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Tag: 2018 FIFA World Cup

  • Russia 2018: France sends Uruguay home

    France are through to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after securing a 2-0 victory over Uruguay.

    Raphael Varane headed France into a first-half lead, and a terrible mistake from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, saw him fail to save a shot from Antoine Griezmann, booking Les Blues to their first semi-finals since 2006.

    The world was treated to a dull footballing from the twenty-two players on the pitch, but the French have Hugo Lloris to thank for producing a world-class save Martin Caceres, shortly after Varane’s goal in the first half. Diego Godin blasted the rebound he got from that save.

    The second half started with France continuing to control possession, but they were gifted the goal that made certain of their victory.

    There seemed little danger when Griezmann let fly from the edge of the area but Muslera misjudged the flight of the ball, flapped at the shot, and saw it loop slowly over the line.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    It was Griezmann’s third goal of the 2018 World Cup, his first from open play.

    The drama in Nizhny Novgorod continued when when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor. Uruguay skipper Diego Godin gestured with the teenager to get up, pulling him from the turf. This caused a little fight involing most of the players and saw French coach Didier Deschamps come onto the pitch to try to calm tempers.

    A likely repeat of the 1998 FIFA World Cup final will happen again in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday 10th July, if Brazil beat Belgium in the next quarter-final match, as France await the winner between the Samba Boys and star-studded Belgium

  • Obaseki hails Super Eagles’ triumph over Iceland

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has praised the Super Eagles for their 2-0 victory over Iceland, on Friday evening in the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

    Obaseki, who lauded the brilliant performance of the attack led by Ahmed Musa, said the team restored the hope of Nigerians in the campaign for a place of pride in the soccer mundial.

    “The Super Eagles’ exceptional performance against Iceland shows the true Nigerian spirit, that when we are committed to a task, we would give it our all, to succeed,” the Governor said.

    Read Also:Ekweremadu hails Super Eagles on victory over Iceland

    He urged members of the team not to rest on their oars as they prepare for the last group game against Argentina on Tuesday, June 26, adding, “All that is required of the players is to keep their eyes on the trophy and approach the game with Argentina with a high sense of commitment to national duty.”

    Obaseki reiterated that Nigerians have the team in their prayers and hopeful that the team will do the country proud by qualifying for the next round of 16 and go even further to claim the highly prized trophy.

    “The current Super Eagles team is made up of young and talented players who have distinguished themselves in their various teams, home and abroad. With their performance against Iceland, they have shown determination to excel in Russia,” he added.

    The Super Eagles are tipped to qualify for the next round of 16 in the month-long soccer event, after their victory over Iceland which earned the team three points behind Croatia with six points. Argentina and Iceland are below on the table with one point each.

     

  • Chukwu urges Eagles to be aggressive, creative to overcome Iceland

    Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles Coach on Thursday said the Eagles would overcome Iceland on Friday at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, if the players are aggressive and motivated.

    Chukwu told the News men in Abuja that the Eagles had to be creative in order to defeat Iceland.

    “They should go all out to redeem their image and that of Nigeria by playing as if it was their last match.

    Read Also: Ugwuanyi sacks Christian Chukwu led Rangers Management

    “Aggressiveness is required of them in order to expose their opponents’ weakness,” Chukwu said.

    The coach, also a former Eagles’ captain, expressed optimism in the ability of Nigeria to beat Iceland.

    “As a Nigerian, I pray for victory over Iceland, but we need to work for it,’’ he said, adding that the players must play as a team to outclass their opponent.

    Chukwu frowned at the performance of African teams so far at the mundial, particularly the Eagles whom he rated low after their first outing against Croatia.

    The Eagles, who lost 2-0 to Croatia in their opening match, would face Iceland on Friday in their second group D match.

    The News men reports that Egypt and Morocco are already out of the tournament having lost two matches each.

     

     

  • Russia 2018: Senegal records first African victory in Russia

    … Defeats Poland 2-1

    Senegal on Tuesday became the first African side to secure victory at the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup, in Russia after defeating Poland 2-1 at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

    Polish defender Thiago Cionek’s own goal and Mbaye Niang’s composed finish in the 61st minute put the 2002 World Cup quarter finalists in control of affairs until the East Europeans rallied and pulled a goal back through Grzegorz Krychowiak who headed in Kamil Grosicki’s cross in the 86th minute.

