The Netherlands finished off the worst showing by any World Cup host nation by beating Qatar 2-0 on Tuesday.

The Dutch advanced to the round of 16 while the Qataris, who were already eliminated, became the first host to lose all three of its group matches at soccer's biggest event.

Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead midway through the first half with his third goal in as many matches and Frenkie de Jong doubled the advantage five minutes into the second half.

The Netherlands is a three-time runner-up at the World Cup, and also finished third in 2014, while Qatar was making its tournament debut.

The Dutch failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

As the FIFA World Cup 2022 is under way in Qatar, we take a look at some of the second-generation stars who followed their legendary dads' footsteps.

Daley Blind

Ajax's Dutch defender Daley Blind is the son of former Netherlands player Danny Blind who had played for the national team from 1986 to 1996. Danny played in both 1990 and 1994 editions of the FIFA World Cups.

Daley made his World Cup debut in 2014 when the Netherlands came third. At club-level, he had won four consecutive Eredivisie titles with Ajax before he transferred to Manchester United in 2014. He was part of the United when the club won four trophies including the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League. In 2018, Blind returned to Ajax where he won his fifth Eredivisie title.

Marcus Thuram

Marcus Thuram, who is part of France's national team at FIFA World Cup 2022, is the son of former French footballer Lilian Thuram. Lilian had played for the national side from 1994 to 2008. He was a part of the French squad that won the country's maiden World Cup in 1998 and also played in the next two editions of the tournament.

Marcus started his professional career at Sochaux in 2015 and moved to Guingamp in 2017. In 2019, Borussia Mönchengladbach signed Marcus on a four-year deal. He was a member of France U-19 squad that won the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Marcus was called up to the senior team for the first time in 2020.

Kasper Schmeichel

The Danish goal keeper is the son of former Denmark player Peter Schmeichel. Peter was part of the Denmark squad that played at the 1998 World Cup where they reached the quarterfinals. He was the captain of the Manchester United and is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the Premiere League. He led the club to win five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League win.

Kasper began his career with Manchester City, but made most number pf competitive appearance for Leicester City. He also won the FA Cup with Leicester. Ironically, both Peter and Kasper won their first ever Premier League title when they were 29-years-old. In 2018 World Cup, Kasper saved three penalties against Croatia in his side’s Round of 16 defeat.

Timothy Weah

Timothy Weah, who represents the United States in the ongoing Qatar World Cup, is the son of Liberia president and former fotballer George Weah. Senior Weah represented Liberia from 1986 to 2002, but the team didn't qualify for a single World Cup during that time.George Weah also played for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Chelsea and won the 1995 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first African to do so.

Timothy signed his first professional contract with PSG at just 17. He also played for Celtic before signing a five-year deal with Lille. He scored a hat-trick for the national team at the U17 World Cup against Paraguay in the round of 16. Timothy says his decision to represent the United States was based on his love of the country and his teammates. He was also eligible to represent France, Jamaica, and Liberia, through residency and his parents' citizenships.

Giovanni Reyna

Giovanni Reyna, son of former Manchester City footballer Claudio Reyna, represents the United States in the Qatar World Cup. His father played for the US in 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups. Though Claudio was a member of the US squad at the 1994 World Cup also, he did not play due to an injury.

Giovanni started his career playing for New York City FC from 2015-2019. Since 2019, he has played for Borussia Dortmund and won the DFB-Pokal in 2020/21 with the club. Giovanni made his senior national team debut against Wales in 2020.

André Ayew & Jordon Ayew

Ghana captain André Ayew and his brother and co-player Jordon Ayew are sons of former soccer legend Abedi Pele. Considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time, Abedi had served as the captain of Ghana's national team and also played for several European clubs.

André has been playing internationals for Ghana since 2008 and has earned over 110 caps. Earlier, he captained the Under-20 team that won both the 2009 African Youth Championship and the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He has played in 2010 and 2014 World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations.

Jordon made his debut for Ghana national team in 2010 and has earned over 80 caps. He has played in the 2014 World Cup and five Africa Cup of Nations.

“You can make a world-class team with the subs on the Brazil bench!”

The remark by a football commentator at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar perfectly sums up the Brazilian team. For a team as insanely talented as Brazil, the absence of a player surely must not hurt.

