Sports
Full Match Fixtures For 2018 Russia World Cup
The long awaited FIFA 2018 World Cup will take place in Russia and will be hosted by the same country. The world’s largest football competition will begin on June 14, 2018 and will last till July 15, 2018.
Below are Dates, kick-off times and stadiums for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as released by FIFA.
Group stages
Thu June 14: Russia v Saudi Arabia (Group A) – Moscow (Luzhniki), 4pm
Fri June 15: Egypt v Uruguay (Group A) – Ekaterinburg, 1pm
Fri June 15: Morocco v Iran (Group B) – St Petersburg, 4pm
Fri June 15: Portugal v Spain (Group B) – Sochi, 7pm
Sat June 16: France v Australia (Group C) – Kazan, 11am
Sat June 16: Argentina v Iceland (Group D) – Moscow (Spartak), 2pm
Sat June 16: Peru v Denmark (Group C) – Saransk, 5pm
Sat June 16: Croatia v Nigeria (Group D) – Kaliningrad, 8pm
Sun June 17: Costa Rica v Serbia (Group E) – Samara, 1pm
Sun June 17: Germany v Mexico (Group F) – Moscow (Luzhniki), 4pm
Sun June 17: Brazil v Switzerland (Group E) – Rostov-on-Don, 7pm
Mon June 18: Sweden v South Korea (Group F) – Nizhny Novgorod, 1pm
Mon June 18: Belgium v Panama (Group G) – Sochi, 4pm
Mon June 18: Tunisia v England (Group G) – Volgograd, 7pm
Tues June 19: Colombia v Japan (Group H) – Saransk, 1pm
Tues June 19: Poland v Senegal (Group H) – Moscow (Spartak), 4pm
Tues June 19: Russia v Egypt (Group A) – St Petersburg, 7pm
Wed June 20: Portugal v Morocco (Group B) – Moscow (Luzhniki), 1pm
Wed June 20: Uruguay v Saudi Arabia (Group A) – Rostov-on-Don, 4pm
Wed June 20: Iran v Spain (Group B) – Kazan, 7pm
Thu June 21: Denmark v Australia (Group C) – Samara, 1pm
Thu June 21: France v Peru (Group C) – Ekaterinburg, 4pm
Thu June 21: Argentina v Croatia (Group D) – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm
Fri June 22: Brazil v Costa Rica (Group E) – St Petersburg, 1pm
Fri June 22: Nigeria v Iceland (Group D) – Volgograd, 4pm
Fri June 22: Serbia v Switzerland (Group E) – Kaliningrad, 7pm
Sat June 23: Belgium v Tunisia (Group G) – Moscow (Spartak), 1pm
Sat June 23: South Korea v Mexico (Group F) – Rostov-on-Don, 4pm
Sat June 23: Germany v Sweden (Group F) – Sochi, 7pm
Sun June 24: England v Panama (Group G) – Nizhny Novgorod, 1pm
Sun June 24: Japan v Senegal (Group H) – Ekaterinburg, 4pm
Sun June 24: Poland v Colombia (Group H) – Kazan, 7pm
Mon June 25: Uruguay v Russia (Group A) – Samara, 3pm
Mon June 25: Saudi Arabia v Egypt (Group A) – Volgograd, 3pm
Mon June 25: Spain v Morocco (Group B) – Kaliningrad, 7pm
Mon June 25: Iran v Portugal (Group B) – Saransk, 7pm
Tues June 26: Denmark v France (Group C) – Moscow (Luzhniki), 3pm
Tues June 26: Australia v Peru (Group C) – Sochi, 3pm
Tues June 26: Nigeria v Argentina (Group D) – St Petersburg, 7pm
Tues June 26: Iceland v Croatia (Group D) – Rostov-on-Don, 7pm
Wed June 27: South Korea v Germany (Group F) – Kazan, 3pm
Wed June 27: Mexico v Sweden (Group F) – Ekaterinburg, 3pm
Wed June 27: Serbia v Brazil (Group E) – Moscow (Spartak), 7pm
Wed June 27: Switzerland v Costa Rica (Group E) – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm
Thu June 28: Japan v Poland (Group H) – Volgograd, 3pm
Thu June 28: Senegal v Colombia (Group H) – Samara, 3pm
Thu June 28: England v Belgium (Group G) – Kaliningrad, 7pm
Thu June 28: Panama v Tunisia (Group G) – Saransk, 7pm
Last 16
Sat June 30: 1C v 2D – Kazan, 3pm (Match 50)
Sat June 30: 1A v 2B – Sochi, 7pm (Match 49)
Sun July 1: 1B v 2A – Moscow (Luzhniki), 3pm (Match 51)
Sun July 1: 1D v 2C – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm (Match 52)
Mon July 2: 1E v 2F – Samara, 3pm (Match 53)
Mon July 2: 1G v 2H – Rostov-on-Don, 7pm (Match 54)
Tues July 3: 1F v 2E – St Petersburg 3pm (Match 55)
Tues July 3: 1H v 2G – Moscow (Spartak), 7pm (Match 56)
Quarter-finals
Fri July 6: Winner match 49 v Winner match 50 – Nizhny Novgorod, 3pm (Match
57)
Fri July 6: Winner match 53 v Winner match 54 – Kazan, 7pm (Match 58)
Sat July 7: Winner match 55 v Winner match 56 – Samara, 3pm (Match 60)
Sat July 7: Winner match 51 v Winner match 52 – Sochi, 7pm (Match 59)
Semi-finals
Tues July 10: Winner match 57 v Winner match 58 – St Petersburg, 7pm
Wed July 11: Winner match 59 v Winner match 60 – Moscow (Luzhniki), 7pm
Third-place play-off
Sat July 14: St Petersburg, 3pm
Final
Sun July 15: Moscow (Luzhniki), 4pm
All times listed are BST (British Summer Time).
