"They are a great team with a great manager," Hernan Crespo added.
As one entered the hotel porch in Perth, there was India's captain and his deputy engrossed in a chat like long-lost friends.
Cristiano Ronaldo provided Portugal with a major confidence boost ahead of the World Cup when he made a successful return from injury in a 5-1 romp against Ireland on Tuesday.
Swashbuckling opening batsman David Warner used to assist regular driver of the Australian cricket Institute's van in Brisbane.
Russia's newest completed World Cup stadium, the Otkrytie Arena, in Moscow, was opened by the country's President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill says their pace attack have forged a blueprint they will seek to follow for the rest of the World Cup after dismantling the Sri Lankan batting order in Saturday's opening win in Cardiff.
Some Croatians wept with sadness while others felt pride that their tiny nation had gone so far in the tournament.
Germany's record goalscorer Miroslav Klose is starting a traineeship with the national team as the retired striker looks to kick off his coaching career, the German Football Association said.
Australia are the unsurprising favourites to clinch a fifth World Cup.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) jointly announced that Steve Elworthy had been appointed as Managing Director of the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales in 2019. Elworthy will also have an oversight of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, which will both be staged in England and Wales. Elworthy has previously been Tournament Director for three different ICC global events: the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and the ICC World T20 tournament in 2009, which were staged in England and Wales, as well as the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa in 2007.
Zoo director Vladimir Gerasimov believes Cleopatra might have a little better understanding of soccer than other animals.
When Russia and Saudi Arabia meet on Thursday form will be irrelevant as the world's biggest sporting festival explodes into life in Moscow.
Maverick striker Mario Balotelli has been called up by Italy for the first time since the World Cup in June after being included on Sunday in the squad for next weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Croatia.
India batter Veda Krishnamurthy announced her retirement from international cricket on Friday.
The most famous cricket umpire of his time has left the ground forever.
The rule based on which England were declared the winner, did not go well with the fans, who urged the International Cricket Council that the trophy be shared between both teams.
Consistent death bowling from a Bumrah and spinners picking up wickets in the middle overs is why the average run-rate in the last few years hasn't exploded the way one would have expected, says Dhruv Munjal.
Protesters have claimed that Qatar should stop funding terror group Hamas or the country should be banned from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Holders France got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine
The Sri Lanka team have complained to organisers of the World Cup about the pitches rolled out for their games and are also unhappy with the quality of their accommodation.
Peru fans take $800 taxi to get to World Cup game
Reaction after England beat New Zealand on number of boundaries hit in the Cricket World Cup final at Lord's on Sunday.
Michael Clarke signed off from One-day cricket on a high on Sunday after his team beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the World Cup final at the MCG and fittingly dedicated the triumph to Philip Hughes, who tragically lost his life in a freak on-field accident.
'Let's deal with the fifteen guys that we have here at this moment in time, which is more important, and see if we can rally around these guys and see if we can defend our title.'
Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.
The trio will replace Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan and Abid Ali after selectors spoke with skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur following Pakistan's 4-0 defeat by England in their recent ODI series.
Argentina start as hot favourites to beat Iceland in their opening World Cup Group D match on Saturday but the toughest opponent for the runners-up four years ago may be themselves rather than the tiny tournament debutants.
The women's World Cup final between the United States and Japan on Sunday may not rival the Super Bowl, but soccer fans, wild with excitement.
Former Indian cricketer and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar spoke on star batter Rohit Sharma's physical transformation over the last 12 weeks before the tour to Australia, keeping the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in mind, saying that he has transformed himself into a "mean machine".
FIFA slapped the Mexicans with a CHF 10,000 fine for what it called "discriminatory and insulting chants" during their surprise 1-0 win over Germany on Sunday.
The 21-year-old midfielder is likely to be Portugal's key player at the World Cup.
With the teams entering the final phase of their preparations for next year's World Cup, former batting great Ian Chappell said defending champions India, Australia and South Africa are the favourites to win the game's showpiece event.
There are many Indian fans in Dubai, who, as a mark of protest, have decided to give this match a miss.
'I think it's an ongoing process, just continuously putting in hours of work and speaking to people that have played in these conditions, have done well in these conditions.'
Japan won the women's World Cup on Sunday for the first time, stunning the heavily favoured United States 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in extra time.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Jeakson Singh worried quite often but the midfielder shoves it away by focussing on the pride he feels in representing India at the FIFA under-17 World Cup.
Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira's World Cup hopes hang in the balance after he was ruled out for around six months with a torn cruciate ligament suffered in Friday's 1-1 draw against Italy, team doctors said on Saturday.
Asian champion 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji undergoes successful knee surgery to repair ACL tear
A stunning book on the Kumbh. And a recipe.
