And with that, I’m out of here. We are another day closer to the World Cup semi-finals, which this time tomorrow will be just a couple of hours away. And if that’s all we’ve achieved today, at least it’s something. Bye! Oh, and here’s a quiz!
Here’s Reuters on that Hugo Lloris press conference. Fireworks it ain’t.
Captain Hugo Lloris feels France are ready for the challenge of taking on a Belgium outfit who “know how to do everything” in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final.
Lloris said at a pre-match press conference: “They are an exhaustive team, they know how to do everything. I think the Belgian team is the most exhaustive team in all aspects of the game during this tournament - they are strong everywhere. They have everything they need to be a great team and and they are a great team.
“It is a fantastic generation and in order to beat them we will have to play a great match.
“We know there are going to be difficult moments, and we’ll have to be ready to suffer. But we will be ready because we have an extremely good state of mind, and it is the semi-finals in the World Cup. It is an opportunity in our careers and we have to grab it with both hands.”
Let’s get quizzical:
“In the 2006 final, Cannavaro and Zidane were captains,” writes Olivier. “Both were Real Madrid players at the date of the final, although Cannavaro had just joined 9 days before from Juventus, and Zidane retired the next day.”
Not so, though: Zidane had announced his retirement in April 2006, and official retired as the final whitle sounded. That was on 9 July 2006, and Real announced the arrival of Cannavaro on 19 July. Close, but it doesn’t count.
@Simon_Burnton if France plays England in the final, both captains will be Spurs players - you know if that’s ever happened before both captains coming from the same club? #WorldCup
— Political Footballs (@politicalftball) July 9, 2018
Nothing springs to mind, but having said that I have been liveblogging a rest day at the World Cup for most of the last seven and a half hours, so my mind is a little addled.
Domagoj Vida, the Croatia defender, appears to have got away with the “glory to Ukraine” video that was posted online after his team’s victory over Russia in the quarter-finals. His partner in crime, Ognjen Vukojevic, has not been so lucky. This from the Press Association:
Croatia’s Football Federation (HNS) sacked Ognjen Vukojevic, a member of the national team’s coaching staff, over a “glory to Ukraine” video posted after Croatia beat Russia in the World Cup quarter-finals, HNS said in a statement on Monday.
Vukojevic and Croatia defender Domagoj Vida published the video on social media after the match on Saturday, which was criticised by Russian politicians and led to a warning from FIFA’s disciplinary committee.
Relations between Ukraine and World Cup hosts Russia remain fraught after the latter’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and its backing for a pro-Russian uprising in the east of the country.
HNS said it has revoked Vukojevic’s team accreditation at the World Cup and relieved him of his duties as an observer for the Croatia squad.
“HNS hereby apologises to the Russian public for the actions of a member of the Croatian delegation,” it said.
It said that Vukojevic and Vida also apologised for their statements, saying they were not intended to be political messages but “unfortunately left room for such interpretations”.
Both Vukojevic and the 29-year-old Vida previously played for Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev.
Deschamps is asked for his thoughts about Russia’s team. He’s not impressed:
Are you sure you asked me that question? Do I really have to talk about Russia? I don’t really see the point. Let’s move on.
He’s asked about Belgium’s tactical tweaking against Brazil, and whether he’s expecting more surprises tomorrow:
My team will be ready for different scenarios, different formations. This Belgium team didn’t get here by chance, they played a great game against Brazil with a very specific gameplan. Will they do something similar against us? Well, probably.
When they get the ball, this Belgium team is really able to perform. They attack very well and very fast. I have made sure my players are prepared for any scenario, with different formations at the beginning of the match or during the match if it changes.
Didier Deschamps is talking now, about facing a team he knows very well:
We know them, they know us. The peculiarity is that there are many players on my team who have club team-mates facing them. It’s an advantage to both teams. During the match everyone will be on their own side, and we will do everything to seize any opportunity to reach the final of the World Cup.
Hugo Lloris has just eulogised Raphael Varane, “a great player and a great person”. Which brings us to this:
In occasional England international news, Jack Wilshere has signed for West Ham, agreeing a three-year contract.
