Spain vs Morocco [2:2] - Spain clinch late equaliser to top Group B by the skin of their teeth against valiant Morocco as VAR controversy reigns

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOD28WwPEGfL3hCt_Mve6fng1_CO3clkH0iNr6rWHT9bMqUFlUVW2-b8xmHeIh4FDQJ3MpV994UIhcuLuVVnOkeHo60irhR7qMQed7tVuPJpJV5Cbm3rkOhaMXEOjrnlZYC5WrCazt0qB/s1600/spain-vs-morocco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOD28WwPEGfL3hCt_Mve6fng1_CO3clkH0iNr6rWHT9bMqUFlUVW2-b8xmHeIh4FDQJ3MpV994UIhcuLuVVnOkeHo60irhR7qMQed7tVuPJpJV5Cbm3rkOhaMXEOjrnlZYC5WrCazt0qB/s640/spain-vs-morocco.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spain clinch late equaliser to top Group B</td></tr> </tbody></table> As this match entered added time, Spain were staring into the abyss. Their ongoing participation in the 2018 World Cup had slipped out of their hands and they were reliant only on their great rivals, Portugal, continuing to frustrate Iran.<br /> <br /> Seven extraordinary minutes later and, after a back-heeled volley, a major Video Assistant Referee controversy, several scuffles and a mini pitch-invasion, they were somehow into the last 16 as Group B winners.<br /> <br /> Fernando Hierro’s team were ultimately rescued here by Iago Aspas’s wonderfully improvised finish but, with his goal having initially been ruled out for offside and then narrowly reinstated by the VAR, but all the late drama still papered over some quite alarming cracks.<br /> <br /> It also provoked fury from within the Morocco squad. They had been within grasp of one of their most famous ever wins and, amid angry pitchside exchanges between members of the respective backroom teams, Hierro later stressed that his coaches had not requested the use of technology. Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat still could not contain his frustration, mouthing the words, “VAR is b-------” into a camera as he left the pitch.<br /> <br /> Morocco forward Aziz Bouhaddouz also again brought up the defeat against Portugal, arguing that his team had “no luck” and bluntly describing the refereeing as “s---”.<br /> <br /> It was easy to sympathise with Morocco’s disappointment after three matches in which one point did not do justice to their performances, even if the technology here did eventually ensure the correct decision. Indeed, while the possession statistics will confirm that Spain were their typically dominant selves on the ball, the real story of the match was their quite shocking defensive vulnerability.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Russia await at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday and, if the hosts can organise themselves effectively, they certainly have the counter-attacking qualities to seriously trouble the 2010 champions. With Sergio Ramos especially poor – and involved in a terrible mix-up for the first and then beaten aerially for Youssef En-Nesyri’s brilliantly headed goal – this was a match that Liverpool fans would certainly have enjoyed.<br /> <br /> It was noticeable that Hierro repeatedly refused to comment on the individual performance of any of his defenders. “Personal grades are for in-house,” said Hierro. “We need to look at the silver lining but we have to be self-critical. To concede five goals in three games is not the way forward. We were lucky. If other teams score so easily, it will be very difficult to reach our goal.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The whistles that had earlier rung at around Kaliningrad from the moment Spain kicked off told you everything about the supporter imbalance. While Moroccans made up most of the crowd, blue empty seats also comfortably outnumbered the 1,000 or so Spain fans in this most western corner of Russia.<br /> <br /> Spain’s starting team was still vastly experienced. Five of their 10 outfield players had already won more than 100 caps and yet there was a curious edginess about their approach. Gerard Pique, who would also have a torrid evening, soon dived in with an inexplicably wild challenge on Morocco striker Khalid Boutaib that could very easily have provoked a straight red.<br /> <br /> Ramos and Andres Iniesta, who have collectively played 285 times for Spain, then combined to make an error straight out of a video of parks-football bloopers. Both decided to leave the ball and, with only a loud touchline scream of “One of you!” missing from a scene straight off Hackney Marshes, Boutaib gratefully surged clear on David de Gea’s goal and side-footed his finish between the Manchester United goalkeeper’s legs.<br /> <br /> The goal did provoke rather more urgency from Spain. Iniesta soon combined delightfully with Isco and, after an exchange of passes, quite effortlessly nudged the ball back into the Real Madrid midfielder’s path to equalise.<br /> <br /> Spain almost immediately fell back to sleep. A simple long throw was all it took to then again release Boutaib but De Gea this time managed to block the subsequent shot for what was his first actual save of the World Cup.<br /> <br /> Morocco’s tally of four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes told you everything about how much they wanted to win and they maintained their threat at the start of the second half. Amrabat spectacularly beat De Gea with a powerful strike but it just did not quite curl back sufficiently and smashed off the inside angle of post and bar.<br /> <br /> Hakim Ziyech claimed a penalty when his volley bounced off Pique’s arm and, from Faycal Fajr’s resulting corner, En-Nesyri rose above Ramos to head Morocco into the lead. The drama had not ended. A desperate last gasp injury-time cross came in for Aspas, who improvised wonderfully to back-heel his finish past goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui.<br /> <br /> The offside flag went up. VAR intervened.<br /> <br /> News then filtered through that Portugal had also been held and it is somehow Spain who will face Russia in Moscow this Sunday. <br /> <br /> <br />  source: Telegraph.co.uk