Unless, it's their talisman – Neymar.

The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) named the new members who will join its four standing committees on January 1, 2023. From India, Olympic sailor Dr Malav Shroff has been appointed to the health, medical and research committee. Shroff is currently president of the Asian Sailing Federation and board member of World Olympians Association.

In a tweet, Shroff confirmed that he is the first Indian to be appointed to this committee. His term will run until December 31, 2025. The 12-member committee is chaired by Lars Engebretsen from Norway. The other Asian members are Takao Akama (Japan) and Reema Alhosani (United Arab Emirates).

According to the WADA website: “Among many of the Committee’s activities are the monitoring of scientific developments in sport with the aim to safeguard doping-free sport practice, as well as the overseeing of the following expert groups: prohibited list, therapeutic use exemptions, laboratory accreditation, and gene doping.”

A graduate in medicine from Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, Shroff is also a Rhodes Scholar with a DPhil from the University of Oxford. He and teammate Sumeet Patel had represented India in the 49er Class skiff at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He worked with McKinsey & Co. in New York, before turning entrepreneur and founding multiple companies in the water-sports space.

In December 2008, when the Volvo Ocean Race came to India for the first time, Shroff was manager of the Kochi stopover. In 2010, his company, Ocean Blue Marinas, built India’s first international marina at Bolgatty Island, Kochi.

Shroff’s appointment comes at a time when India has been trying for a bigger say in WADA affairs. Earlier this month, the sports ministry’s efforts had come a cropper when Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur lost to Yongman Cho for a seat in WADA’s foundation board, and National Anti-Doping Agency director general Ritu Sain lost the bid for a seat on the National Anti-Doping Organisation Expert Advisory Group.

A 2019 report by WADA had placed India among the top three countries with doping violations. In August 2019, WADA had suspended the accreditation of India's National Dope Testing Laboratory for an initial six months citing non-compliance. The suspension was later extended, and accreditation was reinstated only in December 2021.

Sources said that the WADA clearance came as a result of Thakur tightening compliance and pushing initiatives like the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), “which monitors selected biological variables over time that indirectly reveal the effects of doping, rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself”. Thakur recently said that he had also roped in the National Forensic Science University (to ensure compliance) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to test nutrition supplements.

Mohammed Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead goal after South Korea evened the match in the second half, and Ghana staved off elimination at the World Cup with a 3-2 victory on Monday.

Mohammed Salisu also scored for the Black Stars, who lost their opening match against Portugal and were in need of points for a chance to reach the knockout round in Qatar.

Down 2-0, Cho Geu-sung scored both of South Korea's goals about three minutes apart early in the second half to even the game at 2-2.

But Kudus' low left-footed goal in the 68th minute sailed out of the reach of goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu to give the Black Stars back the lead. Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi preserved the victory with a leaping save off Cho's attempt in stoppage time.

South Korea forward Son Heung-min remained without a goal in Qatar. The Tottenham forward wore a mask to protect a broken left eye socket he sustained in a Champions League game against Marseille earlier this month.

South Korea coach Paulo Bento was handed a red card in the moments following the match after a heated exchange with a referee.

Ghana scored a pair of goals in a strong performance in the opener but fell in the end to their Cristiano Ronaldo-led opponents 3-2. South Korea played to a 0-0 draw in its opener with Uruguay. The team was making its sixth straight World Cup appearance.

Ghana became the third African nation to make it to the World Cup quarter-finals at the 2010 tournament. Black Stars captain Andre Ayew was also on that squad. No African team has reached the World Cup semifinals.

Known for its controlled possession, South Korea dominated the first 20 minutes. Ghana broke through in the 24th when Salisu scored in a scramble in front of the net off a free kick. After a spirited celebration encircled by his teammates, Salisu nervously crouched on the field while the goal was confirmed by video review.

Kudus, a 22-year-old midfielder for Ajax, doubled the lead with a header off a long cross from Jordan Ayew, despite the desperate efforts of defender Kim Jin-Su.

Cho did a knee slide in front of South Korea's bench and was dogpiled by his teammates after his first goal in the 58th minute. His second came in the 61st.

