Crowd finds Madrid to be a Real pain

SAO PAULO, JANUARY 11: Fifa always wanted their inaugural World Club Championship to go with a bang but they got more than they bargained ...

SAO PAULO, JANUARY 11: Fifa always wanted their inaugural World Club Championship to go with a bang but they got more than they bargained for as Group A went down to the wire before Brazil’s Corinthians edged Real Madrid out of a final place on goal difference.

Colombian veteran Freddy Rincon popped up with the vital goal for Corinthians on home territory yesterday to wrap up a 2-0 win over Saudi outsiders Al Nassr and although Real saw off Morocco’s Raja Casablanca 3-2, that wasn’t quite enough.

The leading pair both finished with two wins and a draw from their three matches but Corinthians ended up with a plus four goal difference to Real’s plus three.

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Advocates of fair play would have been forgiven for leaping out of their seats to greet Rincon’s goal as Real, seven-times European champions, did their reputation no good at all in having three men sent off during their ill-deserved win.

The Moroccans of Casablanca, rated as virtual no-hopers against one of the biggest clubs on the planet, led 1-0 atthe break with a majestic Youssef Achami header.

Hamas under pressure to respond to Gaza peace plan as Trump says will give ‘three or four days’

Trump gives Hamas 3-4 days to accept Gaza peace plan, with a warning

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US President Donald Trump has given a tight deadline to Hamas for accepting his Gaza peace plan, warning of a “sad end” if if they refuse to accept the conditions. Palestinian militant group Hamas is yet undecided on whether to accept the peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump on Monday.

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