Our new midfielder has arrived... #WelcomeJack pic.twitter.com/kPd7hm4YxZ
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) July 9, 2018
Here’s Hugo Lloris on Thierry Henry, Belgium coach:
I played with him for two seasons in the French team, and he was a great player. It is true it is a little peculiar to see him with the Belgium team, but that is his career and that’s how he’s building his future. I think his heart will be split tomorrow, because before everything he is French. He has lived through great moments in the blue jersey. He scored the most goals, is second in terms of number of caps. We know him, he has a lot of passion for football and he will be with the Belgians and will give everything to help his team.
Lloris is asked about Belgium’s team:
There will be a lot of great players on the pitch tomorrow. So it is bound to be a great match, a high-level match, and we will have to raise our level again to keep up the standards we set in the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
The France press conference has begun, with Hugo Lloris being asked about the stadium in St Petersburg.
It’s a magnificent stadium. We have a good memory of our match here in March when we played Russia. I think it’s a magnificent stadium for a fantastic match, like the World Cup semi-final. And it’s with great honour and pride that we will represent our country at this event.
The Uruguay team have just arrived in Montevideo following their elimination from the World Cup in the quarter-finals.
BONG! It’s World Cup Fiver o’clock!
Birthday boy Ashley Young has been speaking to the press today. I’m sure a full report will be over shortly, but from the snippets sneaking through on the wires it seems he’s been going big on negatives:
We have put ourselves in a great position to go on and win it. I said before the start of the tournament, ‘We’re not going out there not to win the World Cup.’
Croatia are a very good team. They are not in the semi-final for no reason. We have got to be prepared for them.
Right, Simon is fed and refreshed and ready to go again. But I’ll leave you with something that I missed in the BBC’s coverage of the England match on Saturday. As a fan of The National’s earlier work, I very much enjoyed this. Bye.
The BBC montage of the Colombia shootout soundtracked by @TheNational they showed before the game yesterday is easily one of the best things I've ever seen. Goosebumps. 🏴🏴🏴 pic.twitter.com/P7LcAuywSq
— Joe Bone (@josefbone) July 8, 2018
Updated
Richard Williams is a firm believer that great World Cup sides of the past have been built around ego-free forwards – and in Raheem Sterling, England have got a cunning attacker who is utterly irreplaceable.
If the World Cup has taken over your life like an algorithm at a social media behemoth, then you may have missed some transfer news. But never fear, Niall McVeigh is here to fill you in on the crucial moves that have passed you by.
If you fancy watching England v Croatia on a giant screen at Hyde Park with 29,999 others on Wednesday then you may want to enter this ballot here. “The game in Moscow, will be screened at 7pm on our enormous Great Oak Stage and will mark the biggest London screening of a football match since 1996!” cheer organisers. The top right corner off the website says tickets are on sale at 2pm but in the statement it says 4pm. So, either way, pretty soon.
On the subject of World Cup managers who haven’t had club careers comparable to that of Luis Enrique’s, Paul Wilson has written a lovely feature on Roberto Martínez and Gareth Southgate, who have proved more at home amid the intensity of a short World Cup campaign than a Premier League slog. And did you know that Martínez still lives on the outskirts of Wigan? I didn’t. Well, not until I read this piece any way.
Hello, Gregg here. Right, back to the news that Luis Enrique has taken the Spain job. The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has said that their new coach turned down better paid roles to take on the challenge of reinvigorating the national team. At first glance, it seems somewhat of a coup but then this World Cup has shown that managers who haven’t had stellar club careers can do just as well as those who have.
Right, I’m going to pop away for a bit of luncheon. Gregg Bakowski will fill in. I leave you with an email: “Has anyone else noticed the parallels between Gareth’s boys and the all conquering England Rugby team of 2003?” wonders Duncan Watanabe. “Both teams, while perhaps not as pleasing to the eye as other sides, are/were extremely well-prepared, well-organised and well-drilled with new set play ideas and a well mannered hero who you can always depend on to slam home the penalties!”
The BBC are showing the 1990 World Cup semi-final between England and West Germany in full online at the moment (if you’re in the UK you can watch it here). The most striking thing about what I’ve seen of it so far (the second half has just got under way) is the prevalence of the back-pass as an easy way of getting out of defensive difficulties.
News just in: this sad-looking bear thinks Belgium are going to beat France, based on it doing something it didn’t understand.
