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In this issue

30-06-201821 STORIES

Living legend: The Brazilian retired in 1970, yet is in every World Cup. The promising players are compared to him, the best become the “new Pele”.

A cricket book, autographed by Pele

A meeting with Pele, but no soccer book to sign. But the great man’s signature on ‘An Indian Cricket Omnibus’ is still something to cherish.

Suresh Menon

Fit and raring to go: Argentina’s Sergio Aguero during a training session in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.

Aguero: ‘I want a picture with the Cup’

“It’s my third World Cup. I feel happiness and a lot of anxiety, I want the time to come. I'll try to take all the experience of the past two World Cu

Germany's Thomas Muller in training before at CSKA Sports Base

The goal record is Muller’s to take

The German is seven goals away from setting a new record for goals scored in the World Cup, but he’s not the kind of player you’d expect to go chasing

Sunil Chhetri

Tale of 11 cities

Russia, with an area of 17.1 million sq.km, is the largest country to host the quadrennial FIFA World Cup. The host cities are spread across the weste

Belgium's Vincent Kompany, left, and Eden Hazard challenge for the ball training session at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize, Belgium, on Friday, June 1, 2018. Tomorrow, Belgium is playing a friendly soccer match against Portugal.

Is practice enough to make a player great?

While there are adherents to the 10,000-hours rule, to be a true elite player you need the right genetics, too.

All geared up: The Russian national team during a training session.

Russia’s fascinating football history

Two sturdy Lancastrians, the Charnock brothers, who owned cotton mills in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, in 1887, launched the first ever Russian soccer team.

Brian Glanville

Brian Glanville

Jules Rimet (left), president of FIFA, hands over the first World Cup (the Jules Rimet Trophy) to Dr. Paul Jude, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, before the first World Cup held in Uruguay in July 1930. Uruguay ultimately won the trophy, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.

Engrossing encounters

The World Cup has seen some the greatest matches ever played in football history. Here are a few.

Brian Glanville

Brian Glanville

Fans and players wait in anticipation as the Video Assistant Referee ponders over a goal during the FA Cup fifth round replay between Tottenham and Rochdale on February 28, 2018 in London.

A scanner on VAR

Ever since trials began in 2016, the video assistant referee system has been used in various leagues around the world and in a FIFA tournament for the

Shreedutta Chidananda

FIFA’s former presidents Sepp Blatter (right) and Joao Havelange. The governing body scoops up the largest chunk of the revenue, leaving peanuts for the host nation. This is the legacy of Havelange, carried forward by Blatter. Even though the regime has changed in name now, it is unlikely that FIFA will behave like anything but a spoilt customer in a refurbished five-star hotel.

It’s not the host but FIFA which stands to gain the most

For a while now, governments have started to develop cold feet when it comes to bidding for the tournament. This is a fear which goes beyond the FIFA

Official fooballs of the Russia 2018 World Cup tournament are seen under rain during a public training session of Switzerland's team on June 12, 2018 at Torpedo stdium in Tolyatti also know as Togliatti. / AFP PHOTO / Fabrice COFFRINI

Indian sport stars bitten by the World Cup bug!

Indian sport stars are also bitten by the World Cup bug. They tell us about their expectations from the tournament and their favourites.

Neymar: 'I think my first memory (of the World Cup) was watching on TV and the goal Romario scored against Holland.'

Super stars, super memory

Nine players who will represent their countries in Russia relive their first memories of the World Cup.

Mithila Pathak, who moved from Pune to Russia in 2015 to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (DM) degree, will be based in Nizhny Novgorod, and will be invloved in spectator service to Argentinians, English and Swedish fans among others.

Volunteering for the love of football

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has picked 17,040 volunteers — nearly 2,000 more than Brazil 2014 — from 112 countries

Aashin Prasad

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 8, 2017, Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski reacts after he scored a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Poland and Montenegro in Warsaw. / AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI

Group H: It’s Lewandowski vs Rodriguez

Group H, featuring Poland, Colombia, Senegal and Japan, makes the group fascinating and truly universal, with teams from Europe, South America, Africa

P. K. Ajith Kumar

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne reacts after a call during a friendly soccer match between Belgium and Egypt at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Group G: Battle of the EPL stars

Group G will witness a battle between some of the biggest Premier League stars, including the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Harry Kane.

Three footballs lie in front of Argentina ace Lionel Messi, perhaps symbolic of the three title-less World Cups he has taken part in. This is the living legend’s fourth and possibly last attempt to win the most coveted prize in world football.

Russia 2018: Impossible to play Nostradamus games!

Russia is all set to host the World Cup for the first time.

Toni Kroos will hold the strings in the German midfield

Group F: History and form favour Germany

While Germany will be the favourites to go through to the knockout stages, Sweden's match against Mexico will effectively decide second place in the g

M. R. Praveen Chandran

Roberto Firmino's (R) club form combined with Neymar's ruthlessness in front of goal may prove too much for the rest of Group E

Group E: It’s going to be Samba time in Russia

All eyes will be on Neymar and the five-time World Champion Brazil in Group E.

Kylian Mbappe is one of the most promising young talents and has even been compared to France legend Thierry Henry.

Group C: France one of the favourites to win

There could be a strong fight between Peru, Denmark and Australia for the second spot.

Shyam Vasudevan

Shyam Vasudevan

Russia will offer the 30-year-old Messi perhaps the last chance to win a World Cup.

Group D: The group that has it all

The world’s greatest player, a strong team whose players have frequently fought with each other and a cool first-timer - you name it, Group D has it.

Portugal is the defending Euro champion.

Group B: Another two-horse race

2010 champion Spain and reigning continental champion Portugal have been drawn together. Iran and Morocco provide variety to this group, which promise

Amitabha Das Sharma

In Luiz Suarez and Edinson Cavani, coach Oscar Washington Tabarez has one of the deadliest front twos in the world.

Group A: Straightforward for Uruguay, toss-up for second

Uruguay will be the team to beat and is tipped to top the group while Russia or Egypt is likely to take the second spot.

Archive

+ READ THIS ISSUE 27-04-2024

+ READ THIS ISSUE 13-04-2024

+ READ THIS ISSUE 30-03-2024

+ READ THIS ISSUE 16-03-2024

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