World cup argentina vs france

AMANDINE HENRY  has been recalled to France’s national side after an absence of two years.

The former Le Bleues skipper, 33, has been included in Herve Renard’s provisional squad before the start of the Women’s World Cup in July.

The midfielder’s inclusion follows her switch from Lyon to US top tier side Angel City this month after a 14-year spell at the club.

Following his squad announcement, Renard, 54, told reporters: “Having her (in the group) was one of my main intentions.

“With her little problem with Lyon, now resolved, we helped her along a lot so that she would be available for the preparation for the World Cup.”

Renard’s 26-strong squad currently includes five WSL aces with Aston Villa’s Kenza Dali, Chelsea defender Eve Perisset and West Ham forward Viviane Asseyi all named.

Manchester United’s Aissatou Tounkara and Estelle Cascarino have also been called up.

However Irons centre-back Hawa Cissoko misses out ten months after being included in the squad before last summer’s Euros.

And the team will be without the services of Paris-Saint Germain striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Lyon’s Delphine Cascarino due to thigh and ACL injuries.

Henry’s return comes nearly three years after the midfielder described the atmosphere under former gaffer Corinne Diacre during the 2019 World Cup as “total chaos”

The France star, who has won 12 top-flight titles and seven Champions League medals with her squad, was left out of Diacre’s squad before last year’s Euros.

The ex-France boss was fired in March after a number of players announced their intend to stand down from international duty.

National captain Wendi Renard, forward Kadidiatou Diani and Katoto were among the players who had temporarily stood  down.

In an interview with French outlet Telefoot Diani said it was important for team-mates to have “something new”.

France will begin their campaign to win the World Cup with a Group D opening fixture against Jamaica at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia on July 23.

It will see Renard’s side, currently ranked the fifth best in the world, play their first game in a major tournament under their new boss.

Henry’s return to the side comes ahead of France’s pre-World Cup friendly fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Australia on the 6th and 14th of July.

Their clash with the former could see Henry, who has 93 senior international caps, return to match action for France for the first time since December 2020.

Lionel Messi will snub a world record offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami.

The Argentina international has rejected Saudi side Al-Hilal and a return to Barcelona to join the MLS franchise co-owned by England and Manchester United legend David Beckham.

The 35-year-old, whose contract at Paris Saint-Germain will expire at the end of the month , was offered the most lucrative contract in football as part of the region’s attempts to bring the biggest names in the sport to the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Hilal’s offer was reportedly worth an astonishing £522million, more than what Cristiano Ronaldo is earning at Al-Nassr.

Barcelona have also attempted to bring the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner back to the club having shattered records during his 17 years at the Camp Nou.

But Messi is now poised to join Inter Miami to see out the remainder of his playing years.

Messi’s deal will include collaborations from brands like Adidas and Apple, according to BBC Sport.

Inter Miami recently parted ways with head coach Phil Neville, sacked after defeat to New York Red Bulls left them bottom of the Eastern Conference after 15 games.

Messi’s father and agent and Barcelona president Joan Laporta met on a number of occasions to discuss the World Cup winner’s return, having left the club in 2021.

‘Leo wants to return to Barca and I would like him to return too,’ Messi’s father Jorge told Jijantes on Monday. ‘We trust that Leo can return. I don’t know anything yet.

‘He would love it (to return to Barça). We already spoke the other day (with Laporta). Of course you would like to come back. We have to talk about millions of things but he would love to come back.’

Reports in Spain suggest potential complications over registering the legendary no10 amid the club’s financial uncertainty impacted their efforts to re-sign him.

While Messi will not be among them, clubs in Saudi meanwhile have made significant moves in recent weeks to sign some of football’s most established stars.

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema became the latest star of he game to head to Saudi this week, joining champions Al-Ittihad with Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante thought to be close to joining his compatriot at the club.

Premier League stars Ilkay Gundogan and Wilfried Zaha have also been targeted.

MORE : The full list of famous players to have joined the Saudi Pro League so far

MORE : Everything you need to know about Lionel Messi’s reported new club Inter Miami

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JACK GREALISH has celebrated winning the Double with Manchester City by splashing out on a new £210,000 Lamborghini.

