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Category: World Cup Russia 2018

World Cup 2018

  • Les Blues at exit door?

    A French aka Les Blues victory over Uruguay in the 1st Quarter final of the 2018 World Cup on Friday at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia is like a man trying to ride a bicycle up Olumo Rock, a tourist spot in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    On current rating, both have played 4 matches, Uruguay won all (beat Egypt and Saudi each by a lone goal; spanked hosts Russia 3-0 before Cavani’s brace decision Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-1 in R16); scored 7 goals, conceded 2 goals and has +5 goals difference. France won 3 matches ( beat Australia 2-1, Peru 1-0, played goalless with Denmark before the 4-3 thrashing of Argentina in R16) scored 7 goals like Uruguay but conceded 4 goals and has +3 goals difference.

    The implication of this is that France with a record of poor marksmanship may need more than the elasticity of Mbappe and Pepe to score. Before the desperate encounter with Argentina where France scored a whopping 4 goals, they could only squeeze a goal per match, one against Australia but for the own goal by Behich in the 80’, the match would have ended in a draw and that lone goal against Peru scored by Pepe. France was not doing well.

    Book makers are hinging their 47% win vote to France because of the surprise performance against Argentina. 23% feels Uruguay will win while 30% feels there will be a draw and then a penalty shoot-out. Uruguay W1 D4 L3 in their encounters. Suarez scored in the lone victory of June 2013. In their world cup encounters, Uruguay had W1 D2 winning in 1966 with draws in 2002 and 2010.

    There is something Uruguay will not like to hear, they have never won five times in a row in same world cup tournament. Diego Maradona had said the new French wonder boy; Mbappe is like Claudio Canigga a notable Argentinian star who wrecked opposing teams at will. There is a sentimental angle to it.

    Read Also: Brazil are through to the World Cup quarter-finals

    France Forward, Griezmann is team mate with Uruguay defenders Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez at Athletico Madrid. They are so close that Griezmann keeps feeling he is from Uruguay. Godin is the godfather of Griezmann’s daughter. Suarez said Uruguay does not have time for sentiment and Friday will show it.
    Cavani is PSG’s all-time top scorer and is ready to bang in goals for Uruguay. Cavani killed Portugal with his brace. Will he also wreck France? But the news from Russia is that Cavani may not be fit for the match because of a calf injury. Mbappe and Griezmann have scored two goals each for France. The match is 1500 hours WAT.

    The second match at 1900 hours may not go to the wire at all. Belgium v Brazil. Surprised? Kazan Arena will see ‘wenn’ as we say in Warri language meaning they will see American Wonders. Brazil is playing quarter final in consecutive 7th time in world cup. They were beaten two times at this stage in 2006 by France and 2010 by Netherlands. It is important to tell you that European teams knocked out the five times world champions in 2006, 2010 and the last one in Brazil 2014.

    Pundits are always saying Brazil is favorite to win in every tournament, even at this stage, 43% vote a Brazilian victory, 28% say it’s a Belgium win while 29% say it go to the wire and be decided via penalties. Both teams have met five times mostly friendlies. Belgium won in 1963 but Brazil won the three other encounters.

    The only time the ever met in the world cup, was in 2002 Round of 16 and Brazil ran away with a 2 nil victory.

    On current standing, both have played 4 matches each, Brazil has W3, D1 (drew 1-1 with Switzerland; defeated both Costa Rica and Serbia 2 nil each and also dazed Mexico 2-0 in R16), scoring 7 goals conceding 1 and having +6 Goals difference.

    Belgium won all her 4 matches (walloped Panama 3-0; defeated hard fighting Tunisia 4-2; subdued almighty Three Lions 1-0 before edging Japan 3-2 in a pulsating R16), were the high goal scorers with 11 goals conceding 4 goals with +7 goals difference.

    The implication of this is that Belgium may adopt wing play to break the Brazilian defense. Belgium manner of pumping in goals is dangerous for the Samba boys. The Belgians currently eyed to lift the cup will look unto Lukaku already runners up goal scorer with 4 goals and Felaini to use his height to score from corner kicks. Eden Hazard could create hazardous moments for Brazil.

    Marcelo, the tireless horse is coming back for Brazil in the midfield. Refs have started neglecting the theatrics of Neymar in diving or his attitude when tackled.

