It was only fitting that the host scores the first goal of World Cup 2018. Golovin picked up the ball outside the box after a corner and played into the box to find Yuri Gazinsky who headed home Russia's first goal. (Getty Images)
In a quick counter attack, Aleksandr Golovin found Zobnin who cleverly played it to Cheryshev who was free on his left. The pass was a bit slow and the defenders almost got there but with a bit of luck Cheryshev found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and smashed it into the top corner. (Getty Images)
Artem Dzyuba makes it three. Almost immediately after coming on for Fyodor Smolov, he got to the end of a ball floated into the box by Golovin and headed it down and into the goal. He also got a salute from head coach Stanislav Cherchesov. (Getty Images)
Denis Cheryshev scores a screamer. No Saudi Arabian defender applied any pressure on him as he received the ball just outside the box. He got to the edge of the box and whipped one in with the outside of his left foot. (Getty Images)
Russia gets its fifth. Aleksandr Golovin's free-kick is executed well leaving the goalkeeper struggling to get to the ball. The match ended 5-0, a scoreline that surprised even the most optimistic fan. (Getty Images)
An 89th minute goal gave Uruguay the win against an Egypt without Salah. Jose Gimenez rose the highest to head in a Carlos Sanchez free-kick. (Getty Images)
A late late own goal from Aziz Bouhaddouz gifted Iran a win in a match where Morocco had the better of the chances. Bouhaddouz tried to clear a free-kick at the near post in the closing seconds but headed the ball into goal instead. (Getty Images)
Ronaldo converts from the spot to put Portugal ahead against Spain. Nacho conceded the first of many penalties this World Cup after fouling Ronaldo just inside the box. (Getty Images)
Diego Costa showed brilliant skill and strength to level the score against Portugal. Sergio Busquets played a long ball forward looking to find Costa who got the ball after some poor defending by Pepe. Costa wriggled inside the box and put his shot between two defenders and into the bottom corner.(Getty Images)
Ronaldo found the net again, but this time because of a mistake from De Gea. Ronaldo's shot from outside the box was straight at De Gea but the ball slipped out of his hands and into the net.(Getty Images)
Diego Costa brought the score level yet again after Sergio Busquets headed a David Silva free-kick across goal and Costa was there in the middle to tap it in.(Getty Images)
Three minutes later, Nacho got to a stray ball just outside the box and made a sweet connection on the volley. The ball hit the inside of the far post and went in. Spain led 3-2. (Getty Images)
In the 88th minute, Ronaldo wound the clock back to earlier in his career when he'd consistently produced moments of magic with his free-kicks. He dispatched this one right in the top corner and levelled the scores. (Getty Images)
Antoine Griezmann won a penalty in the 58th minute and slotted it home. (AP Photo)
Just four minutes later, France conceded a penalty. Australia's captain Mile Jedinak doesn't miss. (Getty Images)
Pogba finished off a slick move that he started from the middle of the field. What everyone thought was a clever flick over the keeper by Pogba that just crossed the line, was adjudged Aziz Behich's own goal as he got a touch on the way in. (AP Photo)
Sergio Aguero received Marcos Rojo's pass inside the box and showed good strength to hold off a defender and turn and rip one into the top corner with his weaker foot. (AP Photo)
Bjarnasson got to Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross but Willy Caballero got a hand to it, only to find Alfred Finnbogason in the middle of the box who calmly tapped it in. His goal was Iceland's first-ever World Cup and secured a surprise draw with Argentina. (AP Photo)
Cristain Eriksen started a swift counter-attack and found Yussuf Poulsen in space on the left. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Poulsen scored the winner as he squeezed his shot in between the keeper and the near post. (Getty Images)
Ante Rebic flicked Modric's corner into the middle of the box for a diving Mandzukic to head it onto Oghenekaro Etebo, off whom it deflected into goal. Croatia led through an own goal. (Getty Images)
Croatia captain Luka Modric scored a penalty in the 71st minute to secure a win for his side. (Getty Images)
Serbia defender Aleksandar Kolarov executed a perfect free-kick from 30 yards out. It turned out to be the only goal of the match. (Getty Images)
A goal that shocked the world! Mexico was looking dangerous on the counter throughout the game. In one such counter-attack, Javier Hernandez found Hirving Lozano sprinting into space on the left. Lozano cut across Ozil and beat Manuel Neur at the near post. Mexico defeated the World Champion courtesy his goal. (Getty Images)
A classic Coutinho! After a Marcelo cross was cleared, Philip Coutinho got the ball in his favourite position and whipped a curler into the top corner. (Getty Images)
In the 50th minute, Steven Zuber got on the end of a Shaqiri corner and headed it home. The match ended in a draw. (Getty Images)
Andreas Granqvist scored the only goal of Sweden's match against South Korea when he converted a penalty in the 65th minute. (Getty Images)
Dries Mertens opened the scoring for Belgium against World Cup first-timers Panama. Mertens hit the ball on the volley from the corner of the box and it flew over the goalkeeper into the far corner. (Getty Images)
A superb assist from Kevin de Bruyne helped Belgium get its second. De Bruyne curled the ball with the outside of his right boot into the path of Romelu Lukaku, who latched onto it and headed it home. (Getty Images)
Belgium's third goal came from a counter-attack at the end of which Lukaku found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and chipped it over the onrushing Jaime Penedo. (Getty Images)
John Stones headed an Ashley Young corner onto goal. Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen made a good save but the ball fell into the path of Harry Kane who tapped it in to give England the lead. (Getty Images)
In the 35th minute, Ferjani Sassi converted a penalty to draw his team level. (Getty Images)
A late goal from Harry Kane secured a win for England. The goal, once again, came from a corner when Harry Maguire's header found Harry Kane who headed it into goal.(Getty Images)
Shinji Kagawa opened the scoring for Japan. Carlos Sanchez gave away a penalty in the sixth minute and Kagawa slotted it in the corner. (Getty Images)
Juan Quintero levelled the score in the 39th minute. He kept his free-kick low and despite the keeper's attempt to keep it out, the ball had just crossed the line. (Getty Images)
Yuya Osako won the game for Japan when he scored from a corner-kick in the 79th minute. (Getty Images)
Idrissa Gueye's shot took a deflection off Thiago Cionek and past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who was wrong-footed, to give Senegal the lead. (Getty Images)
Almost a comical series of lapses in judgement from Poland led to a second goal for Senegal. Szczesny, who came rushing from his goal to clear a careless backpass to safety, found himself stranded in the middle of the pitch when Mbaye Niang got to the ball first and safely tucked the ball into an open goal. (Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah converted a penalty in the 73rd minute but that ended up being only a consolation to Egypt which lost 3-1, and consolation to Salah's well-wishers who expected him to light up the tournament. (Getty Images)
Grzegorz Krychowiak got a goal back for Poland when he headed in a free-kick in the 85th minute. But it was too late and Poland lost 2-1 to Senegal. (Getty Images)
Russia got the lead after an own goal from Egypt's Ahmed Fathi in the 47th minute. Zobnin's shot from way out took a deflection off Fathi, who was trying to clear it, and went in past a helpless Mohamed El-Shenawy. (Getty Images)
Denis Cheryshev doubled Russia's lead in the 59th minute when he clinically directed a Mario Fernandes pass between the goalkeeper's legs and into the goal. (Getty Images)
Artem Dzyuba showed great technique to chest down a long free-kick in the penalty box, dribble around one defender and curl it into the bottom corner. He made it 3-0 to Russia. (Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo's record breaking goal in the fourth minute was the sole goal as Portugal defeated Morocco 1-0. Ronaldo's diving header from a corner made him Europe's highest international goalscorer surpassing Ferenc Puskas' record of 84 goals. (Getty Images)
Luis Suarez scored the winner for Uruguay against Saudi Arabia when the Saudi golakeeper tried to catch the ball from the corner kick and missed it, leaving Suarez with an open goal. (AP photo)
After a skillful turn with the ball in the box, Diego Costa tried to cut across the defender Ramin Rezaeian to get clear on goal. But Rezaeian's attempt to clear the ball deflected off Costa's leg and into the goal. Spain held on to win 1-0.(Getty Images)
Cristian Eriksen opened the scoring for Denmark in the seventh minute as he guided a supreme volley from just inside the box to the top of the net.(Getty Images)
Mile Jedinak sent Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way to score a penalty in the 38th minute and equalize. The match ended 1-1. (Getty Images)
Olivier Giroud's pass to Mbappe took a deflection off the defender, taking it over the goalkeeper and gifting Kylian Mbappe with an open goal he would never miss. He scored the only goal in the match.(Getty Images)
Willy Caballero's horrible attempted chip gifted the ball to Ante Rebic who volleyed it over Caballero and into the net. (Getty Images)
Luka Modric scored one of the goals of the tournament when he unleashed a shot from about 30 yards out. It curled into the near post beating an outstretched Caballero. (Getty Images)
In the 91st minute, Ivan Rakitic's shot from outside the box was saved by Caballero, only to place it in the path of Matteo Kovacic. Kovacic passed it to Rakitic waiting in the middle of the box and he calmly placed it in the net to complete Croatia's 3-0 walkover of Argentina and secure a place in the knockout stages. (Getty Images)
Philippe Coutinho saved Brazil's campaign when he scored a goal in the 91st minute against Costa Rica. Gabriel Jesus headed Marcelo's corner to Neymar whose touch left it in the path of Coutinho to place it between the Keylor Navas' legs and into the goal.(Getty Images)
Brazil cemented victory and Neymar finally got his goal in the 97th minute, cushioning a Douglas Costa cross into an open goal.(Getty Images)
Ahmed Musa beautifully controlled a Victor Moses cross and sent a powerful half-volley into the net to open Nigeria's scoring against Iceland in the 49th minute.(Getty Images)
In the 75th minute Ahmed Musa scored a goal made out of individual brilliance. He outran Arnasson on the left flank before heading into the box to go around the goalkeeper Halldorsson and score. (Getty Images)
Aleksandar Mitrovic put Serbia in the lead when he headed in a Dusan Tadic corner in the fifth minute. (Getty Images)
After Xherdan Shaqiri's shot was blocked, Granit Xhaka rushed to the stray ball and fired it into the far corner, breaking into controversial celebrations.(Getty Images)
A quick counter-attack in the 90th minute put Shaqiri clear on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat and that he did. He too, celebrated like his compatriot Xhaka. (Getty Images)
Eden Hazard won a penalty in the fifth minute and converted it calmly to put Belgium in front against Tunisia. (Getty Images)
A counter-attack in the 16th minute gave Belgium another chance. Dries Mertens passed it to Romelu Lukaku who guided it between the goalkeeper and defender to the far post to make it 2-0 to Belgium. (Getty Images)
Tunisia was back in the game just two minutes later when Dylan Bronn headed in Wahbi Khazri's free-kick. (Getty Images)
Some clever movement by Lukaku and Meunier's good vision put Lukaku through on goal and he chipped it over the onrushing goalkeeper to take the score to 3-1 to Belgium. (Getty Images)
Eden Hazard showed pure skill to control Kevin de Bruyne's long ball with his chest, go around the keeper and score in the 51st minute. (Getty Images)
Michy Batshuayi made it 5-1 in the 90th minute when he got to a Yuri Tieleman's cross and directed it into the goal to put Belgium through to the next round.(Getty Images)
Wahbi Khazri scored Tunisia's second in the 93rd minute but it was too late as the 5-2 loss meant Tunisia was knocked out of the world cup.(Getty Images)
South Korea gave away an penalty in the 24th minute and Carlos Vela didn't miss. Mexico went up 1-0.(Getty Images)
Javier Hernandez made it two for Mexico, which had already proven to be deadly on the counter. Hirving Lozano had space to run and found Hernandez on the left, who didn't make sweet contact with the ball but it went in anyway. (Getty Images)
Heung-min Son scored got one back for South Korea in the 93rd minute when he curled the ball into the far corner from 25 yards out, well out of the reach of Ochoa. But it was too little too late as it lost 2-0 to Mexico.(Getty Images)
