FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2018 19

Croatia’s Vida apologises for Ukraine comments Race for Golden Boot Reuters | Moscow

Sportskeeda | Moscow gentina, Spain and Portugal have al- one top goalscorer, then it is awarded Kempes, Linekar and Miroslav Klose to roatia defender Doma- ready been eliminated. Four knockout to that top goalscorer without a penalty name a few. James Rodriguez was the Cgoj Vida apologised af- he 2018 FIFA World Cup has games in this World cup have already goal. Since 2006, if there is more than Golden Boot winner with 6 goals at the ter his team’s World Cup been quite special from the pre- gone to extra-time and decided from one top goalscorer then the award goes 2014 FIFA World Cup. semi-final victory over Eng- Tvious World Cups so far. It has the penalty shootout. to the player who has played the least Hence, it is one of the most prestig- land on Wednesday after been full of surprises, nicknamed as The Golden Boot or the Golden amount of time. The Golden Boot has ious awards by FIFA which every player speaking out in support of the World Cup of Underdogs. Heavy- Shoe is awarded to the top scorer of been won by many legendary players aims to win. Let us look at 3 front-run- Russia’s neighbour and ad- weights such as Brazil, Germany, Ar- the World Cup. If there is more than in the past like Eusebio, Gerd Muller, ners for the Golden Boot award: versary Ukraine. “I know I made a mistake and I would like to apolo- Romelu Lukaku Antoine Griezmann gise again to Russian peo- Lukaku has rediscovered his deadly goal-scor- Griezmann has had a decent World ple,” Vida said, speaking in Harry Kane has had a very ing form at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He has Cup so far and has stayed away from the Russian in a live post-match successful World Cup so been one of the reasons why Belgium are limelight which has been on his teammate interview with the Rossiya far. Being the captain unbeaten in the World Cup so far and have Mbappe. His shot against Uruguay 24 state TV channel late on of England, he has led reached the semi-finals. which went into the net due to Wednesday. from the front and Lukaku also showed his Muslera’s error was sufficient has been the top terrific pace against to secure a semi-final berth scorer at the World Brazil in the quar- for France. Cup. He has also terfinals. In that Having scored 3 goals Chelsea sack Conte scored a hat-trick game, Lukaku and provided 1 assist at for England against Panama in was deployed the 2018 FIFA World as manager the group stage. as a right Cup, Griezmann’s Reuters | London Having scored 6 goals wing- e r hard-working na- from 6 shots on target, and cre- ated ture and his efforts helsea have sacked Ital- Kane has a goal con - havoc in the Bra- to come back and Cian Antonio Conte as version rate of 67 per zilian defence. help the French manager, media in Britain cent, scored a goal Having defence has been and Italy reported yester- at an average of 60.5 scored 4 widely praised by day. and has been an enormous goals and football pundits. He has a goal Napoli president Aurelio presence in the opposi - provided 1 conversion rate of 21pc and has a De Laurentiis had said on tion’s penalty area during assist in 4 goal at an average of 130 minutes. Wednesday that the Pre- England’s set-pieces at the games, Lukaku has a Being regarded as an excellent mier League side were close 2018 FIFA World Cup. He goal conversion rate of player in making good use of pos- to securing a deal for former has completed 65 suc- 50pc and scores at an av- session, Griezmann has completed Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri cessful passes at a rate erage of 81.5 minutes. He 125 successful passes at the rate of to replace Conte. of 67.7pc. has completed 48 passes 73.1pc and at an average of 39.5 There was no immediate Kane is the at a success rate of 70.6pc. passes per game. confirmation from Chel- front-runner for the Due to his overall good game, sea, who won the Premier Golden Boot due to Griezmann is one of the top League title with Con - his prolific goalscor- contenders for the Golden te in his first season after ing form. Boot. joining in 2016 and also the FA Cup in his latest campaign.

I think in the first What our players This is a miracle. It was a very half we were really did, the strength Only great teams difficult game, good and maybe they’ve shown, the can be as brave as we all know we could have got another stamina, the energy levels. I we were and fight back from a what was at stake and how goal. I can’t ask for more from wanted to substitute but no one goal down against teams like important a semi-final is for the players. I think knockout wanted to be subbed, everybody England,” said Mandzukic, a small country like Croatia. football is about fine margins kept saying ‘I’m ready, I can run whose side face France in We started slowly but we’ve and when you have good spells on’. Some players played with Sunday’s final after their 2-1 shown our character, just as against fine sides you need minor injuries with which they extra-time win. We’ve played we have in the previous two to take your chances. Tonight would not have played some our hearts out throughout the knockout rounds when we we weren’t quite there but we other games. Two players played tournament. I am happy with were one goal down in both will learn from that. We left with half a leg, but it didn’t my performances so far but I am matches. We didn’t used to everything out there show! here for the team be that resilient ENGLAND COACH GARETH SOUTHGATE CROATIA COACH ZLATKO DALIC CROATIAN STRIKER MARIO MANDZUKIC CROATIA’S IVAN PERISIC

The Red Devils and The reluctantly meet again

Reuters | St Petersburg too early after that defeat to the twist that the side who fin- think about it.” ished second would land in the elgium and England have al- His Belgian counterpart Rob- easier side of the draw. Bready met during the World erto Martinez was similarly Martinez switched nine play- Cup in a match both teams unenthused about the game af- ers and Southgate brought in seemed reluctant to win and ter his side were beaten 1-0 by eight, a decision he described as on Saturday they will face each France on Tuesday. a ‘no brainer’ in circumstances. other again in a game they both “It’s a difficult emotion to Belgium won 1-0 and were seem reluctant to play. manage. You’re disappointed rewarded with games against The two sides must pick them- because you lose the semi-final, Japan, Brazil and France while selves up and dust themselves and it’s very difficult to see the England played Colombia, Swe- down after suffering the crush- opportunity of playing another den and Croatia but the end re- ing disappointment of semi-final game as a positive,” he said. sult for both sides was the same defeats to play for the modest Even so, he said he would try — semi-final elimination. prize of third place in a fixture to lift his team. “Sometimes I think you have often criticised as pointless. “We need to regroup and re- to look at the bigger picture and “It’s not a game any team cover and see the opportuni- make decisions that might be wants to play,” said England ty. To try to finish third in the criticised,” said Southgate. manager Gareth Southgate af- World Cup doesn’t happen of- The third-place match was ter his team lost 2-1 to Croatia ten. The only time it happened dropped from the European after extra time in Wednesday’s in Belgian football was in 1986, championship by UEFA follow- second semi-final. when we finished fourth.” ing the 1980 tournament but has “Of course, we want to win, The two teams previously met remained part of the World Cup we’ll be ready to go again be - in their final group stage game calendar despite complaints. cause the team take great pride when both had already guaran- FIFA did not immediately re - in their performances. It’s a bit England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold fires a free-kick teed a place in the last 16 — with spond to a request for comment.