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Featured FIFA World Cup Group B Morocco football team Portugal vs Spain Russia vs Egypt Spain Football Team Spain vs Morocco Sports Spain vs Morocco [2:2] - Spain clinch late equaliser to top Group B by the skin of their teeth against valiant Morocco as VAR controversy reigns

Spain clinch late equaliser to top Group B As this match entered added time, Spain were staring into the abyss. Their ongoing participat...

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Russia vs Egypt (3:1) final score, recap: Hosts dominate again at World Cup as Mohamed Salah, Pharaohs fall

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRuRWLOocKTGbcIymO4_kGjvwNUB3MR3Sx8Ytlz3K5ec5d-994T1gPF7Kytjrrm34zShuSss_5KDyu842s6cRUFmz9aHQ4jzLyiXsIW4woRdsFlJ-PGMeBNxpqGlKsFjURVLD-psl1T2-/s1600/Russia-vs-Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRuRWLOocKTGbcIymO4_kGjvwNUB3MR3Sx8Ytlz3K5ec5d-994T1gPF7Kytjrrm34zShuSss_5KDyu842s6cRUFmz9aHQ4jzLyiXsIW4woRdsFlJ-PGMeBNxpqGlKsFjURVLD-psl1T2-/s640/Russia-vs-Egypt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia vs Egypt (3:1) final score</td></tr> </tbody></table> Mohamed Salah scored, but Russia scored the first three to move to six points<br /> Russia has taken six points from six at the World Cup. After crushing Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener, they beat Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday to put themselves on the brink of qualifying for the round of 16.<br /> <br /> Russia didn't score until the second half but had three goals in 16 minutes to put the Pharaohs away. Egypt got a late penalty kick goal from Mohamed Salah, but it was over by then.<br /> <br /> Russia made it 1-0 in the 47th minute on the tournament's fifth own goal, one shy of tying the all-time record set in 1998:<br /> This is a big result. It means Russia is through if as long as Saudi Arabia doesn't win against Uruguay on Wednesday. As for Egypt, they have all but secured a ticket out of Russia after the group stage.<br /> <br /> Up next for Russia is a game against Uruguay, which will likely be for placement in the knockouts. Egypt likely closes out their tournament in their next match, which comes against Saudi Arabia. You can watch both games, which start at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.<br /> <br /> credit: CBS Sports<br /> <br /> <br />

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Egypt vs Uruguay 0-1 Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Group Stage Morocco vs Iran Moscow Portugal vs Spain Russia vs Saudi Arabia 5-0 Sports Russia vs Egypt (3:1) final score, recap: Hosts dominate again at World Cup as Mohamed Salah, Pharaohs fall

Russia vs Egypt (3:1) final score Mohamed Salah scored, but Russia scored the first three to move to six points Russia has taken six po...

