News for 'semi-final'

England stun France in 10-goal thriller to finish third at World Cup

England stun France in 10-goal thriller to finish third at World Cup

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

England bagged third place at the World Cup after beating France 6-4 on Saturday, while Les Bleus' captain Kylian Mbappe became the tournament's all-time top scorer with 22 goals on coach Didier Deschamps' last game after 14 years in charge.

Santner's Spin Army Awaits Brook as NZ Eye Semi-Final Berth

Santner's Spin Army Awaits Brook as NZ Eye Semi-Final Berth

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, look to seal a T20 World Cup semi-final berth as their spin attack prepares to challenge Harry Brook's England in a crucial Super Eight clash in Colombo.

Durand Cup Expands To Five Cities, Welcomes Seven New Teams

Durand Cup Expands To Five Cities, Welcomes Seven New Teams

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

The Durand Cup football tournament will feature 24 teams, including seven debutants, across five cities from July 25 to August 23. Kolkata remains the primary hub, hosting the final, while Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati will also host matches, bringing together a diverse mix of Indian and overseas teams.

All Eyes on Sinner, Sabalenka at Wimbledon

All Eyes on Sinner, Sabalenka at Wimbledon

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Wimbledon begins on Monday, with defending champion Jannik Sinner chasing a fifth Grand Slam title and women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka chasing her first major of the year.

Kidambi Srikanth enters US Open badminton final

Kidambi Srikanth enters US Open badminton final

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Kidambi Srikanth edged out Japan's Yudai Okimoto in a three-game thriller to progress to the men's singles final of the US Open Super 300 badminton championships in Fuller, United States.

Changes to World Cup formats make sense but associate teams need more: Ashwin

Changes to World Cup formats make sense but associate teams need more: Ashwin

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the ICC to integrate lower-ranked teams into every bilateral series, arguing that this is crucial for the sport's global expansion, beyond just expanding World Cup formats.

FIFA World Cup: Harry Kane Breaks Silence on Tuchel-Bellingham Rift

FIFA World Cup: Harry Kane Breaks Silence on Tuchel-Bellingham Rift

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

England captain Harry Kane has dismissed suggestions of a rift between manager Thomas Tuchel and midfielder Jude Bellingham, stating that media scrutiny had exaggerated a brief post-match exchange following their World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway.

Historic! Paddlers Manav Thakkar-Manush Shah rise to World No. 2

Historic! Paddlers Manav Thakkar-Manush Shah rise to World No. 2

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Guided by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the duo have established themselves among the world's elite through a series of impressive performances on the WTT circuit.

FIFA World Cup: The Billion-Dollar Secret Behind Morocco's Football Boom

FIFA World Cup: The Billion-Dollar Secret Behind Morocco's Football Boom

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Morocco's impressive rise in global football is uniquely funded by its vast phosphate reserves, with the state-owned OCP Group investing heavily in national team development. This strategic investment, driven by a royal directive, supports training academies and infrastructure, contributing to the nation's recent successes like reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The country's abundant phosphate resources provide a stable economic base for these ambitious sporting endeavours.

Could a 64-team World Cup put Asian football at FIFA's mercy?

Could a 64-team World Cup put Asian football at FIFA's mercy?

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has acknowledged the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, a move that could significantly alter the sport's economics and logistics, despite opposition from major confederations like UEFA and AFC.

Super-sub Torres stars as Spain down 10-man Argentina to win FIFA World Cup 2026 title

Super-sub Torres stars as Spain down 10-man Argentina to win FIFA World Cup 2026 title

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

It's goalless at half-time in the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in New York on Sunday.

Indian Women's Compound Team Clinches Silver At Archery World Cup

Indian Women's Compound Team Clinches Silver At Archery World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

India's women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi, secured a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 after losing to Colombia in the final. Despite the team's struggle, teenager Prithika Pradeep emerged as a standout performer, and India remains in contention for more medals in both compound and recurve categories.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Steals Spotlight At Wimbledon

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Steals Spotlight At Wimbledon

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attended the Wimbledon men's singles final, sharing the experience with Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, marking his first visit to the iconic tournament.

