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A16 SPORTS
Friday 16 december 2022
Messi carries the weight of Argentina into World Cup final

By JAMES ROBSON the quarterfinals.
AP Soccer Writer Then there was his mesmer-
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — As Lio- izing run, turning Croatia
nel Messi approaches his defender Joško Gvardiol
second and likely last World inside out, before setting
Cup final, the stakes could up Julián Álvarez for Argen-
hardly be higher. tina’s third in the semis.
The same goes for Argenti- “It’s at least something I
na after more than 30 years can talk (about) with my
of disappointment since it kids one day that I guard-
last won soccer’s ultimate ed this great, great player,”
prize. Gvardiol said Thursday.
For Messi, victory against Those assists have been
France at Lusail Stadium indicative of the fact that
on Sunday is a chance to Messi can no longer do it
finally get his hands on the on his own. The emergence
one major trophy that has of Álvarez, with four goals,
eluded him in his storied has been vital to Argen-
career. tina’s progress.
In doing so, he would push Messi doesn’t dominate for
ahead of Cristiano Ron- an entire 90 minutes any-
aldo, who has also never more. Instead, he decides
won a World Cup, in the Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between matches with key mo-
long-running rivalry be- Argentina and Croatia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. ments.
tween the two greatest Associated Press He isn’t as dynamic as he
players of their generation. people like, not only Argen- of repeating the feat since nal in Brazil. was in his younger years,
While 37-year-old Ronaldo tines. he emerged as a prodigy Again it faced Germany. but he has been more in-
exited the tournament at “We feel lucky and privi- at Barcelona nearly 20 Again Messi was on the fluential than at any of his
the quarterfinals stage, leged to have him wear years ago. losing side, beaten 1-0 previous four World Cups.
benched by Portugal and our shirt.” There have been numer- through extra time. While Messi is aiming to
in tears in the likely recog- Messi’s place alongside ous false hopes during that At the age of 35, he knew complete his personal col-
nition that his last chance Diego Maradona as one time. this was probably his last lection of trophies, hav-
had passed, Messi is sum- of Argentina’s two most There was the potential shot at the World Cup and ing won four Champions
moning some of his finest iconic soccer stars has “dream team” of Mara- he has risen to the occasion League titles and seven
moments in an Argentina been secure for some time dona as coach and Messi as the tournament’s co- Ballon d’Or awards for the
shirt to inspire his country’s now. But he is yet to emu- as star player in South Af- leading scorer with France best player in the world, Ar-
run to the final. late Maradona’s great- rica in 2010. But Argentina forward Kylian Mbappé gentina is looking to end its
“Each time we see him est achievement by lead- went out in the quarterfi- with five goals. long wait for a third World
play, he makes us and ing his national team to a nals after being beaten 4-0 Perhaps more notable Cup. It won the tournament
the players feel something World Cup title. by Germany. have been his assists, such for the first time when host-
special,” Argentina coach Maradona did that in Mex- In 2014, with Messi ap- as the disguised pass for ing in 1978 and then again
Lionel Scaloni said. “There’s ico in 1986 and Messi has proaching his peak years, Nahuel Molina’s goal eight years later thanks to
something about him that lived with the expectation Argentina reached the fi- against the Netherlands in Maradona. q

Billie Moore, 1st U.S. women’s Olympic basketball coach, dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Billie UCLA to the Association for ly a half century ago. Her
Moore, who coached the Intercollegiate Athletics for team featured trailblazers
first U.S. Olympic women’s Women (AIAW) title in 1978. of the game Pat Summitt,
basketball team to a silver Moore was inducted in Ann Meyers Drysdale and
medal at the 1976 Montreal both the Naismith Memo- Nancy Lieberman, who
Games, has died. She was rial Basketball Hall of Fame went 3-2 and finished run-
79. UCLA, where Moore and the Women’s Basket- ner up to the powerhouse
was the women’s head ball Hall of Fame in 1999. Soviet Union team (5-0).
coach from 1977-93, an- She began her coach- USA Basketball said in a
nounced Thursday that she ing career as an assistant statement it was “proud
died from cancer at home at Southern Illinois. Moore to have been part of
Wednesday night in Fuller- then spent eight seasons at (Moore’s) journey. Our
ton, California, surrounded Cal State Fullerton, where thoughts are with her loved
by family and friends. she went 140-15. Moore led ones at this difficult time.”
Moore was the first coach UCLA to a 27-3 mark in 1978 The current U.S. Olympic
in women’s basketball his- and posted a record 296 coach, South Carolina’s
tory to lead teams from victories in her 16 years with Dawn Staley, said on social Inductees of the 1999 Basketball Hall of Fame pose together
two different schools to the Bruins. In her 24-year media that women’s bas- following a news conference in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Oct.
national championships. career, she finished with a ketball “lost a legend to- 1, 1999. From left are Wayne Embry, Kevin McHale, Billie Moore,
John Thompson and Carl Bennett, who is accepting the award
She guided Cal State Ful- 436-196 record. day in Billie Moore ... thank for Fred Zollner. Billie Moore, who coached the first U.S. Olympic
lerton to the Commission Moore guided the U.S. you coach for servicing our women’s basketball team to a silver medal at the Montreal
on Intercollegiate Athletics women’s Olympic team at game with class, dignity Games in 1976, has died.
for Women title in 1970 and the Montreal Games near- and purpose.”q Associated Press