..::Football IV::..

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'I always put the team first' - England captain Kane promises armband will not alter his game


England striker Harry Kane is adamant that captaining the Three Lions at the World Cup will not impact on his game ahead of their opening Group G clash with Tunisia.

Kane, who netted five goals in England's qualification campaign and 30 Premier League goals for Tottenham last term, was handed the armband by Gareth Southgate prior to the England squad travelling to their Repino base.

And the 24-year-old, who caused a stir when he controversially claimed a goal against Stoke City as he battled Liverpool's Mohammed Salah for the Premier League Golden Boot, says the captaincy will not change his style of play, claiming he always prioritises the team's requirements."Whatever anyone says, my game has always been about putting the team first," Kane said.

"For me, nothing changes whether I am captain or not. I make the best decision for the team – and hopefully it's the right one."I feel exactly the same now as I did before I was captain. I don't feel any extra pressure just because I'm wearing the armband. My game won't change. Certainly my personality won't change.

"I still look to push myself, to push other players, and I hope my team-mates can now look at me as someone they can talk to. But I'm still the same man. I haven’t changed."I don't feel that just because I am captain I don't have to maintain the standards I have set. When you are England's striker, you have a responsibility to score the goals."

Barring a late injury, Kane is a certainty to start at the Volgograd Arena on Monday, with Southgate having already decided upon his starting XI.However, Southgate is not concerned by any complacency setting in, insisting that England's supporting cast will be ready when required."They're ready," Southgate told England's official website. "They know the way we want to play. They're clear on the opposition.

"The players know the team and I think that's helpful. Everything's settled. They know their jobs."The guys that aren't in the team, they're prepared and they've trained well. They become a key part of what we do now."Their role is even more important. They have to support the team and be ready, because anything can happen. We only progress as a collective."

 

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'Second place is worthless' - Rivaldo admits pressure is on Neymar and Brazil


Brazil's squad will be considered failures should they not claim their sixth World Cup title in Russia, according to the legendary Rivaldo.Tite's side, who breezed through qualifying, losing just once in 18 games, begin their campaign against Switzerland on Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar - who was injured during Brazil's 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home turf in 2014, is expected to be fit to start at the Rostov Arena following his recovery from a fractured foot that saw him miss much of the second half of the 2017-18 season.

And former Barcelona star Rivaldo, who tasted World Cup glory in 2002 and scored 35 goals in 75 appearances for Brazil, believes anything less than victory is unacceptable."I always say Brazil is the favourite in every World Cup, because of its tradition," Rivaldo told Express Sport."I was second place in 1998 and in Brazil this is worthless.

"In Brazil only being the champion is good, second place or fourth, like happened at the last cup, the players are criticised, the team."Brazilians only accept first place, not like some other teams, other countries with tradition, they sometimes land second, third or fourth place and are celebrated.

"The pressure is always there, right? For Neymar or any other player for Brazil, the pressure is always there, this is expected."It’s expected and normal, but we are experienced in dealing with that and knowing that Brazilians only care about being the champions."

Brazil will also face Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E, as they attempt to exorcise the demons of 2014.Though their group appears somewhat soft, former Switzerland star Stephane Chapuisat believes that his countrymen will provide Tite's side with a stern test on Sunday.

"Brazil is one of the favourites of the tournament, but Switzerland are always difficult to handle, we are well organized and we can bother big teams," he told Goal. "But Brazil are still thinking about a World Cup at home that ended badly. They may have a big reaction.

 

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Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1: Kolarov stunner seals points

Aleksandar Kolarov's sensational free-kick proved the difference as Serbia got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in Group E.

Serbia, under the tutelage of Mladen Krstajic for the first time in a competitive match, controlled much of Sunday's clash at Samara Arena, but could not find a way through Costa Rica's stubborn rearguard until Kolarov stepped just before the hour.

Excellent throughout, Keylor Navas could do little to keep out the defender's blistering effort, which curled over the wall and into the top corner.It was nothing less than Serbia deserved for a dominant display, although the best chance of the first half went to Costa Rica's Giancarlo Gonzalez, who headed over from point-blank range.

Serbia had gone close to prior to Kolarov's thunderbolt, Aleksandar Mitrovic - a constant thorn in Costa Rica's side - fluffing his lines when one-on-one with Navas early in the second half.Mitrovic wasted another chance to wrap up the points late on, but his profligacy did not prove costly as Serbia held on to seal the points.


