World Cup Diary-part 49-July 15th, 2018 (Day 32) (Final Entry)

Diary:

Team News:

-Russia President Vladimir Putin handed over the mantle of World Cup host to the emir of Qatar (2022 hosts).  (Source Reuters UK online)

-According to a number of sources, Jorge Sampaoli is about to be dismissed as Argentina Manager.  (Source Sport Bild online)

-Former German International Stefan Effenberg stated that he preferred Mario Mandzukic to Neymar and has he been younger would have been worth 200 Million Euros. (Source AS.com online)

-France Captain Hugo Lloris has tied Michel Platini’s number of matches in a World Cup with his 14^th match. He is still behind Thierry Henry and Fabien barthez (17 matches each).  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic played in his 71st match of the season.  (Source Walfoot.be online)

-France’s Kylian Mbappe has become the third youngest player to play in a World Cup Final after Pele (17 years in 1958) and Giuseppe Bergomi (18 years in 1982).  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia’s Ivan Perisic, who was an injury doubt, did after all play in the Final.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-France have won their second World Cup in twenty years. Didier Descjamps became the third player (after Mario Zagalo and Franz Beckenbauer) to play and manage a World Cup winning side. He became the second after Franz Beckenbauer to captain and manage a World Cup winning side.

-France’s Raphael Varane has now won the World Cup and Champions League in the same season.

-Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup Final.

-France’s Kylian Mbappe was awarded the Young Player award, England’s Harry Kane won the Golden Boot with six goals, Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was awarded the Golden Glove and Croatia’s Luka Modric was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the World Cup.

-Mario Mandzukic is the first player since Dutchman Ernei Brandts (1978, Holland 2-Italy 1) to score a goal and an own in a World Cup match. (Source BBC Football online)

-Mario Mandzukic is in fact the first player ever to score an own in a World Cup Final. (Source Daily Mail online)

-France’s Adil Rami announced his retirement from the National Team following the World Cup Final.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia's Dejan Lovren stated that his side 'played mauch better football'. (Source BBC Football online)

-Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stated that he did not watch the final on Television as he had no desire to watch the French celebrate. (Source RTBF.be online)

-The punk rock band 'Pussy Riot' have claimed responsibility for the protesters that ran onto the field wearing police unifroms. (Source Reuters UK online)

-Pele sent a number of complimentary tweets to Kylian Mbappe. In ne he tells him 'welcome to the club' and in another he stated 'if Kylian continues to tie my records i will have to dust off my boots..'.

-Croatia Manager Zlato Dalic stated that it was wrong to award a penalty like that in a World Cup Final. (Source AS.com Online)

-The Man of the Match for today:

France’s Antoine Griezmann (France 4-Croatia 2)

2018 World Cup 2018 matches:

Sunday, July 15, 2018:

Final:

July 15, 2018 (Moscow, France 4-Croatia 2)

Date: July 15, 2018

Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup-Final

Result: France 4-Croatia 2

Venue: Moscow– Luzhniki Stadium, Russia         

Attendance: 78,011

Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argntina)

Linesmen: Hernan Maidana and Juan Pablo Belatti  (both Argentina), Bjorn Kuipers (Holland, fourth official)

Kick-off time:

Goalscorers:

(France): Mario Mandzukic (own goal) 18, Antoine  Griezmann 39 pen, Paul Pogba 59, Kylian Mbappe 65

(Croatia): Ivan Perisic 28, Mario Mandzukic 69

Summary of goals:

1:0 (18^th minute, France):  Antoine Griezmann’s free kick took a slight deflection off of the head of Croatia’s Mario mandzukic into his own net.

1:1 (28th minute, Croatia):  Luka Modric lofted a free kick inside the box, after a few headers it reached Perisic, who dribbled once and rifled s shot past Lloris.

2:1 (39^th minute, France):  France were awarded a penalty kick after Ivan Perisic handled inside the box from a French corner. Antoine Griezmann scored from the ensuing penalty kick. (VAR was used to make the decision)

3:1 (59^th minute, France):  Pogba sent a diagonal cross across on the right side for Mbappe, he passed to Griezmann in the box, who laid it on for Pogba. Pogba took a shot from outside of the box that was blocked and then he shot in the rebound.

