Author: Brila

France comfortably defeated Uruguay to book their place in the last four. On the other hand, Belgium defeated favorites Brazil to reach the semifinals. As far as Deschamps team news is concerned, we can expect Bayern Munich’s Corentin Tolisso to be replaced with Barcelona playmaker Ousmane Dembele. Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe needs to start but it must be remembered that he is just one booking away from suspension and Deschamps will surely want to have him on the team if France reaches the final. Mbappe and Dembele should line up with star playmaker Antoine Griezmann in the…

Croatia defender Domagoj Vida escaped a FIFA ban on Sunday after posting a clip dedicating his country’s victory over Russia in the World Cup quarter-final to Ukraine. In the video, which has been widely circulated on social media, Vida shouts “Glory to Ukraine” in Ukrainian and Vukojevic says “this victory is for Dynamo and for Ukraine” in Croatian. Vida, who scored a header in extra time to give Croatia a 2-1 lead and a penalty in the shootout, and Vukojevic both played for Dynamo Kiev and the latter still works for the Ukrainian club as a scout. …

English Premier League side, Burnley have beat three English clubs on signing Nigerian center-back Udoka Chima on a two-year deal. The 18-year-old defender who joins from a grassroots club in London is among the eleven teenagers recruited to join the Claret youth team for the upcoming season. The Premier League side Burnley have confirmed on their official website after snapping the youngers ahead of several clubs, including Coventry City, Norwich City and Luton Town for his signature. Academy Manager Jonathan Pepper said: “We are really looking forward to the new intake of scholars coming in next season. “We have a…

Super Eagles and Kano Pillars Forward, Junior Lokosa has declared intentions to score more goals as the NPFL is set to resume following the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup break. Speaking with www.brila.net ahead of the resumption from the World Cup break, current highest goals scorer & Kano Pillars Talisman, Junior Lokosa has hinted that he will be focused in scoring goals more than concentrating in breaking the highest goals scoring record held by Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh. “I just want to keep scoring” “My focus is not on breaking records”, Lokosa told www.brila.net Lokosa noted that…

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has dismissed reports he will quit Chelsea to join Belgian Jupiler club KAA Gent. Omeruo is yet to make a Premier League debut with Chelsea in his six years at the London club has expressed his desire to leave after several loan spells. “At the moment, I have not decided where I will be playing next season as I still need to speak to Chelsea, so any news right now about an agreement with any club is not true. The 24-year-old player starred alongside William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun in Eagles defense…

Enyimba FC have now relocated their base camp to Port Harcourt in Rivers State ahead of the visit of Williamsville in a third match of the CAF Confederation Cup Group C. Williamsville are top on Group C with four points, followed by Cara Brazzaville of Congo with three points, same as Enyimba, but with superior goal difference. The match has been slated for Wednesday, July 18, 2018. The Aba-based club are third on the standings with three points following a win over Djoliba of Mali and a 2-0 away loss to Cara Brazzaville. Enyimba are the only…

FIFA is investigating Domagoj Vida’s conduct after the Croatia international allegedly made anti-Russia comments following his side’s quarter-final win against the World Cup hosts. Vida was on the scoresheet with an extra-time header as Croatia triumphed on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in Sochi on Saturday, booking a semi-final clash against England. But the Besiktas defender could be sanctioned prior to that game with FIFA looking into comments he seemingly made in a social media video. Appearing alongside former Croatia international Ognjen Vukojevic – with whom he played at Dynamo Kiev – Vida said: “Glory to Ukraine.” The…

Former Director of Sports, Fernando Hierro has stepped down as Spain’s interim head coach following their early exit from the World Cup. The 2010 champions crashed out of Russia after losing to the hosts in a penalty shootout where keeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero. A statement on Spain football’s official website read: “After many kilometers of walking together, the Royal Spanish Football Federation and Fernando Hierro put an end to their relationship once the participation of Spain in the World Cup in Russia ended. “The last Spanish coach declined to return to his previous position as sports director…

Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard has hinted that his team are nearing a deal for Roma’s Nigerian forward Sadiq Umar. Umar, 21, scored twice in six Serie A appearances for Roma during the 2015-16 season but has spent time out on loan with Bologna, Torino and NAC Breda over the last couple of years. Last term, the striker netted five times in 12 league matches for Breda, and Gerrard confirmed last month that he was interested in bringing the Nigeria Under-23 international to Scotland. The former Liverpool captain has insisted that Umar remains a Roma player, but has said to “watch this space”…

Croatia set up a World Cup semi-final with England after winning 4-3 on penalties against hosts Russia. Russia and Croatia were playing for the chance to take on England in the semi-finals after their win against Sweden earlier on Saturday, and Croatia might have considered themselves favourites before an attritional slugfest. Both sides failed to settle into the match as the significance of the match appeared to dawn on both sets of players. Just as we were starting to settle into a tight first period, the game exploded into life in stunning circumstances. Out of nowhere, Russia took the lead…