Akinfeev stars as Russia stun Spain on penalties

Moscow (AFP) – Russia captain Igor Akinfeev saved two penalties in a dramatic shootout as the World Cup hosts dumped title contenders Spain out in the last 16 following a 1-1 draw.

Veteran Russia centre-back Sergei Ignashevich gifted Spain the opening goal on 12 minutes in Moscow when he unwittingly turned into his own net after grappling with Sergio Ramos.

Russia hit back just before the interval as Artem Dzyuba nervelessly converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Gerard Pique.

Spain controlled the game as expected but struggled to create genuine chances, with Akinfeev sharp on the few occasions they did before saving from Koke and Iago Aspas to seal a 4-3 win on penalties. 

“We are having a fantastic World Cup,” said Akinfeev. 

“Not just our fans, but the fans of other countries got a sense of this atmosphere and understood that Russians really know how to play football and want to play football.”

Russia will meet either Croatia or Denmark for a place in the semi-finals, as Spain’s rotten run against hosts nation at major tournaments continued. 

Fernando Hierro made the bold decision to drop Andres Iniesta for Koke in central midfield, with Marco Asensio handed his first start of the competition.

Russia boss Stanislav Cherchesov left out leading scorer Denis Cheryshev, opting for three central defenders in a conservative 5-3-2 formation.

It was Nacho, in for Dani Carvajal at right-back, who won the free-kick that led to Spain taking the lead as he was caught by Yury Zhirkov to the right of the penalty area. 

Asensio, who made two brief substitute appearances in the group stage, whipped in dangerously to the far post where the ball looped in off an unsighted Ignashevich as he tussled with Ramos.

Spain dominated the first 30 minutes, pressing Russia heavily as the hosts struggled to advance beyond the halfway line in humid conditions.

Aleksandr Golovin carved out their first chance of note, starting a move with a jinking run before bending just wide of David de Gea’s left-hand post.

Isco produced a series of regal touches with Spain’s King Felipe VI among those in the crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium, but Russia equalised shortly before half-time.

– Pique penalised –

A deep corner was met by Dzyuba, whose header struck the outstretched arm of Pique, with referee Bjorn Kuipers contemplating his decision before pointing to the spot.

Dzyuba calmly sent De Gea the wrong with his penalty to join Cheryshev on a team-leading three goals.

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Belgium’s time to shine at World Cup, says Hazard

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Eden Hazard says Belgium have a new level of maturity as they prepare to take on Japan, eyeing a World Cup quarter-final spot against Brazil or Mexico.

A so-called “golden generation” of Belgian stars are running out of time to win a major title but Hazard said they have a chance to make their rich talents count in Russia.

“This is our time to shine, definitely. We have top players and we play as a group, especially after the win over England,” said the Chelsea star. “It’s in our hands, we need to give everything and see what happens.

“I am also a lot stronger than four years ago in Brazil. That was the first major tournament for many of us, knockout matches have a lot to do with experience and can be complicated.

“We have the same level of maturity across the team, which will make a difference this time.”

With Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Lionel Messi’s Argentina — both in the same half of the draw — out of the tournament, Hazard wants Belgium to reach the final for the first time in their history.

However, he refused to look past Japan towards a potential quarter-final against Mexico or Brazil.  

“We are just focused on this game. Messi and Ronaldo are out, but there are still a lot of players like me who also want to go to the final too, so let’s see,” said Hazard.

Coach Roberto Martinez is set to start with a full-strength side after resting nine players, including Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, in the 1-0 win over England that saw Belgium win their group.

“The squad is in a very good place, mentally and physically,” said Martinez.

“The ones who played against England are desperate to contribute again and those who were rested want to get out on the pitch.”

However, Martinez warned that Japan, who scraped into the last 16 because they had a better disciplinary record than Senegal, could hurt his team.

“They have incredible energy, get up the pitch fast and are organised,” said Martinez.

