Happy FM 2018 World Cup Live Updates

CHEERIO!
That’s all from us for today. We’ll be back from 7am tomorrow with all the latest news, reaction and analysis from Russia.
FRANCE have advanced to the next stage of the competition courtesy Mbappe’s goal.
H/T: MBAPPE HAS GIVEN FRANCE THE LEAD
FRANCE VS PERU
We are just 50 minutes away from the second game of the day, and it is a big one in Group C as France take on Peru.
Didier Deschamps’ side were disappointing in their narrow win over Australia and he has called his players to improve and take control of the group.
Peru were unfortunate to lose to Denmark in their opening game, and know they need to avoid defeat if they want to keep their tournament hopes alive.
DENMARK 1-1 AUSTRALIA
It is all over in Samara and Denmark and Australia have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Christian Eriksen opened the scoring early in the first-half with a cracking left-footed volley, but another VAR-assisted penatly – converted by Mile Jedinak – allowed the Socceroos to level.
The result puts Denmark top of Group C, although France will have the chance to overtake them when they kick-off against Peru in just over an hour.
‘ENGLAND FOCUSING ON SET PIECES’
Trent Alexander-Arnold says the amount of set piece goals scored at the World Cup so far – including England’s two against Tunisia – show they should continue to focus on improving them.
“If you look at the goals scored in the World Cup so far, a lot of them have been set pieces”, he said.
“In a tight competition like this, set pieces are vital. We scored two the other day and it’s shown to be a threat for us. If we keep working on them, there’s more chance of us winning games.”
‘ENGLAND NOT FOCUSED ON LEAK’
England’s players are not focused on the team to face Panama being ‘leaked’, says Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“We haven’t been directly told who’s starting and who’s not so all the positions are still up for grabs”, he explained.
“Until the manager actually names a team it doesn’t matter what’s come out. The lads don’t focus on stuff like that until it’s come out the manager’s mouth.”
ALEXANDER-ARNOLD PRAISES ‘TOUGH OPPONENT’ TRIPPIER
Trent Alexander-Arnold says competition in England training is intense, and has praised the quality of his fellow right-wing back Kieran Tripper.
“He’s a top, top player. He’s proved it throughout the season with Tottenham and again in the game (against Tunisia)”, said Alexander-Arnold.
“You don’t come to a World Cup expecting to get your place straight away – you’ve got to fight for it. That’s what all 23 of us are doing in training.
“It’s competitive – there’s basically two players to each position so you’ve got a direct opponent. You’re trying to out-do them and it takes that standard of training up an extra level.
“It essentially makes us better players. You can’t rest here.”
NEYMAR TO START AGAINST COSTA RICA
Brazil manager Tite says Neymar will be fit to start for Brazil against Costa Rica on Friday.
“It’s the same team that’s going to start that started the game against Switzerland”, he said.
KHEDIRA: FROM SCHOOL-BOYS TO WARRIORS
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira says Germany have to transform themselves from school-boys to warriors for their clash with Sweden on Saturday.
“We have to be more compact in every part of our team. We have to play smarter. We played like schoolboys,” Khedira said.
“We were caught out. This is something that can be changed.”
Of the discussions amongst the team following their defeat to Mexico, Khedira said: “The atmosphere was tense but not bad (in those discussions). We did not blame each other. We tried to analyse things together and what we need to improve.
“We did not point any fingers. We need to be 11 warriors on the pitch.”
‘BEST ENGLAND TEAM OF LAST DECADE’
Panama midfielder Anibal Godoy says the England side they will face on Sunday is their best of the last decade.
“I watch live Premier League games every weekend – every Panama player watches the Premier League every week”, said Godoy.
“I know how good the players are, I know the young players they have in this moment – Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson.
“It’s a different England. It’s not like 10 years ago. Now they have more quick players, more fresh players. I think this World Cup for England is very important. They are stronger than they have been in the last few World Cups.
“They have a lot of good players. The Premier League is, for me, the best league in the world. They don’t have a big, big star but they work hard.”
MULLER: WE HAVE TO WIN NEXT TWO
Thomas Muller admits Germany have to win their remaining group matches following their defeat to Mexico.
FIFA CAN COUNT ON GEIGER
FIFA have released a statement in defence of the referee during the Portugal vs Morocco game, which finished 1-0 to Cristiano Ronaldo’s side.
Morocco’s Nordin Amrabat said that Pepe, the Portugal defender, told him that referee Mark Geiger asked for Ronaldo’s shirt at half-time.
FIFA say Geiger denies this and that the matter is closed.
SHILTON’S PENALTY ADVICE TO ENGLAND
England have reportedly been practising their penalties in Russia and who better to give them some much-needed advice than their most-capped player of all time and former goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE PANAMA LEAKED?
Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett is in Repino where a photographer may have had a sneak preview of England’s starting line-up against Panama.
