ENGLAND THE SET-PIECE KINGS – OFFICIAL!
Gareth Southgate’s team have scored six of their eight goals this World Cup from set-pieces and have made the most of their free-kicks and corners in attacking areas.
Kieran Trippier has proved to be a useful addition in this respect, with England‘s coaching staff keen to maximise dead-ball situations
PRESSURE ON RUSSIA
Russia will be hard pushed to keep this stat going – they currently trail Uruguay 2-0 in Samara.
SALAH SCORES FOR EGYPT
He may have had a World Cup to forget – on and off the pitch – but Egypt striker Mohamed Salah at least has a goal for his troubles.
KANE KEEN TO KEEP SCORING RUN GOING
After his hat-trick in the 6-1 drubbing of Panama on Sunday, England captain Harry Kane is keen to keep his goalscoring run going as he chases the Golden Boot at the World Cup.
There has been some suggestion the Spurs striker could be rested for the final Group G game against Belgium on Thursday but Kane would welcome the chance to add to his tally.
“I want to continue, the form I’m in, but whatever decision the gaffer makes we’ll get behind,” he said.
“That’s his decision, I guess, but obviously I want to play. The most important thing is always winning games, and if my goals help my team win then that’s the perfect situation.
“There’s a long way to go and a lot of good players just behind me [on the list]. Hopefully I can just continue and take it into Thursday’s game.”
RYAN’S FAMILY AFFAIR
There is no chance of Mathew Ryan getting homesick at the World Cup – the Australia goalkeeper has paid for 27 members of his family to come out to Russia.
“It is the first time other than my mother and my sister that I’ve paid for my family to come across and watch.
“Obviously a World Cup doesn’t come around every so often, so the chance to share something like this with them, it was a no-brainer.
“I asked my family members if they were interested, if they were able to come across, and half of them said yes, so half of them are still at home. It’s a little better for the bank account I guess!”
‘POGBA WILL PLAY IN MORE WORLD CUPS’
France coach Didier Deschamps has played down suggestions from Paul Pogba that this World Cup could his last.
Pogba caused a stir on Sunday when he told reporters this tournament could be his final one “because you don’t know what can happen tomorrow”.
Deschamps said: “I don’t think it will be his last World Cup, given he’s only 25. In four years he will be 29 years old. It’s likely he’ll play in others.
“He’s had to go through some more difficult periods.
“In my own relation with him, I still see the same player. He has gained a lot of experience even if he is only 25 years old.
“He’s good in his head, he’s happy and he’s very motivated.”
SAUDI ARABIA v EGYPT TEAMS
Saudi Arabia: Almosailem, Osama, Alburayk, Yasser, Motaz, Salman, Hatan, Otayf, Hussain, Salem, Fahad.
Egypt: Elhadary, Ali Gabr, Hegazy, Fathi, Abdelshafy, Tarek Hamed, Elneny, Abdalla, Treziguet, Marwan, Salah.
URUGUAY v RUSSIA TEAMS
Uruguay: Muslera, Caceres, Godin, Coates, Nandez, Bentancur, Torreira, Vecino, Laxalt, Suarez, Cavani.
Subs: Campana, Varela, Sanchez, Rodriguez, De Arrascaeta, Stuani, Gaston Silva, Maxi Pereira, Gomez, Urreta, Martin Silva.
Russia: Akinfeev, Smolnikov, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov, Zobnin, Gazinsky, Samedov, Cheryshev, Aleksey Miranchuk, Dzyuba.
Subs: Lunev, Fernandes, Semenov, Kuzyaev, Smolov, Granat, Anton Miranchuk, Golovin, Zhirkov, Erokhin, Gabulov.
Referee: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
45-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary starts for Egypt against Saudi Arabia and will become the oldest ever player to feature in a World Cup finals.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since the World Cup switched to a last 16 knockout stage in 1986, the eventual champions have always won their group.
Food for thought for those who feel England would be better off finishing second in Group G!
GERMANY INJURY UPDATE
Germany defender Mats Hummels [pictured below] has recovered from a neck injury and will be fit for their final Group F game against South Korea on Wednesday but midfielder Sebastian Rudy is doubtful.
Hummels, who missed their last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sweden, returned to training on Monday.
Rudy broke his nose in that game and underwent minor surgery on Sunday.
Germany assistant coach Marcus Sorg said: “Sebi [Rudy] was operated on for the broken nose. He will undergo further checks this afternoon and we will see. We must be prepared that he will not be likely to play.”
Sorg said team doctors would also look into the possibility of him playing with a face mask for the game in Kazan.
