Moscow (AFP) – After his team crashed out of the World Cup, Egypt's star player Mohamed Salah has won a consolation prize in the form of honorary citizenship of Chechnya. Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on Telegram that he had presented the Liverpool star with the honorary title while hosting a dinner for the Egypt […]

Hanoi (AFP) – Vietnamese police broke up an online football gambling ring worth around $26 million, arresting four people as authorities look to stop black market betting that surges during sporting events like the ongoing World Cup. Gambling is illegal in Vietnam apart from the state-run lottery and a few casinos which are only open […]

Ho Chi Minh City (AFP) – Football scarves, shirts and... eggshell art? World Cup swag has taken a quirky turn in Vietnam where a retired schoolteacher is making mascot memorabilia from hollowed-out eggs, meticulously crafted by hand. Nguyen Thanh Tam, 67, spends hours every day making the models, driven by his football fanaticism — a […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Germany can ill afford another slip-up when they take on Sweden at the World Cup on Saturday, as the defending champions attempt to follow Brazil's lead by belatedly springing into life. Joachim Loew's side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in their opening Group F match, paying the price for […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Radamel Falcao was a notable absentee from the 2014 World Cup when James Rodriguez's six-goal haul carried Colombia to a historic quarter-final finish. Now, at the age of 32, it is the Monaco striker's chance to shine. The question is: can the Colombia captain shoulder the huge burden of relaunching Los […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Senegal face Japan on Sunday at the World Cup fired up by an "ignorant" tweet by a British tycoon and reality television star that has become the talk of the team. Along with Nigeria, a powerful Senegal side spearheaded by Liverpool striker Sadio Mane are flying the flag for Africa in […]

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – Handed a winning start for the first time in a major tournament for 12 years by captain Harry Kane's injury-time winner against Tunisia, England can look forward to Sunday's meeting with Panama with a rare sense of World Cup calm. A two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, Kane banished any remaining […]

Kaliningrad (Russia) (AFP) – Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said Friday that politics and football should "never mix" after two players celebrated goals in a 2-1 victory over Serbia with political gestures. Xherdan Shaqiri's last minute winner capped an impressive comeback for the Swiss in an eventful Group E encounter in Kaliningrad after Arsenal midfielder Granit […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Japan icon Keisuke Honda's dream of winning the World Cup began when, as a six-year-old, his father showed him footage of Brazilian legend Pele on an old VCR. And although restricted to a substitute appearance so far in what is his third, and almost certainly final campaign, the former AC Milan […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Brazil needed two injury-time goals to defeat a dogged Costa Rica on Friday as Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored to put the five-time World Cup winners back on track for the last 16. The Brazilians looked to be heading for a second frustrating draw in a row before Barcelona forward Coutinho […]

Kaliningrad (Russia) (AFP) – A last-minute Xherdan Shaqiri breakaway goal handed Switzerland victory Friday as they came from behind to defeat Serbia 2-1 in Kaliningrad. The win puts Switzerland in pole position to make it out of a tough Group E that contains five-times winners Brazil but they were pushed all the way by the […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson declared his side were still in the race for a place in the World Cup last 16 after Friday's 2-0 loss to Nigeria. Iceland's fate is no longer in their own hands, however, as Nigeria will join Croatia as qualifiers from Group D if they beat Argentina […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Deadly Ahmed Musa struck two stunning goals to sink Iceland 2-0 on Friday and then promised to do the same to Lionel Messi's Argentina in Tuesday's Group D showdown. The Leicester City striker, currently on loan at CSKA Moscow, became the first Nigerian to score at two World Cups as the […]

Rome (AFP) – Justin Kluivert, the son of former Barcelona and Newcastle striker Patrick, left Ajax for Roma for 17.25 million euros ($20mln) on Friday, the Serie A club announced. The Dutch international winger penned a five-year contract with the Italian giants that runs until 30 June 2023. "I'm feeling great. I'm at an unbelievable […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Defender Mark Milligan has backed Tim Cahill to step up for Australia if the Socceroos legend is given the nod for Tuesday's pivotal World Cup clash against Peru. "What happens on Tuesday, I'm not sure," Milligan said in Kazan. "But what I do know is that if Timmy's called upon, he'll […]