England's World Cup win over Tunisia attracted a peak overnight television audience of 18.3 million on BBC1, with a record three million requests to stream it on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Monday's game in Volgograd, which had a sixty nine per cent audience share at its peak, was the most-watched television programme of 2018, beating May's Royal Wedding. It also attracted the highest-ever live audience for an online BBC programme.
Watch how the BBC's World Cup studio in Moscow reacted to Harry Kane's last-minute winner for England against Tunisia in their opening group G game at the World Cup. It's pretty funny!
Japan profited from Colombia's nightmare start to the World Cup as they secured a victory against ten men in their Group H opener at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on Monday. Colombia conceded a penalty and had a man sent off inside three minutes, with Carlos Sanchez dismissed for handling Shinji Kagawa's shot at a goal left exposed by terrible defending. It was the first red card shown at this World Cup - and the second fastest in history at two minutes fifty six seconds. Kagawa scored from the resulting spot-kick. Japan should have increased their lead soon after as Takashi Inui and Yuya Osako wasted fine openings. They were punished when Juan Quintero's clever free-kick, fired low under the jumping wall, brought Jose Pekerman's Colombia on level terms six minutes before the break (despite a rather pathetic attempt by the Japanese goalkeeper, Kawashima, to claim that ball hadn't crossed the line. Colombia had never come back to win a World Cup match in which they had conceded the opening goal - across ten games - and their star player James Rodriguez was brought on in the second half, not having been deemed fit enough to start. However, it was Japan who regained the lead, Osako finishing with a header from Keisuke Honda's corner. Rodriguez had been struggling to leave a mark on the game, with Japan at last making their extra man count and dominating possession as might be expected, but there was one big chance for Columbia late on. Freed into space after a clever backheel, Rodriguez's strike from inside the box was deflected over the bar by a brave lunge from Osako. This was the first time Japan had won a World Cup game on European soil and the first time they had beaten a side from South America at the tournament. For Colombia, who reached the quarter-finals in 2014, this was a miserable defeat that leaves them with two very important games against Poland and Senegal to come.
Senegal deservedly defeated Poland in a game of few chances to claim the first win by an African team at the World Cup - although there was a hint of controversy about their second goal. M'Baye Niang sprinted back onto the field of play after an injury and, immediately, intercepted a backpass from midfield, beating former The Arse goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Southampton defender Jan Bednarek to the ball. He then slotted into an empty net - to the confusion and disgust of several Poland players, who protested in vain to referee, Nawaf Shukralla. All stroppy and discombobulated, so they were. The Lions of Teranga had, earlier, taken the lead shortly before the break when a shot from Everton's Idrissa Gueye took a huge deflection off the unfortunate Thiago Cionek. Aliou Cisse's team were wayward in their finishing - epitomised by one horribly miscued first-half strike by the lively Niang - and some of their decision-making saw good openings wasted. But they played with great ambition and purpose and showed enough to suggest they could well qualify from what is regarded as a very open group. Poland created little, with Robert Lewandowski feeding on scraps and heavily marked by Senegal's huge central defensive pairing of Salif Sane and Kalidou Koulibaly. But they ensured a frantic finale when Grzegorz Krychowiak headed home at the back post in the eighty sixth minute from Kamil Grosicki's free-kick but Senegal held on. Poland are the highest-ranked side in Group H but struggled to create further chances with a free-kick from Lewandowski one of just four shots on target. Senegal, making only their second World Cup appearance, join Japan on three points at the top of the group.
