FIFA World Cup 2018 Denmark Squad: Success depends on Christian Eriksen’s dynamite effect

Christian Eriksen had another superb season in the Premier League in 2017-18, with 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. In Denmark’s World Cup qualifying campaign he scored 11 goals.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018 » The past decade or so hasn’t been the best of periods for Denmark football team. The national team missed out on qualifying for two of the past three FIFA World Cups and needed to beat Ireland in a playoff to book a ticket for 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

However, coached by Age Hareide, Denmark will command respect when football’s biggest tournament gets underway on June 14.

Danish football team manager, Age Hareide succeeded Denmark’s longest-serving coach in Morten Olsen after the Scandinavian country’s failure to qualify for UEFA EURO 2016. A former Norway international defender and coach, his decades of top-level experience helped the Denmark football team to reach Russia 2018 via a qualification play-off victory over Republic of Ireland.

The squad boasts depth and, in Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Christian Eriksen, world class talent, even if there are question marks over the team’s attack. In addition, the ‘Danish Dynamite’, as the team is affectionately known by local fans, have the luxury of a relatively tame draw. Victory in the first game against Peru on June 16 will go a long way to guaranteeing the Scandinavian side’s place in the knockout phase.
Another win five days later against an unheralded Australia will ensure Denmark’s progress, regardless of the result of the final group match against France.

Key Denmark player to watch out in Russia 2018

The Spurs No 23 will be joined in Denmark’s midfield by Werder Bremen’s Thomas Delaney, who enjoyed an impressive 2017-18 season in the Bundesliga. Celta Vigo’s Pione Sisto is another ace up Hareide’s sleeve. The 23-year-old was something of a revelation in La Liga last season with nine assists and can be used as an attacking midfielder, winger or second striker. The defence also looks solid with a center-back pairing of Andreas Bjelland and captain Simon Kjaer. In goal is Kasper Schmeichel, the son of Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel. Kasper stepped out of his father’s shadow by helping Leicester City to the 2016-17 Premier League title, the club’s first top-level trophy.

However, Denmark’s attack does not look quite as impressive. Options include Nicolai Jorgensen, Niklas Bendtner, Andreas Cornelius and Kasper Dolberg. Hardly an inspiring group, although 20-year-old Dolberg has shown promise for Dutch side Ajax.

Denmark’s Road to Russia 2018

After a slow start to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, Denmark won four of their last five fixtures before their rout of Ireland over two legs. They have since played two international friendlies at home, recording a 1-0 victory over Panama and a goalless draw against Chile in March. More stern tests await in the coming days, with World Cup warm-up friendlies against Sweden and Mexico.

See Full Player List → FIFA 2018 Denmark Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 Uruguay Squad: Gaston Ramirez among three left out

Uruguay will be spearheaded in Russia by Barcelona forward Luis Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Sampdoria midfielder Gaston Ramirez was among the three players cut from Uruguay’s final 23-man FIFA World Cup squad.

Seattle Sounders playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro and Deportivo La Coruna teenager Federico Valverde were also left out by coach Oscar Tabarez, said the Uruguayan Football Association.

Uruguay manager Oscar Washington Tabarez

Tabarez is an institution in Uruguayan football, having taken charge of the national team at Italy 1990, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. The mastermind of Uruguay’s 2011 Copa America title win, El Maestro is an attack-minded coach fabled for his astute tactics and fatherly approach to his players. The 70-year-old has used a wheelchair since he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2016.

Road to FIFA World Cup 2018

South American qualifying is one of the harder routes to reach the World Cup but Uruguay didn’t face many problems this time. The defeated Colombia and Chile emphatically and in the final game Bolivia lost to Uruguay by the margin of 4-2 to seal a berth in FIFA World Cup 2018.

Players to look forward in Russia 2018

As expected, Uruguay will be spearheaded in Russia by Barcelona forward Luis Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani. A prolific striker for club and country, Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer. A European and world champion with Barcelona, the forward has scored five times at the FIFA World Cup, having starred at South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. While Suarez striking partner Edinson Cavani was top scorer in qualifying.

The squad also includes Atletico Madrid defenders Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez as well as 20-year-old Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. Eleven of the players named also featured in Uruguay’s 2014 World Cup squad.

The two-time world champions will begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign against Egypt on June 15 before facing Saudi Arabia and Russia in Group A. They will fine-tune their preparations for the tournament with a friendly against Uzbekistan on Friday.

Full Player List → FIFA 2018 Uruguay Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia: Sergio Ramos releases World Cup Anthem for Spain

The 38-year-old, who like Ramos is from the southwestern region of Andalusia, released his first album last year.

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has released an anthem for Spain’s 2018 World Cup campaign which he co-wrote with Spanish flamenco fusion singer Demarco Flamenco.

The 32-year-old Spain captain yesterday uploaded on his Instagram page a short video teaser of the song, which he is seen performing with Flamenco, a former gas canister distributor.

“I always keep my promises. This is what my friend Demarco Flamenco and I have been working on. Warming up for the World Cup,” Ramos wrote alongside the video which has been seen nearly four million times.

The mid-tempo ballad called “Otra estrella en tu corazon”, or “Another star in your heart” was made available on iTunes and other online platforms on Friday.

The lyrics include: “Come on, Spain, raise your voice; scream loudly, shout that goal. Thinking big we will achieve the best, fighting together, towards the star with honour. We have to try. May La Roja shine once more.” Demarco, whose real name is Marco Jesus Borrego, told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE he wrote the lyrics with Ramos.

“He worked on it from his end, I did it from mine,” he said.

The 38-year-old, who like Ramos is from the southwestern region of Andalusia, released his first album last year.

Ramos also sang lead vocals for Spain’s Euro 2016 song “La Roja Baila”, or “La Roja dances”.

Spain won its only World Cup in 2010. It won the European Championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

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FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia Squad: Will host go past group stage or do a South Africa?

Cherchesov’s options have been further limited by the absences of Viktor Vasin, Georgi Dzhikiya and Aleksandr Kokorin due to knee injuries.

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Only once before has a World Cup host nation failed to progress beyond the competition’s first stage. That dubious distinction belongs to South Africa, who were sent packing 11 days into the 2010 tournament despite an unlikely victory over France and a spirited draw against Mexico.

Russia’s recent troubles: A cursory glance at recent results would suggest that Russia could suffer the same fate when they host the 2018 edition of football’s flagship event, which begins on June 14, reports Xinhua news agency.

In their last three major tournaments — the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 European Championship and the 2017 Confederations Cup — Russia have managed just one victory, three draws and five losses. In those fixtures they scored seven goals and conceded 12.

Coached by Stanislav Cherchesov, Russia haven’t fared much better in recent international friendlies, with home losses to France, Brazil and Argentina punctuated by a 3-3 draw with Spain. Despite having played each of their past six fixtures at home, Russia has not won since overcoming South Korea 4-2 in Moscow last October.

But it’s not all bad news for the hosts.

The Real Test: The Sbornaya — as the national team are known — have been favoured by being drawn in what is perhaps the World Cup’s weakest group. Their tournament opener is against 67th ranked Saudi Arabia on June 14 and will be followed by a clash with Egypt, who will play in only their third World Cup.

Russia will meet Uruguay in the final group match hoping that Oscar Tabarez’s side is already guaranteed of a berth in the knockout phase and therefore have little motivation. However that may be wishful thinking. Just making it to the tournament’s second phase will represent a triumph of sorts for Cherchesov.

Full Player List → FIFA 2018 Russia Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 England Squad: Southgate’s 23 Lions who made the cut for Russia

The squad includes some brightest youngsters while disappointing the likes of senior players like Joe Hart and Ryan Bertrand.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018 » England eased their way through to the World Cup 2018 qualification campaign but will have to face much tougher challenge ahead in Russia.

The ‘Three Lions’ have been placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Panama and Tunisia – but their recent form in International Competitions strike a warning in their qualification bid to the knockout stages.

Head coach Gareth Southgate has named England’s 23-man squad for Fifa World Cup 2018, which had some surprise inclusions and exclusions. He has included some of the brightest youngsters from London while disappointing the likes of senior players like Joe Hart and Ryan Bertrand.

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Team Selection

Speaking to media, Gareth Southgate regarding his selection says, ““I believe this is a squad which we can be excited about”. “We have a lot of energy and athleticism in the team, but players that are equally comfortable in possession of the ball and I think people can see the style of play we’ve been looking to develop.”

“It is a young group, but with some really important senior players so I feel the balance of the squad is good, both in terms of its experience, its character and also the positional balance.”