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FIFA World Cup 2018 Heartbreak for Egypt as Uruguay Heads in 1-0 Winner

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGKrBnqrL5uh2xw1aBftj5WfMZ-bXGOzrPNVLC_11o1lnRZTvpHA3NN1FcP6zZeVAWI55P15qm7Bx2h-dmt9Y9Im_ViaVnYXg-WIcuDQNuv6zeTHxmeNiDhmAKmMLGlqtrA8_zq4gDUMm/s1600/Egypt+vs+Uruguay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="720" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGKrBnqrL5uh2xw1aBftj5WfMZ-bXGOzrPNVLC_11o1lnRZTvpHA3NN1FcP6zZeVAWI55P15qm7Bx2h-dmt9Y9Im_ViaVnYXg-WIcuDQNuv6zeTHxmeNiDhmAKmMLGlqtrA8_zq4gDUMm/s640/Egypt+vs+Uruguay.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egypt vs Uruguay [0:1] - Jose Gimenez's late strike goal</td></tr> </tbody></table> Uruguay snatched a late winner as they began their World Cup campaign with a dramatic victory over Egypt, who left Mohamed Salah on the bench.<br /> <br /> It took nearly 90 minutes, but Uruguay finally got a goal and defeated a stubborn Egypt team, 1-0, in Ekaterinburg on Friday. A header off a free kick by defender Jose Maria Giminez was the difference after Uruguay’s bigger stars, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, squandered several chances.<br /> <br /> Egypt played without its own star, Mohamed Salah, who was nursing a shoulder injury yet had been expected to play.<br /> <br /> Jose Gimenez headed powerfully into the net in the 90th minute as he met Carlos Sanchez's free-kick to give the South Americans a winning start in Russia.<br /> <br /> Uruguay had been the better side as Luis Suarez had missed four chances and Edinson Cavani had hit the inside of a post with a 25-yard free-kick.<br /> <br /> Salah, who scored 44 times for Liverpool this season, remained an unused substitute as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in last month's Champions League final.<br /> <br /> Without Salah, Egypt lacked a cutting edge and had looked on course to earn a point in their first match at a World Cup finals since 1990 before Gimenez's late goal.<br /> <br /> The result means Russia are top of Group A after their 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the tournament's opening game on Thursday.<br /> <br /> credit: BBC

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Egypt vs Uruguay 0-1 Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Group Stage Morocco vs Iran Moscow Portugal vs Spain Russia vs Saudi Arabia 5-0 Sports FIFA World Cup 2018 Heartbreak for Egypt as Uruguay Heads in 1-0 Winner

Egypt vs Uruguay [0:1] - Jose Gimenez's late strike goal Uruguay snatched a late winner as they began their World Cup campaign with ...

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Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0, in FIFA World Cup 2018 opening game

