Rediff.com brings you this and a lot more gripping sporting action from the week gone by...
Germany put the finishing touches to their World Cup preparations by beating Colombia 3-0 on Friday.
Fans are already contemplating their team's prospects after the draw for the opening round of the 32-team tournament.
'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'
France are joined in second place by Spain, with Germany still fourth.
India on Thursday abstained in the UN General Assembly on a vote moved by the US to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian soldiers killed civilians while retreating from towns near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
A man playing a practical joke by wearing a Laden mask and jumping out at motorists was shot by a startled taxi driver in Costa Rica.
Two goalkeeping blunders from Ricardo Gonzalez gifted a below-par Mexico a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica.
The defeat pushed the world champions into the second qualifying berth in Group C of the Copa America football tournament.
Analysis of the eight groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.
Jackson Martinez scored twice as Colombia beat Japan 4-1 to top World Cup Group C with maximum points on Tuesday. The victory earned them a second-round meeting with Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro and ended Japan's interest in the tournament.
Latin Grammy award nominee Diogo Nogueira, himself a soccer player until a knee injury ended his sporting career, sang from an open-top bus as the square turned into a sea of green and yellow, Brazil's national colours.
Achilles the cat, who has correctly predicted the score of all three World Cup matches played so far in St Petersburg, tipped Nigeria to beat Argentina as the teams battle on Tuesday for a place in the soccer last 16.
Spain midfielder Koke revealed he and his team mates have been unable to watch some World Cup games because it interferes with their 'siesta', the traditional afternoon nap.
They will meet Costa Rica in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that the US will allocate 75 per cent - nearly 1.9 crore of the first tranche of 2.5 crore doses - of unused COVID-19 vaccines from its stockpile through the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine sharing programme to countries in South and Southeast Asia as well as Africa.
The former Barcelona forward, key to his country's hopes in Russia, came on as a halftime substitute and provided the moment of inspiration for win the game in the 69th minute.
Hosts Russia will kick off next year's World Cup finals versus Saudi Arabia in Moscow and defending champions Germany will start against Mexico after Friday's draw threw up some mouthwatering clashes.
Brazil's Paris St Germain forward Neymar has had a successful operation
Abstaining in the UN General Assembly on a vote to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, India on Thursday asserted that if it has 'chosen' any side, it is the side of 'peace and it is for an immediate end to violence.'
The women's age group showpiece was to be held at five venues in the country --Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai -- from November 2-21. FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup was postponed by football's governing body due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
Luis Suarez returned from injury to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead in the first half in their World Cup Group D match against England on Friday.
As per the survey, 7 per cent of employers anticipate an increase in payrolls, 3 per cent forecast a decrease and 54 per cent expect no change.
Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz has resigned after the team's elimination in the group phase of the Copa America Centenario, Paraguayan FA (APF) sources said on Sunday.
The points table of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The 20-year old, who scored 13 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season, will be hopeful of a starting spot in Southgate's team after impressing in the warm-up games, including a long-range goal against Costa Rica.
A player from Chilean top flight side Audax Italiano has apologised after being arrested for climbing onto a fence and kicking a spectator following a match at the weekend.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances