France, a World Cup champion that stood above it all in Russia
For the 2nd time in its history, for the 1st time in 20 years, France is champion of the world
They waited until it was over, until the fireworks shot into the sky and the rain soaked them to the skin, until that glistening trophy was safe in their hands and golden confetti sparkled in their hair.
Only then, once France's players knew they had emerged triumphant from a World Cup of chaos & abandon, a tournament that defied expectation and prediction, did they succumb to the wild spirit of the past month and do the one thing they, and they alone, had managed to avoid.
At the end, after the end, the French finally lost control. Even at the final whistle, their 4-2 victory over Croatia confirmed, they had retained the sense of order that has set them apart from all of their opponents, their peers and rivals, in Russia.
Belgium seal 3rd spot and best finish after 2-0 win against England
Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup 3rd-place playoff on Saturday (July 14) to secure their best ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate’s side home with a 2nd straight loss.
A 4th-minute goal from Thomas Meunier and an 82nd-minute Eden Hazard strike earned Belgium the victory and 3rd place, which improved on their previous best performance of 4th in 1986.
“It’s all about that achievement. I think these players deserve that,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said.
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Final, Luzhniki Stadium Moscow 15 Jul 2018 - 18:00 Local time
Croatia are competing in their first-ever FIFA World Cup Final
France are chasing a second world crown after 1998
How they got here: CRO 2-1 ENG | FRA 1-0 BEL
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France vs Croatia, World Cup 2018 final
What are the latest odds?
- France - Evens
- Croatia - 2/1
Croatia, once again, were very impressive in their win over England, finding another gear to outclass Gareth Southgate's side. But this World Cup looks destined to be heading to France, with Mbappe continuing to impress on the biggest stage.
- France 2 Croatia 0
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World Cup 2018 schedule
The 2018 World Cup is nearly at an end.
We've reached the final after two dramatic semi-final match-ups. France are there after seeing off Belgium in a nervy last four clash in St Petersburg and they will play Croatia after Mario Mandzukic's goal sent England home empty handed.
The final will take place in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday June 15.
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Belgium outclass England in 3rd-place play-off to clinch best-ever World Cup finish
The English nation has spent 3 days imagining what it might have been like to play a World Cup final, and then over 90 minutes in this Saturday in Fifa’s glorified friendly for 3rd place, wondering if that lost final could have been a chastening experience for a young team.
After 56 days, two friendlies, seven World Cup games, and 12 goals Southgate and his squad will board their plane for Birmingham on Sunday lunchtime having suffered two straight defeats that gave them a fair idea of where they stand in world football. Against Belgium, they were permitted more of the ball before being punished by the the irresistible counter-attacking of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne who never had to hit top gear.
The ringcraft of Croatia in the semi-final, then the big beasts of the Belgian golden generation, both of whom have qualities that Gareth Southgate’s side will have to learn in time for Qatar 2022. Whether there are potentially English players of the standard of the two leading lights in the Belgium side is by no means certain but Southgate’s XI, average age 25, were at least two years behind their more experienced opponents.
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The Top 18 moments of the 2018 World Cup
The beauty of World Cup moments, and really of soccer moments as a genre, is their scarcity. Soccer is a game of physical and tactical struggle, often misinterpreted as monotony. A game of slow builds, often coming undone, engraved into history as slow teases.
And then BOOM - The moment arrives, its orgasmic release unique, its instant excitement unrivaled. The slow teases – the scarcity – have made it so. Toni Kroos’ free kick, for example, was so incredible, so intoxicating, because at least nine times out of 10 it doesn’t find the back of the net. Same goes for Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcos Rojo. At least nine times out of 10, their teams’ attacking forays had fizzled out. And decades of soccer watching had told us the most likely scenario was that they would keep fizzling out, until a shrill whistle mercifully screamed no more.
That’s why the 2018 World Cup has been so special. Moments have been unusually plentiful. Put up against history, though, each has been no less exhilarating; no less memorable.
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LESSONS OF RUSSIA WORLD CUP
THE World Cup which is the most prestigious football tournament in the world as well as the most widely viewed and followed sporting event is now in full swing in different cities of Russia. From 1930 in Uruguay and after every four years since then, except during the Second World War (1938-45). Events during the World Cup finals held in different countries have produced joy and happiness (and sometimes sorrow) to millions of people, young and old, around the world.
One of the biggest attractions of the competition is that of bringing together in one country players, officials and spectators from big, small, rich and poor countries which have different political outlooks, cultures, customs and traditions to join hands in the spirit of sportsmanship. The World Cup also provides many lessons to the players, officials and spectators, whether they watch the games at the stadiums or live on television and other networks to learn from this beautiful and attractive competition.
