Text Credits: Shibul Pavithran 

France is through to the World Cup finals after a sheer class victory over Belgium. Even though Belgium’s World Cup statistics looked quite impressive till yesterday (July 10), but all of it got messed up when they faced France. Belgium paid the heavy price of missing chances near the box. And France seized every single opportunity that they got, be it the aggressive counter attack or the strong defense line up and last but not the least; the overall dynamics with which they played, was nothing but spectacular football.

No goals came in the first half, there were a number of chances for both the teams to score the leading goal. And apparently,  for 50 minutes, the Belgians threatened to have a good control over the game with good percentage of possession. And then it was Samuel Umtiti scored — slipping his marker to meet Antoine Griezmann’s corner — and France drew back once more, content to precede and control. The shocker was that Samuel beat Marouane Fellaini to the ball in air and headed beautifully near the second post. Fellaini is known for his high jumps and precise heading prowess all around English football, Samuel rising beyond him must have been a heartbreaking sight for all Belgium fans.

Lot of attention went to the 19 year old French star Kylian Mbappe, whose trickery, unimaginable pace and breathtaking skills helped the French side to get their confidence back in the game and brought the win home. He has absolutely announced himself as major talent in this World Cup and there is no doubt that this teenager will be international footballs next best deal. (Since Ronaldo is already sold off to Juventus)

Kylian Mbappe.

Too quick for the cameras. pic.twitter.com/ncOaePhRSC

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 10, 2018

15 – Kylian Mbappé attempted 15 dribbles against Belgium (7 completed), highest tally for a French player in a World Cup match since Opta analyses the competition (since 1966). Hook. #FRABEL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/DM6D53S82b

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 10, 2018

Arsène Wenger on Kylian Mbappé: “He is the type of player who always makes you hopeful when he gets the ball that he’s going to do something special. Watching him soothes the heart.” (BeIN)

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) July 10, 2018

This French team is definitely more like the Germany squad that won the last World Cup thanks to its collective strength, although Thomas Muller was also unstoppable in that tournament, will it be Mbappe or Eden Hazard for France??

But the question that has been bothering me for a while is that: Where the hell was Romelu Lukaku???

Anyhow France will either face Croatia or England in the world cup finals at Luzhniki stadium in Russia on Sunday.

England vs Croatia 

It is a matter of pride for both the countries to reach the semi finals. Croatia’s highest-ever World Cup achievement was the third place at the 1998 World Cup in France, whereas England for the first time since 1990 after beating Sweden 2-0 are through to the World Cup 2018 semi-finals.

In their quarterfinal matches on Saturday night, England defeated Sweden 2:0 and Croatia knocked out Russia with the 4-3 penalty shootout win following 2-2 draw in the regular and 30-minute overtime period. Between the games, Team Croatia trained at a field of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, while England trained in St. Petersburg.

Is it gonna be Luka Modric’s magic (who is also known as the best attacking mid fielder in this World Cup) or is it going to be the sheer brilliance of Hary Kane, who’s been having a wonderful camp at this World Cup so far. The match between these two giants will be worth the wait.

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Text Credits: Wilbin Eapen

If handling pressure on the pitch and coming up with game-changing strategies is an art, then MS Dhoni can be called the Picasso of it. He is also the best ever finisher the Indian cricket team ever had till now. But there is still an argument regarding whether Dhoni is fit to continue as the wicketkeeper and as the crucial middle-order batsman till 2019 ICC world cup or not. Now, with his performance and leadership skills for the team of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), this veteran player has given an answer to the criticizers that he will the best option for a destroyer batman and wicketkeeper until the world cup.

Thanks everyone for the support and Mumbai for turning yellow.Shane ‘shocking’ Watson played a shocking innings to get us through.end of a good season.Ziva doesn’t care about the trophy, wants to run on the lawn according to her wordings.

A post shared by M S Dhoni (@mahi7781) on May 27, 2018 at 1:03pm PDT

Dhoni’s performance in this year’s IPL was remarkable. Not only did he lead the team to win the victor’s trophy, he also scored 455 runs from 16 matches with a strike rate of 150.66.  CSK had the pressure of coming back into the tournament after the ban and Dhoni had the job to retain the reputation as well as the trophy. Finally, they marched into the finals with a stable performance in the league matches and defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final with an overall dominance in the game. The captain can be proud that their record of having the best win percentage (61.56) among all teams in IPL is still untouched.

Source: India Today Pinterest Telangana Today

Dhoni’s career started back in 2004  and he became the skipper of the team within three years. He led the Indian cricket team towards the world cup titles in both ODI and Twenty-Twenty formats. It is exceptional that he also made the team number one in every format of the game. Not only as the best finisher, Dhoni is also known as the best wicketkeeper in the world after Mark Boucher and Adam Gilchrist. His lightning speed stumpings and clever tactics behind the stumps are extraordinary.