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieysNBgcaOuQCKCpn4Rs9VCLmuXEILZ-B26gMRxZzktN006NH_qo2LAAqa6r5mBxtINwYjxQO4PfSyL2Rzu7L4t6YB9KBq9vh5ZyjOdJjSElYxn-nAzOuiyumf82qo3uNGmjAa93qy6vVE/s1600/russia+in+fifa+cup+2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieysNBgcaOuQCKCpn4Rs9VCLmuXEILZ-B26gMRxZzktN006NH_qo2LAAqa6r5mBxtINwYjxQO4PfSyL2Rzu7L4t6YB9KBq9vh5ZyjOdJjSElYxn-nAzOuiyumf82qo3uNGmjAa93qy6vVE/s640/russia+in+fifa+cup+2018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0, in FIFA World Cup 2018</td></tr> </tbody></table> Russia President Vladimir Putin gave a speech in Russian welcoming the crowd and opening up the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup.<br /> Russia comprehensively thrashed Saudi Arabia, 5-0, in the opening game of its home World Cup. Yuri Gazinsky scored on a header 12 minutes in, and afterward Saudi Arabia could offer little resistance.<br /> <br /> <h2> Russia vs Saudi Arabia All Goals:</h2> <h3>     Artem Dzyuba (71')<br />    Denis Cheryshev (43', 90' +1)<br />    Iury Gazinsky (12')<br />    Aleksandr Golovin (90' +4)</h3> <br /> Russia’s second, third and fourth goals were all by substitutes: one by Artem Dzyuba and two by Denis Cheryshev. With time running out, Aleksandr Golovin got a fifth goal on a free kick, past a badly tired Saudi defense.<br /> <br /> Saudi Arabia, a team whose players are virtually all based in their obscure home league, offered an air of mystery. But that was before the game. It became clear very quickly that they were no match for a Russian team that itself has not been a worldbeater in recent years.<br /> <br /> [Need some help? Here’s a breakdown of all 32 teams.]<br /> <br /> Gazinsky’s header foiled the Saudi plan to work the counterattack, and the team seldom got the ball even deep into Russia’s territory after that. Russia itself took over the counterattacking and found the goal at its mercy time and time again.<br /> <br /> More troubling to Russia was an apparent hamstring injury to midfielder Alan Dzagoev. But that did allow the team to bring in Cheryshev, who duly scored moments later.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Even at halftime, the Saudis looked broken, and it did not get better. Dzyuba scored on another header, likewise just after entering the game, then Cheryshev added his second in the 90th minute.<br /> Continue reading the main story<br /> <br /> If that late goal seemed unfair to the Saudis, it got worse a moment later when Goliovin added No. 5 on a free kick in injury time.<br /> <br /> “I think that a poor performance explains the result,” said Saudi Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi, adding, perhaps unnecessarily, “As for our strategy, we must change.”<br /> <br /> It was the perfect start for the host nation, although its remaining group games, against Egypt and Uruguay, will be much sterner challenges.<br /> <br /> “Egypt will be a different game, city and stadium,” said Manager Stanislav Cherchesov. “We need to meticulously prepare ourselves.”<br /> <br /> As for Saudi Arabia, if it manages even a 2-0 loss, say, in its remaining games, it will seem like an impressive accomplishment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Iury Gazinsky header is first goal of Russia 2018<br /> Denis Cheryshev doubles the lead just before the break<br /> Artem Dzyuba scores moments after his introduction in the second half<br /> <br /> Joy and pain<br /> The extremes of emotion the World Cup can yield have been on display here in Moscow. Russia will be on a massive high, while Saudi Arabia may struggle to recover from this stunning defeat.<br /> <br /> <br /> credit: nytimes<br /> <div> <br /></div>

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Egypt vs Uruguay Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Group Stage Morocco vs Iran Moscow Portugal vs Spain Russia vs Saudi Arabia 5-0 Sports Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0, in FIFA World Cup 2018 opening game

Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0, in FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia President Vladimir Putin gave a speech in Russian welcoming the crowd an...

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Two days to 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, squads officially confirmed and where to watch

