Author: Brila

Barcelona and Croatia Superstar Ivan Rakitic has expressed his fears ahead of the World Cup Group D opener against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday in Kaliningrad. Croatia are in the same situation as the Super Eagles as they have not won an opening game at the World Cup since 1998, but the Barcelona midfielder is hoping they improve on their opening day fixtures when they face the three-time African champions. ”We know how important it is to have a good tournament, and we have to do everything to beat Nigeria, even though nothing has been resolved,” Rakitic told Sportske…

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has recovered from his shoulder injury and will play in their World Cup opener against Uruguay tomorrow, says coach Hector Cuper. The Liverpool player was injured in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid and has not played since. “I can almost assure you 100% that he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute.” Egypt and Uruguay are the other two teams, along with Russia and Saudi Arabia, in Group A.

The Super Eagles are keeping it light ahead of their opening game in the FIFA 2018 World Cup on 16 June against Croatia.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday! Hosts Russia face Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. It may not be the most glamorous opening match in World Cup history, but it is likely to be an entertaining one. The two sides were drawn together in Group A, alongside Egypt and Uruguay who play each other on Friday. Russia’s lead-up to the World Cup has hardly been inspiring. Three of their four matches this year have ended in defeat. As hosts, Russia did not have to play any qualifying matches for the tournament and were automatically seeded…

Johann Gudmundsson hopes Iceland can keep a lid on Lionel Messi in their World Cup opener, after provoking the ire of Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2016.

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Racism at the FIFA 2018 World Cup could mar the tournament, but players walking off the pitch will bring further disrepute to the tournament according to Former Nigeria international Friday Elahor.

Saudi Arabia have already played nine matches in 2018, far more than most sides in the competition. They do, however, come into Thursday’s match on the back of three warm-up defeats. Most recently, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men put on a respectable show in Germany, losing 2-1 to the World Champions. Saudi Arabia lost by the same scoreline against Italy before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Peru. Saudi Arabia will be making their fourth appearance at the World Cup. Saudi Arabia were the lowest-ranked team to qualify for the World Cup. Their last win at the finals came in 1994, where the…

Five times they have bid, and five times they have been overlooked – Morocco is perhaps destined to never host a FIFA World Cup. The North African Nation on Wednesday in Moscow failed in its bid to host the FIFA World Cup, losing the 2026 edition to the United bid of the US, Mexico, and Canada. The FIFA Congress voted overwhelmingly, 134-65 and with only one neutral vote, to support the three-nation joint bid which had been in the lead in the run-up to the vote. Morocco’s loss was its fifth loss and its bid had been looking destined to…