    But that came too late as the West Africans held on to secure the continent’s first three points in Russia.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Lukaku strikes twice, as Belgium down Panama

    Poland created little, with striker Robert Lewandowski feeding on scraps and heavily marked by Senegal’s huge central defensive pairing of Salif Sane and Kalidou Koulibaly.

    But they ensured a frantic finale when Grzegorz Krychowiak headed home a free-kick at the far post.

    The result came hours after Japan had defeated 10-man Colombia 2-1 in Group H’s opening game

  • Top goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history

    It cannot be denied that the 2018 FIFA World Cup will continue to spring more surprises especially with Russia’s stunning 5-0 victory in a thrilling opener against Saudi Arabia last Thursday.

    Moreso, with another spectacular performance from Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo popularly known as the King of goals in a suspense-filled match against Spain, one can boldly say that the World Cup 2018 is here with a lot of dramatic actions that will leave a lasting impression in the minds of football lovers for centuries to come.

    Thus, Russia 2018 might leave us with another talent that will join the list of the Top Goalscorers in FIFA World Cup History considering its whole lot of actions so far.

    The Nation in its quest to provide answers to the copious questions bordering on the aforementioned name the Top Goal Scorers in FIFA World Cup History.

    Statistically, over 2,300 goals have been scored at the 20 editions of the FIFA World Cup final tournaments, excluding penalties converted during shoot-outs with the first goal scored by French player Lucien Laurent at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

    Also, further report confirmed that over 1,200 footballers have scored goals at the World Cup, only 90 of which scored at least five goals.

    Read Also: Top ten African players in FIFA World Cup history

    To start with, Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile became the top goal scorer of the inaugural competition in 1930 with eight goals. Since then, only 22 players have scored more goals at all the games played at the World Cup than Stabile did throughout that tournament.

    Thereafter, Hungray’s Sandor Kocsis joined the race with 11 goals scored in 1954. At the next tournament, France’s Just Fontaine improved on this record with 13 goals in only six games, holds the record for the most goals scored at a single tournament.

    While Gerd Muller scored for West Germany in 1970 and broke the overall record when he clinched a record 16 goals across four consecutive tournaments between 2002 and 2014.

    On the contrary, the lowest scoring tournament’s top goalscorer was in 1962, when six players scored only four goals each.

    Further statistical breakdown shows that across the 20 previous editions of the World Cup, 29 different footballers have been awarded with the most tournament goals, and no single player has achieved this feat twice. These 29 top goalscorers played for 19 different nations, the most (five) for Brazil. Another five came from other American countries, and remaining 19 came from Europe.

    In summary, the top goalscorers in World Cup history are approximately 90 in total, representing 30 different nations, with 13 netting for Brazil, and another 14 for Germany. In sum, 60 of the above category came from Europe, 27 from South American, and three from Africa.

     

    Additional reports from Wikipedia

  • Russia 2018: Pogba earns France victory as technology plays part

    Paul Pogba scored a late goal to earn France a hard-fought 2-1 win against Australia in their opening 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C game on Saturday.

    The Video Assistant Referee played a major part in the game, especially in the decision of Pogba’s goal.

    The midfielder, who was criticized after recent below-par performances, found the back of the net with a lob after a fine one-two with second-half substitute, Olivier Giroud, nine minutes from time.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Uruguay pip Egypt 1-0

    The effort was confirmed by goal-line technology.

    Antoine Griezmann converted the first penalty to be awarded by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at a World Cup in the 58th minute after being brought down by Josh Rishdon.

    Mile Jedinak leveled scores for his side, also with a penalty, after Samuel Umtiti handled.

     

    NAN

  • Russia 2018: Uruguay pip Egypt 1-0

    Uruguay snatched a late winner as they began their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign with a dramatic victory over Egypt

    Jose Gimenez headed powerfully into the net in the 90th minute as he met Carlos Sanchez’s free-kick to give the South Americans a winning start in Russia.

    Uruguay had been the better side as Luis Suarez had missed four chances and Edinson Cavani had hit the inside of a post with a 25-yard free-kick.

    Salah, who scored 44 times for Liverpool this season was an unused substitute as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in last month’s UEFA Champions League final.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Is this Africa’s time?

