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The Fiver | A Scottish football row that looks set to run and run

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Emotions in Scottish fitba circles were mixed on Thursday morning before the release of the eagerly-awaited Pope’s Newc O’Rangers dossier alleging assorted shenanigans on the part of the Scottish Professional Football League in ending the season prematurely. After weeks of suspense, the excitement of those intrigued to learn what hard evidence O’Rangers have been keeping up their sleeve was rather tempered by the fact they’d have to wade through no fewer than 200 pages of outrage to find out.

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Football quiz: the players who missed out

Not everyone can win everything. Do you know which achievements these players have missed out on in their careers?

Who has scored the most Premier League goals without ever winning the trophy?

Jermain Defoe

Robbie Fowler

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Harry Kane

And who has made the most appearances without winning the Premier League?

David James

Gary Speed

Emile Heskey

Steven Gerrard

Who is the only England player to win 50 caps yet never appear at a World Cup or European Championship finals?

Glen Johnson

Colin Bell

Emlyn Hughes

Gary Cahill

Who scored 434 league goals, an English record, yet never played for his country?

Brian Clough

Arthur Rowley

Steve Bull

Kerry Dixon

Who is the last Ballon d’Or winner never to win the Champions League?

Fabio Cannavaro

Pavel Nedved

Thierry Henry

Michael Owen

Gary Lineker never won the top division in England, but for how many clubs did he finish as top scorer in the league?

None

One

Two

Three

Who has scored the most Champions League goals without winning the competition?

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Edinson Cavani

Robert Lewandowski

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Who was Serie A’s leading scorer three times in the 1990s yet never won the title?

Oliver Bierhoff

Gabriel Batistuta

Enrico Chiesa

Giuseppe Signori

Which of these players has never won the Premier League Golden Boot?

Wayne Rooney

Luis Suárez

Alan Shearer

Andy Cole

Which of these greats never won the Ballon d’Or?

Pavel Nedved

Xavi

Hristo Stoichkov

Eusébio

How many goals have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi scored between them in the knockout stages of the World Cup?

None

Two

Five

14

3 and above.

You missed out too.

4 and above.

You missed out too.

5 and above.

A fine score

6 and above.

A fine score

7 and above.

A superb score

8 and above.

A superb score

9 and above.

A superb score

10 and above.

A superb score

11 and above.

You missed nothing

2 and above.

You missed out too.

0 and above.

You missed out too

1 and above.

You missed out too.

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The struggle is real but is women's football facing an existential threat? | Suzanne Wrack

Investment is bound to suffer in the post-Covid weeks of return but the outlook is cautiously positive for the women’s game

Ominous warnings have been sounded by the international players’ union that women’s football faces an existential threat. When AFC Fylde disbanded their women’s team last week it was probably the tip of an iceberg – but how gloomy is the game’s future?

Although everyone agrees there will be casualties, opinion is split about the extent of any setback. Alan Naigeon offers his assessment from a position of authority as a managing partner of the agency A&V Sports, which represents players such as Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Lyon’s Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg.

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Football and coronavirus: 'This could be the end of the grassroots game'

In the latest in our series on how Covid-19 will change football, we look at its impact at grassroots and non-league level

This could be the end of grassroots football. The impact is going to be horrendous. The main problem now is we’re not getting money we would usually receive from training-session fees or fundraising, because they’re not taking place. That money goes towards subsidising teams for the next season, helping them with pitch fees, league fees, trophy presentations, etc.

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Jair Bolsonaro wants football to start up again despite Covid-19 deaths in Brazil

  • President calls for resumption of football despite crisis
  • Brazil has more than 5,900 deaths due to the coronavirus

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro wants to see football competitions restart soon despite the country’s high number of coronavirus cases, arguing that players are less likely to die from Covid-19 because of their physical fitness.

Bolsonaro is one of the few world leaders that still downplays the risks brought by the coronavirus, which he has likened to “a little flu”.

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Project Restart: the hurdles Premier League football must clear to resume | Paul MacInnes

Many questions need answers, not least where games will be played and the not-insignificant 100 concerns of club doctors

Without government endorsement of a return to play, nothing can happen. Since the beginning of March, when games were still being played in front of paying crowds, the Premier League has said it would follow government advice on the best way to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Jacqui Oatley's career and Bundesliga returns – Football Weekly Extra

Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning talk to Jacqui Oatley about the ups and downs of being the first woman to commentate on Match of the Day and her love of Wolves. Also, Archie Rhind-Tutt on the impending return of the Bundesliga

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.