Official: Luis Enrique is the new coach of Spain:
🚨 OFICIAL | @LUISENRIQUE21, nuevo seleccionador de la @SeFutbol#BienvenidoLuisEnrique pic.twitter.com/DuPcxVPyDI
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) July 9, 2018
This, meanwhile, was the half-time entertainment at Xolos Tijuana in Mexico on Saturday, midway through a friendly against the Costa Rican side Herediano. It’s a “Neymar Challenge”, in which participants compete to see who can roll along the ground the greatest distance while screaming in pain (courtesy of FourFourTwo).
It’s all happening in Spain, where a new head coach is expected to be announced this afternoon. This from Reuters:
The Spanish Football Federation has appointed Jose Francisco Molina as Spain’s new sporting director but it has delayed naming a new national team coach until after it holds a board meeting later on Monday.
The new head coach of Spain’s national team needed to be a person of strong character, President of Spain’s Football Federation Luis Rubiales said during a press conference.
“What we are looking for is an undeniable leader in the dressing room, who sets a pattern and that no one deviates from that pattern, and that is the selection of the future we have devised,” Rubiales said, adding that an official announcement would be made this afternoon.
Local media reported earlier on Monday that former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be the next national team coach.
Updated
It must feel absolutely bizarre to be Gareth Southgate at the moment.
A relaxed looking Gareth Southgate arrives at the media centre in Repino ahead of England’s World Cup semi-final #ENG #WorldCup #Southgate pic.twitter.com/pcSYiFMvxz
— Michael Clarke (@michaelclarke_) July 9, 2018
England have held a behind-closed-doors training session, and are declaring that everybody is fit and well, though as we’ve discovered there is always the possibility that this is just disinformation, and in fact England’s last two fit players went to the cinema.
All 23 members of the #ThreeLions squad trained in Zelenogorsk today. 👍 pic.twitter.com/VjE6hNiUUZ
— England (@England) July 9, 2018
This just in from the Corrigan Brothers, the people behind the Irish No24 hit, There’s No One as Irish as Barack Obama:
The Irish band the Corrigan Brothers from Limerick are celebrating a fellow Limierck Man in song. The brothers who have played President Obama’s inauguration and charted all over the world with their multi million youtube hit “There’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama” are celebrating Limerick’s Harry Kane and have released “There’s no one as Irish as Harry Kane”. Ger Corrigan, lead singer with the band said: ‘We heard that Harry’s Grandmother Theresa Fitzgerald is from Caherline in Limerick and we felt we had to celebrate Harry. He is not the best striker that Limerick has ever produced, he is second to Des Kennedy, our Limerick Legend, the man who couldn’t stop scoring against Real Madrid in our great European Cup Campaign in 1980.’ The Corrigan Brothers look forward to performing the song for Harry when he brings the Golden Boot home to Limerick.
Twelve years ago today:
“While I don’t think that Mark Geiger of USA was baised, his performance in England vs Colombia wasn’t very assured,” writes Mike MacKenzie in Canada. “I’m surprised that he wasn’t sent home, especially with 12 refs still on hand.” I have to agree with this. I’d still be extremely surprised to see him back on the pitch in this tournament.
So there are still 12 referees, and only four games left for them to officiate. The only referee to have taken charge of a knock-out game who has subsequently been sent home is Damir Skomina, whose officiating of Sweden 1-0 Switzerland obviously displeased somebody.
Fifa have taken the pruning sheers to their referees’ list, and these are the officials that are still on it:
AFC: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
CAF: Malang Niedhiou (SEN)
CONCACAF: Mark Geiger (USA); Cesar Arturo Ramos Palazuelos (MEX)
CONMEBOL: Andres Cunha (URU); Nestor Pitana (ARG); Sandro Ricci (BRA)
OFC: Matthew Conger (NZL)
UEFA: Cuneyt Cakir (TUR); Bjorn Kuipers (NED); Milorad Mazic (SRB); Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Video Assistant Referees
CONMEBOL: Wilton Sampaio (BRA); Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
UEFA: Bastian Dankert (GER); Artur Dias Soares (POR); Pawel Gil (POL), Massimiliano Irrati (ITA); Danny Makkelie (NED); Daniele Orsato (ITA); Paolo Valeri (ITA); Felix Zwayer (GER)
And here’s Luka Modric on England, in which he refuses to tell us an interesting story about Harry Kane. “Harry was young and just coming up,” Modric said about his time at Tottenham. “He was always a hard worker. I actually remember one story about him but I will keep it to myself.”
Here’s a piece on Jordan Henderson:
Jordan Henderson limped away from the Samara Arena on Saturday evening offering up a few optimistic soundbites as he went. “It doesn’t feel too bad,” was swiftly followed up with “hopefully it’ll be fine”. But it says everything about the impact the Liverpool midfielder has made in Russia that the admission he had overstretched an already tight hamstring late on in the victory against Sweden instantly spread a sense of dread among his audience. Henderson, a figure who has rather divided opinion over the years, is established as this team’s heartbeat.
More here:
Updated
Colombia’s team doctor has admitted he lied about James Rodriguez’s injury, and says such misinformation is “part of the game”. I report this without judgement: I think he’s right, and in a similar position would say pretty much anything that seemed useful:
Colombia team doctor Carlos Ulloa admits the media were given the wrong information about James Rodriguez's injury - among many others - at the World Cup: "We had to misinform [the press] because that's part of the game."https://t.co/rEKClCHZJM
— Carl Worswick (@cworswick) July 9, 2018
On the subject of Russian cuisine, here’s a mouthwatering picture of Barney Ronay’s breakfast buffet yesterday:
Interesting breakfast choices in Samara. On this occasion, neigh pic.twitter.com/zQFSDVPkrR
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 8, 2018
In the absence of actual football to report on, Reuters have sent over a piece about Russian food:
Many soccer fans knew little or nothing about Russian cuisine before the World Cup, but have tucked into local gastronomy with relish, trying everything from luxurious caviar to staples like veal tongue.
Russian food is often thought of as bland and heavy, and indeed many dishes seem geared towards getting people through the gruelling winter rather than amusing their palates.
But 28 year-old Egyptian Ahmed Morsy has made it a point of trying a new Russian dish every day. Meat-filled pelmeni dumplings and Beef stroganoff rank among his favourites.
“I love it, honestly. It’s better than I expected. I don’t like spicy food myself so for me it was perfect,” said Morsy as he perused a restaurant menu in the sweltering southern city of Volgograd.
“The whole country has exceeded my expectations. I had never been to Russia before, I thought the people would be grumpy and the country not that organised,” he said.
Indeed, most fans have been impressed by Russians - some in remote or industrial towns where tourists rarely tread - bending over backwards to help, dispelling preconceptions and spreading an upbeat atmosphere.
“I thought Russian food might be weird. I haven’t found it weird. But I do prefer the Uzbek and Azerbaijani barbecue,” said Morsy’s university pal Mamdooh El Eleila, 29, who ordered Kiev chicken, a fillet that is either fried or baked.
Indeed, food from nearby countries - particularly spicier Georgian cuisine - has been particularly popular with fans looking for a little more piquancy in their plates. Caviar bars and vodka cocktails have also been prized.
Still, some fans from countries like India and Mexico, renowned for their succulent spicy fare, have not been impressed.
“The flavours here are quite salty. And of course we miss chili,” said Ricardo Garcia, a 32 year-old programmer decked out in the green Mexican football jersey.
“We brought hot sauce with us from Mexico but we forgot it in our last hostel and now were suffering a little. We found some ketchup with chili in a supermarket and that helps a little, but it’s not the same.”
His pal Heriberto Gonzalez, however, was far more upbeat. “There are some soups that any Mexican mothers could prepare! Borscht, for example, because they use the potato in a very similar way. Of course, there’s a little bitter Russian flavour to it,” said Gonzalez, a 37 year-old who works in marketing.
“But if I wanted Mexican food, I would have stayed in Mexico!”
Some fans, however, have found temporary refuge in their own cuisine - like Egyptian physics student Ahmed Nasr, who was queuing for a shawarma.
But he said local waiters and chefs had also prodded him - via Google Translate - to try local fares including Russian lamb and buckwheat.
“I was at a buffet and the staff encouraged me to try Russian food. I liked it. I did not even know what they ate in Russia,” said Nasr, 31, who lives in Canada.
“In Canada we have Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern food, but I’ve never seen Russian. Maybe I will look for a Russian restaurant - hopefully I can find one!” he laughed.
And also, potentially vital celebratory pile-up training. Every base covered:
“Getting exciting, isn’t it!” writes Will Hargreaves. Well, I’d say it was exciting from the beginning, but has now become tense and nervous and a little bit surreal. “That acknowledged, I don’t think that Snr Martinez has actually wet himself. I think that striding across the middle of the sprinkler avoids this occurrence. Another piece of tactical genius from the Belgium leader.”