“The selection process has been over months really, it’s not just been the last few weeks,” said Southgate. “We feel the team are improving and we want to continue that momentum.

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The 23 players have just 449 caps between them – an average of 19.5, according to Telegraph UK.

They also have just three major tournament goals between the lot of them: Danny Welbeck at Euro 2012, and Jamie Vardy and Eric Dier at Euro 2016.

With Wayne Rooney missing from action after announcing retirement from international football, can England find a new leader?

Full Player List → FIFA 2018 England Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 Australia Squad: Can Socceroos survive group stage in Russia?

The Australian players, a disparate group playing mostly in leagues around Europe and Asia, have been gradually assembling in Turkey after completing club commitments across 13 countries.

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Once upon a time, Australia dared to dream of reaching the FIFA World Cup finals, seemingly destined to always stumble at the final hurdle of an almost impossible qualification process.

These days, reaching that holy grail has become routine, replaced by grander ideas of not just participating in the World Cup but winning their way through to the pointy end of the tournament, reports Xinhua news agency.

History

Nevertheless, Australia’s dreamers are counting down to next month’s World Cup in Russia more in hope than expectation of progressing to the knockout stages.

These will be the national team’s fourth consecutive finals, having waited 32 years between their first appearance in the erstwhile West Germany in 1974 until the start of this sequence in the reunified Germany in 2006.

At the past two tournaments, the Socceroos have exited, well beaten but honour intact, after the group stage. This time around they face France, Denmark and Peru in another tough, but not insurmountable Group C.

Coach Speaks

Van Marwijk, who will hand the reins to outgoing Sydney FC coach and Graham Arnold after Russia, is aware of the size of the task he has been handed but is also a realist, and a pragmatist.

“I am not a magician, I cannot in two days [teach] a team to play exactly the way I like them to do,” he told the Guardian newspaper before his first game in charge, a 4-1 not-so-friendly defeat by Norway in Oslo, which was followed by a 0-0 draw with Colombia.

“That costs you a lot of time. That’s why it’s so important that we can start with a training camp for four weeks. We can train every day, that’s very important, and to play two friendly games is enough.”

Full Player List → FIFA 2018 Australia Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 Morocco Squad: Renard’s defensive firepower to take on biggies

Renard’s Atlas Lions plays Ukraine on 31 May and Slovakia on 4 June (both games in Geneva, Switzerland) before taking on Estonia in Tallinn on 9 June.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Two-time ‘Africa Cup of Nations’ winning coach Herve Renard announced a provisional list of 23 players and three reserves that will make up the North African team, who will return to the World Cup after an absence of 20 years.

The Atlas Lions will be hoping to repeat their achievement from the 1986 World Cup when they surged into the last 16, holding England and Poland to goalless draws before defeating Portugal to top their group.

Unusually for a national team, over half the players heading to Russia were born outside of Morocco, in either France, Spain, or the Netherlands. However, FIFA rules on nationality and citizenship allow them to represent the north African country internationally.

Morocco is grouped with the 2010 World Cup winners Spain, European Championship title holders Portugal and Asian powerhouse Iran in a tough Group B.

With the Iberian duo widely considered strong favourites to progress far into the knock-out stages of the tournament, the Morocco squad, arrive in Russia as underdogs and will have to play very well in order to secure a last 16 berth.

In their last round of qualification, Renard’s men finished top of a group containing Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Gabon and Mali, maintaining a six-game unbeaten streak without conceding a single goal and scoring 11 in the process. The Atlas Lions are known to play possession-based football and press aggressively in defence.

In a group like this, a defensive approach will be the order of the day, and Morocco’s defence is boosted with the presence of Juventus center-back Medhi Benatia. A former Italian Serie A all-star player, Benatia also captains the team and his leadership both on and off the pitch will be crucial to the teams success.

The Atlas Lions list for the prestigious tournament did not include the name of Al Ahly striker and Egyptian Premier League top scorer, Wualid Azaro, who marked his return to the national team last March. Additionally, Al Hilal forward Achraf Bencharki wasn’t named among the squad after Moroccan reports claimed he would be called. Southampton’s out of favour midfielder Sofiane Boufal also misses the train to Russia.

Renard’s Atlas Lions will play Ukraine on 31 May and Slovakia on 4 June (both games in Geneva, Switzerland) before taking on Estonia in Tallinn on 9 June.

