With controversy surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Qatar doesn't seem to end. With the 'supreme committee', which is organising the mega event, announcing that as many as nine migrant labourers, working on stadiums for the quadrennial event, lost their lives in the year 2019, the pressure seems to be growing on the organisers. The latest report has now brought up the number of deaths on FIFA World Cup 2020 projects to 34 since the construction began six years back.

As many as 31 deaths have been bracketed under 'non-work related' – a term the supreme committee uses for deaths outside worksite. As per its latest annual report on workers' welfare, there were no deaths at the workplace in 2019. However, three were killed in a bus accident with others breathing their last due to 'natural causes'.

“Any loss of life on our programme is deeply saddening,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, the head of the supreme committee, in the report.

As per the norms, Qatari law and supreme committee's worker welfate standards need not pay compensation for non-work related deaths, however, as per a report in the Guardian, Qatar hardly carries out post-mortem after a migrant worker's death.

Moreover, there have been calls to reform pay-scale laws and the labour system. However, workers’ rights activists have criticised the lack of progress with less than three years to go before the World Cup kicks off. However, FIFA has stated that the 2022 World Cup has already played a major role in improving labour rights in Qatar while adding: “additional progress is needed for the full implementation of the commitments for comprehensive labour reform.”

With controversy surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Qatar doesn't seem to end. With the 'supreme committee', which is organising the mega event, announcing that as many as nine migrant labourers, working on stadiums for the quadrennial event, lost their lives in the year 2019, the pressure seems to be growing on the organisers.

With controversy surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Qatar doesn't seem to end. With the 'supreme committee', which is organising the mega event, announcing that as many as nine migrant labourers, working on stadiums for the quadrennial event, lost their lives in the year 2019, the pressure seems to be growing on the organisers. The latest report has now brought up the number of deaths on FIFA World Cup 2020 projects to 34 since the construction began six years back. As many as 31 deaths have been bracketed under 'non-work related' – a term the supreme committee uses for deaths outside worksite. As per its latest annual report on workers' welfare, there were no deaths at the workplace in 2019. However, three were killed in a bus accident with others breathing their last due to 'natural causes'. “Any loss of life on our programme is deeply saddening,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, the head of the supreme committee, in the report. As per the norms, Qatari law and supreme committee's worker welfate standards need not pay compensation for non-work related deaths, however, as per a report in the Guardian, Qatar hardly carries out post-mortem after a migrant worker's death. Moreover, there have been calls to reform pay-scale laws and the labour system. However, workers’ rights activists have criticised the lack of progress with less than three years to go before the World Cup kicks off. However, FIFA has stated that the 2022 World Cup has already played a major role in improving labour rights in Qatar while adding: “additional progress is needed for the full implementation of the commitments for comprehensive labour reform.”

FIFA World Cup 2022: Report reveals 34 workers' death in 6 years in Qatar

South America's football federations asked FIFA on Wednesday to delay their qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the global new coronavirus pandemic.

"The South American teams risk not being able to count on players they have picked and who play in Europe because they, arriving from countries with a high level of contagion, could be placed in quarantine," said a letter from CONMEBOL, South American football's governing body, to FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. Qualifying matches are due to begin on March 26.

The letter said it expressed the position of its 10 members: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The letter said they "have asked CONMEBOL to place for consideration by FIFA the request to postpone the start of the World Cup qualifiers."

Many of the South American players selected for their national sides play in Europe, where the deadly new coronavirus is rapidly spreading.

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has picked six players based in Italy, where the virus has killed at least 827 people in just over two weeks.

The new coronavirus has already disrupted numerous major sporting events worldwide, including Italy's Serie A football whose matches are suspended.

South America's football federations asked FIFA on Wednesday to delay their qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the global new coronavirus pandemic.

South America's football federations asked FIFA on Wednesday to delay their qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the global new coronavirus pandemic. "The South American teams risk not being able to count on players they have picked and who play in Europe because they, arriving from countries with a high level of contagion, could be placed in quarantine," said a letter from CONMEBOL, South American football's governing body, to FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. Qualifying matches are due to begin on March 26. The letter said it expressed the position of its 10 members: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The letter said they "have asked CONMEBOL to place for consideration by FIFA the request to postpone the start of the World Cup qualifiers." Many of the South American players selected for their national sides play in Europe, where the deadly new coronavirus is rapidly spreading. Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has picked six players based in Italy, where the virus has killed at least 827 people in just over two weeks. The new coronavirus has already disrupted numerous major sporting events worldwide, including Italy's Serie A football whose matches are suspended.

South America asks FIFA to delay World Cup qualifiers due to coronavirus

The stage is set for the future stars of women's football as the match schedule and host cities for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 were unveiled by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Tuesday alongside the official slogan for the tournament.

With only 258 days to go until the action gets underway, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Navi Mumbai have been confirmed as the five host cities for the tournament.

Sixteen teams featuring the rising stars of women's football will compete across 32 matches to lift the coveted trophy in Navi Mumbai on November 21.

Following the launch of the official emblem in November 2019, the unveiling of the five host cities and the match schedule marks a major milestone for the tournament as fans in the host cities and across India prepare to welcome the future stars and heroes of women's football.

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, "It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the five cities hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020. As India prepares to host yet another FIFA event, I look forward to the support from the whole country in making this tournament a rousing success. Our Indian U-17 women's team will be playing in a FIFA tournament for the first time. It is a proud moment for the nation and we will provide all possible support to ensure its success."

In another significant announcement, the Official Slogan - Kick Off The Dream - was also unveiled at a press conference in Delhi.

Building on the passion and excitement generated by last year's FIFA Women's World Cup in France, as well as the legacy left by the FIFA U-17 World Cup that was hosted by India in 2017, Kick Off The Dream represents a powerful message that aims to encourage and inspire both men and women in India and beyond to pursue their dreams and help to kick start a new era of growth for women's football in the country and around the world.

Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief Women's Football Officer, said: "Today's announcement of the match schedule, host cities and Official Slogan for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 represents a major moment for the tournament and football fans across India and around the world."

"As we look to build on the incredible success of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup in France, as well as the legacy left by the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India provides an exciting opportunity, not just for the development of women's football, but for fans across India and worldwide to watch the next superstars of the women's game," she added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Congratulations to GUWAHATI, KOLKATA, BHUBANESWAR, AHMEDABAD &amp; MUMBAI on being selected as the 5⃣ host cities for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup 2020 in India! 
The following is the match schedule for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U17WWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#U17WWC</a> 2020⚽️ <a href="https://t.co/vHYHH5rm1h">https://t.co/vHYHH5rm1h</a> <a href="https://t.co/o2i7PVKr6O">pic.twitter.com/o2i7PVKr6O</a>
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirenRijiju/status/1229761317784801280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Praful Patel, LOC Chairman, and FIFA Council member added: "The announcement of the match schedule is an important moment on the road to the tournament as we not only know which cities will host what number of matches, but fans too can start saving the dates for this November. I am confident that the five host cities will do a wonderful job hosting the best young footballers in this important tournament."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It's time to Kick Off The Dream! 
The 5⃣ host cities and match schedule have been unveiled for November's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U17WWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#U17WWC</a> 2020 in India⚽️ <a href="https://t.co/2ywjk9daRU">pic.twitter.com/2ywjk9daRU</a>
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirenRijiju/status/1229758233041981440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Roberto Grassi, FIFA Head of Youth Tournaments, said: "With five host cities and 16 teams playing across 32 matches, the stage is set for the rising stars at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020. Tournament preparations are well underway and approaching their final stages, and we are excited to work closely with the LOC to bring the tournament to life. We are confident that India will deliver a truly spectacular FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup later this year while providing the players with a platform to perform at their highest level."

The key dates for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 include: 
Opening match - November 2 
Quarter-finals - November 12 and 13 
Semi-finals - November 17 
3rd/4th-place playoff and final - November 21.

Group-stage matches will be played in four host cities Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and Kolkata with the knockout stages also taking place in four cities Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, and Navi Mumbai. The winners will lift the trophy at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 21.

The stage is set for the future stars of women's football as the match schedule and host cities for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 were unveiled by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Tuesday alongside the official slogan for the tournament.

The stage is set for the future stars of women's football as the match schedule and host cities for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 were unveiled by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Tuesday alongside the official slogan for the tournament. With only 258 days to go until the action gets underway, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Navi Mumbai have been confirmed as the five host cities for the tournament. Sixteen teams featuring the rising stars of women's football will compete across 32 matches to lift the coveted trophy in Navi Mumbai on November 21. Following the launch of the official emblem in November 2019, the unveiling of the five host cities and the match schedule marks a major milestone for the tournament as fans in the host cities and across India prepare to welcome the future stars and heroes of women's football. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, "It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the five cities hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020. As India prepares to host yet another FIFA event, I look forward to the support from the whole country in making this tournament a rousing success. Our Indian U-17 women's team will be playing in a FIFA tournament for the first time. It is a proud moment for the nation and we will provide all possible support to ensure its success." In another significant announcement, the Official Slogan - Kick Off The Dream - was also unveiled at a press conference in Delhi. Building on the passion and excitement generated by last year's FIFA Women's World Cup in France, as well as the legacy left by the FIFA U-17 World Cup that was hosted by India in 2017, Kick Off The Dream represents a powerful message that aims to encourage and inspire both men and women in India and beyond to pursue their dreams and help to kick start a new era of growth for women's football in the country and around the world. Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief Women's Football Officer, said: "Today's announcement of the match schedule, host cities and Official Slogan for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 represents a major moment for the tournament and football fans across India and around the world." "As we look to build on the incredible success of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup in France, as well as the legacy left by the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India provides an exciting opportunity, not just for the development of women's football, but for fans across India and worldwide to watch the next superstars of the women's game," she added. Congratulations to GUWAHATI, KOLKATA, BHUBANESWAR, AHMEDABAD & MUMBAI on being selected as the 5⃣ host cities for the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup 2020 in India! The following is the match schedule for the #U17WWC 2020⚽️ https://t.co/vHYHH5rm1h pic.twitter.com/o2i7PVKr6O — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 18, 2020 × Praful Patel, LOC Chairman, and FIFA Council member added: "The announcement of the match schedule is an important moment on the road to the tournament as we not only know which cities will host what number of matches, but fans too can start saving the dates for this November. I am confident that the five host cities will do a wonderful job hosting the best young footballers in this important tournament." It's time to Kick Off The Dream! The 5⃣ host cities and match schedule have been unveiled for November's #U17WWC 2020 in India⚽️ pic.twitter.com/2ywjk9daRU — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 18, 2020 × Roberto Grassi, FIFA Head of Youth Tournaments, said: "With five host cities and 16 teams playing across 32 matches, the stage is set for the rising stars at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020. Tournament preparations are well underway and approaching their final stages, and we are excited to work closely with the LOC to bring the tournament to life. We are confident that India will deliver a truly spectacular FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup later this year while providing the players with a platform to perform at their highest level." The key dates for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020 include: Opening match - November 2 Quarter-finals - November 12 and 13 Semi-finals - November 17 3rd/4th-place playoff and final - November 21. Group-stage matches will be played in four host cities Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and Kolkata with the knockout stages also taking place in four cities Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, and Navi Mumbai. The winners will lift the trophy at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 21.

Navi Mumbai set to host FIFA World Cup U-17 Women's World Cup final

Football legend Pele is experiencing "a kind of depression" and barely leaves home anymore because health problems have left him unable to walk normally, his son said in an interview published Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peles-last-number-10-brazil-jersey-sold-for-30000-euros-in-italy-266670">Pele's last Number 10 Brazil jersey sold for 30,000 euros in Italy</a>

"He's pretty fragile in terms of his mobility... and that makes him suffer a kind of depression," Edinho said of his 79-year-old father, who has had a series of health problems in recent years.

"Just imagine, he's the 'King,' he was always such an imposing figure, and now he can't walk normally. He gets very shy, very embarrassed about that," his son said in an interview published on the sports news site Globoesporte.com.

Pele, the pride of Brazilian football and the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

He has been in and out of the hospital in recent years for various health issues.

He never fully recovered from one of his hip operations, leaving him dependent on a walker, Edinho said.

"He's doing a bit better than when he was in a wheelchair recently, but he still has a hard time getting around," said Edinho, 49.

Pele's public appearances have grown increasingly rare with age.

Last April he travelled to Paris for a promotional appearance with French rising star Kylian Mbappe but had to be hospitalized shortly after for kidney problems.

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I met Kylian Mbappe and his parents last night in Paris at <a href="https://twitter.com/Hublot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hublot</a> event. We talked goals, World Cups and watches. Great company! /Estive com <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KMbappe</a> e seus pais ontem à noite, durante um evento da <a href="https://twitter.com/Hublot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hublot</a> em Paris. Falamos sobre gols, Copas do Mundo e relógios. Grande encontro! <a href="https://t.co/U63hLWy0mV">pic.twitter.com/U63hLWy0mV</a>
— Pelé (@Pele) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pele/status/1113403869416050688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In 2014, he was placed in intensive care for dialysis after contracting a severe urinary infection.

The Brazilian great, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has only one kidney, after a broken rib during a match forced doctors to remove the other.

He has also suffered a series of hip problems.

Edinho said despite those issues his father is "doing well" physically.

Football legend Pele is experiencing "a kind of depression" and barely leaves home anymore because health problems have left him unable to walk normally, his son said in an interview published Monday.

