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Author name: Shreyansh Arya

Is Lionel Messi playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics?
Football

Is Lionel Messi playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics?

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Is Lionel Messi playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics? To the sadness of football enthusiasts, Lionel Messi will not be playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Yes, you read that right. If not the greatest football player he is one of the most decorated players in the sport’s current era. Yet he will not show his skills in this edition of the Summer Olympics. The Argentine superstar himself confirmed his absence from the 2024 Paris Olympics in an interview. The over-age slots of the Argentine side were instead filled by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, defender Nicolas Otamendi and forward Julian Alvarez.  Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is not playing in the Paris edition. Earlier in June, Messi cited heavy workload as the reason for his absence from the Olympics. The 37-year-old stated that playing back-to-back tournaments like the Copa America and the Paris Olympics could have been too much for his age. Argentina’s Olympic coach, Javier Mascherano, had expressed a keen desire to include Messi in his squad, However, in the end, it seems like Lionel Messi might have rejected it. Even if this decision were to be somehow turned around, he still would not have been fit to play. This is because he picked up an ankle injury in the recently concluded Copa America 2024. The little maestro was also ruled out from the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game because of this injury. However, the ankle injury was completely overshadowed by his brilliance in the tournament as he led the Argentina side to win the title.  Lionel Messi to not be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics Lionel Messi’s absence is surely a blow to his fans, but it opens up opportunities for the young talent pool to shine. As for Messi, his focus will now turn to his club career and potential future international commitments. The Barcelona legend has hinted at the possibility of extending his international career beyond the 2026 World Cup.  “It’s great to have records and continue to achieve things but I won’t take part in a World Cup just to say I’ve done six. If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won’t go just to go. It’s very difficult to imagine what can happen because it’s still two years away. I don’t need to commit right now to whether or not I’ll be there,” he said.  As for now, the summer of 2024 will be a time for rest, recuperation, and a well-earned vacation for him. Also Read: “He showed a lot of guts and determination” : Mikel Arteta admits being nervous during Bukayo Saka’s penalty against Switzerland

Football

Football at 2024 Summer Olympics: A Look at the Group Stage Draws

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Football at 2024 Summer Olympics: A Look at the Group Stage Draws The next edition of the Olympics is just around the corner, and as always football promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans all over the world. This edition of the Summer Olympics is scheduled to be played from July 24 to August 10, 2024. It will be played across 7 cities in France, namely Paris, Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, and Saint-Étienne.  In this edition, two events are scheduled to be contested in football: men’s and women’s tournaments. The men’s tournament will feature sixteen teams and the women’s tournament will comprise 12 teams.  The teams will be divided into four groups and three groups for the men’s tournament and women’s tournament respectively and the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages which will eventually culminate in the gold medal match at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris. However, the dates for the medal matches differ for the men’s and women’s tournaments. August 9 and August 10 have been chosen as the dates for the gold medal match for men’s and women’s tournaments respectively. On the other hand, August 8 and August 9 are selected for the bronze medal match for the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively. The draws for the tournaments were announced earlier on March 20, 2024, and teams were allotted to their respective groups in the following manner. For the men’s tournaments group stage –  For the women’s tournaments group stage – Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics: Defending champions Brazil miss out on Paris spot In the women’s tournament, all eyes will be on Spain, USA, Canada and Brazil. Spain, having won the FIFA World Cup and Nations League last year, will be looking forward to continuing its winning streak in the Summer Olympics despite the Olympics being a new experience for the top-ranked Spaniards. Moreover, it would be intriguing to see whether Canada, the defending champions, will be able to turn things around as they did in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Final after handing down a surprising defeat to the Swedish team. It is also essential to note that the Canadians are the only team that managed to reach the podium in women’s football at each of the last three Olympic Games displaying their solid winning streak. On the men’s side of things, sadly, Brazil, the champions of the earlier edition were eliminated before reaching the group stage. This means that we are surely going to see the crown shift to another team. As the host nation, France, led by captain Alexandre Lacazette, is the favorite to win the gold medal. Spain and Argentina are also strong competitors coming fresh from their UEFA Euro 2024 and Copa América 2024 victories. Also Read: “He doesn’t fully understand the position” : Kobbie Mainoo slammed for wandering on the field

Virat Kohli
Cricket

Shashank Singh’s makes big revelation following Amit Mishra’s “Fame and Power” Dig at Virat Kohli