Ola Toivonen stunned the Germans in the 32nd minute when he expertly chested down a cross in the box and lobbed it over Manuel Neuer into the goal. Sweden took the lead 1-0 and the World Champion was in trouble.(Getty Images)
Germany got one back in the 48th minute when Marco Rues just got to a Timo Werner cross and cushioned it into thhe corner. (Getty Images)
Anything less than a win would have meant a World Cup exit for Germany. Deadlocked at 1-1 in the 95th minute, Toni Kroos stepped up to take a free-kick. His shot curled into the far post beating Robin Olsen and kept Germany in the World Cup. (Getty Images)
John Stones gave England the lead in the eighth minute. Unmarked in the box, he headed in from a corner. (Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling won a penalty and Harry Kane converted it by firing it into the top corner. England was 2-0 up in the 22nd minute. (Getty Images)
Jesse Lingard extended England's lead with a goal of the tournament contender. His shot from outside to box curled into the top corner. (Getty Images)
John Stones got his second and England's fourth in the 40th minute when he headed in a save off Raheem Sterling's header. (Getty Images)
Another penalty for England and another goal for Harry Kane. He went the same way again and scored his fifth for the tournament. (Getty Images)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek's shot from outside the box took a deflection off Harry Kane and went in. Harry Kane was awarded the goal making him only the third English player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup. England 6-0 and that was 6 goals for Kane in the tournament.(Getty Images)
Panama had reason to celebrate though. Felipe Baloy was first to a free-kick and guided it past an outstretched Jordan Pickford to score Panama's first-ever World Cup goal. (Getty Images)
Eiji Kawashima's save of Youssouf Sabaly's shot fell right to Mane who kneed it into goal to put Senegal in front in the 11th minute. (Getty Images)
Japan equalized in the 34th minute when Takashi Inui got the ball in the box and curled a shot around two defenders and past the keeper into the far post. (Getty Images)
Senegal took the lead again in the 71st minute. Moussa Wague got to Sabaly's cross across the box (that took a slight deflection off Niang) and fired it into the top corner. (Getty Images)
Japan's talisman over the years, Keisuke Honda, equalized in the 78th minute. The goalkeeper couldn't get to Osaka's cross and it came back to Keisuke Honda who was waiting in the middle of the box with an open goal. (Getty Images)
James Rodrigues' floated a ball into the box and Yerry Mina headed it in to put Colombia in front in the 40th minute. (Getty Images)
Juan Quintero's played Radamel Falcao, who was just onside, through on goal. Falcao sent it past Szczesny to double Colombia's lead. (Getty Images)
Juan Cuadrado made it 3-0 to Colombia in the 75th minute. A counter-attack put Cuadrado clear on goal and he calmly slotted it into the bottom corner, knocking Poland out of the World Cup. (Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah scored put Egypt in the lead in the 22nd minute when he ran onto a long ball and lobbed it over the keeper who was off his line. (Getty Images)
Ali Gabr gave away a penalty in the final minute of half-time. Salman Al-Faraj converted from the spot to bring Saudi Arabia level at half-time.(Getty Images)
Late drama ensued as Salem Al-Dawsari scored the winner for Saudi Arabia in the 95th minute. Al-Dawsari's shot went in the far post although the angle was acute. (Getty Images)
Luiz Suarez put Uruguay in front against Russia in the 10th minute directly from a free-kick. He kept his shot low and beat Igor Akinfeev at the far post. (Getty Images)
Laxalt's shot from outside the box took a deflection off Denis Cheryshev and creeped in at the corner, beating Akinfeev. Uruguay doubled its lead. (Getty Images)
In the 90th minute, Akinfeev kept out Diego Godin's header but the ball fell to Edinson Cavani, who tapped it in to make it 3-0 Uruguay. (Getty Images)
Just at the stroke of half-time, Ricardo Quaresma came up with a moment of brilliance to put Portugal ahead. From just outside the box, he curled one into the far corner with the outside of his right foot. A Quaresma special. (Getty Images)
Karim Ansarifard converted a late penalty to draw the scores level. But it was too late as the match ended in a draw and Portugal was through to the next round. (Getty Images)
