Moscow (AFP) – A group of Swiss World Cup fans booked a hotel in the wrong Russian city, confusing Rostov-on-Don where Switzerland played Brazil on Sunday, with Rostov Veliky, 1281 km (795 miles) away. Russian media reported the fans called police when they could not find the hotel, while finding the same street name in […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA said Monday it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Mexico after supporters allegedly shouted a homophobic slur during the World Cup match against Germany. The world football body gave no details of the nature of the insults but media reports said Mexican fans aimed the shouts at Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Harry Kane grabbed a dramatic late winner for England on Monday, powering home a header in the dying minutes of their World Cup opener after Belgium had earlier swept past Panama. Gareth Southgate's team won 2-1 after it looked as if they had squandered their chance to take all three points […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said he is concerned aggressive targeting of Eden Hazard by opposition defenders could lead to his side losing their captain and star player at the World Cup. Belgium ran out 3-0 winners over tournament new boys Panama in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Captain Harry Kane came to the rescue with two goals, the second a dramatic injury-time winner, as England began their World Cup Group G campaign with a stuttering 2-1 win over Tunisia on Monday. Gareth Southgate's men almost paid a heavy price for missing a slew of first-half chances when Tunisia's […]

Bronnitsy (Russia) (AFP) – Argentina defender Gabriel Mercado admitted his team's World Cup hopes will be on the line in Thursday's second group game against Croatia. Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Argentina were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by tournament debutants Iceland in their Group D opener at the weekend. Croatia lead the […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Daniel Arzani was born in Iran and would not look out of place among the 'Lions of Persia' side that stunned Morocco in their World Cup opener. Arzani's heart was "pumping" with Aussie pride when he came off the bench to make his World Cup debut in a 2-1 defeat to […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Former AC Milan and Torino coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is to coach Portuguese crisis club Sporting Lisbon after penning a deal through 2021, the club said on Monday. Former coach Jorge Jesus and several top players have quit the team after being badly beaten by masked men at their own training ground in […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez hailed his side's attitude after they overcame a difficult first half to beat Panama 3-0 in their opening World Cup game on Monday. A superb Dries Mertens strike just after the break and a Romelu Lukaku brace sealed an ultimately comfortable win for the Belgians in the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Poland are sweating on the fitness of veteran centre-back Kamil Glik ahead of their World Cup opener against Senegal Tuesday, with the West Africans vowing to exploit "defensive weakness" in the Group H clash. Glik, a bulwark at the back for Adam Nawalka's team, has been under an injury cloud since hurting his […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – England open their World Cup campaign on Monday seeking to banish memories of dismal performances in recent tournaments after Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Belgium beat Panama 3-0. Belgium showed England, their main rivals in Group G, the way with a comfortable win against Panama in Sochi as Dries Mertens scored […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Disgraced former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter will defy a ban to attend two World Cup matches and also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, his spokesman said Monday. Blatter is being investigated by Swiss prosecutors for alleged corruption during his 17-year reign at the head of FIFA. The 82-year-old was suspended for six […]

Seoul (AFP) – Thousands of South Korean football fans who had gathered hopefully on the streets across the country fell silent after their team's uninspiring 1-0 defeat against Sweden in the 2018 World Cup. Sweden, competing at the tournament for the first time since 2006, won a 65th-minute penalty after the South's Kim Min-woo brought […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Mohamed Salah has been declared fit ahead of Egypt's crunch game against Russia on Tuesday and coach Hector Cuper is optimistic his star striker will play. But Russia boss Stanislav Cherchesov believes the World Cup hosts have figured out a way to rein Salah in when the two sides meet in […]

Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Sweden coach Janne Andersson said his side's decisive penalty in their opening match against South Korea on Monday was so obvious there was no need for the use of VAR. The Scandinavian side won 1-0 in Nizhny Novgorod thanks to captain Andreas Granqvist's spot kick in the 65th minute, joining Mexico […]