We thought Iran would be lucky if it could just end the game against Spain with as less goals received as possible, but it was actually Spain whose single winning goal was a fortunate deflected shot. The Wednesday match against Spain was fast-paced and breathtaking. Iran had enjoyed its top of the group position with […]

Host nation Russia have one foot in the last 16 of the World Cup after a resounding 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday despite the return from injury of Mohamed Salah. After a tight first half in a rain-drenched Saint Petersburg, Egypt captain Ahmed Fathy scored an own goal before goals from Denis Cheryshev and […]

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse warned World Cup rivals that the West Africans had added tactical expertise to their enormous talent Tuesday after they opened their campaign with a convincing 2-1 win over Poland. Cisse conceded there was an element of luck as Senegal benefited from a deflected Thiago Cionek own goal and a terrible error […]

In catching Colombia cold at the Mordovia Arena, Japan earned their first ever win over Los Cafeteros, avenging their 4-1 defeat to the same opponents at Brazil 2014, and picked up three precious points in their bid to advance from Group H. The game began at a frenetic pace, with Japan forcing a penalty that led to […]

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will watch Wednesday’s Iran-Spain match from the Kazan Arena, IRNA reported. This would be the second match for both Iran and Spain. While Iranians gained a dramatic victory over Morocco at their first match, Spain earned only 1 point against Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. Iran is now at top of Group B […]

World Cup hosts Russia face an Egypt side buoyed by the likely return of star man Mohamed Salah on Tuesday knowing a win will all but guarantee a place in the last 16. Liverpool wizard Salah missed his team’s defeat to Uruguay on Friday as he struggles to recover from the shoulder injury sustained during […]

Iran’s national volleyball team coach Igor Kolakovic slammed US security forces for mistreating the team’s players upon their arrival at a US airport, saying that officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asked the Iranian volleyball players “stupid questions”. “In the USA, the FBI … asked some players one by one some stupid questions,” Kolakovic […]

Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha has been chosen to officiate the match between Iran and Spain in Group B of the 2018 World Cup. The match has been scheduled for Wednesday in Kazan’s Arena Kazan. With his Fifa license, Cunha has taken charge of games all over South America, including huge matches in the Copa Libertadores […]

Harry Kane said he hopes World Cup officiating will improve after rescuing England with two goals in a last-gasp 2-1 victory over a physical Tunisia side on Monday. Kane got England out of jail with an injury-time winner at the Volgograd Arena to ensure Gareth Southgate’s side claimed all three points from their opening Group […]

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez hailed his side’s attitude after they overcame a difficult first half to beat Panama 3-0 in their opening World Cup game on Monday. A superb Dries Mertens strike just after the break and a Romelu Lukaku brace sealed an ultimately comfortable win for the Belgians in the Group G encounter in […]