Kaliningrad is one hour ahead of BST. Kazan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, St Petersburg, Saransk, Sochi and Volgograd are two hours ahead of BST. Samara is three hours ahead of BST. Ekaterinburg is four hours ahead of BST.
Sports
NBA star LeBron James takes social media break over ‘negative takes’
NBA superstar, LeBron James, said on Wednesday he was taking an indefinite hiatus from social media after sharing a post which railed against “negative” coverage in US media.
James, who has some 212 million combined followers on his Instagram and X accounts, announced his break from social media after sharing a post by Rich Kleiman, the long-time agent of NBA star Kevin Durant.
“With so much hate and negativity in the world today, it confuses me why some of the national sports media still think that the best way to cover sports is through negative takes,” Kleiman wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“I for one find it all a waste of breath.”
Los Angeles Lakers ace James shared the post to his followers with a one word comment: “AMEN!!”
The 39-year-old then followed up that post to confirm he was leaving social media — for now.
“And with that said, I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care,” James wrote on X.
It is not the first time James has stepped away from social media. The all-time record points scorer has taken breaks before, but usually to concentrate on his basketball.
James had hinted at disaffection with online criticism following the Lakers’ win over Utah on Tuesday, when Los Angeles rookie Dalton Knecht erupted for 37 points.
Talking about Knecht’s performance, James said he had been aware of the rookie’s talent from watching his collegiate career at Tennessee.
“Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time,” James said.
“They say I lie about everything. So what am I now? I’ve been said it. I watched him. I watched Tennessee a lot.”
Sports
Pep Guardiola agrees one-year contract extension with Man City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly agreed to a new one-year contract extension, with an option for a further year until 2027.
The deal, expected to be announced in the coming days, would secure Guardiola’s tenure at the club beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of this season.
The 53-year-old Spaniard, who joined City in 2016, has already cemented his legacy at the club.
Under his leadership, City has secured 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and their first-ever Champions League triumph.
If finalized, the new deal would see Guardiola surpass a decade in charge, making him one of the longest-serving managers in the club’s history.
The announcement comes amidst a period of uncertainty and challenges for Manchester City.
Speculation about Guardiola’s future had intensified following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain, a close associate of Guardiola, would leave at the end of the season.
On the pitch, the reigning champions are navigating a difficult stretch, having suffered four consecutive defeats in all competitions—the worst run of Guardiola’s managerial career.
Injuries and off-field issues, including 115 charges related to alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, have added to the turbulence.
Securing Guardiola’s extension is expected to provide stability during a critical period.
It would prevent potential disruption in the summer, especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon. Guardiola’s decision also comes at a pivotal juncture in City’s season as they aim to bounce back from recent setbacks.
Guardiola, who succeeded Manuel Pellegrini at City, has previously enjoyed successful stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Sports
Genoa appoints Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as head coach
Italian Serie A club Genoa FC has announced the appointment of former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira as its new head coach.
The club made this announcement in a statement published on its website on Wednesday, titled “Press Release – Vieira Appointed New Head Coach.”
The statement read, “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira has been appointed as the head coach of the first team. The new coach will oversee his first training session this afternoon, following the formalisation of his contract at the Villa Rostan Headquarters.”
Vieira, a former French defensive midfielder, was a key member of Arsenal’s historic ‘Invincibles’ squad that clinched the club’s third English Premier League title. He played alongside French teammates Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, among others. Vieira also lifted the FIFA World Cup in 1998 with France.
The statement continued, “With a professional journey that included a role as Executive Development Football at Manchester City’s Academy from 2011 to 2015, Vieira has also managed teams such as New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, and Strasbourg. Welcome, coach!”
The announcement comes following Genoa’s dismissal of former head coach Alberto Gilardino, 42, after a disappointing start to the Serie A season.
“Genoa CFC announces that Alberto Gilardino has been relieved of his duties,” the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, took charge of Genoa in December 2022 after managing their Under-19 team. He led the club to direct promotion to Serie A in 2023 and achieved an 11th-place finish last season.
However, the club currently sits in 17th place in Serie A, just one point above the relegation zone, with only two wins in 12 matches.
-
Politics1 week ago
Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards
-
Business5 days ago
Lagos state government to commence upgrade of major junctions in Ikeja axis, seeks residents’ cooperation
-
Politics6 days ago
DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber
-
Celebrities7 days ago
Daddy Freeze, Akah Nnani clash over Emmanuel Iren
-
News6 days ago
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
-
World1 week ago
French newspapers sue X for using content without paying
-
News6 days ago
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
-
Health6 days ago
Five ways to rid your home of ants