Moscow (AFP) – Coach Jorge Sampaoli was bullish on the eve of Argentina's World Cup opener against Iceland, confident his troubled side will prove themselves and downplaying "genius" Lionel Messi's threats to quit international football. Sampaoli predicted a tough Group D encounter with tournament debutants Iceland at Moscow's Spartak stadium on Saturday but said his […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Iran's players stormed the pitch at full-time as if they had won the World Cup rather than just their opening match after an own goal from Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz gifted them a dramatic 1-0 victory on Friday. Wasteful finishing looked to have consigned this compelling contest at the Saint Petersburg Stadium […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may be in prison, but that hasn't stopped a Brazilian TV station from hiring the ex-president as a 2018 World Cup football commentator. "This is not a joke," said Jose Trajano, who hosts the daily program at the Sao Paulo-based VTV network on which the ex-president […]

Kaliningrad (Russia) (AFP) – Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said Friday he believes his team will have the support of Russian fans, as he sought to play down fears of racism from some supporters ahead of their opening World Cup game against Croatia. "We all are sure that there will not be any problems for the […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – James Rodriguez — the top scorer at Brazil 2014 — remains a doubt for Colombia's World Cup opener against Japan after missing training on Friday due to muscle fatigue. The Bayern Munich star helped steer Colombia to their best-ever finish at a World Cup four years ago before they were ousted […]

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – Monday's World Cup opener against Tunisia will be a completely new experience for most members of England's young World Cup squad but confidence is sky-high in the camp, according to midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Chelsea midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace, has just four caps to his […]

Barcelona (AFP) – After Antoine Griezmann delivered a video slap to Barcelona, some around the club queried the role of Gerard Pique, their player and also a producer of the film. The Barcelona defender is an investor in production company Kosmos Studios which made the documentary "The Decision," released on Thursday, in which the French […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Veteran coach Oscar Tabarez said Uruguay "broke the spell" after they left it late to defeat an Egypt side shorn of Mohamed Salah 1-0 in their World Cup opener on Friday. Defender Jose Gimenez was the unlikely 89th-minute match winner for Tabarez's men, who also struck a post late on through […]

New York (AFP) – US broadcaster Fox has apologized after it showed pop star Robbie Williams giving the middle finger to viewers during the World Cup opening ceremony. The former frontman of English boy band Take That raised his finger after singing his track "Rock DJ" before the global audience Thursday in Moscow. The 44-year-old […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Spain face Portugal on Friday in a mouthwatering clash following the extraordinary sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui while Egypt left out Mohamed Salah and suffered a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat in the final minutes to Uruguay. Defender Jose Gimenez headed in the 89th-minute match winner as the South Americans defeated an Egyptian […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Mohamed Salah was kept on the bench in Egypt's opening World Cup defeat against Uruguay on Friday because the team did not want to risk further injury to the Liverpool star. Salah, who turned 26 on Friday, injured his shoulder three weeks ago in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat to Real […]

London (AFP) – Celtic have signed French striker Odsonne Edouard on a four-year permanent deal from Paris Saint-Germain, the Scottish champions announced Friday. The Hoops are reported to have broken their transfer record, spending £9 million, ($12 million, 10.3 million euros) to secure the services of the 20-year-old on a full-time basis. Eduoard spent last […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Jose Gimenez was the unlikely 89th-minute match winner as Uruguay defeated an Egypt side shorn of star man Mohamed Salah 1-0 in their World Cup opener on Friday. Uruguay's deserved last-gasp victory leaves them and Russia in early control in Group A after the hosts' 5-0 mauling of Saudi Arabia in […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Australia coach Bert van Marwijk has challenged his players to have the "guts" to believe they can cause a massive World Cup shock by beating trophy contenders France in Kazan on Saturday. Van Marwijk replaced Ange Postecoglou in January and has since helped instill a disciplined, attack-minded approach in a bid […]

Moscow (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Argentina will underestimate Iceland at their peril, coach Heimir Hallgrimsson warned on Friday, saying the minnows are ready to spring another surprise in Russia. Hallgrimsson described Saturday's Group D opener against the South Americans as the biggest match in the history of the team but said the players were calm and […]