Montevideo (AFP) – Uruguayan giants Penarol were once the best club side in the world even though the national team had begun a steady decline from their halcyon days. Now, the club from the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo operates at a more modest level, despite still enjoying domestic domination. On the continental stage, Penarol have […]

Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Referees are not encouraged to seize centre-stage but Nestor Pitana, the man who will take charge of Friday's France-Uruguay World Cup quarter-final, is used to the limelight. The Argentine used to be an actor before becoming a top official, appearing in 1997 action film "The Fury". Pitana, who concentrated on […]

Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has refused to confirm whether injured striker Edinson Cavani will play in Friday's World Cup quarter-final against France, pleading for patience. The South Americans have been sweating this week on the fitness of Cavani, who scored both goals in the last-16 win over Portugal but suffered […]

London (AFP) – Argentinian tennis player Guido Pella could only say "no, no, no" to the prospect of Brazil winning the football World Cup but fears he will be dead before Argentina win a major trophy again. World number 82 Pella, who shocked Wimbledon on Thursday by downing Croatian third seed Marin Cilic, is horrified […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Brazil's past World Cup glories have been based on centre-forwards — but with Gabriel Jesus failing to fire in Russia, the clamour for Roberto Firmino to get his chance is growing. Manchester City's Jesus has started all four of the five-time winners' matches so far, but has rarely come close to […]

Moscow (AFP) – Manager Gareth Southgate says England "might not have this opportunity again" as he plots a way past Sweden in the quarter-finals to a first World Cup semi-final appearance in three decades. Southgate told the BBC on Thursday his team of youngsters led by Golden Boot contender Harry Kane "must make the most" […]

Moscow (AFP) – The World Cup bursts back into life on Friday as tournament favourites Brazil take on a Belgium side brimming with talent while a young France team face battle-hardened Uruguay. Neymar's Brazil are aiming to win a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on July 15. But first, the world's most […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Croatia defender Dejan Lovren says he has put his past troubles at international level firmly behind him as he prepares for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against hosts Russia. Lovren is set to start the match in Sochi after working his way back into contention with his country since the appointment of […]

Samara (Russia) (AFP) – England won a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time to reach the quarter-finals, but upcoming opponents Sweden will pose another challenge that has proved notoriously difficult in the past. In eight competitive meetings, England have won just once — a 3-2 victory in the group stage at Euro 2012 […]

Moscow (AFP) – Diego Maradona has apologised for questioning the impartiality of the referee in charge of England's last-16 penalty shootout win over Colombia. The Argentina legend had landed himself in hot water with FIFA over his outburst at US official Mark Geiger when he described England's win on Tuesday as a "monumental robbery". But […]

Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps is preparing his side to face Uruguay's Edinson Cavani in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday despite doubts over the striker's fitness. Deschamps also warned that France should not expect a similar type of match to that against Argentina in the last 16, a free-scoring, exhilarating […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Sweden face England on Saturday for a place in the World Cup semi-finals with Emil Forsberg having succeeded Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their talisman — just don't tell him that. Forsberg set up Saturday's quarter-final against the Three Lions by scoring the only goal, thanks to a deflection, against Switzerland. After the […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite said he is desperate to avoid the "horror" lottery of penalties as he handed World Cup quarter-final opponents Belgium a frightening list of obstacles to overcome on Friday. Bidding for a record-extending sixth World Cup in Russia, Brazil were one of five sides to qualify for the last […]

Samara (Russia) (AFP) – Jimmy Durmaz has played just 16 minutes at the World Cup, but in that brief time he has become an emblem of the current Sweden side, as both a symbol of anti-racism and a tight-knit squad. In one of the most striking images of the tournament Durmaz, his beard like that […]

Moscow (AFP) – Jesse Lingard has earned himself a reputation as a man for the big occasion at Manchester United. Now he could be England's X-factor at the World Cup. The tournament in Russia has showcased the best and worst of Lingard — a clutch of missed chances in England's opening win against Tunisia before […]