4:1 (65^th minute, France):  From the left side, Lucas Hernandez sent a pass across to Mbappe in the middle, who struck a low shot from outside the box in the goal.

4:2 (69th minute, Croatia):  France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris attempted to dribble inside his own box but Mario Mandzukic caught him out and the ball defelcted into the net.

Lineups:

France:

1- Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)
2- Benjamin Pavard (Verein für Bewegungspiele Stuttgart 1893 e.V. / Germany)

5- Samuel Umtiti (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)
4- Raphäel Varane (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain)
21- Lucas Hernández (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain)
13- N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea Football Club-London / England) (15- Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla Fútbol Club / Spain) 54^th)

6- Paul Pogba (Manchester United Football Club / England)
14- Blase Matuidi (Juventus Football Club-Torino / Italy) (12- Corentin Tolisso (Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. / Germany)  73^rd)

10- Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)

7- Antoine Griezmann (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain)

9- Olivier Giroud (Chelsea Football Club-London / England) (18- Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais) 81^st)

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Booked: N’Golo Kante 27, Lucas Hernandez 41

Other Substitutes:

 23- Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)
16- Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)

11- Ousmane Dembelé (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)

3- Presnel Kimpembé (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)
22- Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City Football Club / England)
17- Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille)
19- Djibril Sidibé (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club)

8- Thomas Lemar (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club)
20- Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille)

Team Captain: Hugo Lloris

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks

Croatia:

23- Danijel Subasic (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club / France)
2- Sime Vrsaljko (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain) 

6- Dejan Lovren (Liverpool Football Club / England)
21- Domagoj Vida (Besiktas Jimnastik Kulübü–Istanbul / Turkey)
3- Ivan Strinic (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova / Italy) (20- Marko Pjaca (Fußball Club Schalke von 1904- Gelsenkirchen / Germany)  82^nd)

11- Marcelo Brozovic (Internazionale Football Club- Milano / Italy) 

10- Luka Modric (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain)

7- Ivan Rakitic (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)

18- Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball A.G. / Germany)  (9- Andrej Kramaric (Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim e.V. / Germany) 71^st)

4- Ivan Perisic (Internazionale Football Club- Milano / Italy) 

17- Mario Mandzukic (Juventus Football Club-Torino / Italy)

Coach: Zlatko Dalic

Booked:  Sime Vrsaljko 90+2

Other Substitutes:

22- Josip Pivaric (Futbolnyi Klub Dynamo Kyiv  / Ukraine) 

19- Milan Badelj (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy)

5- Vedran Corluka (Futbolnyi Klub Lokomotiv Moskva / Russia) 

8- Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain) 

12- Lovre Kalinic (Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent / Belgium)
1- Dominik Livakovic (Nogometni Klub Dinamo Zagreb) 

13- Tin Jedvaj (Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH / Germany)  
15- Duje Caleta-Car (Football Club Red Bull Salzburg / Austria)

14- Filip Bradaric (Hrvatski Nogometni Klub Rijeka)   

16- Nikola Kalinic (AC (Associazione Calcio) Milan / Italy) (has left the squad)

Team Captain: Luka Modric

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: Red/White checkered Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (France)

World Cup Diary-part 48-July 14th, 2018 (Day 31)

Diary:

Team News:

-FIFA have warned England for the political chants of their fans in the match vs. Croatia.  (Source BBC Football Online)

-Belgium Manager Roberto Martinez has made two changes from his last squad. Youri Tielemans starts in place of Moussa Dembele. Thomas Meunier is back from suspension. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Kieran Trippier will start for England against Belgium, however, the injured Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker are out. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Eric Dier, Phil Jones, Danny Rose and Fabian Delph will come into the England starting lineup vs. Belgium. They replace: Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson. (Source Reuters UK Online)

-After his match vs. England, Thibaut Courtois has become Belgium’s most capped goalkeeper by earning his 64^th cap and overtaking Jean-Marie Pfaff.  (Source RTBF.be Online)

-This third place is Belgium’s best place in its World Cup history.

