ZAGREB: Still riding the wave of their historic World Cup run, Croatia are heading for a potential reality check as their new season starts with a friendly against Portugal in Faro on Thursday.It will be the tiny Balkan nation's first match since the side led by star midfielder Luka Modric succumbed to France in the World Cup final in July - a loss celebrated like a victory by underdogs who had never made it so far on the world stage.That fairytale glow took the spotlight off controversies plaguing football in Croatia, from the unsavoury ultra-nationalism of its hardcore supporters to a litany of legal problems.But fans will be reminded of the former when Croatia face England in its first Nations League home match on Oct 12.The game will be played in an empty stadium - punishment by UEFA for the swastika drawn on a pitch in Split, on Croatia's Adriatic coast, ahead of a Euro 2016 qualifier with Italy.The perpetrators were never found, but it was not the first time Croatian … [Read more...] about Football: World Cup finalists Croatia face Portugal but look to the future
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Football: World Cup winner Lahm to head Euro 2024 if German bid wins
BERLIN: World Cup winner Philipp Lahm will head the Euro 2024 organisation if the German bid wins the nod next month to host the continental tournament, the country's football association (DFB) said on Thursday (Aug 16). Lahm, who captained Germany to the 2014 World Cup title and has since retired, is currently a bid ambassador, with the German candidacy competing with Turkey for Euro 2024.European soccer body UEFA is set to pick the winning bid on Sep 27."It was my wish from the start of my activity as ambassador for the Euro 2024 bid to take over long-term responsibility," the 34-year-old Lahm, who won 113 caps for Germany and retired from football last year, said in a DFB statement."This new task as tournament chief offers a very interesting possibility for that."The DFB said it was important to tie Lahm to the association on a long-term basis and the decision had wide support among its board members."Philipp Lahm did an outstanding and engaged job as ambassador and I am … [Read more...] about Football: World Cup winner Lahm to head Euro 2024 if German bid wins
Football: World Cup fever soars in England on #WaistcoatWednesday but officials warn fans to behave themselves
LONDON (AFP) - Around 32 million people across Britain are expected to tune in on Wednesday (July 11) hoping Gareth Southgate can steer England into the World Cup final for the first time in 52 years. The manager has caught the eye in Russia as much for his sartorial elegance as his success with his young team, led on the pitch by tournament top scorer Harry Kane. Waistcoats have been flying out of the shops. Doncaster Council, in the north of England, even hoisted a waistcoat on its flagpole and the Sun newspaper called on fans to wear one on #WaistcoatWednesday. Excitement is nearing fever pitch ahead of the clash with Croatia in Moscow at 1800 GMT (2am, Singapore time). Such is the interest in England's first World Cup semi-final since 1990 that the system crashed when London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced 30,000 free tickets would be made available to watch the game in Hyde Park via a ballot. All over the country, similar mass screenings are planned as England attempt to reach just the … [Read more...] about Football: World Cup fever soars in England on #WaistcoatWednesday but officials warn fans to behave themselves
World Cup heading for record number of penalties
SAMARA, Russia: One of the central themes from the early stages of the World Cup in Russia is the number of penalties being awarded, many following the intervention of video assistant referees (VARs).Gylfi Sigurdsson's missed penalty in Iceland's 2-0 loss to Nigeria on Friday was the 12th of the tournament in the first 26 matches, of which nine were scored.In Brazil four years ago, there were only 13 penalties in the entire tournament. The World Cup record, set in 2002, stands at 18.The role of VAR goes a long way to explaining this trend, with six penalties so far being awarded following a video review.A penalty was also disallowed in Brazil's win over Costa Rica on Friday after VAR deemed there not to have been a foul on Neymar.FIFA's director of refereeing, Massimo Busacca, said before the tournament that VAR would not be perfect at the tournament and so it has proved, with inconsistency in decision making frustrating teams and fans alike.Both Brazil and England felt that VAR … [Read more...] about World Cup heading for record number of penalties
Prospect of 2022 Qatar World Cup jumping to 48 teams fading
By Rob Harris The Associated Press Graham Dunbar Sun., June 10, 2018 MOSCOW—The prospect of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar growing to 48 teams faded Sunday after a discussion of the thorny issue was pulled from the agenda for FIFA’s annual congress. Plans for a feasibility study were put on hold after Qatar World Cup head Hassan Al-Thawadi addressed the ruling council of world football’s governing body and FIFA President Gianni Infantino said agreement from the Gulf nation is a “precondition.” Having previously said he was keen on an adding 16 teams, Infantino is now casting doubt on the possibility of further disrupting preparations for the Qatar tournament. The FIFA Congress, which features up to 211 football federations, will now have no say in the number of teams at the tournament in Qatar. Infantino said there would be no change in the number of finalists once qualifying begins, which is likely in early 2019. “The final … [Read more...] about Prospect of 2022 Qatar World Cup jumping to 48 teams fading