Two nations who have been waiting years to put right the bitter memories of World Cup semi-final defeats will face each other on Wednesday in Moscow with the chance to finally go one step further. England s last appearance at this stage was in 1990 when they lost in a penalty shootout to West Germany in Turin while eight years later, in their first World Cup as an independent nation, Croatia lost to hosts and eventual winners France.

France coach Didier Deschamps is confident he has prepared his players for any tactical surprises his opposite number Roberto Martinez might spring when they face Belgium in the World Cup semi-finals in St Petersburg on Tuesday. Belgium are the tournament s top scorers, and Martinez sprang a surprise by changing his system in the quarter-final against Brazil, moving target man Romelu Lukaku out wide so Kevin de Bruyne could operate as a "false nine".

The Spanish Football Federation has appointed Luis Enrique as Spain s new national team coach on a two-year deal, the president of the federation Luis Rubiales said during a news conference on Monday. "The decision was unanimous. I like his commitment and he has turned down better paid jobs in order to coach Spain. He s a coach who completes all the requirements the Federation was looking for," Rubiales said.

Belgium will be deeply disappointed if they fail to win the World Cup, defender Thomas Vermaelen said on Sunday, in the first direct acknowledgement of the team s belief in their ability to emerge triumphant in Russia. While other players have kept up a steady mantra of taking the tournament one game at a time, the 32-year-old defender make clear his vista was firmly focussed on next Sunday s final at Moscow s Luzhniki Stadium.

World Cup hosts Russia were outsiders only weeks ago but their unexpected World Cup success has made them hungry for more as they eye a semi-final spot against Croatia, defender Ilya Kutepov said on Wednesday. Russia edged Spain on penalties in last week s round of 16 match after the Spaniards played more than 1,000 passes but failed to create any chances.

Brazil winger Neymar is a world class footballer who does not need to exaggerate when his is fouled because it does not earn him any sympathy with the fans, former Germany captain and World Cup winner Lothar Matthaeus said on Wednesday. Neymar, who has scored twice so far to help Brazil into the World Cup quarter-finals in Russia where they will face Belgium on Friday, has been sharply criticised for a string of exaggerated reactions when clashing with an opponent.

Diego Maradona wants to return to the position of Argentina coach and is willing to work for free, as Jorge Sampaoli faces pressure to resign following their World Cup travails. Speaking on his "Hand of God" television show, the 57-year-old Maradona, who coached Argentina for two years from 2008-10, said it was painful to see the current state of the national team.

Liverpool FC officially announced that superstar Mohamed Salah’s contract has been renewed until summer 2023. The move comes as no surprise given Salahs exceptional performance with the Reds, helping the team reach the Champions League final for the first time since the 2006/07 season. The player scored 44 goals in 52 matches, winning prestigious awards such as The Golden Boot. Since then, rumors have even circulated that giant football clubs such as Real Madrid were interested in obtaining Salah, who decided to stay with his current team.

Hosts Russia beat Spain 4-3 on penalties thanks to two saves by their goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev on Sunday to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals where they will face either Denmark or Croatia. The 32-year-old keeper saved Koke s and Iago Aspas spot kicks after both teams had scored two apiece in what was Russia s first ever World Cup penalty shootout, to send his team to the last eight after a lacklustre 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. But there was high drama in the shootout for the 78,000 spectators at Luzhniki Stadium, with all four Russian penalty-takers keeping their cool and Muscovite Akinfeev, who has only played for CSKA Moscow his entire career, doing well to deny Koke s effort. He then kicked Aspas penalty high and wide to trigger wild celebrations. "In the second half, we were trying to defend. We were hoping for penalties and that s what happened, thank God," Akinfeev said. "We are having a fantastic World Cup." It was a painful World Cup exit for Spain and their coach Fernando Hierro, who took over at the last minute to replace Julen Lopetegui, fired on the eve of the tournament after accepting Real Madrid s offer to be their manager. "We did everything possible," said Spain captain Sergio Ramos, who scored his penalty. "It s difficult, very painful." Spain, who have never beaten a host at World Cups or Euros, went ahead after 12 minutes when 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich bundled into Ramos at the far post, knocking a free kick in with his heel for the 10th own goal of the tournament. The 2010 world champions controlled the game with their slick passing but failed to add to their lead as the Russians defended with discipline. They also looked, however, toothless up front, with Aleksandr Golovin s curled effort their only noteworthy opportunity until Gerard Pique s handball gave them a chance to level with a penalty. Forward Artem Dzyuba buried the 41st-minute penalty for his third goal of the tournament, sending Spain keeper David de Gea the wrong way to equalise and awaken the subdued crowd. The game lacked pace and tempo even after the break with the Russians playing without an out-and-out striker after the substitution of Dzyuba. Despite 75 percent possession and more than 1,000 passes, Spain s famed tiki-taka game rarely carried them into the box and they had to wait until the 85th minute to test Akinfeev with a low drive from substitute Andres Iniesta. Having long run out of steam and with several players cramping, Russia were reduced to desperately defending in extra time as Spain were in charge. Akinfeev came to the rescue again to deny Rodrigo after his fine sprint in the second half of extra time before becoming a national hero by saving the two spot kicks to send the hosts into the last eight.