“They are a generation with a good age and have a lot of experience, with players like (Shinji) Kagawa and (Keisuke) Honda. They know what needs to be done to win.

“We will have to pay attention because they are used to causing teams problems in both boxes.”

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England would find Sweden tough at World Cup: Eriksson

London (AFP) – Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has tipped Gareth Southgate’s team to beat Colombia in the World Cup last 16 but said his native Sweden would be tough opponents if they meet in the quarter-finals.

Eriksson — who coached England to two successive World Cup quarter-finals, in 2002 and 2006 — said he was impressed with the job Southgate is doing with his young team in Russia.

England face Colombia on Tuesday in Moscow after finishing second in their group behind Belgium, while the Swedes play Switzerland in Saint Petersburg earlier the same day.

Eriksson believes Sweden, who topped Group F after beating Mexico in their final match, may not be playing scintillating football but says they are tough to score against. 

“When you come down to the last-16, it is always difficult, and it should be difficult,” Eriksson told the BBC on Sunday. “I think England will beat Colombia, then I hope they will meet Sweden.

“I know that everyone wants to avoid Brazil, and maybe rightly, but I think it is easier to score against Brazil than against Sweden.

“Sweden are not playing the best football in the world, but to score against them is very difficult.”

Eriksson said not too much should be read into England’s 1-0 defeat to Belgium in a group match that saw both managers make multiple changes.

“It was the second team of England and the second team of Belgium. It is different when you change five, six and seven players,” he said.

“I think both managers did well. When you have the chance in a long, hard tournament to rest players, you should do that.

“It is a hungry England team. They seem to go out without any fears at all, and that is good. They enjoy their football and they play without the fear of losing. The pressure is not there too much.”

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Tour de France formally block Chris Froome from riding: report

Paris (AFP) – Tour de France organisers have formally blocked four-time champion Chris Froome from competing in this year’s race, Le Monde reported Sunday, but he is expected to fight the move.

The Team Sky star has been under a cloud since he was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during September’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won.

Five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault, who worked for the Tour organisation for many years, called for the peloton to strike if the British rider lines up at the start of this year’s event next Saturday.

Froome responded on Wednesday that he will compete in this year’s race.

Cyclingnews.com quoted Team Sky as responding to Sunday’s report that they are “confident that Chris will be riding the Tour as we know he has done nothing wrong.”

A final decision on the organisers’ attempt to prevent the Kenyan-born Briton from taking part is expected to be made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which is to make a ruling Tuesday, Le Monde said after the last-ditch bid to exclude him.

Technically, while Froome awaits the result of an ongoing investigation into his Salbutamol case, he can still ride on the Tour.

ASO, the organisers of the iconic Tour, refused to comment on the report although AFP has had confirmation of information they say backs their view that the defending champion should not be allowed to race.

According to the letter of the rules, Froome is authorised to ride until a final decision from the anti-doping tribunal of the International Cycling Union regarding his ongoing case.

Le Monde says Froome will not necessarily attend Tuesday’s meeting by the French committee with their ruling due Wednesday.

He is to be defended by British sports lawyer Mike Morgan, a French speaker, before the UCI tribunal.

Sky, ASO and the French Olympic Committee will each choose an arbiter to decide whether Froome should be allowed to start the Tour.

According to Tour statutes, organisers may ban a rider or a team if their presence is seen as liable to damage the image or reputation of the organisers or the event.

Team Sky have yet to unveil their eight-strong team.

Froome, who denies wrongdoing, is out to emulate five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

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Chris Froome banned by Tour de France organisers: report

Paris (AFP) – Tour de France organisers have blocked four-time champion Chris Froome from competing in this year’s race starting next Saturday, Le Monde reported.

Froome insisted Wednesday that he will compete in this year’s race after the Team Sky star was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during September’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won.

A final decision on the organisers’ attempt to prevent him from taking part is expected to be made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which is to make a ruling Tuesday, Le Monde said.

