NO WATER BREAKS!
FIFA have decided against giving water breaks in England’s match against Panama despite 31 degree temperatures in Russia.
‘GARETH HAS BEEN HIS OWN MAN’
Sam Allardyce has heaped the praise on Gareth Southgate – the man who succeeded him as England manager – ahead of the Panama match.
‘RUSSIA HAS BEEN WELCOMING SO FAR’
Di Cunningham of Three Lions Pride says she is pleased that she has come to Russia to support England at the World Cup.
Watch the video below to hear what she has to say…
ENGLAND LINE-UP CONFIRMED
GK: Pickford
DEF: Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Young
MID: Lingard, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek
ATT: Sterling, Kane
‘CROATIA COULD REST PLAYERS’
Potentially bad news for Argentina – Dejan Lovren has suggested Croatia – who share Group D with the South American’s – may rest players for their final game against Iceland having already qualified for the last-16.
Argentina have taken one point from their first two games and need Croatia to avoid defeat if they are to stand a chance of reaching the knockout phases.
“I fully understand Argentina’s concerns and their wish for us to play a full team for the next game as well,” Lovren said through a translator Sunday at Croatia’s training base in Roschino, outside St. Petersburg.
“But we must also think about the fact that we should not be playing the players who have yellow cards. That’s also our concern we need to keep in mind. The head coach is the one who will make the final decision. All of our players are ready.”
KROOS HITS BACK AT CRITICS
Toni Kroos hit back at the German media for their treatment of the team after his 95th-minute winner against Sweden last night.
“Many people would have been happy if we had gone out,” said the Real Madrid midfielder.
“Anyone who speaks up, those experts, and anyone who writes about it can feel they have addressed things, but it gives me the feeling that it’s more fun to analyse or talk or write badly of us.”
KARAOKE FOR ENGLAND
It looks like the England boys are being denied a great night out after this afternoon’s match.
I’m sure if they are victorious a few of the lads would be keen to get on the karaoke, but which song would they pick?
Maybe a bit of ‘Three Lions’ or ‘World in Motion’?
SERBIA COMPLAIN TO FIFA OVER REF
The Serbian football federation say they have appealed to FIFA over referee Felix Brych’s officiating during the thrilling 2-1 defeat to Switzerland on Friday in World Cup Group E.
“We have submitted seven video-recordings clearly showing Brych’s tendency to make decisions against our national team,” said a statement from the Serbian association.
“The footage reveals Brych’s double standards in brandishing yellow cards, as he was quick to book our key players while he didn’t do the same in similar situations at the other end.”
MODRIC FOR BALON D’OR?
Luka Modric has been one of the standout players of the World Cupthus far – scoring in both of Croatia’s opening Group D matches – and Dejan Lovren reckons he deserves more praise.
“Modric would probably be getting more attention than he is right now if he was a German or Spanish player he would maybe even be a Ballon D’Or winner.”
The Liverpool defender adds: “Because we are a smaller country, he does get less attention than he deserves.”
‘GERMANS RUBBED IT IN OUR FACE’
I think we all saw that Toni Kroos free-kick last night, well Swedenboss Janne Andersson certainly did – he feels like the German’s rubbed it in their faces as they celebrated the 95th-minute winner.
PERU: FARFAN HOSPITALISED
Peru’s soccer federation says striker Jefferson Farfan has been hospitalised with head trauma after a hard collision with a teammate during practice at the World Cup.
The federation says initial results “were favourable for the player” but Farfan was going to remain in the hospital so doctors could monitor him.
Farfan went down after colliding with one of the team’s goalkeepers in a practice session on Saturday.
The federation says he was transferred to the hospital after all medical protocols were followed on the field.
Peru has been eliminated from World Cup contention after losses to Denmark and France and has a group game remaining against Australia in Sochi.
DOES LUKAKU DESERVE MORE CREDIT?
Romelu Lukaku continues to send records tumbling but does he get the recognition he deserves?
With his double against Tunisia on Saturday, Lukaku became the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score two or more goals in consecutive World Cup games. The Belgian is now level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts in Russia.
HEAT IS ON FOR ENGLAND
Our reporter Geraint Hughes is in Nizhny Novgorod for England’s match and here he is giving the lowdown on what kind of weather the team can expect…
ENGLAND EXPECTED STARTING XI
It looks like Gareth Southgate has been listening to Roy Hodsgon, because we understand Ruben Loftus-Cheek will start for England against Panama.
Raheem Sterling has also kept his place, despite reports he would be replaced by Marcus Rashford.