KEY MAN – CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
We take a look at Denmark’s talisman Christian Eriksen’s best moments from the Premier League last season as the Danes prepare to take on Australia in Group C.
SCHMEICHEL VS RYAN
As the Danish Dynamite and Socceroos get set to face each other in match day two of Group C, we look at the men between the sticks, Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel and Brighton’s Mathew Ryan.

SILVA TO CAPTAIN BRAZIL
Brazil have named Thiago Silva as their captain for their game against Costa Rica on Friday.
Manager Tite has a policy of rotating his captains – Marcelo wore the armband for the opening Group E game against Switzerland last week.
LATEST FROM THE ENGLAND CAMP…
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett rounds-up the latest news from England’s World Cup camp, including Dele Alli’s fitness struggles and Gareth Southgate’s quick recovery.
POCH: KANE IS BEST STRIKER IN THE WORLD
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is the best striker in the world and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo.
“To be talked about in the same breath as Cristiano is something special. But that is how people are talking about Harry now. For me, he is already the best striker in the world.”
Pochettino also admitted he celebrated Kane’s late winner against Tunisia like an England fan, and says the striker’s attitude is rubbing off on his team-mates.
“Harry loves going with the national team. I can see the players are starting to feel this connection with England.
“It doesn’t always happen – but it is happening with this group of players. They have the passion for it.”
CAHILL WANTS TO MAKE IT COUNT
Australia’s Tim Cahill has urged his team-mates to embrace the fans’ support and ‘make it count’ when the Socceroos take on Denmark this afternoon.
If the Millwall and Everton legend scores in this World Cup, he will become only the fifth player in history to score at four different finals.
‘ALLI UNLIKELY TO PLAY AGAINST PANAMA’
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett believes Dele Alli could be a doubt to play against Panama on Sunday after sitting out England training today.
BECKHAM: ENGLAND WILL PLAY ARGENTINA IN FINAL
Former England captain David Beckham has predicted the Three Lions will reach the World Cup final – where he believes they will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
“I believe Argentina will play against England in the final. I think obviously my choice would be England to win the competition, but that’s me being biased and passionate about my country”, he said.
“I’m very happy that we won the first game in the group. England is a very young team, they don’t have a lot of experience yet and the journey of the World Cup will become harder and harder because there are many good teams in the tournament.”
ICELAND FANS DRIVE…TO RUSSIA! 
Two Iceland fans have driven all the way to Russia after winning a World Cup-themed car.
To give you an idea of their achievement, it is nearly 4,500kms by car from Reykjavik to Moscow (according to Google Maps, anyway).
SCHMEICHEL READY FOR ‘ORGANISED’ AUSTRALIA
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel believes Australia will be ‘organised’ when the two sides meet this afternoon, but is confident his side can make it two World Cup wins from two.
DESCHAMPS: FRANCE MUST IMPROVE 
France manager Didier Deschamps has acknowledged that his side need to improve following their narrow victory over Australia last week.
However, he believes some of the criticism of their performance has been over the top.
MESSI BACKED AFTER MISSED PENALTY
Lionel Messi has been backed by Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli and Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic following his missed penalty cost the South Americans victory against Iceland last week.
Messi’s side take on Rakitic’s Croatia this evening in a game that could go a long way towards deciding who finishes top of Group D.
ALLI MISSES ENGLAND TRAINING
Sky Sports News‘ Anton Toloui, reporting from England’s training base in Russia, says Dele Alli will not train today following the thigh strain he suffered against Tunisia.
All of the 22 other players will take to the training pitch in their first session since the 2-1 win on Monday.
VICTORY FOR IRANIAN WOMEN
Iranian women have been breaking down social barriers by watching their team take on Spain at the World Cup.
HAZARD STANDS BY LUKAKU COMMENTS
Belgium captain Eden Hazard says he stands by the comments in which he accused Romelu Lukaku of ‘hiding’ during the first-half of their win over Panama.
NEYMAR EASES INJURY CONCERNS
Brazil forward Neymar has eased concerns about his fitness after he limped out of a training session on Tuesday.
ENGLAND’S INJURY CURSE STRIKES AGAIN
What is it with England staff suffering freak injuries during World Cups?
Gareth Southgate dislocating his shoulder while out for a run has reminded me of the time when former England physio Gary Lewin smashed up his ankle while celebrating during a game against Italy at the last World Cup.
GOOD MORNING!
Hello and welcome to another day of World Cup blogging action! It is day eight in Russia and on the menu today is Denmark vs Australia and France vs Peru from Group C, as well as Argentina vs Croatia from Group D this evening.
Elsewhere, we will be hearing from the Brazil camp regarding Neymar’s injury scare as well as an (as yet unnamed) England player as they build-up to their clash with Panama.
Stick with us for all that and more as we round-up all the day’s World Cup action !