'Federer is my favourite; Alcaraz's drop shot reminds me of my short-arm jab': Shubman Gill

'Federer is my favourite; Alcaraz's drop shot reminds me of my short-arm jab': Shubman Gill

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Indian cricketer Shubman Gill draws parallels between Carlos Alcaraz's deceptive drop shot and his own short-arm jab, expressing admiration for Roger Federer and revealing his dream dinner guests.

Comeback Kings! Argentina's Great Escapes In FIFA World Cup 2026

Comeback Kings! Argentina's Great Escapes In FIFA World Cup 2026

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

Argentina battled their way into the semis after edging Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2.

T20 WC Semi-Final: Unbeaten South Africa Take On Giant-Killers New Zealand

T20 WC Semi-Final: Unbeaten South Africa Take On Giant-Killers New Zealand

Rediff.com2 Mar 2026

Unbeaten South Africa take on a dangerous New Zealand side in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens, with the Proteas wary of complacency in the knockout stage.

Minakshi Storms Into Boxing World Cup Quarters; Assures India Of Medal

Minakshi Storms Into Boxing World Cup Quarters; Assures India Of Medal

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Indian boxer Minakshi, a former world champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup (Stage 2) in the 51kg category after a dominant victory.

Who Will Lift The FIFA World Cup Trophy? Meet The Final 8 Teams

Who Will Lift The FIFA World Cup Trophy? Meet The Final 8 Teams

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals are set, featuring a diverse lineup of one South American, one African, and six European teams, including defending champions Argentina and France, alongside surprise packages like Morocco and Norway, all vying for football's ultimate prize.

Why FIFA's New VAR Protocol Is Under Fire After Argentina's World Cup Run

Why FIFA's New VAR Protocol Is Under Fire After Argentina's World Cup Run

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

A former FIFA referee has questioned the new VAR protocol after fresh controversy involving Argentina, warning that fan confidence in World Cup officiating has been "completely eroded."

Former India Coach Constantine Weighs In On Messi's Legacy

Former India Coach Constantine Weighs In On Messi's Legacy

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Former India coach Stephen Constantine shares his views on Lionel Messi, ranking him below Pele, Maradona, and Ronaldinho due to his reliance on teammates for defensive work. He also predicts Spain will win the upcoming final against Argentina, despite acknowledging Argentina's experience and Messi's match-winning ability. Constantine further discusses England's semi-final exit and criticises hydration breaks and refereeing controversies.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina's passion faces Spain's precision in final showdown

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina's passion faces Spain's precision in final showdown

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

The World Cup final offers football's grandest stage a deliciously odd pairing: Argentina, all pulse, fire and Lionel Messi, against Spain, the European champions who appear to treat chaos as an administrative error and have turned control into something close to an art form.

Noskova ends Kostyuk's run, sets up first all-Czech Wimbledon final

Noskova ends Kostyuk's run, sets up first all-Czech Wimbledon final

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Linda Noskova defeated Marta Kostyuk in straight sets to reach her maiden Grand Slam final, setting up a historic all-Czech Wimbledon title clash against compatriot Karolina Muchova and extending Czech dominance.

French Open: Mensik halts Fonseca, Andreeva storms into last four

French Open: Mensik halts Fonseca, Andreeva storms into last four

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Jakub Mensik became the youngest Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after beating Joao Fonseca at the French Open, while Mirra Andreeva stormed into the last four and Alexander Zverev kept his title hopes alive.

Gambhir not to blame? Ex selector makes big claim

Gambhir not to blame? Ex selector makes big claim

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Former India cricketer and ex-chief selector MSK Prasad has questioned the consistent dropping of Sanju Samson from the T20I squad, calling it a 'big mistake' given his strong performances, while also defending head coach Gautam Gambhir against early criticism for recent series losses.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain oust Belgium, set up semifinal clash with France

FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain oust Belgium, set up semifinal clash with France

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute after goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubars's long-range effort, restoring Spain's lead and putting the 2010 champions 2-1 ahead of Belgium.

