Jesus hopes to make history
SOCHI: Gabriel Jesus, at 21 the youngest member of Brazil's 23-man World Cup squad, said he intends make history for the country by helping the team win a sixth world championship. "I want to go down in history in Brazil," the Manchester City player said during a press conference on Thursday after a training session in which coach Tite confirmed his starting 11. Jesus, who helped Brazil in its undefeated march through the South American qualifiers, was respectful of past Brazilian football legends and denied wanting to become a major goal-scorer in his first World Cup. "We have to remember those players who made history. I don't want to replace someone's name, I want my name to be beside theirs. Our focus here is the collective game," Jesus said.
RONAlD leaves WC after injury
SAN JOSE: Costa Rica defender Ronald Matarrita will not play in the 2018 World Cup due to a right hamstring injury, and has been replaced by Kenner Gutierrez, the Costa Rican Football Federation said. According to the official medical report, the New York City FC player has suffered a "grade-one injury" to his right hamstring, the same area where he has a history of a previous injury, the federation explained in a press release on Thursday. The recovery period is estimated to be at least two weeks, prompting coach Oscar Ramirez to replace him with another player, Kenner Gutierrez, currently a defender of Costa Rica's football club Alajuelense, who is set to travel to Russia for the 2018 World Cup within the coming hours.
Pizzi not fearing sack
MOSCOW: Saudi Arabia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi played down suggestions that his position is under threat after a 0-5 loss to Russia in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia have historically fired coaches on a regular basis and have had five different people at the helm since 2013. At the 1998 World Cup in France, the Saudi FA sacked Carlos Alberto Parreira mid-tournament, four years after he guided Brazil to football's ultimate prize in the US. "I have the philosophy that in my job I always try to do my best," Pizzi told a press conference after the match at luzhniki Stadium on Thursday. "I can't worry about decisions that are out of my control. I will continue working as I am."
Saudis to be penalised for rout
MOSCOW: Members of Saudi Arabias national football team will face a disciplinary penalty for their crushing defeat by Russia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup opener. "We are very disappointed by the defeat," Saudi Football Federation chief Adel Ezzat was quoted as saying by the Al-Youm Assabaa newspaper. "This result is totally unsatisfactory because it does not reflect the true level of our preparedness. "Several players will face a penalty —goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf, striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and defender Omar Hawsawi," he added. The Chairman of the General Sport Authority, Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al-Sheikh, described the game as a "total fiasco" in a video address, posted on his Twitter page.
Griezmann shuns Barca's offer
MADRID: French forward Antoine Griezmann, who took a page out of leBron James' book and made a decision on his future team into a TV special, said at the end of the video broadcast that he had rejected an offer from FC Barcelona and would be staying at Atletico Madrid. "I've decided to stay," Griezmann said in the more than half-hour broadcast titled "The Decision" and aired on Spanish network Movistar on Thursday. In it, he talked about the doubts he has experienced since April. The forward said he had spent the past two months debating whether to remain with the Colchoneros or accept Barca's offer. "I want to show everyone that I haven't made a mistake and that I trust this club and my teammates," he said.
Hamstring injury for Dzagoev
MOSCOW: Russia's team says a scan has confirmed creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev sustained a hamstring injury in the opening World Cup win over Saudi Arabia. The team says Dzagoev underwent an MRI scan on Friday and "a timeframe for his treatment will be determined in the coming days." Dzagoev would have to recovery quickly in order to play any further part in Russia's group games against Egypt on June 19 and Uruguay six days later. The injury to the 27-year-old CSKA Moscow midfielder meant winger Denis Cheryshev was brought on against Saudi Arabia. He then scored two goals.