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Home , Alan Dzagoev, Igor Akinfeev, Mohamed Salah, Neymar, Sergei Ignashevich, Yuri Zhirkov

MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018 20

Fisht Stadium, Sochi Opened 2013 Renovated 2017 Home team national team RUSSIA Brazil’s UEFA capacity 48,000 Originally built for 2014 Winter Olympics. $46 million renovation for World Cup included removal of roof to comply with FIFA regulations returns in style Jun 15 Portugal - Spain 18 Belgium - Panama Brazil’s opening game in World Cup Group E is against Switzerland 23 Germany - Sweden 26 Australia - Peru | Liverpool 30 Round of 16 match Jul eymar scored on his re- 7 Fourth quarter-final Source: FIFA © GRAPHIC NEWS turn to action after three Nmonths out through in- jury as Brazil warmed up for the KNOW WHAT World Cup with a 2-0 friendly win over at yes- Arsenal’s Iwobi in 23 terday. The most expensive player Neymar’s in the world has been sidelined was his 54th for man Nigeria squad since Feb. 25, when he fractured his country and a metatarsal and sprained his he needs one to ankle playing for Paris St Ger- reach Romario main in a French league match against . as the third The former Barcelona for- most prolific ward, key to his country’s hopes Brazil striker of in Russia, came on as a halftime all time behind substitute and provided the mo- Pele and ment of inspiration for win the Ronaldo game in the 69th minute. Willian, impressive through- out for Brazil, picked the ball Brazil’s Neymar in action with Croatia’s Duje Caleta-Car up in midfield and threaded the from inside the area. ball to Neymar in the inside-left Brazil’s opening game in channel. Neymar’s goal was his 54th Another substitute, Roberto World Cup Group E is against The 26-year-old cut inside for his country and he needs one Firmino, delighted the Liver- Switzerland and they also face and skipped past two defenders to reach Romario as the third pool fans in the Anfield crowd Costa Rica and Serbia in the first before blasting the ball home off most prolific Brazil striker of all by adding the second in stop- round. Brazil have one more the underside of the crossbar. time behind Pele and Ronaldo. page-time with a well-taken lob friendly before the tournament.

Mohamed Salah’s absence playing on Mexico ease past Scotland ’s mind Reuters | Cairo • Mexico will kick off ohamed Salah’s ab- their campaign against Msence is affecting Germany on June 17 Alex Iwobi Egypt’s World Cup prepa- rations, coach Hector Cuper fred Ndidi, said after the team played Reuters | Mexico City The Super Eagles and Ahmed Musa have also out a goalless draw with • been included in Gernot Colombia at the start of the exico made light work of have not made it Rohr’s squad. weekend. MScotland in their penul- beyond the last 16 New Brighton signing Leon “We are working to cover timate World Cup warm-up on in five appearances Balogun features, and former the absence of Salah. The Saturday, scoring a 1-0 victory at the World Cup Chelsea John Obi players responded perfect- that gave them their fourth win Mexico team celebrate victory Mikel will captain the side. ly to our instructions, but in seven games against Europe- Crotone striker Simeon Salah’s absence affects any an opposition. BBC | London Nwankwo, who only made his team negatively,” Cuper said The home side got the only a team that have not qualified land tiring at high altitude in international debut in the 1-1 after Friday’s goallesss draw goal of the game after 12 min- for a major tournament since Mexico City. rsenal midfielder Alex draw with DR Congo on Mon- in Bergamo, Italy. utes when Scottish defenders 1998 and who fielded an inex- In one of their few chances, AIwobi has been named in day, has been selected. The draw means Egypt backed off and allowed Giovani perienced and experimental Oliver McBurnie saw a header Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the The Super Eagles have not have now gone five games dos Santos to fire home from side. Mexico had a goal chalked come back off the post early in World Cup in Russia. made it beyond the last 16 in without victory, stretching just inside the box. Mexico, who off for offside after 70 minutes the second half for the Scots. The 21-year-old scored in five appearances at the World back to last October. play a final warm-up against and hit the woodwork twice but Mexico have been drawn in the 2-1 friendly defeat by Eng- Cup. The tournament starts on Salah is still in doubt for Denmark in Copenhagen next could not turn their dominance Group F for the World Cup in land at Wembley on Saturday. 14 June, with Nigeria drawn Egypt’s opening match in Saturday, were far superior to into further goals despite Scot- Russia. Chelsea winger Victor Mo- with , Iceland and Group A on June 15 against ses and Leicester City’s Wil- Croatia in Group D. Uruguay in Ekaterinburg after suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions PLAYER OF THE DAY League final for Liverpool late last month. He also Russia name 23-man squad missed Egypt’s draws with Kuwait on May 25, as he was still preparing for the final Russia play against Real . Salah • BETTER will also not be in the line- Saudi Arabia in the up against Belgium in Brus- opening match of sels on Wednesday when the tournament KNOW the Egyptians conclude their preparations before BBC | heading to Russia. Egypt last won against Russia’s Yuri Congo last October in the ussia have named a largely Zhirkov is a World Cup qualifiers and Rdomestic-based squad for left-sided since then have drawn with the 2018 World Cup. player who can Ghana, been beaten by Por- All but two of the hosts’ 23- play full-back tugal and Greece in March, man squad play in Russia, with or winger and also drew their last two Villarreal’s matches. But Cuper saw and goalkeeper Vladimir Gab- positives in Friday’s draw. ulov of Club Brugge the excep- “The result was good, es- tions. Mohammad Al-Sahlawi pecially as the players’ per- Defender , Former Chelsea winger Yuri Saudi Arabia’s dynamic forward enjoyed the rare distinction formances were affected who turns 39 in July, was a late Zhirkov and Artem Dzubya, of finishing joint-top goalscorer in Russia 2018 qualifying with by the fact that they were addition in place of the injured , are 16 goals. Fast feet and a rare turn of pace make Al-Sahlawi a fasting,” Cuper said. . other high-profile inclusions. genuine star in Saudi football.