Football legend Pele is experiencing "a kind of depression" and barely leaves home anymore because health problems have left him unable to walk normally, his son said in an interview published Monday. Also read: Pele's last Number 10 Brazil jersey sold for 30,000 euros in Italy "He's pretty fragile in terms of his mobility... and that makes him suffer a kind of depression," Edinho said of his 79-year-old father, who has had a series of health problems in recent years. "Just imagine, he's the 'King,' he was always such an imposing figure, and now he can't walk normally. He gets very shy, very embarrassed about that," his son said in an interview published on the sports news site Globoesporte.com. Pele, the pride of Brazilian football and the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time. He has been in and out of the hospital in recent years for various health issues. He never fully recovered from one of his hip operations, leaving him dependent on a walker, Edinho said. "He's doing a bit better than when he was in a wheelchair recently, but he still has a hard time getting around," said Edinho, 49. Pele's public appearances have grown increasingly rare with age. Last April he travelled to Paris for a promotional appearance with French rising star Kylian Mbappe but had to be hospitalized shortly after for kidney problems. I met Kylian Mbappe and his parents last night in Paris at @Hublot event. We talked goals, World Cups and watches. Great company! /Estive com @KMbappe e seus pais ontem à noite, durante um evento da @Hublot em Paris. Falamos sobre gols, Copas do Mundo e relógios. Grande encontro! pic.twitter.com/U63hLWy0mV — Pelé (@Pele) April 3, 2019 × In 2014, he was placed in intensive care for dialysis after contracting a severe urinary infection. The Brazilian great, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has only one kidney, after a broken rib during a match forced doctors to remove the other. He has also suffered a series of hip problems. Edinho said despite those issues his father is "doing well" physically.

Pele depressed, reclusive due to poor health, says son

FIFA World Cup 2022: One of the most controversial world cups in football history

Athletes, executives and fans are turning sports in an era of defiance and dissent into a battleground for freedom of expression and political change, wherein national and international sports associations adhere to human rights on the spot.

Denunciations of repression in China’s troubled north-western province of Xinjiang and support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by soccer celebrity Mesut Ozil, Houston Rockets basketball general manager Darryl Morey, and rugby superstar Sonny Bill Williams alongside soccer fans in regions like Morocco and Hong Kong, highlight the willingness of sports associations to sacrifice the values attributed to sports for commercial gain in their dealings with autocratic nations.

They also by implication puncture the fiction of a separation of sports and politics that sports associations have long employed to justify their often-close ties to government and dealings with countries irrespective of their records in upholding basic rights.

By distancing themselves from statements of Morey and Ozil, despite the latter’s ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, English Premier League club Arsenal and the US National Basketball Association (NBA) have served to highlight the discrepancy between sports associations’ declared principles and their policies.

So has China with its penalising of the NBA and Ozil for their critical statements.

The gap between professed principles and practice is, even more, yawning with the awarding of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup to China despite Chinese president Xi Jinping’s crackdown in Xinjiang and his moves to turn the People’s Republic into a 21st-century Orwellian surveillance state.

FIFA awarded the hosting rights in a consultative rather than a transparent bidding process.

In a letter to Human Rights Watch, FIFA justified its decision by insisting that the Chinese football association, as well as China, had committed “To respect human rights in their activities associated with the tournament in accordance with internationally recognised human rights standards and FIFA’s own Human Rights Policy.”

It was not clear how human rights associated with the Club World Cup could be separated from the overall crackdown in China. Nor was it clear why FIFA would help Xi take a step towards fulfilling his dream of China first qualifying for the World Cup, then winning the World Cup and ultimately hosting the tournament.

The awarding casts doubt on FIFA’s campaign against racism in stadiums given that the crackdown in Xinjiang aims to force Turkic Muslims to violate principles of their faith and adopt Xi Jinping though as superseding Islam.

The re-emergence of sports as a battleground is not limited to the plight of Xinjiang. Hong Kong fans recently took their struggle for greater democracy to a match in South Korea.

Chinese and Hong Kong broadcasters refrained from showing the playing of the national anthems when China and Hong Kong played each other earlier this month in an East Asia Football Federation (EAFF) Championship match.

Hong Kong fans booed China’s anthem, chanted “Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times,” and displayed Hong Kong’s British-era flag.

Support for national teams in autocracies like Egypt and Syria has dropped with fans demanding reforms of regime-controlled football federations that are widely viewed as corrupt,

"Egypt's national team is also its national embarrassment ... Plenty of Egyptians are basking in the team's loss today," tweeted journalist Karim Zidan in July after host Egypt crashed out of the African Cup of Nations.

Privately, many fans assert that the team represents the repressive regime of general-turned-president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi rather than its historically huge fan base.

Sentiments in war-torn Syria are no different.

“Anyone who knows Syria well knows that in Syria there are no independent institutions, and that includes sporting institutions… Considering this (national) team as one that is above politics and a national team that unites people is a big lie and part of certain propaganda,” said Syrian journalist Hala Droubi.

In Morocco, fans, dressed in black, last year booed the national anthem during a match in the northern city of Tetouan that was being broadcast live on television in protest against the killing by the Moroccan navy of a 20-year old student as she tried to illegally cross into Spain.

It is a sentiment shared by anti-government protesters across the globe from Latin America to Asia.

(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Athletes, executives and fans are turning sports in an era of defiance and dissent into a battleground for freedom of expression and political change, wherein national and international sports associations adhere to human rights on the spot.

Athletes, executives and fans are turning sports in an era of defiance and dissent into a battleground for freedom of expression and political change, wherein national and international sports associations adhere to human rights on the spot. Denunciations of repression in China’s troubled north-western province of Xinjiang and support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by soccer celebrity Mesut Ozil, Houston Rockets basketball general manager Darryl Morey, and rugby superstar Sonny Bill Williams alongside soccer fans in regions like Morocco and Hong Kong, highlight the willingness of sports associations to sacrifice the values attributed to sports for commercial gain in their dealings with autocratic nations. They also by implication puncture the fiction of a separation of sports and politics that sports associations have long employed to justify their often-close ties to government and dealings with countries irrespective of their records in upholding basic rights. By distancing themselves from statements of Morey and Ozil, despite the latter’s ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, English Premier League club Arsenal and the US National Basketball Association (NBA) have served to highlight the discrepancy between sports associations’ declared principles and their policies. So has China with its penalising of the NBA and Ozil for their critical statements. The gap between professed principles and practice is, even more, yawning with the awarding of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup to China despite Chinese president Xi Jinping’s crackdown in Xinjiang and his moves to turn the People’s Republic into a 21st-century Orwellian surveillance state. FIFA awarded the hosting rights in a consultative rather than a transparent bidding process. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, FIFA justified its decision by insisting that the Chinese football association, as well as China, had committed “To respect human rights in their activities associated with the tournament in accordance with internationally recognised human rights standards and FIFA’s own Human Rights Policy.” It was not clear how human rights associated with the Club World Cup could be separated from the overall crackdown in China. Nor was it clear why FIFA would help Xi take a step towards fulfilling his dream of China first qualifying for the World Cup, then winning the World Cup and ultimately hosting the tournament. The awarding casts doubt on FIFA’s campaign against racism in stadiums given that the crackdown in Xinjiang aims to force Turkic Muslims to violate principles of their faith and adopt Xi Jinping though as superseding Islam. The re-emergence of sports as a battleground is not limited to the plight of Xinjiang. Hong Kong fans recently took their struggle for greater democracy to a match in South Korea. Chinese and Hong Kong broadcasters refrained from showing the playing of the national anthems when China and Hong Kong played each other earlier this month in an East Asia Football Federation (EAFF) Championship match. Hong Kong fans booed China’s anthem, chanted “Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times,” and displayed Hong Kong’s British-era flag. Support for national teams in autocracies like Egypt and Syria has dropped with fans demanding reforms of regime-controlled football federations that are widely viewed as corrupt, "Egypt's national team is also its national embarrassment ... Plenty of Egyptians are basking in the team's loss today," tweeted journalist Karim Zidan in July after host Egypt crashed out of the African Cup of Nations. Privately, many fans assert that the team represents the repressive regime of general-turned-president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi rather than its historically huge fan base. Sentiments in war-torn Syria are no different. “Anyone who knows Syria well knows that in Syria there are no independent institutions, and that includes sporting institutions… Considering this (national) team as one that is above politics and a national team that unites people is a big lie and part of certain propaganda,” said Syrian journalist Hala Droubi. In Morocco, fans, dressed in black, last year booed the national anthem during a match in the northern city of Tetouan that was being broadcast live on television in protest against the killing by the Moroccan navy of a 20-year old student as she tried to illegally cross into Spain. It is a sentiment shared by anti-government protesters across the globe from Latin America to Asia. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Sports has emerged as battlefield for freedom of expression

Arjen Robben has retired from football, foregoing the chance for a few more seasons in his native Netherlands, the 35-year-old Dutch international said on Thursday.

"I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the last weeks. As everyone knows I have taken time after my last game at <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-win-bundesliga-title-for-seventh-successive-season-219687&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjX5aPPp53jAhUSjuYKHV_AABIQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2znIfOFdr9zrluMP-riItU">Bayern Munich</a> to make a decision over my future," he said.

"And I have now decided to end my career as a professional footballer," Robben said.

Robben won 12 league titles in a glittering career and 96 caps for his country including playing in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg.

He won eight with Bayern, where his contract ended last month; two at Chelsea and one each at PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid.

“My love for the game and the conviction that I can still take on the world was up against the reality that things haven’t always gone the way I would have hoped and that I’m no longer a youngster of 16 who has no idea what injuries can do to you,” he said in his statement.

Robben has been beset with injury, particularly in his last seasons in the Bundesliga.

He had already quit international football in October 2017, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Sweden.

"It is maybe a cliché but there is nothing nicer than playing for your country. I finally said goodbye after 96 caps. I was able to take part in six major tournaments and, in my last years, captained the team. Altogether an unforgettable time that I will always treasure," he said.

“It is now time for the next chapter and I‘m looking forward to spending more time with my wife and children and enjoy all the good things that lie ahead for us," <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/arjen-robben-says-he-will-leave-bayern-at-seasons-end-181028&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj679jop53jAhVx73MBHS_DB-sQFjAAegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uNjDc52Lu3RPqZRiDPlqz">Robben </a>said.

Arjen Robben has retired from football, foregoing the chance for a few more seasons in his native Netherlands, the 35-year-old Dutch international said on Thursday.

Arjen Robben has retired from football, foregoing the chance for a few more seasons in his native Netherlands, the 35-year-old Dutch international said on Thursday. "I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the last weeks. As everyone knows I have taken time after my last game at Bayern Munich to make a decision over my future," he said. "And I have now decided to end my career as a professional footballer," Robben said. Robben won 12 league titles in a glittering career and 96 caps for his country including playing in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg. He won eight with Bayern, where his contract ended last month; two at Chelsea and one each at PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid. “My love for the game and the conviction that I can still take on the world was up against the reality that things haven’t always gone the way I would have hoped and that I’m no longer a youngster of 16 who has no idea what injuries can do to you,” he said in his statement. Robben has been beset with injury, particularly in his last seasons in the Bundesliga. He had already quit international football in October 2017, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Sweden. "It is maybe a cliché but there is nothing nicer than playing for your country. I finally said goodbye after 96 caps. I was able to take part in six major tournaments and, in my last years, captained the team. Altogether an unforgettable time that I will always treasure," he said. “It is now time for the next chapter and I‘m looking forward to spending more time with my wife and children and enjoy all the good things that lie ahead for us," Robben said.

Dutch great Arjen Robben announces retirement from football

Former UEFA chief Michel Platini was released from custody by the French Police early on Wednesday. No charges were brought against the former number 10 of Les Bleus after almost 15 hours of questioning, reported news agency Associated Press.

"I have always been at peace because I feel totally foreign to any of these matters. This is an old case, you know it, we explained it. I have always expressed myself with full transparency in all the newspapers. That's it, it goes on, they investigate, they search," said Platini after his release.

"A lot of noise for nothing. There you go, very long questioning. Michel Platini gave his testimony by answering as sincerely and precisely as he could, to all the questions put to him. I would remind you that he was heard 18 months ago as well, as a witness in a free hearing. We do not consider in any way that Michel Platini can be considered a suspect in any way, either yesterday or today or tomorrow. So it's a done deal for us," his lawyer William Bourdon said.

The French football legend elected to lead European football's governing body in 2007 was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-uefa-chief-michel-platini-arrested-in-2022-qatar-world-cup-probe-228291">taken into custody</a> by French anti-corruption police investigating the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the gas-rich Gulf state Qatar.

Watch Platini's&nbsp;reaction:&nbsp;

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Also questioned on Tuesday were two one-time associates of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, adding a layer of political intrigue to the investigation of the hugely controversial decision to hold football's showcase tournament in a desert country so scorching hot in June and July that the matches will be played instead in November and December.

Platini, 63, led UEFA until 2015 when he was banned from football for four years for ethics violations including receiving $2 million payment from the disgraced former head of FIFA Sepp Blatter.

Qatar has been accused of buying votes in its bid to stage the World Cup and a subsequent report by US independent investigator Michael Garcia unearthed an array of suspect financial dealings, many linked to Sandro Rosell, the ex-Barcelona president who served as a consultant for Qatar.

Platini, a triple Ballon d'Or winner, was expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 before his fall from grace. He has been battling to clear his name ever since.

Former UEFA chief Michel Platini was released from custody by the French Police early on Wednesday. No charges were brought against the former number 10 of Les Bleus after almost 15 hours of questioning, reported news agency Associated Press.

Former UEFA chief Michel Platini was released from custody by the French Police early on Wednesday. No charges were brought against the former number 10 of Les Bleus after almost 15 hours of questioning, reported news agency Associated Press. "I have always been at peace because I feel totally foreign to any of these matters. This is an old case, you know it, we explained it. I have always expressed myself with full transparency in all the newspapers. That's it, it goes on, they investigate, they search," said Platini after his release. "A lot of noise for nothing. There you go, very long questioning. Michel Platini gave his testimony by answering as sincerely and precisely as he could, to all the questions put to him. I would remind you that he was heard 18 months ago as well, as a witness in a free hearing. We do not consider in any way that Michel Platini can be considered a suspect in any way, either yesterday or today or tomorrow. So it's a done deal for us," his lawyer William Bourdon said. The French football legend elected to lead European football's governing body in 2007 was taken into custody by French anti-corruption police investigating the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the gas-rich Gulf state Qatar. Watch Platini's reaction: × Also questioned on Tuesday were two one-time associates of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, adding a layer of political intrigue to the investigation of the hugely controversial decision to hold football's showcase tournament in a desert country so scorching hot in June and July that the matches will be played instead in November and December. Platini, 63, led UEFA until 2015 when he was banned from football for four years for ethics violations including receiving $2 million payment from the disgraced former head of FIFA Sepp Blatter. Qatar has been accused of buying votes in its bid to stage the World Cup and a subsequent report by US independent investigator Michael Garcia unearthed an array of suspect financial dealings, many linked to Sandro Rosell, the ex-Barcelona president who served as a consultant for Qatar. Platini, a triple Ballon d'Or winner, was expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 before his fall from grace. He has been battling to clear his name ever since.

Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini released, says he is at 'peace'

Colombia captain James Rodriguez has been included in their squad for next month's Copa America in Brazil despite concerns over his form and fitness.

The <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-pay-record-fee-to-sign-world-cup-winner-lucas-hernandez-206245&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjU-bWw4MXiAhUHiXAKHUvXC8AQFjADegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3fXvNk_wq9roAbitcx5KOU">Bayern Munich</a> player managed a full 90 minutes only three times in the<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-win-bundesliga-title-for-seventh-successive-season-219687&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjU-bWw4MXiAhUHiXAKHUvXC8AQFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SWFFYBjR4jjQ22NI9pDSl"> Bundesliga</a> this season and missed four of his club's last five games with various muscular problems.

He was also troubled by a calf injury during last year's World Cup in Russia when Colombia were knocked out in the last sixteen.

"We have a personal coach for James and we have 15 days to get him ready for the opening match against Argentina. I'd be delighted to have James playing lots of games," said coach Carlos Queiroz.

Other players to make the final 23 included Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and forward Duvan Zapata, who was the second top scorer in Italy's Serie A this season and helped unfancied Atalanta qualify for the Champions League for the first time.

The surprise call-up was 20-year-old defender Jhon Lucumi who helped Racing Genk win the Belgian league this season.

Colombia will face Argentina, Paraguay and guest team Qatar in their group as they play their first competitive matches under Queiroz, who has replaced Jose Pekerman.

"It's time to work, this is no time to party," said the Portuguese in announcing the squad.

"A triumphalist attitude would not be responsible before the competition. We need to be together and aware, with ambition and humility. That's the only way we can fulfil our dreams," said&nbsp;Carlos Queiroz.

Goalkeepers: 
David Ospina (Napoli), Alvaro Montero (Deportes Tolima), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali)

Defenders: 
Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham Hotspur), Yerry Mina (Everton), Cristian Borja (Sporting), Santiago Arias (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), William Tesillo (Leon), Jhon Lucumi (Racing Genk), Stefan Medina (Monterrey)

Midfielders: 
Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo), Mateus Uribe (America-Mexico), Wilmar Barrios (Zenit St Petersburg), Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Edwin Cardona (Pachuca), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)

Forwards: 
Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Luis Muriel (Fiorentina), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta), Luis Diaz (Atletico Junior), Roger Martinez (America-Mexico)

Colombia captain James Rodriguez has been included in their squad for next month's Copa America in Brazil despite concerns over his form and fitness. The Bayern Munich player managed a full 90 minutes only three times in the Bundesliga this season and missed four of his club's last five games with various muscular problems.

Colombia captain James Rodriguez has been included in their squad for next month's Copa America in Brazil despite concerns over his form and fitness. The Bayern Munich player managed a full 90 minutes only three times in the Bundesliga this season and missed four of his club's last five games with various muscular problems. He was also troubled by a calf injury during last year's World Cup in Russia when Colombia were knocked out in the last sixteen. "We have a personal coach for James and we have 15 days to get him ready for the opening match against Argentina. I'd be delighted to have James playing lots of games," said coach Carlos Queiroz. Other players to make the final 23 included Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and forward Duvan Zapata, who was the second top scorer in Italy's Serie A this season and helped unfancied Atalanta qualify for the Champions League for the first time. The surprise call-up was 20-year-old defender Jhon Lucumi who helped Racing Genk win the Belgian league this season. Colombia will face Argentina, Paraguay and guest team Qatar in their group as they play their first competitive matches under Queiroz, who has replaced Jose Pekerman. "It's time to work, this is no time to party," said the Portuguese in announcing the squad. "A triumphalist attitude would not be responsible before the competition. We need to be together and aware, with ambition and humility. That's the only way we can fulfil our dreams," said Carlos Queiroz. Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Napoli), Alvaro Montero (Deportes Tolima), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali) Defenders: Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham Hotspur), Yerry Mina (Everton), Cristian Borja (Sporting), Santiago Arias (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), William Tesillo (Leon), Jhon Lucumi (Racing Genk), Stefan Medina (Monterrey) Midfielders: Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo), Mateus Uribe (America-Mexico), Wilmar Barrios (Zenit St Petersburg), Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Edwin Cardona (Pachuca), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) Forwards: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Luis Muriel (Fiorentina), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta), Luis Diaz (Atletico Junior), Roger Martinez (America-Mexico)

Colombia's injury-hit captain James Rodriguez included in their Copa America squad

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held with 32 participating teams and not an<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/as-fifa-eyes-world-cup-expansion-rights-groups-say-workers-at-risk-202898&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiNwOf207DiAhU17HMBHWOdDz4QFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1e_UYFymD8ahyHd2Tg4ICL"> expanded 48 teams,</a> organisers FIFA said on Wednesday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had proposed expanding the tournament and explored the idea of adding additional host nations.

But the sport's world ruling body said in a statement,&nbsp;"Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now."

FIFA and Qatar also looked at whether the Gulf state could host an expanded tournament alone by changing the normal requirements for facilities.

"A joint analysis, in this respect, concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June," FIFA said.

"It was, therefore, decided not to further pursue this option", <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelsea-lose-transfer-ban-appeal-but-can-register-minor-players-says-fifa-217035&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiNwOf207DiAhU17HMBHWOdDz4QFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw10nVsQJMu9jYDbYDXgBbyk">FIFA </a>added.

Infantino began to back away from the idea in March when after a FIFA Council meeting in Miami he said,&nbsp;“If it happens -&nbsp;fantastic. If it doesn’t happen -&nbsp;fantastic also”.

Qatar World Cup organisers said they had always been open to an expanded tournament if a "viable operating model" had been found.

"A joint analysis concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on Qatar, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June. It was, therefore, decided not to further pursue this option," they said in a statement.

"With just three and a half years to go until kick off, Qatar remains as committed as ever to ensuring the 32-team FIFA World Cup in 2022 is one of the best tournaments ever and one that makes the entire Arab world proud", the statement added.

The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to feature 48 teams and given a large number of stadiums available is unlikely to face any logistical problems.

The obstacles to a 48-team tournament in Qatar were numerous and some of the natural partners for joint-hosting in the Gulf were ruled out due to a deep political and economic rift in the region.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and non-Gulf state Egypt cut political, trade and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017.

Those countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies.

FIFA’s study said the blockade would need to be lifted before there was any chance of those countries hosting matches.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held with 32 participating teams and not an expanded 48 teams, organisers FIFA said on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had proposed expanding the tournament and explored the idea of adding additional host nations.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held with 32 participating teams and not an expanded 48 teams, organisers FIFA said on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had proposed expanding the tournament and explored the idea of adding additional host nations. But the sport's world ruling body said in a statement, "Following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process with the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, it was concluded that under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now." FIFA and Qatar also looked at whether the Gulf state could host an expanded tournament alone by changing the normal requirements for facilities. "A joint analysis, in this respect, concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June," FIFA said. "It was, therefore, decided not to further pursue this option", FIFA added. Infantino began to back away from the idea in March when after a FIFA Council meeting in Miami he said, “If it happens - fantastic. If it doesn’t happen - fantastic also”. Qatar World Cup organisers said they had always been open to an expanded tournament if a "viable operating model" had been found. "A joint analysis concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on Qatar, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June. It was, therefore, decided not to further pursue this option," they said in a statement. "With just three and a half years to go until kick off, Qatar remains as committed as ever to ensuring the 32-team FIFA World Cup in 2022 is one of the best tournaments ever and one that makes the entire Arab world proud", the statement added. The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to feature 48 teams and given a large number of stadiums available is unlikely to face any logistical problems. The obstacles to a 48-team tournament in Qatar were numerous and some of the natural partners for joint-hosting in the Gulf were ruled out due to a deep political and economic rift in the region. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and non-Gulf state Egypt cut political, trade and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017. Those countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies. FIFA’s study said the blockade would need to be lifted before there was any chance of those countries hosting matches.

FIFA to stick with 32 teams for 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez will retire at the end of the season to move into coaching, calling time on a trophy-laden career spanning two decades.

Xavi, who has made a record 767 appearances for Barca and 133 for Spain, confirmed his retirement plans in an open letter sent to members of the Spanish media on Thursday.

"This is my last season as a player but I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me as a coach," wrote Xavi, who has been playing for Qatari side Al Sadd since leaving Barca in 2015.

"It has been a privilege to play football until 39 years of age and now I would like to finish the season on a high by winning the Emir Cup and by getting to the next phase of the Asian Champions League", said Xavi.

Xavi made his debut for Barca in 1998 after coming through the club's famed La Masia academy and soon became the heartbeat of the team`s midfield, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns before joining Al Sadd.

He was one of the key players when Spain won their first and only World Cup in 2010 as well as their European Championship triumphs in 2008 and 2012, eventually retiring from the national team after a disappointing 2014 World Cup.

Last month he helped Al Sadd win the Qatar Stars League, the country`s top flight division, and has reached the quarter-finals of the Emir Cup with the team. 
&nbsp;

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez will retire at the end of the season to move into coaching, calling time on a trophy-laden career spanning two decades.

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez will retire at the end of the season to move into coaching, calling time on a trophy-laden career spanning two decades. Xavi, who has made a record 767 appearances for Barca and 133 for Spain, confirmed his retirement plans in an open letter sent to members of the Spanish media on Thursday. "This is my last season as a player but I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me as a coach," wrote Xavi, who has been playing for Qatari side Al Sadd since leaving Barca in 2015. "It has been a privilege to play football until 39 years of age and now I would like to finish the season on a high by winning the Emir Cup and by getting to the next phase of the Asian Champions League", said Xavi. Xavi made his debut for Barca in 1998 after coming through the club's famed La Masia academy and soon became the heartbeat of the team`s midfield, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns before joining Al Sadd. He was one of the key players when Spain won their first and only World Cup in 2010 as well as their European Championship triumphs in 2008 and 2012, eventually retiring from the national team after a disappointing 2014 World Cup. Last month he helped Al Sadd win the Qatar Stars League, the country`s top flight division, and has reached the quarter-finals of the Emir Cup with the team.

Spain legend Xavi Hernandez to retire at end of season

Atletico Madrid and France defender Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich for €80 million ($90m) this summer, the German club announced on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old World Cup winner will sign a five-year contract starting on July 1, Bayern said in a statement.&nbsp;

The €80 million fee makes him the most expensive signing in Bayern's history, almost doubling the sum paid for Corentin Tolisso.&nbsp;

It also makes Hernandez one of the most expensive defenders in history, and one of the most expensive players ever signed by a German club.

"I am very happy that we have managed to sign Lucas Hernandez, who is a World Cup winner and one of the best defensive players in the world," said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.&nbsp;

"Lucas can play in central defence or at left-back. He will strengthen our team and continue the tradition of fantastic French players at our club."

The announcement is the latest sign that Bayern are planning a major squad overhaul this summer.&nbsp;

Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and earlier this month, club president Uli Hoeness declared that Bayern were launching the "biggest programme of investment the club has ever seen".&nbsp;

In January, Bayern announced that Hernandez's fellow France defender Benjamin Pavard would join from Stuttgart this summer for €35 million ($40m). Hamburg's 19-year old striker Jann Fiete Arp will also complete a move to Munich by the summer of 2020.&nbsp;

The new arrivals could push some more familiar faces towards the exit door. Veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are expected to finally end their Bayern careers this summer, and there is speculation that further big names may also leave.&nbsp;

Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, both recently axed from the German national team set-up, will face a fight for their place in the Bayern team after the arrival of fellow defenders Hernandez and Pavard.