Both defences were tested in the opening moments - Mitrovic seeing an effort hooked off the line before Gonzalez headed straight at Vladimir Stojkovic at the other end.Gonzalez spurned another gilt-edged chance 10 minutes later, the Bologna defender heading over despite been unmarked at the back post.

Marking his landmark 104th Serbia appearance, Branislav Ivanovic rolled back the years with a blistering run down the right soon after, but Navas did well to parry his cross away from Mitrovic.Sergej Milinkovic-Savic should have done better with a close-range effort 27 minutes in, only for the offside flag to spare the youngster's blushes, before Kolarov drew the best out of Navas with a wicked free-kick.

And Serbia were almost punished for their lack of penetration when Francisco Calvo dragged a strike wide as Costa Rica enjoyed a short spell of possession just before the break.Real Madrid goalkeeper Navas showed his quality again five minutes after the restart, racing out to deny Mitrovic, who should have done better from 10 yards out.

Navas could do nothing to prevent Kolarov's stunning opener, though - Kolarov showing his set-piece proficiency with a venomous, dipping strike that flew in the top-right corner.Oscar Ramirez introduced Arsenal's Joel Campbell as Costa Rica chased an equaliser, and the forward had appeals for a penalty waved away when he went down under pressure from Dusko Tosic.

Campbell was proving a nuisance, and only a last-ditch challenge from Nikola Milenkovic prevented Costa Rica's substitute from getting in on goal.Filip Kostic and Mitrovic both wasted golden opportunities to extend Serbia's advantage late on, the latter's frustrating outing ending soon after as he was replaced.

Serbia were not made to rue those misses, however, and - although a touchline skirmish between Nemanja Matic and a Costa Rica coach threatened to derail proceedings - stood firm to claim just their second victory from their last seven World Cup group stage matches.

 

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Serbia ready for World Cup after recent failures, insists Matic


Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic believes the pressure is off his side as they get ready to start their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica on Sunday.Alongside the Central American outfit, Serbia have been drawn against Brazil and Switzerland in a daunting Group E.

Matic, however, believes just qualifying for a first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup has lifted some of the weight of expectation ahead of their Russia 2018 campaign."We had a lot of pressure before this qualification, as we didn't go to Brazil [for the 2014 World Cup] or the last European Championships," he told Manchester United's website.

"So, there was a lot of pressure on us and it was very important for us to go there directly. We did it and I was very happy."It was emotional for me and my team-mates and I'm happy we will represent our country in Russia. It's very nice for our people."

Matic - competing in his first World Cup - refused to be drawn on his side's chances of progressing to the knock-out stages, but insists they are going into the tournament in a positive frame of mind."I think we will have our chance but we have to do our best, prepare very well and we will see," he added. "It is difficult to say [what our chances of progression are].

"Of course, we are working very hard on everything, but there will be a lot of great quality in the tournament. But we are positive. There is a long way to go but I am always positive."

 

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Messi is not Maradona, he does not win a World Cup alone - Crespo


Former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo has jumped to the defence of Lionel Messi, saying he needs help from his team-mates to win the World Cup in Russia.

The Barcelona superstar endured a difficult opening game at the tournament on Saturday, missing a penalty in his side's surprising 1-1 draw with Group D rivals Iceland.Messi had 11 shots without scoring - setting a new Argentina record for the World Cup - and was dejected at the final whistle.

Former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo has jumped to the defence of Lionel Messi, saying he needs help from his team-mates to win the World Cup in Russia.

The Barcelona superstar endured a difficult opening game at the tournament on Saturday, missing a penalty in his side's surprising 1-1 draw with Group D rivals Iceland.Messi had 11 shots without scoring - setting a new Argentina record for the World Cup - and was dejected at the final whistle.

Crespo - who won 64 caps for Argentina - has criticised Messi's colleagues and believes they need to provide the 30-year-old with more support if the country is to win it's first World Cup since 1986, when Diego Maradona carried them to glory."Let's start with a fact: Messi deserves a five [for his performance]," Crespo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Of course, we expect more from him, but Messi is not Maradona, alone he does not win a World Cup. "This must be understood first by all Argentinians, and then by his team-mates."He is a phenomenon if he is put in the right conditions, like in Barcelona. Otherwise he is struggling.