Rohit Sharma Still Has Unfinished Business

Rohit Sharma Still Has Unfinished Business

Rediff.com22 Jul 2026

The Hitman still probably hurts over missing World Cup glory in 2011 and his stellar career rightfully deserves one last hurrah at the ODI World Cup.

Zverev moves closer to maiden Grand Slam at French Open

Zverev moves closer to maiden Grand Slam at French Open

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

Alexander Zverev overcame a slow start to defeat Rafael Jodar and secure a spot in the French Open semi-finals, continuing his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title.

SEE: Belgium get Royal backing before Spain FIFA World Cup blockbuster

SEE: Belgium get Royal backing before Spain FIFA World Cup blockbuster

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

King Philippe of the Belgians visited the national football team to offer his support and encouragement ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain. He shared a meal, received a signed jersey, and praised their performance, expressing confidence in their victory. Both teams have had strong runs to the quarter-finals, with Belgium overcoming several challenges and Spain maintaining an unbeaten record.

Coach Dragan Mihailovic's Vision For Indian Volleyball's Future

Coach Dragan Mihailovic's Vision For Indian Volleyball's Future

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.

India Women Win Compound Team Silver In Archery World Cup

India Women Win Compound Team Silver In Archery World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

The Indian women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi, secured a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid.

Morocco offer France first real test of World Cup credentials

Morocco offer France first real test of World Cup credentials

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar.

T20 WC Semi-final: India Eye Complete Game as England Loom

T20 WC Semi-final: India Eye Complete Game as England Loom

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

India face a tough spin challenge from England in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, as both teams aim for a perfect game in the high-pressure knockout.

'We lived up to the hype': Solbakken proud of Norway's World Cup

'We lived up to the hype': Solbakken proud of Norway's World Cup

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

An emotional Stale Solbakken praised Norway's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England ended their dream run in the quarter-finals.

There's justice in life, says Belgium's Raskin after beating US in World Cup

There's justice in life, says Belgium's Raskin after beating US in World Cup

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Belgium secured a dominant 4-1 victory over the United States in the World Cup last-16, with midfielder Nicolas Raskin suggesting the win felt like 'justice' following FIFA's controversial decision to allow US striker Folarin Balogun to play despite a previous red card.

England will beat India in T20 World Cup semi-final, says ex-Pakistan player Rashid Latif

England will beat India in T20 World Cup semi-final, says ex-Pakistan player Rashid Latif

Rediff.com5 Mar 2026

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif believes England will beat defending champions India in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Thursday.

Diana Shnaider Stages Epic Comeback To Topple World No 1 Sabalenka At French Open

Diana Shnaider Stages Epic Comeback To Topple World No 1 Sabalenka At French Open

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Russian Diana Shnaider caused a major upset at the French Open, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.

Egypt's Pharaohs get heroes' welcome after best-ever World Cup campaign

Egypt's Pharaohs get heroes' welcome after best-ever World Cup campaign

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Thousands of ecstatic supporters welcomed the Egyptian national football team home after their historic World Cup campaign, which saw them reach the last 16 for the first time, despite a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina.

England pick uncapped James Coles for India T20I series

England pick uncapped James Coles for India T20I series

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

England has announced a 17-member T20I squad, including uncapped all-rounder James Coles, to face India in a five-match series starting next month.

Dan Burn: From Rejection to World Cup Hero at 34

Dan Burn: From Rejection to World Cup Hero at 34

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

England defender Dan Burn, 34, has emerged as an unlikely hero at the World Cup, making crucial clearances and blocks in high-pressure matches against Mexico and Norway, defying a career path that saw him released by Newcastle as a boy and playing in lower divisions.

India women's team need to rethink T20 strategy: Muzumdar

India women's team need to rethink T20 strategy: Muzumdar

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

India's head coach Amol Muzumdar has acknowledged the need for a complete strategic overhaul in the T20 format following the women's team's disappointing group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup.