Uruguay unlikely to shift Real Madrid star Valverde forward after consecutive scoreless outings

Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso believes his Real Madrid star Federico Valverde is best suited as a defensive midfielder, but that the team will need to perform better as a whole to allow him to “shine more”.

Alonso’s comments came after Monday’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Portugal, leaving Uruguay alongside Mexico and Tunisia as the only teams without a goal through two matches.

Following their failure to score in their 0-0 opener against South Korea, Uruguay were well-handled by the Portuguese, controlling only 40 per cent of the possession, although they only narrowly trailed in expected goals 1.33 to 1.27.

Not short on talent, Uruguay fielded a starting XI that included Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and 135-cap veteran Edinson Cavani up front, while Tottenham’s Rodrigo Betancur partnered Valverde in midfield.

Having played both in central midfield and on the wing for Madrid, Valverde was deployed in the engine room against Portugal,

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Prediction: Wales vs England – Soccer News

Verdict: England win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Unibet

In what is a real British battle on Tuesday night, England will meet Wales at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium for their final Group B showdown.

Wales

Starting with Wales, while Rob Page’s men might have opened their World Cup return with the mood in their camp at a red-hot high, the Dragons have failed to make any kind of impact in Qatar. Although the Reds might have managed to snatch a 1-1 draw against the USA last week as they got their Group B adventure underway, they certainly came crashing back down to earth a few days ago. Putting in a downbeat display and suffering last-gasp heartbreak against Iran as they eventually slumped to a 2-0 loss, Wales need a miracle if they’re to somehow find a route to the knockout stage. Enduring a real Nations League nightmare earlier in the

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Bitesize Prediction: Lugo vs Levante – 27/11/22

Competition: Spanish Segunda

Market: Levante win

Odds: 11/10 @ 888sport

Looking to extend on their unbeaten run this weekend, Levante will make the trip to a struggling Lugo on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Lugo might have managed to extend on their Segunda status last season, Hernan Perez’s side find themselves at the heart of a real relegation scrap. Sat three points adrift of safety and knowing that they face a tough task this weekend, the Albivermellos are in the midst of a nightmare run of form. Last seen getting hit with a woeful 4-0 drumming away at Andorra, the one-time Real Madrid coach has seen his downbeat squad pick up just a pair of points from any of their last five second-tier showdowns. Likewise, despite claiming a much-needed 2-0 win against Burgos on October 23rd, that is the only victory that Lugo have claimed from any of

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Hernandez undergoes successful surgery after rupturing ACL in World Cup opener

Lucas Hernandez has successfully undergone surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in France’s 4-1 World Cup opening win against Australia on Tuesday.

Hernandez’s club Bayern Munich confirmed he had the operation in Innsbruck on Thursday, with his rehabilitation to commence in Munich in the coming days.

The defender was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup due to the injury that saw him replaced after only 13 minutes.

Bayern did not provide a timeframe on Hernandez’s recovery but it is expected he will miss the rest of the 2022-23 season.

Hernandez is the latest injury blow for the world champions, who saw Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku all ruled out before the tournament started.

France head coach Didier Deschamps said after Tuesday’s

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Bitesize Prediction: Uruguay vs South Korea – 24/11/22

Competition: World Cup

Market: Uruguay win

Odds: 8/11 @ 888sport

Looking to open their Group H adventure with an early statement in Al Rayyan, Uruguay will meet South Korea on Thursday afternoon.

Starting with Uruguay, while they might have been struck by a shock 1-0 loss at the hands of Iran back in September, the South American giants have proven that was nothing more than just a minor blip. Last seen signing off their pre-World Cup preparations with an eye-catching 2-0 victory against Canada, Diego Alonso’s men have their sights firmly set on clinching a route out of Group H this year. Booking their ticket to Qatar with break much of a sweat during their qualifying run, Uruguay are enjoying what has been an impressive flurry in 2022. Including a thumping 3-0 win away at Mexico earlier in the year, Alonso’s side have lost just one of their previous nine

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Bitesize Prediction: Worthing vs Tonbridge – 22/11/22

Competition: National League South

Market: Worthing win

Odds: 20/23 @ 888sport

Looking to widen their buffer in the play-off places on Tuesday night, Worthing will welcome Tonbridge to Woodside Road.