The Premier League champions defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday.

Now it is only Inter Milan in the Champions League Final this weekend that stands in the way of them and an historic Treble.

The 27-year-old City midfielder, who earns £300,000-a-week following his £100m move from boyhood club Aston Villa to the Etihad in 2021, also recently penned the most lucrative boot sponsorship deal in Britain.

Grealish teamed up with German sportswear giant Puma for a reputed £10m-a-year and is on course to make a £100m fortune before the age of 30.

And he also has a £10m deal with Gucci and a sponsorship contract with boohooMan estimated at being worth around £1million.

Now he has used some of his well-earned cash to splash out on customising a Lamborghini Performante Urus.

The sports car, which is light blue like his club’s home strip, is said to be worth between £205k and £210k before personalisation.

But Grealish has paid extra to get his new motor wrapped by celebrity car customiser Yianni Charalambous .

The England international’s new car was shown off by Charalambous on his Instagram story – and it came complete with a joke about City beating his team, Arsenal, to the title.

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During the clip, which was posted to his story, he is walking next to the car and says: “So there it is guys, it is completed, Lamborghini Performante, tiffany blue.

“This car belongs to Jack Grealish, the Man City Premier League winner. Yes, he took it away from the Arsenal, however he wanted his car wrapped.

“I think it works perfectly, especially the way he plays for Man City, and there it is in all its glory. An incredible looking car.

“He’s gone shuts and returns, you’ve got the carbon everywhere that we’ve left exposed, nice choice of colour. It’s going to look great on the training ground.”

Charalambous, who claims to be best friends with former Arsenal and city defender Bacary Sagna, runs Yiannimize.

He has customised several footy stars’ motors previously, including Sergio Aguero, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Didier Drogba.

He has also been seen on TV on Dave TV’s Yianni: Supercar Customiser.

Meanwhile, Man City have been confirmed as the most-valuable football brand in the world – beating Real Madrid to the title.

According to Brand Finance Football , the Premier League champions are worth a staggering £1.22billion as a brand after a 13 per cent increase in the last year.

Los Blancos have seen a four per cent dip to £1.18bn, with City overtaking them.

Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool sit narrowly behind Real to complete the top five – with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services at Brand Finance, commented: “Manchester City FC has achieved an extraordinary feat by surpassing Real Madrid to become the champion of football club brands.

“For a decade now, the City team has exerted its dominance in English football, including securing four Premier League titles in the past five seasons.

“However, the club’s performance in this year’s ranking highlights that Manchester City FC are performing off the pitch in terms of building a strong brand and attracting fans and sponsors, and setting the stage for what should be an iconic 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.”

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BARCELONA have been criticised for releasing a “disrespectful” statement after Lionel Messi confirmed his move to Inter Miami.

Messi, 35, is leaving PSG when his contract expires in the summer and Barca were in talks to bring the Argentine back.

But their financial issues and concerns Messi had about returning to the spotlight made the move impossible, leaving the club legend to choose America as his next destination.

In response, Barca said a statement which read: “President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barca fans to honour a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barca.”

But fans reacted furiously as one said: “That Barcelona statement was so unnecessary and disrespectful.”

Another added: “This was not necessary to tweet.

“Clearly a PR move by you admin, it’s sad because this is my own club as well lmao but nah you guys should not have made this post literally just trying to make us look good yet again when we aren’t in the right”

One raged: “This is low from Barcelona.

“Considering they are talking about their best player in club history. Don’t patronise his decision. He can do what he wants.”

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Messi confirmed his intention to join Inter Miami after a return to Barca collapsed when speaking to Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.

The Argentine World Cup winner told Mundo Deportivo and Sport: “I’ve been supporting Barca during the year. I’m a fan.

“I spoke to (manager) Xavi a lot, we discussed and we always had frequent exchanges.

“I heard reports of La Liga giving the green light but the truth is that many, really many things were still missing in order to make my return to Barca happen

“I didn’t want to be responsible for them to sell players or reduce salaries. I was tired.”

Messi added: “I really wanted to return to Barça, I had that dream.

“But after what happened two years ago, I did not want to be in the same situation again, leaving my future in the hands of someone else.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.

“Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”