World Cup 2018 Updates: Recent Episodes
Channel Africa
France won the World Cup for the second time by ending battling Croatia's dream of a first title with a 4-2 victory last night in one of the most entertaining and action-packed finals for decades. France led 2-1 at halftime after a Mario Mandzukic own goal and an Antoine Griezmann VAR penalty, with Ivan Perisic briefly bringing first-time finalists Croatia level. Quickfire strikes by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe midway through the second half put France on course for the title. The victory means that Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 side, becomes the third man to win the World Cup as player and coach after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer. Deschamps speaking through an interpreter says it really beatiful.
Belgian defender Thomas Meunier says they are hugely disappointed at failing to take their chances against France in the semi finals to get into the World Cup final, but says they will now have to shake off their disappointment and focus on finishing third. Meunier says its hard to play for the third place
Croatia beat England in the semi finals held yesterday making it qualify for the finals of the tournament for the first time. Mosibudi Makhura ahs the report.
"It's coming home" This is the chant of English football fans, a reference to the country's only World Cup victory back in 1966. The intervening years are known as "years of hurt". Currently there have been 52 years of hurt, but for many, England's progress through this tournament has created expectations that were not there just a few weeks ago and hopes are now full of victory against Croatia and beyond. 17 of the England squad were not even born for England's last semi final appearance against West Germany in 1990, which they lost on penalties. Now England fans are beginning to dream of reaching the World Cup final.
England manager Gareth Southgate believes his team are "nowhere near" the level they will be capable of reaching in the future, he said this ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Croatia later on Wednesday night. Southgate says England's dramatic improvement since Euro 2016, which ended with a humiliating defeat by Iceland in the last 16, was down to the FA's backing. England have reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990. Southgate says that although England had made history in the manner in which they had progressed, success in this tournament would mean a lot back home
Channel Africa soccer fanatics looking at the FIFA 2018 World Cup. Were there any surprises in the last 16? In the studio to discuss the tournament is Luyanda Maome moderating the discussion, sports editor Thabiso Ntema, Kiswahili executive producer Michael Arareng, and the French service executive producer Jacques Kouakou.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez says his team's concentration would be key in their semi-final encounter with France tonight and that the tactical adventure he used against Brazil in the quarter-finals was no guarantee to secure a win
Belgium's defender, Thomas Vermaelen, is confident of victory against France in todqay's 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Saint Petersburg. Their splendid performance in this year's global showpiece in Russia, has led the team to believe that they can go all the way. It's only the second time in World Cup history that Belgium managed to reach the last four. They finished fourth in 1986. Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen says reaching the semi-final is a big achievement
Croatia ended Russia's unlikely World Cup dream when they won 4-3 on penalties to eliminate the gallant hosts when a dramatic quarter-final ended 2-ALL after extra time in Sochi at the weekend. Ivan Rakitic scored the winning penalty to send Croatia into a semi-final clash against England. It was a night of unremitting tension, with Russia, 70th in the FIFA rankings, again defying the odds to take the 20th ranked Croatia to a shootout. Russia had already surpassed expectations by reaching the last eight, and brushing aside Spain on their way. Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov says his team exceeded all expectations to get to the quarter-finals.
The 2018 World Cup quarter-finals are here and they kick off in mouth-watering fashion as Uruguay meet France this afternoon. The South Americans have been defensively well organized all tournament but also had their attacking chemistry at play in the 2-1 win against Portugal, with Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez linking to devastating effect up front. This threat will not be lost on the French who need to tighten up a defence that leaked three goals against Argentina in the last round. But if Kylian Mbappe is on the same scintillating form in attack, Uruguay's formidable backline will have plenty on its plate too. Suarez says he knows that France also possess plenty of threat.
England national team captain Harry Kane says the team grew up as a team during their penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the World Cup last 16 last night. Kane scored England's goal from the spot in the 1-1 draw, before netting again in the shootout in Moscow as Gareth Southgate's side progressed to the quarter-final in dramatic style. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says he had done his research on Colombia and that his "power and agility" helped save Carlos Bacca's penalty in a nail-biting shootout victory
Former Russia international and Manchester United playmaker, Andrei Kanchelskis, says Russia are not as good a side as their World Cup progress makes them look. The host are in the quarter finals despite being the lowest ranked team involved at this tournament
Former England striker Alan Shearer has described Neymar as "absolutely pathetic" after his antics in Brazil's World Cup last 16 win over Mexico. The Paris Saint-Germain star scored the opener and set up Roberto Firmino's second to put Tite's side into the quarter-finals against Belgium. But after Miguel Layun appeared to step on Neymar's foot, he began to roll around, writhing in agony, which infuriated Shearer.
Channel Africa soccer fanatics looking at the FIFA 2018 World Cup. Neymar and Brazil on the radar. Which team do they favor to win the tournament? In the studio is Luyanda Maome moderating the discussion, sports editor Thabiso Ntema, Kiswahili executive producer Michael Arareng, and online editor Tshepo Tsheole.
England manager Gareth Southgate says his team have the chance to write their own stories now. This he said on the eve of their World Cup last-16 match against Colombia at Moscow's Spartak Stadium tonight. Southgate says they are all rearing to go and write their own story
Brazil head coach Tite says the secret to his side's success is how well balanced they are. Addressing reporters in the aftermath of the Selecao's 2-0 victory over Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup, the former Corinthians boss praised his players for maintaining their form from the group stage. Tite speaking through an interpreter says they are not suprised to win remembering the 2014 quarterfinal painful exit to Germany.
Brazil superstar Neymar brushed off his critics after firing the five-time World Cup winners to victory over Mexico on Monday and into a quarter-final showdown with Belgium. Neymar scored one goal and created another as his increasingly impressive Brazil side overpowered the Mexicans 2-0 in sweltering conditions. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio lamented afterwards, saying Neymar's antics had wasted precious time. Neymar reeacts through an interpreter.
The bottom half of the draw has only Sweden and England who've appeared in World Cup finals before, both of them more than half a century ago. Today's matches should be easy for the bookies, but so far results have been anything but predictable. Brazil have something to prove in a tough clash with Mexico. They've been hot and cold this tournament, and Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has said he hopes Neymar's drama will be watched carefully.
Russia have knocked the former champions Spain out of the football World Cup in a significant upset. After a tie at 1-all the match went to extra time and penalties. The BBC's Warren Bull has more.
Japan's qualification has left a bitter taste amongst some supporters, especially those supporting Senegal. Japan's Samurai's Blues were criticized for running down the clock for the last 20 minutes, despite being a goal down against Poland, to make sure they avoided getting any yellow cards. Unless Senegal scored, they knew they would go through. Some fans say they abandoned their spirit of playing hard until the end, no matter what. But the fact is Africa's teams have no-one to blame but themselves for their failures in Russia. Former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba says it's time for CAF to take a long hard look at how the game is run
Belgium and England coaches stood by their decisions to rest key players in their World Cup encounter last night to determine first and second place in the group. Belgium won 1-0 meaning they will play Japan in the first knock out match, while England will face off against Colombia. Belgium coach Roberto MartÃnez
Today is the final day of the group stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The maths is simple today. But the soccer world is still reeling from the unexpected elimination of defending champions Germany yesterday. As Brazilian fans sang about the Germans going home, their own fans at the stadium admitted afterwards the team just played really, really badly. Many German fans weren't too surprised, because the Germans have looked off in the last year. They've lost all their friendlies against big names, they seemed overconfident and stubborn, and lacked the attacking unity that once turned them into a scoring machine. BBC pundit and former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba agrees with the fans.
This evening, Group E is a little easier to work out. Costa Rica are out, and they play Switzerland, who are on 4 points alongside Brazil. Brazil play Serbia, so those two teams need only draws to go through. A draw would only be good enough for Serbia if Switzerland lose by more than a goal. Brazil's fans have turned the streets of Moscow into a carnival.
A relieved Lionel Messi says he didn't expect to suffer so much against Nigeria, but that he and his Argentina team mates were always confident about winning the crucial World Cup clash that secured them a place in the last 16. The Barcelona forward opened the scoring with a fine goal in the dramatic 2-1 win over Nigeria that sent the South Americans through to the knockout stages behind Croatia in Group D. Messi, who turned 31 this week, said Nigeria's 2-0 win over Iceland on Friday had been a boon for his side. Nigeria's coach Gernot Rorh said he was proud of his side and believed they will be a stronger team in four years' time.
Nigeria National football team coach Gernot Rohr says they have no sympathy for the struggles of Argentina striker Lionel Messi at the World Cup and will do everything they can to bring his tournament to a premature end when the teams meet in St Petersburg tonight. Rohr says their focus is their game
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz reacted angrily after a 1 all draw with Portugal on Monday doomed his team to elimination from the World Cup, saying they had deserved to win.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup final group matches take place simultaneously today. Russia and Uruguay will play off for top spot, but in the late games, Portugal, Spain and Iran can all still qualify for the last 16. African hopes have been pinned on Senegal, because even though Nigeria are still in it, they need at least a point from Argentina to stay in the frame. Senegal could have booked their place yesterday, but had to settle for a 2-all draw against Japan. They are 4 points each, but Colombia have three after their win over Poland. So Senegal's last match against the South Americans on Thursday is probably effectively a play-off. A point would still be good enough, so the Senegal fans are still riding the waves
In this update, Nigeria match against Iceland, Rugby update and expected sanction on ball tempering in Cricket
Neymar's readiness for today's match, Sepp Blatter's reasons for attending World Cup matches, and Springbok's success against England
Seppe Blatter has met with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Also in this bulletin is the next matches this evening and Springbok's final test against England.
English football officials are trying to identify a group of men, apparently England fans, who were videoed making nazi salutes and anti-semitic comments in Russia. There has been backlash on Twitter with English fans condemning the inciden Also in this update - treatment of handshakes in Tennis games, and views on Messi's captaincy at World Cup.
Morocco is about to face Portugal in their second match of the World Cup. Also in the show is the sports tribunal that is about to be established.
Former Manchester United and Australia keeper Mark Bosnich says Spain should accept the occasional error from goalkeeper David De Gea because he produces saves others cannot make. And Senegal became the first African team to register points and win a game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup when they beat Poland 2-1 at the Spartak Moscow stadium in Moscow, Russia last night. The win sees the Teranga Lions tied on three points with Japan after the Asians shocked Colombia 2-1 in a game that was played on the same day. An own goal and Mbaye Niang's strike secured the much needed three points for Senegal. Velile Mbuli was at the match venue and got the traveling fans' reacting to the result.
African teams have another two chances to get on the board at the 2018 FIFA World Cup today. Senegal and Egypt are in action, hoping to change the fortunes of a continent whose teams have lost all their games in the first five days of the tournament.Today sees the first set of group matches wrapped up, with Group H starting off with Colombia against Japan.
The twenty-first edition of the largest football tournament in the world, the FIFA World Cup, kicked off in Russia a few days ago. Five of the thirty-two nations taking part in the tournament are from Africa - all of which have a large Muslim population. As Ramadan - an obligatory fasting - was about to end around the world, the BBC's Is'haq Khalid traveled to the northern Nigerian city of Kano to find out what it was like for Muslim footballers to play while observing the fast
The team owner of the feisty Limpopo grannies soccer team Vakhegula Vakhegula, Beka Ntsa'nwisi, says she ensures that all players have an opportunity to participate in international competitions - including the world cup in Russia. Vakhegula - Vakhegula have jetted off to Russia on Sunday where they will play in a veterans league championship. Ntsa'nwisi says they will also be hosting a friendly match with a team from France later this year
Iceland's dream World Cup debut may have gotten them a point against two-time champions Argentina, but Aron Gunnarsson and his team mates are already putting that result behind them as they move on to the challenge of Nigeria. Also in this update - hockey and cricket.
The World Cup football tournament has officially kicked off in Moscow in Russia Thursday 14 June 2018, and over the next month, thirty-two countries will compete in the big event expected to draw around half a million visitors to the 11 cities hosting the different matches. The opening of the tournament coincided with the marking of Russia's national day, celebrated at the Russian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Channel Africa's Jenine Coetzer attended the celebrations and caught up with the Russian Federation's Ambassador Mikhail Petrakov, to hear more about the day and FIFA-sentiments back home..
What do the fans say about the match between Uruguay and Egypt? Also in this update is the mystery surrounding the prize payment of the Russian athlete at the just ended Comrades Marathon.
Russia demolishes Saudi Arabia 5-0 in a match watched by the heads of state of the two countries. In this update - ICC women championship in Canterbury, England.
Among the items is the report on the World Cup from Russia and an update on the Rugby test match.
Listen to the views on the expectation of African teams at Russia 2018 soccer World Cup.
Among the stories is the 2026 World Cup host results and views on preparedness of African teams for 2018 World Cup in Russia. SABC Sport