Football Features

Rashford to resume training after knee injury

Rashford to resume training after knee injury

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford will resume training with England on Friday, after training individually for two days, British media reported Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Zhirkov Says Win Over Saudi Arabia Was Not Easy

Zhirkov Says Win Over Saudi Arabia Was Not Easy

Russia midfielder Yuri Zhirkov said on Thursday that Russia’s victory over Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup opening game was not easy. 15 Jun 2018
Samedov Says Russia Should Not Get Carried Away

Samedov Says Russia Should Not Get Carried Away

Russia midfielder Aleksandr Samedov said on Thursday that the team “should not get carried away” after winning the opening game of the World Cup, and that other important matches still lie ahead. 15 Jun 2018
Belgian Foreign Minister to Attend World Cup Match

Belgian Foreign Minister to Attend World Cup Match

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders will attend the FIFA World Cup Belgium-Tunisia match, which will take place in Moscow on 23 June, the Belgian Foreign Ministry’s press service told Sputnik on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Gazinsky Says Team Should Forget Win Quickly

Gazinsky Says Team Should Forget Win Quickly

Russia midfielder Yurt Gazinskiy said on Thursday that his team should quickly forget about their victory against Saudi Arabia. 15 Jun 2018
Cheryshev Lost for Words After Russia's Victory Saudi Arabia

Cheryshev Lost for Words After Russia's Victory Saudi Arabia

Villarreal winger Denis Cheryshev said on Thursday he was “lost for words” to describe his feelings after scoring a double in the World Cup opening match. 15 Jun 2018
Cheryshev Says He Never Dreamt of Anything Like This

Cheryshev Says He Never Dreamt of Anything Like This

Russia midfielder Cheryshev said on Thursday that he never dreamt of scoring twice on his World Cup debut and would just be happy to be a part of Russia's squad.  15 Jun 2018
Saudi Arabia Head Coach Laughs When Asked If He Would Step Down

Saudi Arabia Head Coach Laughs When Asked If He Would Step Down

Saudi Arabia head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi laughed, when reporters suggested he might think of stepping down after his team lost 5-0 to Russia in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Cherchesov Says Dzagoev Injury Is A Major Blow

Cherchesov Says Dzagoev Injury Is A Major Blow

Russia head coach Stanislav Cherchesov said on Thursday that he did not want to lose midfielder Alan Dzagoev due to injury, since every member of his squad was important. 15 Jun 2018
Ball From Space Used at World Cup Opening Ceremony

Ball From Space Used at World Cup Opening Ceremony

The official FIFA Telstar-18 ball, which was brought down to Earth from orbit on Sunday, was used during the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, a spokesperson for Russia's State Corporation for Space Activities, Roscosmos, told Sputnik on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Hierro Is Best Option for Spain Says Ramos

Hierro Is Best Option for Spain Says Ramos

Spain captain Sergio Ramos said on Thursday that the sacking of Julen Lopetegui as Spain head coach ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was was a tough moment, but appointing Fernando Hierro was the best option considering the circumstances. 15 Jun 2018
Belgium Players to Get Over $515,000 Each If Team Wins World Cup

Belgium Players to Get Over $515,000 Each If Team Wins World Cup

Each Belgium player will be paid more than $515,000 if the team wins the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, a source close to the Royal Belgian Football Association told Sputnik on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Putin Congratulates Russian Coach on Victory Over Saudi Arabia

Putin Congratulates Russian Coach on Victory Over Saudi Arabia

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian national football team coach Stanislav Cherchesov in a telephone conversation over the team’s victory in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, a Sputnik correspondent reported. 15 Jun 2018
Tabarez Says Suarez Has Matured Since 2014

Tabarez Says Suarez Has Matured Since 2014

Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez said Thursday that he believed Uruguay forward Luis Suarez had matured both as a player and as a person since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 15 Jun 2018
Santos Says Portugal-Spain Game Can Be A Classic

Santos Says Portugal-Spain Game Can Be A Classic

Portugal head coach Fernando Santos said on Thursday that his team's match against Spain will become a "classic" because the teams "know each other well" and want to win the FIFA World Cup in Russia. 15 Jun 2018
Cuper Says Team Is Focusing On Winning

Cuper Says Team Is Focusing On Winning

Egypt head coach Hector Cuper said on Thursday that his team was focusing on winning their first game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and were not willing to get distracted by anything else. 15 Jun 2018
Witsel Says It's Good to Be Back to Russia

Witsel Says It's Good to Be Back to Russia

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, who played for Zenit St. Petersburg between 2012 and 2017, says it feels good to be back to Russia and play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgian media reported Thursday.  15 Jun 2018
Ramos Likes To Play Alongside Ronaldo, Not Against Him

Ramos Likes To Play Alongside Ronaldo, Not Against Him

Spain captain Sergio Ramos said on Thursday that he likes playing "alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, not against him," while his team prepares for the FIFA World Cup match against Portugal. 15 Jun 2018
Blatter Congratulates Russia On Winning World Cup Opener

Blatter Congratulates Russia On Winning World Cup Opener

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter congratulated World Cup hosts Russia on beating Saudi Arabia in the opening match at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Over 78,000 Fans Attended World Cup Opening Match

Over 78,000 Fans Attended World Cup Opening Match

The opening match of the 2018 World Cup between Russia and Saudi Arabia was attended by 78,011 spectators, the FIFA press service reported on Thursday. 15 Jun 2018
Trippier Says National Team Is More Than Just Kane

Trippier Says National Team Is More Than Just Kane

England defender Kieran Trippier said on Thursday that there was more to the national team than just their start forward Harry Kane. 15 Jun 2018