Hernandez has had a knee problem for a while. He has not played for Atletico since Feb 9 and missed France's recent internationals.&nbsp;

Bayern said that he would undergo an operation on Wednesday after a medical exam revealed a problem with his knee.&nbsp;

"Our medical examination revealed damage to Lucas Hernandez' right knee, which will have to be operated on," said Bayern team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, confirming that Hernandez would, nonetheless, be fit to play by the start of next season.&nbsp;

Hernandez signed for Atletico Madrid as a youth player in 2007, and has made 110 senior appearances for the club since his first-team debut in April 2014. Last summer, he was a key player in France's World Cup-winning campaign.&nbsp;

"This is a very important day in my footballing career," said Hernandez.

"Bayern are one of the best clubs in the world. I will be proud to compete for all titles for Bayern in the future."

"I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my teammates and the fans for 12 wonderful years in Madrid," he said.&nbsp;

"Atletico will always be a part of me, but I am now happy to be making the next step at Bayern."

Atletico Madrid and France defender Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich for €80 million ($90m) this summer, the German club announced on Wednesday. The 23-year-old World Cup winner will sign a five-year contract starting on July 1, Bayern said in a statement.

Atletico Madrid and France defender Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich for €80 million ($90m) this summer, the German club announced on Wednesday. The 23-year-old World Cup winner will sign a five-year contract starting on July 1, Bayern said in a statement. The €80 million fee makes him the most expensive signing in Bayern's history, almost doubling the sum paid for Corentin Tolisso. It also makes Hernandez one of the most expensive defenders in history, and one of the most expensive players ever signed by a German club. "I am very happy that we have managed to sign Lucas Hernandez, who is a World Cup winner and one of the best defensive players in the world," said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. "Lucas can play in central defence or at left-back. He will strengthen our team and continue the tradition of fantastic French players at our club." The announcement is the latest sign that Bayern are planning a major squad overhaul this summer. Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and earlier this month, club president Uli Hoeness declared that Bayern were launching the "biggest programme of investment the club has ever seen". In January, Bayern announced that Hernandez's fellow France defender Benjamin Pavard would join from Stuttgart this summer for €35 million ($40m). Hamburg's 19-year old striker Jann Fiete Arp will also complete a move to Munich by the summer of 2020. The new arrivals could push some more familiar faces towards the exit door. Veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are expected to finally end their Bayern careers this summer, and there is speculation that further big names may also leave. Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, both recently axed from the German national team set-up, will face a fight for their place in the Bayern team after the arrival of fellow defenders Hernandez and Pavard. Hernandez has had a knee problem for a while. He has not played for Atletico since Feb 9 and missed France's recent internationals. Bayern said that he would undergo an operation on Wednesday after a medical exam revealed a problem with his knee. "Our medical examination revealed damage to Lucas Hernandez' right knee, which will have to be operated on," said Bayern team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, confirming that Hernandez would, nonetheless, be fit to play by the start of next season. Hernandez signed for Atletico Madrid as a youth player in 2007, and has made 110 senior appearances for the club since his first-team debut in April 2014. Last summer, he was a key player in France's World Cup-winning campaign. "This is a very important day in my footballing career," said Hernandez. "Bayern are one of the best clubs in the world. I will be proud to compete for all titles for Bayern in the future." "I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my teammates and the fans for 12 wonderful years in Madrid," he said. "Atletico will always be a part of me, but I am now happy to be making the next step at Bayern."

Bayern Munich pay record fee to sign World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers.

It may be a nice idea, but it is grounded in the fiction that football can play an independent role in bringing nations together or developing national identity.

The fiction is that football has the potential to be a driver of events, that it can spark or shape developments. It is also the fiction that sports in general and football, in particular, has the power to build bridges.&nbsp;

Infantino’s assertion that if foes play football, bridges are built is but the latest iteration of a long-standing myth.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Football is an aggressive sport. It is about conquering the other half of a pitch. It evokes passions and allegiances that are tribal in nature and that more often than not divide rather than unite.

In conflict situations, football tends to provide an additional battlefield. Examples abound.

The 2022 World Cup; this year’s Qatari Asian Cup victory against the backdrop of the Gulf state’s rift with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt; the imprint the Palestinian-Israeli conflict puts on the two nations’ football; or the rise of racist, discriminatory attitudes among fans in Europe.

The Bad Blue Boys, hardcore fans of Dinamo Zagreb’s hardcore fans, light candles each May and lay wreaths at a monument to their comrades who were killed in the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. They mark the anniversary of a riot during the 1990 match against Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, their club’s most controversial match, as the first clash in the wars that erupted a year later and sparked the collapse of former Yugoslavia.

The fact of the matter is that sports like ping pong in Richard Nixon’s 1972 rapprochement with China or the improvement of ties between North and South Korea in the most recent Summer Olympics served as a useful tool, not a driver of events.

Sports is a useful tool in an environment in which key political players seek to build bridges and narrow differences.

The impact of football in the absence of a conducive environment created by political not sports players, is at best temporary relief, a blip on an otherwise bleak landscape.

The proof is in the pudding. Legend has it that British and German soldiers played football in no-man’s lands on Christmas Day in 2014, only to return to fighting World War One for another four years. Millions died in the war.

Similarly, Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites poured into the streets of Iraqi cities hugging each other in celebration of Iraq’s winning in 2007 of the Asia Cup at the height of the country’s sectarian violence only to return to killing each other a day later.

Football’s ability to shape or cement national identity is no different. In other words. football can be a rallying point for national identity but only if there is an environment that is conducive.

The problem is that football and the formation of national identity have one complicating trait in common: both often involve opposition to the other.

That is nowhere truer than in the Middle East and North Africa where football has played and plays an important role in identity formation since it was first introduced to the region in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Qatar has been in some ways the exception that proves the rule by plotting its sports strategy not only as a soft power tool or a pillar of public health policy but also as a component of national identity. That element has been strengthened by the rift in the Gulf and bolstered by this year’s Asian Cup victory.

Qatar’s efforts to strengthen its national identity benefits from the fact that the Gulf state no longer operates on the notion that Gulf states have to hang together. Today it's hanging on its own in conflict with three of its neighbours.

Soccer’s role in identity formation in the Middle East and North Africa was often because it was a battlefield, a battlefield for identity that was part of larger political struggles.

Clubs were often formed for that very reason. Attitudes towards the country’s monarchy in the early 20th century loomed large in the founding of Egypt’s Al Ahli SC and Al Zamalek SC, two of the Middle East and North Africa’s most storied clubs.

Clubs in Algeria were established as part of the anti-colonial struggle against the French. Ottoman and Iranian rulers used sports and football to foster national identity and take a first step towards incorporating youth in the development of a modern defense force.

Zionists saw sports and football as an important way of developing the New Jew, the muscular Jew. To Palestinians, it was a tool in their opposition to Zionist immigration. And finally, football was important in the shaping of ethnic or sub-national identities among Berbers, Kurds, East Bank Jordanians and Jordanian Palestinians.

In other words, football was inclusive in the sense of contributing to the formation of a collective identity. But it was also divisive because that identity was at the same time exclusionary and opposed to an other.

The long and short of this is that football is malleable. Its impact and fallout depend on forces beyond its control. Football is dependent on the environment shaped by political and social forces. It is a tool that is agnostic to purpose, not a driver or an independent actor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers.

Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as the magic wand that would turn bitter foes into brothers. It may be a nice idea, but it is grounded in the fiction that football can play an independent role in bringing nations together or developing national identity. The fiction is that football has the potential to be a driver of events, that it can spark or shape developments. It is also the fiction that sports in general and football, in particular, has the power to build bridges. Infantino’s assertion that if foes play football, bridges are built is but the latest iteration of a long-standing myth. Nothing could be further from the truth. Football is an aggressive sport. It is about conquering the other half of a pitch. It evokes passions and allegiances that are tribal in nature and that more often than not divide rather than unite. In conflict situations, football tends to provide an additional battlefield. Examples abound. The 2022 World Cup; this year’s Qatari Asian Cup victory against the backdrop of the Gulf state’s rift with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt; the imprint the Palestinian-Israeli conflict puts on the two nations’ football; or the rise of racist, discriminatory attitudes among fans in Europe. The Bad Blue Boys, hardcore fans of Dinamo Zagreb’s hardcore fans, light candles each May and lay wreaths at a monument to their comrades who were killed in the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. They mark the anniversary of a riot during the 1990 match against Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, their club’s most controversial match, as the first clash in the wars that erupted a year later and sparked the collapse of former Yugoslavia. The fact of the matter is that sports like ping pong in Richard Nixon’s 1972 rapprochement with China or the improvement of ties between North and South Korea in the most recent Summer Olympics served as a useful tool, not a driver of events. Sports is a useful tool in an environment in which key political players seek to build bridges and narrow differences. The impact of football in the absence of a conducive environment created by political not sports players, is at best temporary relief, a blip on an otherwise bleak landscape. The proof is in the pudding. Legend has it that British and German soldiers played football in no-man’s lands on Christmas Day in 2014, only to return to fighting World War One for another four years. Millions died in the war. Similarly, Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites poured into the streets of Iraqi cities hugging each other in celebration of Iraq’s winning in 2007 of the Asia Cup at the height of the country’s sectarian violence only to return to killing each other a day later. Football’s ability to shape or cement national identity is no different. In other words. football can be a rallying point for national identity but only if there is an environment that is conducive. The problem is that football and the formation of national identity have one complicating trait in common: both often involve opposition to the other. That is nowhere truer than in the Middle East and North Africa where football has played and plays an important role in identity formation since it was first introduced to the region in the late 19th and early 20th century. Qatar has been in some ways the exception that proves the rule by plotting its sports strategy not only as a soft power tool or a pillar of public health policy but also as a component of national identity. That element has been strengthened by the rift in the Gulf and bolstered by this year’s Asian Cup victory. Qatar’s efforts to strengthen its national identity benefits from the fact that the Gulf state no longer operates on the notion that Gulf states have to hang together. Today it's hanging on its own in conflict with three of its neighbours. Soccer’s role in identity formation in the Middle East and North Africa was often because it was a battlefield, a battlefield for identity that was part of larger political struggles. Clubs were often formed for that very reason. Attitudes towards the country’s monarchy in the early 20th century loomed large in the founding of Egypt’s Al Ahli SC and Al Zamalek SC, two of the Middle East and North Africa’s most storied clubs. Clubs in Algeria were established as part of the anti-colonial struggle against the French. Ottoman and Iranian rulers used sports and football to foster national identity and take a first step towards incorporating youth in the development of a modern defense force. Zionists saw sports and football as an important way of developing the New Jew, the muscular Jew. To Palestinians, it was a tool in their opposition to Zionist immigration. And finally, football was important in the shaping of ethnic or sub-national identities among Berbers, Kurds, East Bank Jordanians and Jordanian Palestinians. In other words, football was inclusive in the sense of contributing to the formation of a collective identity. But it was also divisive because that identity was at the same time exclusionary and opposed to an other. The long and short of this is that football is malleable. Its impact and fallout depend on forces beyond its control. Football is dependent on the environment shaped by political and social forces. It is a tool that is agnostic to purpose, not a driver or an independent actor. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The fallacy of football's magical bridge-building qualities

Cristiano Ronaldo trained with the Portugal squad on Tuesday (March 19) for the first time since his recall to the national team last week.&nbsp;

The 34-year-old, who is Portugal's most capped player with 154 appearances and all-time leading scorer with 85 goals, had not been included for any games in the second half of last year following the 2018 World Cup.&nbsp;

Coach Fernando Santos had initially said that a mutual decision had been made to give Ronaldo a rest following his move from Real Madrid to Juventus but had been ambiguous about the player's future when questioned in November.&nbsp;

Portugal continued to flourish without Ronaldo, winning their Nations League group against Poland and Italy with a game to spare to qualify for the final four-team tournament which the country will host in June.&nbsp;

Ronaldo was charged by UEFA on Monday over his goal celebration during Juventus' 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid last week.&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo trained with the Portugal squad on Tuesday (March 19) for the first time since his recall to the national team last week. The 34-year-old, who is Portugal's most capped player with 154 appearances and all-time leading scorer with 85 goals, had not been included for any games in the second half of last year following the 2018 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo trained with the Portugal squad on Tuesday (March 19) for the first time since his recall to the national team last week. The 34-year-old, who is Portugal's most capped player with 154 appearances and all-time leading scorer with 85 goals, had not been included for any games in the second half of last year following the 2018 World Cup. Coach Fernando Santos had initially said that a mutual decision had been made to give Ronaldo a rest following his move from Real Madrid to Juventus but had been ambiguous about the player's future when questioned in November. Portugal continued to flourish without Ronaldo, winning their Nations League group against Poland and Italy with a game to spare to qualify for the final four-team tournament which the country will host in June. Ronaldo was charged by UEFA on Monday over his goal celebration during Juventus' 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid last week.

Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo trains with Portugal team for Euro 2020 qualifiers

Argentina captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=lionel+messi">Lionel Messi</a> trained on Monday (March 18) with the national squad for the first time since last year's World Cup in Russia at Real Madrid's training centre in Madrid.

The Barcelona star will play in at least one of Argentina's friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco this month, coach Lionel Scaloni said on March 7.

