Новости за 26.06.2018

As anyone who has read the Islendingasogur, or even watched 'Thor III: Ragnarok', can tell you, not every Norse tale of conquest and adventure can have a happy ending.  So it was in Rostov-on-Don on Tuesday, where Iceland's attempts to reach the World Cup's round of 16 ran aground. It was not for lack of effort. After initially struggling to interrupt the pretty passing of a much-changed and already qualified Croatia team, Heimir Hallgrimsson's players, through the sheer force of will that has... Читать дальше...

Diego Maradona enjoyed the late winner against Nigeria that kept Argentina in the World Cup, the football legend caught celebrating with an offensive gesture in the stands. Maradona - who was also pictured dancing with a Nigeria fan - has been a lively presence at all three of Argentina's Group D games at Russia 2018, with Jorge Sampaoli's side in grave danger of an early exit on Tuesday. Although Lionel Messi struck early in St Petersburg to put Argentina in pole position to follow Croatia into the last 16... Читать дальше...

Late drama sees Argentina advanceAstonishing. Cometh the hour, cometh... Marcos Rojo? But yes: with Argentina hanging on for a hero in the dying embers, there was the Manchester United defender to steer home brilliantly and keep Argentina alive in this World Cup.It hasn't looked like it for most of this tournament– and indeed didn't look like it for most of this game– but the gods were smiling down upon them in their final Group D match against Nigeria. Lionel Messi's 15th-minute opener was his glorious... Читать дальше...

David Ospina urged Colombia not to let their impressive victory over Poland go to waste as they seek another three points against Senegal and qualification from Group H. The 2014 quarter-finalists got their Russia 2018 campaign off to a torrid start, Carlos Sanchez's third-minute red card against Japan setting the tone for an opening 2-1 defeat. They bounced back in style against Poland, however, cruising to a 3-0 win in Kazan on Sunday to eliminate their opponents and keep their own hopes alive. Читать дальше...

Costa Rica defender Kendall Waston is ready for Switzerland's plan to create "organised chaos" through Xherdan Shaqiri in Wednesday's World Cup clash. Shaqiri struck the winner in the 2-1 triumph over Serbia on matchday two, a goal that has put Switzerland within touching distance of the last 16. The Stoke City forward has been involved in five of his country's last six goals at the World Cup and scored a hat-trick against Honduras at this stage of the 2014 finals to send his side into the knockout phase. Читать дальше...

Gareth Southgate's in-form England team are keen not to surrender their winning momentum in the concluding Group G match against Belgium in Kaliningrad. Both teams are assured of a place in the last-16 after recording impressive victories in each of their first two matches. Wins over Tunisia and Panama leave the Three Lions and the Red Devils locked together on six points, with eight goals scored and two conceded apiece. It means a draw would result in their fair play records determining the group winner ... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi has scored the 100th goal of the World Cup. With Argentina needing to beat Nigeria on Tuesday in St Petersburg to have a chance of qualifying for the last 16 at Russia 2018, the forward gave his side a 14th-minute lead. Ever Banega's lofted throughball was ideally placed for Messi to impressively control and hammer home a right-footed drive to put Jorge Sampaoli's men in front. Messi had failed to score in Argentina's two previous Group D games, missing a penalty in a 1-1 draw against... Читать дальше...

Brazil coach Tite insists he has given no thought to a potential blockbuster second-round meeting with Germany as his side prepare to face Serbia. The five-time champions head into Wednesday's clash in Moscow as Group E leaders, needing just a point to guarantee their last-16 berth. A Group F opponent awaits, with Mexico and Germany currently occupying the two qualification spots - prompting recollections of Brazil's 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Joachim Low's men in the semi-final on home soil four years ago. Читать дальше...

Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez has warned critics that he has "a tiger inside" and is not prepared to accept some of the personal comments aimed his way in recent days. The 2-0 defeat to Brazil last Friday, in which Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored in second-half injury time, ensured Costa Rica head into their final Group E game against Switzerland in Nizhny Novgorod knowing they cannot progress to the last 16. Expectations were high back at home following the run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago... Читать дальше...

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani were both on target for Uruguay on Monday and Sebastian Coates is placing his trust in the duo to come good again in the last 16 of the World Cup. Oscar Tabarez's side secured top spot in Group A with a comfortable 3-0 win over Russia in Samara, Suarez sweeping home an early free-kick before Cavani lashed in from close range in the final minute. In the second round, Uruguay will meet Group B runners-up Portugal, who toiled to a 1-1 draw with Iran to allow Spain to steal in and take first place. Читать дальше...

Aleksandar Kolarov described Serbia's World Cup meeting with Brazil as the biggest game of his career while coach Mladen Krstajic promised a fearless approach from his side. Following their dramatic 2-1 reverse to Switzerland last time out, Serbia will likely need a win against the five-time champions if they are to have any chance of progressing from Group E. A draw could be enough if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica, who are already eliminated after two defeats without scoring. Captain Kolarov... Читать дальше...

Southampton have announced the signing of midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who has joined the Premier League club from Celtic. Armstrong has signed a four-year deal at St Mary's, with the fee for the 26-year-old reported to be £7million. The Scotland international, who has been named in the PFA Scottish Premiership Team of the Year three times, won four league titles during his time at Celtic. "Stuart is a player who we have admired for some time, and I am delighted we have been able to bring him here... Читать дальше...