Max and Barry talk with Jacqui Oatley about her love of football, how her career came about and how she learned to deal with the enormous level of scrutiny which came with becoming the first woman to commentate on Match of the Day.

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Neutral venue plan has 'no rationale', says former football police commander

  • Premier League could be played as normal, says Owen West
  • ‘Tone demonises fans who have been very mature’

Police advice that Premier League clubs must play at neutral venues if they resume the season has “no rationale” and risks demonising supporters by assuming they will gather unsafely outside grounds, a former football policing commander has said.

Owen West, a recently retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent, told the Guardian that football clubs can help give a lead as local community organisations to any gradual easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and do not need to be switched from their home grounds to play games.

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It's back: all eyes on Jeonju as football returns with K-League kick-off

In an empty stadium with strict coronavirus protocols enforced, probably the first spit- and snot-free match in football history drew legions of online fans to South Korea

So football is back. Jeonbuk Motors and Suwon Bluewings opened the coronavirus-delayed K-League season in an empty stadium in the south-west city of Jeonju on Friday evening and for legions of online fans around the world, starved of football by the pandemic, the exertions were a sporting balm. It is fair to say that no football match played on South Korean soil had attracted this level of international interest since the 2002 World Cup finals.

With the exceptions of Belarus, Burundi, Tajikistan and Nicaragua, the global game has been at a virtual standstill, presenting the K-League with an opportunity to fill the hole left by the postponement or cancellation of all other major competitions.

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From Australia to the US: when will football start again around the world?

As football prepares to start or resume seasons we look at 17 countries to see how close they are to a return

Clubs and the football federation hope for an August restart with a July training phase to step up for a resumption of the A-League, which was postponed indefinitely on 24 March. Five rounds of games, plus the finals, remain. All games are likely to be played in Sydney without spectators, with Wellington Phoenix to be based in NSW for a two-week quarantine before playing. The National Rugby League has the green light to restart on 28 May, which may lead to fixture clashes at cross-code venues such as Kogarah and Bankwest Stadium.

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Covid-19's impact on football: 'It could take 10 years to get where we were'

Figures from across the men’s professional game including managers, players and a scout, discuss how football will alter

When life has finally returned to normal, I think football will change for the better. We should see the reversal of a power balance that has swung the wrong way for too long, switching it back in favour of the clubs. I would certainly expect that to happen in the divisions below the Premier League, where the financial implications of Covid-19 are hitting particularly hard. Players and agents will have to lower their expectations, and we will see fewer instances of football clubs being held to ransom over deals and contracts.

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Vote by Mail: Head of Postal Union Says Mailed Ballots Are Best Way to Secure 2020 Election

President Trump calls the U.S. Postal Service "a joke," and as millions face orders to stay home, his attacks on the agency could also threaten efforts to vote by mail, a method Trump has called "a terrible thing." "We're talking now about basic access to the ballot box," says American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein, who notes "the Post Office is the most trusted federal agency."




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Polish MPs permit postal ballot in delayed presidential election

Poland's parliament on Thursday passed legislation paving the way for a presidential election delayed by the coronavirus pandemic to go ahead via a postal ballot, a move the opposition said jeopardised democracy.




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bitcoin football

Today on Toothpaste For Dinner: bitcoin football


I NEED YOUR HELP: Please chip in $1 or more on Patreon and I can keep Toothpaste For Dinner updating daily, PLUS you'll get to see bonus comics & writing!





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football equals

Today on Toothpaste For Dinner: football equals







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Pissballs 2020




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Gavin Newsom Signs Executive Order to Mail Every Voter a Ballot for November Elections

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he had signed an executive order to mail ballots to the state’s 20.6 million registered voters, citing potential health risks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.“There’s a lot of excitement around this November’s election in terms of making sure that you can conduct yourself in a safe way, and make sure your health is protected,” Newsom said Friday. In March, the state allowed ballots to be mailed in for its primary, which saw a record-high of 72 percent of all ballots that were cast by mail.California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who heads the state’s elections, commended the move “It’s great for public health, it’s great for voting rights, it’s going to be great for participation,” he said. California already allows for generous absentee voting, passing a 2002 decision which gives voters the option to request permanent voting by mail, regardless of the reason.While Newsom’s decision applies only to the November election, it could set a precedent for other Democratic states, with voting by mail quickly becoming a partisan issue. It comes after the state’s lawmakers and local officials requested the measure, saying coronavirus will severely hamper voting efforts, a complaint echoed by prominent Democrats.“Why should we be saying to people, ‘Stand in line for hours,’ when we don’t even want you leaving the house?” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in April. But President Trump has repeatedly slammed calls for mail-in voting, saying last month that it lets “people cheat” and involves “a lot of dishonesty.”Newsom said that his order would still allow an “appropriate number” of in-person voting sites, saying that some voters, including those that are disabled, require technological help to cast a ballot.





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WHO: If lockdowns go on for 6 months, there could be 31 million new domestic violence cases globally

Women and children are experiencing unprecedented levels of abuse and violence at home as stress and anxiety continue to mount due to the pandemic.





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Lincoln (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Ibrahim Kane and Boubacar Haidara of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Ibrahim Kane and Boubacar Haidara of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Paulinho of Brazil battles for the ball with Hadji Drame of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Paulinho of Brazil battles for the ball with Hadji Drame of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara and Mamadi Fofana of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara and Mamadi Fofana of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara and Mamadi Fofana of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara and Mamadi Fofana of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Paulinho of Brazil battles for the ball with Fode Konate of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Paulinho (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Fode Konate of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Paulinho of Brazil battles for the ball with goalkeeper Youssouf Koita of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Paulinho (C) of Brazil battles for the ball with goalkeeper Youssouf Koita of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Salam Jiddou of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln (L) of Brazil battles for the ball with Salam Jiddou of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Brenner of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Brenner (R) of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Boubacar Haidara of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Lincoln of Brazil battles for the ball with Salam Jiddou of Mali

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Lincoln (L) of Brazil battles for the ball with Salam Jiddou of Mali during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 3rd Place match between Brazil and Mali at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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George McEachran of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: George McEachran (L) of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 Final match between England and Spain at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Joel Latibeaudiere of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: Joel Latibeaudiere of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 Final match between England and Spain at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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George McEachran of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 28: George McEachran (C) of England battles for the ball with Cesar Gelabert of Spain during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 Final match between England and Spain at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 28, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Local children play football in a park ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017

KOLKATA, INDIA - OCTOBER 05: Local children play football in a park ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 tournament on October 5, 2017 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Jan Kruger - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Borruto: It’s all about the ball

Argentina's Cristian Borruto explains to FIFA.com how his tough upbringing in Avellaneda helped to turn him into the type of player he his today.




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Xavi: I'm suffering if we don't have the ball




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World awaits final between continental schools of football




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Mahdi Javid (R) of Iran and Robinho (L) of Russia fight for the ball

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Mahdi Javid (R) of Iran and Robinho (L) of Russia fight for the ball during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Iran and Russia at Coliseo Ivan de Bedout stadium on September 27, 2016 in Medellin, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Hossein Tayebi (R) of Iran and Danil Davydov (L) of Russia compete for the ball

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Hossein Tayebi (R) of Iran and Danil Davydov (L) of Russia compete for the ball during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Iran and Russia at Coliseo Ivan de Bedout stadium on September 27, 2016 in Medellin, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Ricardinho of Portugal plays with the ball during the warm up

Ricardinho of Portugal plays with the ball during the warm up before the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (C) of Argentina competes for the ball with Joao Matos (L) and Ricardinho (R) of Portugal

Alan Brandi (C) of Argentina competes for the ball with Joao Matos (L) and Ricardinho (R) of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (L) of Argentina controls the ball next to Joao Matos of Portugal

Alan Brandi (L) of Argentina controls the ball next to Joao Matos of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal

Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal

CALI, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal

CALI, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal

Alan Brandi (2nd L) of Argentina plays the ball past Joao Matos (L) of Portugal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Final match between Argentina and Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium on September 28, 2016 in Cali, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)




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Argentina's Pablo Taborda (L) vies for the ball with Portugal's Cardinal

Argentina's Pablo Taborda (L) vies for the ball with Portugal's Cardinal during their Colombia 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup match against Portugal at the Coliseo El Pueblo stadium, in Cali, Colombia on September 28, 2016. / AFP / LUIS ROBAYO