Новости за 01.07.2018

1. Hosts march on as Spain put to the swordWhen Spain took the lead against Russia through a SergeiIgnashevich own goal in the 12th minute, it was presumed they would ease to a comfortable victory to book their place in the quarter-finals. Instead, Artem Dzyuba levelled the scores from the penalty spot before half-time asLa Rojawere continually frustrated in their attempts to break down the hosts' well-manned rearguard.Spain didn't do enough as they searched for a winner inbothregulation time and the additional 30 minutes... Читать дальше...

The plot to a stunning World Cup has thickened over the past week with the group stages coming to a dramtic denouement. Although Moscow wasn't at the heart of some of the crunch encounters, it witnessed Brazil's progression and, less noteworthy, the tournament's only goalless draw between France and Denmark. It also saw the first penalty shoot-out as Russia edged out Spain in the last 16 thanks to two Igor Akinfeev saves. Take in the colour of the past seven days in Moscow in our Twitter moment below... Читать дальше...

Neymar, Luis Suarez and Senegal's dancing proved the highlights of Omnisport's second week of Russia 2018 in Samara. Suarez was on target as Uruguay defeated the hosts to finish as Group A winners, two days before Aliou Cisse's Senegal impressed with their choreographed jig to warm up ahead of training. Alas, they could not sashay their way into the second round following a 1-0 loss to Colombia, whose fans provided plenty of noise and colour in equal measure. Their passion was rivalled by that of Brazil's supporters... Читать дальше...

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has called on FIFA to revise its fair play ruling which resulted in their World Cup exit on Thursday. Senegal's 1-0 loss to Colombia in their Group H closer meant they finished third in the final table, below Japan thanks to their count of six bookings compared to the four collected by their pool rivals. Fair play points are being used to settle groups for the first time at a World Cup, with Japan and Senegal finishing with the same number of points and... Читать дальше...

Andres Iniesta has confirmed his international retirement after Spain's shock penalty shoot-out defeat to Russia resulted in their World Cup elimination. Among the favourites for the trophy heading into the tournament, Spain joined the likes of Germany, Portugal and Argentina in making an early exit when Igor Akinfeev kept out Iago Aspas' penalty in Moscow. Iniesta started on the bench on Sunday, coming on midway through the second half as Spain attempted to retake the lead cancelled out by Artem Dzyuba's spot-kick... Читать дальше...

Switzerland forward Breel Embolo hopes to round off a dream week by securing a place in the World Cup quarter-finals when his country face Sweden in St Petersburg. Embolo flew straight home from Switzerland's 2-2 draw in their final Group E game against Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod to attend the birth of his daughter, who was born late on Thursday. "It was perfect timing," the Schalke youngster told reporters. "I went straight to the hospital from the airport and arrived just in time. "I'm delighted. Читать дальше...

It was perhaps fitting that a World Cup campaign that started under a storm cloud finished in identical fashion. The rain hammered the turf at the Luzhniki Stadium and Spain wilted under the deluge. As in every penalty shoot-out there has to be heroes and villains, or victims depending on your levels of compassion. Igor Akinfeev was the former, twice diving to his right to pull off saves, to leave Koke and Iago Aspas with a memory they will be reminded of for the rest of their days. That it got... Читать дальше...

Thiago Silva hopes Neymar can emulate the pair's Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mappe in inspiring their country through to the World Cup quarter-finals. On Saturday, Mbappe scored twice as France edged Lionel Messi's Argentina 4-3 in an all-time classic, before Cavani also netted a brace in Uruguay's 2-1 victory to send Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo packing. Monday sees Neymar and Brazil face Mexico in Samara with many tipping the five-time champions to go all the way and lift the trophy in Moscow on July 15. Читать дальше...

David de Gea's awful World Cup ended on Sunday as Spain were dumped out of the tournament by hosts Russia, who won a penalty shoot-out 4-3 in Moscow. After a 1-1 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium, De Gea's opposite number Igor Akinfeev was the hero for Russia, saving penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas. De Gea did not save any of Russia's four kicks, with Denis Cheryshev among those to score with relatively poor efforts. Spain's number one made a terrible mistake to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to score... Читать дальше...

Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio described Brazil as "the best team in the world" but insisted his side would not take a backward step in Samara on Monday. The two nations meet in the World Cup last 16, the stage at which El Tri have fallen in each of the past six tournaments - giving rise to the so-called "curse of the fifth game". Five-time champions Brazil are touted as many people's favourites to claim a sixth crown in Russia, and Osorio was fulsome in his praise of Tite's men in his pre-match media conference on Sunday. Читать дальше...

Spain fell victim to the curse of the favourites at the 2018 World Cup when they were knocked out by hosts Russia, who produced one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history. Following the elimination of reigning champions Germany in the group stages and defeats for Argentina and Portugal in Saturday's round of 16 matches, Spain were held to a 1-1 draw at Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday and lost 4-3 on penalties to Russia – the lowest ranked team in the World Cup – who had managed just one shot on target in 120 minutes of football. Читать дальше...

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has confirmed that the Supercopa de Espana between Barcelona and Sevilla could be a one-off game. The game - played between the winners of LaLiga and the Copa del Rey - has historically been played over two games in August. Because Sevilla - who were thumped 5-0 in last season's Copa del Rey final by Barca - will play Europa League qualifiers in August, LaLiga are open to playing a single game, reducing the impact on both sides' early league fixtures. "My opinion is that there is a calendar... Читать дальше...

Japan defender Gen Shoji is braced for the challenge of facing Romelu Lukaku at the World Cup, but he knows the Manchester United striker will not be Belgium's only attacking option in Rostov-on-Don. Lukaku has been highlighted as the chief threat of the Red Devils against a Japan backline that could struggle to cope with the pace and power of the in-form 25-year-old during the round-of-16 tie. He will be joined in attack by the likes of Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens, though, leaving Shoji to remind... Читать дальше...

