MOSCOW (AP) – The Latest on Monday at the World Cup (all times local): 11:09 a.m. Saudi team officials say the players have landed…
MOSCOW (AP) – The Latest on Monday at the World Cup (all times local):
11:09 a.m.
Saudi team officials say the players have landed safely after a reported engine failure on their flight to Rostov-on-Don for a World Cup game against Uruguay.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation posted a statement on Twitter saying it “would like to reassure everyone that all the Saudi national team players are safe, after a technical failure in one of the airplane engines that has just landed in Rostov-on-Don airport, and now they’re heading to their residence safely.”
The team posted photos of the players exiting the plane and smiling Monday night but did not release further details of the engine problem.
The Saudis were beaten 5-0 by Russia in the World Cup opener in Moscow last week. Uruguay edged Egypt 1-0 in its first game in Group A.
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10:53 p.m.
Harry Kane’s stoppage-time header clinched a tense 2-1 win for England in its opening World Cup game against Tunisia.
Kane opened the scoring in the 11th minute during England’s dominance of the early stages. But Tunisia equalized when Ferjani Sassi calmly slotted a penalty in the 35th and pushed the young England lineup right to the limit.
Kane’s winning header came as the clock had just ticked over into injury time. Standing alone at the far post he guided a Harry Maguire header into the Tunisian net.
His winner came at the end of a second half during which Tunisia defended deep and nullified England’s attacking intent.
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9:50 p.m.
England and Tunisia are level at 1-1 at halftime in their World Cup opener in Volgograd.
Harry Kane gave England a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when he tapped in from close range after Tunisia goalkeeper Moez Hassen had acrobatically saved a powerful John Stones header.
Hassen, who had already appeared to injure his shoulder, was replaced by Farouk Ben Mustapha soon after.
Despite that disruption and England’s early attacking intent, Tunisia slowly built up momentum and got an equalizer when Ferjani Sassi calmly slotted a penalty into the left corner of the England net and past the dive of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The penalty was awarded after Kyle Walker was adjudged to have caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef with his arm.
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9:39 p.m.
Tunisia has gotten even with England with a goal from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.
Ferjani Sassi calmly slotted the ball into the left corner of the England net just past the fingertips of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The penalty was awarded after the referee determined Kyle Walker caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef with his arm.
Harry Kane had put the English ahead in the 11th by smacking in a rebound initially saved from a John Stones header.
– Associated Press writer Pan Pylas reported from Volgograd.
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9:25 p.m.
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary says there is a “problem” with the ball being used at the World Cup and believes he and his fellow shot-stoppers are the “victims of FIFA.”
Three free kicks were scored in the opening four days of the tournament in Russia, as many as in the entire tournament in Brazil four years ago. Two balls burst during the match between France and Australia, and Argentina captain Lionel Messi got the ball changed during a match against Iceland after being unhappy with its condition.
The 45-year-old El Hadary says “we are the victims of FIFA and the ever-developing football. Every four years there are new footballs and the football might be more acceptable to the players than to the goalkeepers.”
The “Telstar 18” ball is being used in Russia, a remake of the “Adidas Telstar” used at the 1970 tournament.
El Hadary, who didn’t play in Egypt’s opening loss to Uruguay, says “this ball has some problems but all the goalkeepers are facing the same problem.”
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9:12 p.m.
Harry Kane has scored from close range to give England a 1-0 lead against Tunisia in their opening World Cup game in Volgograd.
Kane was on hand to tap the ball into the net in the 11th minute after Tunisia goalkeeper Moez Hassen had acrobatically saved a powerful John Stones header.
England has been in control in the early stages of the match, with Raheem Sterling missing what appeared an open goal from close range.
Tunisia has had to replace Hassen with Farouk Ben Mustapha following what looked like a shoulder injury.
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9:06 p.m.
A Russian legislator says he wants to ban “mockery” of the national soccer team because the players are “fighting for the honor of our country.”
Vitaly Milonov told The Associated Press on Monday that soccer players and their coach should be considered like “our diplomats, our army,” especially during the World Cup that Russia is hosting. He said, “This is not just about football. This is about our national identity.”
He’s among lawmakers who drafted a bill imposing a fine of 10,000 rubles ($160) against anyone who criticizes the team. Milonov is best known as the author of Russia’s law against gay “propaganda” toward minors.
Fans have mixed feelings. Some worry about free speech while others say Russians should support the national team despite questions about the law would be enforced.
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8:50 p.m.
Like everyone else new to the city of Volgograd, the England players are trying to contend with the seasonal outbreak of mosquitoes and little bugs ahead of their opening World Cup game against Tunisia.
After unsuccessfully trying to wave the insects away from their heads and arms during the warmup, England players sprayed themselves with mosquito repellent.
Though it’s fair to say the insects are harmless enough, the swarms can be a distraction.
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8:23 p.m.
England coach Gareth Southgate has picked an attacking lineup for his team’s first match at the World Cup against Tunisia in Volgograd.
