King Kohli's India script history with maiden Test series win in Australia

India scored 622 for 7 in their first innings and then bowled out Australia for 300 thereby enforcing the follow-on.

India Tour of Australia 2019: India scripted history winning their first ever series on Australian soil beating the home team 2-1 after the fourth and final Test ended in a tame draw due to inclement weather.

India scored 622 for 7 in their first innings and then bowled out Australia for 300 thereby enforcing the follow-on.

However persistent drizzle washed out day five thereby keeping the victory margin down to 2-1.

Coming into this fifth Test, India had an unassailable 2-1 series' lead after winning the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs and the third Test in Melbourne by 137 runs. Australia had won the second Test in Perth by 146 runs.

The morning began with similar murky clouds as seen throughout Sunday, and right at the supposed start of play at 10 am local time, rain arrived to prevent any possibility of cricket happening at the Sydney Cricket Ground.


Highlights & Scorecard → India Vs Australia 4th Test Match

Hockey World Cup 2018 Final: Belgium beat Netherlands in shootout to win the title

Australia crushed England 8-1 to win Bronze medal in Odisha World Cup 2018.

Hockey World Cup 2018: A gritty Belgium defeated former champions the Netherlands in sudden death in a thrilling summit clash to win their maiden men's hockey World Cup title at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Olympic silver medallist Belgium created history by eking out a 3-2 win in the penalty shoot-out after the final match of the game's showpiece event ended in a goalless draw.

It was a great day for Belgium hockey as the country registered its second biggest international title after the Olympics silver in Rio in 2016. In the last edition of the World Cup at The Hague in Netherlands, Belgium had finished fifth.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, failed to match Pakistan's record of a fourth world title for the second consecutive edition. The Dutch had finished runners-up to Australia four years ago in front of their home crowd. They last won a World Cup title way back in 1998 in Utrecht. Incidentally, it was the Netherlands' second consecutive match that went to shoot-out in the tournament after their victory over Australia in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In Sunday's shoot-out, Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch outmatched his Dutch counterpart Pirmin Blaak by making four saves to hand his side their maiden World Cup title. There was hardly anything to separate the two sides in the shoot-out as they were levelled 2-2 after five tries. While Jeroen Hertzberger and Jonas de Geus scored for Netherlands, Florent van Aubel and Victor Wegnez were on target for Belgium. However, the shoot-out was not without drama as Belgium needed Arthur de Sloover to score from their fifth and last attempt to win the game and he did so, sending the Red Lions bench into wild celebrations.

But the Dutch goalkeeper asked for a referral for a foot and the goal was later withdrawn after TV replays showed the ball indeed touch De Sloover's feet while he was pushing it into the net past Blaak. The reversal meant that the match went into sudden death and Van Aubel was given the responsibility by Belgium to take the first opportunity and he duly converted it.

Watch the highlights here → Hockey World Cup 2018 Final

'Cricket is a captain's game, coach must take back seat'

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said that a coach should take a back seat in cricket as it is a captain's game, unlike football.

Asia Games 2018: "I think the coach has to take a back seat in cricket. It's not like football. A lot of the current cricket coaches start to believe that I'm going to run a cricket team like a football team. Cricket is a captain's game and the coach has to take a back seat," the 46-year-old said at an event here on Monday.

Furthermore, Ganguly quipped that if given a chance, he would like to ask the Indian cricket team's head coach, Ravi Shastri who picks the team, him or Rohit Sharma.

Ganguly also said that he would like to ask the head coach how he changes the current Indian team to perform in a similar manner away from the subcontinent.

Reflecting on the nature of a team's head coach, Ganguly said that man management is one of the key qualities a coach should possess, adding that hardly few have those skills.

The former Indian skipper was in Symbiosis International (Deemed University) for the launch of his book- 'A Century is not Enough', co-authored with senior sports writer Gautam Bhattacharya.

