Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – France captain Hugo Lloris said that reaching a landmark 100 appearances for France will mean nothing if they fail to beat Peru in their World Cup clash on Thursday. The 31-year-old Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper will make a piece of personal history in Yekaterinburg's Group C encounter, barring any last-minute injury. A […]

Moscow (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo said Portugal must strive to improve at the World Cup after Wednesday's 1-0 win over Group B rivals Morocco left them within sight of the knockout rounds. The Real Madrid forward scored his fourth goal in two games in Russia as the European champions moved top of their group ahead […]

Samara (Russia) (AFP) – Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said his team's failing was finding the net in a testy press conference before a match against Denmark that the Socceroos must win to stay in the World Cup. A heart-wrenching 2-1 opening defeat to France sealed by Aziz Behich's own goal from a shot by […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Neymar was back in training for Brazil on Wednesday ahead of their World Cup clash with Costa Rica, 24 hours after limping out of a session with an ankle problem. "Brazil team training under way and Neymar participating normally," tweeted the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The session was closed to the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fourth goal of the World Cup on Wednesday as Portugal beat Morocco 1-0, condemning the north African team to an early exit while 2010 champions Spain prepared to play Iran. The five-time world player of the year netted with an early header to go with the hat-trick he […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said his team will not be bullied by France in their World Cup clash on Thursday, but admitted: "We are not on their level anywhere". Peru need to beat the strongly fancied French in Yekaterinburg in their Group C encounter or face an early exit from Russia. […]

Moscow (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo followed up his opening game heroics at the World Cup with the only goal in a 1-0 win for Portugal against Morocco as the European champions edged closer to the last 16. The Real Madrid star struck in the fourth minute in Moscow to surpass Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas as […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Germany have hit out at "under the belt" criticism of Mesut Ozil as the under-fire holders attempt to get their World Cup campaign back on track against Sweden. Joachim Loew's team have faced a fierce backlash after their poor first-half display in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico on Sunday. Attacking midfielder […]

Gelendzhik (Russia) (AFP) – While Iceland's World Cup coach is famously a dentist, and its squad has a boardgame publisher and a wine importer in its ranks, goalkeeper-filmmaker Hannes Halldorsson says his job on the side sets him apart. "Filmmaking must be up there as one of the strangest jobs in the team," Halldorsson told […]

Marrakech (Morocco) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has fallen under the charm of Morocco, and the feeling is mutual with the Portugal and Real Madrid star adored by millions of fans from the North African kingdom. There may be no statue yet honouring Ronaldo, who led Portugal against Morocco in the World Cup on Wednesday, as […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – South Korea have not given up hope of reaching the World Cup's last 16 and are drawing inspiration from their Asian rivals ahead of a crunch game against Mexico on Saturday. An opening defeat to Sweden has left Shin Tae-yong's side playing catch-up in Group F, particularly after Mexico pulled off […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Germany star Thomas Mueller says the reigning world champions are feeling the pressure as they prepare for this weekend's game against Sweden at risk of an unthinkably premature exit. Joachim Loew's team are in a vulnerable position after starting their defence of the World Cup with a shock 1-0 defeat at […]

London (AFP) – British businessman turned BBC TV star Alan Sugar came under fire Wednesday after tweeting a picture of the Senegal national football team with the caption "I recognise some of these guys from the beach in Marbella". The Apprentice presenter took down the post after being accused of racism, writing: "Seems it has […]

Pristina (AFP) – Kosovo's team is taking no part in the World Cup but emotions are running high ahead of Serbia's match between Switzerland, whose squad includes three players from Kosovo. Midfielders Valon Behrami of Italian club Udinese, Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri of Stoke City were all born in Kosovo and all three […]

Tehran (AFP) – Tehran's largest football stadium is to admit thousands of women together with men for the first time since the the Islamic revolution of 1979 as World Cup fever grips Iran for its Wednesday evening group game against Spain. The decision to throw open the gates of the capital's 100,000 capacity Azadi Stadium […]