Football Features

Niang named man of the match against Poland

Niang named man of the match against Poland

Senegal forward M'Baye Niang was named the man of the match after his team's 2-1 win over Poland in their first game of the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday, FIFA said on their official website. 20 Jun 2018
Niang says team played to their strengths against Poland

Niang says team played to their strengths against Poland

Senegal forward Mbaye Niang said Tuesday that team "played to their strengths" during their 2-1 win against Poland. 20 Jun 2018
Pizzi says team will do whatever it takes to beat Uruguay

Pizzi says team will do whatever it takes to beat Uruguay

Saudi Arabia head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said on Tuesday that his team would "do whatever it takes to defeat Uruguay" in their World Cup group stage encounter. 20 Jun 2018
Kolobkov has great expectations ahead of Egypt clash

Kolobkov has great expectations ahead of Egypt clash

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said on Tuesday that he had “great” expectations for the World Cup match between the hosts Russia and Egypt. 20 Jun 2018
Millions watch World Cup on TV across the globe

Millions watch World Cup on TV across the globe

Brazil’s first match at the 2018 World Cup has become the most viewed sports television broadcast in the country this year, FIFA’s press service reported on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Over 100,000 foreign fans have consulted volunteers in Moscow

Over 100,000 foreign fans have consulted volunteers in Moscow

More than 100,000 foreign fans have consulted FIFA World Cup volunteers and employees of the Moscow metro at the various information stands since the 2018 World Cup kicked off on Thursday, the Moscow metro's press service told Sputnik on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Sanchez's red card was a great loss says Cuadrado

Sanchez's red card was a great loss says Cuadrado

Colombia midfielder Juan Cuadrado said on Tuesday that Carlos Sanchez's early dismissal in the World Cup match against Japan had been a "great loss" for the team. 20 Jun 2018
Colombia’s defeat to Japan is no big deal says Falcao

Colombia’s defeat to Japan is no big deal says Falcao

Colombia forward Radamel Falcao said on Tuesday that his team’s defeat to Japan in group H was “no big deal,” as there were still two games to play in the group stage. 20 Jun 2018
Salah starts against Russia

Salah starts against Russia

Egypt striker Mohamed Salah will start his side’s World Cup Group A game with Russia on Tuesday, the Egyptian national team said via its official Twitter feed. 20 Jun 2018
Al-Jassim says team will try to live up to fans' hopes against Uruguay

Al-Jassim says team will try to live up to fans' hopes against Uruguay

Saudi Arabia midfielder Taisir Al-Jassim said Tuesday that his team would try to "live up to their fans' hopes" in their second World Cup group stage match. 20 Jun 2018
Neymar leaves training session after 15 minutes

Neymar leaves training session after 15 minutes

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker Neymar left Tuesday's training session after just 15 minutes, the Spanish media reported on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Polish fans are enjoying World Cup in Russia

Polish fans are enjoying World Cup in Russia

Polish football fans, who came to Russia for the World Cup, are speaking positively of the country, while they are enjoying the tournament's atmosphere, Polish football agent Mariusz Piekarski told Sputnik on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Cheryshev and Dzyuba start for Russia

Cheryshev and Dzyuba start for Russia

Midfielder Denis Cheryshev, who scored a double for Russia in their 5-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia in the World Cup opener, and striker Artem Dzyuba will start for the national team in their match against Egypt, the team said Tuesday via their official Twitter account. 20 Jun 2018
Tabarez says Suarez is team's key player

Tabarez says Suarez is team's key player

Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez said on Tuesday that striker Luis Suarez had been the "key player" in most of the matches he has played for his country. 20 Jun 2018
Senegal beat Poland 2-1 to become first African team to win at 2018 World Cup

Senegal beat Poland 2-1 to become first African team to win at 2018 World Cup

Senegal have become the first African team to win a match at this summer's World Cup after Aliou Cisse's men beat Poland 2-1 in Moscow on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Poland and Senegal played in front of sell-out crowd

Poland and Senegal played in front of sell-out crowd

The World Cup Group H match between Poland and Senegal, which is taking place at Moscow's Spartak Stadium, is being played in front of a sell-out crowd of 44,190 supporters. 20 Jun 2018
Saudi Arabia will be striving to defeat Uruguay says Muslera

Saudi Arabia will be striving to defeat Uruguay says Muslera

Saudi Arabia will be doing their best to win their upcoming World Cup match against Uruguay, the South American side’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera said on Tuesday. 20 Jun 2018
Osako says he's happy to fulfill childhood dream

Osako says he's happy to fulfill childhood dream

Japan forward Yuya Osako said Tuesday that his childhood dream came true after he scored in Japan's 2-1 World Cup win against Colombia. 20 Jun 2018
Mostovoi says pain may hamper Salah

Mostovoi says pain may hamper Salah

Former Russia midfielder Aleksandr Mostovoi told Sputnik Tuesday that pain might hamper Egypt star striker Mohamed Salah during the upcoming World Cup match between Russia and Egypt. 20 Jun 2018
AfD Party members question motivation of German footballers of Turkish descent

AfD Party members question motivation of German footballers of Turkish descent

German national football team players of Turkish origin may not be as motivated to win the 2018 World Cup as the rest of the team, members of Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party told Sputnik. 20 Jun 2018
Russia should welcome the visit of Japanese princess says Chepa

Russia should welcome the visit of Japanese princess says Chepa

Russia should welcome the visit of Japanese Princess Hisako, as it demonstrates Tokyo's readiness for a dialogue with Moscow, Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee Aleksei Chepa told Sputnik. 20 Jun 2018