“If there is the possibility of playing with a mask, without risk to his health, then it is something that could be considered.”
PRINCE WILLIAM CATCHES UP ON ENGLAND
As England thrashed Panama 6-1 on Sunday Prince William, the president of the Football Association, was flying into Jordan for a historic Middle East tour.
The Duke of Cambridge missed the momentous game that helped England ease into the World Cup last 16 but caught a replay at the home of his host Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah.
The heir to the Jordanian throne posted pictures on his Instagram account late Sunday showing him and William watching a replay of the game on a huge flat television screen.
SWEDEN UNITED FOR MEXICO SHOWDOWN
Sweden defender Pontus Jansson [pictured below] says they have put a turbulent 36 hours behind them and are ready for Wednesday’s must-win game against Mexico.
After losing in the closing minutes to Germany and seeing their winger Jimmy Durmaz subjected to a storm of racial hatred on social media, the players and staff presented a united front as they packed their bags before heading to Ekaterinburg to meet Mexico.
Jansson said: “We were a strong group from day one, and obviously this can help. We were clear after the match that this [abuse of Durmaz] was unacceptable…
“We backed him up in a good way, together.”
ICELAND BOSS PLAYS DOWN ENGLAND WIN
Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has dismissed the significance of their famous victory over England at Euro 2016 as they look to book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
Iceland must beat Group D leaders Croatia tomorrow to be in with a chance of progressing to the knock-out stages in Russia.
Hallgrimsson said: “The England game was no different from other wins as we have to fight for every win.
“Of course, it was a bigger stage and that’s what maybe you correlate that to the game tomorrow.
“But I think the England game gave us as much as beating Turkey away or Ukraine at home.”
CHARLIE’S PREDICTIONS
It’s crunch time at the World Cup as the final round of group-stage fixtures get underway, and Charlie Nicholas is here to give us his predictions…
Stepping in as a late substitute for Paul Merson, Charlie offers up his thoughts on Monday’s crucial games, including Uruguay v Russia, Iran v Portugal and Spain v Morocco.
EGYPT DISMISS SALAH RUMOURS
The Egyptian Football Association insists star player Mohamed Salah has never discussed international retirement with them.
Speculation, not helped by a series of cryptic tweets from the Liverpool forward’s agent, has been growing that the 26-year-old is set to quit his national team after their disappointing World Cup comes to an end against Saudia Arabia on Monday.
“We were always informed by Salah when he takes any decisions,” the EFA said in a statement.
“We spend the whole day together and he has never discussed this issue with any of the delegation’s members.”
GUERRERO GRATEFUL TO JEDINAK
Staying with Peru and their captain Paolo Guerrero has promised to give his Australian counterpart Mile Jedinak “a big hug” before Tuesday’s match as a thank you for his personal support in overturning Guerrero’s drug suspension.
Although he was given a 14-month ban after testing positive for a cocaine byproduct contained in a tea, Guerrero was allowed to play in the tournament partly because the captains of Group C rivals Australia, France and Denmark appealed on his behalf.
“I haven’t had the chance to thank him personally. I hope to do that before the match tomorrow and I hope we can chat. I am so, so terribly grateful to him.
“As with any footballers, I think we have to support each other and I hope to give him a big hug and thank him personally.”
CONCUSSED FARFAN RULED OUT
Peru forward Jefferson Farfan will not play in their final World Cup Group C match against Australia tomorrow as he remains in hospital after being knocked out in training at the weekend.
Coach Ricardo Gareca admits the team suffered a “scare” when Farfan collided with a team-mate on Saturday, with the Peruvian Football Federation confirming he has sustained a “traumatic brain injury”.
Concussion protocols mean the 33-year-old will miss Peru’s last match before they fly home. They have already been eliminated after losing their first two fixtures.
Gareca said: “He was unconscious for a couple of minutes. There are some protocols in terms of recovery of a player so that means it is mandatory for a player to remain in hospital for 72 hours until he is stablised.
“He could be released from hospital but we understand the healthcare of the the players is priority.”
BIG SAM: ENGLAND LEAD THE WAY
Former England manager Sam Allardyce says they are the best in the World Cup when it comes to making the most of set-piece situations.
RUSSIAN PAPERS
England have made the headlines following yesterday’s win with Rossiskaya Gazeta showing a picture of Jordan Henderson on their front page.
In the sport pages, Harry Kane was referred to as ‘Wizard Harry’. It says England are lucky to have such a fine striker, while lauding the team’s performance against Panama.
DELE BACK IN TRAINING
Here’s a welcome sight for England fans – Dele Alli trains this morning as he continues his comeback from a thigh injury.
