Compelling, crazy, comic, controversial… France are now the World Cup champions and the greatest international team on the planet, after a 4-2 win over Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow today. The first own goal of a final, a controversial penalty, VAR, a teenaged goal scorer, stifling reactive tactics, …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Hazard lights up play off, as Belgian joins Modric, Kane, Griezmann and Mbappé in awards chase
Belgium majored in minors at Saint Petersburg today, as they won one of the least meaningful matches in any competition: the third-placed play off. The “Red Devils” defeated England 2-0, which, ironically, was the second time the two teams met in a quasi-competitive fixture at the Russia 2018 World Cup. There was …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Super Mario spoils England homecoming; Croatia set up revenge match with France
England football fans started the day singing “It’s coming home”; but they will end it crooning “Closing Time.” A predatory finish by Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic in extra time separated the two nations in today’s semifinal and set up a World Cup final date with France on Sunday. The only …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: A flash of Umtiti stuns Belgium as France advance to World Cup final
In another topsy turvy duel, Belgium tried to continue their daring 2018 World Cup run in Saint Petersburg today; but, in the end, the “Red Devils” were left ashen-faced by a flash of Samuel Umtiti, as Les Bleus snatched a 1-0 win. Eh? If Mr Live Wire was a bit …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Coming home? England continue aerial assault on Russia; while Croatia enjoy la Vida loca
Eh… It’s coming home? Barely two months ago, Russia president Vladimir Putin expelled nearly five dozen British diplomats, as the two countries bickered over the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in London. Who would have thought that the England football team would be more difficult to dislodge? For …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Neymar blanked by VAR as Brazil tumble out; France, Belgium advance to all-Euro semis
Mr Live Wire has not seen so many disappointed faces in yellow jerseys since the 2015 General Elections. For the fourth straight tournament, perennial World Cup favourites, Brazil, failed to navigate their way to the final, as the five-time champions tumbled out in the quarters after a 2-1 loss to …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Neymar strikes as Brazil KOs Mexico, Samurai Blue fall on swords against bullish Belgium
Now that’s more like it! After Sunday’s forgettable fare, the Russia 2018 World Cup burst to life once more today as Brazil bested Mexico 2-0 while Belgium staged a monumental recovery to kayo Japan 3-2 in the Round of 16 competition. Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, and Belgium, who …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Spain written off after hitting Russian bus, Croatia put away Danish despite Modric miss
Eh… well that was awkward. Two hundred and forty minutes of football for three scrappy goals and a load of penalties. If ever there was proof that God has an offbeat sense of humour, it may lie in the fact that today’s stodgy fare was played on the only Sunday …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Mbappe runs Argentina out of Russia, Cavani collars Portugal as Messi and Ronaldo take leave
So, farewell to the G.O.A.T and the Goatee. The Russia 2018 World Cup will make do without football’s MVP trophy-grabbing duopoly of Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, after the pair were eliminated on the first day of the Round of 16 today. Messi’s return ticket was booked at …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Senegal ousted by “fair play”, Belgium win and lose in bizarre England clash
For the final minutes of Japan’s Group H contest, the “Samurai Blue”—despite trailing Poland 1-0—opted to play the ball around in their own defence with no attempt to enter into the opposing half of the field. In the other match being played simultaneously, Senegal, who were also down a solitary …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Katastrophe! Neuer nightmare as Neymar’s Brazil samba in German tears
In the city of Brasilia, fireworks went off, residents jumped up and down at malls and drivers honked their car horns. And the Brazil team had not even stepped on to the field yet! The Germans call it schadenfreude, which roughly translates to the enjoyment of another’s misfortune. And not …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Rojo delivers Messi’s mojo, as Argentina join Croatia, France and Denmark in next round
Somewhere in St Petersburg tonight, a dazed looking Argentine in a number 14 shirt might be heard asking medical staff: Did we win? Did we win? On another electric evening in the Russia 2018 World Cup, La Albiceleste squeezed into the Round of 16 at the death as they narrowly …
Read More »