Luis Enrique wants his Spain side to go all the way to the World Cup final in Qatar after they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their final warm-up match before the tournament.

Spain's young stars won the game, with Ansu Fati setting them on their way with a 13th-minute strike before Gavi and Nico Williams added second-half goals to make it eight wins from their last 11 matches, though Jordan did score a late consolation. 

Spain have not made it past the round of 16 at a World Cup since winning the tournament in 2010, but Luis Enrique's sights are firmly set on the final on December 18.

"We are seventh in the FIFA ranking," he told reporters at his post-match press conference. "Our goal is to play seven games in Qatar.

"I have seen the team play well [against Jordan], even if it was not the best time to play so close to the World Cup.

"I think we have played a good game. The result was the least important today, but it's always better to win."

Fati and Marco Asensio starred in the victory, and Luis Enrique was full of praise for the pair after the match.

"It's great news. He [Fati] has a great relationship with the goal," the head coach added. "He [Asensio] has been at another level, excellent.

"He has played as a false nine player, and very well. With that attitude, with the quality he has, he can play wherever."

France's Antoine Dupont has been handed a four-game ban for his red card against South Africa, while the Springboks' Pieter-Steph du Toit has been suspended for three games for his dismissal.

Dupont was shown red after a dangerous collision with South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe in France's 30-26 win on Saturday.

Du Toit was also sent off for a clearout of Jonathan Danty in the same game.

Assuming there is no successful appeal, Dupont will miss France's game against Japan on Sunday, as well as three matches for Toulouse, including their Champions Cup opener against Munster next month.

Du Toit will be absent for South Africa's upcoming games against England and Italy, as well as a third match to be confirmed.

New River Plate head coach Martin Demichelis is in "no doubt" that Argentina will make it to the World Cup final.

Argentina were last crowned world champions when Diego Maradona inspired the 1986 triumph in Mexico, and have since lost in the final at the tournaments in 1990 and 2014.

Demichelis made 51 appearances for his country between 2005 and 2016, appearing at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

The 41-year-old was unveiled as River Plate's new boss on Wednesday and is confident La Albiceleste will make it to the final of Qatar 2022 on December 18.

"We are days away from the start of the World Cup, so I want to wish [Lionel] Scaloni a successful World Cup, to all the players, to the entire squad," the former Manchester City and Bayern Munich defender said.

"A very special mention for the only Argentine player who also ended up joining the squad and who is ours: Franco [Armani], whom we need to support 100 per cent. My congratulations to him.

"I have no doubt that Argentina will play all seven games. I believe that by arriving only seven days before the World Cup, when normally a team is always working for three, four or five weeks, Argentina have the advantage that comes with a very solid base, with good energy, with a very strong emotional determination.

"I have no doubt that Argentina will play all seven games. I wish them all the best."

Curtis Jones has committed his long-term future to Liverpool after signing a new deal with the Premier League club.

The 21-year-old has amassed 81 appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side since his debut in January 2019, scoring eight goals and recording nine assists.

Jones has made just seven appearances (two starts) so far this season due to injury.

Speaking to the club's website after the news was confirmed, the Liverpool-born midfielder said: "First of all, I want to thank the coaching staff for having the belief in me as always, for giving me the chance.

"And of course for me, I'm over the moon, I'm buzzing. It was an easy thing [to decide to renew]. 

"It's my boyhood club, I'm a Scouser, I've supported the club for the whole of my life, so yeah, I'm buzzing and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

"I think if I was at a different club as well, my goal and aim and dream would always be to come here and play. But I'm here now, I've been here since I was six, I've gone all the way through."

Jones has won the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Community Shield since making his first-team debut.

He also became Liverpool's youngest ever captain when he took the armband in the FA Cup win against Shrewsbury Town in February 2020, aged just 19 years and five days.

His goal against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in February 2021 also made him the youngest Liverpool player to score away from Anfield in the Premier League since Raheem Sterling against Burnley in December 2014.

Former England captain Terry Butcher believes the Three Lions could benefit from scaled-back expectations at the World Cup after enduring a torrid Nations League campaign.

Gareth Southgate's team are the only nation to reach the semi-finals at each of the last two major tournaments, having been beaten by Croatia in the last four at the 2018 World Cup before losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy. 

Despite their strong tournament record in recent years, England arrive in Qatar in poor form after being relegated from Nations League Group A3 following a winless campaign in the competition.

However, Butcher believes England may replicate their feats from four years ago by springing a surprise in Qatar.

"I think a lot of people will see them as less looking like winners, because this year has been very disappointing for England," Butcher told Stats Perform.

"When you look at it and you step back, it's dropped the expectations. The expectation levels are down now, compared to what they were at the start of the year. 