The Barcelona forward has not played for his country since their last-16 exit at the hands of eventual champions France, opting to take a sabbatical after what was a disappointing tournament for the five-times Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi is Argentina's leading goal scorer with 65 goals but he is often criticised for not reproducing his club form for the national side.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi trained on Monday (March 18) with the national squad for the first time since last year's World Cup in Russia at Real Madrid's training centre in Madrid.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi trained on Monday (March 18) with the national squad for the first time since last year's World Cup in Russia at Real Madrid's training centre in Madrid. The Barcelona star will play in at least one of Argentina's friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco this month, coach Lionel Scaloni said on March 7. The Barcelona forward has not played for his country since their last-16 exit at the hands of eventual champions France, opting to take a sabbatical after what was a disappointing tournament for the five-times Ballon d'Or winner. Messi is Argentina's leading goal scorer with 65 goals but he is often criticised for not reproducing his club form for the national side.

Lionel Messi trains with Argentina for the first time since World Cup

A member of the decision-making FIFA Council has been banned for three months and fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,906) for breaching rules on the resale of World Cup tickets, the global soccer body said on Thursday.

FIFA said that Lee Harmon, president of the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA), had "mutually agreed" the sanction with its ethics committee in a plea bargain following an investigation which began in July, shortly after the World Cup in Russia.

FIFA said the investigation concerned the resale of tickets for the tournament but did not give further details. It did not immediately reply to a request for additional information.

Harmon, who could not immediately be reached for comment, has been CIFA president since 1997 and a FIFA Council member since 2016.

His biography on the FIFA Council website says he has been a match commissioner and referee assessor at various FIFA tournaments and international matches.

FIFA has been trying to root out corruption and unethical conduct after several dozen soccer officials were indicted in the United States in 2015, plunging the global soccer body into the worst crisis in its history.

One of the measures was to replace the old executive committee with the larger FIFA Council, which has 37 members.

CIFA is among the smallest of FIFA's 211 member associations and has been a member since 1994.

A member of the decision-making FIFA Council has been banned for three months and fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,906) for breaching rules on the resale of World Cup tickets, the global soccer body said on Thursday.

A member of the decision-making FIFA Council has been banned for three months and fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,906) for breaching rules on the resale of World Cup tickets, the global soccer body said on Thursday. FIFA said that Lee Harmon, president of the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA), had "mutually agreed" the sanction with its ethics committee in a plea bargain following an investigation which began in July, shortly after the World Cup in Russia. FIFA said the investigation concerned the resale of tickets for the tournament but did not give further details. It did not immediately reply to a request for additional information. Harmon, who could not immediately be reached for comment, has been CIFA president since 1997 and a FIFA Council member since 2016. His biography on the FIFA Council website says he has been a match commissioner and referee assessor at various FIFA tournaments and international matches. FIFA has been trying to root out corruption and unethical conduct after several dozen soccer officials were indicted in the United States in 2015, plunging the global soccer body into the worst crisis in its history. One of the measures was to replace the old executive committee with the larger FIFA Council, which has 37 members. CIFA is among the smallest of FIFA's 211 member associations and has been a member since 1994.

FIFA Council member banned over resale of World Cup tickets

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are to submit a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced on Thursday.

Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay had already submitted a joint bid to host the centenary edition of football's most prestigious tournament, but Pinera said on Twitter that those countries' presidents had agreed to Chile's participation in the "joint candidacy".

Argentina and Uruguay originally announced their intention to submit a joint bid in 2017 before Paraguay joined the coalition later that year.

In December last year, Bolivia's football-mad president Evo Morales offered those three countries help in their bid, proposing "two or three departments as sub-seats" for the competition.

Had his offer been accepted, it would have meant the Hernando Siles Reyes stadium in La Paz potentially included as a host venue.

Pinera said he had been touting his idea to the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay for several months.

Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1930, Chile was the venue in 1962 and Argentina emulated its neighbor's achievement by lifting the trophy on home soil in 1978.

Like Morales, Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez and Paraguayan Mario Abdo Benitez are all passionate about football having all been president of a club in their countries.

Pinera is a billionaire businessman who started out as a teacher and has no previous connection to football.

The South American bid faces competition from Morocco and potentially several other joint bids, including one from Britain and Ireland and another by an eastern European confederation of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has even mooted a joint bid with Morocco, which has failed five times in bidding to host the World Cup, and Portugal.

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are to submit a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced on Thursday. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay had already submitted a joint bid to host the centenary edition of football's most prestigious tournament, but Pinera said on Twitter that those countries' presidents had agreed to Chile's participation in the "joint candidacy".

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are to submit a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced on Thursday. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay had already submitted a joint bid to host the centenary edition of football's most prestigious tournament, but Pinera said on Twitter that those countries' presidents had agreed to Chile's participation in the "joint candidacy". Argentina and Uruguay originally announced their intention to submit a joint bid in 2017 before Paraguay joined the coalition later that year. In December last year, Bolivia's football-mad president Evo Morales offered those three countries help in their bid, proposing "two or three departments as sub-seats" for the competition. Had his offer been accepted, it would have meant the Hernando Siles Reyes stadium in La Paz potentially included as a host venue. Pinera said he had been touting his idea to the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay for several months. Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1930, Chile was the venue in 1962 and Argentina emulated its neighbor's achievement by lifting the trophy on home soil in 1978. Like Morales, Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez and Paraguayan Mario Abdo Benitez are all passionate about football having all been president of a club in their countries. Pinera is a billionaire businessman who started out as a teacher and has no previous connection to football. The South American bid faces competition from Morocco and potentially several other joint bids, including one from Britain and Ireland and another by an eastern European confederation of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has even mooted a joint bid with Morocco, which has failed five times in bidding to host the World Cup, and Portugal.

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay to present joint 2030 World Cup bid

Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died at the age of 81, his former club Stoke City said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end due to a car crash that cost him the sight in one eye.&nbsp;

He was widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game and will perhaps be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil's Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the "save of the century".&nbsp;

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We’re deeply saddened to hear that Gordon Banks, our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a>-winning goalkeeper, has passed away. 
 
Our thoughts are with Gordon’s friends, family and supporters at this difficult time. <a href="https://t.co/nbzncYBCFA">pic.twitter.com/nbzncYBCFA</a>
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— England (@England) <a href="https://twitter.com/England/status/1095268699202879488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," Banks' family said in a statement posted on Stoke's official website.&nbsp;

"We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him."&nbsp;

Banks began his career at Chesterfield in 1958 and moved to Leicester City the following year. He won his first England cap in 1963, four years before he joined Stoke.&nbsp;

Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died at the age of 81, his former club Stoke City said on Tuesday. Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end due to a car crash that cost him the sight in one eye.

Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died at the age of 81, his former club Stoke City said on Tuesday. Banks won 73 caps for England between 1963 and 1972 and made nearly 200 appearances for Stoke before his playing career was brought to an end due to a car crash that cost him the sight in one eye. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game and will perhaps be best remembered for the diving stop he made to deny Brazil's Pele at the 1970 World Cup, which later became known as the "save of the century". We’re deeply saddened to hear that Gordon Banks, our #WorldCup-winning goalkeeper, has passed away. Our thoughts are with Gordon’s friends, family and supporters at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/nbzncYBCFA — England (@England) February 12, 2019 × "An all-time great for England, moments from his remarkable World Cup-winning career will continue to linger long in the memory."https://t.co/HGCrWnmkqX — England (@England) February 12, 2019 × "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," Banks' family said in a statement posted on Stoke's official website. "We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him." Banks began his career at Chesterfield in 1958 and moved to Leicester City the following year. He won his first England cap in 1963, four years before he joined Stoke.

England's World Cup-winning keeper Gordon Banks dies at 81

French football talent Kylian Mbappe was elected the French Player of the Year, the France Football magazine has announced.

The World Cup winner Mbappe finished atop in the vote ahead of Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann.

He helped France claim its second FIFA World Cup title this summer in Russia, winning the tournament's Best Young Player award himself.

On club level, Mbappe became the winner of Ligue 1, French Cup and French League Cup with Paris Saint-Germain. He scored 34 goals in all competitions in 2018.

The French Player of the Year is presented annually by the France Football magazine since 1959.&nbsp;

Last year's winner of the award was Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.

French football talent Kylian Mbappe was elected the French Player of the Year, the France Football magazine has announced. The World Cup winner Mbappe finished atop in the vote ahead of Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann.

French football talent Kylian Mbappe was elected the French Player of the Year, the France Football magazine has announced. The World Cup winner Mbappe finished atop in the vote ahead of Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann. He helped France claim its second FIFA World Cup title this summer in Russia, winning the tournament's Best Young Player award himself. On club level, Mbappe became the winner of Ligue 1, French Cup and French League Cup with Paris Saint-Germain. He scored 34 goals in all competitions in 2018. The French Player of the Year is presented annually by the France Football magazine since 1959. Last year's winner of the award was Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.

Kylian Mbappe elected French Player of the Year

By Tony Westbury

It is no shock that José Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United. The results on the pitch said it all. The most commercially successful club in the world is having its worst season in 28 years – with its playing assets inevitably depreciating in value as a result.

Mourinho has spent around £390m building this team since his appointment in 2016, yet he recently described it as nowhere near his ideal. In truth, he has roundly failed to create an environment where the players could perform. A new generation of coaches led by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool have developed a high-tempo attacking style which made Mourinho’s more pragmatic approach look dated.

They also have a more collaborative approach to coaching, alongside the likes of Mauricio Pocchetino’s Tottenham and Unai Emery’s Arsenal. These are environments in which trust, honesty and mutual respect are the key building blocks of their teams’ culture.

In contrast, both Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea (2013-15) and his reign at Manchester United have been marred by poor relationships with key players, the media and sometimes, it appears, with himself. From a career zenith in 2010, when he was acclaimed as the FIFA World Coach of the Year, the “Special One” increasingly looks like a man who has come to believe his own hype.

So is there a way back? I believe there is, but it won’t be easy. Self-belief is a prime asset for any consistent high performer in sport, whether athlete or coach. Unlike many struggling sports stars, however, Mourinho has no shortage of this. Though Mourinho’s record in numerous countries certainly entitles him to a sense of satisfaction, his self-aggrandisement appears to know no limits.

I should declare I am not a clinical psychologist, nor have I ever worked in any capacity with Manchester United or Mourinho. But as a sport psychologist who has worked with personalities at the top of numerous sports, Mourinho’s behaviour shows some worrying signs.

Understanding Mourinho

The accepted rubric for diagnosing narcissistic personality disorders is set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as follows:

<ul>
	<li>Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from other people;</li>
	<li>Fixated on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc;</li>
	<li>Self-perception of being unique, superior, and associated with high-status people and institutions;</li>
	<li>Needing continual admiration from others;</li>
	<li>Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others;</li>
	<li>Exploitative of others to achieve personal gain;</li>
	<li>Unwilling to empathise with the feelings, wishes, and needs of other people;</li>
	<li>Intensely envious of others, and the belief that others are equally envious of them;&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Pompous and arrogant demeanour.</li>
</ul>

In the past five years, Mourinho’s public behaviour has displayed hints of some similar characteristics. Take the start of this season, after Manchester United lost two of their opening games, including a 3–0 home defeat to Spurs. Mourinho held a bizarre press conference where he demanded more respect from the media. He held three fingers aloft – indicating not how many goals Spurs had scored but how many English championships he had won – “I won more alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me and two for them”. It was directed specifically at his rival across Manchester, Pep Guardiola.

Mourinho has long had an antagonistic, self-justificatory relationship with journalists. He also shows little empathy with the demands of their job: later the same week, for instance, he held a press conference that many journalists missed because he started it half an hour early. Mourinho dismissed any questions about his relationship with Ed Woodward, the chief executive at Manchester United, and left the room after just four minutes and 19 seconds.

There are also many more examples of arrogant behaviour towards other managers. Famously, for instance, he described Arsene Wenger, one of the most successful managers in English football, as a “specialist in failure”. At the same time, there have also been numerous high-profile fallings out behind the scenes, such as with Chelsea doctor Eva Caneiro in 2015, or more recently the Manchester United star midfielder Paul Pogba.

What next?

Some of Mourinho’s public behaviour could be part of the “act” that high-performance sport arguably demands of managers nowadays. His lack of humility and unwillingness to accept responsibility for any setback, in public at least, are what made him such a successful manager in the first place. For any clinical assessment, the key question is how someone behaves in private.

Treatment for a personality disorder is slow and challenging. It requires specialist support to facilitate a fundamental reassessment of habitual behaviours. The approaches to the type of narcissistic behaviours set out above are based around talking therapies. A good option might be Cognitive Analytic Therapy, which involves a clinician working in collaboration with the patient to identify problems and come up with ways to change behaviour, with particular emphasis on the importance of relationships.

Priorities would include getting the patient to accept responsibility for his actions and learning to relate to people in new ways; showing empathy, tolerating failure and using criticism and reflection as a means of self-improvement; developing a way of regulating emotion so that it doesn’t go from zero to 100 in seconds; and recognising and celebrating the achievements of others.

Pogba could have been the lynchpin of a United team, for instance, but Mourinho appears to have undermined and antagonised him. In my view, Mourinho would greatly benefit from working with a sport psychologist. He appears stuck in 2010, or even before that, when players had less power and football was played in a different way. Most clubs have embraced the term “culture” now – the strongest ones develop from the “bottom up”, not the “top down”. Managers need to adapt to this nowadays.

I would begin by challenging him to work on every aspect of his thinking, feeling and behaving – to relearn how to interact with people without demanding admiration or respect, and in return not labelling others as unworthy or weak. I would anticipate a long involvement since these are well-established habits.

Whatever is going on behind the scenes, I believe it would be very wrong for José Mourinho to try and make another quick return to management. At the very least, he needs to reflect and develop. If there is a way back, he must change. He must want to change and he must work hard at changing. Should he succeed and claw his way back to the top, his place among the greatest managers of all time will be beyond any doubt.

(Tony Westbury is Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Edinburgh Napier University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-way-back-for-jose-mourinho-as-a-sport-psychologist-i-see-a-hard-road-ahead-109096">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Tony Westbury It is no shock that José Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United. The results on the pitch said it all. The most commercially successful club in the world is having its worst season in 28 years – with its playing assets inevitably depreciating in value as a result.

By Tony Westbury It is no shock that José Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United. The results on the pitch said it all. The most commercially successful club in the world is having its worst season in 28 years – with its playing assets inevitably depreciating in value as a result. Mourinho has spent around £390m building this team since his appointment in 2016, yet he recently described it as nowhere near his ideal. In truth, he has roundly failed to create an environment where the players could perform. A new generation of coaches led by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool have developed a high-tempo attacking style which made Mourinho’s more pragmatic approach look dated. They also have a more collaborative approach to coaching, alongside the likes of Mauricio Pocchetino’s Tottenham and Unai Emery’s Arsenal. These are environments in which trust, honesty and mutual respect are the key building blocks of their teams’ culture. In contrast, both Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea (2013-15) and his reign at Manchester United have been marred by poor relationships with key players, the media and sometimes, it appears, with himself. From a career zenith in 2010, when he was acclaimed as the FIFA World Coach of the Year, the “Special One” increasingly looks like a man who has come to believe his own hype. So is there a way back? I believe there is, but it won’t be easy. Self-belief is a prime asset for any consistent high performer in sport, whether athlete or coach. Unlike many struggling sports stars, however, Mourinho has no shortage of this. Though Mourinho’s record in numerous countries certainly entitles him to a sense of satisfaction, his self-aggrandisement appears to know no limits. I should declare I am not a clinical psychologist, nor have I ever worked in any capacity with Manchester United or Mourinho. But as a sport psychologist who has worked with personalities at the top of numerous sports, Mourinho’s behaviour shows some worrying signs. Understanding Mourinho The accepted rubric for diagnosing narcissistic personality disorders is set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as follows: Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from other people; Fixated on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc; Self-perception of being unique, superior, and associated with high-status people and institutions; Needing continual admiration from others; Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others; Exploitative of others to achieve personal gain; Unwilling to empathise with the feelings, wishes, and needs of other people; Intensely envious of others, and the belief that others are equally envious of them; Pompous and arrogant demeanour. In the past five years, Mourinho’s public behaviour has displayed hints of some similar characteristics. Take the start of this season, after Manchester United lost two of their opening games, including a 3–0 home defeat to Spurs. Mourinho held a bizarre press conference where he demanded more respect from the media. He held three fingers aloft – indicating not how many goals Spurs had scored but how many English championships he had won – “I won more alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me and two for them”. It was directed specifically at his rival across Manchester, Pep Guardiola. Mourinho has long had an antagonistic, self-justificatory relationship with journalists. He also shows little empathy with the demands of their job: later the same week, for instance, he held a press conference that many journalists missed because he started it half an hour early. Mourinho dismissed any questions about his relationship with Ed Woodward, the chief executive at Manchester United, and left the room after just four minutes and 19 seconds. There are also many more examples of arrogant behaviour towards other managers. Famously, for instance, he described Arsene Wenger, one of the most successful managers in English football, as a “specialist in failure”. At the same time, there have also been numerous high-profile fallings out behind the scenes, such as with Chelsea doctor Eva Caneiro in 2015, or more recently the Manchester United star midfielder Paul Pogba. What next? Some of Mourinho’s public behaviour could be part of the “act” that high-performance sport arguably demands of managers nowadays. His lack of humility and unwillingness to accept responsibility for any setback, in public at least, are what made him such a successful manager in the first place. For any clinical assessment, the key question is how someone behaves in private. Treatment for a personality disorder is slow and challenging. It requires specialist support to facilitate a fundamental reassessment of habitual behaviours. The approaches to the type of narcissistic behaviours set out above are based around talking therapies. A good option might be Cognitive Analytic Therapy, which involves a clinician working in collaboration with the patient to identify problems and come up with ways to change behaviour, with particular emphasis on the importance of relationships. Priorities would include getting the patient to accept responsibility for his actions and learning to relate to people in new ways; showing empathy, tolerating failure and using criticism and reflection as a means of self-improvement; developing a way of regulating emotion so that it doesn’t go from zero to 100 in seconds; and recognising and celebrating the achievements of others. Pogba could have been the lynchpin of a United team, for instance, but Mourinho appears to have undermined and antagonised him. In my view, Mourinho would greatly benefit from working with a sport psychologist. He appears stuck in 2010, or even before that, when players had less power and football was played in a different way. Most clubs have embraced the term “culture” now – the strongest ones develop from the “bottom up”, not the “top down”. Managers need to adapt to this nowadays. I would begin by challenging him to work on every aspect of his thinking, feeling and behaving – to relearn how to interact with people without demanding admiration or respect, and in return not labelling others as unworthy or weak. I would anticipate a long involvement since these are well-established habits. Whatever is going on behind the scenes, I believe it would be very wrong for José Mourinho to try and make another quick return to management. At the very least, he needs to reflect and develop. If there is a way back, he must change. He must want to change and he must work hard at changing. Should he succeed and claw his way back to the top, his place among the greatest managers of all time will be beyond any doubt. (Tony Westbury is Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Edinburgh Napier University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Is there a way back for Jose Mourinho?

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018:

1. FIFA World Cup

The 21st edition of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/top-18-moments-of-fifa-world-cup-2018-152369">FIFA World Cup</a>, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following.

2. Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence made <a href="http://wionews.com/world/hurricane-florence-makes-landfall-in-wrightsville-beach-in-north-carolina-165660">landfall in Wrightsville beach</a> in North Carolina on September 14. Heavy rain and wind lashed several areas in Carolinas. Around 1,88,000 people were without power during that period.

3. Royal wedding&nbsp;

Prince Harry and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-royal-couple-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-attend-their-first-official-event-after-wedding--139077">Meghan Markle got married</a> in front of six hundred people at the St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. It was likely the most talked-about wedding of the year. In October, Kenningston palace confirmed the pregnancy of Meghan Markle and due to give birth in spring 2019.

4. US Midterm election results

Americans cast their votes in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-midterm-elections-what-do-the-results-mean-for-the-countrys-uncertain-future-176138">midterm election on November 6</a>. For the first time in eight years, Democrats took over control from the Republicans to hold House majority. The results were a bitter outcome for Trump after a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race, immigration and other cultural issues became a referendum on his leadership.

5. Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael was the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/monstrous-hurricane-michael-tears-into-florida-kills-one-170766">most powerful storm</a> to hit the state's northern area in more than a century. An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate. Over 17 people lost their lives.

6. Stephen Hawking

British scientist Professor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/family-friends-bid-farewell-to-stephen-hawking-127431">Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 in March</a>. A genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease.

7. Kate Spade

Kate Spade, who with her husband built a fashion empire on the popularity of her colorful handbags, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-fashion-designer-kate-spade-found-dead-committed-suicide--142464">was found dead in her New York City apartment</a> in June, an apparent suicide. She was 55. Andy Spade, husband of Kate said she suffered from depression for years and that the couple had been living separately for 10 months.

8. Stan Lee

Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel comics <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/marvel-comic-book-legend-stan-lees-death-certificate-reveals-reason-for-death-179962">passed away in Los Angeles</a> at the age of 95. The world mourned his death and fan paid tributes on Stan Lee's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lee will be seen in upcoming movies ''Avengers 4'', ''Captain Marvel'' and ''Ralph breaks the Internet'' for the last time.

9. Black Panther

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/african-american-film-critics-association-names-black-panther-as-best-film-of-2018-183444">Black Panther</a>, starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler made its way to Google top search list. The movie earned over $400 million. 
The movie made its debut this year in Marvel collections and was loved by many and thus making it a huge success.

10. Avicii

Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-swedish-dj-avicii-found-dead-in-a-hotel-room-in-muscat-oman-131746">passed away at the age of 28</a>, on April 20. The artist, known for songs such as 'Wake Me Up', 'Lonely Together', and 'Levels' had retired from tours in 2016 due to health issues. His family said that famed DJ Avicii could not go any longer and wanted to found peace. 
&nbsp;

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more. Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018: 1. FIFA World Cup The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following. 2. Hurricane Florence Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wrightsville beach in North Carolina on September 14. Heavy rain and wind lashed several areas in Carolinas. Around 1,88,000 people were without power during that period. 3. Royal wedding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in front of six hundred people at the St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. It was likely the most talked-about wedding of the year. In October, Kenningston palace confirmed the pregnancy of Meghan Markle and due to give birth in spring 2019. 4. US Midterm election results Americans cast their votes in midterm election on November 6. For the first time in eight years, Democrats took over control from the Republicans to hold House majority. The results were a bitter outcome for Trump after a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race, immigration and other cultural issues became a referendum on his leadership. 5. Hurricane Michael Hurricane Michael was the most powerful storm to hit the state's northern area in more than a century. An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate. Over 17 people lost their lives. 6. Stephen Hawking British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 in March. A genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. 7. Kate Spade Kate Spade, who with her husband built a fashion empire on the popularity of her colorful handbags, was found dead in her New York City apartment in June, an apparent suicide. She was 55. Andy Spade, husband of Kate said she suffered from depression for years and that the couple had been living separately for 10 months. 8. Stan Lee Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel comics passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 95. The world mourned his death and fan paid tributes on Stan Lee's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lee will be seen in upcoming movies ''Avengers 4'', ''Captain Marvel'' and ''Ralph breaks the Internet'' for the last time. 9. Black Panther Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler made its way to Google top search list. The movie earned over $400 million. The movie made its debut this year in Marvel collections and was loved by many and thus making it a huge success. 10. Avicii Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, passed away at the age of 28, on April 20. The artist, known for songs such as 'Wake Me Up', 'Lonely Together', and 'Levels' had retired from tours in 2016 due to health issues. His family said that famed DJ Avicii could not go any longer and wanted to found peace.

Google's most popular search list for 2018: FIFA World Cup, Hurricane Michael and more

The 2018 World Cup added more than $14 billion to the Russian economy, more than one percent of the country's gross domestic product, tournament organisers said in Doha on Tuesday.

The figure was revealed in a report on the economic, social and environmental impact of the tournament by Alexey Sorokin, the CEO of Russia's World Cup organising committee.

"The figure the report comes up with is quite surprising," Sorokin told a football conference in Qatar, which is the host of the next World Cup in 2022.

It calculated that the impact of the World Cup on Russian GDP between 2013 and 2018 was 952 billion roubles ($14.5 billion, 12.5 billion euros).

This was the equivalent of 1.1 per cent of GDP.

The report, prepared by Russian World Cup organisers, also said that the tournament created up to 315,000 jobs per year in Russia and would still have an impact on the economy over the next five years.

Despite warnings prior to the tournament over hooliganism and the political situation involving Russia and Western countries, the 2018 World Cup was considered a success.

It is not clear if the figures were subjected to any independent scrutiny.

The 2018 World Cup added more than $14 billion to the Russian economy, more than one percent of the country's gross domestic product, tournament organisers said in Doha on Tuesday.

The 2018 World Cup added more than $14 billion to the Russian economy, more than one percent of the country's gross domestic product, tournament organisers said in Doha on Tuesday. The figure was revealed in a report on the economic, social and environmental impact of the tournament by Alexey Sorokin, the CEO of Russia's World Cup organising committee. "The figure the report comes up with is quite surprising," Sorokin told a football conference in Qatar, which is the host of the next World Cup in 2022. It calculated that the impact of the World Cup on Russian GDP between 2013 and 2018 was 952 billion roubles ($14.5 billion, 12.5 billion euros). This was the equivalent of 1.1 per cent of GDP. The report, prepared by Russian World Cup organisers, also said that the tournament created up to 315,000 jobs per year in Russia and would still have an impact on the economy over the next five years. Despite warnings prior to the tournament over hooliganism and the political situation involving Russia and Western countries, the 2018 World Cup was considered a success. It is not clear if the figures were subjected to any independent scrutiny.

FIFA World Cup 2018 added $14 billion to Russian economy, say organisers

FIFA Men's Player of the Year Luka Modric said that he is yet to return to peak fitness this season, with only three weeks off after an emotionally and physically draining World Cup campaign with Croatia.

Midfielder Modric played a major role in Croatia's run to the World Cup final in Russia, where they were beaten by France. He had earlier helped his club side Real Madrid claim a third consecutive Champions League crown.

"I had only three weeks of like, let's say holidays. I think that is the least since I'm playing football," the 33-year-old Modric, who was named player of the tournament in Russia, said.

"First week we spend in celebration... and was not easy to start again after all these emotional moments you are drained completely and I needed time to get back to my better level."

International players' association FIFPro conducted a survey this year involving 543 players and found that nearly half of all international players (46 percent) who play 50 or more games per season were being stretched by the schedule.

The 300 international players surveyed said they needed five weeks of vacation between seasons, not including pre-season training, to fully recover.

Modric, who has already featured in eight games for Madrid in all competitions this season and once for the national side, said in a video interview released by FIFPro that he needed more time to return to his best.

"Now each day I feel better... I just need more games... but it wasn't easy because we were so eager to achieve something great with Croatia and when we did all these emotions come down on us and it was not easy to recover."

FIFA Men's Player of the Year Luka Modric said that he is yet to return to peak fitness this season, with only three weeks off after an emotionally and physically draining World Cup campaign with Croatia.

FIFA Men's Player of the Year Luka Modric said that he is yet to return to peak fitness this season, with only three weeks off after an emotionally and physically draining World Cup campaign with Croatia. Midfielder Modric played a major role in Croatia's run to the World Cup final in Russia, where they were beaten by France. He had earlier helped his club side Real Madrid claim a third consecutive Champions League crown. "I had only three weeks of like, let's say holidays. I think that is the least since I'm playing football," the 33-year-old Modric, who was named player of the tournament in Russia, said. "First week we spend in celebration... and was not easy to start again after all these emotional moments you are drained completely and I needed time to get back to my better level." International players' association FIFPro conducted a survey this year involving 543 players and found that nearly half of all international players (46 percent) who play 50 or more games per season were being stretched by the schedule. The 300 international players surveyed said they needed five weeks of vacation between seasons, not including pre-season training, to fully recover. Modric, who has already featured in eight games for Madrid in all competitions this season and once for the national side, said in a video interview released by FIFPro that he needed more time to return to his best. "Now each day I feel better... I just need more games... but it wasn't easy because we were so eager to achieve something great with Croatia and when we did all these emotions come down on us and it was not easy to recover."

Luka Modric still not back to his best after post-World Cup burnout

In a major relief for Egypt, forward Mohamed Salah has recovered from a shoulder injury and will play in their World Cup opener against Uruguay on Friday.&nbsp

Coach Hector Cuper confirmed Salah's participation in a press conference.&nbsp

"I can almost assure you 100 per cent that he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute," Cuper said.

Cuper also played down the possibility that Salah’s performance on Friday could suffer due to lingering psychological effects of the injury,

Salah injured himself in the Champions League final with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos on May 26 and has not played since.

His participation was not confirmed till now and had kept fans in suspense before Egypt's first World Cup finals in 28 years.

Coach Hector Cuper confirmed Salah's participation in a press conference.

In a major relief for Egypt, forward Mohamed Salah has recovered from a shoulder injury and will play in their World Cup opener against Uruguay on Friday. Coach Hector Cuper confirmed Salah's participation in a press conference. "I can almost assure you 100 per cent that he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute," Cuper said. Cuper also played down the possibility that Salah’s performance on Friday could suffer due to lingering psychological effects of the injury, Salah injured himself in the Champions League final with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos on May 26 and has not played since. His participation was not confirmed till now and had kept fans in suspense before Egypt's first World Cup finals in 28 years.

Confirmed! Mohamed Salah to play in Egypt's opener against Uruguay

FIFA World Cup 2018 has begun with its first controversy hitting the tournament and creating turmoil.

Even before the teams took their position on the ground, coaches and football associations have levelled allegations against each other, with some even preferring to change their sides.&nbsp;

With less than 24 hours left for the carnival to start, Spanish national team has been plunged into crisis after its former coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked by the country's football association after reports emerged of him signing a three-year-contract with Real Madrid.&nbsp;

Left with no option, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced it had dismissed the 51-year-old because negotiations occurred without any information to the football association.&nbsp;

The termination was surely a first of its kind incident in FIFA World Cup's history, with the association describing it as an "obligation".&nbsp;

Hours later, another news surfaced that Spain sporting director Fernando Hierro replaced Lopetegui with immediate&nbsp;effect and will coach the team which is already in Russia for the tournament.

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Lopetegui became Spain's manager in 2016 following Vicente del Bosque's retirement and remained unbeaten through his reign. Under him, Spain won 14 of 20 games with Lopetegui in charge, drawing the remaining six.

The stats highlight two reasons behind his exit - either he made a foolish decision or it was a forced one.&nbsp;

Though Spain is not a team of World-Cup contenders but they surely a tough competitor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The country will now be coached by a footballer with 89 caps for Spain, but will he be able to turn the tables in his team's favour, is yet to be seen.&nbsp;

Coaches and football associations have levelled allegations against each other

FIFA World Cup 2018 has begun with its first controversy hitting the tournament and creating turmoil. Even before the teams took their position on the ground, coaches and football associations have levelled allegations against each other, with some even preferring to change their sides. With less than 24 hours left for the carnival to start, Spanish national team has been plunged into crisis after its former coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked by the country's football association after reports emerged of him signing a three-year-contract with Real Madrid. Left with no option, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced it had dismissed the 51-year-old because negotiations occurred without any information to the football association. The termination was surely a first of its kind incident in FIFA World Cup's history, with the association describing it as an "obligation". Hours later, another news surfaced that Spain sporting director Fernando Hierro replaced Lopetegui with immediate effect and will coach the team which is already in Russia for the tournament. × Lopetegui became Spain's manager in 2016 following Vicente del Bosque's retirement and remained unbeaten through his reign. Under him, Spain won 14 of 20 games with Lopetegui in charge, drawing the remaining six. The stats highlight two reasons behind his exit - either he made a foolish decision or it was a forced one. Though Spain is not a team of World-Cup contenders but they surely a tough competitor. The country will now be coached by a footballer with 89 caps for Spain, but will he be able to turn the tables in his team's favour, is yet to be seen.

Ahead of kick off, FIFA World Cup hit by first controversy

Happy World Cup day!

The day has come for which we all were waiting, it's June 14 and the football World Cup will start from today. The event will start with a glitzy opening ceremony followed by the first match of the tournament which is between the host <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2018-russia-saudi-arabia-square-off-in-opener-144156">Russia and Saudi Arabia</a> at Luzhniki Stadium.

Thirty-two countries from different confederations have qualified for the tournament and will go for the kill to clinch the most decorated trophy in the sporting world, the golden hand-and-ball.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2018-world-cup--schedule-venue-timings-participating-countries-squad-list-134023">FIFA 2018 World Cup | Schedule, venue, timings, participating countries, squad list</a>

A month-long carnival has attracted tourists from all over the world and the matches will be played in 12 beautiful stadiums of Russia and the finale will take place on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. All of the stadium venues are in European Russia to keep travel time manageable.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/all-you-need-to-know-about-stadiums-hosting-fifa-world-cup-2018-matches-142851">All you need to know about stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2018 matches</a>

All eyes are on the host country Russia as they will play the first match on day&nbspone of the tournament. Amidst several controversies and adversities, the most awaited tournament is finally underway.

Five-time winners Brazil are there, as are defending champions Germany, plus Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and Uruguay set to claim the title of world champions.

Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its own mascot, similarly, Russia also unveiled their mascot for the upcoming World Cup. The mascot designs represent a characteristic feature of the host country.

This year's official mascot is a wolf named Zabivaka which means "the one who scores" in Russian. Zabivaka is charming, confident and social and has always dreamt of becoming a football star.

<img alt="fifa 2018 Russia.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/fifa%202018%20Russia.jpg" width="770" />

Thirty-two countries from different confederations have qualified for the tournament and will go for the kill to clinch the most decorated trophy in the sporting world

Happy World Cup day! The day has come for which we all were waiting, it's June 14 and the football World Cup will start from today. The event will start with a glitzy opening ceremony followed by the first match of the tournament which is between the host Russia and Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium. Thirty-two countries from different confederations have qualified for the tournament and will go for the kill to clinch the most decorated trophy in the sporting world, the golden hand-and-ball. FIFA 2018 World Cup | Schedule, venue, timings, participating countries, squad list A month-long carnival has attracted tourists from all over the world and the matches will be played in 12 beautiful stadiums of Russia and the finale will take place on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. All of the stadium venues are in European Russia to keep travel time manageable. All you need to know about stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2018 matches All eyes are on the host country Russia as they will play the first match on day&nbspone of the tournament. Amidst several controversies and adversities, the most awaited tournament is finally underway. Five-time winners Brazil are there, as are defending champions Germany, plus Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and Uruguay set to claim the title of world champions. Each FIFA World Cup since 1966 has its own mascot, similarly, Russia also unveiled their mascot for the upcoming World Cup. The mascot designs represent a characteristic feature of the host country. This year's official mascot is a wolf named Zabivaka which means "the one who scores" in Russian. Zabivaka is charming, confident and social and has always dreamt of becoming a football star.

FIFA World Cup 2018: 32 countries, 1 trophy and 1 dream

Soccer fans worried about racism or homophobia should travel to Russia for the World Cup, but take precautions because the host country is a "difficult environment", the head of the European anti-racism watchdog FARE said on Tuesday.

The Russian Football Union's anti-discrimination inspector has said the World Cup is a chance for Russia to show how open it is.

Yet continuing cases of racist abuse in stadiums in the run-up to the tournament have put observers on alert.

"I think it is a difficult environment but the World Cup we are sure will pass peacefully, we hope," Piara Powar, the executive director of the FARE anti-discrimination network, told Reuters in an interview in Moscow.

Russia pledged to crack down on racism ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off in Moscow on Thursday with an opening ceremony followed by a match between the hosts and Saudi Arabia.

Incidents at matches, however, have continued.

Russia was fined last month after racist abuse was directed at French players during a friendly in March in St Petersburg, which is one of the World Cup's 11 host cities.

In April, fans with Russian premier league club CSKA Moscow chanted racist abuse at Arsenal's black players several times during a Europa League match, according to a Reuters witness.

UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, said no racist behaviour had been reported to it by match officials at that game.

Powar said Russian football clubs and the Russian Football Union have taken their anti-discrimination work more seriously ahead of the World Cup. He praised work carried out in the last year by Alexei Smertin, the Russian Football Union's anti-discrimination inspector.

"We've seen if not a reality change, then a better understanding and them beginning to meet the challenges that have been laid before them," Powar said.

"The spirit of openness, we hope, will prevail but at the same time: take precautions. Understand that the LGBT community are not accepted in the same way as they are in many Western European countries or in many parts of the global North," he said.

In April, Smertin said the World Cup is an opportunity for Russia to show how open it is.

"This is first of all a possibility to prove how friendly and organised we actually are... We can show how we treat everyone equally because football is - as I said - a unifying instrument."

Powar said he had been disappointed after Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was this week photographed with Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the southern Russian region of Chechnya where the Egyptian national team is based for the World Cup.

Kadyrov and his allies have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torturing and abducting homosexual men, allegations Chechen authorities have denied.

By being pictured with Kadyrov, Salah -- whether knowingly or not -- endorsed the Chechen leadership, said Powar.

"I think it will not overshadow the World Cup, but it's something that stands already a couple of days before kickoff as an unsavoury incident," said Powar.

The Russian Football Union's anti-discrimination inspector has said the World Cup is a chance for Russia to show how open it is.

Soccer fans worried about racism or homophobia should travel to Russia for the World Cup, but take precautions because the host country is a "difficult environment", the head of the European anti-racism watchdog FARE said on Tuesday. The Russian Football Union's anti-discrimination inspector has said the World Cup is a chance for Russia to show how open it is. Yet continuing cases of racist abuse in stadiums in the run-up to the tournament have put observers on alert. "I think it is a difficult environment but the World Cup we are sure will pass peacefully, we hope," Piara Powar, the executive director of the FARE anti-discrimination network, told Reuters in an interview in Moscow. Russia pledged to crack down on racism ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off in Moscow on Thursday with an opening ceremony followed by a match between the hosts and Saudi Arabia. Incidents at matches, however, have continued. Russia was fined last month after racist abuse was directed at French players during a friendly in March in St Petersburg, which is one of the World Cup's 11 host cities. In April, fans with Russian premier league club CSKA Moscow chanted racist abuse at Arsenal's black players several times during a Europa League match, according to a Reuters witness. UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, said no racist behaviour had been reported to it by match officials at that game. Powar said Russian football clubs and the Russian Football Union have taken their anti-discrimination work more seriously ahead of the World Cup. He praised work carried out in the last year by Alexei Smertin, the Russian Football Union's anti-discrimination inspector. "We've seen if not a reality change, then a better understanding and them beginning to meet the challenges that have been laid before them," Powar said. "The spirit of openness, we hope, will prevail but at the same time: take precautions. Understand that the LGBT community are not accepted in the same way as they are in many Western European countries or in many parts of the global North," he said. In April, Smertin said the World Cup is an opportunity for Russia to show how open it is. "This is first of all a possibility to prove how friendly and organised we actually are... We can show how we treat everyone equally because football is - as I said - a unifying instrument." Powar said he had been disappointed after Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was this week photographed with Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the southern Russian region of Chechnya where the Egyptian national team is based for the World Cup. Kadyrov and his allies have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torturing and abducting homosexual men, allegations Chechen authorities have denied. By being pictured with Kadyrov, Salah -- whether knowingly or not -- endorsed the Chechen leadership, said Powar. "I think it will not overshadow the World Cup, but it's something that stands already a couple of days before kickoff as an unsavoury incident," said Powar.