Morocco took the lead in the 14th minute when Sergio Ramos gave the ball away in the dangerous position and Khalid Boutaib, having only David de Gea to beat, safely tucked it in the corner. (Getty Images)
Just 5 minutes later, Isco equalized from an Andres Iniesta assist. (Getty Images)
Morocco took the lead again in the 81st minute. Youssef En-Nesyri got his head to a corner-kick and out the put the ball in the top corner. Spain was in trouble. (Getty Images)
Iago Apsas' skillfully flicked in a low cross in the 91st minute and Spain secured a berth in the next round. (Getty Images)
Andre Carrillo volleyed Paolo Guerrero's weighted cross into the net much to the unbridled joy of the raucous Peru fans packing the stands in Sochi.(Getty Images)
Paolo Guerrero teed up Peru's first World Cup goal in 36 years before also finding the net himself as Ricardo Gareca's side ended Australia's slim qualification hopes.(Getty Images)
Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead in St Petersburg, the Barcelona superstar scoring a stunner to bring up the 100th goal of Russia 2018. (Getty Images)
Victor Moses stepped up to roll Nigeria level and within touching distance of progressing but Argentina prevailed to advance. (Getty Images)
Lionel Messi's men finally entered the round of 16 all thanks to a stunner from Marcos Rojo. (Getty Images)
Milan Badelj scored the first goal for Croatia in the 53rd minute, getting to the ball on the volley and smashing into the ground and in. (Getty Images)
Gylfi Sigurdsson's 76th-minute penalty gave Iceland hope of mounting a comeback. (Getty Images)
Ivan Perisic scored late on to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Croatia over Iceland. (Getty Images)
Kim Young-gwon scored the opening goal for South Korea to knockout defending champions Germany. (Getty Images)
Son Heung-Min of South Korea scored the second goal to eliminate Germany in dramatic fashion but sank to his knees upon realizing the result wasn't going to get them through the group stage. (Getty Images)
Ludwig Augustinsson scored a brilliant goal as Sweden secured a place in the last 16. (Getty Images)
Andreas Granqvist rifled home the penalty to double Sweden's lead. (Getty Images)
Edson Alvarez of Mexico scored an own goal to trail 3-0 but his team still qualified for the last 16. (Getty Images)
Paulinho' goal helped Brazil earn a comfortable 2-0 victory over Serbia. (Getty Images)
Thiago Silva wrapped up the win and kept hopes of an unprecedented sixth title alive. (Getty Images)
Blerim Dzemaili took advantage of generous marking to power home from close range as Switzerland advanced with Costa Rica draw. (Getty Images)
Substitute Josip Drmic slotted in cooly to double the tally as Switzerland qualified despite a draw. (Getty Images)
Bryan Ruiz's penalty cannoned off Yann Sommer for an unfortunate own goal to ensure a share of the spoils. (Getty Images)
Despite scoring two goals, Costa Rica was left to reflect on a campaign that fell well short of the magical run to the quarterfinals in 2014. (Getty Images)
Jan Bednarak scored a goal to put Poland ahead but Japan qualified for the round of 16. (Getty Images)
Yerry Mina of Colombia celebrates following his sides victory against Senegal. (Getty Images)
Yassine Meriah gave Panama an early lead but that was just not enough. (Getty Images)
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored a brilliant goal to equalise. (Getty Images)
Wahbi Khazri then found the back of the net to hand Tunisia a brilliant win. (Getty Images)
Adnan Januzaj broke the deadlock with a brilliant individual run to cut past Danny Rose and unleash a beautiful curler into the top corner. (Getty Images)
Antonie Griezmann scored France's first goal from penalty spot. (Getty Images)
Argentina equalised in the 41st minute through a stunning Angel Di Maria goal. (Getty Images)
Gabriel Mercado deflected Lionel Messi's shot into the back of the net to give Argentina 2-1 lead. (Getty Images)
Benjamin Pavard smashed a brilliant volley into the far corner to equalise for France. (Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe scored a brace to knockout Argentina. (Getty Images)
After Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal, the French players went wild with the celebrations. (Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero scored in the first minute of the injury time but it was not enough for Argentina to go ahead in the tournament. (Getty Images)
Edinson Cavani headed in a Luis Suarez cross to score past Rui Patrico. (Getty Images)