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Shashank Singh’s makes big revelation following Amit Mishra’s “Fame and Power” Dig at Virat Kohli Virat Kohli was all over social media this week because of the controversy sparked by Amit Mishra’s comments about his personality changes with fame and power. After the leg-spinner’s statements, several cricketers have come to defend Virat Kohli, highlighting his evolution over the years. They praised the Indian batter for his personal growth and behavior. Among such cricketers is the Punjab Kings star Shashank Singh who shared one of his interactions with Virat Kohli showcasing his welcoming personality. Shashank Singh, in an interview, mentioned his interaction with Virat Kohli which left a lasting impression on him. It highlighted Kohli’s dedication towards the sport complemented by his kind personality. Shashank stated that after one of his IPL matches, Virat Kohli stood with him for  40 minutes or more engaging in a deep conversation about the sport and its various aspects including the mental preparation it requires, the importance of different techniques in sport and various other cricketing nuances.  “The way he was answering, it felt like, keep doing it, keep doing it. It felt like he is one of our Chhattisgarh players. He was so friendly, talking to me to help me understand. It felt so good to talk to him,” Shashank added. From his statements, it can be interpreted that Shashank was truly touched by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star’s actions and willingness to mentor young players. Shashank Singh heaps praise on Virat Kohli Amit Mishra’s statements ignited a controversy via statements in which he drew a comparison between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying the latter has remained the same over the years but the former has changed drastically due to the ‘fame and power’ he has earned. “I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat samosas, when he needed pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain,” he had said in a podcast. While Amit Mishra’s statements point towards changes in the Indian batter’s personality due to his success, it is evident that the reality may be starkly different. His intense aura and fierce personality sometimes may lead him to look intimidating but one should look further, and see his commitment to the sport and his supportive nature. 

Cricket

The Battle of Co-hosts: Can the fearless USA upset a nervy West Indies?

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The Battle of Co-hosts: Can the fearless USA upset a nervy West Indies? The USA and West Indies will compete to secure their first points in the Super Eight campaign. Will the Caribbean team emerge victorious, or will the American underdogs keep exceeding expectations? Today, we strive to answer this very question itself. Each of the co-hosts has experienced a loss in their initial Super 8 matches. The USA was defeated by the undefeated South Africa, a dominant force in the competition. Similarly, defending champions England brought an end to West Indies’ undefeated streak. Therefore, the paths of these teams in the tournament are not without challenges, and it is clear that another defeat could bring them to the brink of elimination. To predict who will witness this elimination is difficult as there are no T20 head-to-head records between these teams. Thus, we can only take their previous performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 into account. After getting off to a great start against England, the West Indies batting unit suffered a late collapse, as they managed to put up 180 runs on the board. Philip Salt’s unbeaten knock of 87 runs off 47 balls made sure that England started off their Super Eight campaign with a victory. On the other hand, USA went down fighting against the mighty Proteas, chasing a total of 195 runs. Andries Gous scored an unbeaten knock of 80 runs which kept the co-hosts in hunt, however, it was Kagiso Rabada’s spell which helped South Africa claim the victory. West Indies bowlers need to step up against a resilient USA batting unit West Indies’ batting department put on a mediocre effort with Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran scoring almost run a ball against England. To add to their woes Brandon King got injured and his participation is in doubt. In the bowling department, the pacers are expected to step up on Friday evening. Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph were taken to the cleaners by England batters, whereas, the spin department did considerably well. Thus, if the Caribbean batters manage to convert their knocks like in their earlier games, and if the pacers get rid of their woes it will be the Indies team that will win the encounter. For the United States, both Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh impressed with their economical bowling efforts. If Aaron Jones and Andries Gous continue to perform like in their earlier matches, and if the bowling department sees a collective effort, then the young USA team may just manage to topple the West Indies in this encounter. Moreover, the American batting department may also see a boost with the return of their skipper Monank Patel adding to the probability of them winning. Thus, whether the USA can leverage their fearless spirit to upset the mighty West Indies remains to be seen, but one thing this battle of co-hosts promises to do is to put on a thrilling spectacle for us cricket viewers. Also Read: 2024 ICC T20 World Cup: Super Eight Group Two Predictions .

Cricket

2024 ICC T20 World Cup: Super Eight Group Two Predictions

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2024 ICC T20 World Cup: Super Eight Group Two Predictions With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group stages concluding, the competition will only increase as teams move into the Super Eight stage. In Group II, the USA, England, West Indies, and South Africa will battle it out. Speculations arise on which team will progress to the semifinals. Will it be South Africa with an unbeatable streak, West Indies known for their strong hitters, England who survived despite challenges from the rain gods itself, or the USA, the underdog team that defied expectations? Well before discussing predictions let’s have a quick look at the schedule for Group Two along with their timings and venues. S. No. Teams Date IST time Local time Venue 1 United States of America Vs South Africa June 19, 2024 08:00 PM 14:30 GMT Sir Vivan Richards Stadium, Antigua 2 England Vs West Indies June 20, 2024 6:00 AM 00:30 GMT Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St. Lucia 3 England Vs South Africa  June 21, 2024 08:00 PM 14:30 GMT Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St. Lucia 4 United States of America Vs West Indies June 22, 2024 06:00 AM 00:30 GMT Kensington Oval, Barbados 5 United States of America Vs England June 23, 2024 08:00 PM 14:30 GMT Sir Vivan Richards Stadium, Antigua 6 West Indies Vs South Africa June 24, 2024 6:00 AM 00:30 GMT Kensington Oval, Barbados Now let’s dive into the predictions for Group Two. England and West Indies are favored to advance to the semifinals based on their all-time success in this format of cricket. While West Indies won the 2012 and 2016 editions, England won the 2010 and 2022 editions. All other teams have managed to win only once at most. Thus both of these teams have the potential to win taking their experiences into account.  England and West Indies favorites to progress into the semifinals Both England and West Indies have a significant advantage in their lineup, with their batsmen and bowlers performing consistently. The English batsmen are in serious form as evident from their performances in the group stages. While Jos Buttler and Phil Salt performed in the earlier matches, it was Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow who helped them cross the finishing line against Namibia. All their bowlers are performing consistently as well, especially Jofra Archer who has just returned to the England squad after sustaining injuries previously. The West Indies is not behind England either, if not ahead that is. Firstly, the Men in Maroon managed to defeat Australia in warm-up matches by putting up almost 260 runs on the scoreboard. Secondly, their performance in the group stage was consistent as well. All of their players are backing up each other and performing in case someone in the team fails. It was Rosten Chase’s brilliant all-around performance that led his side to victory against Papua New Guinea. Then it was Akeal Hoein’s five-wicket haul which forced Uganda to wrap up its batting at a meager score of 39.  Next, it was Sherfane Rutherford’s batting and Alzarri Joseph’s bowling that helped the West Indies team to knock New Zealand out of the tournament. Thus as a team, the West Indian players are scary. On top of their performances in the recent matches, they possess the home-ground advantage in the later stage of the tournament as well. Thus, their players will be well aware of the pitch and weather conditions which may significantly boost their performance. Both the USA and South Africa have shown promise too in this tournament but may not win when paired up with the above-mentioned teams. This is because, on the one hand, The American side suffers from a significant lack of experience and on the other hand the African side often fails to convert in the later stages of cricket tournaments despite their strong group stage performance. However, upsets are evident in sports and hence we will have to wait and watch what this tournament has in store for us cricket enthusiasts.  Also Read: “This is the lowest point for Pakistan, it can’t get any lower,” Imad Wasim on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit

Cricket

“This is the lowest point for Pakistan, it can’t get any lower,” Imad Wasim on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit

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“This is the lowest point for Pakistan, it can’t get any lower,” Imad Wasim on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit Pakistan have been knocked out from the group stages of the T20I World Cup, in what could be termed as one of their worst performances at an ICC Event. The runner-ups of the previous edition were expected to breeze past the first round, and make a deep run in the tournament. Pakistan have hugely underperformed at the marquee event held in the West Indies and the USA, given that T20 cricket is their strongest format. Their loss to United States can be termed as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Moreover, they squandered a match after being on the cusp of victory against their arch-rivals India. Pakistan’s failure to sustain its campaign is partly because of the team’s lackluster performance and partly because of bad fate. We do have some thoughts from Imad Wasim, the Pakistani all-rounder who came out of retirement just for this World Cup after quitting all forms of cricket in 2023, however, it is unclear what adjustments would be made to the team following this loss. Imad accepted that it was the team’s one of the worst performances. “Yes, this is the lowest point. You can’t go any lower than this. That’s the fact,” said Imad, as quoted by Cricbuzz. However, while expressing his disappointment over his team’s defeat Imad also maintained the stance that his team would continue to play with dedication, especially against Ireland. “We will go out there and play for the country and play for the pride of our country which we already did but unfortunately the results we can’t control it. Yeah, but we go out there and play like it’s a World Cup game”, he remarked. Pakistan eventually managed to defeat Ireland by three wickets, as they ended their campaign with two wins and two defeats, finishing third in Group A. Imad Wasim regrets his performance against rivals India Imad Wasim’s performance went under the radar as well, especially his performance against India, as he was unable to capitalize on his matchup against Axar Patel. He was promoted up the order to stabilize the chase, but he struggled to find momentum, despite managing many tense finishes in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). “The game plan was to take the ball deep. The wicket was not good to play. It was a little difficult. Unfortunately, my plan was going according to plan but not execution. I will regret this and I still regret it. But this is life. Sometimes you make mistakes,” said Imad on the match against India. Addressing the speculations regarding his and Mohammad Amir’s retirement again, he didn’t deny them and stated, “As far as retirement is concerned, there’s a match tomorrow. We’ll play a match. And, after that, we’ll think about it and sort out whatever we need to.” Though Imad defended Pakistan’s approach in the run chase against India, he blamed the loss on the entire team. He stressed the importance of collective responsibility and stated that it was because of the team’s collective effort that the team failed to convert its matches into wins despite having winning momentum on their side at many points in these matches. Navigate to other sports: Football – Trapped In Sports Tennis – Trapped In Sports F1 – Trapped In Sports

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