Russia moved to the brink of qualifying for the last sixteen of the World Cup after the host nation beat Egypt in St Petersburg on Tuesday evening. Russia, who beat Saudi Arabia's Under Elevens five-nil in their opening game, took the lead thanks to a bizarre forty seventh-minute own goal from Ahmed Fathi, who diverted Roman Zobnin's shot into his own net. As he lay there contemplating his error, Fathi appeared to be on the verge of tears with his bottom lip wobbling alarmingly. Tragically, Bad Manners were not on hand to give him some advice on such malarkey. Denis Cheryshev doubled Russia's advantage after he finished from Mario Fernandes' pull-back, before Artem Dzyuba sealed the victory with a fine individual goal. Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws forward Mohamad Salah, playing for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury in the Champions League final, converted a penalty after he had been fouled - but it was not enough to mount an Egypt fightback. Russia, are the lowest-ranked side in the tournament at seventieth in the world according to FIFA rankings and were not expected to do well in their home tournament, but the nature of their victory over Saudi Arabia in their opening match surprised many. The win even earned coach Stanislav Cherchesov a call during his post-match news conference from The Butcher Of Grozny, with the Russian president telling Cherchesov to pass on his congratulations to the players. Though it has to be noted, their two performances so far have been against the woeful Saudis and a one-man Egypt team with only half-a-Salah on show. A lacklustre first half contained only one shot on target from either side and that came via thirty eight-year-old Russia defender Sergei Ignashevich's weak fifth-minute effort straight at Egypt's goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy. However, the hosts went ahead only two minutes after the restart as Fathi, battling to get in front of Dzyuba, tried to make a clearance, lost his balance, tripped over his own feet and saw Zobnin's shot bounce off his knee and into the net. The ongoing fitness concerns about Salah have dominated their tournament - he needed surgery on a shoulder injury after getting injured during Liverpool's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on 26 May. He missed Egypt's last-minute defeat by Uruguay in their opening match and played the full ninety minutes in St Petersburg despite looking well short of fitness. Salah, who scored forty four goals during the 2017-18 season, still had the best chances for his side and his shot on the turn from eighteen yards narrowly went wide when the game was still goalless. With Egypt trailing three-nil, he did win a penalty after he was fouled by Zobnin - although it was only given after a consultation with the video assistant referee as referee Enrique Caceres had initially, wrongly, said the offence took place outside the area. Salah stepped up to become only the third Egyptian player to score at a World Cup finals, though their wait for a first victory - and their first goal from opening play since 1934 - goes on.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his sensational start to the World Cup with the winner as Portugal knocked Morocco out of the tournament on Wednesday. All eyes at the Luzhniki Stadium were on the Real Madrid player after his hat-trick in Portugal's opening game with Spain and, typically, he did not disappoint. It took the captain only four minutes to make his mark in the way Morocco had feared, diving to get on the end of a Joao Moutinho cross and planting an unstoppable header into the net. Ronaldo's goal put the European champions top of Group B and extended his lead as the top scorer in Russia in the race for the Golden Boot. Morocco, who last week failed in their bid to host the 2026 World Cup, became the first team to be eliminated from this one though they did not go down without a fight. Backed by thousands of noisy fans, who packed one end of the ground, they created enough chances to earn at least a draw and would have got something out of the game with better finishing. Too many of their shots flew wide, however and the one time the North Africans did find the target with an effort of note, new Wolves keeper Rui Patricio produced a brilliant one-handed diving save to keep out Younes Belhanda's header. Ronaldo has been the undoubted star of the first week of this tournament and he ensured he will stay in the headlines with another decisive contribution. He was the centre of attention from the moment his image flashed up on the huge screens, cheered by the Portugal fans and others who had travelled to Moscow solely to watch him - and jeered by the Morocco fans. The thirty three-year-old's performance was not as spectacular as the one he produced about Spain, but he again showed why his team rely upon him so heavily. The game was also notble for featuring the single worst dive of the competition so far.
How genuinely nice it was to see this blogger's old BBC Newcastle colleague Vicki Sparks making history with her World Cup commentary debut for the BBC at the Portugal versus Morocco game. Well done, Vicki, we're all really proud of you.
Especially as it meant Vicki had to spend ninety minutes locked in a commentary box with Martin Keown. That's above and beyond the call of duty as far as this blogger is concerned.
