Month: December 2022

Rio Ferdinand claims Antoine Griezmann has been the best ‘defensive player’ at the World Cup News Briefing

Rio Ferdinand claims Antoine Griezmann has been the best ‘defensive player’ at the World Cup

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Antoine Griezmann has been one of France’s key players at the World Cup (Icon Sport via Getty)

Rio Ferdinand believes Antoine Griezmann has been ‘the best defensive player’ at the World Cup as France prepare to face Argentina in Sunday’s final.

The world champions sealed a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the semi final on Wednesday evening with Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani scoring the goals for Didier Deschamps’ side.

Griezmann, meanwhile, delivered another masterful performance at the heart of France’s midfield.

The 31-year-old has impressed with his versatility at the World Cup and his defensive nous, which has surprised many at the tournament, has played a key role in France’s success so far.

When asked if Griezmann should be considered the third-best player at the World Cup behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Ferdinand told BBC Sport: ‘I think he’s in the conversation no doubt.

‘I think he’s been the best defensive player in the tournament.

Rio Ferdinand says Antoine Griezmann has been the ‘best defensive player’ at the World Cup (Getty)

‘We could show some great clips of him on the ball, creating stuff, but we could show clips as good, if not more important, defensively.

‘That shows you his all-round game, the impact he’s having on this team.

‘It requires huge intelligence to be able to do that.’

Former England striker Alan Shearer added: ‘We highlighted Amrabat for what he did for his team [Morocco] defensively, but Griezmann was equally as good in that position in terms of what he was doing and helping his defenders out.

‘He was the one who was picking up the pieces.

‘You’ve also got to give Deschamps credit for changing his position slightly. He’s really enjoying what he’s doing, he’s working as hard as anyone is doing on the pitch, he’s doing an incredible job both going forward and defensively for his team. He’s been superb.’

Meanwhile, Didier Drogba hailed Griezmann as France’s new replacement for N’Golo Kante, who missed the tournament due to injury.

‘He’s the maestro of this team. Attacking, defending, he’s everywhere,’ said Drogba.

‘It’s surprising but I think he’s got the intelligence and the quality to do it. He looks more like Kante than Griezmann.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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What are Aldi’s Specialbuys this week? Top picks from the middle aisle News Briefing

What are Aldi’s Specialbuys this week? Top picks from the middle aisle

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You can’t beat Aldi for a bargain (Picture: Getty Images)

This article contains affiliate links. We will earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.

Aldi has a number of offers in the middle aisle every week – called Specialbuys.

From egg chairs to bedding, and fire pits to gin, there are always some great deals to be found.

If you’re planning ahead to visit the iconic middle aisle – or you prefer to get your bargains online – we’ve got you covered.

Here are our top picks of this week’s Aldi Specialbuys.

What are Aldi’s Specialbuys this week?

Aldi’s middle aisles are a mixed bag this week, with everything from motoring to home decor covered.

Get your hands on cut-price gifts for the car fan in your life, or get cosy with a range of warming home and fashion buys.

White Air Purifier with LED

Breathe easy at home (Picture: Aldi)

Remove dust, smoke, and odours from your home with this purifier, which uses a grid filter, EPA filter and activated carbon filter to get rid of pollutants.

It has a timer and sleep mode, as well as a Ring LED display that shows different colours to indicate the contamination level of the air.

Buy for £69.99 exclusively on the Aldi website now.

Auto XS Emergency Breakdown Kit

Stay safe on the roads this winter (Picture: Aldi)

This one might be necessary given the chilly weather we’re having.

In a compact carry bag, it includes a hazard warning triangle, tow rope, booster cables, foot pump, gloves and an LED torch.

Buy for £19.99 exclusively on the Aldi website.

Carplan Car Cleaning Set

Keep the motoring enthusiasts happy with tools to make their car shine (Picture: Aldi)

If you’re buying for someone who sees their car as their ‘baby’ this Christmas, this kit has everything they need to spruce their pride and joy up.

There’s a bucket, cloth, and microfibre mitt, along with six different cleaning solutions for an all-over gleam.

Buy for £39.99 exclusively on the Aldi website now.

Girl’s Brown Lambskin Boots

These cosy boots are made with suede leather (Picture: Aldi)

Ugg boots are a big trend right now, but the price tag on a pair is also pretty huge.

As a workaround, these genuine lambskin boots by Lily & Dan are great, providing comfort and style in girls’ sizes 10 to 2.

Buy for £14.99 on the Aldi website and in stores now.

You can order online and find more Specialbuys on the Aldi website.

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