Full List of Players → FIFA 2018 Morocco Squad

FIFA World Cup 2018 Croatia Squad: Luka Modric leads team chances in ‘group of death’

In Group-D, Croatia will face Nigeria on June 16, Argentina on June 21 in Nizhny Novgorod, and Iceland on June 26 in Rostov-on-Don.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic named a 24-man World Cup squad, which will eventually be prune by one, according to FIFA regulations.

The Croats, making their fifth football World Cup appearance in the FIFA World Cup 2018, being played in Russia, have been drawn alongside two-time former champions Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland in a tricky Group D, surely one of the toughest groups in the latest edition of the tournament.

The squad is led by Real Madrid’s midfield maestro Luka Modric, who will be spearheading Croatia’s World Cup journey in Russia.

Apart from Modric, Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic, Inter’s Ivan Perisic and Juventus’s Mario Mandzukic, are expected to give a tough competition in the ‘group of death’.

Danijel Subasic of AS Monaco is going to guard the goal, with Dejan Lovren of Liverpool spearheading the defence.

Croatia qualified for the World Cup by ousting Greece in the playoffs and the coach has kept the the original team intact, making it one of the top contenders in Group D.

“One of the stoppers will be removed from the list.” the coach said when asked about the final list of 23 players that he will take to Russia.

Croatia faces strong pre-tournament friendlies against Brazil on June 3 at Anfield and take on Senegal five days later in Osijek before flying out to Russia.

The friendly match against Brazil will test the Croat players before they face the tough challenge of playing another Latin American powerhouse, Argentina.

In the group stage, Croatia will face Nigeria on June 16, Argentina on June 21 in Nizhny Novgorod, and Iceland in Rostov-on-Don on June 26.

Full List of Players → FIFA 2018 Croatia Squad

FIFA 2018: Here’s why World Cup 2018 is causing insomnia to Bangladeshi flagmakers

Homes have been converted into makeshift printing and sewing plants as orders pour in from across the country.

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Flagmakers in Bangladesh are doing a roaring trade week ahead of the World Cup, but no-one is interested in the home nation’s colours — the money is all on pennants for Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Neymar’s Brazil.

Hossain owns one of scores of small, hot, sweaty workshops in the Merajnagar district of capital Dhaka, working flat-out to produce flags and pennants for the local market ahead of the tournament in Russia.

“For the last two months I have been working non-stop,” said Hossain. “There are days when I do not even get two hours of sleep,” added the 40-year-old, barely lifting his head from his screen-printing machine.

Bangladesh is traditionally cricket territory, but every four years the country of 160 million people — whose national team is ranked 197th out of 202 in the world by FIFA — goes World Cup crazy.

Flags in the colours of Argentina and Brazil take over the streets, and printers in Merajnagar are expecting to produce hundreds of thousands before the tournament starts in Moscow on June 14.

Homes have been converted into makeshift printing and sewing plants as orders pour in from across the country.

“Every day we’re printing and making thousands of flags. Today we’ve already printed 11,000 Argentina pennants,” said Hossain.

– Maradona to Messi –

Fans across Bangladesh hold flag-waving processions to honour their favourite team. Last week, a video of supporters marching with a 200 metre-long Argentina flag in the northwestern town of Madarganj went viral on social media.

The impoverished country first saw live World Cup matches in 1982. But it was the 1986 tournament, when Diego Maradona single-handedly helped Argentina win the trophy, that cemented football into the Bangladesh psyche — along with a new favourite team.

“The craze for Argentina is still going strong, Maradona is gone but Messi is the new superstar,” said Faruq Mia, a flag hawker who came from neighbouring Narayanganj district to stock up.

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FIFA World Cup 2018 Portugal Squad: These 23 players will fly with Ronaldo to Russia

Portugal booked their ticket to Russia thanks in no small measure to Ronaldo and his 15 goals.

 

FIFA World Cup 2018 » Portugal head to Russia as European champions after their unlikely Euro 2016 triumph in France. There is little doubt that captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is eager for his team to follow in the footsteps of neighbours Spain by winning two consecutive major tournaments.

However, fulfilling a lifetime’s ambition by winning the World Cup may prove a step too far for the five-time World Player of the Year and his teammates, reports Xinhua news agency.

