• Argentina's Lionel Messi during a training session at Qatar University in Doha, on Monday, December 12, 2022. The South American side take on Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. PA
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during a training session at Qatar University in Doha, on Monday, December 12, 2022. The South American side take on Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. PA
  • Argentina's Angel Di Maria slides into a tackle during training. PA
    Argentina's Angel Di Maria slides into a tackle during training. PA
  • Argentina players including Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria. Reuters
    Argentina players including Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria. Reuters
  • Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. AP
    Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. AP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
  • Argentina players during training. EPA
    Argentina players during training. EPA
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Getty
  • Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria. AFP
    Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria. AFP
  • Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. PA
    Argentina's Julian Alvarez during training. PA
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
  • Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni during training. Reuters
    Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni during training. Reuters
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
  • Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister during training. PA
    Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister during training. PA
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez. AP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez. AP
  • Argentina's Angel Di Maria. AP
    Argentina's Angel Di Maria. AP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AFP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. PA
  • Argentina's Enzo Fernandez controls a ball during training. AP
    Argentina's Enzo Fernandez controls a ball during training. AP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AP
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. AP
  • Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. AP
    Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni. AP
  • Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Reuters
    Argentina's Lionel Messi during training. Reuters

Lionel Messi trains with Argentina for World Cup semi-final - in pictures


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Argentina were out on the training pitch in Doha on Monday, preparing for their World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

The South American champions came through a bruising quarter-final against the Netherlands on Friday that saw 16 yellow cards brandished and numerous skirmishes break out between the two sides before Argentina eventually ran out winners on penalties.

Argentina started the tournament in the worst possible fashion when they fell to a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, before picking themselves up by securing 2-0 wins against Mexico and Poland to finish top of Group C.

Australia were dispatched 2-1 in the last-16 before the manic Dutch match that saw Louis van Gaal's side score two late goals, levelling the tie at 2-2 and taking the match into extra-time and then penalties, where Argentina eventually came out on top 4-3.

Their talisman and captain Lionel Messi scored from the spot against the Netherlands, as well as finding the net in the shoot-out, and now has four in the tournament. Only France striker Kylian Mbappe, with five, has scored more.

This will probably be Messi’s last World Cup and the 35-year-old is set to make a record-equalling 25th appearance in the competition on Tuesday.

“He’s always been a winner,” manager Lionel Scaloni said of Messi, who is set to match former Germany player Lothar Matthaus’s competition record. “He’s so eager, willing to keep playing football so we’re very happy about this.

“We’ll see whether he continues playing or not. We will keep enjoying him. That’s the most [important] thing we can do – that’s for us and the world of football.

“In case things turn out well, then everything will be good for us. We have our whole country supporting us. They’re backing us.

“But there’s still a long road to go. We need to play crucial matches. Tomorrow’s game will be a very tough one and we need to focus entirely on that.”

You can see images from Monday's training session in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.

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England 12-man squad for second Test

v West Indies which starts Thursday: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (captain), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Jack Leach

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

 

  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
  • 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
  • 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
BRIEF SCORES

England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)  
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)

Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1

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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

HOW TO WATCH

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The biog

Hobby: "It is not really a hobby but I am very curious person. I love reading and spend hours on research."

Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell 

Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."

TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 2pm:

Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]

Not before 4pm:

Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]

Not before 7pm:

Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]

Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)

Court One

Starting at 2pm

Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT) 

Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)

Not before 5pm:

Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)

The specs: 2019 Haval H6

Price, base: Dh69,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

The%20Killer
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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Updated: December 14, 2022, 7:02 AM