Here is the rest of the line-up…
Pickford
Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Young
Loftus-Cheek, Henderson, Lingard
Sterling, Kane
LOFTUS-CHEEK OR BALLACK? HODGSON DECIDES…
Roy Hodgson has stunned football fans worldwide by suggesting Ruben Loftus-Cheek is better than Michael Ballack.
GAME DAY HAS ARRIVED!
England’s second World Cup match is only five hours away and the excitement is building in the office here!
Elsewhere, you can watch England’s potential opponents in the knockout phases play as Group H are also in action later today.
Stick with us for all of your World Cup news and reaction.
More of the same please, Gareth!
- England – Panama (1pm)
- Japan – Senegal (4pm)
- Poland – Colombia (7pm)
- Southgate confirms Alli absence
- ‘Loftus-Cheek maybe better than Ballack’
- Lukaku injury doubt for England game
- FIFA open proceedings against Swiss duo
What a day it has been, but that’s all from us for today.
We will be back tomorrow for some more World Cup news and reaction.
Senegal held 2-2 by Japan
WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS
Harry Kane – 5 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo – 4 goals
Romelu Lukaku – 4 goals
COUNTING CARDS?
That goal could be hugely significant come Thursday evening. England and Belgium will be separated by disciplinary records if they draw on Thursday, with both sides having +6 GD and scoring 8 goals.
GOAL! ENGLAND 6-1 PANAMA (BALOY 78)
Comeback on for Panama? There’s 12 minutes left…
Slack defending from England as the free-kick finds Baloy in space and he finishes well to give his side a consolation.
GOAL! ENGLAND 6-0 PANAMA (KANE 62)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s long range effort deflects off the back of Harry Kane and flies into the Panama net.
Our man Kane is now the World Cup top scorer!
GOAL! ENGLAND 5-0 PANAMA
Can we play you every week?
Harry Kane smashes the penalty in the top corner once more as England score a record fifth goal in a World Cup game.
GOAL! ENGLAND 5-0 PANAMA
Can we play you every week?
Harry Kane smashes the penalty in the top corner once more as England score a record fifth goal in a World Cup game.
Harry Kane steps up…
PENALTY FOR ENGLAND
John Stones and Harry Kane were being wrestled in the area by the Panamanian’s and the ref has pointed to the spot!
It’s another England goal from another set piece!
Raheem Sterling misses from close range, but John Stones is there to put the ball into the back of the net and double his tally.
GOOOAAAL! ENGLAND 3-0 PANAMA (LINGARD 36)
Jesse Lingard darts in from the left, plays a one-two with Raheem Sterling and opens up his body to bend the ball into the top right corner.
GRIEZMANN: I’LL GET BETTER AND BETTER
Antoine Griezmann has been accused of having a slow start to theWorld Cup with France, but he’s not too worried.
He told French soccer show Telefoot, “I will get better and better. It was the same at the Euros. It was only after the (second round) that I started to play very well.”
GOOOAAAAL! WHAT A PENALTY! ENGLAND 2-0 PANAMA (KANE PEN 22)
Arguably the best penalty the World Cup has ever seen!
Despite the Panamanian’s best efforts to put off the Tottenham striker, Kane dispatched the penalty into the top corner of the goal.
PENALTY TO ENGLAND! HARRY KANE STEPS UP….
Jesse Lingard is brought down in the area after a ball in over the top of the Panama defence to give England a penalty.
John Stones heads it in from the corner and England take the lead after eight minutes.
The Panamanians were focusing all of their attentions on Harry Maguire, leaving Stones with a free header from Kieran Trippier’s corner.
MASCHERANO QUASHES SAMPAOLI RIFT RUMOURS
Javier Mascherano insists relations between the players and coach Jorge Sampaoli are not strained after reports of unrest within the Argentina camp.
Sampaoli was roundly criticised for his game plan following a 3-0 loss to Croatia in Argentina’s second group game at the World Cup, sparking rumours the 58-year-old would be sacked during the tournament.
“The relationship with the coach is completely normal,” Mascherano said ahead of the must-win match against Nigeria in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.
“Obviously, when we feel uncomfortable about something we speak with him because if we didn’t we would be hypocrites.”
Argentina were on the brink of elimination after the Croatia mauling but victory against Nigeria would send them through as runners-up in Group D if leaders Croatia avoid defeat against Iceland.
“We know the situation is tricky,” Mascherano said. “We have to be united, to express our opinions, and do everything possible so the team goes into the game in the best position.”