Croatia earned a comfortable 2-0 victory over a young Nigerian side in both sides’ first group match to lead the presumably group of ‘Death’ at the World Cup in Kaliningrad. An own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo put Croatia ahead and a second half Luka Modric penalty wrapped up the win. Croatia, with Modric and Ivan Rakitic running the midfield, largely controlled the game; and […]
Yussuf Poulsen ruined Peru‘s first appearance at a World Cup finals for 36 years on Saturday with the winning goal for Denmarkto seal a 1-0 victory in Saransk. Peru played an attacking game but it was Denmark’s more measured approach that saw them take home all three points. In a game that was largely devoid of any drama save […]
Iceland players and coaches maintained that they weren’t afraid of the World Cup stage or playing against Lionel Messi and Argentina. Then they went out and showed it. Iceland held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in Moscow, with Hannes Thor Halldorsson saving a Messi penalty kick just after the hour mark to preserve the draw. Sergio Aguero had opened the scoring in the 19th […]
AUSTRALIA failed to provide a World Cup boil over, going down in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat toFrance on Afternoon. The Socceroos came so close to pulling off a miracle but in the end France’s class and a stroke of luck gave Les Bleus a 2-1 victory. Risdon was in the thick things at the other end of the field, […]
Cristiano Ronaldo completed a hat trick with a perfectly taken free kick in the 88th minute to give Portugal a 3-3 draw against Spain on Friday at the World Cup. Ronaldo had twice given Portugal the lead with first-half goals, but Diego Costa equalized for Spain with a goal in each half. Nacho Fernandez then put the 2010 champions ahead with a one-timer from outside […]
Uruguay bagged a late winner as they began their World Cup campaign with a dramatic victory over Mohamed Salah‘s  Egypt. The Pharaohs had contained the match until the 90th minute when Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez headed powerfully into the net from Carlos Sanchez’s free-kick. Uruguay had been the better side as Luis Suarez had missed four chances and Edinson Cavani had hit the inside of a […]
Morocco‘s Aziz Bouhaddouz own goal in injury time made Iran win their first match at a World Cup finals since 1998 The substitute put the ball into his own net with a diving header at the near post in the 95th minute as Morocco defended a left-wing free-kick. Morocco wasted numerous chances in the first half and were denied […]
World Cup hosts Russia got off to the perfect start against helpless Saudi Arabia when Yury Gazinsky headed them ahead on 12 minutes. Russia doubled their lead just before half-time when Denis Cheryshev finished emphatically from close range. Substitute Artem Dzyuba made it 3-0 with his touch after coming on via his head with 19 minutes remaining. Cheryshev completed the scoreline with a breathtaking left-footed strike in […]