falsely claimed he predicted the Brexit vote.

Trump’s interview with The Sun was full of provocative statements. He was decidedly critical of May and her Brexit plan, saying he “would have done it much differently.”

“I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn’t agree, she didn’t listen to me,” Trump added. “She wanted to go a different route.”

On Friday morning, Trump claimed The Sun interview was “fake news.”

“Unfortunately a story was done which was generally fine but didn’t put in what I said about” May, he said. “I said tremendous things.”

South Africa launches powerful new telescope

When fully operational, the SKA telescope will be 50 times more powerful than the current ones [South African Radio Astronomy Observatory]

The SKA will become operational by 2030 and explore exploding stars, black holes and traces of the universe’s origins.

South Africa has unveiled a new super radio telescope that will study galaxy formation, a first phase of what will be the world’s largest telescope in a project to try to unravel the secrets of the universe.

The 64-dish MeerKAT telescope in the Northern Cape region of South Africa will be integrated into a multinational Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

When fully operational, the SKA telescope will be 50 times more powerful than current telescopes.

“The telescope will be the largest of its own kind in the world with image resolution quality exceeding the Hubble Space Telescope by a factor of 50 times,” David Mabuza, South Africa’s deputy president, said on Friday.

“This day represents some of Africa’s milestones in our quest to catch up with the rest of the world and make our own contributions to civilisation,” he said.

The SKA will comprise a forest of 3,000 dishes spread over an area of a square kilometre across remote terrain in several African countries, as well as Australia, to allow astronomers to peer deeper into space with unparalleled detail.

The SKA, which is expected to be fully operational by 2030, will explore exploding stars, black holes and traces of the universe’s origins some 14 billion years ago.

A panorama captured by the MeerKAT telescope on Friday showed “the clearest view yet” of the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, according to the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.

The telescope is being built by an international consortium, including Australia, Britain, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Other African countries involved are Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.

South Africa has invested 3.2 billion rands ($240m) into the telescope thus far.

Last month, scientists linked a powerful optical telescope, MeerLITCH, built 200km south of Carnarvon, with the MeerKAT to allow for simultaneous optic and radio study of cosmic events as they occur.

The Voice of Evangelism International launches a counselling center in Houston

The Voice of Evangelism International in Houston, Texas (VOEI) has inaugurated a public spiritual counselling center in Houston, TX. The center on 6464 Savoy, Suite 790, Houston, TX 77036 is a faith based initiative which offers spiritual advising and prayers to individuals seeking God with trust as antidote to challenges of livelihood.

Overseer of the ministry, Bishop Dr. Agwu said that opening VOEI Counselling Center is just one out of many spiritual assignments directed by the Holy Spirit for the year, 2018.

Overseer of the ministry, Bishop Dr. Agwu said that opening VOEI Counselling Center is just one out of many spiritual assignments directed by the Holy Spirit for the year, 2018. “We have always done counselling in our Worship Sanctuary on Willcrest which was limited to our church members. But creating this venue allows the public or those who are not members of our church to have uncontrolled access to this service,” he said.

Counselling Center is just a fulfilment of that responsibility,” Bishop Dr. Agwu said. The Ministry said that Visits to the VOEI Counselling Center is strictly by appointment. “By design we urge that visitors make appointment. This is to ensure that the setting is both more professional, and confidentially convenient,” Bishop Dr. Agwu said.

Members of the public who wants a one-on-one counseling with the Man of God could call 281-857- 2073 to make appointments. The Voice of Evangelism International Ministry was established in  2006 as a nondenominational worship center. VOEI Counselling Center is on 6464 Savoy, Suite 790, Houston, TX 77036. For more information, please call 281-857- 2073, or email the Man of God directly by clicking >>>

Did Africa go to 2018 Soccer World Cup to compete or participate?

With a shameful record from 15 games, resulting in 10 defeats, 2 draws and just 3 wins, the Motherland continent bows of soccer World Cup without tangible reasons

I can as well categorize competitors of the FIFA World Cup into two: the contestant and participant – former being the highly motivated competitor eager to lift the trophy. Then the former, a qualifier who enters the tournament with no winning soul besides the spirit of sportsmanship and involvement. He comes back with a smartphone with overloaded memory of assorted photo albums and World Cup fun

By Anthony Obi Ogbo

moments.