"I think a lot of that is very similar to Russia in 2018, when a lot of people were not expecting them to do particularly well.

"I think there'll be more determination with the pressure off, like it was in Russia. Then you've got the timing of the tournament and English players will be fresh. 

"There's a few injury problems and concerns, but there's no burnout, and there's no mental tiredness like there is when it comes to the summer championships. This is unique for the English players as well. So I think that'll benefit us very much.

"You think well, 'you've had a taste of the semi-finals, you've had a taste of the final', they would have learned a lot from that."

Despite overseeing two memorable major tournament campaigns since taking charge in 2016, Southgate has been subject to fierce criticism in recent weeks. 

However, Butcher believes Southgate's record cannot be questioned and says the depth of talent at England's disposal makes them genuine contenders to win the World Cup.

"There aren't many England managers that have won cups and titles and all that sort of thing," Butcher said when asked about Southgate.

"He's got problems in terms of who to leave out as much as who to put in. There is a plethora, if you want to use that word, of talent. It's about finding the right blend on the day. 

"But it's a lovely position to be in. I just hope now that England can take the shackles off and have that belief that they can win it. That'd be really nice if they could do that. 

"There's no doubt the talents there. Fitness will be there. The mental strength will be there, which I hope has been even made more acute by the failure last year to win the final."

There has been "a lot of interest" in Liverpool since owners Fenway Sports Group confirmed it was looking for investment in the Premier League club.

That is the claim from FSG partner Sam Kennedy, who is also the president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox and chief executive of Fenway Sports Management.

Liverpool's ownership group recently released a statement saying it was seeking outside investment, but remained "fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch."

Reports suggested FSG was also open to the idea of a full sale, something that Kennedy also alluded to in comments to The Boston Globe.

"There has been a lot of interest from numerous potential partners considering investment into the club," Kennedy said on Wednesday, the first time anyone from FSG has spoken publicly on the matter since reports of a potential sale emerged.

FSG has employed financial services Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to assist with any possible deal, but Kennedy insisted it is not a process that will come to a conclusion quickly.

"It is early days in terms of exploring possibilities for investment into Liverpool," he said.

"[FSG president and Liverpool director] Mike Gordon has done an extraordinary job of leading the club for the past decade-plus. He will be taking a step back from that role and [CEO] Billy Hogan will be taking on more and more. Billy's someone we’re particularly proud of in the Red Sox front office, he grew up in our organisation."

Speculation has been rife as to who could invest in or even purchase Liverpool, with the club having an estimated value of £3.78billion ($4.45bn) according to Forbes.

"Great companies grow by adding value to their business," added Kennedy. "One way to increase that value from time to time is to sell assets or add investors.

"Does that mean FSG is going to sell Liverpool? I do not know. It's [principal owner] John Henry's, [chairman] Tom Werner's and Mike Gordon’s job to responsibly run Fenway Sports Group and they felt this was an ideal time to explore possible opportunities for investment into the club."

Francesco Totti bemoaned Italy's absence at the upcoming World Cup, describing the upcoming tournament in Qatar as like "going to Rome without seeing the Colosseum".

A shock play-off defeat to North Macedonia knocked the reigning European champions out of the running to qualify for international football's premier competition, the second consecutive World Cup they have failed to reach.

Only Brazil have won more World Cup titles than Italy's five, and Totti says they will be sorely missed in Qatar.

"The World Cup without Italy is like going to Rome without seeing the Colosseum," Totti told Sky Sport, "we're talking about a great national team.

"For us Italians it is a negative thing, but these are things that happen in football. It will always be a World Cup, we will watch it with interest."

Totti, who was selected to the All-Star team as Italy won the 2006 World Cup, pointed out the nations he feels can win the tournament, declaring: "France, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany.

"They are always the same, I don't see one over the other. Then they will play in winter, which is strange."

Rafael Nadal wrapped up his ATP Finals campaign with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Casper Ruud on Thursday.

The Spanish great had already failed to make the last four after suffering defeat in his first two matches in Turin, but he finished his year in style courtesy of a hard-fought win over Ruud.

Nadal held firm when two break points down at 4-4, before breaking to love to take the opening set.

He sealed victory in the 12th game of the second set, powering a cross-court backhand winner to move 15-40 ahead and set the stage for a win that saw him end the year with a 39-8 tour-level record.

"I can't ask for more," Nadal said. "2022 has had a tough six months, two Grand Slams, and finishing the year in a high spot in the rankings. So, I can't complain at all. At my age, to be able to achieve and be competitive means a lot for me.

"For 2023, just let's try to have the right preparation, work the proper way and start the season with the right energy, the right attitude, to reach the level that I need to be competitive from the beginning. Let's try it, I am excited about it."

Ruud had already progressed to the semi-finals in Italy for a second consecutive year.

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Nadal - 16/1
Ruud - 4/0

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Nadal - 38/16
​Ruud - 19/18

BREAK POINTS WON

Nadal - 2/3
​Ruud - 0/2

Olivier Giroud highlighted the importance of replacing Paul Pogba's influence on the France squad ahead of their bid to defend the World Cup.

Having lifted their second World Cup in 2018, France are considered one of the main contenders to emerge victorious in Qatar, though injuries to Pogba and other key players could harm their chances.

Pogba has not made a single competitive appearance since returning to Juventus in July, and was ruled out of the tournament after undergoing delayed surgery on a knee injury.

The midfielder, who scored in the World Cup final against Croatia four years ago, will be joined on the sidelines by N'Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku, and Giroud believes it is time for other players to assume senior roles.

"We will miss Paul Pogba a lot, like Kante and Kimpembe," Giroud said on Thursday. 

"Paul takes up a lot of space in this France team with his personality, but I am convinced that there are other young leaders who can emerge.

"I too will play my role of big brother for the youngest, be available for them, and speak up when necessary."

With 49 goals in 114 international appearances, Giroud is second in France's all-time goalscoring charts behind Thierry Henry (51), and is also his country's fifth-most capped player.

Giroud arrives at his third World Cup in fine form after scoring nine times for Milan this season, and will delay any decision regarding his international future until after the tournament.

"I feel good physically, in my game, in my club and in the France team. It's a period of splendour for me. It's a gift to feel like this at 36," Giroud said.

"I don't set myself any limits, it could be my last competition, but I don't want to announce anything. We'll see after the World Cup. My motivation to stay at the highest level is intact."

France fell short of expectations when they suffered a last-16 exit at Euro 2020 last year, and Giroud believes it would be wrong to consider them favourites to triumph in Qatar. 

"It's a childhood dream, when you have the chance to participate, you want to go to the end. I was lucky that it came true in 2018," Giroud added.

"Having the opportunity to play a third World Cup with this young, talented group gives us a lot of hope. We have a lot of hope but also humility, we do not make ourselves favourites. 

"We know that there are very big teams in this World Cup. I have a lot of confidence in this group."

New Zealand and India will attempt to put the disappointment of failing to win the T20 World Cup behind them when they start a three-match T20i series on Friday.

England hammered India by 10 wickets at the semi-final stage before beating Pakistan at the MCG on Sunday to lift the trophy for a second time.

The Black Caps missed out once again when they lost to Pakistan in the semi-final, having been runners-up to Australia in Dubai last year.

India will be without captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for three matches against New Zealand in the shortest format, as the experienced trio have been given a post-World Cup rest.

Hardik Pandya will skipper the tourists, with VVS Laxman filling in as head coach as Rahul Dravid is also absent.

Laxman wants to see the India players express themselves in a series that gets under way at Westpac Stadium

He said: "It is important to be flexible. I think in T20 cricket, you are required to express yourself and that is when you will be successful. I think T20 cricket has shown us over the years that the more amount of multi-dimensional players you have, the better for the team.

"You have bowlers who can bat, and batters who can bowl, and that is the way forward. That has already been proven in T20 cricket, the more number of bowlers who can bat will add depth to the team and it allows a lot of freedom for the batters to express themselves.

"That is the need for the format and I am sure more and more teams will try to get that into their selection process and identify players who are multi-dimensional players."

New Zealand have won their past four multi-game bilateral T20I series and will attempt to extend that to five for the first time, with India being the last team to beat them in a series with a 3-0 success a year ago.

No Boult to strike for Black Caps

Trent Boult was not included in the New Zealand squad after a request to be released from his central contract was accepted in August.

They still possess a strong attack in his absence, with Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson set to be unleashed and Adam Milne back in the fold along with Blair Tickner

Experienced opener Martin Guptill was overlooked once again, with Finn Allen keeping his spot at the top of the order.

India need Pant back to his explosive best

Rishabh Pant only played twice in the World Cup, making three against Zimbabwe before falling for only nine in the crushing semi-final loss at the hands of England.

Dinesh Karthik had been preferred to Pant, but the experienced wicketkeeper-batter is not in the squad to face New Zealand.

Pant is only 30 runs short of becoming 11th player to score 1,000 runs for India in men’s T20Is and India will need him to explode into life.

England's players will discuss whether to take the knee ahead of their World Cup fixtures before Monday's Group B opener against Iran, says Conor Coady.

The vast majority of Premier League players took the knee in a show of solidarity with those facing racial discrimination at the end of the 2019-20 season and throughout the two following campaigns.

England continued with the gesture at Euro 2020 last year, and were jeered for doing so by Hungary supporters ahead of a Nations League defeat in Budapest this June.

