Happy FM 2018 World Cup Live Updates

HT: POLAND 0-1 SENEGAL
It is half-time in Moscow, where an own goal from Thiago Cionek separates the sides. The Poland defender attempted to block Idrissa Gueye’s 37th-minute shot but it deflected off him and into the net.
NEYMAR LIMPS OUT OF TRAINING
Neymar hobbled out of a training session on Tuesday, setting alarm bells ringing in the Brazil camp as they prepare for their second World Cup group game against Costa Rica on Friday.
“Neymar came out of training today with a painful right ankle,” said Vinicius Rodrigues, a spokesman for the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
He put the the knock down to the number of fouls Neymar received in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Neymar had not taken part in training on Monday as the side returned to their base in Sochi.
Rodrigues said the problem concerned the Paris Saint-Germain star’s ankle and not the foot he fractured in February, an injury that forced him to miss the rest of the club campaign.
“As soon as he felt the pain he went to the physio. He will stay there for today and tomorrow morning, and will train as normal tomorrow.”
RASHFORD: VAR WILL IMPROVE
Harry Kane was critical of VAR after having two strong penalty appeals turned down against Tunisia. Rashford was asked for his thoughts on the video review system.
“The idea of bringing it into the game is spot on but I think it will improve with time. Some of the decisions they have to at least check whether it is or not. 
“It’s up for them to decide but the minimum they should do is check it. I’m sure it’s something they will improve on.”
RASHFORD ALL ABOUT THE TEAM
More from Marcus Rashford’s press conference and the forward was asked if he was disappointed not to start against Tunisia. He came on for Raheem Sterling with 22 minutes remaining.
“You need a squad to win a tournament like this and that is what we are trying to do. It’s not the be all and end all to be on the bench for one game. In the squad that we have here everyone understands that. 
“It’s going to have to be a team effort if we are going to bring the trophy home.”
RASHFORD: TUNISIA WIN A BIG STEP
Rashford says England’s winning start gives them a platform to build on. They play Panama next on Sunday.
“The main important thing was always the three points, but it was good that, especially in the first half, we got the performance we were looking for.”
Asked what the reaction had been in the dressing room, he added: “You would expect us all to be happy and buzzing, which we were. It’s a big step to take, getting the three points.
“Like I said before, it’s a platform for us to build on and we have to improve the performances which will ultimately get the three points.”
RASHFORD HAILS CAPTAIN KANE
Marcus Rashford has saluted skipper Harry Kane after his double launched England’s World Cup finals campaign with that dramatic victory over Tunisia.
“He’s been a brilliant leader for us leading up to the tournament, as well as now we have started the tournament. He always leads by example and there’s no better what to do it than by scoring goals, like he has been doing.
“He’s a top forward. His career is only going to go up and up. He’s very young and at this stage of his career, he’s going to keep improving and getting better, so who knows how good he can get?”
RUSSIAN REVIEW OF ENGLAND WIN
Much of today’s Russian sports pages is devoted to the host nation’s game with Egypt this evening, but Kommersant have a report of England’s late win over Tunisia and are full of praise for Gareth Southgate’s men.
They highlight England’s fast start and quick movement of the ball, referencing England’s quick feet and ideas, likening the way they manoeuvred the ball to a team of basketball players in the NBA.
JAPAN SEAL VICTORY!
Great win for Japan as they open up their World Cup Group H campaign against Colombia with a 2-1 victory in Saransk.
JAPAN EDGE AHEAD
There’s a cracking game in progress in Group H, where Japan have just taken a 2-1 lead against 10-man Colombia.
ENGLAND TRAIN IN REPINO
England have trained together for the first time since their opening World Cup win over Tunisia last night.
EARLY DRAMA IN SARANSK!
Japan take the lead against Colombia, with former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa slotting home a penalty after Carlos Sanchez was sent off for deliberate handball in the area.
RODRIGUEZ MISSES OUT
James Rodriguez – winner of the Golden Boot in 2014 – is left out of the Colombia starting line-up for their Word Cup opener against Japan in Saransk.
ALLI TO HAVE THIGH SCAN
Dele Alli will have a scan today on the thigh injury he picked up in England’s 2-1 win over Tunisia on Monday night.