    He has to watch it. Will Brazil go out again at the quarters?

    Saturday the other quarter finals shall be decided. Sweden v England at 1500 hours and hosts Russia v Croatia at 1900 hours both WAT. We shall periscope those two matches later.

  • FIFA: Amuneke, Drogba Others to Pick World Best Player

    Federation of International Football (FIFA) on Wednesday named former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke among the 12-man panel that will shortlist candidates for the men’s footballers and coaches of the year for the 2017/18 season.

    The World Football governing body also named former African footballer and Ivory Coast ex-player Didier Drogba, as a member of the panel for the annual awards of the round leather game.

    The men’s panel also includes legends Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Frank Lampard, and Kaka amongst others.

    The judges will shortlist 10 candidates for each category, which will be unveiled on 23 July 2018 – with a public vote opening on the same day.

    Football fans, national team captains, head coaches and more than 200 media representatives will then cast their votes to decide who will be crowned the best players and coaches in the men’s and women’s games from last season.

    With the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia currently showcasing the finest footballing talent on the planet, the race for the Best FIFA Football Awards is even more intense and the showpiece event will take on added significance when it returns to London for a second time on 24 September 2018.

    At last year’s awards, Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the Best Men’s Player Award, Netherlands’ Lieke Martens was crowned Best Women’s Player, French icon Zinédine Zidane was named Best Men’s Coach and the Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman was Best Women’s Coach.

    Separate panels will shortlist candidates for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award, the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA Fan Award, with the winner of the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award chosen by a panel of FIFA Legends.

    In recognition and celebration of the essential role played by football fans in the game, the FIFA Fan Award, an appreciation of memorable moments created by fans, is voted for by supporters.

    The FIFA Puskás Award, handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year, is also determined by fans’ votes.

    The voting process for the men’s and women’s awards will open on July 23 and close on August 10.

    FIFA will announce the final list of the three nominees for each of the four categories listed above – as well as for the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award – in September.

  • Real Madrid denies 272m Euros Mbappe deal

    European champions Real Madrid have denied reports of a world-record 272 million Euros (316 million dollars) deal with Paris Saint-Germain to sign forward Kylian Mbappe.

    Mbappe has been one of the standout performers for France at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    He joined PSG in 2017, on an initial loan deal that will become permanent this summer in a transfer that will see him become the second most expensive player in history.

    However, Madrid has been closely linked with the 19-year-old attacker.

    It has been claimed in France that he is on his way to the Spanish capital this summer to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who is reportedly set to join Juventus after his shock revelation that he wants to leave.

    Read Also: Marco Asensio ,Dua Lipa on the Podium!

    The Spanish club, however, insisted on Wednesday that no such deal was in place, though, said the reports were simply false.

    “Given the information published in the last few hours referring to an alleged agreement between Real Madrid and PSG for player Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid says they are flatly false,” a statement on the club’s website read.

    “Real Madrid has not made any offers to PSG or the player and regrets the dissemination of this type of information that is not contrasted with the parties.”

    Madrid has been closely monitoring Mbappe since his days at Monaco and the principality club’s vice-president had said they made an offer worth 180 million Euros only to be knocked back as he opted to return to Boyhood Club PSG.

    Mbappe scored 21 times in 44 games for the French club in his first season and had played a key role for the national team at the World Cup, having netted three times in four games.

    The statement comes just a day after the Champions League holders made an announcement to clarify that talk of another world record deal with PSG had been struck.

    This was after it was reported that they were set to sign Neymar this summer for 310 million Euros (360 million dollars).

    NAN also reports that just like Mbappe, the Brazilian is continually being linked to the Santiago Bernabeu outfit since arriving at the Parc des Princes team.

    NAN

  • World Cup: England win 4-3 on penalties

    • FT: Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens)
    • England win WC shoot-out for first time
    • Play Sweden in quarter-finals on Saturday
    • Kane smashes in penalty (57)
    • Mina header in injury-time (90+3)

    England have secured a place in the quarter finals after beating Colombia on penalty shoot-outs thrilling fans with thier win after a tense night in Moscow.

    Two excellent saves from Jordan Pickford blocked efforts from Uribe and Bacca saw him to end England’s record of spot kick disasters and leave the path clear for Dier to score a winning penalty for the Three Lions.

    It followed a tense match in which Yerry Mina scored against Gareth Southgate’s team at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, during injury time after a goalless first half.