Things we learned from watching the World Cup this week. Number one: Martin Keown claims - somewhat unconvincingly - not to be old enough to remember Pele. However, he then added that his World Cup hero as a young boy was this blogger's own hero, Johan Cruyff. Not that Martin ever played like him, obviously.
Uruguay's slender - and, very unimpressive - victory over Saudi Arabia ensured that they and host nation Russia reached the last sixteen of the World Cup. Luis Suarez scored the only goal at the Rostov Arena in what was, by a distance, the worst game of the tournament so far, sweeping in from close range on his one hundredth appearance for La Celeste. It was a touch hard on the Green Falcons, who were knocked out despite a vast improvement from their five-nil humiliation by Russia in the tournament's opening game. However, whilst they largely eliminated their defensive errors and enjoyed more possession than their opponents, they were made to pay for one lapse by goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, whose misjudgement allowed Suarez to score. Other than that, it was a hugely disappointing and forgettable ninety minutes, best summed up by the BBC's Gary Lineker who, at the end of the game, congratulated the handful of viewers who had stuck with it.
Blimey, it appears as though The Master has got himself a new gig at the Saudi Football Association; that's a rather surprising vocational choice after his failure (several times over) to rule The Universe.
Players and officials of Saudi Arabia arrived safely in Rostov-on-Don for their match with Uruguay on Wednesday after an engine on their plane caught fire. Saudi Arabia's Under Elevens were beaten heavily by the hosts Russia in the opening game of the tournament last week. A Saudi Arabia statement said: 'All the Saudi national team players have arrived safely and currently are staying in their residence. The fire was merely an accident.' Or was it The Wrath of Allah following how badly they played in the opening game? Perhaps we'll never know.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has reportedly vowed to take legal action against Qatar-based beIN Sports, whose coverage is being watched by Saudi citizens following their Under Elevens at the World Cup. The two nations are currently locked in a long-running feud over television coverage of the football tournament. 'Necessary legal action will be taken in relation to beIN wrongdoings against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its sports and officials and for exploiting sports to achieve political goals,' tweeted Turki al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority, in the aftermath of the team's embarrassing five-nil defeat to Russia in the opening match. 'This proves Saudi authorities' true stance when banning this network from airing on its soil.' beIN purchased the rights for the World Cup throughout the Arabic-speaking Middle East and North Africa from FIFA. But the network is officially blocked in Saudi Arabia, along with its parent company al-Jazeera, due to a political blockade imposed on Qatar by other Gulf states last year. FIFA administered talks to re-sell rights directly to Saudi Arabia for thirty five million dollars broke down earlier this month. On the eve of the World Cup, the Doha broadcaster relented and offered to show at least twenty two matches from Russia 2018 for free throughout the region. So, if no one can watch beIN in Saudi Arabia - at least, legally - then why are their officials complaining? According to reports, 'hundreds of thousands' of Saudi households have hacked satellite boxes and are still following the channel as the main source of Arabic-language broadcasts. Others have seen highlights uploaded to social media. This was sufficient to incense local watchers over what was described on Twitter as 'sarcastic' and 'disrespectful' commentary during what was already a humiliating defeat which forced the Saudi football federation to get all uppity and legal of their ass.
Spain beat a hard-working and gallant Iran in an absorbing contest to ensure they will reach the World Cup knockout stage with a win in their final group game. The 2010 champions needed a fortuitous Diego Costa goal after half-time, having been frustrated in an opening period in which they had eighty per cent possession but sod-all to show for it. As they can occasionally down, Spain were guilty of over-elaboration and, seemingly, wanting to pass their opponents to death. Iran, who had defended admirably until the ball ricocheted in off Costa's shin, instantly showed more intent and thought they had levelled, only for Saeid Ezatolahi's strike to be ruled out for offside. Carlos Queiroz's Iran side had gone close through Karim Ansarifard and Mehdi Taremi before the crucial offside call and their endeavour throughout seemed to endear them to the crowd at the Kazan Arena.They survived a chaotic goalmouth scramble where Gerard Pique somehow failed to turn home from a yard out, but, again, showed heart and threatened late on, with Taremi heading over when well placed.
