Full List: 2018 World Cup individual award winners

The 2018 World Cup is now officially concluded after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final encounter played on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. It was a monthlong celebration of fun football, unexpected results, and an overall better tournament than just about anybody had been expecting. One of the less surprising things […]

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Russia 2018: Belgium thrash England 2-0 to win third place

Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday’s third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg. Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as Belgium eclipsed the side […]

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Russia 2018: Mandzukic’s extra-time goal eliminates England, sends Croatia into first World Cup final

Croatia made it to their first ever World Cup final by coming from behind to crush England’s hopes in an enthralling contest. The Balkan nation of just four million people will play France on Sunday after Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time winner in Wednesday’s semi-final prolonged England’s 52-year wait to reach a second World Cup final. England […]

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Russia 2018: Umtiti’s goal sink Belgium as France progress to final

Samuel Umtiti headed France into victory in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, consigning Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ to another bitter disappointment. France’s own supremely talented young squad will aim to make amends for defeat on home soil in the final of Euro 2016 in Sunday’s showpiece against England or Croatia. In a World Cup replete with set-piece […]

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Russia 2018: Croatia ends Russia’s dreams, to play England in semi-finals

Croatia have booked a date on 11 July with England in the FIFA World Cup semi-final after edging out hard-fighting hosts Russia in penalties in the match played in Sochi. The thrilling quarter-final match had ended 1-1 after regulation time. It also ended 2-2 after extra time, leading to penalty shootout to decide the winner, […]

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Russia 2018: England defeat Sweden to move into semi-finals

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored as England comfortably defeated Sweden 2-0 in Samara on Saturday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990. Leicester defender Maguire headed in the opening goal from a corner on 30 minutes, with Alli adding a second just before the hour. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then […]

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Russia 2018: France defeat Uruguay by two goals to progress to semi-finals

France became the first team to reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals as goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann gave them a deserved 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday. It is the first time France have been in the last four since 2006 and sets up a mouth-watering clash against either Belgium or Brazil, […]

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The world in love with Russia – FIFA president tells Putin

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told President Vladimir Putin on Friday the world is “in love” with World Cup hosts Russia and praised him for overcoming negative stereotypes about the country. Infantino spoke at a meeting with Putin and former world football stars including former England defender Rio Ferdinand and ex-Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. “We all […]

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England defeat Colombia 4-3 on penalties to reach quarter-finals

England edged Colombia 4-3 on penalties to halt a run of five successive shootout defeats at major tournaments and book a quarter-final clash against Sweden at the World Cup. Harry Kane fired England ahead with his tournament-leading sixth goal just before the hour in Moscow, converting a penalty after he was hauled down by Carlos […]

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Russia 2018: Sweden defeat Switzerland 1-0 to seal first quarter-final spot in 24 years

Sweden booked a World Cup quarter-final against England or Colombia with an attritional 1-0 win over Switzerland in St. Petersburg, sealed by Emil Forsberg’s deflected strike. In a contest desperately short of quality in the final third, Forsberg — Sweden’s brightest player — broke the deadlock with a low finish after 66 minutes, and Sweden […]

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