Football Features

Egypt match to be ‘key'

Egypt match to be ‘key'

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Lokomotiv Moscow and former Russia head coach Yuri Semin said on Monday that the match against Egypt would be Russia’s “key” group-stage game at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. 4 Jun 2018
Brothers could shine at FIFA World Cup

Brothers could shine at FIFA World Cup

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Lokomotiv Moscow head coach Yuri Semin said on Monday that he believed that Lokomotiv and Russia players, midfielder Anton Miranchuk and his twin brother striker Aleksey Miranchuk, had a chance to show their worth at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 4 Jun 2018
Injured Kompany in Belgium squad

Injured Kompany in Belgium squad

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, who picked up a groin injury in Belgium's friendly goalless draw against Portugal on Saturday, has been included in the country's final 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the team announced Monday. 4 Jun 2018
Russia hold full-squad training session in Moscow

Russia hold full-squad training session in Moscow

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - The Russian national football team held a full-squad training session at Moscow's CSKA Arena on Monday, a day before welcoming Turkey at the stadium for their last friendly match ahead of this summer's FIFA World Cup. 4 Jun 2018
Neymar happy to be back, but only 80% ready

Neymar happy to be back, but only 80% ready

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker Neymar, who played in his first match on Sunday after being sidelined for three months with foot injury, says he is 80 percent ready for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, French media reported. 4 Jun 2018
Moscow metro to get more English signs for World Cup

Moscow metro to get more English signs for World Cup

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Moscow metro maps and navigation signs will be available in English on another 34 metro stations in the Russian capital by the time the FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 14, the city mayor's office said Monday. 4 Jun 2018
Veteran Marquez in Mexico's final World Cup squad

Veteran Marquez in Mexico's final World Cup squad

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Veteran midfielder Rafael Marquez has been included in Mexico's final squad for this summer's FIFA World Cup in Russia, the team announced on Twitter Monday. 4 Jun 2018
Striker Guerrero included in Peru's final World Cup squad

Striker Guerrero included in Peru's final World Cup squad

Peru all-time top goalscorer Paolo Guerrero has been named in the country's final FIFA World Cup squad, the Peruvian Football Federation announced on Twitter Monday. 4 Jun 2018
Saudi Arabia Names Final 23-man Squad for FIFA World Cup in Russia

Saudi Arabia Names Final 23-man Squad for FIFA World Cup in Russia

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Saudi Arabia head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has named his final 23-man squad that will travel to Russia for the FIFA World Cup this summer, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced on its official website Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Austrian pollie to Attend 2018 World Cup Opening

Austrian pollie to Attend 2018 World Cup Opening

VIENNA, June 4 (Sputnik) - Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Sports Minister Heinz-Christian Strache will pay a visit to Moscow to attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinskiy told Sputnik. 4 Jun 2018
Akhmat Grozny Defender Semeyonov Right Choice for Russia World Cup Squad - Club

Akhmat Grozny Defender Semeyonov Right Choice for Russia World Cup Squad - Club

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - According to the Russian club Akhmat Grozny President Magomed Daudov, the club's defender Andrei Semyonov deserved his place in the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. 4 Jun 2018
Spain Held by Switzerland

Spain Held by Switzerland

MOSCOW, June 4 (Sputnik) - Spain held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Villarreal in a friendly match ahead of the 2018 World Cup on Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Guerrero at the double as Peru smash Saudi Arabia

Guerrero at the double as Peru smash Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia lost 3-0 to Peru in a friendly match held in Switzerland on Sunday ahead of 2018 FIFA World Cup. 4 Jun 2018
Neuer Cleared For World Cup

Neuer Cleared For World Cup

MOSCOW, June 3 (Sputnik) - Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been cleared by doctors to play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer, Bundesliga said on their official website on Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Nicklas Bendtner left out of Denmark's 2018 World Cup squad

Nicklas Bendtner left out of Denmark's 2018 World Cup squad

Forward Nicklas Bendtner has been left out of the Denmark's 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Danish Football Association said on Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Costa Rica Beat Northern Ireland

Costa Rica Beat Northern Ireland

MOSCOW, June 3 (Sputnik) - Northern Ireland suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Costa Rica in a friendly match held in San Jose on Sunday ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 4 Jun 2018
Romanian Referee Hategan to Officiate Russia-Turkey Pre-World Cup Friendly

Romanian Referee Hategan to Officiate Russia-Turkey Pre-World Cup Friendly

MOSCOW, June 3 (Sputnik) - Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan will take charge of Russia’s last warm-up game before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Turkey on June 5, the Russian Football Union said Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Neymar back and scoring in 2-0 Brazil win over Croatia

Neymar back and scoring in 2-0 Brazil win over Croatia

MOSCOW, June 3 (Sputnik) - Brazil beat Croatia 2-0 in a friendly at the Anfield in Liverpool on Sunday. 4 Jun 2018
Cafu leads FIFA Legends to victory

Cafu leads FIFA Legends to victory

KALININGRAD, June 3 (Sputnik) - A team of FIFA legends beat a side of former Russian internationals 6-4 in a friendly at the Football Park in Kaliningrad, a festival traveling around Russian cities that will host this summer's FIFA World Cup. 4 Jun 2018
Neustaedter 'Shocked' At Missing Out On World Cup Squad

Neustaedter 'Shocked' At Missing Out On World Cup Squad

MOSCOW, June 3 (Sputnik) - Thirty-year-old Fenerbahce and Russia defender Roman Neustaedter says he is in "shock" after not being included in the Russia's final World Cup squad. 4 Jun 2018
Bright Future For Chalov, Tashayev

Bright Future For Chalov, Tashayev

KALININGRAD, June 3 (Sputnik) - Krylia Sovetov Samara head coach and former Russia midfielder Andrey Tikhonov said on Sunday that CSKA Moscow forward Fedor Chalov and Dynamo Moscow midfielder Aleksandr Tashayev should not feel too despondent about not being picked for the World Cup as they will get the opportunity to play in major tournaments in the future. 4 Jun 2018