Ghana wraps up Group H on Friday against Uruguay, while the South Koreans play Portugal. 

In a startling revelation, pace legend Wasim Akram has accused his former Pakistan teammate Saleem Malik of treating him like a servant in the early part of his career.

Akram, who made his international debut in 1984, said that senior teammate Malik made him give massage and clean his clothes and boots.

Akram made the revelations in his biography 'Sultan: A Memoir'.

"He would take advantage of my junior status. He was negative, selfish and treated me like a servant. He demanded I massage him, he ordered me to clean his clothes and boots," read an excerpt from the biography.

"I was angry when some of the younger team members in Ramiz, Tahir, Mohsin, Shoaib Mohammad invited me to nightclubs."

Akram played under Malik's captaincy from 1992 to 1995 and there were reports that the two players were not on good terms.

Malik, however, denied the allegations, saying Akram wrote all these to promote his book.

"I was trying to call him but he did not answer. I will ask him what was the reason for writing what he did," Malik was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.

"If I was narrow minded, I would not have given him the chance to bowl. I will ask him why he wrote such remarks about me."

Another game, another personal milestone. For all the turmoil that has surrounded Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of what is likely to be his final World Cup, the Portugal great continues to make his mark.

On Thursday he became the first man to score in five World Cups.

Earlier this season he registered the 700th club goal of his career.

Not bad for a 37-year-old, who doesn't know where he will be playing beyond Qatar after having his Manchester United contract terminated in the wake of his incendiary interview criticizing manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners.

A win against Uruguay on Monday would secure Portugal's qualification from Group H to the knockout stages with a game to spare after its opening 3-2 win against Ghana.

"This is just the beginning," Ronaldo said in an Instagram post, adding that "there are no impossibilities."

But if soccer's ultimate numbers man is to achieve his ambition of lifting the one major trophy that eludes him, he cannot do it by himself.

That much was clear against Ghana, when Portugal also needed goals from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao to hold on for victory.

Felix is the likeliest heir to Ronaldo's throne as Portugal's inspiration-in-chief  and has even been linked with a potential move to United.

If Qatar is Ronaldo's last World Cup dance, the moves are not quite as fluid as they once were.

His goal against Ghana came from the penalty spot, rather than a moment of the type of individual brilliance on which his career has been built.

That being said, FIFA Technical Study Group member Sunday Oliseh still described as total genius his ability to win a disputed foul from Mohammed Salisu that Ghana coach Otto Addo insisted should not have been awarded.

Ronaldo's celebrations suggested he does not care where the goals come from, so long as they keep on coming. But Portugal cannot solely rely on such moments  and amid the noise that surrounds its most celebrated player, it can be forgotten how much talent coach Fernando Santos has at his disposal.

Not least Atletico Madrid forward Felix, United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City.

A selection with the quality of ours has to be favorite in any game, said Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos ahead of Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium. It's important to win the second game now.

Uruguay drew 0-0 with South Korea in its first game of the tournament.

Like Portugal, Uruguay is blending the old and the new. Ronaldo's long-time rival from their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, Luis Suarez, is in an attack that also features the country's new generation of talent in Darwin Nunez and Facundo Pellistri.

At 35, Suarez is no longer the force he once was and he was substituted just after the hour against South Korea. Another 35-year-old in Edinson Cavani replaced him, but Uruguay still couldn't find a goal.

Ghana exposed vulnerabilities in Portugal's defense  but Uruguay will need to be much more clinical if it is to capitalize on Monday. 

Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the second half as defending champions France beat Denmark 2-1 in their Group D match on Saturday and became the first team to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

After a goal-less first half, Mbappe put the French ahead in the 61st minute, crowning a superb high-speed French counter with a bouncing first-time finish from Theo Hernandez's clever pull-back. However, Denmark scored a quick equaliser through Andreas Christensen who pounced on a flick-on to head the ball past Hugo Lloris in the French goal.

The game looked set to end in a stalemate until Mbappe popped up in the 86th minute at the far post to cushion home an Antoine Griezmann cross from close range to restore the lead to send the travelling French fans into raptures.

Mbappe scored four goals when France won the World Cup four years ago, including one in the final. He now has 31 goals for France, moving him one ahead of Just Fontaine the all-time leading scorer at a single World Cup with 13 goals at the 1958 tournament.