Well, perhaps. I thought perhaps he’d misjudged it, as one of two streams of water coming out of the sprinkler appeared to end in his groinal area. Here, though, is something else that the Belgians have been working on in training: ball-levitation:
This article in the New York Times about the bizarre circus that is the World Cup press conference is very good.
@Simon_Burnton Hi Simon. What's the status on FIFA investigation into Domagoj Vida's "Glory to Ukraine" remarks after the QF? Will he play? #WorldCup #CROENG
— Finndian (@finndian_guy) July 9, 2018
There will be no ban, so long as he doesn’t repeat the offence: Fifa yesterday said their disciplinary committee had “sent a warning to the player Domagoj Vida due to his video statement following the 2018 Fifa World Cup match between Russia and Croatia”, which is as far as they are going to go for now.
Belgium have been training already today, a session in which Roberto Martinez appears to have quite deliberately wet himself.
There’s not a lot of official World Cup activity scheduled today, but this is what I’ve got (all times BST):
1.30pm England “media opportunity”. I don’t know if this is a full-blown press conference or simply a game of darts.
2.45pm France will hold a press conference in St Petersburg, featuring Didier Deschamps and Hugo Lloris.
4pm Croatia hold a press conference in Moscow.
5pm Belgium hold a press conference in St Petersburg, with Roberto Martinez and Kevin de Bruyne involved.
Andy Perkins has come up with perhaps the definitive response to Naaman’s earlier call for a proposed list of England penalty takers: “My five penalty takers for England. Kane, Rashford/Vardy, Trippier, Young, Maguire with his head.”
England’s official twitter account has recycled some old photos to mark Ashley Young’s birthday. They’d probably have liked to do something a bit more special, but are busy baking.
We have a birthday in the #ThreeLions camp! Many happy returns to @youngy18, who turns 33 today. 🎂 pic.twitter.com/DLCz61b7k6
— England (@England) July 9, 2018
Though while the World Cup was on there was also this giant cake and near-lifesize chocolate Messi:
The World Cup cake bar was raised just a few days ago, when someone at Croatia’s team hotel baked this for Dejan Lovren:
🎂🎉🎁
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 5, 2018
Happy birthday to Dejan Lovren - we wish him all the best, including more celebrations during the upcoming days!#BeProud #FlamingPride #Family #WorldCup #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/denUaXY1go
It is Ashley Young’s birthday today. I wonder what’s planned for him at the England camp. An awkward cake-cutting photo opportunity at the very least, I’d wager.
Happy birthday @Youngy18! Have a brilliant day! 🎊🎉 pic.twitter.com/zFcpFkc4ew
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 9, 2018
I notice the Wikipedia page on Winchester has been updated to reflect someone’s strange fantasy that emerged from the fact that Ousmane Dembélé started a Football Manager game as manager of Winchester FC during this World Cup:
Winchester has Winchester City F.C. who currently play in the Southern League and Winchester Castle F.C., who have played in the Hampshire League since 1971. The local Saturday football league, the Winchester & District League, folded in 2010. After France’s crushing victory over England in the 2018 World Cup Final (10-0), Ousmane Dembele was appointed manager, with the intention of bringing a Southern American atmosphere to the club.
Hello world! Simon Burnton here, taking over for the next, well, while. I start with more news on Belgium’s team quiz. This is a pretty hard photo round, in my opinion. How many faces can you put names to?
👤 Yesterday's Photo Round 🌍⚽️
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 9, 2018
📷 Can you name these guys ? 🤔😉#REDTOGETHER #WorldCup#FRABEL pic.twitter.com/tX31arWHKN
And with that, I’ll be handing over to my colleague Simon Burnton. Thanks for reading along, roasting managers, and joining me as we wait for the football to start (but hopefully, never end).
Goalkeeping kit disaster! George Garrett writes: “Disaster! Forget the white, the tweet said YELLOW goalkeeper shirts. Which is what Paul Robinson was wearing when Gary Neville’s pass-back bobbled over his foot in Zagreb in 2006 and what Scott Carson was wearing when Steve McClaren wanted shelter from the rain a year later. Terrible omen!”
The Guardian’s own Priya Ramesh has also made this point, and far better than I have.
Also a lot of intelligence and composure. And technical ability. And superb movement. https://t.co/02Cf0lmcUB
— Priya Ramesh (@Priya8Ramesh) July 6, 2018
It’s not news that black players are always analysed and described in the vocabulary of brawn a little more than brain. But it remains something to keep an eye on, in my opinion.
Romelu Lukaku is smart. We need to talking about it more. Too often the analysis boils down to the cliches of power and pace, but the evidence is before us.
Belgium's winner against Japan was so special I had to develop a new feature - to focus on Lukaku's beautiful movement. He doesn't even touch the ball, but he's the most important part of the play #BEL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AbekI1QL0y
— Last Row (@lastrowview) July 4, 2018
Watch Lukaku's run. Drags the defender inside to create space for Meunier and then dummies it brilliantly for Chadli. Brilliant work. pic.twitter.com/RKseQLdX7q
— Jake. (@YedIin) July 2, 2018
That run really is a thing of beauty, and a lesson in intelligence, quick wit and movement. In Russia, the Belgian striker has consistently excelled in his build-up play. It’s been a tournament for appreciating strikers’ off-the-ball work – Giroud, Griezemann, Firmino etc. – and it’s time Lukaku got the acclaim too. He’s nabbed the goals, made the runs and his passing, especially to De Bruyne for that lethal stab against Brazil, has been spot on.
I’ve just been informed that Round 4 of the Belgian team’s trivia night is probably about past goals of the tournament. Answer no.3, Saeed Al-Owairan, is remembered for this effort from USA 1994.
Could the question have been about best goals scored against Belgium?
In a spot of non-World Cup transfer news, Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped what seems to be another hint at the Juventus transfer rumours swirling around.
It would be somehow perfect if Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus was first confirmed by his own underwear website pic.twitter.com/cTwi6czadc
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) July 7, 2018
Also Paulinho’s headed back to Guangzhou Evergrande after a fairly successful season at Barcelona. Ok.
Updated
Ok some tactics. This is required reading for any England fan. A breakdown of that super-effective, Lincoln City-inspired corner routine that brought Maguire’s opener against Sweden.
Ok, let's do a quick analysis of what England do to create space for the Maguire goal.
— Nikos Overheul (@noverheul) July 7, 2018
Sterling, Maguire and Kane are the ones to watch here. Maguire and Kane are being marked by Ekdal (#8) and Krafth (#16). You'll notice the centre is very crowded. pic.twitter.com/zK35LbD5FZ
— Nikos Overheul (@noverheul) July 7, 2018
Kane and Maguire have moved around Sterling and his marker. Sterling and his defender are now cutting off access to Kane/Maguire. #8 and #16 have already lost England's most dangerous men. pic.twitter.com/hUKKBJb8Cj
— Nikos Overheul (@noverheul) July 7, 2018
Click through for the rest!
The Belgian team are playing trivia. I 100%, unironically would love to watch that.
⚽️🏟🌍👨🎓
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 9, 2018
We Quiz #REDTOGETHER ! 😆#WorldCup#FRABEL pic.twitter.com/dKune81ftV
You can see the answers in the fourth photo, from which I am trying to reverse-engineer the questions. Round 1: Name all the Germans who scored in the 7-1 defeat of Brazil? Round 3: Which stadiums and cities hosted the 2010 and 1998 finals?
Can anyone else shed some light?
Updated
Step forward José Pékerman – or rather, don’t. KevBod has a great shout for the Colombian coach as Worst Dressed Manager.
Far out, this is spot on. Look at this unflattering photo I picked out from the exit to England. He looks like a toy soldier stuck on a hotplate – plastic all pooling down to his feet.
More roasts:
Sampaoli owns a tanning salon in Macclesfield, drives an Audi A3 with £16k finance outstanding and stands at the bar in Yates's Wine Lodge drinking Czech lager FACT.
Not only was Jogi Löw poorly dressed, but in a bit of a follow-up to his Euro 2016 scratch-and-sniff antics, this year he could be seen very slyly picking his nose and eating the 'treasure', seemingly not realising he was on camera being watched by millions of people around the world. Lesson most definitely not learnt.
Crucial kit news. Sound the klaxon, England will face Croatia in all-white.
Confirmed: the #ThreeLions will be in all-white for our #WorldCup semi-final. ⚪️ https://t.co/rbVvUmCxfU
— England (@England) July 8, 2018
I’m seeing a mixed response in the replies. The dreamers say it’s a good omen – England wore white in the semi in 1966, then went and won the thing in red.
Wore white in the 66 semi final - believe.
— Adam Williams (@adstfc88) July 8, 2018
But the away strip has the stats behind it. England are on an eight-year unbeaten streak in red, with 9 wins and 8 draws since losing to Germany in South Africa. Folks this is gonna decide it all!
Ah Tony06, I’m with you there. I guarantee I haven’t forgotten Aliou Cissé. Still my pick for the coolest manager, gutted that he and his team went home so early, and definitely a sex symbol. He trumps Sir Gareth for style icon in my opinion.
Memories are short. Remember that before Southgate-mania swept the UK, it was generally agreed that the coolest manager was Senegal's Aliou Cissé. With his dreadlocks, unique body language, being the only black manager at the World Cup.... he was even asked about being a sex symbol at a press conference, for goodness' sake!
Its very hard to pull off a v neck on a guy... got to be young and pretty with a nice flat chest for it to look elegant rather than naff..
She said yes! Congrats Bozza and Sara.
YESSSSSSSSSSS.... Love and Miss You so much our Bozman... Enjoy the remainder of the World Cup then Hurry Home to Us xoxo @TheRealBozza pic.twitter.com/tzXBZo48Jf
— Sara Jones (@Ssjo_xoxo) July 9, 2018
Thank you beautifuls....have a gr8 rest of the day..love you all.xmb
— Mark Bosnich (@TheRealBozza) July 9, 2018
This video is up there with the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Did she have to @ him with an answer? Smh
— Sal (@sfava_) July 9, 2018
Here’s today’s plan for Belgium:
📆 9/7 #BEL
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 9, 2018
09:30 🍞🥛
10:45 ⚽️
13:00 🍽
14:00 🚌🛫➡️ #StPetersburg
19:00 🏟️🗣 @DeBruyneKev & coach
20:00 🍽
20:30 🏥🎲🃏
23:30 🛌#REDTOGETHER #WorldCup#BRABEL
I don’t quite get the activity listed for 8.30 though. Physio, games and squad bonding? Any suggestions?
Updated
Oi everyone in the comments – fewer Brexit jokes and more submissions for Worst Dressed Manager please. Here’s the man to beat:
Jorge Sampaoli has tattoo sleeves. Of course he does. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/yYxxu0nUeU
— Kevin Blundell (@kevin_blundell) June 21, 2018
And if you’re into the 28 club curse... Then don’t pick: Ashley Young (32), Gary Cahill (32), Jamie Vardy (31), Fabian Delph (28), Kyle Walker (28) or Danny Rose, who turned 28 just last Monday. At 19, Trent Alexander-Arnold is the youngest in the squad. Give him a go Gareth!
The 28 club and Jordan Henderson. I’ve seen this stat doing the rounds, that the only England player to miss a penalty against Colombia was over 28. Kane (24), Rashford (20), Trippier (27) and Dier (24) all put them away – unburdened via youth of England’s past penalty horror. Hendo, who just turned 28 on the 17th of June, had a pretty good effort saved.
This is just a roundabout way of asking – if it comes down to it again – who do you want taking the penalties? Send me through your first 5.
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It will be a special game for Eden Hazard, tomorrow against France.
— Kristof Terreur 📰 (@HLNinEngeland) July 9, 2018
🗣 “I grew up with 1998. We were maybe more France fans than Belgium at the time.” (beIN)#cfc #bel #fra #worldcup pic.twitter.com/zBVFo4XKJg
Yep, what a World Cup.
This is a summer that people will still be talking about when your kids kids are old.
Full sun everyday, decent heat, a wonderful football tournament.... and it all just crept up on us.
Just glad that Brazil, Germany and Spain cannot win again. World football needs a new champion or at least a team that has not won for a long time. France won in '98 so I would be happy to see England, Croatia or Belgium win.
It’s fair to say hopes are high for Belgium v France. Neighbours, rivals, two fantastically talented attacking squads. And in the middle of it all, Thierry Henry. His influence on this Belgium team has given an already mouthwatering clash extra spice.
Henry’s presence on Belgium’s bench for their semi-final against France on Tuesday has prompted no shortage of comment from Les Bleus. “It’s bizarre,” Didier Deschamps told Téléfoot. Olivier Giroud was more forthright. “I would be proud to show Titi that he chose the wrong camp.”
He’s got no goals, but Giroud could Guivarc’h (I’m using it as a verb) France past Belgium and beyond, writes Stuart James.
While Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann enjoy the limelight Giroud is quietly going about his business, out of the race for the Golden Boot but well in the running for a World Cup winner’s medal. Left out of the starting XI for the opening game, Giroud has selflessly played the role of target man since, giving Mbappé and Griezmann the freedom to flourish.
Here’s how England’s players are spending their rest days. I have the exact same set up going now in the Guardian’s Sydney office.
Me and Mike Hytner are recreating this as we speak.
Belgium to win it all, England to lose the final, and France and Croatia out in the semis. Well that’s what the latest power rankings say. Read on:
Nakul Bhagwat writes in with the first email. And it’s a cracker. “Long time reader, first time writer,” he begins. “Sir Gareth seems to be the consensus choice for best dressed manager at this year’s World Cup. Who was the worst dressed? My nomination is Jorge Sampaoli with his slightly too tight t-shirts, which (fittingly) seemed to be buckling under the pressure.”
Great pick, Nakul. I’ll say Joachim Löw. Eight years ago, I thought his wavy fringe and European v-neck were a breath of fresh air. But there was something about this year’s number, a thin blue t-shirt, that seemed to be tight in all the wrong places.
And yes, the comments were off there for about 20 minutes, but they’re back now! Sound off below the line – who can take Sampaoli’s ill-fitting crown?
Er...congratulations Bozza? Mark Bosnich, who is now plying his trade as a pundit for Fox Sports Australia, has just proposed to his partner. Via selfie cam. From Russia. With the wind all rattling in the speaker. Hope she says yes.
Good evening/morning..this is a special birthday wish to my beautiful partner Sara..wish I was there..and a special request..love you.xmb pic.twitter.com/GDZ52bWsqB
— Mark Bosnich (@TheRealBozza) July 8, 2018
Spain news: Luis Enrique is the national team’s new manager. It’s in all the papers and leading all the radio bulletins. It will be officially announced, by bigwig Luis Rubiales no doubt, later today. But it looks a done deal.
The former Barcelona coach will be appointed permanently now that Fernando Hierro’s rather unsuccessful caretaker stint is over. Enrique, who won the 2015 Champions League with that fearsome trident of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, has been on sabbatical since he left the Nou Camp in May last year.
🗞️ [MARCA cover] | "THE NEW [IS] LUIS"
— BarcaTimes (@BarcaTimes) July 8, 2018
✅ Today the replacement of Hierro will be known.
✅ Michel, Quique and Victor, other options contemplated by the RFEF or Herro deviated from the Federation yesterday. pic.twitter.com/3Vzn8zZSXd
Preamble
In the eighth episode of the Simpsons’s fourth season (New Kid on the Block), Bart falls in love. Stay with me here. He’s so happy when Laura Powers, the object of his affection, touches his hand that he doesn’t wash it for days, trying to prolong that moment for as long as he can.
Well this is my attempt – in vain of course – to do the same for this World Cup. I’ll say it. I don’t want it to end. If it would give us another week, another round, I’d never wash these liveblogging fingers again.
But it doesn’t work like that. We are rocketing towards the end, everything converging inwards. The absolute tragedy of competition is this horrible exponential sense of footballing decay. Four matches left. How? After Saturday, one.
So I’m grateful, more than you can believe, for today. This blog is another day to discuss, theorise, to imagine all those classic clashes-in-waiting before the reality hits – of a grim 0-0 in one, a match-ending Mario Mandžukić deflection in the other, and the end.
This might only be a rest day, but that’s another day when this isn’t over yet. England are already in dreamland. Croatia and Belgium? They are too. Let’s try and stay there, at least a little while longer.
Email me at naaman.zhou@theguardian.com, and tweet me at @naamanzhou. Or as always, comment below the line. Let’s keep this going.
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On the subject of worst dressed manager - while Sampaoli is an obvious choice, he could have got away with it with around 2 stone less girth and a permanent demeanour of "shit, I've left the gas on at home" didn't help either (might partly explain why the team played like startled rabbits as well) . I'd vote for Pekerman - absolutely fine until you look at his feet (not with a suit for goodness sake man!).