There is no argument that soccer has for years proved beyond reasonable doubt to possess the power to bring people from all corners of the world together to celebrate good times, upsets and triumphs. It has even helped to reduce political tension between countries whose leaders were not ready to sit together and talk of their differences. Moreover, this tournament has over the years helped different ways to remind people the world over that no race, colour or religion is superior in the sports arena.
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Final match schedule for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar
Following a dazzling Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the final tournament match schedule has been published on FIFA.com.
Given the compact nature of Qatar, event organisers were able to assign, for the first time ever, group stage games to a stadium and kick-off time for each matchday after the final draw, optimising the match schedule for the benefit and comfort of spectators, teams, media and the global audience.
Fans will have another chance to apply for FIFA World Cup tickets during the next random selection draw sales period, which will launch on FIFA.com/tickets on Tuesday, 5 April at 11:00 CET (12:00 Doha time).
2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar
From 20 November to 18 December 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of FIFA's member associations. The 22nd FIFA World Cup is taking place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022; it is the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world and Muslim world, and the second held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. France are the defending champions, having defeated Croatia 4–2 in the 2018 final. At an estimated cost of over $220 billion, it is the most expensive World Cup ever held; this figure is disputed by Qatari officials, including organising CEO Nasser Al Khater, who said the true cost is $8 billion, and other figures relate to overall infrastructure development since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar in 2010.
This tournament is set to be the last with 32 participating teams, with the field to increase to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. To avoid the extremes of Qatar's hot climate, this World Cup is being held during November and December. It is being played in a reduced timeframe of 29 days with 64 matches to be played in eight venues across five cities. The Qatar national football team entered the event automatically, their first World Cup, alongside 31 teams who were determined by the qualification process. Qatar lost all three group matches; they became the first hosts to lose every game, the earliest host nation eliminated, and the second host (after South Africa in 2010) not to progress past the first stage.
In the first round of the tournament finals, the teams competed in eight round-robin groups of four teams for points, with the top two teams in each group proceeding. These 16 teams advanced to the knockout stage, where three rounds of play to decide which teams would participate in the final, which will be held on 18 December 2022 at Lusail Stadium, coinciding with Qatar's National Day.
The choice to host the World Cup in Qatar has been a source of controversy due to Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women, and its position on LGBT rights as well as Qatar's climate, lack of a strong football culture, scheduling changes, and allegations of bribery for hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption.
FIFA World Cup 2018
From 14 June to 15 July 2018
They waited until it was over, until the fireworks shot into the sky and the rain soaked them to the skin, until that glistening trophy was safe in their hands and golden confetti sparkled in their hair.
Only then, once France's players knew they had emerged triumphant from a World Cup of chaos & abandon, a tournament that defied expectation and prediction, did they succumb to the wild spirit of the past month and do the one thing they, and they alone, had managed to avoid.
At the end, after the end, the French finally lost control. Even at the final whistle, their 4-2 victory over Croatia confirmed, they had retained the sense of order that has set them apart from all of their opponents, their peers and rivals, in Russia. For the 2nd time in its history, for the 1st time in 20 years, France is champion of the world
2014 FIFA World Cup
From 12 June to 13 July 2014
The 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's football tournament that is currently taking place in Brazil. It began on 12 June, with a group stage, and is scheduled to conclude with the final on 13 July 2014. It is the second time that Brazil has hosted the competition, the last one being in 1950. Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall.
The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches are being played in 12 cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums. For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches are using goal-line technology, as well seeing the use of vanishing spray for free kicks.
With the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930 (Argentina, England, France, Germany, Italy,Spain and Uruguay) have qualified for this competition. Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the2010 World Cup final to win its first World title. The previous four World Cups staged in South America were all won by South American teams.
Singapore Aims For 2034 World Cup
Football Association of Singapore’s VP Says World Cup 2034 Is “Realistic”
Back in 2001, ESM Goh Chok Tong delivered a speech at the launch of the new Tiger Beer sponsorship for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). He announced that the FAS had taken up his challenge of bringing the team to the World Cup by 2010.
The ambitious endeavour was named Goal 2010. Unfortunately in 2010, Singapore lost to the Saudis in the World Cup qualifiers and Goal 2010 was no more.
This year, the ambition is renewed. Senior Minister of State for Health and Law, as well as Vice President of FAS, Edwin Tong, told The Straits Times in an interview that he has hopes for The Lions to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2034.