"But tell me: who helped him against Iceland? [Angel] Di Maria did not get past his opponent once, the midfielders did not support him."Messi will be looking to bounce back when Argentina take on Croatia - who defeated Nigeria 2-0 on Saturday - at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Thursday.

 

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Messi doesn't need World Cup to be greatest of all time - Xavi


Lionel Messi does not need to lead Argentina to the World Cup to be the greatest player of all time, according to Xavi.The Barcelona ace endured a torrid start to the 2018 competition, missing a penalty as Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw against Group D minnows Iceland, and was hence the subject of criticism.

Xavi, a former team-mate of Messi at Camp Nou and a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, believes that even if the 31-year-old cannot help his side to victory in the competition for the first time since 1986 it does not bear an influence on his standing in the game.

"For me, he's already the greatest, he does not need a World Cup to make sure of it,” Xavi told Journal du Dimanche. He was responding to Angel Di Maria’s comment that “football owes Messi a World Cup”.And Xavi believes that endorsement simply highlights the player’s quality.

“For an active player to say that shines a light on Messi’s greatness. In fact, he does exactly the same things as Alfredo Di Stefano, Pele, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane, but between 10 and 50 years after them, when there’s less time to think about what you do in a game,” he said.A legend of Barca, Xavi spoke about Antoine Griezmann, a player strongly linked with the club in recent times but who has chosen to remain with Atletico Madrid.

“I like him because he’s got class and can make the difference,” he said. “He’s one of the best in the world, very strong physically. He can do everything. “He would adapt perfectly to Barcelona or any great team. Diego Simeone is very lucky to have him.”

Meanwhile, the midfield great has tipped France star Kylian Mbappe to potentially follow in Messi’s footsteps.“He’s a formidable attacker at 19, who has shown great this at PSG and who is going to improve,” he said. “He’ll be one of the superstars of tomorrow.“But I find him more physical than talented, like Paul Pogba, I think, even if I’ve not seen him play this season.”

 

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'Milinkovic-Savic needs to die for Man Utd move' - Evra offers transfer advice to €100m-rated Serbia star


Sergej Milinkovic-Savic must show that he is "willing to die" for Manchester United if he is to move to Old Trafford, according to club icon Patrice Evra.United have been heavily linked with the €100m-rated Serbia international, who is currently playing in the World Cup with his country.

Reports have suggested that Jose Mourinho's side are involved in a three-way battle for his signature, along with Real Madrid and Juventus, with one outlet in Italy even claiming that Real are willing to pay €150m (£131m/$174m) for his services.

Evra, though, is unsure if Milinkovic-Savic, who enjoyed a breakthrough season at Lazio , scoring 14 goals and providing nine assists in all competitions, has the required mentality to play for his former club.Talking to ITV , for whom he is working as a pundit throughout the World Cup, he said: “I’m really careful when I talk about Manchester United, because to play for this club, it’s not about your ability. You need to be a character, a personality.

"To play for this club, you need to die for this club. The expectations are really huge and I’m afraid now. If you said to me ‘Patrice, you will play for Man Utd, but you won’t even get paid’, I would play for this club."So, if he has that mentality – I don’t ask him to say he doesn’t want any money – but if he goes there and makes sure he will die for the club, I will be really happy.”

Henrik Larsson, who spent a short spell on loan at United in 2007, echoed Evra's sentiments, insisting that Milinkovic-Savic did nothing to impress him during the first half of Serbia's clash with Costa Rica.“It’s so hard to say [if he has the talent to play for United]," the Swede added.

"I don’t feel that he’s done that much in the game so far. He’s done a few interesting things, but not really made a mark in my sense."Costa Rica are not giving him the space to drop down where he really wants to play.”

Serbia will also face Brazil and Switzerland in Group E, who play on Sunday night in Rostov.

 

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Courtois: Hazard has taken his game to a new level ahead of World Cup


Thibaut Courtois is of the belief that Chelsea and Belgium team-mate Eden Hazard is training and playing at his best level ahead of the World Cup.Hazard, who suffered through a disappointing campaign with Chelsea in the Premier League, is one of the key men for a Belgium side that is considered by many as one of the favorites in Russia.