Southgate had told his squad days ago who was to start but the official starting lineup was kept under wraps.
Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul has opted to start 23-year-old goalkeeper Moez Hassen in just his third international match.
Tunisia: Moez Hassen, Syam Ben Youssef, Yassine Meriah, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Anice Badri, Wahbi Khazri, Dylan Bronn, Ali Maaloul, Ferjani Sassi, Ellyes Skhiri, Naim Sliti
England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Kieran Trippier, Ashley Young, Dele Alli
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7:53 p.m.
Belgium broke lose in the second half to defeat newcomer Panama 3-0 in its opening World Cup game in Sochi.
After struggling to find the net in the first half, the talented Belgian squad comfortably reached victory with a goal by Dries Mertens and two by Romelu Lukaku.
Mertens opened the scoring with a well-struck one-timer from just inside the area after the Panamanian defense failed to clear a ball two minutes after halftime. Lukaku doubled to the lead with a header in the 69th after a great play by Kevin De Bruyne, and closed the scoring after a breakaway six minutes later following a through ball by Eden Hazard.
Michael Murillo had Panama’s best chance of the game when he received a pass free from markers inside the area in the 54th, but the defender didn’t control the ball cleanly and allowed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make a save charging from the net.
The Panamanians are making their first World Cup appearance. Their fans largely outnumbered the Belgians at Fisht Stadium and constantly chanted in support of their team, even when trailing by three goals.
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6:33 p.m.
Romelu Lukaku has scored twice in six minutes to give Belgium a 3-0 lead in the World Cup match against Panama.
Lukaku easily headed the ball in after a nice set up by Kevin De Bruyne in the 69th minute. The midfielder made a nice cut move toward the area to get past a defender before using the outside of his right foot to find Lukaku in front of the goal.
He added his second from close range in the 75th.
Dries Mertens had opened the scoring for Belgium two minutes into the second half. Newcomer Panama was creating few opportunities the other way.
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7:25 p.m.
David de Gea is set to remain in goal for Spain despite his mistake in the team’s 3-3 draw against Portugal at the World Cup.
New coach Fernando Hierro says he has full confidence in de Gea and will not make a change in goal for the match against Iran on Wednesday in Kazan.
De Gea badly misplayed a shot by Cristiano Ronaldo before halftime in the team’s opener last Friday.
Hierro told Spanish media de Gea was not affected by the blunder and there was no reason to replace him.
De Gea had a superb season with Manchester United but he also made a mistake in one of the team’s final warm-up matches before the World Cup.
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7:15 p.m.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper says he is “sure” Mohamed Salah will be fit to play against Russia in the World Cup on Tuesday, although the forward still needs to prove his fitness ahead of the match.
Salah, the Premier League’s player of the season, was an unused substitute in Egypt’s 1-0 loss against Uruguay on Friday as he recovers from injuring his shoulder while playing for Liverpool in last month’s Champions League final.
The Liverpool forward has taken part in training the last two days. Cuper says Salah will train again on Monday evening in St. Petersburg but that “I am sure he will be able to play.”
Before the Uruguay game, Cuper said he was “almost” 100 percent sure Salah would play “barring any unforeseen factors at the last moment.”
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7:06 p.m.
After struggling to find the net before halftime, Belgium needed only two minutes to open the scoring in the second half against newcomer Panama in Sochi. Dries Mertens scored with a well-struck one-timer from just inside the area after the Panamanian defense failed to clear a ball.
Mertens’ shot went over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and into the top far corner.
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6:55 p.m.
Newcomer Panama was holding Belgium’s talented team to a 0-0 draw at halftime in Sochi.
Belgium pushed forward from the start and it didn’t take long before it was threatening Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. But the Central American squad survived despite allowing its European opponents to create significant chances up front.
One of Belgium’s best opportunities was a close-range shot by Eden Hazard that was nicely saved by Penedo near the end of the half.
Panama had only a few chances on long-range shots.
The Panamanians are making their first World Cup appearance. Their fans largely outnumbered the Belgians at Fisht Stadium and constantly chanted in support of their team.
– AP Sports Writer Tales Azzoni reported from Sochi.
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6:40 p.m.
Croatia’s squad has been reduced to 22 players after forward Nikola Kalinic was sent home following the team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria in their opening World Cup match.
Coach Zlatko Dalic announced his decision Monday. Dalic says he wanted to use Kalinic as a substitute in the second half but the AC Milan forward, who was already warming up, told him he was not able to play because of a back problem. Dalic says Kalinic did the same in a World Cup warmup against Brazil and also didn’t train with the team for the same reason Sunday.
Dalic says “I need my players fit and ready to play.”
Croatia next faces Argentina on Thursday. Croatia’s media speculated Kalinic was not happy with his role in the team.
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6:30 p.m.
Russian police say one British man has been detained and another given medical treatment after an incident on a train heading to Volgograd, where England plays Tunisia in its World Cup opener Monday.