Saturday's result left Les Bleus on top of Group D with six points from two games, three ahead of Australia who beat Tunisia in another match on Saturday. France will take on Tunisia in the final round on Wednesday.

Earlier, France had secured a comfortable 4-1 win against Australia in their opening fixture. Denmark, on the other hand, played a 0-0 draw with Tunisia.

For a brief moment, after Saudi Arabia's Salem Aldawsari fired a ball from just inside the penalty box into the back of the net to seal a World Cup win against Argentina, Arabs across the divided Middle East found something to celebrate.

Such Arab unity is hard to come by and fleeting when it arrives. But Qatar's hosting of the World Cup has provided a moment where many in the Arab world have rallied by Doha and the Saudi team's win.

Whether that momentum continues will be tested on Saturday as Saudi Arabia faces Poland and as regional tensions, religious differences and renewed economic competition between countries resume.

"All Arabic countries are celebrating because one Arab team won," said 27-year-old Saudi Rakan Yousef after Arab fans congratulated him in Doha, Qatar, on the Green Falcons' win.

"Even the emir of Qatar attended our match. There's this feeling now that we are all brothers. That's why I'm speechless." The Arab world's division starts even with the Arabic language.

Spoken Arabic changes regionally, with the Berber-infused Arabic of North Africa, the rapid-fire Egyptian heard in movies and television comedies, the soft Levantine drawl and the guttural dialect of the Gulf Arabs.

Religion is another differentiator there are Muslims, both Sunni and Shiite with subgroups within, and minority Christians, Druze, Baha'i and others. Different views on religion and regional rivalries bleed into conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Yemen. 

But despite an attempt by al-Qaida to stir up extremists, the month-long World Cup in energy-rich Qatar so far has seen unity among the Gulf Arab nations. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the heads of state in two countries that only some two years ago had boycotted Qatar, attended the tournament's opening match.

Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, called Qatar's hosting of the tournament "a milestone for all Arabs" and also attended the opening. That feeling was shared by others as well.

"We are proud to be here for the first World Cup in an Arabic country," Morocco coach Walid Regragui said.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi similarly praised Qatar while dismissing the criticisms of journalists and by extension, rights groups.

"Qatar did a tremendous job organizing a World Cup. Qatar never claimed it was perfect," Safadi said.

"We have differences in opinion, we have differences in views but that should not take away from the fact that Qatar has really put together a World Cup that is unique in every sense of the word."

But the biggest surprise came two days later as Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina by winning their opener in the tournament, with Aldawsari doing a cartwheel and a flip. Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, attended the match and wore a Saudi flag around his shoulders.

One veteran Saudi sports journalist, Majed al-Tuwaijri, even wept on air after the match.

"This is the most beautiful and important moment in my life and my 30-year media career," he said, his voice choking up.

"I find myself failing to express myself because of the complexity of my feelings toward this great historical victory."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman declared Wednesday a public holiday to commemorate the win. In the kingdom and outside of it, people cheered and waved the country's green and white flag to celebrate.

The Saudi flag itself carries two images that show its complicated place in the wider Arab world. It bears a white sword and the Arabic inscription of the shahada, a Muslim declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.D., Islam spread from the austere desert reaches of the Arabian Peninsula that later would become Saudi Arabia.

Today, Saudi Arabia maintains beheading as a form of execution and is one of the world's top enforcers of the death penalty. The kingdom also has used its oil money since the 1980s to export an ultraconservative view of Islam called Wahhabism into mosques around the world. Extremists have exploited Wahhabi organizations receiving Saudi funding as well.

That history, as well as regional politics, make a wholehearted embrace of Saudi Arabia more complicated for Arabs in the Middle-east. While some celebrated Saudi Arabia's win in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave blockaded by Egypt and Israel is ruled by the militant group Hamas. The kingdom, while not diplomatically recognizing Israel, now allows Israeli airlines overflight rights.

The limits also can be seen in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been fighting the country's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since 2015. Houthi Information Minister Daifallah al-Shami on Twitter offered a thousand congratulations to Saudi Arabia for placing Arab football back on the map. He later deleted the tweet and apologized.