The 27-year-old was a slight injury worry, having limped out of 4-1 friendly win over Costa Rica after suffering a kick on the leg, but Belgium have calmed fears of him missing out and Courtois expects him to be key to their performance.

"It's not only Eden at his best, and I don't think I've ever seen him train and play this amazingly," Courtois told reporters."He's reached another level of his game and I hope he can show that."But we also need Romelu [Lukaku] to score goals, I need to play well, we kneed [Kevin De Bruyne] at the level he's at at City."We need our best players at their best and everyone is training well at this moment."

Despite a lacklustre showing in league play for Chelsea, Antonio Conte's side closed the club season with a win over Manchester United in the FA Cup final, and Belgium boss Roberto Martinez thinks the trophy to close the year was just the boost his star winger needed heading into Russia.

"I think Eden ended the season with winning a trophy, with his performances in the final and semi, have prepared him well for the World Cup," the former Swansea boss said. "He's in good form, looks fresh and ready. The players we have around help him too. In the last two friendlies, he's looked very sharp."Following their clash with Panama, Belgium face Tunisia and England in World Cup Group G.

 

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Courtois considers Belgium to be World Cup outsiders, not favourites


Belgium are not short of belief but Thibaut Courtois claims the Red Devils are not among the favourites to win the World Cup in Russia.Courtois and Belgium head into Monday's Group G opener against debutants Panama full of confidence as they boast the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium forward Dries Mertens said Roberto Martinez's men should be considered favourites alongside the likes of reigning world champions Germany, Brazil, France and Spain following quarter-final berths at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.

Courtois, however, did not go as far during his pre-game news conference at Fisht Stadium in Sochi on Sunday.

"We have the quality. Players with talent," Courtois told reporters. "We know each other well. We're at peak form in life. We feel confident."To call us big favourites I wouldn't do. We are outsiders but we have a chance to go far. We believe in that chance. We aren't going to say we are going to win or [are the] best team, but we have belief."

Courtois, who dismissed questions about his future amid links with Real Madrid, added: "I think everybody has more experience if we compare the situation to four years ago [in Brazil]. We've experienced more in life and football. We know what to expect. I feel calm. We are ready."Martinez fronted the media before Courtois and the Belgium boss refused to dismiss the challenge of newcomers Panama.

Panama will make their World Cup bow on Monday having upstaged the United States to make it to Russia, though the Central Americans face an uphill task against the Belgians.

But Martinez – buoyed by Vincent Kompany's fitness though the injured skipper will miss Monday's clash – said: "We respect Panama. One of the stories of the World Cup. [They are] why we enjoy the format of the World Cup, arriving against the odds. They're dangerous for any team facing them. They have incredible belief to achieve the dream.

"We want to play a big role on the pitch. We know it's going to be difficult. They're here on their own right. No one expected them to be here. To knock USA out of World Cup contention, you have something special. They're competitive and we have to match that. It's about what we do on the pitch."

 

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Germany 0 Mexico 1: Lozano stuns woeful reigning champions

Germany’s defence of their World Cup title started with a whimper as they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Mexico in Moscow on Sunday.Joachim Low's side came into the tournament on a run of poor form, winning just one of their six friendlies since qualifying for Russia 2018 with a 100 per cent record.

Those recent struggles were evident from the outset against a vibrant Mexico, who scarcely gave their more illustrious opponents a chance to settle during a pulsating opening.Their positive approach was rewarded with the only goal of the game after 35 minutes when Hirving Lozano finished off a flowing counter-attacking move with a crisp drive.

Joshua Kimmich and Timo Werner both came close in the second period, but Mexico were able to hold on for a famous victory with something approaching relative comfort.Low must quickly lift his team for their next Group F game against Sweden on Saturday, while Mexico know a win against South Korea on the same day would give them a wonderful chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.


Manuel Neuer was handed a first competitive start since September and would surely have been called into action inside the first minute had Jerome Boateng not superbly blocked Lozano's close-range effort.Werner then fired a warning shot across the face of Guillermo Ochoa's goal during a breathless opening few minutes.

Any thoughts that Mexico would be overawed by Germany's assortment of superstars continued to be dispelled during a high-octane first half-hour, Hector Moreno heading straight at Neuer from their clearest opening.Germany looked shell-shocked by Mexico's verve and vigour, eventually falling behind 10 minutes before the break.