    England fans had been relieved when Kane netted his sixth goal and his third from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after he was wrestled to the ground by Carol Sanchez.

    It came after Colombia faced defender Santiago Arias being booked early in the second half for raging into the England captain.

    Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has been brought on for England as the possibility of a penalty shoot-out to decide the game looms ever closer.

    The Goals

    FT: COLOMBIA 1-1 ENGLAND

    Wow. What an end to that game.

    Quite how England aren’t celebrating right now, I have no idea.

    It all came from Uribe’s quite unbelievable half volley from 30 yards. It looked to be heading in but for Pickford’s fingertip save, and from the resulting corner, disaster struck.

    Maguire has been unbeatable at the back for 93 minutes, but Mina rose above him, and saw his header come off the pitch and squeeze above Trippier. Could the Spurs man have done better? Perhaps.

    GOAL! COLOMBIA 1-1 ENGLAND (Mina 90+3)

    I don’t believe it.

    Gareth Southgate is calling for calm here. What else can he do? This is heartbreak for England.

    Cuadrado’s corner comes in after Pickford’s save, and Mina rises so high above Maguire. He heads it down to the ground, and Trippier on the line can’t jump high enough to stop it creeping under the crossbar!

    It looks like we’ll have extra-time.

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    GOAL! COLOMBIA 0-1 ENGLAND (Kane pen, 57)

    No mistake! Kane goes down the middle as Ospina goes right!!

    Kane had to wait over three minutes to take that, and he looked so calm!

     

    England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Henderson, Alli, Young; Lingard, Sterling; Kane.

    Colombia XI: Ospina, Arias, Davinson Sanchez, Mina, Mojica, Sanchez, Barrios, Cuadrado, Quintero, Lerma, Falcao.

     

    Preview

    England face Colombia in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.

    Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate made sweeping changes to his side for the final group match against Belgium.

    And the gamble looks to have paid off as England find themselves on the ‘right side of the draw,’ avoiding Brazil, Belgium and France until the final.

    Victory over Colombia would leave England facing a quarter-final against Sweden or Switzerland.Colombia boast a variety of threats – including Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Cuadrado.

    OPTA STATS

    • England are unbeaten against Colombia, having faced them five times previously (W3 D2). Their last encounter dates back to May 2005 in New Jersey. England won 3-2 thanks to a Michael Owen hat-trick
    • England beat Colombia in their only previous World Cup encounter thanks to goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham (2-0), it was in the group stages of the 1998 tournament. Current England boss Gareth Southgate was an unused sub that night
    • Colombia have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the third time but it’s the first time they have accomplished it in consecutive tournaments (1990, 2014, 2018). The only previous occasion they’ve gone past the round of 16 was in 2014

  • World Cup: Sweden into quarter-finals, Switzerland out

    • SWEDEN 1-0 SWITZERLAND

    • Forsberg nets opener (66)

       

    • World Cup round of 16

       

    • Sweden to play England or Colombia

       

    FT: There we have it, a fairly dull game until the second half added time, and it’s Emil Forsberg’s deflected goal that seals Sweden’s spot in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994.

    Switzerland had their chance to press but their finishing was poor, and they have been punished. Home time for Shaqiri and co.

    GOAL! SWEDEN 1-0 SWITZERLAND (Forsberg, 66)

    FINALLY! There’s a breakthrough and hopefully it inspires a bit of quality in this now!

    Toivonen slips the ball to Forsberg across the top of the area who takes a few strides before striking – but the ball takes a big deflection off the foot of Akanji on the way through and beats Sommer in the net.

    A cruel blow for Switzerland but they have plenty of time to get back into this yet.

    HT: Chances for both sides in that first half, but there has been some terrible finishing plus a good save from Yann Sommer to keep Marcus Berg from netting the opening goal.

    As expected before the game, it has been tight between the two and this game is there for the taking. We have to have a winner this afternoon!

    WITZERLAND TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Sweden: Sommer, Lang, Djourou, Akanji, Rodriguez, Behrami, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Zuber, Drmic.

    Subs: Mvogo, Burki, Moubandje, Elvedi, Freuler, Fernandes, Zakaria, Embolo, Seferovic, Gavranovic.

    SWEDEN TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Switzerland: Olsen, Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Svensson, Ekdal, Forsberg, Berg, Toivonen.