Visit Russia for World Cup, but be careful, says anti-racism watchdog

Former Spanish footballer Fernando Hierro on Wednesday was announced as the new coach of Spain football team, hours after association sacked Julen Lopetegui.&nbsp

Former Real Madrid and Bolton star Hierro will be in the dugout on Friday when Spain open their Group B campaign against Portugal in FIFA 2018 World Cup.

The 50-year-old is Spain's sporting director and his only managerial experience is a year in charge of Oviedo.

Hierro spent 14 years at Real Madrid before a year in Saudi Arabia and 12 months at Bolton.

He won 89 caps for his country.

Lopetegui’s contract was terminated as a matter of principle after the coach negotiated with Real Madrid behind Spain association's back.&nbsp

The sacking came in response to the news that Lopetegui had agreed to take over at Real Madrid when the World Cup ends.

Former Spanish footballer Fernando Hierro on Wednesday was announced as the new coach of Spain football team, hours after association sacked Julen Lopetegui. Former Real Madrid and Bolton star Hierro will be in the dugout on Friday when Spain open their Group B campaign against Portugal in FIFA 2018 World Cup. The 50-year-old is Spain's sporting director and his only managerial experience is a year in charge of Oviedo. Hierro spent 14 years at Real Madrid before a year in Saudi Arabia and 12 months at Bolton. He won 89 caps for his country. Lopetegui’s contract was terminated as a matter of principle after the coach negotiated with Real Madrid behind Spain association's back. The sacking came in response to the news that Lopetegui had agreed to take over at Real Madrid when the World Cup ends.

Fernando Hierro named new coach after Spain sacks Julen Lopetegui

Time lost due to the use of the Video Assistant Referee will be added to stoppage time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the head of FIFA's refereeing department announced Tuesday. 
 
Massimo Busacca made his remarks at a media briefing at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, just two days ahead of the first World Cup to employ VAR, a decision that has polarized opinion in the soccer world. 
 
"Every second lost by using the VAR is going to be added at the end of the match," Busacca stressed. 
 
Busacca was joined by the president of the UEFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, as well as referees Sandro Ricci of Brazil and Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan. 
 
FIFA's referee chief gave assurances that above all, VAR has a preventive task, as any and all unsportsmanlike behavior that is detected will not go unpunished. 
 
Busacca added that VAR is another tool for refereeing, in which the human element also has an influence. 
 
For his part, Collina said the aim of using VAR was about achieving fair results, and confirmed that the public, in stadiums, will be able to see the VAR decisions. 
 
The 2018 World Cup kicks off Thursday with the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and will be refereed by Argentina's Nestor Pitana.

Time lost due to the use of the Video Assistant Referee will be added to stoppage time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Time lost due to the use of the Video Assistant Referee will be added to stoppage time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the head of FIFA's refereeing department announced Tuesday. Massimo Busacca made his remarks at a media briefing at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, just two days ahead of the first World Cup to employ VAR, a decision that has polarized opinion in the soccer world. "Every second lost by using the VAR is going to be added at the end of the match," Busacca stressed. Busacca was joined by the president of the UEFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, as well as referees Sandro Ricci of Brazil and Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan. FIFA's referee chief gave assurances that above all, VAR has a preventive task, as any and all unsportsmanlike behavior that is detected will not go unpunished. Busacca added that VAR is another tool for refereeing, in which the human element also has an influence. For his part, Collina said the aim of using VAR was about achieving fair results, and confirmed that the public, in stadiums, will be able to see the VAR decisions. The 2018 World Cup kicks off Thursday with the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and will be refereed by Argentina's Nestor Pitana.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Time lost due to VAR will be added to stoppage time, FIFA says

The poster of the upcoming film Project K, which stars Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani, recently graced the iconic billboards of Times Square in New York City.

The display serves as a precursor to the preview of the film at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20. The film is one of the highly-anticipated projects in India owing to its illustrious star cast.

Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Project K&nbsp;has been directed by Nag Ashwin. It is an epic science fiction film set in the future.

The film is reportedly being made on a budget of Rs 600 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-study-finds-how-dietary-restraint-reduces-effects-of-genetic-risk-of-obesity-616547">Study finds how dietary restraint reduces effects of genetic risk of obesity</a>

The film's music score is composed by Santhosh Narayanan with cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic and production design by Nitin Zihani Choudhary.

The film was announced in February 2020 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vyjayanthi Movies. However, the production was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film also marks Deepika's debut in the Telugu film industry.

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England have appeared in 14 World Cups, including the last five. Their best performance was 1966

The poster of the upcoming film Project K, which stars Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani, recently graced the iconic billboards of Times Square in New York City. The display serves as a precursor to the preview of the film at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20. The film is one of the highly-anticipated projects in India owing to its illustrious star cast. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Project K has been directed by Nag Ashwin. It is an epic science fiction film set in the future. The film is reportedly being made on a budget of Rs 600 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Also read: Study finds how dietary restraint reduces effects of genetic risk of obesity The film's music score is composed by Santhosh Narayanan with cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic and production design by Nitin Zihani Choudhary. The film was announced in February 2020 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vyjayanthi Movies. However, the production was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film also marks Deepika's debut in the Telugu film industry. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FIFA World Cup 2018: A complete profile of England

Colombia are playing in their fifth World Cup, with their quarter-final appearance at Brazil 2014 -- where they lost to the hosts -- their best performance. The Andean country is best remembered for its 1990s team featuring characters such as eccentric goalkeeper Rene Higuita and blond-locked Carlos Valderrama.

<hr />
Coach: Jose Pekerman

The silver-haired Argentine has led Colombia since 2012, pulling the "cafeteros" (coffee-makers) out of a lean period and propelling them to their first consecutive World Cups. He put faith in the talented squad's attacking instincts and most notably in striker Radamel Falcao. Pekerman, 68, also had a two-year stint as coach of the Argentina team that went to the 2006 World Cup but lost to hosts Germany in the quarter-finals. He has a close link to Colombia, however, having played half his career as a midfielder for Independiente Medellin.

<hr />
Key players:

James Rodriguez: Fresh from clinching a sixth successive Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, the 26-year-old Rodriguez will be hoping to keep up his winning streak in Russia. "Hamez," as his adoring Colombian fans pronounce his first name, was top scorer at the 2014 World Cup and won over many in the public with his dazzling goals and dancing celebrations. There is much more pressure on the left-footed midfielder this time around, however, but 'James-mania' may well strike again.

Radamel Falcao: Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, 32, missed out on the 2014 World Cup due to a ligament injury. But "El Tigre" (The Tiger) is planning to roar back in Russia and has confessed to daydreaming about the goals he wants to score for the canary-yellow team.

Juan Cuadrado: The Juventus winger is feared for his fierce counter-attacks and goals from near-impossible angles. Cuadrado, 29, was unable to play for Juve for three months due to a groin injury but when he returned against AC Milan in March, he scored barely 15 minutes in to set his side on the way to a 3-1 win.

<hr />
Form guide:

Colombia had a disappointing qualifying campaign but their attacking prowess and ability to turn games has been on display since. Trailing 2-0 in a friendly against France in March, they clawed back to beat "Les Bleus" 3-2 at the Stade de France. But Colombia were unable to beat Australia a few days later in a goalless draw that highlighted the South American team's sometimes erratic form.

How they qualified:

Colombia did just enough to secure the fourth spot in the South American group but they scored only 21 goals and limped over the line with three draws and a defeat in their final four games. Pekerman fielded 45 players in their 18-match qualifying campaign as he struggled to find the right formula to overcome an unexpected shortage of goals in a team brimming with top forwards.

<hr />
Prospects:

With a formidable attack and a relatively manageable group, Colombia are highly competitive. Group H, where Colombia will face Japan, Senegal, and Poland, is the only one to lack a World Cup winner and should provide opportunities for the South Americans to rack up a few goals.

<hr />
Colombia's fixture:

June 19

05:30 PM | Colombia vs Japan | Mordovia Arena, Saransk

June 24

11:30 PM | Poland vs Colombia | Kazan Arena, Kazan

June 28

07:30 PM | Senegal vs Colombia | Cosmos Arena, Samar&nbsp

<hr />
Squad:

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal/ENG), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Ivan Arboleda (Banfield/ARG), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas)

Defenders: Yerri Mina (Barcelona/ESP), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham/ENG), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Farid Diaz (Olimpia/PAR), Bernardo Espinoza (Girona/ESP), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors/ARG), Stefan Medina (Monterrey/MEX), Johan Mojica (Girona/ESP), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca/MEX), William Tesillo (Leon/MEX), Cristián Zapata (Milan/ITA)

Midfielders: James Rodríguez (Bayern Múnich/GER), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate/ARG), Abel Aguilar (Deportivo Cali), Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors/ARG), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors/ARG), Yimmi Charrá (Junior), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus/ITA), Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo/BRA), Jefferson Lima (Levante/ESP), Giovanni Moreno (Shangai Shenhua/CHN), Sebastián Pérez (Boca Juniors/ARG), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol/ESP), Mateús Uribe (América/MEX)

Forwards: Radamel Falcao García (Mónaco/FRA), Carlos Bacca (Villareal/ESP), Luis Fernando Muriel (Sevilla/ESP), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras/BRA), Teófilo Gutierrez (Junior), Jose Heriberto Izquierdo (Brighton/ENG), Duván Zapata (Sampdoria/ITA)

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Colombia are playing in their fifth World Cup, with their quarter-final appearance at Brazil 2014 -- where they lost to the hosts -- their best performance

Colombia are playing in their fifth World Cup, with their quarter-final appearance at Brazil 2014 -- where they lost to the hosts -- their best performance. The Andean country is best remembered for its 1990s team featuring characters such as eccentric goalkeeper Rene Higuita and blond-locked Carlos Valderrama. Coach: Jose Pekerman The silver-haired Argentine has led Colombia since 2012, pulling the "cafeteros" (coffee-makers) out of a lean period and propelling them to their first consecutive World Cups. He put faith in the talented squad's attacking instincts and most notably in striker Radamel Falcao. Pekerman, 68, also had a two-year stint as coach of the Argentina team that went to the 2006 World Cup but lost to hosts Germany in the quarter-finals. He has a close link to Colombia, however, having played half his career as a midfielder for Independiente Medellin. Key players: James Rodriguez: Fresh from clinching a sixth successive Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, the 26-year-old Rodriguez will be hoping to keep up his winning streak in Russia. "Hamez," as his adoring Colombian fans pronounce his first name, was top scorer at the 2014 World Cup and won over many in the public with his dazzling goals and dancing celebrations. There is much more pressure on the left-footed midfielder this time around, however, but 'James-mania' may well strike again. Radamel Falcao: Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, 32, missed out on the 2014 World Cup due to a ligament injury. But "El Tigre" (The Tiger) is planning to roar back in Russia and has confessed to daydreaming about the goals he wants to score for the canary-yellow team. Juan Cuadrado: The Juventus winger is feared for his fierce counter-attacks and goals from near-impossible angles. Cuadrado, 29, was unable to play for Juve for three months due to a groin injury but when he returned against AC Milan in March, he scored barely 15 minutes in to set his side on the way to a 3-1 win. Form guide: Colombia had a disappointing qualifying campaign but their attacking prowess and ability to turn games has been on display since. Trailing 2-0 in a friendly against France in March, they clawed back to beat "Les Bleus" 3-2 at the Stade de France. But Colombia were unable to beat Australia a few days later in a goalless draw that highlighted the South American team's sometimes erratic form. How they qualified: Colombia did just enough to secure the fourth spot in the South American group but they scored only 21 goals and limped over the line with three draws and a defeat in their final four games. Pekerman fielded 45 players in their 18-match qualifying campaign as he struggled to find the right formula to overcome an unexpected shortage of goals in a team brimming with top forwards. Prospects: With a formidable attack and a relatively manageable group, Colombia are highly competitive. Group H, where Colombia will face Japan, Senegal, and Poland, is the only one to lack a World Cup winner and should provide opportunities for the South Americans to rack up a few goals. Colombia's fixture: June 19 05:30 PM | Colombia vs Japan | Mordovia Arena, Saransk June 24 11:30 PM | Poland vs Colombia | Kazan Arena, Kazan June 28 07:30 PM | Senegal vs Colombia | Cosmos Arena, Samar Squad: Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal/ENG), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Ivan Arboleda (Banfield/ARG), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas) Defenders: Yerri Mina (Barcelona/ESP), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham/ENG), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Farid Diaz (Olimpia/PAR), Bernardo Espinoza (Girona/ESP), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors/ARG), Stefan Medina (Monterrey/MEX), Johan Mojica (Girona/ESP), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca/MEX), William Tesillo (Leon/MEX), Cristián Zapata (Milan/ITA) Midfielders: James Rodríguez (Bayern Múnich/GER), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate/ARG), Abel Aguilar (Deportivo Cali), Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors/ARG), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors/ARG), Yimmi Charrá (Junior), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus/ITA), Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo/BRA), Jefferson Lima (Levante/ESP), Giovanni Moreno (Shangai Shenhua/CHN), Sebastián Pérez (Boca Juniors/ARG), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol/ESP), Mateús Uribe (América/MEX) Forwards: Radamel Falcao García (Mónaco/FRA), Carlos Bacca (Villareal/ESP), Luis Fernando Muriel (Sevilla/ESP), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras/BRA), Teófilo Gutierrez (Junior), Jose Heriberto Izquierdo (Brighton/ENG), Duván Zapata (Sampdoria/ITA)

FIFA World Cup 2018: A complete profile of Colombia

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