"There are red lines that no party or person should cross," al-Shami wrote.

The Saudi win, which the daily newspaper Okaz described as "restoring the glories" of the kingdom, also fits into the new, more nationalistic Saudi Arabia forming under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

As the prince has risen to power, the kingdom has socially liberalized by allowing women to drive, reopening movie theatres and curtailing its morality police. His comments to the team ahead of the tournament, urging them to "enjoy" the matches, have been repeated constantly in Saudi Arabia's tightly controlled press.

But Prince Mohammed also led a self-described corruption crackdown targeting anyone with power in the kingdom. US intelligence agencies believe the brutal slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul came at his orders, something denied by the kingdom.

Meanwhile, economic competition between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia has been increasing as Riyadh tries to draw international business from Dubai. Qatar, which faced a Saudi-led boycott only two years earlier, has embraced the kingdom while solidifying ties with the United States as a hedge. The inconclusive war in Yemen still rages.

Soccer provides a respite, but no panacea for those woes. "You'd have to have a historical lobotomy to think this is a stable region," said David B. Roberts, an associate professor at King's College London who long has studied Gulf Arab nations.

Robert Lewandowski, at last, scored a goal in a World Cup match on Saturday, helping Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and boosting his team's chances of reaching the knockout stages.

Lewandowski shed tears after scoring in the 82nd minute. He raced toward the corner with his arms outstretched, then stayed slumped on the field as teammates rushed to congratulate him. He got up, rubbed his face, and blew a kiss to the crowd.

Arguably one of the best forwards in the world, Lewandowski's barren streak at the World Cup was somewhat puzzling. Now, after five previous matches at the tournament, it's over.

Lewandowski also set up the opener in the 40th minute when he kept the ball in play after goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais' initial block, then laid it back for Piotr Zielinski to knock in.

Lewandowski also hit the post and Al-Owais denied the Barcelona player from scoring another goal late in the match.

Poland was scrambling for long periods at the Education City Stadium as the Saudi team was pushed forward by enthusiastic fans in what seemed like a home game. The frustration was clear on Lewandowski's face as Poland's yellow cards mounted.

Saudi Arabia had a chance to equalize at the end of the first half but Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Salem Al-Dawsari's penalty kick. He then blocked Mohammed Al-Burayk's shot from the rebound.

Poland will next face Argentina, while Saudi Arabia will meet Mexico in their last Group C games.

Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was on Thursday granted bail but banned from using his social media accounts while awaiting trial on charges of alleged sexual assault of a woman during the team's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the now-suspended batter appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre court via video link from Parklea Correctional Centre, where he had been in custody since being refused bail on November 7.

The 31-year-old Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney in the wee hours of November 6 following an investigation into alleged sexual assault of a woman on November 2, even as the team flew out of the country after being eliminated in the Super 12 stage.

"Magistrate Janet Wahlquist granted Gunathilaka bail on Thursday in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, where he appeared via an audiovisual link from Parklea jail," the report said.

"Police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon opposed bail on the grounds Gunathilaka is a flight risk and that he could endanger the safety of the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons."

Gunathilaka is facing four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and has not yet given a plea.

Besides a ban on using Tinder, social media and dating applications, the bail conditions include a AUD 150,000 (USD 100,620) surety, surrender of passport, twice daily police reporting, a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am, and not contacting the complainant.

The Sri Lankan cricket board suspended Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket soon after his arrest.

Reports quoting police documents stated that Gunathilaka's victim was choked repeatedly and was "fearing for her life" during his alleged sexual assault.

The woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted four times in her home at Sydney's Rose Bay on November 2 after going out for a date with the cricketer, who was here as part of the Sri Lankan team for the T20 World Cup.

Gunathilaka was later arrested from his team hotel by Sydney police, even as other members of the Sri Lankan squad returned home.

The left-handed batter is facing a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Gunathilaka played against Namibia in Sri Lanka's first round match and was out for a duck.

He was later ruled out of the tournament due to an injury but stayed with the team after it qualified for the Super 12 stage.

Gunathilaka, who has represented Sri Lanka in eight Tests, 47 ODIs and 46 T20 Internationals, is no stranger to controversies.

In 2021, he was suspended by SLC for one year after he breached the team's bio-secure bubble on the tour of England along with teammates Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella.

SLC had also handed him a six-month ban in 2018 after he had broken the team curfew. In the same year, Gunathilaka was also suspended after his unnamed friend was accused of raping a Norwegian woman.

In 2017, the board had suspended him for six limited overs games after it learnt that Gunathilaka missed training sessions and turned up for a game without his cricket gear. 

Stand-in head coach VVS Laxman on Thursday said India will be looking to pack the side with T20 specialists as it seeks course correction after yet another World Cup failure.

England, who won their second T20 World Cup title in Australia on Sunday, have set the benchmark with their fearless brand of cricket.

They bat till number 11 and in the final against Pakistan, they had as many as seven bowling options even in the absence of lead pacer Mark Wood.

Speaking to media ahead of the New Zealand limited overs tour, Laxman said multi-dimensional players are the need of the hour in T20 cricket.

"In white-ball cricket, you need specialist players and going forward, in T20 cricket, you will see a lot more T20 specialists. T20 cricket has shown us over the years that you need multi-dimensional cricketers," said the current NCA chief ahead of the opening T20I on Friday.

"We have bowlers who can bat and batters who can bowl. More number of bowlers who can bat allows the team to have depth and batters to have freedom to go out and express themselves.

"I think that's the need of hour and more and more teams will get that into their selection process and identify multi-dimensional players."

The next T20 World Cup is two years away but India will hit the reset button with the three games against New Zealand, followed by as many ODIs.

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya will lead the side and he is seen as the future captain of the T20 unit. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are the other top-order batters who have been rested for the series.

"T20 cricket requires to play with a lot of freedom and clarity of thought and whatever time I have spent with these players and watch them grow in international cricket, that is their strength.

"It is important to play with that freedom but also you need to assess conditions and fulfill the needs of the team," said Laxman.

'All players confide in Hardik'

Laxman was all praise for Hardik the leader.

"He is a fabulous leader you know. Obviously, what he has done for Gujarat Titans in his first year of captaincy, winning the IPL isn't a mean achievement and I have spent time with him from Ireland series and not only is he tactically good, but also very calm and that is something very important when you play at the highest level.

"There will be situations when you will be under pressure and there you will require to be calm. But also his presence in dressing room and his work ethic is exemplary. Hardik is a players' captain and is approachable and all the players go and confide in him," said the former India batter.

The top order's approach copped criticism in Australia and Laxman expects the likes of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan to bat fearlessly in the absence of senior players.

"We have a top order that has capability to bat fearlessly. My message to top order is to bat fearlessly and express yourself but also change your strategy as per game situation. Yes, we don't have KL, Rohit and Virat here, but who are here are also experienced enough players."

Laxman also added that the series could see the reunion of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven as India aim for wickets in the middle overs.

'India lucky to have strong bench'

Though India's vast pool of talent has not led to a major title since 2013, Laxman feels the team is blessed to have fringe players who are ready for the highest level, allowing all format players to take rest when needed amid a packed international calendar.

"A lot of cricket is being played and there is no doubt about that and that's why India is fortunate to have so many players to choose from.

"And as team management and selection committee members, we need to be mindful about knowing when to give certain players breaks. Breaks are important not only to get them physically rejuvenated but also mentally," said Laxman.

A hectic schedule also means that he needs to fill in for head coach Rahul Dravid from time to time. Laxman doesn't mind that at all.

"I don't see any challenges as such. Even as a player when I became a senior, the mindset was all about sharing my knowledge and making sure I am very honest with whatever conversations I have with the players. Same with this short stint."

Data's role has gained massive significance in the shortest format. Is Laxman too much into that as well?

"It has played a huge part in evolution of the game. When you have so much data available you can strategies against a player whom you haven't played earlier.

"But it's also about executing the plans we have. Analytics is very important and getting the data, breaking it down and using it is something we will be doing going forward.

"And we are in good position to strategize against any player irrespective of whether we have played against them or played with them," he added.

Lionel Messi played the entire game in Argentina's final World Cup warmup and scored in a 5-0 rout of the United Arab Emirates as the pre-tournament favorites stretched their unbeaten run to 36 games.

