Новости за 08.07.2018

Barcelona thanked Paulinho for his service to the club while confirming his season-long loan to Guangzhou Evergrande, who have a mandatory purchase option for the Brazilian midfielder. The 29-year-old, who signed from the Chinese Super League side last August, scored nine goals in 21 LaLiga starts during a successful season at Camp Nou in which Barcelona won a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double. In returning to Guangzhou, he has the opportunity to build on his record of 24 goals in 88 appearances for the Chinese Super League side... Читать дальше...

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) has taken a stand against "racist remarks" after Selecao midfielder Fernandinho was targeted with online abuse following the country's World Cup exit. The Manchester City star scored an own-goal in the 2-1 loss to Belgium that saw Brazil eliminated in the quarter-finals and he was subject to abusive posts and threats following the game. It was reported that the player's wife and mother were also targeted, causing the latter to close her Instagram account, leading the CBF to speak out on Sunday. Читать дальше...

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic is hoping his defence can repeat their heroics against Lionel Messi and Christian Eriksen when they face Harry Kane in the World Cup semi-final. Kane is two goals clear in the race for the Golden Boot, the England captain having fired the Three Lions into their first semi-final since 1990. Croatia have needed penalties to get through the last two rounds against Denmark and hosts Russia whereas England swept Sweden aside. But having seen Croatia hold off Argentina superstar Lionel Messi and Denmark talisman Eriksen... Читать дальше...

There were 32 teams, now there are just four.  The World Cup semi-finals are upon us, with either France, Belgium, England or Croatia set to lift the trophy at the end of Sunday's final in Moscow. Both semi-finals look too close to call, with no clear favourite for the title after five-time winners Brazil were beaten by Belgium in the last round. Without further ado, here is our guide to the World Cup semi-finals... France v Belgium Date, time and venue: Tuesday, July 10 (21:00 local time) - Krestovsky Stadium... Читать дальше...

Former Real Madrid and Roma forward Julio Baptista believes Cristiano Ronaldo could help Serie A "get back to the level of the past" if his move to Juventus goes through. Speculation over a transfer worth around €100 million to take the Portuguese star to Turin has increased since his country's elimination from the World Cup and Baptista said the capture of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would be a coup for Italian football. Baptista made the journey from Spain to Italy himself when he followed... Читать дальше...

Paulinho has returned to the Chinese Super League, agreeing a move from Barcelona to Guangzhou Evergrande after less than a year in LaLiga.

The only game in St Petersburg in our third full week out here was Sweden's forgettable 1-0 win over Switzerland. One of the region's temporary residents of course saw off the Scandinavians this weekend, but England's game against Colombia provided a truly memorable moment for the Omnisport contingent as we took in the penalty shoot-out drama alongside some vocal and gracious South Americans. There was time for an appallingly inaccurate prediction, dodgeball in Repino and American football on Krestovsky Island. Читать дальше...

Domagoj Vida says his pro-Ukraine comments in a social media video were not a "political message", with the Croatia defender having avoided a World Cup ban. FIFA warned Vida over his conduct after he and former Croatia international Ognjen Vukojevic appeared in a video after the quarter-final shoot-out victory over hosts Russia. Vida was filmed using the phrase "Glory to Ukraine", which has been used by Ukrainian anti-Russian nationalists, with FIFA's disciplinary code prohibiting "political slogans in any form". Читать дальше...

Nizhny Novgorod concluded hosting duties for the World Cup this week when it staged France's 2-0 quarter-final win over Uruguay. Antoine Griezmann was the star of that game and earned plenty of kudos on social media later for his gracious comments about how important the South American country has been to him in his career. Elsewhere, Omnisport decided to slap the notion of a 'rest day' square in the face by sending a reporter up and down the famous Chkalov Staircase, complete with some inspirational backing music. Читать дальше...

France defender Benjamin Pavard hailed Hugo Lloris' performance in Les Bleus' 2-0 World Cup victory over Uruguay and insists the goalkeeper has the full backing of his team-mates despite media criticism. Lloris arrived at the World Cup a man under scrutiny following errors in France's warm-up matches and a number of poor performances for Tottenham across the course of the 2017-18 season. He has since kept two clean sheets from four matches in Russia, including one in France's 2-0 quarter-final... Читать дальше...

Olivier Giroud put country before club by describing France captain Hugo Lloris as a better goalkeeper than Belgium's Thibaut Courtois. Chelsea striker Giroud will attempt to shatter the World Cup dreams of his club team-mate when their two nations meet in a blockbuster semi-final in St Petersburg on Tuesday. Both shot-stoppers enter the match in fine form, Courtois starring in Belgium's 2-1 quarter-final upset of Brazil while Lloris produced a stunning stop to help preserve a clean sheet in France's defeat of Uruguay. Читать дальше...

The race for Spain's vacant coaching position is set to intensify after Fernando Hierro's short-term tenure ended with a shock last-16 exit at the World Cup. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Saturday a new full-time appointment will be sought, with Hierro not returning to his sporting director role either. Julen Lopetegui's sacking on the eve of the World Cup meant Spain were always likely to need a new coach. Here, we assess six candidates who could step in and pick up the pieces for the 2010 world champions. Читать дальше...

FIFA has given Domagoj Vida a warning over his conduct but the Croatia defender is free to play against England in the World Cup semi-final.

Mesut Ozil owes Germany supporters an explanation over his pre-World Cup meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says president of the German FA (DFB) Reinhard Grindel. Ozil and Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan were photographed with controversial Turkey president Erdogan the day before Joachim Low's squad announcement, and were subsequently jeered by Germany fans. Both players have Turkish heritage and Manchester City midfielder Gundogan explained the meeting was not meant as a political statement. Читать дальше...

Kylian Mbappe is a phenomenon who will scare opponents such as World Cup semi-finalists Belgium, says former France coach Laurent Blanc. Mbappe has been one of the stars of the tournament, a contender for the Golden Ball, with a brilliant brace against Argentina announcing the 19-year-old on the world stage. The 19-year-old became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score more than once in a World Cup game, earning congratulations from the Brazil icon. Real Madrid denied reports they have... Читать дальше...

Kylian Mbappe admitted it will be bizarre to see former idol Thierry Henry backing Belgium in France's bid for a place in the World Cup final. Henry, a 1998 champion with Les Bleus, finds himself in a peculiar position leading into Tuesday's semi-final encounter in St Petersburg as he plots the downfall of his home nation. The former Arsenal forward has assisted Belgium boss Roberto Martinez since 2016 and could provide valuable insights into the team he represented on 123 occasions. Mbappe, long likened in playing style to Henry... Читать дальше...

FIFA is investigating Domagoj Vida's conduct after the Croatia international allegedly made anti-Russia comments following his side's quarter-final win against the World Cup hosts. Vida was on the scoresheet with an extra-time header as Croatia triumphed on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in Sochi on Saturday, booking a semi-final clash against England. But the Besiktas defender could be sanctioned prior to that game with FIFA looking into comments he seemingly made in a social media video. Читать дальше...

Fernando Hierro will not continue as Spain coach, or return to his previous role as sporting director, following the World Cup, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed. Hierro stepped up to become interim coach after Julen Lopetegui was sensationally sacked on the eve of the World Cup following the announcement he was to take charge at Real Madrid at the end of the tournament. Spain subsequently qualified from the group stage but went out to hosts Russia at the last-16 stage following a penalty shoot-out in Moscow. Читать дальше...

Normally one of the centrepieces of Britain's sporting summer, Wimbledon has been forced to compete for the public's attention with England's run to the World Cup semi-finals, and even three-time champion Novak Djokovic was not immune to the football fever that has swept through SW19. Djokovic, whose Serbia side were eliminated in the group stage in Russia, came from a set down to defeat home hope Kyle Edmund in four sets on Saturday, and later complained of receiving unfair treatment at the hands of a patriotic Centre Court crowd. Читать дальше...

West Ham have agreed a fee to sign Paraguay international Fabian Balbuena, according to the defender's current club Corinthians. The Brazilian champions confirmed Balbuena would travel to London to complete the deal after his release clause was met. An international since 2015, the 26-year-old had also been linked with Dutch outfit Ajax and Portuguese heavyweights Sporting CP. But he now appears set to become new manager Manuel Pellegrini's fourth signing for the Hammers following the arrivals Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianski and Ryan Fredericks.

Sergei Ignashevich has announced his retirement from football following Russia's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Croatia. The 38-year-old defender returned to the national team for the finals and played a key part in his side's surprise run to the last eight. Ignashevich played in all five of Russia's matches and scored in their two penalty shoot-outs in the knockout phase, including on Saturday in Sochi, where Croatia triumphed 4-3 after a 2-2 draw. The CSKA Moscow centre-back, who won a record 127 caps for his country... Читать дальше...

After three weeks and six matches, Samara's World Cup story came to an end on Saturday. The final act proved to be England's comfortable 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden, which set up a trip to Moscow and a last-four meeting with Croatia. That triumph proved a fine way for Omnisport to sign off from its stay in the city, at the end of a third and final week which featured Neymar, a (not so, as it turns out) psychic goat, and Harry Maguire's head. Enjoy our recap of the last seven days in Samara... Читать дальше...

Adama Diomande scored twice as Los Angeles FC continued their fairy tale debut season in MLS with a 4-1 home win over lowly Orlando City. Diomande and Latif Blessing scored in the space of four first-half minutes to put LAFC in control, as they looked to record a sixth win from seven games in all competitions. Sacha Kljestan pulled one back for the visitors, who were under new management in the form of James O'Connor, but Diomande and substitute Diego Rossi scored again late on to put LAFC second in the Western Conference. Читать дальше...

Luka Modric expects Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Real Madrid, despite widespread reports linking him with a move to Juventus. The 33-year-old has been tipped to join the Serie A champions in a deal worth in the region of €100million, with agent Jorge Mendes suggesting Ronaldo could be tempted to leave the Spanish capital in pursuit of a new challenge. Modric, though, hopes the five-time Ballon d'Or winner commits to a 10th season with the European champions and admits he find it hard to imagine Ronaldo at another team. Читать дальше...

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says it would not be strange to see Cristiano Ronaldo join Juventus, but warned Real Madrid against selling their star man. Speculation continues regarding the future of the Portuguese attacker with Juventus set to bid £88million for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo turns 34 next year, but supporters are still believe he is key to Real Madrid's success, and Calderon agrees, saying he hopes current president Florentino Perez can convince him to stay. Читать дальше...