Starting with the hosts, extending on their FA Trophy adventure over the weekend thanks to a rampant display on home soil, Worthing are enjoying what has been an eye-catching run of form. Eventually coming past Weymouth thanks to an action-packed 4-2 victory against Weymouth, Adam Hinshelwood’s side have their sights set on claiming a shock play-off place this season. Likewise, last seen on sixth-tier duties claiming a 1-0 victory at home against Oxford City, the Sussex-based outfit are unbeaten in each of their previous six matchups across all formats. Opening the midweek fixtures sat in pole position to claim a top-seven finish, Worthing will also be boosted by an impressive record against Tuesday’s opponents. It should be noted, Hinshelwood’s side

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Stunned Benzema gives first reaction to World Cup injury KO blow

Karim Benzema insisted it was not in his nature to “give up” as he was forced to concede his World Cup dream with France was over.

A quadriceps problem in his left thigh has flared up and left the 34-year-old resigned to packing his bags rather than contributing for Les Bleus in Qatar.

He won the highly prized Ballon d’Or award last month, recognition of his spectacular form last season, but Benzema will be on the outside looking in on football’s biggest show after suffering a setback in France’s training session on Saturday.

It had been his first full on-pitch activity with the France squad during the pre-tournament camp, with Benzema having been determined to prove his fitness before the team’s opening game against Australia on Tuesday.

He had been bothered by muscular fatigue in the left quadriceps while with Real Madrid in recent weeks, missing several games, and this

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Bitesize Prediction: Andorra vs Lugo – 20/11/22

Competition: Spanish Segunda

Market: Andorra win

Odds: 4/5 @ 888sport

Looking to extend on what has been a recent purple patch, Andorra will welcome Lugo to the Estadi Nacional on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Andorra might have endured a worrying blip throughout October, they have bounced back in some style. Although Eder Sarabia’s men might have only made their Segunda debut this season, the Tricolours have continued to gain a string of plaudits from across Spain. Last seen picking up a 3-1 victory away at Manacor while on Copa del Rey duties, the former Barcelona coach has now seen his side win four of their last five matchups across all formats. Knowing that another victory on Sunday afternoon could see them move within striking distance of the play-off places, Andorra will be desperate to lay down another marker here. With 36-year-old Carlos Martinez bagging four strikes in

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Bitesize Prediction: Port Vale vs Charlton – 19/11/22

Competition: League One

Market: Charlton double chance

Odds: 8/13 @ 888sport

Hoping to make up some ground in the League One play-off chase on Saturday afternoon, Charlton will make the trip to Port Vale.

Starting with the hosts, while Port Vale might have secured a shock League One promotion last season, Darrell Clarke’s men are enduring a recent wobble. Last seen putting in a nightmare display as they were blown away thanks to a 4-0 drumming away at Oxford, the Stoke-based outfit have come tumbling down the table. With some around Vale Park fearing that their side could be dragged into a relegation scrap, the Valiants have picked up just a single victory from any of their last five outings. Likewise, suffering an action-packed 3-2 loss at home against Exeter earlier in the month, Port Vale have shown some recent issues at the back. In fact, it should be highlighted

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France striker Nkunku ruled out of World Cup after suffering injury in training

Christopher Nkunku has been ruled out of the World Cup after the France striker suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday.

The RB Leipzig frontman took a knock in a challenge with Eduardo Camavinga as they contested a 50-50 ball and he had to be helped off the field.

It was later confirmed Nkunku will not travel to Qatar after tests revealed he had sprained his left knee.

The French Football Federation sent Nkunku’s medical file to FIFA in order for the defending champions to call up a replacement.

He is expected to be replaced by either Wissam Ben Yedder, Moussa Diaby, Morgan Terrier or Randal Kolo Muani.

Head coach Didier Deschamps and the squad are due to depart for their Doha base on Wednesday.

Les Bleus begin their World Cup Group D campaign against Australia on November 22, before tackling Denmark and Tunisia.

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