↓↓↓ Read more on ↓↓↓

Sourav Ganguly on Cricket

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News Source: BS & Business Standard

Asia Cup 2018: India Survive Scare, Beat Hong Kong By 26 Runs (Match Report)

In the Match 4 of Asia Cup 2018, Shikhar Dhawan hits his 14th century to help India post 285/7 while Rayudu scores 60 runs.

Asia Cup 2018: A 174-run partnership between Hong Kong openers Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan gave some mighty scares to the Indian camp and fans, but the Men in Blue fought back to clinch a 26-run win in their Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium. With the win, India registered their first win of the prestigious tournament.

Earlier, Hong Kong won the toss and asked India to bat first. The Indian openers, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma (23) and Shikhar Dhawan (127), gave a good start to the Men in Blue. Chasing a target of 286 runs to win, Hong Kong made a cautious start to their innings, coupled with India's misfielding chaos.

Slowly and steadily, Rath (73) and Nizakat (92) made runs and piled pressure on the Indian bowlers, that had an inexperienced line-up, barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinning duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who were struggling to pick up wickets.

However, much to everyone's relief, Kuldeep drew first blood for the Men in Blue at the 34th over, accounting for Rath, who holed out at extra cover. In the next over, Nizakat was sent back to the pavilion by debutant Khaleel Ahmed, who trapped him in front to end the former's innings with a patient but well-made 92 runs.

Hong Kong's middle and lower orders then frittered away the advantage set up by the openers as Indian bowlers, led by Khaleel and Chahal, continued to get breakthroughs at regular intervals. From 174 for 0, Hong Kong lost their way and huffed and puffed past the 250-run mark, eventually finishing at 259 for 8 in 50 overs.

↓↓↓ Over -by-Over Highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India Vs Hong Kong

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News Source: BS

Asia Cup 2018: Can India put a stiff challenge to Pakistan in Dubai today (Match Preview)

The last time India and Pakistan met was in the ICC Champions Trophy final on June 18, 2017, at the Oval in London

Asia Cup 2018: In Match 5 of Asia Cup 2018, Rohit Sharma’s India will up against their arch rival Pakistan led by Sarfaraz Ahmed at Dubai International Stadium in United Arab Emirates. Indian cricket team will look to correct the mistakes they did against Hong Kong on Tuesday. India might make change in their playing 11 bringing in Jasprit Bumrah in place of Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya would replace Khaleel Ahmed. On the other hand, Pakistan will be high on confidence after crushing Hong Kong in their first game of the tournament.

India Team News

• The major concern for India is their middle order batters as in their previous game, Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav were not able to hit big shots in the death overs while Dhoni was dismissed out for a duck. On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked rusty in his opening spell leaking too many runs while the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzuvendra Chahal bowled superbly in the middle overs to bring India back in the game against Hong Kong. Jasprit Bumrah likely to replace Shardul Thakur, who bowled 3 No balls in an over which somehow shifted the momentum in opposition favor.

Pakistan Team News

• For Pakistan, Asia Cup is the start of a busy season. The trend suggests that once Pakistan are in the groove they are hard to stop. Pakistan has a combination of experienced players and young talented players like Fakhar Zaman who is coming after a fantastic ODI series in Zimbabwe where he finished as the leading run-getter with 515 runs. Meanwhile, Shoaib Malik the most experienced batsman in Pakistan line-up is also among the leading run scorers in ODIs with 7,015 runs.

↓↓↓ Playing 11, Scoreboard & Live Updates ↓↓↓

India Vs Pakistan

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News Source: BS

Asia Cup 2018: India to take on minnows Hong Kong with eye on Pakistan tie (Match Preview)

India will look to finetune their playing 11 in today's Asia Cup 2018 match against Hong Kong before going into their much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.