Certainly, this is how the competition process works. Winners or losers notwithstanding, all participants are valued and respected for humbly participating. However, after participation comes accountability. This is because the very basic aim of going into any contest is to win not to participate. Therefore, a deplorable losing record   is not what anybody wants to celebrate – not in soccer.

Going into this tournament, there were still hopes that Africa could beat her previous World Cup records. In 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, two teams – Nigeria and Algeria – reached the second round for the first time. Unfortunately, Africa – the Motherland continent was submerged in a mind-numbing losing humiliation.

Out of 32, the continent took five countries (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria and Senegal) to this tournament,   played 15 games, which disgracefully resulted in 10 defeats, two draws and just three wins before the entire squads were sent parking. Believably, this did not come as a surprise because the continent has been consistent with very poor records in the FIFA World Cup competitions.

Russia simply is a prolongation of Africa’s global soccer woes. For instance,  Egypt, placed in the weakest group in the tournament displayed no winning strategy until it slumped out. The team had bragged and relied on Mohamed Salah, described as one of the world’s best players. Someone might have told them that one tree does not make a forest.

Morocco’s demise added more salt to the injury for these North African soccer warriors did not win a single game. The team struggled in every game, even with Khalid Boutaib, the Yeni Malatyaspor forward named Best Player at the African Nations Championship earlier this year.

Africa’s low-spirited moments got even worse with Nigeria, which struggled and finally tripped off in Group D tagged the “Group of Death.” Duel involving Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, and Nigeria are obviously a tough battle zone. Yet, that should not be an excuse for substandard performance. In fact, Nigeria’s final loss – a game with Argentina unfolded their unpreparedness and total lack of competitiveness.

The remaining two teams, Tunisia and Senegal displayed good talents, but again, the occasion came down to either a win or a loss.  Tunisia struggled to advance from a challenging group that also included both Belgium and England whereas Senegal contested strongly in Group H with Poland, Colombia, and Japan, but could not advance to a second round.

Senegal indeed made Africa proud winning a first game – and the continent’s too, against a poorly composed Poland. It drew Japan 2-2, but lost to Columbia. The Senegalese defeat by Colombia was their first in a World Cup group game. Even as they exited the competition, it held Africa’s strongest record at the finals – with three wins and just two defeats from their eight games.

As far as Africa is concern, the 2018 FIFA World Cup has come and gone. However, it might be significant to ponder on why this soccer-loving continent whose players are scattered all over Western countries playing professional soccer, still struggles in every global tournament.

Let us bear in mind that sports departments and soccer association in Africa are either poorly funded, or run by corrupt and greedy officers who would fraudulently trade their mandate for greed. Currently, the African soccer fraternity has become a recruiting ground for foreign teams who tactfully take advantage of a vulnerable system overrun by terrible fraud and brain drain.  Even Chinese teams now go to Africa to recruit players to build their own professional league system. So how practicable could a continent unable to manage a professional soccer league system progress in the FIFA World Cup?

If the aforementioned issues and many more are not carefully addressed and thoroughly mitigated, Africa would remain incompetent sorry participants in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

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■  Publisher/Editor ,  Anthony Obi Ogbo,  is the author of “The Influence of Leadership.” Contact >>>

Trump’s Personal Driver for 25 Years Sues for Unpaid Overtime

Donald Trump’s personal driver for more than 25 years says the billionaire real estate developer didn’t pay him overtime and raised his salary twice in 15 years, clawing back the second raise by cutting off his health benefits.

Noel Cintron, who is listed in public records as a registered Republican, sued the Trump Organization for about 3,300 hours of overtime that he says he worked in the past six years. He’s not allowed to sue for overtime prior to that due to the statute of limitations.

“In an utterly callous display of unwarranted privilege and entitlement and without even a minimal sense of noblesse oblige,” Trump and his businesses exploited the driver, Cintron says in the complaint.