A brilliant header from Pepe helped Portugal equalise. (Getty Images)
Edinson Cavani scored his second goal of the game to help Uruguay march ahead. (Getty Images)
Sergey Ignashevich scored an own goal to put Spain ahead. (Getty Images)
Artem Dzyuba scored the equaliser on the 41st minute as Russia ultimately won the match on penalties (3-4). (Getty Images)
Mathias Jorgensen scored a goal in the very first minute to put Denmark ahead. (Getty Images)
Mario Mandzukic of Croatia scored in the fourth minute to help his side equalise. Ultimately, Croatia won (3-2) on penalties. (Getty Images)
Neymar scored the first goal for Brazil to help his side take an early lead. (Getty Images)
Roberto Firmino then doubled the lead as Brazil tamed Mexico. (Getty Images)
Takashi Inui scored a long-range scorcher to stun Belgium. (Getty Images)
Genki Haraguchi scored the opening goal for Japan in a high-octane clash. (Getty Images)
Jan Vertonghen celebrates after scoring Belgium's first goal. (Getty Images)
Marouane Fellaini brought Belgium back into the game by scoring the equaliser via a header. (Getty Images)
Nacer Chadli turned out to be the hero for Belgium after netting the last-gasp winner. (Getty Images)
Emil Forsberg's goal in the 66th minute gave Sweden the win. He opened his tally in the tournament with his 13th attempt. (Getty Images)
Harry Kane gave England an early lead with a brilliant goal in the 57th minute. (Getty Images)
Yerry Mina then equalised in the extra time to drag the match into the penalty shoot-out. However, England won the penalty shootout (4-3) to march into the semifinals. (Getty Images)
Raphael Varane headed Antoine Griezmann's 40th minute free-kick into the net to give France 1-0 lead in the first-half. (Getty Images)
Griezmann doubled France's lead in the 61st minute as France booked its place in the semifinal. (Getty Images)
An own-goal by Fernandinho gave Belgium the lead and made the start even more difficult for Brazil. (Getty Images)
A trademark strike from Kevin de Bruyne secured Belgium's place in the semifinals. (Getty Images)
Renato Augusto scored the lone goal for Brazil and that was not enough for the South American giant. (Getty Images)
Harry Maguire opened the scoring for England when he rose above his marker to head home a corner kick in the 30th minute. (Getty Images)
After Raheem Sterling missed two glorious chances, Dele Alli headed from close range in the 59th minute to make it 2-0 for England. (Getty Images)
Denis Cheryshev scored an early goal and gave Russia the lead. (Getty Images)
Andrej Kramaric equalised for Croatia in what was a pulsating match. (Getty Images)
Ivan Perisic then doubled the lead for Croatia in the extra time. (Getty Images)
Mario Fernandes found the back of the net in the dying minutes but Crotia won on penalties (4-3). (Getty Images)
Samuel Umtiti rises high and sends a header past Courtois as France booked a plave in the final. (Getty Images)
Kieran Trippier scored via a free kick early in the game to put England ahead. (Getty Images)
Ivan Perisic got in front of Kyle Walker to score the equaliser for Croatia. (Getty Images)
Mario Mandzukic scored the decisive goal to help Croatia reach the World Cup final. (Getty Images)
Thomas Meunier's goal gave Belgium an early lead over England in the third place play-off match. (Getty Images)
Eden Hazard then doubled the lead as Belgium finished third in the 2018 World Cup. (Getty Images)
Mario Mandzukic became the first player to score an own goal in the World Cup final when a free kick came off his head in the 18th minute to give France 1-0 lead. (Getty Images)
Croatia was not trailing for too long as Ivan Perisic finished brilliantly in the 28th minute to make it 1-1. (Getty Images)
Antonie Griezmann scored from the spot with a perfect finish into the left corner to give France 2-1 lead at half-time. (Getty Images)
France extended the lead to 3-1 in the 59th minute when Paul Pogba scored from a rebound. (Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe scored the fourth goal for France in the 65th minute, giving Croatia a mountain to climb. (Getty Images)
Mario Mandzukic made up for his own goal in the 69th minute when he capitalised on a Hugo Lloris mistake to give Croatia some consolation. (Getty Images)
Croatia could not manage more than two and France won the final 4-2, making it the World Champion for the second time. (Getty Images)
COMMents
Comments
SHARE