Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Brazil star Neymar will make his World Cup bow on Sunday as the five-time champions kick off quest for redemption while holders Germany launch their bid for back-to-back titles. Four years after injury cut short his World Cup, before Brazil suffered a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, Neymar is once […]

Mexico City (AFP) – Between the orgy accusations and the drug-trafficking charges facing their veteran star, Mexico have had their share of distractions heading into their World Cup opener against Germany on Sunday. The headaches started last year when the US Treasury Department accused El Tri's longtime captain, Rafael Marquez, of being a "front person" […]

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – Hailed for modern man-management, openness with a normally fiercely critical press and putting his faith in youth, Gareth Southgate has avoided many of the pre-tournament pitfalls that have undone his predecessors as England manager. However, the real test of Southgate's abilities to lead his country on the biggest stage will come […]

Kaliningrad (Russia) (AFP) – Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr admitted his young team had been "naive" in a 2-0 loss to Croatia in their opening Group D game Saturday, continuing a dismal recent record at World Cups. A Luka Modric penalty 20 minutes from time and a first-half own goal sealed victory for a Croatia side […]

Moscow (AFP) – Lionel Messi fluffed his World Cup lines on Saturday, missing a penalty as Iceland held Argentina to a 1-1 draw after France benefited from the first use of the Video Assistant Referee system in tournament history to grind out a victory over Australia. Just a day after his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo […]

Grozny (Russia) (AFP) – Egypt's super striker Mohamed Salah needed help from three teammates pulling on a jersey over his injured shoulder on Saturday, according to AFP reporters at the team's training camp. The Pharaohs' best hope in making the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time since 1990 has been having […]

Saransk (Russia) (AFP) – Kasper Schmeichel — son of former Manchester United goalkeeping legend Peter — was showered with praise after his acrobatic display helped earn Denmark a 1-0 over Peru on Saturday to get their World Cup off to a flying start. Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen redeemed himself with the winning goal in Saransk after […]

Saransk (Russia) (AFP) – Coach Ricardo Gareca says Peru must recover quickly from losing their first game at a World Cup finals for 36 years to bounce back against France and keep their Russia 2018 hopes alive. Kasper Schmeichel's acrobatic saves for Denmark and Yussuf Poulsen's clinically taken second-half goal ended Peru's 15-match unbeaten run […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – On an action-packed day in Russia, Lionel Messi saw his penalty saved as Iceland earned a draw in their first ever World Cup match. Fancied France made a winning start but needed the help of technology while Peru could not take advantage of the Video Assistant Referee system. Iceland belong at […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Roberto Martinez can't wait to lead an outstanding Belgium side into the World Cup as they prepare to take on Panama in their opening game on Monday. A team who sit third in the FIFA rankings and who boast what is frequently labelled a golden generation featuring the likes of Eden […]

Port-au-Prince (AFP) – Whether they are fans of Argentina's Lionel Messi or devotees of Brazil's "Selecao," Haitians struck by football fever have brought life on their Caribbean island to a standstill, as the World Cup offers a month-long respite from daily hardships. The poverty-stricken country's team languishes in 104th place in the FIFA rankings and did […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite says Neymar is not fully fit but will play some role when the five-time champions open their 2018 World Cup account against Switzerland on Sunday. The world's most expensive player had surgery after breaking a foot bone in February and only began playing again in two warmup games […]

Saransk (Russia) (AFP) – Yussuf Poulsen was relieved to go from "bad guy" to Denmark's hero on Saturday by ruining Peru's first appearance at a World Cup finals for 36 years with the winning goal to seal a 1-0 victory in Saransk. Poulsen made amends after conceding a first-half penalty that was awarded after the […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Belgium will be without defensive stalwarts Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Panama on Monday. Coach Roberto Martinez admitted that neither player is in a position to feature in the Group G encounter in Sochi, and could both sit out their second game […]

Saransk (Russia) (AFP) – Yussuf Poulsen ruined Peru's first appearance at a World Cup finals for 36 years on Saturday with the winning goal for Denmark to seal a 1-0 victory in Saransk. Poulsen made amends for conceding a first-half penalty that was awarded after the referee consulted the VAR system, but which Peru midfielder […]