Cintron says he was required to be on duty for Trump starting at 7 a.m. each day until whenever Trump, his family or business associates no longer required his services. He worked as long as 55 hours per week, but was paid a fixed salary of $62,700 in 2003, $68,000 in 2006, and $75,000 in 2010, according to the complaint.

The wage bump in 2010 came with a catch, Cintron said. He was induced to surrender his health insurance, saving Trump approximately $17,866 per year in premiums, according to the lawsuit.

“President Trump’s further callousness and cupidity is further demonstrated by the fact that while he is purportedly a billionaire, he has not given his personal driver a meaningful raise in over 12 years!” Cintron said.

Trump taps federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court

U.S. President Donald Trump introduces his Supreme Court nominee judge Brett Kavanaugh in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 9, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Brett Kavanaugh, a federal appeals court judge in Washington, to succeed Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

Trump made the announcement at the White House. NBC News broke the story shortly before the president’s made his choice public.

Kavanaugh serves on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which often rules on major challenges to federal laws and policies. If confirmed, he would make the Supreme Court solidly conservative, joining Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch — providing a five-vote majority.

He would be sure to join the conservatives more often than Kennedy, who sometimes voted with the court’s liberals in cases raising hot-button social issues.

Kavanaugh was nominated to the appeals court by President George W. Bush and confirmed in 2006 by a vote of 57-36. Four Supreme Court justices have come from the D.C. Circuit in recent years — John Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

Kavanaugh, 53, was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up nearby in Maryland, where his mother became a state court judge. After graduating from Yale University and Yale law school, he clerked for two federal judges and then for Kennedy.

In 1993, he served a one-year fellowship at the Justice Department working for Solicitor General Kenneth Starr. A year later, when Starr was appointed independent counsel, Kavanaugh became a key staff member in the investigations of the death of White House Counsel Vincent Foster and the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals. He helped write Starr’s report to Congress that laid out 11 possible grounds for President Bill Clinton’s impeachment.

Following a brief period in private law practice, he became Bush’s White House counsel and then staff secretary before he was nominated to be a federal judge. He met his wife, Ashley, while working at the White House where she was the president’s personal secretary. They have two daughters.

Noting Kavanaugh’s political connections, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said at Kavanaugh’s 2006 confirmation hearing, “If there has been a partisan political fight that needed a very bright foot soldier in the last decade, Brett Kavanaugh was probably there.”

In a 2009 law review article, Kavanaugh said his experience in the White House persuaded him that “the job of president is far more difficult than any other civilian position in government” and that presidents should be exempt from civil lawsuits and criminal investigations or prosecutions while in office. But he wrote that such a change would require Congress to pass appropriate legislation.

Even if that happened, he wrote, the Constitution would provide a check against a law breaker in the Oval Office. “If the president does something dastardly, the impeachment process is available,” Kavanaugh wrote.

He enjoys widespread support from conservatives, though he was not on the original list of potential Supreme Court nominees released during the Trump campaign. His name was added last November.

Two of his court opinions, however, generated criticism from some conservatives that he did not go far enough in opposing Obama-era policies. In 2011, when his court upheld Obamacare, he wrote a dissent that said a federal law should have prevented the court from deciding the case. His critics said he should have concluded instead that Obamacare was unconstitutional.

More recently, Kavanaugh took a pragmatic approach during a high-profile court battle involving a teenager arrested for illegally crossing the southern border into the U.S. The appeals court ruled that she could temporarily leave immigration detention for an abortion.

In his dissent, Kavanaugh said the Trump administration conceded that the teen had a right to an abortion, but he argued that the court was wrong to conclude that she had the right “to an immediate abortion on demand.” He said delaying the procedure until she could be released to a U.S. sponsor would not impose an undue burden on the abortion right.

By contrast, one of his conservative colleagues on the court went further, writing that the woman had no right to an abortion at all because she entered the country illegally and was not a U.S. citizen.

The average time between a Supreme Court justice’s nomination and confirmation is about 11 weeks. If Kavanaugh’s experience follows that pattern, he could be on the court in time to prepare for the opening of the next term, on the first Monday in October.

No date has been set for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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