Stones happy to send 'dirtiest team' Colombia home from WC

Manchester City splashed out a reported £47.5 million ($61 million, 55 million euros) to sign England defender John Stones from Everton on Tuesday.

Stones agreed a six-year contract with City and is reported to have become the second most expensive defender in history behind Paris Saint Germain and Brazil star David Luiz.

"I'm absolutely delighted to sign for City and now the deal's done I'm looking forward to the next stage in my career," Stones told City's website.

News of Stones' imminent move to Eastlands had leaked out earlier in the day when UEFA's website included the 22-year-old centre-back in City's squad for next week's Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest.

City responded by quickly announcing the deal.

Starting line-ups for the World Cup third place playoff between Belgium and England in Saint Petersburg on Saturday (1400 GMT kick-off):

Belgium (3-4-3)

Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Nacer Chadli; Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard (capt)

Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)

England (3-5-2)

Jordan Pickford; Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire; Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Danny Rose; Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane (capt)

Coach: Gareth Southgate (ENG)

Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)

John Stones' 98th minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester City against 10-man Arsenal in a bad-tempered clash between the two favourites for the Premier League title on Sunday.

Arsenal played the entire second half a man down after Leandro Trossard was sent-off but were seconds away from inflicting City's first home defeat since November 2022.

Manchester City snatched a controversial 2-1 win at Wolves as John Stones' last-gasp goal was given after a VAR review to send the champions to the top of the Premier League on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's side trailed to Jorgen Strand Larsen's surprise opener for Wolves early in the first half.

Josko Gvardiol dragged City back on level terms before the interval and, with just seconds left in stoppage-time, Stones headed the visitors to a dramatic sixth win in eight league games this season.

Bottom of the table Wolves claimed Stones' goal should have been disallowed for offside and interference by Bernardo Silva on keeper Jose Sa.

But referee Chris Kavanagh ignored their protests after consulting the pitchside monitor.

City are two points clear of previous leaders Liverpool, who can reclaim pole position with a victory against Chelsea later on Sunday.

Chasing a fifth successive English title, Guardiola's men have set a new club record as their unbeaten run in the league reached 31 games since their loss to Aston Villa in December.

In English top-flight history, only six times has a side gone more than 30 matches without losing, most recently Liverpool's run of 44 games from 2019 to 2020.

City are undefeated in 11 games in all competitions this season after avenging last season's 2-1 defeat on their previous visit to Wolves.

The champions were rocked after just seven minutes when Nelson Semedo's pin-point low cross reached Strand Larsen at the far post and the striker eluded Stones for a simple close-range finish.

Erling Haaland is the most celebrated Norway striker but his international team-mate had stolen the spotlight from him for once.

It was the fifth time in seven league games that City had fallen behind.

They nearly hit back immediately as Ilkay Gundogan's dummy gave Silva space for a low shot from 12 yards that was pushed away by Sa.

Unusually sloppy at the back, Guardiola's side were almost breached again when Semedo sprinted through a gaping hole in the visitors' defence, only to be denied by Ederson's save.

City relief 

Guardiola was a picture of frustration as he prowled and scowled on the touchline.

Savinho's air-shot drew mocking cheers from Wolves fans, but Gvardiol silenced the locals in the 33rd minute.

Taking possession on the edge of the Wolves area, the Croatian defender looked up to set his sights before unleashing a superb curler that whistled into the top corner.

Gvardiol's fifth goal in his last seven away league games was the prelude to a period of City pressure that kept Wolves penned inside their own area until half-time.

Haaland had scored eight goals in his four previous league appearances against Wolves, averaging a goal once every 40 minutes.

He was far more anonymous this time and it took 49 minutes before he finally had a chance, which the 24-year-old squandered with a complete miskick from eight yards.

Faced with Wolves' massed defence, City centre-back Ruben Dias tried his luck with a 25-yard drive that was well saved by Sa.

Matheus Cunha was close to putting Wolves back ahead against the run of play with a fizzing drive that was just off target.

Gundogan's free-kick deflected wide and Jack Grealish's drive was held by Sa as City kept probing away before finally snatching the winner.

Stones rose to head home from a corner, with Silva initially blocking Sa's view and briefly making contact with the keeper before ducking down as the ball flew past him.

The goal was initially disallowed but VAR told Kavanagh to check the pitchside monitor and he overturned his decision as Guardiola and his players danced a relieved jig of delight.

Croatia captain Luka Modric says determination and self-belief were always more important than physical stature in football and that will be as true in Sunday's World Cup final as in any other match.

At 1.72 metres (5ft 8in) and 66kg (146 lbs), the Croatia playmaker can cut a diminutive figure on the pitch but he has few rivals when it comes to skill, game-management and stamina.

On Sunday, the winner of four Champions League titles with Real Madrid will play the biggest match of his life against France and size will be the last thing on his mind.

"I've always ignored such talk," he told reporters on the eve of his nation's first World Cup final.

"I have never doubted myself even if others did, I always believed I could get to where I am today and thank God this came true.

"You don't have to be a giant to play football, I'm happy with where I am. I am happy with where I am and I never cared what anyone else said, it only further motivated me."

France will be clear favourites to win a second World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium and Croatia will be relying on the resilience that got them through three lots of extra time and two penalty shootouts in their knockout matches.

Many of this generation of Croatian players grew up during the war following the break-up of Yugoslavia, however, and that have given them a mental toughness.

"I’ve seen a great deal of hardship in my life," added Modric, who lived in refugee hostels for several years as a child.

"The most important thing is to never give up, never give in to circumstances, believe yourself and to soldier on no matter what's in your way.

"There are ups and downs but whatever happens, you have to trust and believe in yourself.

"Fight for your dreams and success. This is what has always guided me."

Despite all the talent in their ranks, Croatia's place at the World Cup was in jeopardy as late as last October when Zlatko Dalic took over and Modric paid tribute to the impact the coach has had on the team.

"We are in the World Cup final, that was the influence of the coach," the 32-year-old said.

"He came into the picture at a very difficult moment ... In the first game, he talked us up to give us self-belief and told us we were still good players despite this crisis.

"He brought us calmness, he perked us up and what we most like is his sincerity and his attitude towards each and every player. We like having him around, he's shown his influence, not just as a coach but more importantly as a human being."