    Without Salah, Egypt, though gave an excellent fight to Uruguay, lacked a cutting edge and had looked on course to earn a point in their first match at a World Cup finals since 1990 before Gimenez’s late goal.

    They are now under pressure heading into their second with Russia, while Uruguay can breathe a sigh of relief.

    The result means Russia are top of Group A after their 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening game on Thursday.

  • Russia 2018: Calabar fans express confidence in Super Eagles against Croatia

    Football Fans in Calabar have urged Nigerians to pray for the success of Super Eagles of Nigeria as they face Croatia on Saturday in their opening Match in ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

    A cross section of the fans told our reporters on Friday in Calabar that with the support of millions of Nigerians, the team would get the three maximum points against Croatia.

    Albert Adinam, the Cross River Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said he believed the Super Eagles were good enough to win their opening match.

    According to him, notwithstanding the not too impressive performance of the team in their friendly matches, they will defeat Croatia and go beyond the group stage.

    He said “I share the sentiment of many fans that the team did not do well in their warm-up matches but those were just tune games designed to know the lapses in the team and I believe those lapses have been corrected by the team’s handlers.

    Read Also: My dreams for Super Eagles, by Pinnick

    “I expect them to go beyond the first round because this is their fourth appearance in the World Cup and many Nigerians expect that they should even go upto quarter final this time.

    “I am confident that the team will go far in the tournament.”

    Oqua Etim, a member of the Cross River Football Federation said that the match against Croatia was very vital, as a win would boost the morale of players ahead of other group games.

    “As a Nigerian, I am confident and I am praying for the team. I also want Nigerians to pray for the team because the first match could make or mar our chances.

    “What is at stake is the three points, if we get the three points, it will boost the morale of the players in subsequent matches.

    “So the team needs the prayer and support of millions of Nigerians back home.”

    Another football enthusiast, Henry Michael, expressed confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to defeat Croatia on Saturday.

    “I hinge my optimism on the fact that football is a game of chance. If Eagles take their chances, I see them coming out victorious and claiming all the three points and this will be good for us.

    “No team is a pushover in that group so if we take our chances as they come, I believe we will go far.”

    A Physiotherapist, Ndoma Egoro, said “the team’s physiologist needs to work extra hard because the Croatians appeared to be very physical in their game plan.”  

     

    NAN

  • Russia stuns Saudi Arabia 5-0 in World Cup opener

    Russia made a fine start to their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign as they thrashed Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening game.

    Yuri Gazinskiy scored the first goal of the tournament after only 12 minutes when he headed in from Aleksandr Golovin’s cross.

    Substitute Denis Cheryshev added a second just before half-time as he collected Roman Zobnin’s pass, cut inside two Saudi Arabia defenders and finished well.

    Read Also: Video review system makes World Cup debut

    Saudi Arabia, who returned to the World Cup for the first time since 2006, played some nice, tight football at times, but were never able to match the Russian hosts for energy or intent.

    Another substitute, Artem Dzyuba, grabbed Russia’s third within two minutes of coming on by heading in from Golovin’s delivery.

    Cheryshev scored a spectacular fourth with the outside of his boot, before Golovin curled in a stunning 25-yard free-kick for Russia’s fifth.

    Egypt and Uruguay are due to play the second Group A match in Yekaterinburg on Friday.

    Earlier, the opening ceremony had been led by British pop star Robbie Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina in a 15-minute period wowed the Opening Ceremony/Match crowd.

    Part of the ceremony was the entrance of former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova with the World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton travel case.

    Williams later performed two hits — “Let Me Entertain You” and “Rock DJ” — alongside some dancers and freestylers.

    He was thereafter joined in a duet by Garifullina, a soloist from the Vienna State Opera, to sing one of his (Williams) hit songs “Angels”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2018 World Cup continues on Friday with three matches, one of them the other Group A match pitching Egypt against Uruguay in Yekaterinburg.

  • Russia wallop Saudi Arabia 5-0 as 2018 World Cup begins

    Host Russia is currently 2-0 up against Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Yuri Gazinskiy  scored the first goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after 12’minutes, with Denis Cheryshev getting  the second in 43’minutes

    Earlier, Russian president Vladimir Putin  gave a speech at the Luzhniki Stadium, welcoming the World to Russia.

    “We are sincerely happy to host the World Cup in our country,” he said.

    “Football is truly loved here. Russia is an open, hospitable and friendly country.”