Javier Hernandez's superb one-two with Andres Guardado allowed him to spin away from Mats Hummels just inside the Germany half and feed Lozano down the left.The PSV forward then cut inside the wafer-thin resistance offered by the back-tracking Mesut Ozil to crash a shot inside Neuer's right post.

That deserved lead was nearly extinguished just two minutes later, however, when Toni Kroos' dipping free-kick arrowed towards the top corner. Ochoa did wonderfully well to deny the midfielder, getting the faintest of touches to push the ball against the crossbar.

Yet any thoughts that Low's star-studded team would come out for the second half rejuvenated failed to materialise.Mexico were able to keep them at bay until Kimmich's ambitious overhead kick and Werner's instinctive close-range effort both flashed narrowly over in quick succession midway through the half.

After squandering a number of golden opportunities in the closing stages, with Miguel Layun particularly wasteful, Mexico were fortunate to see Julian Brandt's half-volleyed effort clip the post in a frantic finish to proceedings.

 

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Costa Rica 0 Vs 1 Serbia

Group E Match in Pictures

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Germany 0 Vs 1 Mexico

Group F Match in Pictures

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Costa Rica v Serbia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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Germany v Mexico - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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Brazil 1 Switzerland 1: Zuber pegs back below-par Selecao

Brazil continued the trend of tournament favourites underperforming as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in their World Cup Group E opener in Rostov.Having bowed out of their home tournament four years ago with a 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, Brazil initially started their mission to put that humiliation behind them in stunning fashion when Philippe Coutinho struck a sublime goal to open the scoring.

Despite dictating the pace of the game, Brazil were never completely dominant and had Switzerland's rather toothless attack to thank for not taking advantage of the possession and space the underdogs were afforded.




The five-time winners failed to extend their lead and were punished early in the second half when Steven Zuber lost his marker at a corner and equalised – a goal that might have opened the game up had Brazil been at their best.

But Tite's side remained somewhat subdued by their own high standards, with Neymar a shadow of his usual talismanic self having only recently recovered from a fractured foot, and their remaining group games with Costa Rica and Serbia now come with more pressure than would have previously been anticipated.

Switzerland can reflect on an excellent start to their campaign, having claimed a point from the most difficult of their group matches and improved their chances of reaching the knockout stages for the second consecutive tournament.


Vladimir Petkovic's side began on the front foot, Xherdan Shaqiri sending a bouncing cross towards Blerim Dzemaili that the Bologna midfielder fired over the crossbar with a shot on the turn.Their promising start could not last and soon Switzerland were sitting back as Brazil passed the ball crisply around the pitch, almost finding a breakthrough when Paulinho dragged a shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post with 10 minutes played.

Just 10 minutes later, Switzerland were reeling from a piece of sublime, quintessentially Brazilian skill.Marcelo's cross from the left bounced back out of the box to the feet of Coutinho, who took a touch to control it before unleashing a shot that curled spectacularly around helpless goalkeeper Yann Sommer and in off the post.

Having taken the lead, Brazil slowed the pace of the game down and frustrated Switzerland, whose only subsequent attacking foray before half-time ended disappointingly with Zuber firing a shot straight into Thiago Silva, who headed narrowly over the crossbar at the other end just before the interval.

Switzerland drew level only four minutes into the second half when a corner from Shaqiri found Zuber unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box and he had the simple task of heading the ball beyond Alisson and high into the centre of the goal.

Neymar fired into the side-netting from inside the penalty area and Fernandinho hit a speculative long-range shot wide to the left of the target as Brazil probed for a goal to restore their lead, but their attacks lacked the necessary urgency.Coutinho had another chance to score with 20 minutes left but his neat control was followed by a wayward drive, and Gabriel Jesus saw a penalty appeal waved away when he was challenged by Manuel Akanji in the box.

Two late chances fell to Brazil substitute Roberto Firmino, but the Liverpool forward lashed the ball over before drawing a reaction save from Sommer with a close-range header, and Miranda almost made amends for his failure to mark Zuber earlier but fired wide from 18 yards as Switzerland held on for a deserved point that was secured when a Fabian Schar block prevented Coutinho from having the final say.

 

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Brazil 1 Vs 1 Switzerland

Group E Match in Pictures

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Brazil v Switzerland - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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Coutinho ge goal eka patta
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