World Cup

World Cup:Russia 5 Saudi Arabia 0

Yuri Gazinskiy and Cheryshev struck first-half goals to open their international accounts at Luzhniki Stadium, Artem Dzyuba adding a third 89 seconds after his introduction as a second-half replacement, but an injury to star man Alan Dzagoev will cause concern for Russia.

Dzagoev hurt his hamstring in the opening period and could be a doubt for the rest of the tournament, depending on the results of a scan.

Gazinskiy headed in Golovin's cross to score the first goal of the 2018 event, with Dzagoev's replacement Cheryshev lashing in the second before the interval.

Pacific kids to feature in World Cup opening ceremony

Children from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu are in Russia this week as part of the sixth annual Football For Friendship programme, which aims to promote essential values embodied by football with the younger generation.

Abraham Iniga from Solomon Islands began football at an early age.

"I started playing football when I was five. My dad is a national player for our country and with his help and encouragement, I dream that one day, I can follow my father's footsteps," he said.

Preview: Egypt v Uruguay

Salah's participation at the tournament was plunged into uncertainty when he suffered a shoulder injury in a challenge with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos during Liverpool's Champions League final defeat last month. 

The talismanic forward, who scored 44 goals in all competitions in an incredible debut season at Anfield, has insisted he will be fit for Friday's clash in Yekaterinburg.

However, head coach Hector Cuper, leading a side at a World Cup for the first time, says there is more to a team that reached the final of last year's Africa Cup of Nations than just Salah.

FA clarifies World Cup stance

Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed on Wednesday that UK politicians and members of the royal family will boycott the World Cup in Russia.

The announcement came in the wake of the attempted murder of Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, by use of a nerve agent in Salisbury.

Russia has denied all involvement in the incident, which has led to heightened political tensions, with both victims still critically ill in hospital.

And the FA has moved to clarify the organisation's stance on England travelling to the World Cup in a statement.

Guerrero cleared for World Cup after FIFA reduces ban

The 33-year-old was given a year-long suspension earlier this month after he tested positive for cocaine following a World Cup qualifier in October.

FIFA partially upheld his appeal against the sanction after the Appeal Committee of world football's governing body heard his case. His ban has been reduced to six months, meaning he will become eligible to play again in May next year.

Messi can lead Argentina to World Cup success – Riquelme

After battling through qualifying, Jorge Sampaoli's men are not considered among the strong favourites for Russia 2018.

However, Riquelme – who was capped 51 times by the national team – believes Argentina could contend if Messi performs, having been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

"We hope that we do well, that the players get well and above all Messi," the Argentinian told El Trece.

"If the latter happens, Argentina will have many chances to win. If Messi is good, nothing is complicated.

Peru captain to miss World Cup

The suspension imposed by the Fifa disciplinary committee covers "all types of matches" and was backdated to start on November 3, football's governing body said on Friday (Saturday NZ Time).

The 33-year-old Guerrero tested positive for "cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine," a banned stimulant, after a World Cup qualifying game in Argentina on October 5.

He can appeal to Fifa to overturn the ban. If that fails, Guerrero and the Peruvian football federation have a further legal route at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

RLWC darlings set to receive heroes welcome upon return to Tonga

 

Tonga's stunning run came to an end yesterday with their 20-18 semi-final defeat to England at Mt Smart Stadium, in front of a capacity crowd of 30,003 mostly Tongan supporters.

Despite their disappointment in falling one game short of next Saturday's tournament final in Brisbane, the entire 24-man squad and coaching staff will fly to Tonga to spend time with family and friends and pay tribute to their legion of fanatical supporters.

Star Tongan forward Jason Taumalolo is undecided about whether he’ll stick with the Pacific island team.

Italy 0 Sweden 0 (0-1 agg)

Not since the 1958 tournament, coincidentally held in Sweden, have the Azzurri not been at football's showpiece event, but defeat in Solna in the first leg proved their undoing and surely signals the end of Gian Piero Ventura's disappointing reign as coach.

It was a far more industrious effort from the four-time world champions at San Siro than the drab effort produced in the first leg, and visiting goalkeeper Robin Olsen was at his best to keep Italy at bay at the end of a busy first half.

World Cup without Italy would be a 'disaster', says Low

Italy host Sweden in the second leg on Monday at San Siro, looking to overturn the narrow defeat in Solna in attempt to reach a 15th consecutive finals.

Coach Ventura is under immense pressure and will almost certainly lose his job should Italy fail, while some are even expecting him to be sacked regardless of Monday's result, with Carlo Ancelotti waiting in the wings.