Trolls sweep web after German exit
MOSCOW: The internet turned cruel for Germany fans on Thursday as online mockery swept the globe following the defending champions' shock World Cup elimination. A stream of memes and jokes flooded social media after a stunning 2-0 defeat to South Korea condemned Die Mannschaft to their earliest exit in 80 years. "Don't mention the VAR," was a common refrain, while Brazilian media gleefully took their revenge for Brazil's 7-1 humiliation by Germany at the last World Cup in 2014. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..." read a tweet from Fox Sports Brasil that ran to 272 characters. In dramatic scenes in Kazan, Kim Young-Gwon's stoppage-time opener was ruled legitimate after intervention from the Video Assistant Referee, before Son Heung-min added the second goal minutes later. "Germany's fastest exit from Russia since 1943," posted one user, while another tweeted a picture of Germany towels reserving all the seats on an empty plane. Mexico fans were particularly delighted after South Korea's last-gasp win allowed them to qualify for the last 16 behind Group F winners Sweden - while Germany finished rock bottom. Aeromexico offered a 20 percent discount on flights to South Korea, tweeting an image of a plane with doctored "AeroCorea" livery and the slogan, "We love you Korea!" Meanwhile, England striker-turned-TV-presenter Gary lineker revised his famous maxim that "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win." "Football is a simple game," lineker tweeted. "Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans no longer always win. Previous version is confined to history."
Trump's joke on Cristiano falls flat
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump cracked a joke about Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo running for president against incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who responded by saying that Portugal "is nothing like the US". What started off as a casual conversation on Wednesday about the World Cup between Trump and Rebelo de Sousa, who is on an official visit in Washington, revealed the stark contrast between their political cultures. In his first bilateral meeting with Trump, Rebelo de Sousa bantered that when Trump would talk World Cup in his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he should not forget to mention that "Portugal is still there and hopes to win..." "Don't forget that Portugal has the best player in the world who is called Cristiano Ronaldo," Rebelo de Sousa told Trump in the White House. Trump recognised that Portugal indeed was "doing very well" and asked his counterpart "how good a player" Ronaldo was. When Rebelo de Sousa said Ronaldo was "the best player in the world", Trump asked "so will Cristiano ever run for President against youIJ" As his Portuguese counterpart pondered on a response, Trump assured him that "Cristiano wouldn't win, you know he won't". At this Rebelo turned and said "President, you know - you know something - I must tell you, Portugal is not like the US. It's a little different."
WC sets new record for own-goals
MOSCOW: Mexico defender Edson Alvarez's 74th-minute own-goal against Sweden on Wednesday was the seventh time at this year's World Cup that a player has sent the ball into his team's net - a tournament record - and Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer made it eight on an unlucky bounce. And there are still 20 more matches to be played. As with many of the earlier miscues, Alvarez was trying to clear a cross in the box. But it bounced off of him and inside the left goalpost as 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa watched helplessly. Sommer found a more creative way to calamity: He scored the tying goal for Costa Rica deep in injury time when Bryan Ruiz's penalty kick hit the crossbar and ricocheted off the back of his head and into the net, prompting a rueful smile. Mexico lost 3-0 and Switzerland drew 2-2 but Alvarez and Sommer can take heart - Mexico, Switzerland and the host Russians are the only teams so far to make it out of their groups after scoring on themselves.
De Bruyne partIES with Man City mates
KAlININGRAD: Kevin De Bruyne jokingly says he has invited some Manchester City teammates to his birthday party. De Bruyne turned 27 on Thursday, the day his Belgium team plays England at the World Cup in Kaliningrad. In a tweet, De Bruyne says he invited some of his club teammates to his party. The tweet includes a picture of Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker, all fellow Manchester City players who are on England's squad. Whether they meet on the pitch remains to be seen. Both teams already are qualified for the round of 16, and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has said it would be "unprofessional" to use players who have yellow cards.