FIFA World Cup 2018: Brazil under test in campaign opener against Switzerland
June 17, 2018 12:01 ISTThe Brazilians travel to Russia following a convincing 3-0 victory against Austria a week ago as Neymar banished any doubts about the injury.
The Brazilians travel to Russia following a convincing 3-0 victory against Austria a week ago as Neymar banished any doubts about the injury.
For Oscar Ramirez-coached Costa Rica, the aim in this World Cup is to improve on their best performance of a quarter-final which they achieved in 2014.
Salah injured his left shoulder in the Champions League final last month, putting his World Cup in doubt. He was an unused substitute in Egypt's 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
Messi denied that the draw would affect the team in its next Group D contest on Thursday against Croatia.
Croatia now lead Group D with three points and next play Argentina on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod. Nigeria will take on Iceland a day later in Volgograd.
The victory gave Denmark a crucial advantage in Group C, in which France defeated Australia 2-1 earlier in the day.
The small Nordic island nation's team created several first-half chances despite having only 22 per cent possession and pushed back Argentina's waves of second-half attacks.
It's the ideal start for France, whose ambition is to finish at the top of a group that also includes Peru and Denmark.
The world champion's problem this year has been getting all of its talent to work together on the field, and Germany has just one win in its last six friendly games, 2-1 over Saudi Arabia last week.
De Gea had a blunder late in the first half that allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to score the second of his three goals on a relatively basic shot.
It was tough luck for Egypt in the first match of the group stage against Uruguay as the Mohamed Salah-less team couldn't find a decent target on goal and late winner by Gimenez sealed their fate.
Rodrygo, 17, has scored five goals in nine appearances for Santos in Brazil's Serie A.
Suarez was booed by thousands of Egyptian fans from the start of the match, he replied with a visible effort, only to lose the ball in promising situations of the match.
Peru appeared in the FIFA World Cup for the last time in 1982 and in their comeback match, they will face Denmark who are also making a comeback after missing out on the 2014 edition.
Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986 when the legendary Diego Maradona single-handedly carried them to the title.
France lost the Euro 2016 final and reached the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals under head coach Didier Deschamps, have a squad crammed with individual talents this time.
Harbhajan Singh will be seen cheering for star striker Lionel Messi when Argentina start their FIFA World Cup 2018 campaign, facing Iceland on Saturday.
Neymar said on Friday that his focus was not on individual glory, but on leading Brazil to victory in the World Cup in Russia.
Barcelona superstar is "very thrilled with the possibility of starting a new tournament that puts him in a suitable place," Sampaoli said on Friday.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, dominated much of the match but were unable to contain Ronaldo.
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