Soccer Aid 2023’s brutal moments – Tommy Fury’s horror show to Alex Scott’s dig
Another Soccer Aid is in the history books with the World XI beating England for the fifth time in a row and nearly £15million raised for Unicef.
The annual charity event took place at Old Trafford on Sunday (June 11) evening, pitting a mix of retired pros and famous faces against each other.
It was the World XI who emerged as 4-2 victors thanks to goals from Olympics icon Usain Bolt, former Ireland striker Robbie Keane (two) and Love Island star Kem Cetinay.
Actor Asa Butterfield and Manchester United legend Paul Scholes got the goals for the home side in an action-packed affair featuring a number of flashpoints that Daily Star Sport have compiled.
READ MORE: Fans can’t resist digging out Man Utd flop after Usain Bolt scores at Old Trafford
Alex Scott’s Pochettino dig
Alex Scott wasted no time in setting a savage tone for the evening as she aimed a verbal jab at new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino just minutes into the programme.
Pochettino took charge of the World XI alongside Spice Girls star Mel C ahead of taking the reins at Stamford Bridge this summer.
When discussing his sides chances on the night, Scott quipped: “Poch may last longer in this job than his normal one.”
Chelsea chief Todd Boehly sacked both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter last season, and Pochettino will be hoping he avoids that fate in the coming months.
What was your favourite moment of the match? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: ITV)
Everything Tommy Fury did
The most brutal part of the evening was making viewers watch World XI captain and boxer Tommy Fury try to play football.
It seems all the skill he has in his hands was taken from any talent he had with his feet, as Fury – ironically – looked like Bambi on ice.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
His rival and potential upcoming opponent KSI took to Twitter to slam his skills, writing: “Tommy Fury should stick to boxing lmao, he’s terrible at football.”
“Tommy Fury has to be the worst footballer in Soccer Aid history,” claimed one fan, while another joked: “Tommy Fury runs like he’s playing with jeans.”
Jack Wilshere getting nutmegged
(Image: ITV)
Well, tell a lie, there was one highlight in Fury’s first half cameo. And it came at the expense of Arsenal legend Jack Wilshere.
His first touch after coming on as a substitute saw him nutmeg Wilshere, 31, who only retired from his professional career last year.
Fury’s subsequent showing made the panna even more embarrassing, as it was all downhill for him from that point on.
Danny Dyer’s tash
(Image: Getty Images)
It was some week for acting royalty Danny Dyer, starring at Old Trafford just days after seeing his beloved West Ham – and daughter Dani’s beau Jarrod Bowen – win the Europa Conference League.
He probably won’t want to check social media this morning, though, as the moustache he’s rocking for his part in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals earned him a teasing online.
“Danny looks like Freddie Mercury if he’d lived to see Greggs sausage rolls,” joked one, with a second adding: “Danny Dyer with that tash looks like an extra in a porn movie!”
Paul Scholes being trolled
(Image: Paul Currie/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)
Many United fans weren’t happy with the blue and white Soccer Aid flags which were given to fans at the Theatre of Dreams.
They wouldn’t have gone down well under normal circumstances, but it was especially infuriating given it was 24 hours on from neighbouring rivals Man City matching their Treble achievement.
Among the disgruntled Red Devils was England midfielder Scholes, who took to Instagram pre-match and wrote: “Somebody has to be taking the p*** with these flags.”
Leon Edwards forgetting his hands
As a professional fighter, you’d expect Leon Edwards to be good with his hands, so it was no surprise to see him in between the sticks for the World XI in the second half.
But he did win his UFC welterweight belt with a head kick against Kamaru Usman, and in hindsight he probably should have been as far away from the goal as possible.
Edwards suffered not one, but two howlers for England’s two goals. Butterfield’s tame effort somehow beat him at his front post, before Scholes’ strike crept past him as he fell on his backside.