    Subs: Johnsson, Nordfeldt, Olsson, Helander, Krafth, Jansson, Hiljemark, Rohden, Durmaz, Guidetti, Thelin.

    FOUR SWISS SWITCHES

    Switzerland have made four changes from their late 2-2 draw with Costa Rica last time out.

    Captain Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schar are suspended, so Michael Lang and Johan Djourou come into the XI. There are also changes up front with Bree Embolo and Mario Gavranovic making way for Steven Zuber and Josip Drmic.

    ONE SWEDEN CHANGE

    Sweden have made one change from the side that beat Mexico 3-0 in their final group game, with Seb Larsson suspended. He is replaced by Gustav Svensson.

    Captain Andreas Granqvist is in the XI with his wife due to give birth today.

  • England and Colombia eye World Cup ¼ spot

    Will the Three Lions of England survive the Colombian onslaught in tonight’s round of 16 clash in the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia?

    The remaining round of 16 matches – England vs Colombia and Sweden vs Switzerland – will be fiercely contested on Tuesday.

    The prize is quarter final spots for winners of both matches.

    The encounter between Colombia, the South America nation known more for drug and violence and the English who primed themselves as lords of football, is expected to be tough considering the caliber of players available to both sides.

    Flamboyant Mexico bowed to the superior firepower of five-time champions Brazil on Monday and their fans wept like babies crying for breast milk at the stands.

    Belgium and Japan contrived to produce one of the matches of the tournament, with the Asians losing 2-3 at the end of the enthralling contest.

    However, the focus is on the Colombia v England tie.

    All eyes are on England to qualify for the World Cup quarter finals for the first time since the 2006 edition in Germany.

    The two teams met at the 1998 World Cup in France and England prevailed on that occasion through goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham in a 2-0 win.

    The 1966 world champions had defeated Colombia three times in five previous meetings between the two countries.

    The other encounters ended in draws.

    Tottenham striker Harry Kane who has scored five goals in the tournament is the man to watch in the English side while the duo of Radamel Falcao and the Golden Boot winner in Brazil 2014 James Rodriguez are key men for the Colombians.

    The other encounter between the Swedes and Swiss is also very difficult to predict because of the two sides contrasting styles of play.

    The Scandinavian side is a very technical side blessed with quality but unheralded players while the resolute Swiss side has more established players on its rank.

    Expect the like of Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka to dictate the play for Switzerland and Ola Toivonen to run the show for Sweden.

     

     

     

  • World Cup: Belgium fight back to beat Japan 3-2

     

    • Belgium 3-2 Japan
    • Haraguchi with opener (48)
    • Inui with superb strike (52)
    • Vertonghen’s bizarre header (69)
    • Fellaini header levels (74)
    • Chadli wins it late (94)
    • Winner plays Brazil in QF on Friday
    • Japan have never reached QF

     

    GOAL! BELGIUM 3-2 JAPAN (Chadli 90+4)

    WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW.

    UNBELIEVABLE FINISH TO THIS GAME!

    Courtois collects the corner, and forms a blistering counter-attack. Japan, granted, have far too many men forward.

    Courtois rolls it to De Bruyne, who runs 50 yards and feeds Meunier, and Lukaku’s dummy finds Chadli at the back post to turn into the empty net!!

    GOAL! BELGIUM 2-2 JAPAN (Fellaini 74)

    BELGIUM BACK ON TERMS! WHAT A WORLD CUP!

    Hazard does superbly as De Bruyne finds him on the left… he twists, turns and crosses brilliantly with his left foot, and it’s Fellaini (who else?!) who rises easily above the Japanese defenders to nod home!!

    GOAL! BELGIUM 1-2 JAPAN (Vertonghen 69)

    Bizarre entry back into the game for Belgium! Japan fail to properly clear a corner as Inui’s punt rises high.

    Vertonghen is wide on the left of the box, around 18 yards from the goal, but somehow his header loops over Kawashima and into the far corner of the net!

    Surely, surely he wasn’t going for goal?! Belgium within a goal of Japan now!

    GOAL! BELGIUM 0-2 JAPAN (Inui 52)

    Oh my lord! Belgium are completely stunned, and this is a brilliant strike from Inui.

