Новости за 23.06.2018

Immature and naive. That's the best way to describe Germany's performance. Germany may have avoided World Cup elimination at the hands of Sweden in Sochi on Saturday – a last-gasp 2-1 victory via Toni Kroos' stunning set-piece blowing Group F wide open – but the champions made life difficult for themselves. In the build up to the vital fixture, Joachim Low insisted Germany had learnt from their mistakes which saw them stunned by Mexico, triggering claims of squad disharmony. Low preached it would be different this time around. Читать дальше...

A triumph for cliché loversThere's a reason you never write them off. Just when it looked like Germany's 2018 World Cup fate was out of their own hands, suddenly it is again. Astonishingly, Joachim Low's team saved themselves from the brink of early elimination thanks to Toni Kroos's wondrous free-kick routine in the 95th minute which ended a match of toil and suffering.Ola Toivonen had given Sweden a stunning half-time lead with a glorious chip to match the occasion, but Marco Reus levelled things... Читать дальше...

Ivan Perisic wants to replicate the "miracle" of France 98 with Croatia's current band of in-form stars. Croatia entered their first World Cup 20 years ago and a much-celebrated team featuring the likes of Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker stormed to the semi-finals before falling foul Aime Jacquet's hosts and eventual winners. Authoritative wins over Nigeria and Argentina mean the Balkan nation are through to the knockout stages for the first time since and, driven by the midfield brilliance of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic... Читать дальше...

Former Inter and Argentina star Juan Sebastian Veron has questioned Jorge Sampaoli's decision to leave Mauro Icardi out of his World Cup squad, saying only the national team coach knows why the in-form goalscorer was excluded. Icardi scored 29 goals in 34 Serie A appearances in 2017-18 – his most prolific season since joining the club in 2013 – but only featured in three of Argentina's World Cup qualifying matches. Veron, who played for Inter on loan from Chelsea between 2004 and 2006 and made 73 appearances for Argentina... Читать дальше...

Gareth Southgate does not expect to have Dele Alli fit for England's clash against Panama but does not blame the midfielder for playing through the pain against Tunisia. Alli suffered a thigh injury during the 2-1 win in Volgograd but still managed to complete 80 minutes before being replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Tottenham star tweeted to say it was a "slight injury" but was still forced to sit out training on Thursday, although he did at least take part in some of Friday's session before the squad travelled to Nizhny Novgorod. Читать дальше...

Jan Oblak should be the next Atletico Madrid star to be given a new contract after Antoine Griezmann agreed a one-year extension, says Saul Niguez. Griezmann rejected interest from Barcelona to renew with Atleti, announcing he would stay at the Wanda Metropolitano in a televised documentary. Goalkeeper Oblak has a deal with Atleti until 2021, including a buyout option reportedly worth €100million, and Liverpool are among the clubs to have been linked with the 25-year-old. Saul is keen for Oblak to be tied down to improved terms... Читать дальше...

Both teams have already been eliminated from Russia 2018 but a World Cup record could tumble when Egypt take on Saudi Arabia. Mohamed Salah's return from his shoulder injury could not avert a 3-1 loss to hosts Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday, even though the Liverpool star netted a consolation from the penalty spot. On the back of a last-gasp 1-0 loss to Uruguay on the opening match day, it left the Pharaohs with only pride to play for against a Saudi Arabia side who salvaged some by going down... Читать дальше...

Poland coach Adam Nawalka is hopeful defender Kamil Glik will return to the pitch against Colombia on Sunday. Having lost their World Cup opener to Senegal 2-1, Poland's clash with the South Americans takes on extra importance, particularly given Jose Pekerman's side began their tournament with a defeat to Japan by the same scoreline. Glik missed their first game due a shoulder injury, which he sustained in a game of football-volleyball in training at the start of June. The news dealt them a significant... Читать дальше...

Brazil, Germany, Spain and France. In that order. Maybe Argentina and Portugal, because Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Oh, and Belgium. They have a golden generation. England? Ha, no way.That was most people's response when asked who the teams to watch would be at the World Cup.A fortnight into the tournament and two sides largely neglected - at least outside of home shores - have stolen the spotlight.Croatia stated their intention to do more than gallantly challenge a powerhouse before bowing out... Читать дальше...

England boss Gareth Southgate insists there is "no drama" between his squad and the media around the publication of what appeared to be a team sheet showing tactics for Sunday's game with Panama. Pictures were published of a piece of paper showing what looked to be a line-up and denoting possible changes to the team that beat Tunisia in last week's World Cup opener. Southgate and Kyle Walker initially questioned the decision to release the photos due to the risk of handing their opponents a possible... Читать дальше...

Javier Hernandez hit his 50th international goal to enhance Mexico's bid for a place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Hernandez scored Mexico's second goal in a 2-1 victory over South Korea at the Rostov Arena on Saturday. El Tri are firmly on course for the last 16, having overcome Germany in their opening Group F match. Hernandez, Mexico's record goalscorer, finished well with a near-post shot to add to a Carlos Vela penalty scored in the first half. 50 - Javier Hernandez has become the first player to score 50 goals for Mexico.

Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are the best central midfield pairing at the 2018 World Cup according to experienced Croatia defender Vedran Corluka. Real Madrid playmaker Modric and his Barcelona counterpart Rakitic have resumed their alliance for the national team to fine effect in Russia, with both scoring second-half goals as Argentina were dispatched 3-0 on Thursday. On the back of a 2-0 win over Nigeria that the duo controlled effortlessly, it meant Croatia's progress to the knockouts stages... Читать дальше...

Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira have been axed by Joachim Low for Germany's crucial World Cup showdown with Sweden in Sochi. Germany head coach Low defended Ozil in the build-up to Saturday's Group F fixture at Fisht Stadium after the underperforming Arsenal attacker was heavily scrutinised following a shock loss to Mexico. However, Low dropped Ozil for the game after 26 successive starts in major tournaments, with Germany's World Cup status in the balance. Khedira was also benched following a forgettable... Читать дальше...

The 2018 World Cup in Russia has already seen more penalties awarded than at the last tournament, with the impact of VAR clear. South Korea's Jang Hyun-soo conceded a spot-kick for handball against Mexico on Saturday, with Carlos Vela tucking away from 12 yards. It was the 14th penalty given by referees at Russia 2018, one more than the total amount during the whole of Brazil 2014. With VAR in place for the first time at the World Cup, a new record for spot-kicks awarded appears inevitable with... Читать дальше...

Neymar is "fully recovered" but Brazil coach Tite has been diagnosed with a thigh injury after his tumble during celebrations against Costa Rica, says team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar. Tite fell as he and his backroom staff celebrated Philippe Coutinho's late strike that set up a 2-0 win in Friday's Group E clash, Neymar adding the second goal in the seventh minute of added time. Neymar missed training in the build-up to the game after complaining of pain in his ankle, the Paris Saint-Germain star having... Читать дальше...

Douglas Costa and Danilo have been ruled out of Brazil's last World Cup group game against Serbia due to injury. The duo will not travel with the rest of the squad for Wednesday's closing Group E clash in Moscow. Danilo started Brazil's 1-1 opening draw against Switzerland but missed their 2-0 win over Costa Rica due to a hip problem, with Fagner deputising. Costa was influential off the bench as late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar downed Costa Rica on Friday. But the Juventus winger... Читать дальше...

Sadio Mane says Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah has the mental fortitude to bounce back from his early World Cup elimination with Egypt. Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to host nation Russia, combined with Uruguay's 1-0 success over Saudi Arabia, saw Egypt dumped out of the tournament after only two matches. Salah had missed the opening 1-0 loss to Uruguay as he struggled to recover from the shoulder injury that curtailed his involvement in the Champions League final at the end of May. Although he started... Читать дальше...

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman is toying with the idea of playing attacking midfielders James Rodriguez and Juan Fernando Quintero in tandem during Sunday's crucial World Cup clash with Poland. James was unable to start Colombia's World Cup opener, a 2-1 defeat to Japan, due to a calf issue and came on for Quintero, who scored their only goal, in the 59th minute. With Colombia needing to kickstart their campaign with a victory, Pekerman accepts he is likely to make changes to his team and playing... Читать дальше...

Jordi Alba hopes Spain can show more solidity defensively to complement their attacking panache as Fernando Hierro's side aim to seal a place in the knockout stages of the World Cup against Morocco. The 2010 winners battled to a 1-0 victory over Iran's massed defensive ranks in Kazan on Wednesday after playing out a 3-3 thriller with Group B leaders Portugal in their opening game. Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning hat-trick in Sochi came despite Spain controlling long passages of play and when Iran... Читать дальше...

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez claims Romelu Lukaku is not interested in claiming the World Cup Golden Boot but, on this evidence, he may not have a choice. Lukaku scored twice in the 5-2 rout of Tunisia in Moscow and produced a magnificent all-round centre-forward display. Following his opening-match brace against Panama, he now has four for the tournament and is level with Cristiano Ronaldo as leading goalscorer. The theory behind Martinez's point was that Lukaku was more interested in helping... Читать дальше...

Panama head coach Hernan Dario Gomez sees no reason why England's possible starting line-up being leaked ahead of Sunday's game should be any advantage to his players. Gareth Southgate admonished some members of the media after a team sheet hinting at changes in his XI for the meeting in Nizhny Novgorod was pictured and then made public. Gomez, though, insists it will make little difference who starts for the Three Lions due to the quality they have in the squad. "I think it doesn't give me any advantage," he told a news conference. Читать дальше...

Akira Nishino insists Japan will take a fearless approach into their clash against Senegal, although warned his side against focusing solely on the threat of Sadio Mane. Both teams won their opening Group H encounters and victory for either in Ekaterinburg means qualification for the last 16 will be assured if Poland and Colombia draw Sunday's subsequent fixture. When asked if he had made any special plans to combat livewire Liverpool forward Mane, the Blue Samurai coach suggested it would be foolhardy... Читать дальше...

Nigeria international Carl Ikeme has confirmed he is in remission after spending 12 months battling acute leukaemia. Wolves goalkeeper Ikeme, who missed the chance to be selected for the World Cup due to his treatment, was diagnosed after reporting for pre-season last year. But 32-year-old Ikeme has now given the football world a lift with a positive update via social media. "After a year of intense chemotherapy I would like to share that I am in complete REMISSION," Ikeme wrote on Twitter. "I still have hurdles to pass to be cured... Читать дальше...

Romelu Lukaku has become Belgium's all-time top scorer in major tournaments after his first-half brace in the Group G clash against Tunisia.  The Manchester United striker has now taken his tally to seven in the World Cup and European Championship for the Red Devils after making an outstanding start to Russia 2018. He scored twice in Belgium's 3-0 opening Group G game against Panama and needed just 45 minutes against Tunisia to score another double. His first was a drilled left-footed finish from... Читать дальше...

Karim Ansarifard is confident Iran will beat Portugal to qualify for the next round of the World Cup ahead of Monday's winner-takes-all Group B clash. Iran are third and only a point adrift of European champions Portugal and Spain leading in to the third and final matchday in Saransk. Carlos Quieroz's men were unfortunate not to at least claim a point against Spain on Wednesday, having an equaliser ruled out by VAR. It was an impressive performance against the 2010 world champions and Olympiacos... Читать дальше...