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDqFlOumUjBTuONT6ge4RPkdGE3JQWWn_-2ERq6rZqqL1FMOE0O_aBmx6WGcwblV_teJm4eoUyKTqNww0HBWuj_HVF7yaq5iL1osuvkNRoLH7fCg8VcVRztr4R6yNeh1oiKfrh0wtrRgb/s1600/fifa_world_cup2018-1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDqFlOumUjBTuONT6ge4RPkdGE3JQWWn_-2ERq6rZqqL1FMOE0O_aBmx6WGcwblV_teJm4eoUyKTqNww0HBWuj_HVF7yaq5iL1osuvkNRoLH7fCg8VcVRztr4R6yNeh1oiKfrh0wtrRgb/s640/fifa_world_cup2018-1280x720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Group Stage</td></tr> </tbody></table> 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ just two days away, the full squads for all <b><a href="https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF" target="_blank">32 teams can finally be confirmed</a></b> as anticipation for kick off cranks up another notch.<br /> <br /> The announcement of the 23-man lists confirms the sporting dreams of 736 players, who will all head to the 21st edition of the finals, which are set to kick-off when hosts Russia face Saudi Arabia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday 14 June.<br /> <br /> From Argentina No1 Nahuel Guzman, through to Martin Silva, Uruguay’s No23, you can take in each and every player set to touch down on Russian soil, and the numbers they will be wearing when they take to the field.<br /> <br /> Nine of Germany’s squad are returning champions, having lifted the title in Brazil 2014, meanwhile 16 of the host side will be enjoying their first experience of going to a global final<br /> <h2> <a href="https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF" target="_blank">FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ List of Players</a></h2> <h2> Thu, Jun. 14 11:00 AM - Russia vs. Saudi Arabia - FOX<br />Fri, Jun. 15 8:00 AM - Egypt vs. Uruguay - FS1<br />Fri, Jun. 15 11:00 AM - Morocco vs. Iran - FOX<br />Fri, Jun. 15 2:00 PM - Portugal vs. Spain - FOX<br />Sat, Jun. 16 6:00 AM - France vs. Australia - FS1<br />Sat, Jun. 16 9:00 AM - Argentina vs. Iceland - FOX<br />Sat, Jun. 16 12:00 PM - Peru vs. Denmark - FS1<br />Sat, Jun. 16 3:00 PM - Croatia vs. Nigeria - FS1<br />Sun, Jun. 17 8:00 AM - Costa Rica vs. Serbia - FOX<br />Sun, Jun. 17 11:00 AM - Germany vs. Mexico - FS1<br />Sun, Jun. 17 2:00 PM - Brazil vs. Switzerland - FS1<br />Mon, Jun. 18 8:00 AM - Sweden vs. Korea Republic - FS1<br />Mon, Jun. 18 11:00 AM - Belgium vs. Panama - FS1<br />Mon, Jun. 18 2:00 PM - Tunisia vs. England - FS1<br />Tue, Jun. 19 8:00 AM - Colombia vs. Japan - FS1<br />Tue, Jun. 19 11:00 AM - Poland vs. Senegal - FOX<br />Tue, Jun. 19 2:00 PM - Russia vs. Egypt - FOX<br />Wed, Jun. 20 8:00 AM - Portugal vs. Morocco - FS1<br />Wed, Jun. 20 11:00 AM - Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia - FOX<br />Wed, Jun. 20 2:00 PM - Iran vs. Spain - FOX<br />Thu, Jun. 21 8:00 AM - Denmark vs. Australia - FS1<br />Thu, Jun. 21 11:00 AM - France vs. Peru - FOX<br />Thu, Jun. 21 2:00 PM - Argentina vs. Croatia - FOX<br />Fri, Jun. 22 8:00 AM - Brazil vs. Costa Rica - FS1<br />Fri, Jun. 22 11:00 AM - Nigeria vs. Iceland - FOX<br />Fri, Jun. 22 2:00 PM - Serbia vs. Switzerland - FOX<br />Sat, Jun. 23 8:00 AM - Belgium vs. Tunisia - FOX<br />Sat, Jun. 23 11:00 AM - Korea Republic vs. Mexico - FOX<br />Sat, Jun. 23 2:00 PM - Germany vs. Sweden - FOX<br />Sun, Jun. 24 8:00 AM - England vs. Panama - FS1<br />Sun, Jun. 24 11:00 AM - Japan vs. Senegal - FOX<br />Sun, Jun. 24 2:00 PM - Poland vs. Colombia - FOX</h2> <div> <br /></div>

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Croatia vs Nigeria Egypt vs Uruguay Featured FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Group Stage Germany vs Mexico Moscow Portugal vs Spain Russia vs Saudi Arabia Sports Two days to 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, squads officially confirmed and where to watch

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Group Stage 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ just two days away, the full squads for all 32 teams can finally be ...

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