Colombia s Yerry Mina thumped home a second-half header to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory over Senegal on Thursday that catapulted the South Americans into the World Cup last 16 and dumped their African opponents out of tournament. Senegal had only needed a point in their final Group H game to reach the next round, but defeat saw them miss out to Japan, who edged them out of the runners-up spot by virtue of having a better disciplinary record.

Egyptian Football Association (EFA) chairman Hani Abo Rida said during a press conference on Wednesday that the EFA board cannot resign over the 2018 World Cup failure while they face accusations of financial violations. Abo Rida made the comments in response to a question by a reporter during the press conference, which was held in Cairo to wrap up the Pharaohs participation at the world s most prestigious football tournament.

Newly-appointed Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy has implicitly stated that the ministry will investigate the national football delegation in the 2018 World Cup, echoing the parliamentary Sports Committee that has also opened an investigation. We will not let the situation pass so simply, of course" the former Football Association member stated on Facebook Monday evening.

Egypt were stunned in the last minute of stoppage time by Saudi Arabia, capping a nightmarish World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to the Asian nation at Volgograd on Monday. Having gone ahead courtesy of a Mohamed Salah goal in the 22nd minute, Egypt were pegged back by a stoppage-time penalty from Salman Al Faraj before the break, as Salem Al Dawsari scored the killer goal seconds before the final whistle.

Croatian Borna Coric denied Roger Federer the 99th title of his career on Sunday with a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 defeat in the final of the ATP Halle grass event. Federer also lost the number one spot in ATP rankings to Rafael Nadal, and missed a chance to earn a record 10th title at the German venue.

Former world number one Novak Djokovic says overcoming the mental challenge will be Andy Murray s biggest obstacle when he returns to tennis after a long-term hip injury. Murray, who has been sidelined for almost a year since losing in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last July, will face Australia s Nick Kyrgios in the first round at the Queen s Club tournament on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo powered-home a fourth-minute header to give Portugal a 1-0 World Cup victory over Morocco that took them top of Group B on Wednesday and meant the unlucky North African side become the first to be eliminated from the tournament. Ronaldo s fourth goal of Russia 2018, following his hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, took the European champions to four points. Iran have three points and Spain one ahead of their meeting later on Wednesday.

Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah might just take part in Egypt’s match against Russia tonight. The forward posted a video on his official Facebook page indicating he is ready to take on tonight’s match. “Ready for tomorrow”, “100 million strong”, read the caption for the video he posted yesterday, which shows Salah talking to the camera saying, “You might think that all this pressure on me to score could be a pressure. It can crush a player…”

Another video review led to a penalty at the World Cup, this time helping Sweden beat South Korea 1-0 Monday. Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist converted from the spot, sliding his shot into the bottom right corner in the 65th minute.

Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi s second-half penalty miss was not the reason Argentina failed to defeat Iceland at the World Cup on Saturday. Messi saw his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson after Alfred Finnbogason had cancelled out Sergio Aguero s 19th minute opener.

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has recovered from a shoulder injury and is almost 100 percent certain to play in their World Cup opener against Uruguay, coach Hector Cuper said on Thursday, ending weeks of suspense about the fitness of his most dangerous striker. Cuper went further by predicting on the eve of the match that Salah could emerge as one of the tournament s most prolific goalscorers.

Egypt s national football team flew to Russia Sunday to take part in the 2018 World Cup finals, five days before they kick off their first World Cup campaign since 1990. The Pharaohs will play Uruguay, hosts Russia and Arab Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia in Group A.