Technology, homework narrow talent gap, says Belgium’s Martinez
MOSCOW (Reuters) – New tech and resources for studying opponents are letting World Cup minnows cramp the style of bigger teams, Roberto Martinez said as his Belgium side prepare to try and break down a well-organized Tunisia on Saturday.
Nigeria bring in fresh strikers for Iceland clash
VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) – Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr made three changes to his team for Friday’s Group D World Cup match against Iceland on Friday, bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa up front and Kenneth Omeruo in defense.
Sickly Swedes can still send Germany home early, says captain Granqvist
SOCHI (Reuters) – Sweden’s preparations may have been hit by illness and injury but team captain Andreas Granqvist still believes that his side can score a first competitive win over Germany since 1958 to send the defending champions home early from th…
Brazil drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica at halftime
ST. PETERSBURG (Reuters) – Brazil had more of the possession and more of the shots but they could not turn their dominance into goals as the first half of their second World Cup Group E match with Costa Rica ended 0-0 on Friday.
Qualified France now have time to fine tune
ISTRA, Russia (Reuters) – France might not have impressed in their first two World Cup matches, but they have already secured their last-16 spot and will use their last Group C game against Denmark to improve before the knockout phase.
Brand ‘Messi’ unblemished by poor World Cup
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Lionel Messi may be heading home early from the World Cup after flops on the pitch for Argentina yet he will remain a ubiquitous presence in Russia and around the world as the face of dozens of brand marketing campaigns.
Nerves over, Uruguay ready to play unshackled
NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Reuters) – Comfortably through to the next stage of the World Cup but hardly lighting the tournament up with their play, Uruguay believe they will become more free-flowing from now.
On the road with Portuguese fans is a moveable feast
SARANSK, Russia (Reuters) – Sustained by Portuguese wine, cheese and sausage, and battling off swarms of mosquitoes, friends Carlos Brum and Pedro Lobito have driven their spectacularly decorated camper van 7,000km from Lisbon to Russia to cheer on the…
Croatia remind of their quality as they seek to emulate class of ’98
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Croatia might have been under the radar coming into the World Cup finals but there will be few sides relishing the possibility of playing them after they displayed their quality with a 3-0 thumping of Argentina in Gr…
NHL releases 2018-19 schedule, including two outdoor games
The National Hockey League released its complete 1,271-game schedule for 2018-19 on Thursday, headlined by an Oct. 3 season-opening slate including the home opener for the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.