Ex-players, journalists and fans. An entire nation demanded the inclusion of Tim Cahill and Daniel Arzani. Even former Australia boss Guus Hiddink – the man who set the platform for Cahill to announce himself on the international stage on that famous night in Kaiserslautern 12 years ago when he scored his nation's first World Cup goal – joined the growing calls ahead of the must-win Group C clash against Peru in Sochi and amid the Socceroos' toothless displays. "He's so eager," Hiddink told the Herald Sun. Читать дальше...

Wolfsburg have confirmed they have signed striker Wout Weghorst from AZ on a four-year contract.  The 25-year-old was the joint-third top scorer in the Eredivisie last season as he found the net 18 times in 31 appearances for the Dutch side. Following his impressive performances in the league, he made his international debut in March and has since added another two caps to his name. Despite reported interest from West Ham, Weghorst believes he has made the best choice for his career. "The time I spent in Alkmaar was fantastic... Читать дальше...

Late in the first half, a group of Mexican fans opted to make their own entertainment and a ditty to their national team echoed round the otherwise quiet Luzhniki. Their presence was entirely fitting as this was a stand-off in every sense. The tournament's first goalless draw, the tournament's first stinker. Denmark came for the point they needed while France's shadow cast failed to perform, as did, of greater significance, their leading light Antoine Griezmann. The rumour is Griezmann begged Didier Deschamps to keep him in the starting XI... Читать дальше...

Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami says the World Cup is not an appropriate time or place to discuss the wider issues around the team's controversial celebrations against Serbia. Vladimir Petkovic's side meet Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday knowing that a win will be enough to guarantee their place in the last 16. Much of the pre-match talk has centred on fines issued to Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka by FIFA, after they celebrated goals in the 2-1 victory over Serbia by apparently referencing the Albanian flag. Читать дальше...

Tite says Neymar's apparent emotional fragility is of no concern to Brazil as they prepare for a crunch World Cup encounter against Serbia. The Paris Saint-Germain striker burst into tears at the end of Friday's 2-0 win over Costa Rica, after he and Philippe Coutinho had netted in second-half stoppage time to avoid what would have been a damaging draw. Brazil head into Wednesday's clash with Serbia as Group E leaders, needing a point to be sure of a place in the last 16. But Tite says such displays of emotion are customary... Читать дальше...

South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong thinks his side have a "one per cent chance" of beating Germany and qualifying for the World Cup knockout phase when they face each other in Kazan on Wednesday. Although Korea have lost each of their two Group F games so far, they could still get through to the last 16 if they beat Germany by two goals and Sweden lose to Mexico. The reigning champions put themselves back in contention for a place in the next round during a dramatic 2-1 win over Sweden – Toni Kroos... Читать дальше...

Juan Antonio Pizzi's contract as Saudi Arabia coach has been extended until the end of the side's participation in the 2019 Asian Cup. Pizzi was named as manager in November 2017 and oversaw their World Cup campaign at Russia 2018, which ended on Monday against Egypt.  The final group game represented the highpoint of their tournament as they came from behind to defeat Egypt 2-1, having lost their previous two matches, the first of which was a 5-0 hammering at the hands of the hosts.    Before he took charge of Saudi Arabia... Читать дальше...

The Sir Walter Pub have come up with a novel idea to pull in the punters during Brazil's game against Serbia on Tuesday."At each Neymar fall, it’s a round of shots on the house!"the Rio de Janeiro-based bar posted on their Facebook page.The pub confirmed on Monday that they were fully booked as a result of their creative offer.According to FIFAstatistics, Neymar has been fouled 14 times so far in the World Cup, with 10 of those coming against Switzerland in their opener.But that has done little stop... Читать дальше...

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford does not envy his counterparts facing Harry Kane penalties he feels are more or less unsaveable. Kane raced to the top of the Golden Boot standings at the World Cup with a hat-trick in Sunday's 6-1 demolition of Panama in Group G. Two of the Tottenham striker's goals came from the penalty spot before half-time, dispatched with expert precision into the top-left corner and he is on five for the tournament overall. Kane is not infallible – Liverpool's Loris Karius denied him from the 12 yards in February ... Читать дальше...

Portugal (1986)Although rumours in the national press about players testing positive for drugs on the eve of the tournament proved false, Portugal players’ involvement in the notorious Saltillo Affair (or O Caso Saltillo in Portuguese) overshadowed their first World Cup in 20 years. The players, led by midfielder Carlos Manuel, threatened to pull out of the tournament when they failed to receive advertising payments owed to them by the Portuguese FA fromAdidas products and Cristal Beer.After two... Читать дальше...

Abdou Diallo has reportedly become Borussia Dortmund's second-most expensive signing after his arrival from Mainz on a five-year contract was confirmed.

The English national side has called on 37 different players just once since 1997. Some of them, admittedly, have been in the last few years and will have ambitions of adding to their solo tally.Others are confirmed as one-cap wonders, from strikers (some of whom even scored in their one appearance) to back-up goalies never given another go.Be warned: while some of the more recent one-cappers are simple enough to recall, a few others are likely to leave even die-hard England addicts scratching their heads. Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Lloris have all been left out by France for their final match of the World Cup's group stage against Denmark. The Manchester United midfielder has been involved in all three of France's goals at Russia 2018, with Les Bleus already assured of a place in the last 16 after Mbappe's winner against Peru. Pogba has collected one booking during the tournament so would miss the second round game if he was booked again, with Blaise Matuidi and Corentin Tolisso in the same situation and also on the bench. Читать дальше...