Lagos (AFP) – A pastor in Nigeria has urged his followers to pay him more than $2,000 to unleash a squadron of "prayer warriors" to help the country's footballers secure a World Cup win. Earlier this week, self-styled prophet Tommy Yisa Aika said that the Super Eagles lost their opening match to Croatia because God […]

London (AFP) – England forward Raheem Sterling says he ignores the criticism of him in the British tabloid press, insisting he prefers to enjoy how he has risen from humble beginnings to play at the World Cup. The 23-year-old Manchester City star — who is expected to be left out of the starting line-up for […]

Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – It was the morning after the night before for Argentinian fans in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday and the recriminations from the devastating Croatia defeat just hours earlier were well underway. The realisation that the 3-0 thumping by Croatia — complete with comedy first goal — had left the mighty two-time […]

Kiev (AFP) – Former Juventus and Italy's international striker Fabrizio Ravanelli was appointed as manager of Arsenal Kiev manager, the Ukrainian club announced Friday. The 49-year-old has signed a one-year contract at a press conference with the bosses of the club, which won promotion to the Ukranian Premier League last season. "I am grateful to […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Neymar's fitness will be under the microscope on Friday as Brazil try to kickstart their World Cup campaign, anxious to avoid the same fate as a shambolic Argentina and the under-performing Lionel Messi. Argentina, the 2014 finalists, slumped to a 3-0 defeat by Croatia that ruthlessly exposed the flaws in an […]

Moscow (AFP) – The 2014 World Cup final in Brazil was supposed to be Lionel Messi's crowning moment, the chance for him to take his place alongside Diego Maradona in Argentina's pantheon of heroes. Instead, defeat by Germany set in motion four years of chaos in the international set-up that has brought one of the […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – World Cup holders Germany face enormous pressure ahead of their second group match against Sweden, dubbed an "early final", with Joachim Loew's team knowing defeat on Saturday would effectively end their campaign. The pre-tournament talk in Germany focused on the bid to become the first team for 56 years to retain […]

Moscow (AFP) – Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku realised how poor his family was when he saw his mother watering down the milk. The football talent he is showcasing at the World Cup was their passport out of poverty. The Manchester United man has opened up about growing up in Antwerp and his resolution to ignore […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – France have booked their spot in the World Cup last 16 but a team forged in the image of coach Didier Deschamps is unlikely to win many friends or admirers. Deschamps, bidding to join an elite band to have won the World Cup as a player and coach, has a choice […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Neymar's fitness will be under the microscope on Friday as Brazil try to kickstart their World Cup campaign, anxious to avoid the kind of pitfall that has left Argentina and Lionel Messi facing an early exit. Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar was subjected to rough treatment in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, […]

Sydney (AFP) – Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk is under growing pressure to play veteran Tim Cahill in their must-win World Cup match against Peru, with fans demanding to know why the country's top goal poacher has been ignored so far. The 38-year-old has scored 50 times for Australia in 105 games and many expected […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – An early German exit from the World Cup seems unthinkable, but that could be the grim reality for the reigning champions unless they get the better of Sweden this weekend. Still, at least they know exactly where the danger is coming from. The main creative threat in Janne Andersson's principally solid, […]

Moscow (AFP) – Belgium take on Tunisia on Saturday with their eyes set on the knockout round of the World Cup but fearful that star forward Eden Hazard is set for another bruising encounter. The Belgians want to win at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow to avoid making their final group game against England on […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – South Korea's Son Heung-min is bearing the weight of expectation at the World Cup just as heavily as Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. Even Lionel Messi, whose bid to add a World Cup to his career collection has become something of a communal objective for football, enjoys the support […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – The party at the Buenos Aires fanzone fell flat as a crowd expecting a Messi-inspired Argentina World Cup revival could only watch in horror at as the nadir of Nizhny Novgorod unfolded. "We lost very badly, they really humiliated us this time," said 22-year-old Joaquin. "And now, on top of that, […]