Australia kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage after Mile Jedinak's penalty secured a first Group C point against Denmark. Christian Eriksen had put Denmark ahead with a superB finish after Nicolai Jørgensen's clever lay-off in the first half. Australia levelled through Jedinak's penalty awarded after a VAR review. Yussuf Poulsen's close-range handball was analysed on video before the referee pointed to the spot. In an absorbing encounter, Aston Villain's Jedinak sent Bacon Sandwich The Younger the wrong way for his second goal of the tournament. The Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz briefly left the field to consult the VAR monitor and decided to award a penalty. Australia were the wrong side of history in their first game against France as a penalty was awarded for the first time in a World Cup match since VAR was introduced. On that occasion, Josh Risdon was judged upon review to have fouled Antoine Greizmann, much to the outrage of the Australian players. They may have felt they were due a lenient VAR decision and it was reported that Aussie fans in the stadium toilets burst into a spontaneous and ironic chant of 'VAR, VAR, VAR!' at half-time. Among other things, this World Cup is destined to be remembered for the advent of middle aged men in the stands doing TV gestures with their hands whenever there is the slightest contact in the box. Aaron Mooy went close from distance for Australia before Denmark's Pione Sisto was left holding his head after a curling shot from outside the area flashed just wide. The point was enough to take Denmark to the top of Group C on four points. Denmark have not reached the last sixteen since 2002 but Age Hareide's side are in a strong position to advance in Russia after following up victory over Peru with a hard-earned point. They got off to a flying start thanks to a sublime finish by Eriksen, Mathew Ryan beaten by the pace and power of the Stottingtot Hotshots player's first-time finish. Eriksen has now had a hand in eighteen goals in his past fifteen appearances for Denmark - thirteen goals and five assists - yet the Danes were unable to build on their strong start. Jorgensen could not find the target with a free header after sneaking behind Australia's defence while Sisto wasted a further two chances.
Kylian Mbappé's first-half strike helped France overcome - and eliminate - a resilient Peru to earn a spot in the knockout round. Ricardo Gareca's side, buoyed on by their passionate support inside the Ekaterinburg Arena, came alive in the second half after falling behind in the thirty fourth minute but, ultimately, could not find the equaliser that would have prevented their early exit. Monaco's Mbappé was the player to punish the Peruvians when he tapped in Olivier Giroud's deflected shot, coming after a period of sustained French dominance. But, it was Peru who had the upper hand after the break. Midfielder Pedro Aquino went closest to levelling when his strike cannoned off the bar. Benfica's Andre Carrillo, who was on loan at Watford last season, also tested Hugo Lloris' goal with a strike while substitute Jefferson Farfan hooked his effort into the side-netting. France's defence remained resolute to the final whistle, although they have yet to convince fully that they are one of the favourites for title. After an unremarkable win over Australia, Didier Deschamps' men produced an improved display, aided by the inclusion of striker Giroud. The Moscow Chelski FC forward, a substitute in the opening game, was the focal point of many French first-half sorties - fulfilling his duties of holding up the ball and allowing Antoine Griezmann and Mbappé to join in a three-pronged attack. In the build-up to the match, Deschamps suggested that Giroud had not, on occasions, been 'on the same wavelength' as his team-mates. However, on Thursday he was in tune within minutes of kick-off. Early on, a one-two with Mbappé ended with the Monaco forward falling in the area before Giroud set up Griezmann, whose low strike was blocked by Peru's keeper, Pedro Gallese. Peru's backline was finally pierced when Giroud's low deflected shot looped towards goal and was given the finishing touch by Mbappé. Deschamps is spoiled with attacking riches, but because of his more cautious instincts, it came as little surprise that France sat back after the interval and soaked up the Peruvian pressure. The tactic paid off against the South Americans, but he might have to revise that plan against stronger opposition.
And, a big 'jolly well done' to Patrick Evra for allowing a large butterfly to nest on his throat for his latest two hour stint in the ITV studio.
'Nobody likes poor losers,' said Mark Lawrenson as Nicolas Otamendi slammed the loose ball right into the face of the prone Ivan Rakitic whom had just been fouled by Otamendi's one hundred and thirty four year old colleague, Javier Mascherano, a few minutes from the end of a game in his side had been simply outplayed. 'They're one of the great World Cup nations, Mark and they're a sorry sight at the moment,' added his BBC oppo Steve Wilson. And then we got a shot of Maradonna crying in the stands. Across the sochaballing world, the sound of echoing laughter could be heard. Because, they're always like this, the Argies - great players and all full of themselves until they get beat, at which point, they either blub like little kids or get all stroppy and violent. Often both, simultaneously.
Argentina are now facing the very real prospect of an early World Cup exit after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Willy Caballero set Croatia on their way to an, in the end easy, victory and a place in the last sixteen. On a night when so much was expected of Lionel Messi and his mates, it was Moscow Chelski FC reserve keeper Caballero who made the most telling contribution to his team's fate with an attempted chip over Ante Rebic that backfired badly, allowing the striker to fire over Caballero's bald heed and into the net in the fifty third minute. God, it was funny. Messi - adrift for much of the match, especially during a pedestrian opening half - helped to rally his side after going behind, but neither he nor substitutes Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala could find a way through a solid, hard-working Croatian defence. The closest Messi came was a half-chance, a snatch at a rebound from a Maximiliano Meza shot which was blocked by Daniel Subasic and then turned behind to safety. It was a dogged defensive display from Croatia, illuminated by a moment of counter-attacking magic from their own masterful number ten, Luka Modric. His curled shot from outside the box drifted beautifully beyond Caballero's dive to seal a victory that took Croatia through to the knockout stage and left them in a strong position to win the group. The excellent Ivan Rakitic rounded off a miserable evening for Argentina as he rolled in Croatia's third goal in injury time. Croatia were everything that Argentina were not; solid, with a quality midfield trio and clinical when they got chances. For Argentina, they are now cut loose in the wilderness, no longer in control of their own destiny. For all their much-slurped-over 'superstars' - Messi, Ángel Di María, Sergio Agüero, Higuaín, Lucas Biglia, Éver Banega - they are a distinctly average, ageing, side who struggled to qualify for the finals and only made it at the last moment. 'I think everyone will be angry in Argentina,' Pablo Zabaleta told BBC viewers. 'The Argentinian players - it was probably some of their last chance at a major tournament. It's going to be tough for them - they'll get so much criticism.' One had to feel sorry for the likeable Zabaleta, making his World Cup punditry debut on the night of one of the worst displays by his country in the tournament's history. 'It's all built on Messi but he's so frustrating, the game has passed him by,' added Chris Waddle of BBC 5Live. 'You need players who can get the ball to him and fill in for him. Mascherano is not this level any more, Dybala is creative but he didn't play for long enough and they took Aguero off.' 'Modric's shot has got incredible bend on it, but it summed Argentina up,' was Alan Shearer's view. 'I think a top goalkeeper stops that. It's a terrific strike but look at Argentina's response when they lose the ball, they are just walking. It shows there are no leaders in that team.' This was Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first round group stages of a World Cup tournament since losing six-one to Czechoslovakia in 1958. And, Sime Vrsaljko accused Argentina of 'acting like crying little girls' after the match. Put to him that Argentina coach, Mental Jorge Sampaoli, had suggested his team 'dominated,' Vrsaljko pithily dismissed the claims. 'I don't know what game he watched,' the full-back told Croatian media. 'I saw Argentinians falling on the floor and crying like girls. We were firmer, better, had better chances. They will have to do well in the next game [against Nigeria] to progress to the second round, if they even progress.' This defeat for Argentina followed their opening draw with Iceland, in which Messi missed a penalty and now, even a heavy win over Nigeria on Tuesday may not be enough to send them through to the next round. Should Iceland beat Nigeria in their second group game on Friday, Iceland would need only a draw with Croatia in their final match to send Argentina home whatever the result of the Nigeria game. For Barcelona forward Messi, Argentina captain and a prolific performer at club level, this was just another harrowing chapter in his history of pain and disappointment at international level. So much expectation, so little end product.
FIFA is reportedly investigating alleged homophobic chants by Mexico fans during the win over defending champions Germany on Sunday. Sunday's chants appeared to be directed at Germany's goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The Mexican Football Federation was fined nine times for supporters' homophobic chanting during the qualifying campaign. It has repeatedly asked fans to refrain from using the slurs. Javier Ruiz Galindo, head of the National House of Mexico for fans in Moscow, said the chant could be perceived in 'many ways. It's not necessarily meant to insult somebody,' he claimed. 'We have been asked many times not to do it so we should be respectful,' he told the BBC. In November, the FMF won an appeal against two FIFA fines for the chant - which features the Spanish word for a male prostitute - but were warned 'harsher sanctions' would be imposed if it was repeated. Every World Cup match has three anti-discrimination observers in the stands, monitoring the behaviour of fans.
Beer-swilling sochaball fans 'risk drinking parts of Moscow dry,' according to reports with some bars and restaurants in the Russian capital saying that they are running low and having to wait longer than usual for fresh supplies. Moscow has been transformed by the World Cup, with the singing and the chanting and the beer-drinking fans allegedly 'overwhelming' some of the packed bars and restaurants around the Kremlin and Red Square. 'We just didn't think they would only want beer,' whinged one waiter at what is described as 'a [sic] upscale eatery in Central Moscow' who 'asked not to be identified for fear of scaring off future customers.' No shit? The waiter claimed that his restaurant ran out of draft lager on Monday and deliveries are 'taking longer than usual,' at least twenty four hours, because suppliers' stocks are also running low. 'There are really a lot of people in Moscow ... and they are all drinking,' he said. 'It's hot and it's football.' A deadly combination at the best of times. Beer sales in Russia have fallen by around a third over the past few years as duties have risen and rules been tightened on sales and advertising. Brewers had 'not been expecting a major reversal of the trend' this year, despite the World Cup. Baltika, the Russian unit of Carlsberg, said that although there was 'an increased risk of supply disruption' during the World Cup, its business 'had not been affected.' Heineken said that sales were 'so far going well' and it did not yet see any challenges supplying its beer. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's biggest brewer and an official FIFA sponsor, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Dmitry, a barman at 'trendy courtyard bar Gogol,' said visiting sochaball fans had drunk 'eight hundred litres of beer in three days,' downing the cheap lager before moving on to more expensive bottled beers. Then, with their minds poisoned by alcohol, going out and indulging in mindless violence with the wailing and the kicking of teeth. Probably. Gogol was 'taking three deliveries on Tuesday to replenish supplies,' Dmitry said, as workers busily unpacked boxes of beer, vodka and whiskey from a nearby van. 'The sun makes them thirsty,' he said of his customers. 'In Russian we say "to the bottom!" I like that these guys are embracing our culture.' Ivan, a Croatian in Russia to see his team take on Argentina on Thursday, said that he had yet to encounter any shortages. 'There is beer everywhere,' he claimed, swigging from a can of Russian Zhiguli lager whilst sitting on a bench near the Bolshoi Theatre. 'Some places yes, some places no. You just have to know where to find it!'
A lingerie company has launched a bid to get more women into the World Cup by inventing a pair of underwear which vibrate when footballers score. Mexican underwear retailer Vicky Form unveiled the product ahead of the World Cup kickoff with a racy TV advert. The clip begins with a couple talking to the camera separately, with the woman moaning: 'Honestly he is sick. He turns on the TV and nobody else exists. What's wrong with him? Because of football?' Then a female narrator adds: 'Vicky Form have found the solution so that both of them get equally excited. We have created the first pair of knickers that let you feel the passion of the match. The undies are linked to a robot which interprets the action' and transforms it into vibrations in real time.' The video then shows the couple sitting and watching a match with the girlfriend, seemingly, wearing the vibrating underwear. As the match becomes more exciting, she becomes more and more stimulated until the referee fails to award an obvious penalty. The man shouts: 'No, no, no, that's a foul!' The woman, angry at the stopping of the vibrations in her underwear jumps up and shouts: 'Penalty! Blind referee, that's a penalty!' The man looks at his girlfriend and moves closer to her, linking arms. The spot has sparked a torrent of outrage on Mexican social media, with hundreds of users lambasting it as sexist.
Three men have died after a gunman opened fire on a crowd celebrating Sweden's World Cup against South Korea in Malmo. Police in Sweden's third-largest city said that two of the men died as a result of their injuries overnight whilst a third man died at the scene. Three others were injured - one seriously - in the incident, which police have described as 'a drive-by shooting.' Witnesses told Swedish media that the men were shot as they left an Internet cafe in the South-Eastern part of the city on Monday evening. Jonatan Burhoff told Aftonbladet that he saw wounded people being carried to private cars that drove off 'as fast as possible.' Security at a hospital was stepped up after the gunfire was reported but police said that 'there is no reason for the public to worry.' Investigators say that a dozen shots were fired, but feuds between criminal gangs fighting over territory have become more common in major Swedish cities in recent years.
Colombian reporter Julieth Gonzalez Theran was standing in a city square in Saransk, late last week reporting on the World Cup for Deutsche Welle, a German news station. However, as she went live for her report, a man came running into the shot. The man grabbed Gonzalez Theran and her breast, kissed her on the cheek and quickly took off. Gonzalez Theran impressively continued with her report. 'We do not deserve this treatment,' Gonzalez Theran posted on Instagram with the video of her report shortly after the incident. 'We are equally valuable and professionals. I share the joy of football, but we must identify the limits of affection and harassment. I had been at the scene for two hours to prepare for the broadcast and there had been no interruptions,' Gonzalez Theran said. 'When we went live, this fan took advantage of the situation. But afterwards, when I checked to see if he was still there, he was gone.' Gonzalez Theran and Bibiana Steinhaus - who is Germany's first female referee in the Bundesliga - condemned the man's actions and blamed the 'macho-dominated sports culture,' according to Deutsche Welle. 'I feel for her, because this type of attack has happened several times in the past,' Steinhaus told Deutsche Welle. 'Don't kid yourself that similar misogynist things do not happen.'
World Cup referee Mark Geiger has 'categorically denied' he asked for Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt at half-time in the Morocco game. FIFA said it 'unequivocally' condemns the claim, reportedly made by Morocco's Nordin Amrabat after their defeat. Watford winger Amrabat claimed that Ronaldo's team-mate Pepe told him of the request. FIFA said Geiger 'strongly refutes these claims,' adding the American had 'acted in a exemplary and professional manner.' Speaking to Dutch TV, Amrabat reportedly said: 'I do not know what [the referee] is used to, but he was very impressed by Cristiano Ronaldo. And I hear from Pepe that he asked in the first half if he should have his shirt.'
A Swedish journalist reportedly pranked German midfielder Sami Khedira by giving him a homemade return ticket from the World Cup for the entire squad. The 2014 winners started the tournament with a shock defeat by Mexico and a second loss against Sweden on Saturday could send them out in the group stage. Which, to be fair, would be funny. The Juventus player smiled when he was handed the mocked-up ticket. Exactly the sort of smile that sharks normally give you just before biting you in half. 'I don't think we will need that until 16 July,' Khedira replied. Former German internationals Lothar Matthaus and Stefan Effenberg called for Khedira to be dropped after his performance last Saturday. In response he said: 'I have no problem with that at all, I can live with it. I know for myself that I did not play well. We have to play smarter, not like schoolboys, we have to play all together.'