-The Man of the Match for today:

Belgium’s Eden Hazard (Belgium 2-England 0)

2018 World Cup 2018 matches:

Saturday, July 14, 2018:

Third Place:

July 14, 2018 (Saint Petersburg, Belgium 2-England 0)

Date: July 14, 2018

Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup-Third Place

Result: Belgium 2-England 0

Venue: Saint Petersburg– Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia         

Attendance: 64,406

Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)

Linesmen: Reza Sokhandan and Mohammadreza Mansouri  (both Iran), Malang Diedhiou (Senegal, fourth official)

Kick-off time:

Goalscorers:

(Belgium): Thomas Meunier 4, Eden Hazard 82

(England): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (4^th minute, Belgium):  From the middle, Lukaku released Chadli on the left side, he crossed into the box for Meunier to score.

2:0 (82^nd minute, Belgium):  From the middle, De Bruyne sent Hazard through to go on and score.

Lineups:

Belgium:

1- Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)
2- Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)
4- Vincent Kompany (Manchester City Football Club / England)
5- Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)

15- Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club / France)

6- Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian Football Club / China)
17- Youri Tielemans (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club / France) (19- Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England) 78^th)

22- Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion Football Club / England) (3- Thomas Vermaelen (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain) 39^th)

7- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City Football Club / England)

10- Eden Hazard (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)

9- Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United Football Club / England) (14- Dries Mertens (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli / Italy) 60^th)

Coach: Roberto Martínez Montoliu (Spain)

Booked: Axel Witsel 90+3

Other Substitutes:

21- Michy Batshuayi (Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund 1909 e.V. / Germany)

8- Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United Football Club / England) 

11- Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yfang Football Club / China)

13- Koen Casteels (Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH / Germany)
12- Simon Mignolet (Liverpool Football Club / England)

20- Dedryck Boyata (Celtic Football Club-Glasgow / Scotland)

23- Leander Dendoncker (Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht Brussels)
16- Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / Germany)
18- Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad de Fútbol-San Sebastian / Spain)

Team Captain: Eden Hazard

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts, Yellow Socks

England:

1- Jordan Lee Pickford (Everton Football Club-Liverpool)
5- John Stones (Manchester City Football Club)
6- Jacob Harry Maguire (Leicester City Football Club)
16- Phillip Anthony Jones (Manchester United Football Club)

12- Kieran John Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)
4- Eric Jeremy Edgar Dier (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) 

21- Ruben Ira Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea Football Club-London) (20- Bamidele Jermaine ‘Dele’ Alli (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) 84^th)

17- Fabian Delph (Manchester City Football Club) 

3- Daniel Lee ‘Danny’ Rose (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) (7- Jesse Ellis Lingard (Manchester United Football Club) 46^th)

9- Harry Edward Kane (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)

10- Raheem Shaquille Sterling (Manchester City Football Club)  (19- Marcus Rashford (Manchester United Football Club) 46^th)

Coach: Gareth Southgate

Booked:  John Stones 52, Harry Maguire 76

Other Substitutes:

2- Kyle Andrew Walker (Manchester City Football Club)

11- Jamie Richard Vardy (Leicester City Football Club)

8- Jordan Brian Henderson (Liverpool Football Club) 

18- Ashley Simon Young (Manchester United Football Club)

13- Jack Butland (Stoke City Football Club)
23- Nicolas David ‘Nick’ Pope (Burnley Football Club)

22- Trent John Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool Football Club)
15- Gary James Cahill (Chelsea Football Club-London)

14- Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah ‘Danny’ Welbeck (Arsenal Football Club-London)

Team Captain: Harry Edward Kane

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard (Belgium)

World Cup Diary-part 47-July 13th, 2018 (Day 30)

Diary:

Team News:

-England’s Kieran Tripper trained today and is fit to play tomorrow vs. Belgium. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Tunisia National Team Manager Nabil Maaloul has left his post and become the new Manager of Qatari side Al-Duhail. (Source RTBF.be Online)

-Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has selected his team of the World Cup for Sport Bild.

