Moscow (AFP) – Germany crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening World Cup match in Moscow on Sunday. AFP looks at five things we learned on a frustrating night for the reigning world champions at the Luzhniki Stadium: Ineffective Ozil Whether it was down to a distracting pre-World Cup scandal or […]

Bronnitsy (Russia) (AFP) – Argentina legend Diego Maradona issued a scathing assessment Sunday of his country's World Cup draw with Iceland, warning manager Jorge Sampaoli that he would not be welcome back home unless he changes his tactics. "Playing like that, he can't come back to Argentina," the 1986 World Cup winner told Venezuelan television […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Colombia will not take struggling Asian giants Japan for granted when the two sides meet in their World Cup opener in Saransk, Seville striker Luis Muriel said Sunday. "Los Cafeteros" are aiming to top their run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago with a talented side rich with the […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic will be asked for all the tips he has on how to stop the striker, Croatia's coach Zlatko Dalic admitted on Sunday. Croatia face Argentina in Novgorod on Thursday and could put their opponents on the brink of an early exit after the South Americans […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – England fans began to trickle into Volgograd on Sunday as the Russian city that bears the weight of World War II history offered a warm welcome before hosting its first World Cup match. The Volgograd Arena stands on one of the major battlefields of the war — two million people died […]

Moscow (AFP) – Toni Kroos and Mats Hummels criticised Germany's failings after the holders slipped to a shock 1-0 defeat against Mexico in their opening World Cup match on Sunday. Germany lost their first match at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1982 after Hirving Lozano scored the winning goal in Moscow. […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Gareth Southgate says his young side are ready to ditch their tag as chokers that has haunted England at previous major tournaments. "This team shouldn't be burdened with that because they're a fresh group, most of them have very few international caps, so the future is all ahead of them," Southgate […]

Moscow (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted the reigning World Cup champions were made to pay for a poor first half as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Mexico on Sunday. Hirving Lozano scored the only goal after 35 minutes in Moscow as Germany lost their opening game at a World Cup for […]

Kampala (AFP) – On a pot-holed street by Uganda's sprawling central jail, young men stream into a luminous betting shop that stands out from the surrounding dingy grocery stores lit by paraffin lamps. Inside, dozens of men clasp handfuls of betting slips as they huddle around a flat-screen television blasting out live commentary from the […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – World Cup holders Germany crashed to a 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening match on Sunday, seriously complicating the rest of their tournament. The electrifying Hirving Lozano smashed the winner in the 35th minute, leaving Manuel Neuer clutching at air on his return to the German goal after a 10-month […]

Moscow (AFP) – Defending champions Germany crashed to the first defeat in their opening game of a World Cup since 1982 as Hirving Lozano's clinical finish earned Mexico a shock 1-0 victory on Sunday. The highly-rated PSV Eindhoven forward struck the winner on 35 minutes after a blistering counter-attack at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow […]

Moscow (Russia) (AFP) – Manuel Neuer, Germany's Captain Fantastic, returned to competitive football on Sunday on the biggest stage of all after a nine-month absence but his comeback ended in intense frustration as the world champions lost 1-0 to Mexico. The giant Bayern stopper has been sidelined since fracturing a bone in his left foot […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez believes Eden Hazard can be one of the stars of the World Cup as the Chelsea man prepares to lead his nation into their tournament opener against Panama. Hazard is the captain of a supremely talented Red Devils side who are determined to improve on runs to […]

Volgograd (Russia) (AFP) – Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul has singled out England's Dele Alli as his side's most dangerous opponent as he prepared for their World Cup Group G opener at the Volgograd Arena on Monday. The confident coach, in his second spell as national team boss, said his side could beat England and open […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Vincent Kompany will remain with the Belgium squad at the World Cup despite currently being sidelined by a groin injury, coach Roberto Martinez confirmed on Sunday. Martinez could have made a change to his squad of 23 as late as Sunday, the day before a much-fancied Belgian side begin their World […]