FREE WATER FOR FANS
With temperatures in Samara expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius for this afternoon’s game between Russia and Uruguay, free drinking water will be available at the stadium.
Some fans must walk nearly a mile to the stadium after arriving on public transportation, and medical staff with water will be deployed along the route and by the stadium entrances.
Both Russia and Uruguay have qualified for the knockout stages before the game, which will determine who finishes first in Group A.
If there’s a draw, host nation Russia would claim top spot due to a superior goal difference.
HANGELAND’S DEFENSIVE CONCERNS
England are on a high after yesterday’s big win over Panama but Brede Hangeland has some words of warning.
The former Fulham and Crystal Palace defender believes England could struggle defensively against the better teams at the World Cup due to Gareth Southgate’s attacking formation.
ALLI TRAINS WITH ENGLAND
Dele Alli took part in an England training session this morning having missed yesterday’s thrashing of Panama.
The Tottenham midfielder was not risked after suffering a minor thigh injury in the opening win over Tunisia.
None of the side which started against Panama were part of the light session back at Zelenogorsk but the players who came off the bench – Jamie Vardy, Fabian Delph and Danny Rose – were involved.
Manager Gareth Southgate led the session and it remains to be seen if he will make alterations to his side for the final game of Group G as England face Belgium in what is essentially a play-off for top spot.
ENGLAND’S SET-PIECE PROWESS
Nine of the 35 goals scored by England under Gareth Southgate have come from set-pieces, and a Scotsman is receiving the plaudits!
WORLD CUP REPORT
All the latest news from day 12 as Harry Kane talks about the prospect of winning the Golden Boot, and a unique Russian dance-off.
IRAN FANS KEEP CRISTIANO AWAKE
Some Iran fans have spent several overnight surrounding the hotel where Portugal’s national team is based, making noise in an attempt to disrupt their opponents’ sleep before this evening’s decisive World Cup match!
Cristiano Ronaldo was filmed by Portuguese TV asking them to stop making noise.
Iran can advance to the next stage of the World Cup with a win over the European champions, while Portugal only require a draw.
WORLD CUP FANS CLEAN UP
Japan and Senegal drew 2-2 on Sunday but there was another contest off the pitch between the two sets of fans dubbed as the cleanest at the World Cup!
Fans were praised last week after videos surfaced of them cleaning up litter after their opening group games. And they were both at it again on Sunday – filling up bin bags with rubbish after the game to ease the burden on volunteers!
LOVREN HAILS HENDERSON
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren has praised the form of Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson and hopes to go head-to-head with his club captain later in the tournament.
TODAY AT THE WORLD CUP
The first two groups reach their conclusion, with Russia and Uruguay battling it out for top spot in Group A, while Spain, Portugal and Iran are competing for the top two places in Group B.
Group A (both 3pm)
Saudi Arabia v Egypt
Uruguay v Russia
Group B (both 7pm)
Iran v Portugal
Spain v Morocco
ARGENTINA HOLD CLEAR-THE-AIR TALKS
While things are looking rosy for England at the moment, it is quite the opposite for Argentina, who could be eliminated from the World Cup tomorrow.
Gary Cotterill reports from Moscow where the squad have played down talk of unrest in their squad ahead of their must-win game against Nigeria.
KANE WANTS TO FACE BELGIUM
Belgium are expected to rest Romelu Lukaku for Thursday’s final Group G game against England but Harry Kane wants to keep his scoring streak going.
With a place in the last 16 assured, England boss Gareth Southgate must be tempted to wrap his skipper in cotton wool – particularly with no apparent benefit to topping Group G – but Kane has no interest in putting his feet up.
“I want to continue, the form I’m in, but whatever decision the gaffer makes we’ll get behind.
“That’s his decision, I guess, but obviously I want to play. The most important thing is always winning games, and if my goals help my team win then that’s the perfect situation.
“There’s a long way to go and a lot of good players just behind me [on the list]. Hopefully I can just continue and take it into Thursday’s game.”
RED-HOT HARRY
Harry Kane is the new leader in the race for the World Cup’s Golden Boot following his hat-trick against Panama yesterday.
The England skipper has scored five goals in two games putting him one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.
GOOD MORNING!
Monday mornings suddenly don’t seem so bad following England’s landslide win over Panama yesterday! Gareth Southgate’s men are through to the World Cup knockout stages with a game to spare but they aren’t resting on their laurels.
Stick with us for analysis and reaction from England’s victory and we will also look ahead to today’s games in Groups A and B.
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