Asia Cup 2018: In Match 4 of Asia Cup 2018, India, led by stand-in captain Rohit Sharma, will lock horns with Hong Kong at Dubai International Stadium in United Arab Emirates today. A formidable India will be aiming to make short work of minnows Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener before getting battle-ready for their much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian side is an intimidating one in the limited-overs format. However, Hong Kong, who were crushed by Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack in their opening tie, will look to pose a stiff challenge. India will look to finetune their playing 11 against Hong Kong before going to the much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.

India Cricket Team News - India Vs Hong Kong

Even as it is being seen by many as a warm-up game, Rohit Sharma and his colleagues won't want to take Hong Kong lightly. Even so, this may help India check their preparedness and make course correction, if necessary, before the all-important India vs Pakistan match the very next day.

For the past few years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's waning batting skills have repeatedly come under scanner and this tournament will give everyone a fair idea of his ideal position. Whether he should be playing at number 5, 6 or 7 will be the big question before the Pakistan game. Possibly, Kedar Jadhav or Manish Pandey at number 5 and Hardik Pandya with his big hitting abilities at number 7 could prove ideal foil for the former India captain if he decides to come in at number 6.

Hong Kong Cricket Team news - Hong Kong Vs India

On the other hand, Hong Kong will look to play the mandatory 50 overs to put a competitive total on the board if they bat first. Hong Kong lost their opener game against Pakistan by eight wickets in a truly one-sided showdown after they managed to put only 116 runs on the board batting first.

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News Source: BS

Asia Cup 2018: Afghanistan win by 91 runs, knock Sri Lanka out of Asia Cup (Match Report)

In reply of Afghanistan's 249/10, Sri Lanka bundled out for 158/10 in 41.2 overs, Mujeeb, Nabi and Rashid take 2 wickets each and Rahmat was highest scorer with 72 runs.

Asia Cup 2018: Afghanistan knocked five-time champions Sri Lanka out of the Asia Cup with a 91-run win here Monday, the result reflecting the rise of the cricketers from the strife-torn nation and the fall of the once all-conquering islanders.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, Afghanistan were all out for 249 in 50 over on a pitch that looked to be on the slower side, making stroke-making difficult.

Rahmat Shah top-scored for the minnows with a composed 72 off 90 balls, while pacer Thisara Perera was the most successful bowler for the islanders with figures of five for 55.

In reply, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 158 in 41.2 overs.

Afghanistan vs Sri lanka

Afghanistan have had an impressive run so far in 2018, beating Zimbabwe and Ireland, apart from winning the qualifiers to book a berth in next year's ICC World Cup.

At the the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, the Afghanistan cricket team made another emphatic statement.

In the past, batting has often let them down but once they closed in on 250, the spin-heavy Afghanistan fancied their chances against the struggling Sri Lankans, who simply caved in and threw away their wickets.

By the time their trump card Rashid Khan was introduced, Afghanistan had already taken two wickets, and the leg-spinner delivered immediately bowling out Kusal Perera, who made an unsuccessful attempt to unsettle the strike bowler.

↓↓↓ Over -by-Over Highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan

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News Source: BS

 

Virat Kohli admits India were ‘outplayed’ by England in crushing Lord’s defeat

England defeated India by an innings and 159 runs on the fourth day of the second Test to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sports News : After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of England in the second Test at the Lord's, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has admitted that his side deserved to lose the match as they were completely outplayed by the home side.

Pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad combined to take eight wickets as England crushed India by an innings and 159 runs on the fourth day of the second Test to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series here at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Expressing disappointment over the loss, Kohli said that he is not at all proud of the way his side performed in the match, while admitting that the England team displayed their hard work and dedication throughout the game.

"Not proud of the way we've played. First time in the last five Tests that we've been outplayed. We deserved to lose this game, the way we went about things.," Kohli said in a post-match presentation. Virat Kohli further didn't mince his words as he said the poor batting conditions could not be blamed for the defeat.

