Football Features

Russia won't change tactics against Croatia - Paurevic

Russia won't change tactics against Croatia - Paurevic

Croatian midfielder Ivan Paurevic, who plays for Russian side Ufa, said Russia would use the same tactics against Croatia as they did against Spain in the World Cup round of 16. 6 Jul 2018
Injured Dzagoev preparing for Croatia - Russia coach

Injured Dzagoev preparing for Croatia - Russia coach

Russia head coach Stanislav Cherchesov said midfielder Alan Dzagoev was getting ready for the quarter-final match against Croatia at the FIFA World Cup. 6 Jul 2018
Sweden captain Granqvist 'barely slept last night' as wife gave birth to daughter

Sweden captain Granqvist 'barely slept last night' as wife gave birth to daughter

Sweden defender and captain Andreas Granqvist said he had "barely slept" on Thursday night when his wife was giving birth to their baby daughter. 6 Jul 2018
Sweden look to 'stop' Kane in Quarter-Final

Sweden look to 'stop' Kane in Quarter-Final

Sweden defender and captain Andreas Granqvist said his team will do their best to prevent England striker Harry Kane from finding the back of the net when the two teams play each other in the World Cup quarter-finals. 6 Jul 2018
LOC Chairman expects sell-out crowds at remaining World Cup games

LOC Chairman expects sell-out crowds at remaining World Cup games

Chairman of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Arkady Dvorkovich said he was confident that the rest of the World Cup games would be played in front of sell-out crowds. 6 Jul 2018
Moscow's free shuttle buses transported more than 300,000 fans

Moscow's free shuttle buses transported more than 300,000 fans

Free shuttle buses have transported more than 300,000 football fans in Moscow since the beginning of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the city's mayor's office said. 6 Jul 2018
FIFA invite 12 Thai children trapped in flooded cave to attend World Cup Final

FIFA invite 12 Thai children trapped in flooded cave to attend World Cup Final

FIFA has invited the 12 Thai boys and their football coach, who have been trapped in a flooded cave for nearly two weeks, to attend the FIFA World Cup final, which will take place in Moscow on July 15, the Thai Football Association said on its official Facebook page on Friday. 6 Jul 2018
Foreign visitors praise security level at World Cup

Foreign visitors praise security level at World Cup

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said Friday that foreign visitors had praised the level of security provided at the 2018 World Cup. 6 Jul 2018
Putin: Hosting 2018 World Cup will boost sports development in Russia

Putin: Hosting 2018 World Cup will boost sports development in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that hosting the 2018 World Cup would help boost the development of sports in the country. 6 Jul 2018
Ex-Russia Goalkeeper Expects Russia to Beat Croatia 2-1 in World Cup Quarter-Finals

Ex-Russia Goalkeeper Expects Russia to Beat Croatia 2-1 in World Cup Quarter-Finals

MOSCOW, July 6 (Sputnik) - Former Russia goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin told Sputnik on Friday that he expected Russia to defeat Croatia 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals, with Artem Dzyuba and Denis Cheryshev adding their names to the scoresheet. 6 Jul 2018
Injured Zhirkov only absentee from Russia training

Injured Zhirkov only absentee from Russia training

All Russia players participated in the group training on Friday, except for midfielder Yuri Zhirkov, who trained individually ahead of his side's World Cup quarter-final against Croatia. 6 Jul 2018
Baby boy named Lionel in Kazan after Messi

Baby boy named Lionel in Kazan after Messi

A newborn baby boy has been named Lionel in the Russian city of Kazan, which saw Argentina captain Lionel Messi bow out of the FIFA World Cup on June 30, the city's mayor's office said. 6 Jul 2018
Qatar Consults Russia's Organizing Committee Over Hosting Next World Cup - LOC

Qatar Consults Russia's Organizing Committee Over Hosting Next World Cup - LOC

SOCHI, July 6 (Sputnik) - Qatar, who won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is consulting the organizing committee of this year's tournament, Chairman of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Arkady Dvorkovich told Sputnik on Friday. 6 Jul 2018
Putin Says Russia Hosting FIFA World Cup 'On a High Note'

Putin Says Russia Hosting FIFA World Cup 'On a High Note'

MOSCOW, July 6 (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia was hosting the FIFA World Cup "on a high note" and that the tournament had sprung a lot of surprises. 6 Jul 2018
Vardy misses England training

Vardy misses England training

England striker Jamie Vardy missed Friday's group training session ahead of the quarter-final match against Sweden, which is set to take place on Sunday morning. 6 Jul 2018
Russians Believe National Team More Likely to Win FIFA World Cup Than Brazil - Poll

Russians Believe National Team More Likely to Win FIFA World Cup Than Brazil - Poll

MOSCOW, July 6 (Sputnik) - Russians believe that their national team is more likely to win this year's FIFA World Cup than five-time former World Cup winners Brazil, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed on Friday. 6 Jul 2018
Majority of Russians Believe National Team Can Beat Croatia in Quarter-Final - Poll

Majority of Russians Believe National Team Can Beat Croatia in Quarter-Final - Poll

MOSCOW, July 6 (Sputnik) - Almost 60 percent of Russians believe that the national team can defeat Croatia in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed on Friday. 6 Jul 2018
Formula One champion Hamilton to attend World Cup Final if England in - reports

Formula One champion Hamilton to attend World Cup Final if England in - reports

Four-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton will go to Russia for the FIFA World Cup if England make it to the final, UK media reported on Thursday. 6 Jul 2018
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Hopes to Come to Moscow for World Cup Final

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Hopes to Come to Moscow for World Cup Final

ROME, July 6 (Sputnik) - Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday night that he hoped he would come to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup final match. 6 Jul 2018
FIFA Croatia $70,000 for violating marketing rules

FIFA Croatia $70,000 for violating marketing rules

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee fined the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) over $70,000 (AUS $95,400) for violating media and marketing rules at the World Cup in Russia., 6 Jul 2018
Qatar 2022 could adopt Russia's FAN IDs

Qatar 2022 could adopt Russia's FAN IDs

Head of the Qatar 2022 Local Organizing Committee Hassan Al Thawadi told Sputnik on Thursday that Qatar could adopt Russia's 2018 FIFA World Cup experience and implement FAN IDs. 6 Jul 2018