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Benjamin Pavard (France), Yerry Mina (Colombia), Samuel Umtiti (France), Laxalt (Uruguay), N’Golo Kante (France), Kylian Mbappe (France), Luka Modric (Croatia), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) (Source Footnews.be online)

-FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the 2018 World Cup as ‘the best ever’. (Source Reuters UK Online)

-Antoine Griezmann responded to Thibaut Courtois’ criticism in France’s manner of winning. He said ‘He (Courtois) has played at Atletico Madrid, he plays at Chelsea, does he think he’s playing like at Barcelona’. He added that he does not care of the manner sued to win. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-France President Emmanuel Macron has invited Dmitri Payet and Laurent Koscielny for the Final. The pair appeared to be certainties in the French squad until late injurues deprived them of the World Cup.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia’s Ivan Perisic and Strincic are carrying injuries and their particpation in the Final is in doubt.  (Source Onze-Mondial online)

World Cup Diary-part 46-July 12th, 2018 (Day 29)

Diary:

Team News:

-Croatian defender Dejan Lovren stated that he should be considered as one of the best defenders in the World after helping Croatia eliminate England. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-England’s Tripper, Walker and Henderson may miss the third place match vs. Belgium due to injuries. (Source Sky Sports Online)

-Croatia’s Luka Modric stated that he felt the English media had underestimated Croatia and that was used as a motivation for their win. (Source Sky Sports online)

-England’s Gary Cahill is to hold talke with Manager Garetn Southagte regarding his Internatioanl future and possible retirement.  (Source Sky Sports Online)

-France’s Umtiti, Pavard, Varane, Giroud and Mbappe did not train today to recuperate.  (Source L’Equipe online)

-Every World Cup Final squad since 1982 has contained at least a member of either Bayern Munich or Internazionale Milano. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Dutch Legend Marco van Basten, as part of FIFA Technical study group, criticized the behavior of Neymra during the World Cup. He added that all the ‘theater’ is not going to help him. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Croatia’s Domagoj Vida has apologized to the Russian People for his recent politically charged viral videos. (Source Reuters UK Online)

-14 of the Belgian squad trained as Manager Roberto Martinez chose to rest the starters who had played vs. France (with the exception of Courtois). Those present included: Mertens, Chadli, Thorgan Hazard, Batshuayi, Vermaelen, Boyata, Carrasco, Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Januzaj and the three goalkeepers . (Source Walfoot.be online)

-El Salvador Photographer Yuri Cortez who was crushed under the celebrating Croatia players following their winner vs. England released his photographs. (Source AS.com Online)

-The Croatian Federation is to invite all members of their 1998 World Cup squad to attned the Final match. (Source Maisfutebol online)

-It was revealed that during yesterday’s match vs, Croatia, England players had attempted to quickly restart while Croatians were celebrating their winner, which as obviously called back.  (Source SportsJoint online)

World Cup Diary-part 45-July 11th, 2018 (Day 28)

Diary:

Team News:

-Yuri Zhirkov has announced his retirement from the Russian National Team. (Source RTBF.be online)

-England and Uruguay have been fined 70,000 Swiss Francs and 50,000 Swiss Francs respectively, for breaking ‘media and marketing rules by displaying commercial branding, etc . (Source Reuters UK online)

-Marcelo Brozovic is back in Croatia’s starting lineup in the match vs, England. He replaced Kramaric from the previous match. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia have reached the Final of a World Cup for the first time in their history.

-Ronaldo has stated that the country expected more of Neymar. He did also stress the fact that he had been injured for a lengthy spell before and that may have affected his form. (Source Daily Mail online)

-Kylian Mbappe was booked in yesterday’s match vs. Belgium after an unsportsmanlike attempt to waste time late in the game. He said that if he had offended them he was sorry but had to give it all to defende a lead. (Source L’Equipe online)

-Croatia’s Ivan Strinic was substituted off in ovetitme after an injury. He was replaced by Josip Pivaric. (Source L’Equipe online)

-The Man of the Match for today:

Croatia’s Ivan Perisic (England 1-Croatia 2)

2018 World Cup 2018 matches:

Wednesday, July 11, 2018:

Semi Finals:

July 11, 2018 (Moscow, Eng;and 1-Croatia 2) (After Extra Time)

Date: July 11, 2018

Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup-Semi Finals

Result: England 1- Croatia 2 (After Extra Time)

Venue: Moscow– Luzhniki Stadium, Russia         

Attendance: 78,011

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Linesmen: Bahattin Duran and Tarik Ongun (both Turkey), Bjorn Kuipers (Holland, fourth official)

Kick-off time:

Goalscorers:

(England): Kieran Trippier 5

(Croatia): Ivan Perisic 68,  Mario Mandzukic 108

Summary of goals:

1:0 (5^th minute, England):  Kieran Trippier scored from a free kick.

