Football Features

Knockout stages will be life or death says Pekerman

Knockout stages will be life or death says Pekerman

Colombia head coach Jose Pekerman said on Thursday that his side's upcoming round of 16 match will be a life-or-death game. 29 Jun 2018
Win over Japan not attempt to sugarcoat Poland's elimination says Nawalka

Win over Japan not attempt to sugarcoat Poland's elimination says Nawalka

Poland head coach Adam Nawalka said on Thursday that his team’s 1-0 victory over Japan is not an attempt to "sugarcoat" his team’s early elimination from the tournament, after they lost both of the opening games. 29 Jun 2018
Kane not named in England's starting XI against Belgium

Kane not named in England's starting XI against Belgium

England forward Harry Kane, who is the leading top scorer of the World Cup with five goals, has not been included in the starting lineup for England in their final World Cup group-stage match against Belgium, FIFA announced on their official website on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
World Cup best advertisement for Russia says Cisse

World Cup best advertisement for Russia says Cisse

Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse on Thursday praised Russia's organization of the 2018 World Cup which he thinks will become a great publicity for the country. 29 Jun 2018
Four Moscow hotels caught overcharging fans

Four Moscow hotels caught overcharging fans

The Moscow authorities have disclosed four cases of hotel services overpricing during the World Cup in Russia, Head of Moscow’s Department of Sport and Tourism Nikolay Gulyayev told Sputnik on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Morocco appeal to FIFA about injustice

Morocco appeal to FIFA about injustice

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino concerning refereeing mistakes that were made during Morocco's matches at this summer's World Cup in Russia, the federation said on its Twitter feed on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Strinic says Croatia will analyze entire Denmark team

Strinic says Croatia will analyze entire Denmark team

Croatia midfielder Ivan Strinic said on Thursday that they will be paying more attention to the entire Denmark squad and not only their midfielder Christian Eriksen in preparation for their round of 16 encounter. 29 Jun 2018
Subasic admits he likes Eriksen's style

Subasic admits he likes Eriksen's style

Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic said Thursday ahead of their round of 16 match against Denmark that he considered midfielder Christian Eriksen to be a fantastic player, even though his side does not single out any of their opponents. 29 Jun 2018
Mina named man of the match after scoring winner against Senegal

Mina named man of the match after scoring winner against Senegal

Colombia defender Yerry Mina was named the man of the match after he headed home the winner from a corner kick to secure Colombia's passage to the knockout phase at the World Cup. 29 Jun 2018
Belgian prime minister presents team's shirt to UK leader

Belgian prime minister presents team's shirt to UK leader

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel presented his country's national football team shirt to his UK counterpart Theresa May, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Bednarek named man of the match after victory over Japan

Bednarek named man of the match after victory over Japan

Poland defender Jan Bednarek was named the man of the match after the 22-year-old Southampton player scored the only goal of the game on Thursday in his side's 1-0 victory over Japan. 29 Jun 2018
Almost 42,000 fans attend Senegal v Colombia

Almost 42,000 fans attend Senegal v Colombia

A total of 41,970 fans attended the World Cup match between Senegal and Colombia in Samara, FIFA announced on its official website on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Over 42,000 fans attend Japan v Poland

Over 42,000 fans attend Japan v Poland

A total of 42,189 fans attended the World Cup match between Japan and Poland in Volgograd, FIFA announced on its website on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Japan reach round of 16 despite 1-0 loss to Poland

Japan reach round of 16 despite 1-0 loss to Poland

Japan were beaten 1-0 by Poland in their final Group H game at the World Cup in Volgograd on Thursday but still advanced to the knockout stage, knocking out Senegal because they received fewer yellow cards throughout the tournament. 29 Jun 2018
Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 to reach round of 16

Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 to reach round of 16

Colombia edged out Senegal 1-0 in their final Group H game in Samara on Thursday to move into the round of 16 at the World Cup. 29 Jun 2018
Lovren and Corluka resume training ahead of Denmark match

Lovren and Corluka resume training ahead of Denmark match

Croatia defenders Dejan Lovren and Vedran Corluka trained with the rest of the squad after missing the team's training session on Wednesday, a Sputnik correspondent reported Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Spanish football fan asks Putin to help bring drum to match

Spanish football fan asks Putin to help bring drum to match

Legendary football fan Manuel Caceres Artesero, better known as Manolo "el del bombo", which translates as Manolo The Bass Drummer, sent Russian President Vladimir Putin an e-mail asking to help him bring his bass drum, which he has been playing at Spain's matches for four decades, to Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium for the 2018 World Cup round of 16 encounter between Spain and Russia, Spanish media reported Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
About 400 Colombian fans arrive in Samara by single plane

About 400 Colombian fans arrive in Samara by single plane

About 400 Colombian fans arrived in Samara in a single plane to watch their national team's match against Senegal at the World Cup, the airport's press service said on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Moscow authorities ready to share organization experience with Qatar

Moscow authorities ready to share organization experience with Qatar

Moscow authorities will be happy to share their World Cup organization experience with Qatar, Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow, Emil Petrosyan, said on Thursday. 29 Jun 2018
Carvajal says Spain criticized despite two-year-long unbeaten run

Carvajal says Spain criticized despite two-year-long unbeaten run

Spain Defender Dani Carvajal said on Thursday that his team has been criticized for their performance at the World Cup in Russia, although Spain have not lost a match in the past two years and won their group at the tournament. 29 Jun 2018
Tourist traffic can grow by 10% in Moscow due World Cup

Tourist traffic can grow by 10% in Moscow due World Cup

The number of tourists visiting Moscow may increase by 10 percent due to the 2018 World Cup, Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of Moscow Emil Petrosyan said on Thursday. 28 Jun 2018