A year ago
The match between Ghana and Uruguay in Group H of this year's FIFA World Cup on Friday is one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
Forget the record 88, 966 crowd in Qatar that watched Lionel Messi's Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 on Saturday, according to World Cup records, which was the largest in nearly three decades.
The match between Uruguay and Ghana is piqued everyone's interest.
On July 2, 2010, at the FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, when Ghana was on the verge of reaching the semi-finals, Luis Suarez's hand changed the course of history when he deliberately handled a goal-bound header in the dying minutes of the game.
Suarez received a red card. However, Asamoah Gyan, Africa's most prolific World Cup scorer, missed the penalty, hitting the crossbar, and the match, which was tied 1-1, was decided by penalties.
Gyan has six World Cup goals, making him Africa's all-time leading scorer.
Ghana eventually lost 4-2. Gyan and Sully Muntari of Ghana, who scored after 45 minutes, and Diego Forlan of Uruguay, who scored after 55 minutes, are not participating in the latest match.However, Suarez, dubbed 'El Pistolero,' or 'The Gunman,' is expected to lead the Uruguayan attack, breaking not only the hearts of Ghanaians but also, most likely, the hearts of the entire African continent. Suarez, on the other hand, has been shooting blanks at the 2022 World Cup, as his team has yet to score a single goal and is the sole point leader in Group H.
Uruguay drew its first match 0-0 against South Korea before falling to leaders Portugal 2-0. With 6 points, the Portuguese have already qualified. Ghana is second with four points after defeating Portugal 3-2 before defeating South Korea 3-2.
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AC MILAN TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES TO STOP £52M STAR FROM JOINING ARSENAL
AC Milan are reportedly doing everything possible to re-sign Ismael Bennacer, despite reports that Arsenal are interested in their former academy star.
According to CalcioMercato, the reigning Serie A champions are willing to double the Algerian international's salary to keep Bennacer at Milan, with transfer interest in the 24-year-old midfield maestro increasing in recent months following his role in last season's Scudetto win.
CalcioMercatoWeb recently reported that Arsenal are interested in signing Bennacer, who spent two years as a youngster in north London before moving to Empoli in 2017, and that the Gunners are willing to pay £17 million plus Thomas Partey for the £52 million-rated midfielder.While the details of a potential deal appear speculative given the Ghanaian's importance to Mikel Arteta's side, Arsenal's interest in Bennacer appears genuine, with central midfield being a position that the north London club is keen to improve in the January transfer window.As a result, Milan appear to be working overtime to sign Bennacer to a new contract, with the midfielder's current contract set to expire in 2024 and a potential departure from the San Siro looming over Stefan Pioli's side.
Indeed, Arsenal's interest in Bennacer could have a significant impact on the midfielder's decision to stay or leave Italy next season. Nonetheless, with Milan going all out to sign the 24-year-old to a new contract, the effort may persuade the Algerian to remain in Lombardy with the Rossoneri.
Arsenal will suffer a setback if Bennacer signs a new contract with Inter Milan.Arsenal have made a habit of selling Hale End academy starlets who have gone on to impress in football, with Bennacer firmly in the top tier of players who the Gunners should have kept, alongside Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane.
That is why Bennacer's new contract with Milan will be such a blow to Arsenal, as the Algerian international is the ideal midfielder to bring in during the January window as Arteta looks to take his squad to the next level by adding depth beyond the starting XI.
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