After more goals came from set-pieces in this World Cup's group stage than any other, dead-ball strategy has continued to have a huge impact in the knockout phase, with five of the 11 goals scored in the quarter-finals coming from free kicks or corners.
Having beaten Colombia in a tense Round of 18 match at the World Cup England can now look forward to a quarter-final against Sweden with the curse of the shootout lifted.
Leicester City's England striker Jamie Vardy has been named Premier League Player of the Season after his pivotal role in the club's remarkable title-winning campaign.
However, experienced goalkeeper Joe Hart and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere were both omitted from a squad announced on Wednesday via a social media video featuring young recreational players from around the country shouting out the names.
Tottenham were booed off at the final whistle as defeat left them in fifth place
Images from action in the Europa League matches on Thursday.
Liverpool's Juergen Klopp has been named Premier League manager of the month after leading the club to three consecutive wins in September, the first time the German has won the award.
Five talking-points from the Premier League weekend after Manchester United extended their winning run against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool were made to work hard for their win at Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal losing at West Ham United.
FCM Targu Mures midfielder Gabriel Muresan has been handed an unprecedented 16-match domestic ban for a violent tackle.
Up against the 91st-ranked Bahrain, Stimac's side, which is currently placed at 104 in the FIFA rankings, found the going tough from the word go and, had it not been for a fine save by skipper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indians would have trailed by a bigger margin at half time.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud produced a piece of New Year's Day magic to keep Arsenal in sight of Premier League leaders Chelsea while Harry Kane's double bolstered Tottenham Hotspur's ambitions as London's triple assault on the title continues.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
A rejuvenated Manchester United claimed a sixth win from six matches since former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped in following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Spain may have an iron grip on Europe's club competitions but the English Premier League is the dominant power when it comes to the number of players competing at Euro 2016. Spain have won the last two European championships and La Liga clubs have claimed Europe's major club trophies, the Champions League and Europa League, for the last three seasons. Yet a quarter of the 552 players going to Euro 2016 play in the English leagues, nearly four times as many as those from La Liga, according to figures from Grosvenor Casinos.
Images from the football matches played on Tuesday.
Germany central defender Jerome Boateng has questioned whether England have enough quality to excel at next month's European Championship. Despite having the world's richest league, England go into the competition in France having not won a major tournament since landing the 1966 World Cup on home soil. "England beat us 3-2 in Berlin (in March) but I do not know if in matters of quality and consistency they have enough for an entire tournament," Boateng told German Railway DB Mobil magazine.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
'England's system does not suit Sterling -- or certainly not in the position he is currently occupying'
Leicester City's attacking midfielder Riyad Mahrez has bagged the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year award.
'So, clearly, getting out of the group and winning a knockout game would be a real sign of progress. And if you win one, you win more'
Saturday's clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford is already shaping up as an early-season eliminator to challenge runaway leaders Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli gave Gareth Southgate's side a deserved 2-0 last-eight win over Sweden on Saturday, and they must now prepare to take on Croatia in three days time for a spot in the World Cup final.
London clubs' erratic start to the Premier League season improved with victories for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal on Saturday but Manchester sides continued to make the running, with City and United the top two.
Images from EPL matches played on Saturday.
Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break the resistance of a dogged Crystal Palace.
West Ham United's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a cruel blow as an own goal by midfielder Tomas Soucek and Harry Kane's first goal since December condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday.
Rediff.com brings a preview of the main matches coming up this weekend in the English Premier League.
Surprise leaders Leicester City face a severe test of their Premier League title credentials over the next 10 days, starting with Saturday's trip to Manchester City.
Manchester City were confirmed as English Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday without even having to kick a ball.
As the Premier League resumes following the international break all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo's homecoming party at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the Portuguese international set to resume his Manchester United career after 12 years away.
Here is a look at some of the key head-to-head duels which could prove decisive.
Spurs' triumph at the Etihad Stadium moved them within two points of Premier League leaders Leicester City and kept them in second place above Arsenal on goal difference with 12 matches to play
Southgate's formation and tactics have been hailed as progressive and modern, there is also something traditionally English about the team's strengths.
Ahead of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, here's a full list of the final squads of all ten teams.
A superb second-half strike from Adnan Januzaj gave Belgium a 1-0 win over England on Thursday to see them top World Cup Group G with a perfect record and consign England to second place, with both sides already assured of going through to the last 16.
Former England captain Cook, 34, who retired from international cricket this year, was his country's most-capped Test player and record test run scorer.
Belgium's World Cup clash against England on Thursday could feel like a Tottenham training ground for players on both sides but defender Jan Vertonghen insists there will be no joking around.
The 22-year-old seemed to pull up with a muscle problem in the first half, with Fabian Delph getting ready to come on, but Alli managed to continue until being taken off after 80 minutes.
Stopping the stars won't be enough to win World Cup
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances