In the best Russia 2018 game so far, Spain played stylishly but the hero was Cristiano Ronaldo with a hat trick in the 3-3 tie. Nacho‘s strike off the inside postlooked like the golazo of the game until Ronaldo’s free-kick equalizer in the 88th minute.
world cup 2018
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Group E Preview: Ticos boast experience but Brazil is clear favorite
Brazil looks like a shoo-in to top Group E, which promises a tight battle for second place between an experienced Costa Rica, a balanced Switzerland, and a Serbian team that topped its qualifyinggroup. After a Cinderella run at the 2014 World Cup, Los Ticos have only five players on their roster with fewer than 30 […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Group D Preview: World Cup is the last stand for Argentina with Messi
Every World Cup group is rife with storylines, yet the lineup in Group D ticks all the boxes culturally as well as competitively. Two-time champion Argentina is ledby Lionel Messi, one of the all-time greats whose brilliant legacy is destined to be at least partially eclipsed if he can’t lead his nation to the title. And […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
VAR and the insidious spread of technology
There are problems with the VAR system that FIFA has decided to introduce at the World Cup. That decision itself is quite likely the biggest of the problems. It raises the question: is soccerready for this? It’s true that a great deal of intricate work has been done on the system — in workshops, discussions, […]
Posted inStory
Love in the time of futbol — childhood memories that make World Cup time so special
By Claudia Castro Luna Television cable charges paid and up to date? Check. List with the eight groups pasted on the refrigerator door? Check. Invitations out to friends to come over and watch games? Check. I am ready. Every four years when the World Cup comes around my everyday world ceases to be and like […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup Watch: Expectations for Belgium ramped up
The consensus is clear: Belgium is taking the strongest squad in its history to the 2018 World Cup. It is also taking heavy expectations. It is stacked with quality players — EdenHazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois — throughout the roster and is led by Spanish manager Roberto Martinez, hiredtwo years ago […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Mexico arrives in Russia after a loss and party controversy
After a paltry 2-0 loss to Denmark on Saturday, the mood surrounding Mexico slid from slight unease to possible panic. Andres Guardado (18) and Jesus Gallardo (21)during Mexico’s 3-0 win over Iceland in March. (Photo byConall Gaffney) Anything but a quarterfinal finish for El Tri would be unacceptable for its fans, and reports of a […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: A primer on how VAR will be used at the World Cup
FIFA offers this six-minute video to explain how Video Assistant Referee will be used for the first time at a World Cup. The VAR team for all games — one VAR and three VAR Assistants — will work outof a centralized video operation room in the International Broadcast Center in Moscow.
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Brazil firing on cylinders one week ahead of opener
Brazil’s comfortable 3-0 win against Austria allayed fears about Neymar‘s fitness as the Selecao dazzled against a team that beat the world champion last week.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: Neymar, Harry Kane and Co., in Dr. Dre's visual mixtape
Narrated by Peaky Blinders’ Paul Anderson, Beats tells its audience: “When your time comes, you have two choices. You can be the kid no one’s heard of. Or you can be thekid no one saw coming.” The Defiant episode 1, produced by Guy Ritchie, tells the coming-of-age stories of World Cup-bound stars including Neymar, HarryKane, […]