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.
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.
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.
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren is scathing of France's style of play following his side's defeat in Sunday's World Cup final.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Brazil's star man at this World Cup was supposed to be Neymar but three games into the tournament it is Philippe Coutinho who is taking the plaudits and the Barcelona player was again prominent in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Serbia.
Did Argentina’s estranged coach Jorge Sampaoli ask captain Lionel Messi whether to bring on Sergio Aguero during the must-win match against Nigeria?
They were one of the three suspect heavyweights going into the final matchday of the group stages, but five-time champions Brazil moved to the round of 16 with flying colours, defeating Serbia 2-0 at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow yesterday.
Strikes from Paulinho and Thiago SIlva ensure Brazil's qualification to the last 16 as they romp to a 2-0 win over Serbia in their 2018 World Cup match to top Group E.
Lionel Messi lives on in the World Cup, at least for another match in Russia.
Eyes all over the globe are glued to television sets and online streams with the World Cup in full swing, but for those ardent fans who follow their club teams round the season year after year, there is a special meaning to every match and performance in Russia.
A relieved Lionel Messi admitts the stress at the prospect of crashing out of the World Cup at the group stages is the worst he had ever experienced after Marcus Rojo's late strike beat Nigeria 2-1 to send Argentina into the last 16.
Diego Maradona roared and gesticulated through every anguished second of Argentina's rollercoaster World Cup victory over Nigeria on Tuesday before triggering alarm with a health scare after the final whistle.
Winners won matches and losers the hearts in the early hours Tuesday.
Gabriel Jesus started for Brazil in the first two World Cup games against Switzerland and Costa Rica but the 21-year-old Manchester City