Asked whether the Three Lions would take the knee before their matches in Qatar, Coady said Gareth Southgate's squad were yet to discuss the issue but would soon do so.

"At the minute, it's not something we've spoken about as a team yet. I think we've been concentrating in terms of the game itself coming up," Coady said on Thursday. 

"I'm sure that question will be brought up in the next few days in terms of how we're going to go about Monday."

Meanwhile, the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has attracted widespread criticism due to the country's criminalisation of same-sex relationships, and Coady described the prospect of LGBTQ+ supporters not feeling comfortable in travelling to the tournament as upsetting. 

"Of course it is [upsetting], we want every England supporter to come and support us, they push us and drive us. That's what we want as a team, we'll keep on believing in what we believe in," he said. 

"We've come to a country where we'll respect rules and respect what goes on in the country, we're all here for one thing and that's to play football.

"But in terms of what we believe in as a team, that's football for all, and for everyone to be included in our great sport."

Johnny Sexton is fit enough to captain Ireland for their final Autumn Nations Series Test in Dublin on Saturday against a much-changed Australia, who are looking to hit back from a shock loss to Italy.

Sexton suffered a dead leg in the victory over South Africa earlier this month and did not feature in last weekend's 35-17 triumph over Fiji.

But the fly-half returns to the team for the match against Australia in one of seven alterations from that Fiji win, as the likes of Hugo Keenan, Josh van der Flier and Peter O'Mahony start.

Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan return to the front row, while James Ryan comes into the second row.

Ireland will be without Joey Carbery and Robbie Henshaw, who both miss out through injury.

Australia are hoping to bounce back from their first ever defeat to Italy last weekend, from which just four starters remain.

Mark Nawaqanitawase and Tom Wright stay on the wings, but James Slipper returns to captain in what will be his 126th Test.

Andrew Kellaway starts at fullback, as Dave Rennie opts to keep the centre pairing of Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau, while Allan Alaalatoa continues in the front row.

Ireland team: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O'Brien, Jonny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki.

Australia team: Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright, Bernard Foley, Nic White; James Slipper (captain), David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Rob Valentini.

Replacements: Folau Fainga'a, Tom Robertson, Taniela Tupou, Will Skelton, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Jordan Petaia.

Max Verstappen has described media coverage of his disagreement with Sergio Perez at the Brazilian Grand Prix as "ridiculous", saying he and his family received "disgusting" abuse after the incident. 

Last week, Verstappen infuriated Perez by defying orders to give up sixth position to aid his Red Bull team-mate in his battle to finish second in the drivers' championship.

Having said Verstappen's move showed "who he really is" over team radio, Perez went further in his criticism of the world champion after the race, declaring: "If he has two championships, it's thanks to me".

On Thursday, Red Bull released a statement acknowledging the team's mistakes in Sao Paulo, claiming Verstappen had been placed "in a compromising situation with little time to react".

The team also condemned "shocking and saddening" online abuse directed towards both drivers and their families, saying: "At the end of the day this is a sport, we are here to race. Death threats, hate mail and vitriol towards extended family members is deplorable."

Speaking at a press conference to preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Thursday, Verstappen defended his actions in Brazil and hit out at those who blamed him for the incident. 

"We had a bit of a miscommunication on Saturday and Sunday, nothing had been said to me about a potential swap," Verstappen said.

"It was only coming into that last lap that it was said on the radio, and they should have known my response already from what I said the week before. 

"After that race we had some good discussion, we put everything on the table, and everything has been solved.

"In hindsight, we should have had that conversation earlier because I have never been a bad team-mate to anyone. I've always been very helpful, and the team knows that.

"After that race, I looked very bad in the media but they also didn't have the clear picture, but to immediately put me down is pretty ridiculous to be honest. 

"Because they don't know how I work within the team and what the team appreciates about me, so all the things I have read are pretty disgusting.

"And even more than that, they started attacking my family, threatening my sister, my mum, my girlfriend and my dad. That goes way too far while you don't have the facts of what's going on. For me, that has to stop.

"If you have a problem with me, that's fine but don't go after my family because that is just unacceptable. We move on. Honestly, I have a great relationship with Checo. But I just don't understand when people don't have the full picture, to immediately start attacking me like that.

"I'm just a bit fed up with all this bull**** going around all the time. At the end of the day, I haven't done anything wrong, people just misunderstood what was going on."

Perez, meanwhile, told Sky Sports he wished to move on from the incident after discussing it with Verstappen.

"We have discussed everything internally," he said. "There's been a lot of speculation on social media, a lot of hate, that is not nice to see.

"We're just ready to move on as a team. What happened there, we discussed it, and we're ready to move on as a team."