While the World Cup 2018 is yet to start, some players of participating nations are already making headlines.
Mexico’s Oribe Peralta announced his retirement from international duty which will take effect after the summer tournament. On the other hand, Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary is about to set a new World Cup record after being named in the country’s squad that will make the trip to Russia.
Meanwhile, in other sports news, Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry talked about possibly winning the NBA Finals MVP—something which he has never achieved in his career.
Read on about these trending football highlights and NBA updates, only here at SBOBET Blog.
Oribe Peralta set to retire from internationals after WC 2018
One last hurrah for Oribe Peralta in the international level.
Just days before the World Cup kicks off in Russia, Peralta announced that he is planning to quit from the Mexico national team after the summer spectacle.
The 34-year-old forward, who is included on Coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s preliminary list for the tournament, said that the FIFA 2018 affair will be his last for El Tri.
“It’s going to be my last World Cup. After Russia, I’m retiring from the national team,” Peralta told Marca Claro.
Peralta helped Mexico to advance in the knockout phases of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, during which he started in all of their games. However, he is perhaps best remembered for the four goals he scored for the national team en route to winning the Olympic gold in London 2012.
The Club America striker recently featured for Mexico in their goalless draw with Wales. And while that wasn’t a good result for the World Cup-bound team, Peralta said he’s confident they have what it takes to win the title in his last tour with the squad.
“We have enough talent to take the step, to be champions of the world, to go there and get what we want. It’s in our hands to do it,” he added.
Essam El-Hadary: oldest man to play in World Cup?
Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary is about to make World Cup history.
The 45-year-old forward is included in Egypt’s provisional squad and could become the oldest man to ever play in the World Cup when he makes his first appearance in the tournament.
He could break the record set by Colombia keeper Faryd Mondragon who played in the 2014 World Cup at 43 years old.
El-Hadary has 156 caps under his name and has been a regular national team player since being part of the Pharaohs in 1996. He has won 37 trophies for club and country, including four Africa Cup of Nations titles.
Furthermore, he was named best goalkeeper of AFCON three times in his career.
Egypt qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1990 after beating Congo with a late winner from star striker Mohamed Salah.
“My goal has always been the World Cup,” El-Hadary said. “[When Egypt finally qualified with a dramatic late win over Congo], I was the happiest man in the world.”
Steph Curry plays down importance of winning NBA Finals MVP
For Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, winning the NBA Finals is far more important than the Finals MVP award.
The five-time NBA All-Star has won two regular-season MVPs, even becoming the first-ever unanimous winner of the award in 2016. However, he is yet to become the best player in the NBA Finals despite the Warriors making it to the big dance in the past three years.
Andre Iguodala bagged the award in the Warriors championship win in 2015, while Kevin Durant seized the honour after they secured the title last year.
And so, in his first media availability before their fourth finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Curry opened up about the possibility of winning it this time and said “that narrative is gonna take life.”
“It doesn’t make or break my career or whatever you want to say looking back,” Curry added.
Despite claiming that it is not his priority, Curry actually has a great chance to take home the elusive trophy. After missing the first round of the postseason due to a knee injury, he has since returned to form and is averaging 24.8 points and 4.9 assists this postseason.
Also, he is currently riding an NBA-record 86-game postseason streak with at least one three-pointer.
“I’m going to play aggressively, confidently with that right energy and motivation to help my team win,” Curry furthered. “And usually when I’m in that mindset, good things happen, whether that means it’s a Finals MVP or not, who cares, but I’m going to be playing like it for sure.”
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