Messi scored his team's fourth goal right before the break, having also set up Julin lvarez to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Angel di Maria scored twice in between.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made four changes at halftime but opted against resting his star player, leaving Messi on for the full 90 minutes.

Messi has now scored 10 goals in his last five appearances for Argentina and took his overall tally to 91 goals.

Inter Milan forward Joaqun Correa scored the visitors' fifth goal on the hour mark.

Argentina start their World Cup tournament against Saudi Arabia on November 22. It also faces Mexico and Poland in Group C.

Fllkrug rescues Germany

Niclas Fllkrug scored on his Germany debut as the four-time World Cup champion earned a 1-0 win over Oman in Muscat.

It was far from a convincing performance from Germany, who looked susceptible in defence and prone to mistakes.

But Fllkrug's introduction for the second half brought a new dimension to an attack that had failed to spark in the first half.

Youssoufa Moukoko struck the post on his Germany debut right before the break, which as close as the visitors got in the first half.

The 17-year-old Moukoko was Germany's youngest debutant since Uwe Seeler, who was younger by 16 days in 1954.

Moukoko then made way at the break for Fllkrug. The 29-year-old forward almost scored early in the second half only to be denied by a good save from the impressive Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini.

Germany remained vulnerable at the back but Oman substitute Muhsen Al-Ghassani somehow missed with the goal at his mercy in the 72nd.

The hosts were to rue the miss when Kai Havertz set up Fllkrug to score what proved the winner in the 80th.

Germany face Japan, Spain and Costa Rice in Group E.

Lewandowski left out

Robert Lewandowski watched from the bench as Poland edged Chile 1-0 in a bruising encounter thanks to a late goal from Krzysztof Piatek in Warsaw.

Lewandowski didn't play but will likely start Poland's tournament-opening game against Mexico on Nov. 22.

Mexico lost their final warmup game 2-1 to Sweden in Girona, Spain.

Croatia beat Saudi Arabia

Andrej Kramaric's late goal was enough for Croatia to beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Riyadh.

Croatia star Luka Modric played only the last 25 minutes, enough to set up Kramaric for the winner in the 82nd. Kramaric still had to elude five Saudi defenders before scoring his 20th international goal inside the far post.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic began with an unfamiliar lineup and gradually brought on his established players. Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, Hoffenheim forward Kramaric, Tottenham midfielder Ivan Periic and Real Madrid's Modric all came on in the second half.

Croatia is in Group F along with Belgium, Canada and Morocco.

The Australian government confirmed on Thursday that Novak Djokovic had been granted a visa to compete in the Australian Open in January a year after he was deported over his stance against Covid-19 vaccination.

The 21-time Grand Slam singles champion had his visa cancelled on public interest grounds on January 14 and lost an appeal against deportation in the Full Federal Court.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said he had approved Djokovic's application to revoke the cancellation decision because the ground for cancelling the visa no longer existed. The visa ban could have lasted for three years.

“Mr. Djokovic has subsequently been granted a temporary visa to enter Australia,” Giles said in a statement.

The 35-year-old from Serbia is clear to compete at the Australian Open, which runs from January 16-29 in Melbourne.

Djokovic is playing at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, this week, and said he was informed of the Australian government's decision on Tuesday.

“I was very happy to receive the news yesterday. It was a relief, obviously, knowing what I and the people closest to me in my life have been through this year with what happened in Australia and post-Australia," Djokovic said after beating Andrey Rublev in straight sets to book a spot in the semifinals.

“Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam. I made some of the best memories there. Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer."

Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times, including the last three times he played.

Djokovic was not vaccinated against Covid-19 when he last arrived in Australia. Australia has since lifted strict rules for unvaccinated travellers.

Alex Hawke, Australia's immigration minister at the time, used discretionary powers to cancel Djokovic's visa on character grounds, stating he was a talisman of a community of anti-vaccine sentiment.

Stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya on Wednesday said the road map for 2024 T20 World Cup starts now, adding that going forward, a lot of players will be given chances to stake their claim in the side.

India's 2022 T20 World Cup hopes ended with a 10-wicket defeat against eventual champions England in the semifinals.