Technically, while Froome awaits the result of an ongoing investigation into his Salbutamol case, he can still ride on the Tour.

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France’s Mbappe hailed as new global superstar

Kazan Arena (Russia) (AFP) – France players and the world’s press hailed Kylian Mbappe as an emerging superstar after the 19-year-old eclipsed Lionel Messi in a match that felt like the passing of a torch to a new generation.

Mbappe’s speed and power ruthlessly exposed Argentina’s defence in Kazan in a thrilling 4-3 victory on Saturday that re-established France among the World Cup favourites.

As one number 10 trudged off — the player wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name on — another in the blue of France took the plaudits.

“Move over, Messi, a new global superstar is born at the World Cup,” was the headline in the Sunday Times in Britain.

“In this game, the Messi was him,” French sports daily L’Equipe said above a photograph of Mbappe celebrating. “He showed his talent to the world and overshadowed Lionel Messi.”

The double strike made the boy from the Paris suburbs the first teenager since a 17-year-old Pele to score twice in a World Cup game.

The Brazilian legend tweeted: “Congratulations, @KMbappe. 2 goals in a World Cup so young puts you in great company!”

“He’s got a lot more talent than me,” France midfielder Paul Pogba said of Mbappe. 

“And he’s not going to stop there. He’s got so much talent.”

– Baby Bleus –

Argentina were simply swept aside by a new generation, and not just Mbappe — another of France’s scorers, Benjamin Pavard, is only 22 himself.

“When you have players having a day like Mbappe had today, it’s very difficult to stop them,” said Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli.

With an average age of 25, a France side lacking major tournament experience were feeling the flak after three underwhelming group-stage matches reaped one penalty, an own goal and only one scored from open play.

But coach Didier Deschamps’ “baby Bleus” silenced the detractors with the scintillating win over the 2014 finalists that put France back on course for a tilt at emulating France’s 1998 Cup-winning exploits, when Deschamps was captain.

Mbappe was not even born when France won their only World Cup, on home soil.

“I can’t really take it in,” said Pavard, a defender so unaccustomed to scoring he did not know how to celebrate his superb strike.

“I was running around everywhere, I didn’t know what to do.”

Mbappe will be unleashed next on Uruguay, whose steely defence should provide a far sterner test than the shambolic Argentine rearguard.

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England’s Kane says he can score in every World Cup game

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane believes he can score every time he sets foot on the pitch in Russia after netting five goals in his first two World Cup appearances. 

Kane leads the race for the Golden Boot but was kept in reserve by Gareth Southgate for a 1-0 defeat to Belgium that meant the Three Lions finished second in Group G, to keep him fresh for England’s last-16 clash with Colombia on Tuesday.

However, Kane is sure he will pick up where he left off in Moscow after scoring a hat-trick against Panama in his last outing.

“Maybe if I’d played against Belgium and didn’t score, I’d be thinking, ‘I didn’t score in the last game’. But I’m coming off the back of a hat-trick and I’m ready to go in a very important game for us against Colombia,” Kane told Britain’s Sunday newspapers.

“At the moment I think I can score every time we play. Especially when balls are just dropping in for you and things are going for you. You can’t wait to get out there.”

Kane dismissed suggestions he had put pressure on Southgate to play against Belgium to further his chances of winning the Golden Boot.

The Tottenham striker’s odds of winning the prize for the World Cup’s top goalscorer were slashed when Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were eliminated by Uruguay on Saturday, leaving the world player of the year one short of Kane’s tally.

But Kane insists it is lifting the World Cup rather than individual honours than remains his priority.

“The Golden Boot would be great but I’m still there — and if we’re in the tournament longer it gives me a greater opportunity,” he added.

“My target isn’t the Golden Boot. The target is to win the tournament. That’s always been the target. If the Golden Boot comes along with that then perfect, but the target is to help the team.

“If my goals help the team, brilliant. If not I’ll be running round, working hard, trying to get assists. And that’s all I can do.”

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