Russia midfielder Aleksandr Erokhin made World Cup history when he became the first player to enter the field as the fourth substitute in extra-time against Spain. With the two teams tied at 1-1 and seven minutes of extra-time played, Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov opted to take advantage of FIFA's new ruling, which allows a fourth substitution to be made in the extra 30 minutes. Erokhin, who plays his club football for Zenit, replaced Daler Kuzyaev as Russia looked for a way to turn the tide of attacks from Fernando Hierro's men. Читать дальше...

France might have five full days to rest before their World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay but Antoine Griezmann is unable to get a bit of shut-eye without being roundly mocked by his team-mates. The Atletico Madrid star was at the heart of France's thrilling 4-3 victory over Argentina in the round of 16 on Saturday, scoring the opening goal of the game from the penalty spot and causing the South Americans' defence problems throughout. His efforts took their toll and when he stretched out for... Читать дальше...

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez says all of his players are desperate to be on the pitch ahead of the World Cup round-of-16 clash with Japan in Rostov-on-Don. Having sealed passage from Group G with a match remaining, Martinez made sweeping changes to his starting XI for the 1-0 win over a similarly fringe England team in Kaliningrad. Finishing top with a 100 per cent record earned Belgium a meeting with the Samurai Blue at Rostov Arena, where a host of first-choice stars, including Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku... Читать дальше...

Jesse Lingard has credited England manager Gareth Southgate with overseeing a "revolution" that has brought a feel-good factor back to the national side. England face Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup in Moscow on Tuesday, aiming to win their first knockout game at a major competition since 2006. Set up in Southgate's bold 3-1-4-2 formation, the Three Lions scored eight goals over the course of group wins against Tunisia and Panama before a heavily rotated line-up were beaten 1-0 by Belgium. Читать дальше...

Eden Hazard backed his decision to call out Romelu Lukaku for "hiding" in Belgium's World Cup opener against Panama, saying it helped bring the best out of the striker. The Red Devils went in goalless at half-time against the Central American minnows, and team captain Hazard took Lukaku to one side to encourage the Manchester United target man to get more involved in the game. Lukaku scored two of Belgium's three second-half goals that day and added two more in a 5-2 victory over Tunisia, with Hazard also netting a brace in that match. Читать дальше...

The second week of the World Cup in Rostov-on-Don began with the city's feverish support for their adopted team, Iceland. Having three Iceland internationals on the books of FC Rostov ensured the locals would be backing Heimir Hallgrimsson's men against Croatia, but the Nordic underdogs were unable to progress to the round of 16. Omnisport's team on the ground took the opportunity of a break ahead of the knockout stages to visit Volgograd by sleeper, where the city's tragic history proved a fascinating prelude to Poland's 1-0 win over Japan. Читать дальше...

Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard hopes to seize on the early departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to become the star of the World Cup. Argentina lost 4-3 to France in the first match of the round of 16 on Saturday, and Portugal joined them in making a swift exit when they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay later the same day. The absence of two players who have monopolised the Ballon d'Or and dominated the headlines at club and international level for more than a decade has left room for a rival to grab the spotlight in Russia... Читать дальше...

Alexander Zverev has been mocked by friend Marcelo Melo over Germany's exit from the 2018 World Cup, and he insists the tournament is over as far as he is concerned. World champions Germany crashed out in the opening stage of the tournament for the first time in 80 years after a 2-0 defeat to South Korea in Group F. And Zverev, the country's top-ranked tennis star, has been the object of Brazilian player Melo's fun. World number three Zverev is turning his attention to Wimbledon, claiming there... Читать дальше...

Antoine Griezmann says it will be "very emotional" to face Diego Godin in a World Cup quarter-final as his Atletico Madrid team-mate is godfather to his youngest daughter. Greizmann scored from the penalty spot as France beat Argentina 4-3, with Uruguay edging past Portugal 2-1 later on Saturday to set up the last-eight clash at Russia 2018. Godin and another Atletico player, Jose Gimenez, have formed the meanest defence at the finals, conceding just once in seven matches this year. And although... Читать дальше...

Philippe Coutinho is flourishing in Neymar's shadow and could prove instrumental in Brazil claiming a sixth World Cup, according to Roberto Carlos. The Barcelona star has scored twice in Brazil's three games so far at Russia 2018, while Neymar has found the net just once - hitting home the second in the 2-0 win over Costa Rica. Such is Neymar's global appeal, the Paris Saint-Germain forward still dominates headlines despite his team-mate's more impressive performances. Former Selecao full-back... Читать дальше...

Andres Iniesta, the hero of Spain's 2010 World Cup final win over the Netherlands, was dropped for Sunday's last-16 clash with Russia in Moscow. Iniesta has failed to shine thus far and is replaced by Real Madrid's Marco Asensio as one of three changes made by Fernando Hierro. Thiago and Dani Carvajal were also named on the bench with Nacho and Koke handed places in the starting XI. Arguably more surprising was the decision taken by Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov to leave out Denis Cheryshev. Читать дальше...

Marcelo appears set to start for Brazil against Mexico after the Real Madrid defender took part in training for the Selecao in Samara on Sunday. The left-back lasted just 10 minutes of Brazil's 2-0 Group E win over Serbia on Wednesday, when he was forced off with back spasms and replaced by Filipe Luis. Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar suggested a hotel mattress may have been the cause of the issue, but remained optimistic that Marcelo would recover in time to face Group F runners-up Mexico in the last 16 on Monday. Читать дальше...