Pandya, who will be leading India in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting Friday, said the team needs to overcome from their World Cup failure. "Yes, we all know there is disappointment of the World Cup but we are professionals and we need to cope with it. How we cope with our success we cope up with our failures and move forward and look forward to get better rectify our mistakes," Pandya told reporters.

The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024 in the West Indies and United States and the Indian squad is expected to undergo a major transition in the next two years with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among others being gradually eased out of the set up.

"Yes, the next T20 WC is almost two years so we have time (to unearth new talent). A lot of cricket will be played and a lot of people will get enough chances.

"The road map starts from now. But it's too fresh right now. We have a lot of time so we will sit down and have conversations on those grounds," Pandya said.

"Right now it's making sure that the boys enjoy playing here. We will talk about the future later," he added.

The white-ball tour of New Zealand that includes three T20Is and as many ODIs will not feature Kohli, Rohit, opener KL Rahul, keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, as all have been rested as part of "workload management of players".

In their absence, the likes of Shubman Gill, Umran Malik, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been given a chance and Pandya says it will be an important series for them in the grand scheme of things.

"The main boys are not here but the same time the talent which the guys who are already here, they have also been playing for one and-a-half, two years now," he said.

"They have had ample chances and enough time in international cricket to express themselves and show what they have. Very excited for them, new bunch of guys, new energy and excitement.

"Every series is important. You can't play an international game thinking its not important. Yes World Cup is there but that's a different format, it's 50 overs.

"But it is an important series for a lot of boys who if they eventually do well here will be able to put a strong case going forward."

'We don't need to prove anything to anyone'

In a scathing column after the semifinal loss, former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote that India has achieved absolutely nothing since winning the ODI World Cup at home in 2011 and has been the most under-performing white-ball team in the history.

Asked about Vaughan's remarks, the all-rounder said, "I don't think we need to prove anything to anyone.

"Obviously when you don't do well, people will have their opinion, which we respect. I understand people have different point of views," Pandya said.

"Being at the international level, I don't think we need to prove anything to anyone. It's a sport, you keep trying to get better and eventually when the result is supposed to happen, it will happen.

"There are things we need to work on, going forward we will rectify and work on it," he added.

Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer will make the final decision about Cristiano Ronaldo's future at the club after the forward's incendiary TV interview, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Novak Djokovic is set to be granted a visa to play in next year's Australian Open despite his high-profile deportation in January.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday said it had confirmed newspaper reports that the immigration minister had overturned a potential three-year exclusion period for Djokovic.

The Australian Border Force has previously said an exclusion period could be waived in certain circumstances and that each case would be assessed on its merits.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles' office declined to comment on privacy grounds, meaning any announcement on Djokovic's visa status would have to come from the 35-year-old Serbian tennis star.

The 21-time Grand Slam singles champion wasn't allowed to defend his Australian Open title this year after a tumultuous 10-day legal saga over his COVID-19 vaccination status that culminated with his visa being revoked on the eve of the tournament.

Djokovic arrived at Melbourne Airport as the world's top-ranked tennis player with a visa he had obtained online and what he believed to be a valid medical exemption to the country's strict laws for unvaccinated travellers because it was endorsed by Tennis Australia and the government of Victoria state, which hosts the tournament.

Confusion reigned, generating global headlines. As it transpired, that medical exemption allowed him entry to the tournament, which required all players, fans and officials to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, but not necessarily to enter the country. It was rejected by the Australian Border Force.

Alex Hawke, Australia's immigration minister at the time, used discretionary powers to cancel Djokovic's visa on character grounds, stating he was a talisman of a community of anti-vaccine sentiment.

Australia has had a change of government and changed its border rules this year and, since July 6, incoming travellers no longer have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. That removed the major barrier to entry for Djokovic.

It allowed him to apply to new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to reconsider his visa status. In his favour, Djokovic left Australia quickly after his visa was revoked and has not publicly criticized Australian authorities.

As the Department of Home Affairs website explains, applicants in Djokovic's circumstances must explain in writing to Australia's border authorities why the exclusion period should be put aside. “You must show us that there are compassionate or compelling circumstances to put aside your re-entry ban and grant you the visa.”

Djokovic indicated Monday at the ATP Finals in Italy that his lawyers were communicating with the Australian government with a view to him contesting the January 16-29 Australian Open.