    Make no mistake, Belgium need to pressure Kagawa as he takes the ball down from the air and flicks it back for Inui.

    He has so much time to line up an effort from 25 yards, but he finds the far right corner with a brilliant right-footed strike. What a goal!!!

    GOAL! BELGIUM 0-1 JAPAN (Haraguchi 48)

    Wow. This wasn’t in the script! Belgium try far too much up the other end again and Japan can break.

    Inui does well to roll his man and find Shibasaki then plays Haraguchi on the right in space, and Vertonghen takes an age to get over. 

    Haraguchi composes himself and finds the bottom left corner brilliantly!

     

    Japan have never reached the quarter-final of international football’s elite tournament, while expectation of Roberto Martinez’s Belgium has gone through the roof after three group stage wins.

    BELGIUM v JAPAN TEAM NEWS

    Belgium welcome back several names following the 1-0 win over England; Courtois keeps his place, with Vincent Kompany starting for the first time at the World Cup.

    For Japan, Okazaki was a doubt and doesn’t make it for the starting XI, and they make six changes.

    JAPAN TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Belgium: Kawashima, Shoji, Nagatomo, Sakai, Yoshida, Shibasaki, Haraguchi, Kagawa, Inui, Hasebe, Osako

    BELGIUM TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Japan: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Mertens, Hazard, Lukaku

    CONTEXT

    Belgium will have a refreshed side to choose from as they face Japan tonight.

    Roberto Martinez left most of his first-choice players on the bench on Thursday against England, but still came away with a 1-0 victory to uphold their 100 per cent record in Group G.

    Belgium are looking to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time since 1986, while Japan have never reached the last eight of the tournament, appearing at this stage two times previously.

  • Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    Neymar barged his way into the 2018 FIFA World Cup limelight with a goal, an assist and another helping of histrionics as Brazil roared into the quarter-finals.

    The five-times champions secured a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday to help inflict a seventh straight second round exit on the central Americans.

    The PSG forward was both architect and executioner for Brazil, sliding home in the second half and then teeing up Roberto Firmino late on.

    But he also brought some drama into the game as he writhed on the floor, seemingly in agony, after Mexico’s Miguel Layun had made slight contact with his ankle.

    However, that should not overshadow his generally positive display, as the former champions beat an otherwise stubborn Mexico.

    The Mexicans’ World Cup began with such promise with a victory over champions Germany, but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.

    It was the seventh World Cup running that Brazil have reached the last eight, where they will now face Belgium or Japan.

    On their part, Mexico have not made it to that stage since they hosted the tournament in 1986.

    Mexico, who enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 matches against them, were a threat on the counter in the first half.

    But they then faded, without ever really being put to the sword.

    For all their quasi-mythological attacking traditions, this Brazil side have a pragmatism that keeps them in check.

    Read Also: THIAGO SILVA: I let my football do the talking

    This is done in such a way that you cannot see them ever truly cutting loose at this tournament.

    Having kept clean sheets in seven of their previous eight games, they were never going to commit men forward.

    That would have allowed Mexico to pick them off on the counter in the same way that Germany did in the group stage.

    That is not to say that they were not under the cosh in the early stages as Mexico sought to isolate the Brazilian fullbacks Fagner and Filipe Luis.

    They both looked vulnerable as Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano bore down on them.

    Lozano had an effort blocked after two minutes as did Hector Herrera, but as the first half wore on Brazil got on top in the stifling Samara heat.

    A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances, frequently squandering possession and spending far too long on the turf.

    Yet he answered a number of questions with his performance and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move he had started himself.

    Minutes after the restart Brazil took the lead in exquisite fashion with Neymar starting and ending the move.

    He darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home.

    It was a choking blow for Mexico, who had been the better side for the opening half an hour, pegging Brazil back and creating several half chances.

    Brazil had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed when Neymar was the architect again, crossing for Firmino to tap the ball home.

    They will have to do without defensive midfielder Casemiro in the quarter-finals, however, after he was booked for the second time.