1:1 (68^th minute, Croatia):  Sime Vrsaljko ’s cross from the right side was struck in by Ivan Perisic.

1:2 (108^th minute, Croatia):  Ivna Perisic flicked a pass into the English penalty area and Mandzukic turned ans shot past Pickford from the left side.

Lineups:

England:

1- Jordan Lee Pickford (Everton Football Club-Liverpool)
2- Kyle Andrew Walker (Manchester City Football Club) (11- Jamie Richard Vardy (Leicester City Football Club) 112^th )

5- John Stones (Manchester City Football Club)
6- Jacob Harry Maguire (Leicester City Football Club)
12- Kieran John Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)
7- Jesse Ellis Lingard (Manchester United Football Club)
8- Jordan Brian Henderson (Liverpool Football Club)  (4- Eric Jeremy Edgar Dier (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)  97^th)

20- Bamidele Jermaine ‘Dele’ Alli (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) 

18- Ashley Simon Young (Manchester United Football Club) (3- Daniel Lee ‘Danny’ Rose (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London) 91^st)

10- Raheem Shaquille Sterling (Manchester City Football Club) (19- Marcus Rashford (Manchester United Football Club)  74^th)

9- Harry Edward Kane (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)

Coach: Gareth Southgate

Booked:  Kyle Walker 54

Other Substitutes:

17- Fabian Delph (Manchester City Football Club) 

13- Jack Butland (Stoke City Football Club)
23- Nicolas David ‘Nick’ Pope (Burnley Football Club)

22- Trent John Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool Football Club)
15- Gary James Cahill (Chelsea Football Club-London)
16- Phillip Anthony Jones (Manchester United Football Club)

21- Ruben Ira Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea Football Club-London)

14- Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah ‘Danny’ Welbeck (Arsenal Football Club-London)

Team Captain: Harry Edward Kane

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Croatia:

23- Danijel Subasic (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club / France)
2- Sime Vrsaljko (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain) 

6- Dejan Lovren (Liverpool Football Club / England)
21- Domagoj Vida (Besiktas Jimnastik Kulübü–Istanbul / Turkey)
3- Ivan Strinic (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova / Italy) (22- Josip Pivaric (Futbolnyi Klub Dynamo Kyiv  / Ukraine)  95^th)

11- Marcelo Brozovic (Internazionale Football Club- Milano / Italy) 

10- Luka Modric (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain) (19- Milan Badelj (Associazione Calcio Fiorentina-Firenze / Italy) 119^th)

7- Ivan Rakitic (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)

18- Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball A.G. / Germany)  (9- Andrej Kramaric (Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim e.V. / Germany) 101^st)

4- Ivan Perisic (Internazionale Football Club- Milano / Italy) 

17- Mario Mandzukic (Juventus Football Club-Torino / Italy)( 5- Vedran Corluka (Futbolnyi Klub Lokomotiv Moskva / Russia) 115^th)

Coach: Zlatko Dalic

Booked: Mario Mandzukic 48, Ante Rebic 96

Other Substitutes:

8- Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain) 

12- Lovre Kalinic (Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent / Belgium)
1- Dominik Livakovic (Nogometni Klub Dinamo Zagreb) 

13- Tin Jedvaj (Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH / Germany)  
15- Duje Caleta-Car (Football Club Red Bull Salzburg / Austria)

14- Filip Bradaric (Hrvatski Nogometni Klub Rijeka)   

16- Nikola Kalinic (AC (Associazione Calcio) Milan / Italy) (has left the squad)
20- Marko Pjaca (Fußball Club Schalke von 1904- Gelsenkirchen / Germany)  

Team Captain: Luka Modric

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: Black/ Blue checkered Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks

Man of the Match: Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

World Cup Diary-part 44-July 10th, 2018 (Day 27)

Diary:

Team News:

-FIFA is looking into another video of Croatia’s Domagoj Vida that has resurfaced shere he is once again making political statements and saying ‘Belgrade Burn’. (Source BBC Football Online)

-Ognjen Vukojevic who was dismissed as part of the Croatian staff following a viral video with Domagoj Vida that showed him praising Ukraine, may get a job in the Ukrainian Football Federation as well as proposing to pay for his fine. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Russia’s Team Doctor Eduard Bezuglov has confirmed that Russian players had sniffed ammonia before their matches, which he added is a common practice among athlethes for decades. (Source Daily Mail Online)

-Paul Pogba dedicated France’s victory over Belgium to the rescued Thailand youth Football Team. (Source L’Equipe Online)

-Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois accused France of being ‘anti-football’ for their approach in the game. Belgium Caprain Eden Hazard also stated that he would rather lose with this Belgian team than win with this French team . (Source The Guardian Online)

-The Man of the Match for today:

France’s Samuel Umtiti (France 1-Belgium 0)

2018 World Cup 2018 matches:

Tuesday, July 10, 2018:

Semi Finals:

July 10, 2018 (Saint Petersburg, France 0-Belgium 0)

Date: July 10, 2018

Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup-Semi Finals

Result: France 1-Belgium 0

Venue: Saint Petersburg– Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia         

Attendance: 64,286

Referee: Andres Cunha (Uruguay)

Linesmen: Nicolas Taran and Mauricio Espinosa (both Uruguay), Cesar Ramos (Mexico, fourth official)

Kick-off time:

Goalscorers:

(France): Samuel Umtiti 51

(Belgium): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (51^st minute, France):  A corner from Griezmann on the right side was headed in by Umtiti.

Lineups:

France:

1- Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)
2- Benjamin Pavard (Verein für Bewegungspiele Stuttgart 1893 e.V. / Germany)

5- Samuel Umtiti (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)
4- Raphäel Varane (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol / Spain)
21- Lucas Hernández (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain)
6- Paul Pogba (Manchester United Football Club / England)
13- N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)
14- Blase Matuidi (Juventus Football Club-Torino / Italy) (12- Corentin Tolisso (Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. / Germany)  86^th)

10- Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)

9- Olivier Giroud (Chelsea Football Club-London / England) (15- Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla Fútbol Club / Spain) 85^th)

7- Antoine Griezmann (Club Atlético de Madrid / Spain)

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Booked: Ngolo Kanté 87, Kylian Mbappé 90+2

Other Substitutes:

23- Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)
16- Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)

11- Ousmane Dembelé (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)

18- Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais)

3- Presnel Kimpembé (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)
22- Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City Football Club / England)
17- Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille)
19- Djibril Sidibé (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club)

8- Thomas Lemar (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club)
20- Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille)

Team Captain: Hugo Lloris

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Nike

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks

Belgium:

1- Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)
2- Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)
4- Vincent Kompany (Manchester City Football Club / England)
5- Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England)

22- Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion Football Club / England) (21- Michy Batshuayi (Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund 1909 e.V. / Germany) 90+1^st)

6- Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian Football Club / China)
7- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City Football Club / England)
19- Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England) (14- Dries Mertens (Societa Sportiva Calcio Napoli / Italy) 60^th)

8- Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United Football Club / England)  (11- Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yfang Football Club / China) 80^th)

10- Eden Hazard (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)

9- Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United Football Club / England)

Coach: Roberto Martínez Montoliu (Spain)

Booked: Eden Hazard 63, Toby Alderweireld 71, Jan Vertonghen 90+3

Other Substitutes:

15- Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club / France) (suspended)

13- Koen Casteels (Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH / Germany)
12- Simon Mignolet (Liverpool Football Club / England)

3- Thomas Vermaelen (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)

17- Youri Tielemans (Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club / France)

20- Dedryck Boyata (Celtic Football Club-Glasgow / Scotland)

23- Leander Dendoncker (Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht Brussels)
16- Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach / Germany)
18- Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad de Fútbol-San Sebastian / Spain)

Team Captain: Eden Hazard

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks

Man of the Match: Samuel Umtiti (France)