"Can't really think about conditions when you're playing the game. You can't sit and crib about these things. Sometimes the rub of the green won't go your way. Even when the ball's doing a bit, you have to pitch it in the right areas," he added.

However, Kohli allayed concerns about his injury, saying he is confident of getting fit ahead of the third Test. "I should be fine. Lower back issue, I'm confident I'll be fine in five days time with a bit of rehab," Kohli asserted. It should be noted that the match was India's first innings defeat under Kohli's captaincy.

↓↓↓ Match highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India vs England Match Scorecard

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News Source : BS

India vs England 2nd Test Result: England beat India by an innings and 159 runs (Scorecard)

England bowled out India for 130 runs in 2nd innings to win second Test by an innings and 159 runs on Day 4 at Lord's cricket ground in London. England take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

 

Sports News : India suffered an embarrassing 159-run innings defeat in the second Test against England after yet another batting failure on day four at Lord's in London, leaving the struggling visitors 0-2 behind in the five-match series. Indian batsmen failed to learn from their mistakes and were all at sea against the moving ball as the second innings folded up for 130 in 47 overs.

James Anderson (4-23) once again toyed with the opposition, taking his match tally to nine, and equally effective was Stuart Broad (4-44). England, who resumed at overnight 356 for six, declared their first innings at 396 for seven earlier on Sunday with Chris Woakes staying unbeaten on 137. The Indian batsmen let the team down also in the first Test but the away side at least put up a fight. Here at the 'Home of Cricket', the Virat Kohli-led unit showed no semblance of a fight, bringing back the haunted memories of the previous series in 2014 and 2011.

With the rain threat looming large over the remainder of the game, India needed to bat for survival. But it wasn't to be as the batsmen once again cut a sorry picture after mustering 107 in the first innings that lasted just 35.2 overs. The crushing loss has given the Indian team management plenty to think about ahead of the third Test beginning August 18 at Nottingham.

The weather was also kind on the impressive hosts, who batted in the sunshine on day three while overcast conditions made the job tougher for the Indian batsmen. "Not very proud of the way we played. For the first time in the last five Tests, we were outplayed," said captain Virat Kohli at the post-match presentation.

↓↓↓ Match highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India vs England Match Scorecard

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News Source : BS

Mithali Raj, Deepti Sharma and Veda Krishnamurthy named captains of women's T20 Challenger Trophy teams

The BCCI on Wednesday announced the teams for the women's T20 Challenger Trophy from August 14-21 at Alur.

Sport News: The BCCI on Wednesday announced the teams for the women's T20 Challenger Trophy from August 14-21 at Alur.

India skipper Mithali Raj will lead the India Blue side that comprises national team players like wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, among others.

All-rounder Deepti Sharma had been named skipper of the India Red side while star batswoman Veda Krishnamurthy will lead the India Green team in the tournament.

The Women T20 Challenge Trophy Team are as follows:

India Blue: Mithali Raj (C), Vanitha VR, D Hemalatha, Neha Tanwar, Anuja Patil, Saima Thakor, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Radha Yadav, Preeti Bose, Poonam Yadav, Keerthy James, Mansi Joshi, Suman Gulia

India Red: Deepti Sharma (C), Punam Raut, Disha Kasat, Mona Meshram, Harlene Deol, Tanushree Sarkar, Ekta Bisht, Tanuja Kanwer, Shikha Pandey, Shanti Kumari, ReemaLaxmi Ekka, Nuzhat Parveen (WK), Aditi Sharma

India Green: Veda Krishnamurthy (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Priya Punia, Devika Vaidya, Monikha Das, Arundathi Reddy, Sushma Verma (WK), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Fatima Jaffer, Sushree Dibyadarshini, Sukanya Parida, Jhulan Goswami, Sajana S.

Women T20 Challenge Trophy Team Fixtures

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News Source: BS

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.

Read More → FIFA World Cup 2018 Anthem

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.

Read More on → FIFA 2018

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