FIFA World Cup 2018

France captain Lloris retires from international football

France captain Hugo Lloris has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36, three weeks after his country lost the World Cup final on penalties to Argentina in Doha.

On This Day: Majestic Ronaldo scores hattrick against Spain in 2018 WC

Four years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo produced an emphatic performance as the forward bagged his maiden World Cup hattrick to help Portugal draw 3-3 against Spain in their Group B encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Sochi. 

WC celebrations rock Paris

The World Cup-winning French team returned home to a heroes' welcome yesterday, parading down the Champs-Elysees as hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols.

Deschamps hails 'beautiful' WC win but Lovren says 'France didn’t play football'

Croatia defender Dejan Lovren is scathing of France's style of play following his side's defeat in Sunday's World Cup final.

'I do not know where I am!'

Once the French have their hands on the coveted golden trophy, Griezmann grasp it and run down to fans behind the goal to show them the World Cup, before skipping back along the side of the pitch holding it aloft.

You don't give a penalty like that in a World Cup final, says Croatia coach Dalic

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic stated outright what he felt regarding the controversial penalty call following his side’s 4-2 defeat to France in Sunday’s World Cup final, saying : “You don't give a penalty like that in a World Cup final.”

Did controversies ruin the spectacle of the World Cup final?

It was the first time that Video Referee Assistant (VAR) technology was used in a World Cup final but controversial refereeing decsions ensured that a spectacle of the calibre of the final might have been marred by inconsistencies.

Young France promise even more

Energetic, disciplined and clinical, France won the World Cup on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Croatia that, even in such a moment of achievement, still left the feeling there may be much more to come from Didier Deschamps' outstanding young team.

Reason why protesters invaded pitch during World Cup final

The World Cup final between France and Croatia was briefly interrupted when three intruders affiliated to anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot ran onto the pitch before being hauled off by stewards.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

Rakitic dreams of going further than 1998 Croatia heroes

Ivan Rakitic is hoping this Croatia team can go a step further after matching the country’s heroes of 1998 by making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

Beckham wins England bet with Zlatan

David Beckham wins a friendly England versus Sweden bet against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the terms of the bet stating that if England beat Sweden in the quarter-final to book a place in the World Cup 2018 semi-final, Zlatan would be buying dinner for Beckham where ever he wants in the world.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

Croatia end Russia's dream

Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final against England after a dramatic match full of twists and turns.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

Lady Luck was not with Brazil

What a match it was Friday midnight! A cracker of a contest that was fought hard till the end.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

England cruise to semis

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored as England comfortably defeated Sweden 2-0 in Samara on Saturday to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1990.

July 8, 2018
July 8, 2018

Croatia end Russian dream

Ivan Rakitic scored the winning penalty as Croatia beat Russia 4-3 in a shoot-out after a dramatic 2-2 draw on Saturday to end the World Cup hopes of the host nation and advance to a semi-final against England.

July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018

Loss to Belgium is harder than 7-1 humiliation: Paulinho

Brazil midfielder Paulinho says that the 2-1 defeat against Belgium in their quarter-final match of the World Cup 2018 is harder to take than the 7-1 humiliation handed by Germany in World Cup 2014.

July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018

Russia vs Croatia match in numbers

Russia will look to continue the winning tradition of host nations at the World Cup when it takes on Croatia in a quarter-final matchup at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi today. The match is scheduled to start at 12:00 am in Bangladesh time. Here we look at some of the statistics ahead of the game.

July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018

‘I expected more difficulties’ against Neymar: Meunier

The Belgium defender Thomas Meunier praises his team’s defending against Brazil and also says that he expected a better show from the Selecao star man Neymar while defending against him during the Red Devils’ 2-1 win over Brazil in their quarter-final match of the World Cup 2018.

July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018

Winner not on the field

Four years ago, Brazil were hit by a tragedy bigger than a tsunami. A 7-1 thrashing by Germany was beyond the wildest imagination of the proud football nation.