Moscow (AFP) – The World Cup final between France and Croatia in Moscow on Sunday brings the curtain down on a month-long festival of football that has changed perceptions of the host country while also giving hope to the underdog on the field. Fears of racism, violence and diplomatic spats clouded the build-up in Russia, […]

Istra (Russia) (AFP) – Olivier Giroud has not scored a single goal for France at the World Cup but his mere physical presence will guarantee the Chelsea forward a place in Sunday's final against Croatia. Think of France's attackers and the names Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann immediately come to mind, but Giroud has played […]

Zagreb (AFP) – On the eve of Croatia's first-ever appearance in a World Cup final, excited fans have been warming up for the match against France by visiting a Zagreb museum showcasing the country's football history. The snug museum, no further than a Domagoj Vida long throw from the Croatian capital's main square, is proving […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has fuelled speculation he could leave the club after saying it "might be time to discover something different" following Belgium's win against England in the World Cup third-place playoff. The 27-year-old, who scored the second goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory in Saint Petersburg, has been linked with […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Manager Gareth Southgate said England have "no illusions" as to their standing in international football after finishing fourth at the World Cup in Russia. Belgium won Saturday's third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg with goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard to deny England their best finish at a World Cup on […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia's World Cup semi-final hero Mario Mandzukic built up his stamina as a child on the banks of the Sava river in his native region of Slavonia. The Juventus striker's first football coach, Damir Ruhek, 58, remembers Mandzukic's return to his home town of Slavonski Brod as a 10-year-old after being forced […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Belgium beat England in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to ensure their best-ever finish as tournament top scorer Harry Kane admitted his side need to improve if they are to end their long trophy drought. Goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a deserved 2-0 victory in Saint […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate said his team were made welcome in Russia during the World Cup despite diplomatic tensions between Moscow and London. Southgate asked reporters for a moment's attention at the end of a press conference that followed England's 2-0 loss to Belgium in Saturday's third-place match. "There's a lot […]

Moscow (AFP) – France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said the World Cup favourites are shutting out the mounting excitement at home as they focus on one final push against Croatia. Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Paris following Tuesday's semi-final win over Belgium and confidence is high that Didier Deschamps' team can match […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane admitted the Three Lions must improve if they are to build on reaching the World Cup semi-finals after losing the third-place playoff 2-0 to Belgium on Saturday. Gareth Southgate's side made the last four for the first time in 28 years, but a second defeat in the […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday's third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg. Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as […]

Moscow (AFP) – Luka Modric has taken an extraordinary path to the World Cup final — from fleeing his home as a child during Croatia's war of independence to global superstar status. Croatia's captain has also overcome the challenge of a relatively fragile physique to become one of the world's best players. As a child […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia feverishly prepared Saturday for its first ever World Cup final as the small Balkan nation swells with pride at its team's performance – and firmly believes they can win against France. Red-and-white chequerboards are everywhere — on car hoods, in shop windows, trams, buses as well as on jerseys worn by […]

Moscow (AFP) – France are favourites to win the World Cup for a second time in Moscow on Sunday when they take on a Croatia side forced to go through three periods of extra-time to make their first ever final. By contrast, Didier Deschamps's side have seen off Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium, all in 90 […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – England face Belgium in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday with the tournament's top scorer Harry Kane eyeing the chance to add to his six goals in the meeting of the beaten semi-finalists. Both teams will line up in Saint Petersburg with a sense of what might have been as […]