The Tottenham forward appeared to pull up with a muscle injury in the first half and although it seemed he would have to come off, Gareth Southgate kept him in the action until the 80th minute.
Alli will sit out training on Tuesday and will instead be assessed by the medical team ahead of their second game of the World Cup, against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday.
BRAZIL UNHAPPY WITH VAR USE
Like England on Monday night, Brazil are unhappy with the use of VAR at the World Cup, or rather the lack of it.
Brazil players complained that defender Miranda was pushed by Steven Zuber when he headed home Switzerland‘s equaliser early in the second half of their Group E opener on Sunday.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) also believe Gabriel Jesus was fouled inside the penalty area and should have been awarded a spot kick but neither incident appeared to be reviewed.
“The CBF requires to know from FIFA the reason the technology was not used in key incidents during the game,” the organisation said in a statement.
FRANCE LOOK TO DOUBLE UP AGAINST PERU
France beat Australia 2-1 in their opening Group C game and they will look to double their points tally when they take on Peru on Thursday.
SPAIN TRAIN IN PREPARATION FOR IRAN GAME
Right, let’s move away from England for now at least. Spain have been put through their paces ahead of their second Group B game against Iran in Kazan on Wednesday.
David de Gea will be looking for a return to his usual reliable self after his blooper led to a speculative Cristiano Ronaldo shot squirming through his hands in the 3-3 draw with Portugal on Friday night.
The squad looked to be in relaxed mood, though, as they found time for some fun in the sun during their training session.
ENGLAND ANALYSIS
There were plenty of ups and downs from England’s win over Tunisia but in the cold(ish) light of day, how promising was the performance with regard to the rest of the tournament and what lessons can be learned?
WAS WALKER LUCKY TO STAY ON THE PITCH?
It may have been a case of alright on the night for England but should Kyle Walker have been sent off after giving away a penalty when he caught Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Youssef in the face with a stray elbow?
Peter Schmeichel thought so and he was also unimpressed by England’s second half display.
“It was a penalty, there is no doubt about that,” he told Russia Today. “He actually hits him and he is very, very lucky to get away with a yellow card because according to the rules, if you hit someone with your elbow, you’re off – it’s a red card.
“They got there in the end. I feel very happy for the England boys because if they hadn’t have gotten there, the next couple of days would have been terrible for them. They would have been crucified by the English media.
“I’m not sure that they are going to go completely free because the second half was awful. The way they played in the second half is not promising for the next few games in the tournament but in the first half, they created so many chances.
“Jesse Lingard created four chances and should have scored all four. Harry Kane is the one guy they need the chances to fall for because he scores them.”
DELE ALLI UPBEAT ON QUAD INJURY
Mixed in with the joy of an opening-match World Cup win for England was concern over the quad injury suffered by Dele Alli on Monday night.
After initially appearing as though he would have to come off at half-time, – with Fabian Delph looking as though he would come on for the Tottenham player – Alli kept going before being replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek 10 minutes from time.
The player himself seemed confident he would be fit for Sunday’s game against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod, however, and his manager confirmed they were closely monitoring the situation with Alli throughout the game.
“We had to keep monitoring Dele,” Southgate said.
“He was feeling a little bit of an issue just before half-time, but he felt he could carry on and I thought the runs that he was making and the way he was pressing the ball was still causing a problem.
“He had a half chance with a lovely ball Jordan Henderson played to him, lofted over the top.
“But we have good options on the bench and we felt to put the freshness of Marcus (Rashford) and Ruben (Loftus-Cheek) would both bring fresh energy but also a different sort threat to the one that we’d posed.”
VAR – GOOD OR BAD?
Much debate has raged over the use of VAR at the World Cup. England felt hard done by as technology – or at least its application – failed them in Volgograd, with Tunisia’s efforts to wrestle Harry Kane to the ground in the penalty area going unpunished.
MORNING ALL
How goes it this morning? Feeling full of joy after England’s winning start to the World Cup or nursing a sore head after celebrating too hard?
Either way, grab yourself a brew, fire up the toaster and stick with us for all the latest news and views from World Cup 2018. Unless you are on a packed commuter train or bus, in which case, well, bad luck. Hopefully we can offer you a welcome distraction.