Source: indiatoday.in

By the time of 2019 World Cup in England, Dhoni will turn 38 and he will be the most experienced player in the field if the selectors decide to go with him. He has the experience of handling pressures in the big games and Dhoni will be the greatest support Virat Kohli will ever get in planning strategies. Even at this age, Dhoni is quite fast in running between wickets which makes him capable of scoring a double on a ball in which many others might only get a single. Above all, it is still evident that no other wicketkeeper-batsman in the Indian team yet is experienced to replace him and it will also be a positive factor for him to stay with the team. He just proved that he is fit enough to continue with the Indian squad and that there should not be any unnecessary arguments about the retirement of the veteran.

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The most anticipated wedding of the year is one of the largest public events policed by Thames Valley and metal barriers have been put up in the Berkshire town to prevent attackers from using vehicles, like the terrorist atrocities committed on London and Westminster Bridges. Police will effectively create a ring around Windsor Castle as part of a massive security operation for the grand nuptials.

Source: pagesix.com

Thousands of people camped on the streets of windsor on Friday night as they waited for the start of the celebrations for the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The organiser, Angela Thompson said, “The ceremony is an opportunity for the town’s 4,000 inhabitants to celebrate love and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.” The illustrious wedlock will be followed by millions across the world.

A post shared by Alexander Jewellers West Ryde (@alexanderjewellerswestryde) on May 18, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT

Wedding rings worn by royal brides are traditionally made from Welsh Gold but very few men in the monarchy have chosen to put on a wedding band. Prince Harry, however, is known to wear jewellery and he and Miss Markle have been seen wearing matching bracelets.

Source: mirror.co.uk

It’s been a whirlwind, trans-Atlantic romance spanning just under two years and today Prince Harry and Meghan will make it official. Meghan has been working as an American actress for the past seven years. The couple were set up by a mutual friend in 2016, and met on a blind date in London that Summer. Much has also been made of the fact that this will be Meghan’s second marriage. She married producer Trevor Engelson in September 2011 after dating him for six years. The couple split in may 2013.

Source: dailystar.co.uk
Thomas Markle, Meghan’s dad, was expected to walk with her but was unable to take on the role after he suffered a heart attack. “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,” she said in a statement.

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Text Credit: Shibul Pavithran 

Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday after Manchester United crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against West Brom. City manager Pep Guardiola might have missed one of the best moments of his career, however, after admitting on Saturday that he had a round of golf booked with his son and was not planning to watch United’s game. Raheem Sterling was relaxing on his sofa. Vincent Kompany, trailed by the cameras of Manchester City’s in-house television station, was with his family. Infact, none of them needed to do anything for Manchester City to be crowned Premier League champion.

Jay Rodriguez’s second-half header gave West Brom an unlikely win at Old Trafford and sent the Premier League title to the Etihad (Manchester City).

Source: West Bromwich Albion

It is Abu Dhabi-owned City’s third title in seven seasons and their first since former boss Manuel Pellegrini achieved the feat in 2013-2014, this one being under Pep Guardiola.  He is the first Spanish manager to win the Premier League title — a prize he says is the hardest to claim in Europe (he said, that its tougher than Champions League). Guardiola’s team still could have won the league with record margin, having won more games and scored more goals than any team before them. His critics will point to the money his team has spent, and to the inconsistency of the Premier League’s other big beasts, but that he has crafted a side vastly superior to anything else in England this year should not be questioned, a team so good that it could win the league without kicking a ball.

Source: The National

From a slow start at the beginning of the season to the becoming the champions by the end, Pep Guardiola has pulled the team, all the way to the top. A man with a mathematical brain for football and one of the best managers in the world to play under. Guardiola’s qualities as a coach are sometimes underplayed and the possibility that it might have taken time to entrench such a specific approach into his players should not be overlooked. His style is designed to eliminate mistakes, positional errors, and poor decision-making – and it is noticeable how Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, in particular, appear to have been the beneficiaries of this approach. From game knowledge to game management to tactical awareness is not something many coaches teach, but for Guardiola it comes naturally- to teach his boys, the real deal.

Source: SAYS Malaysia  

The result has been a Premier League title that has been achieved with wonderfully entertaining football, with no serious threat from those hoping to be Manchester City’s rivals. This is one of the best examples of why you call football, ‘ The Beautiful Game’.

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Text Credit: Shibul Pavithran 

Professor Stephen Hawking was one of the most intelligent scientists of his, or any other, generation. Hawking, who wrote several influential books including “A Brief History of Time,” was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 1962. The illness left him wheelchair-bound and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesizer.

He had an ability to explain the most complex of ideas in terms that anyone could understand that brought fame far beyond the scientific community. The British physicist was known for his work with black holes and relativity and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time

“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,” the family said in a statement.

“His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever,” it added.

He leaves behind ex-wife Jane, a daughter named Lucy, and two sons, Robert and Tim.

Since his death, the world has come together to pay their respect to the beloved scientist…

May the universe welcome you home with open arms. Thank you, #StephenHawking, for making the sciences cool. pic.twitter.com/peXvbf0XX8

— Digi (@digitelco) March 14, 2018

“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.” – #stephenhawking

You will be missed! pic.twitter.com/5JFhb4N1QQ

— brendon mcnerney (@brendonmcnerney) March 14, 2018

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