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Croatia captain Luka Modric said being awarded the Golden Ball for the World Cup's best player was "bittersweet" after losing the final 4-2 to France on Sunday (Jul 15). Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric holds the adidas Golden Ball prize during the trophy ceremony at the end of the 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP) "Obviously I liked the recognition and thanks to those who chose me, but clearly I would have preferred to have won the World Cup," said the Real Madrid midfielder. "It wasn't to be and now we will rest and in the coming days celebrate this because it is still a huge thing for Croatia, but right now the feeling is bittersweet. "We are proud of what we have done, but a bit sad at losing the final." Despite being forced into extra-time in all three of their knockout rounds before the final, Croatia dominated the opening period and were desperately unlucky to trail 2-1 at half-time through Mario Mandzukic's own goal and … [Read more...] about Modric says Golden Ball ‘bittersweet’ after defeat

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Russia's President Putin for his "perfect" organisation of the World Cup as the two leaders prepared to watch the final on Sunday (Jul 15). Russian President Vladimir Putin offers flowers to Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jul 15, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Yuri Kadobnov) Macron and his wife Brigitte met the Russian leader at the Kremlin on Sunday afternoon before the match between France and Croatia at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. Macron told Putin he wanted "to congratulate you as the organising country for how well this event has passed off. It has not only been watched around the world, but the whole world has come here" to watch it. "To do it in safe conditions and with everything going perfectly was a challenge, so well done for that." Putin congratulated France for having reached the final. "I am sure we will see an interesting, intense, close match which … [Read more...] about Macron congratulates Putin for hosting ‘perfect’ World Cup

Creative forces: Croatia's Luka Modric (right) and Antoine Griezmann of France could hold the key to the World Cup final AFP/Pierre-Philippe MARCOU, Gabriel BOUYS France will also be spurred on by trying to put behind them the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final to Portugal in Paris. It is a final few people anticipated when football's global showpiece kicked off four weeks ago. Croatia have brought joy to their Balkan nation of just four million people by defying the odds to progress to the final while reigning champions Germany, then Argentina and Brazil all fell by the wayside in Russia. They have been inspired by mercurial midfielder Luka Modric while coach Zlatko Dalic, who only took over last year with the squad in chaos, has coaxed remarkable performances from his team. Deschamps would become only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager - he was captain when France lifted the World Cup in 1998. His France side, spearheaded by … [Read more...] about France and Croatia seek World Cup glory

Novak Djokovic shakes hands after beating Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. (Photo: AFP/Nic Bothma) Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 champion, will face Kevin Anderson, the first South African in the final in 97 years, for the title after a 5-hour 15-minute marathon. Victory on Sunday for the 31-year-old Serb would take his career Slam tally to 13, four behind Nadal and seven back from Roger Federer. It was a second day of epic drama at the All England Club after Anderson had needed 6 hours and 36 minutes to beat John Isner on Friday. That set the record for the longest semi-final at the tournament and became the second longest Grand Slam singles match ever played. It also meant that Djokovic and Nadal had been unable to finish their 52nd career clash on Friday night. The Saturday drama delayed the start of the women's final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber. "It's hard to pick the words. I'm just going through things, flashbacks to the last 15 months, everything I've … [Read more...] about Epic Djokovic stuns Nadal to reach Wimbledon final

Champion: Germany's Angelique Kerber. (Photo: AFP/Glyn Kirk) Kerber avenged her defeat against Williams in the 2016 Wimbledon title match, overwhelming the seven-time champion with a stunning 65-minute upset on Centre Court. "I knew I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena," Kerber said. "It was my second chance to play in the final. I think I'm the next one after Steffi who won. That's amazing." Williams had hoped to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles by winning her first major prize since becoming a mother in September. The 36-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open, went into the final as the title favourite, even though she was playing only the fourth tournament of her post-pregnancy comeback. But instead world number 10 Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany's first female champion at the All England Club since Steffi Graf in 1996. "It's obviously disappointing but I am just getting started," said … [Read more...] about Kerber stuns Serena’s history bid in Wimbledon final

Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to secure their best ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate's side home with a second straight loss. Belgium's Thomas Meunier, left, scores his side's opening goal against England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as England's Danny Rose tries to defend during the third place match between England and Belgium at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia on Jul 14, 2018. (Photo source: AP/Petr David Josek) A fourth-minute goal from Thomas Meunier and an 82nd-minute Eden Hazard strike earned Belgium the victory and third place, which improved on their previous best performance of fourth in 1986. "It’s all about that achievement. I think these players deserve that," Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. "What we have seen in this World Cup is that the players did not want to rely on talent anymore, they wanted to rely on working as a team, becoming a … [Read more...] about World Cup: Belgium overpower tired England to secure third place

England manager Gareth Southgate made five changes to his team for Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off against Belgium but the tournament's top scorer Harry Kane starts. Soccer Football - World Cup - Semi Final - Croatia v England - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - July 11, 2018 England's Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the pitch before the match,Source: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov England manager Gareth Southgate made five changes to his team for Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off against Belgium but the tournament's top scorer Harry Kane starts. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Eric Dier, Phil Jones, Danny Rose and Fabian Delph all come into the starting line-up after beginning on the bench in the semi-final defeat to Croatia. Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson are all dropped to the bench by Southgate. Kane, who with six goals is favourite for the Golden Boot, will start alongside Raheem Sterling. Belgium manager Roberto Martinez made two changes … [Read more...] about England make five changes for playoff with Belgium

Zlatko Dalic's coaching career has mirrored his team's campaign at the World Cup: a long, hard road to recognition and respect on the back of the hard currency of results. Zlatko Dalic talks to his players before extra-time against England AFP/Jewel SAMAD The 51-year-old was mentored by Miroslav Blazevic, the architect of the young nation's journey to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, but made the decision in 2010 that moving to the Gulf was the only way to prove his worth as a coach. Seven years on, he took over a Croatia squad in disarray and slowly rebuilt the unity that has allowed them to get the best out of their individual talent and reach Sunday's final against France. "I have always been an optimist throughout my time in the dugout," Dalic said through a translator on Thursday. "I look for positives in everything. We have had many problems, if I had created more problems, we would not be in the final. "The culture of our national team was in tatters, with players … [Read more...] about Croatia coach Dalic chooses the hard path to success

Former England captain David Beckham told supporters on Thursday (Jul 12) he was bringing Major League Soccer to Miami "no matter what", even as his latest stadium plan sparked opposition. David Beckham attends a City of Miami Commissioners meeting where he and his partners presented plans of building a Major League Soccer stadium on public land, on July 12, 2018 AFP/RHONA WISE The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder and his partners presented Miami commissioners with a proposal that would see their 25,000-seat stadium - along with a hotel and entertainment and retail space - take over the site of Melreese Country Club, where the publicly owned golf course houses the youth golf program First Tee Miami. Commissioners were considering whether to ask Miami voters if the city should change its rules for competitive bidding on private use of public land. A referendum on the issue would be on the ballot in November, and only if it passed would the city negotiate … [Read more...] about Beckham vows to bring MLS to Miami as new stadium plan faces opposition

Volleyball teams from Duc Giang (Hanoi capital), Bac Ninh, and Quang Ninh provinces are hosting exhibition games with San Diego’s Exodus Volleyball Club.The San Diego team will visit KOTO to learn about local opportunities empowering at-risk-youth; spend a night on Ha Long bay to learn about environmental preservation efforts; and tour cultural sites including the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology.Photo: Thanh nien newsLater on, the US team will then travel to Luang Prabang situated in northern Laos, where they will host a volleyball clinic and tournament with local teams. This December, teams from Vietnam and Laos will then spend a week in San Diego for a reciprocal exchange experience which will be funded by the US Department of State. They will play friendly matches against local teams, enjoy dinner in the homes of local San Diegans, and explore local cultural sites while deepening their connections with their San Diego peers. This program, organized by the San … [Read more...] about US volleyball players enjoy youth sports diplomacy program in Vietnam