    NAN

  • RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP: Buhari may host Eagles Wednesday

    There are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari will host members of Nigeria’s senior soccer team to the Russia 2018 World Cup, their coaches and officials to a dinner on Wednesday, inside the presidential villa in Abuja, barring any last minute changes due to logistics.
    NationSport scooped exclusively here in Kazan Arena, the President is pleased with the team’s performance even though the players didn’t return home with the World Cup diadem as they had promised when they were leaving the country last month.
    Indeed, the team’s manager Gernot Rohr was spotted in Lagos on Sunday, with words rife that Chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation don’t have any plans to disband the Eagles squad nor are they considering any change of guard in the backroom staff and its technical crew.
    Interestingly, ground works have commenced for the Eagles to ensure that the team excels during the Cameroon 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches, although details of the preparatory plans were not divulged to NationSport, when we sought for it.
    Some members of the team to the Mundial arrived in Lagos on Thursday, where Ahmed Musa received a heroic welcome from appreciative fans for the outstanding performance, especially in the game against Iceland, where he scored the two goals that restored the country’s pride at the World Cup. Musa was Nigeria’s poster boy at the biggest soccer event in the world with race reviews before games were played involving Nigeria.

  • Breaking! Brazil are through to the World Cup quarter-finals

    • Brazil 2-0 Mexico
    • Sub Firmino add second (88)
    • Neymar breaks deadlock (51)
    • Filipe replaces Marcelo
    • Marquez start for Mexico
    • Ayala replaces suspended Moreno
    • World Cup round of 16
    • Brazil reached every QF since ’90
    • Mexico lost in last-16 last 6 WCs

    It’s all over! Brazil reach their seventh consecutive World Cup quarter-final thanks to second-half goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino. Meanwhile, MeIt’s all over! Brazil reach their seventh consecutive World Cup quarter-final thanks to second-half goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino. Meanwhile, Mexico exit at the last 16 stage for the seventh straight World Cup.xico exit at the last 16 stage for the seventh straight World Cup.

    GOAL! BRAZIL 2-0 MEXICO (Firmino, 88)

    Game, set and match to Brazil. Neymar beats the offside trap and bears down on goal. He takes the shot on early but Ochoa gets a boot to the ball. The rebound falls kindly for Firmino, who taps home from close range to spark wild Brazilian celebrations.

    GOAL! BRAZIL 1-0 MEXICO (Neymar, 51)

    Neymar starts the move off with a beautiful back heel to Willian, who bursts around the outside before playing a low cross towards the back post. There are yellow shirts queuing up to tap the ball into the back of the net and it’s Neymar who gets the final touch for his 57th international goal.

     

    HT: There’s no stoppage time at the end of the first-half. The referee brings a close to an opening 45 minutes which saw Mexcio star brightly. The pace they have in attack was causing problems but Brazil eventually grew into the game. They had chances through Neymar and Jesus but neither could beat Ochoa as head into the break goalless.

    Preview

    Will Neymar follow both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo out of the World Cup?

    Two of the world’s three most celebrated footballers – Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo – exited the World Cup on Saturday just hours apart, as Argentina suffered a 4-3 defeat against France and European champions Portugal lost 2-1 to Uruguay.

    The third member of football’s most acclaimed triumvirate – Brazil striker Neymar – will hope to avoid the same fate when his team tackle Mexico. Neymar and Brazil should march on, but Russia 2018 has been crammed with tales of the unexpected.

    After finishing top of Group E following a slow start, five-time winners Brazil are now looking to reach the last eight for the seventh straight World Cup. Meanwhile, Mexico, who impressed in the group stage with a famous victory over Germany, are looking to reach the last eight for the first time since hosting in 1986.

    We’ll be bringing you all build-up from the Samara Arena , including the all-important team news shortly.

    The action then gets underway at 3pm and you can follow match updates here!

    MEXICO TEAM NEWS

    Team to face Brazil: Ochoa, Alvarez, Salcedo, Ayala, Gallardo, Herrera, Marquez, Lozano, Vela, Guardado, Hernandez.

    Subs: Corona, Gutierrez, J. dos Santos, Layun, Fabian, Jimenez, G. dos Santos, Talavera, Corona, Peralta, Aquino.

    BRAZIL TEAM NEWS

    Team to face Mexico: Alisson, Fagner, Silva, Miranda, Luis, Casemiro, Paulinho, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Jesus.

    Subs: Geromel, Augusto, Marcelo, Marquinhos, Danilo, Cassio, Fernandinho, Fred, Firmino, Taison, Moraes.

    OPTA STAT

    Brazil last failed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup back in 1990. Since then, they’ve always made it to the last eight of the tournament.