Category: World Cup 2018

REPORT: Russia 5 Saudi Arabia 0

Ciaran Wiseman

Tweet Russia avoided becoming the first host nation to lose the opening match of a World Cup as they thrashed Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday. The game, between the two lowest ranked teams in the tournament, began at a surprisingly high intensity with both sides enjoying plenty of the ball in attacking areas, however, it was not long before the hosts took a hold of the game. Aleksandr Golovin was presented with the first opening of the game but his 11th minute snapshot was blocked behind for a…

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England ready to face Brazil

Ciaran Wiseman

Tweet Gareth Southgate’s inexperienced England squad continue their World Cup preparations as they welcome to Wembley the five-time world champions Brazil. The Three Lions’ boss will most likely rotate his team following the 0-0 draw with Germany on Friday, during which Joe Gomez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jack Cork and Tammy Abraham made their debuts. Joe Hart and Gary Cahill are amongst four players that did not play and could be expected start the game. As for Brazil, they beat Japan 3-1 on Friday afternoon in a friendly played in Lille, France….

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Northern Ireland saying ‘goodbye Russia’?

Alex Nicolaou

Tweet Northern Ireland 0 Switzerland 1 A surprising defeat left Northern Ireland with a Swiss mountain to climb in the second leg of the World Cup play-offs following a controversial penalty. Switzerland dominated the ball early on but were nearly caught out on a counter-attack that was stopped by a crunching tackle from Fabian Schar on Stuart Dallas. Schar was lucky to see only a yellow card after his intervention. The first chance of the game came from a looping Xherdan Shaqiri cross that found Haris Serefovic but his effort…

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African football’s Road to Russia

Alex Nicolaou

Tweet The final group games will be played over the next week to determine who will qualify for the World Cup next summer and who will miss out.   In Group A Tunisia, on the brink of qualifying, are three points clear of Congo DR, with 13. They hosts Libya, who are bottom of the group and have only one win, at home against Guinea. A draw for Tunisia will see them through to the World Cup, for the first time since Germany 2006.  Congo DR faces Guinea, who also have only…

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