A late Perisic goal and  Milan Badelj  opener denied Iceland their attempt to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in top Group D. Iceland needed a win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16, and their colourful support looked dejected as their side missed key chances late in the first half. Alfred Finnbogason and Birkir Bjarnason both […]
Marcos Rojo‘s late volley sent Argentina through to the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup with a dramatic victory over Nigeria. Argentina were on the verge of an embarrassing exit, before Manchester United defender Rojo placed Gabriel Mercado‘s cross into the bottom corner. Lionel Messi, who had scored a brilliant opener, jumped on Rojo’s back as he sprinted away in delirious […]
Peru heaped more misery on the Socceroos when it made it 2-0 early in the second half. A deflected shot inside the box bobbled away and Guerrero was quickest to react, sweating on the bouncing ball and hitting it first time with his left foot. That strike hit Mark Milligan and the latest deflection gave goalkeeper Mat Ryan no chance. SOCHI is where it […]
France secured first place ahead of Denmark in Group C on Tuesday following a 0-0 draw in Moscow that could set up a heavyweight World Cup clash with Lionel Messi‘s Argentina in the last 16. Neither team really had much to play for and, after the nil-fest, both advance to the knockout stage with France leading the group and […]
Karim Ansarifard‘s late penalty denied Portugal top spot in Group B as Iran earned a 1-1 draw that was not quite enough to fire them into the knockout stage. Ricardo Quaresma‘s first half goal fired Portugal ahead with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty and nearly saw red. A controversial VAR intervention saw Cedric Soares penalised for a handball in the area cost Portugal dearly, and […]
Iago Aspas netted a stoppage-time equaliser as Spain scraped an unconvincing draw with Morocco to top Group B and secure a World Cup last-16 tie against hosts Russia. Youssef En-Nesyri looked to have won it for Herve Renard’s side when he powered in a superb header from fellow substitute Faycal Fajr’s corner. But Aspas flicked in Dani Carvajal‘s […]
Saudi Arabia beat Egypt 2-1 with a last-gasp winner that cancelled Mohamed Salah‘s earlier strike in Group A early Kick Off. Saudi Arabia who finished third scored their only goals of the tournament improving from the 5-0 thrashing by hosts Russia. Mohamed Salah put Egypt ahead in the 22nd minute with when he deftly controlled a long ball from Abdalla Said that […]
Uruguay secured top spot in Group A after a comfortably 3-0 display over 10-man Russia in Samara on Monday. Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a low free-kick and Denis Cheryshev deflected a Diego Laxalt shot into his own net (23) before Igor Smolnikov was sent off for a second yellow card nine minutes before half-time. Edinson Cavani poked home […]