Road to Russia

Topping their World Cup qualifying group on goal difference ahead of Switzerland, Portugal booked their ticket to Russia thanks in no small measure to Ronaldo and his 15 goals.

The European champions bounced back from an opening round defeat to Switzerland by winning their remaining nine fixtures. Ronaldo apart, however, Portugal’s squad looks a little short on quality in comparison to favourites Brazil, Germany and Spain.

What to Expect

2018 marks Portugal’s seventh appearance at the World Cup and their fifth in a row. Their best performance came on their debut in 1966, when they finished third after losing to hosts England in the semi-finals. They also reached the semis in 2006, losing to France. Meanwhile, they went out in the group stage in both 2002 and 2014, and lost to Spain in the round of 16 in 2010.

But after the euphoria of winning Euro 2016, even the most ardent aficionado of A Selecao das Quinas would admit that their victory was largely unexpected and was achieved in a pragmatic, attritional style uncomfortably similar to that of Greece at Euro 2004.

Portugal: World Cup victory a difficult mission for Ronaldo (Team Profile)
Portugal’s success in recent years has been in large part due to coach Fernando Santos, who oversaw a significant turnaround in form after replacing Paulo Bento following an embarrassing home defeat against Albania in a Euro 2016 qualifier. Santos subsequently led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and has lost only once in 29 competitive internationals.

The 63-year-old is a former defender who played for Estoril and Maritimo. He has coached all Portugal’s “big three” clubs — Benfica, Porto and Sporting — and led Greece at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup.

Full list of Players → FIFA 2018 Portugal Squad

Indian football team climbs 3 spots to re-enter top-100 in FIFA rankings

India gained six points from their February rating points 333 to make the three-spot leap.

Sports News : The Indian football team jumped three places to 99 in the latest FIFA ranking for the month of February released on Thursday.

The Stephen Constantine-coached side will take on Kyrgyz Republic in a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying match on March 27 at the Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.

India have already booked their berth in the Asian Cup after a gap of 27 years.

India are yet to play in 2018, having last featured in a 2-2 draw against Myanmar in the return-leg match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying Group A match last November.

India gained six points from their February rating points (333) to make the three-spot leap.

After being ranked 14th in the Asian confederation in February, India made a one-spot leap in that regard while Iran continues to lead the way in the continent.

→ Indian Football team  ←

31-year-old Italy international footballer Davide Astori found dead

According to media reports, Astori, who played 14 times for Italy as a defender, died in his sleep in his team’s hotel ahead of their Series A clash against Udinese.

International News : ACF Fiorentina captain and Italian international Davide Astori, 31, has died due to a sudden illness, the Italian football club announced on Sunday.

“Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that club captain Davide Astori has died, caught by a sudden illness,” Fiorentina said in a statement.

According to media reports, Astori, who played 14 times for Italy as a defender, died in his sleep in his team’s hotel ahead of their Series A clash against Udinese away.

“For the terrible and delicate situation, and above all for the respect of his family, appeal is made to everyone’s sensibility,” Fiorentina said.

The match against Udinese has been postponed following the announcement of the death of the former Cagliari player, a product of the famed AC Milan academy.

  → Davide Astori Found Dead ←

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Indian team won hearts, if not medals

He congratulated England for winning the Cup while stating that all the teams had displayed their best talent during the tournament held in India for the first time

 

The Indian team may not have won medals but the youngsters have won the hearts of everyone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday about the FIFA Under- 17 World Cup which ended yesterday in Kolkata.

He congratulated England for winning the Cup while stating that all the teams had displayed their best talent during the tournament held in India for the first time.

In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi referred to some other recent sports events like the Asia Cup Hockey and Denmark Open Tennis tournament and hailed India's victory in these.

India won the Asia Cup after 10 years and while K Srikanth won the Denmark Open after Indonesia Open and Australia Open, he noted.

Turning to FIFA Under-17, he said there was excitement among the players as well as spectators during such a big tournament.

"The World Cup was hosted successfully and all the teams displayed their best talent. India may not have won the Cup but the Indian youngsters have won the hearts of everyone," Modi said.

Earlier, he tweeted, "Congratulations to the youngsters from England on winning the #FIFAU17WC. I also congratulate Spain for a spirited game."

In another tweet, he said, "#FIFAU17WC was a celebration of football, witnessing wonderful games. India was honoured & delighted to host the tournament.

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