Individual genius triumphed over collective organisation as Lionel Messi's magnificent stoppage time goal for Argentina cruelly left Iran with nothing after an outstanding defensive display from Carlos Queiroz's team.
The 32-year-old Messi scored 24 goals this season in all competitions before the coronavirus pandemic brought the football season to a standstill.
The last set of pre-quarterfinal matches involved Ghana against Niger and Brazil versus Honduras on Wednesday.
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India finally tasted victory after five straight losses in their 2018 football World Cup qualifying campaign as they beat Guam by a solitary goal in Bangalore on Thursday.
FIFA World Cup revs up television sales in India
Germany's Thomas Mueller has called time on his 14-year international career after their European Championship exit, the Bayern Munich forward said on Monday.
Parreira, who led a disappointing Brazil side that went out in the quarter-finals against France, said teamwork had prevailed rather than individuals.
The World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia from the world's top sporting events for four years, a period that includes the next summer and winter Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for tampering with doping-related laboratory data. The sanctions against Russia, the host of last year's soccer World Cup, also bar it from hosting major sporting events for a four-year period or applying to host new events in that period.
The 44-year-old said in a statement on Monday that performing at the World Cup was "a boyhood dream" and it would be "an unforgettable show".
A gritty India fought hard for most part but let in two goals in the last seven minutes to eventually lose 0-3 to defending champions Iran in their second group match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament, in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Monday.
Time for you to turn football soothsayer!
Bhutia and Chaubey have shared a history of verbal spats, with the former frequently questioning Chaubey's leadership, even calling the AIFF a "circus"
Reuters sports writers chose their team of the tournament.
Their skills are impressive on the field, and their looks easy on the eyes.
Slush fund allegedly used to buy votes for the World Cup, claims report
The final inspection will take place later this year following which the venue of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 will be named.
Australia have concerns over security at next year's World Cup finals in Brazil because of the civil unrest in the South American country, Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop said on Tuesday.
Sunil Chhetri might have bid adieu to his international career but he remains deeply attached to the fortunes of the team
The Argentina captain's Kolkata schedule on December 13 will begin at 9am with a meet-and-greet event, followed by the unveiling of a 70-feet statue of him at the Lake Town Sribhumi on VIP Road.
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The World Cup will dominate the attention of soccer fans around the world next month but not in the case of a particularly special one. Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has more pressing priorities.
Mbappe and Benzema inspire France to 2-0 win against Finland
Pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the football in India, German Ambassador Michael Steiner, on Monday said that he is looking forward to India's participation at the World Cup by 2022.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised that the tournament would leave a lasting legacy and there are "concrete plans" to make sure the stadiums are used in the future.
Two defeats and one last-gasp victory in the group stage meant an embarrassed Germany made their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years on Wednesday.
FIFA collected 2,761 samples prior to the tournament and another 626 during it, including 108 collected on non-matchdays, as part of the largest-ever World Cup testing programme.
Russia is pressing ahead with preparations to host the 2018 World Cup finals following Sepp Blatter's resignation as FIFA president and does not expect any boycotts of the tournament, Russian officials said on Wednesday.
For manufacturers and dealers of sport goods, this is the time to rake in the moolah.
'This World Cup is likely to be much more a clash of plans than of talent,' says Devangshu Datta.
Carlo Ancelotti will become Brazil manager after leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season, the Brazilian FA (CBF) said on Monday.
Neymar, who has scored twice so far to help Brazil into the World Cup quarter-finals in Russia where they will face Belgium on Friday, has been sharply criticised for a string of exaggerated reactions when clashing with an opponent.
'I admire his cunning. If he lost it, he'd become an ordinary forward.'
With the World Cup football tickets it had originally bought being caught in the hands of alleged scalpers, Reliance Industries on Tuesday said it is investigating how the much-coveted and expensive tickets ended up in the Brazilian black market.
Rediff.com brings you the best quotes of the day from Brazil!
The Women's U-17 World Cup is scheduled to be held from November 2 to 21 with matches to be played in Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati.
American great Brady Ellison believes India's archers are always "in hunt" for that elusive Olympic medal.
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