Worldblog 2018 Liveblog: Felix Brych World Cup Final

The father of the Nigerian international football John Obi Mikel is at the World Cup has been kidnapped. The criminals targeted a ransom, but security forces were able to release Pa Michael Obi on Monday after a shootout with the kidnappers, police said Tuesday in the state of Enugu, in the southeastern part of the country. . The father of Chelsea's longtime professional and his driver were unscathed. Pa Michael Obi was kidnapped again in 2011.

John Obi Mikel thanked the police on Tuesday in social networks for the safe return of his father's "torture this week". His father is now recovering with the family

Raid on a main road

The Nigerian captain of the World Cup had already told the British newspaper "The Guardian" that it was just before the Cup's decisive match of the World against Argentina last week. learn about the kidnapping. "I played while my dad was in the hands of bandits," said Tianjin Teda (China), 31-year-old midfielder. "Nigerians missed their place in the sixteenth finals in Russia.

Armed kidnappers had Pa Michael Obi and his police driver in late June on a highway near the town of Enugu. Violence provoked. then demanded 10 million naira, the equivalent of just under 24,000 euros, in exchange for ransom. Local media reported that a ransom had actually been paid. However, the police rejected this statement.

Up to now, no arrests have occurred. In Nigeria, kidnapping of wealthy or their families is not uncommon The victims are usually released as soon as a ransom has been paid.

+++ England wins 4.3 on penalties against Colombia +++

England , the homeland of football, reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and will meet on Saturday in Samara, Sweden. nglaise won the eighth and final knockout round at Moscow's Spartak stadium against Colombia 4: 3 on penalties. After the overtime he had held 1-1 (1-1, 0-0).

In the fourth penalty shot at a World Cup for the first time, captain Harry Kane converted a penalty (57.) to 1-0. It was already his sixth goal of the tournament. Defender Yerry Mina (90. + 3) equalized in stoppage time for Colombia. England is in the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

+++ Sweden wins 1-0 against Switzerland thanks to a stroke of luck +++

The Swedish national football team is in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. In the seventh round of the final in Russia, the Scandinavians won against Switzerland in St. Petersburg thanks to a goal from Leipzig Bundesliga player Emil Forsberg (66) with 1: 0 (0: 0). The Swiss Michael Lang saw a red card in case of emergency (90. + 3).

On the last eight rounds, the Swedish team will meet the Samara winner on Saturday (16:00 CEST / ARD) Comparison between England and Colombia. The two teams face each other in the evening (20:00 CEST / ARD and Sky Germany) in Moscow

+++ Spain star Iniesta says goodbye with the letter of the national team +++

Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta went after his last match for the Furia Roja with an open letter passed by his fans and teammates. "We have achieved great success, experiencing things we all dreamed of as little children, but also great disappointments and hard times," wrote the 34-year-old

The 131 selections have made him "a better teammate and footballer," said the former world and European champion: "It was a pleasure to share all these years with you." Den The fans thanked Lukas Podolski's future teammate, Vissel Kobe, for his confidence, support and affection.

Iniesta, a 1-0 scorer in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, is confident that Spanish football will recover from the disappointing World Cup knockout match against Russia. "The future is exciting," wrote Iniesta, "with a large group of incredible players, who from now on have an unconditional fan in me."

+++ Maradona offers as Argentine national coach +++

Argentine football idol Diego Maradona (57) stands as the national coach of his country. In his Venezuelan TV show "From the hand of the ten," the 1986 world champion answered the question of knowing he could imagine the work: "Yes, and I would do it for free. .

The incumbent Jorge Sampaoli is not at the 3-4 defeat against France and the finals of the World Cup last Saturday rejected. He still has a contract until 2022. Maradona, a longtime critic of Sampaolis, indirectly attacked the coach: "I get sick because everything we've built with a lot of effort has just been destroyed. "
[19659004] Maradona was Argentina's national coach between 2008 and 2010. His contract was not extended after the 0: 4 defeat against Germany in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa. In the last round in Russia, the hundred-year-old footballer had shown in the Argentine games in an alarming state in the VIP box

+++ Podolski praises the Japanese team: "The land can be proud" +++ [19659004] The world champion Lukas Podolski has Japan's National Team after the unfortunate retirement in the second round of the World Cup for his "passion and energy" praised. "Japan can be proud of its great performance at the World Cup," wrote Twitter's former 33-year-old Bundesliga player.

"Japan showed the world its qualities, they showed a lot of passion and energy." The Samurai Blue lost 2-0 to Belgium 2-0 in injury time Monday after losing a goal in injury time and have been eliminated. The former Cologne and Munich Podolski has been playing for Vissel Kobe in the Japanese J-League since 2017.

+++ Freiburger Streich hopes Löw continues: "Success story" +++

Coach Christian Streich from the Bundesliga SC Freiburg hopes that his compatriot from Baden, Joachim Löw, will remain national coach despite the embarrassing preliminaries of the World Cup of the German team. "I guess no successor will be needed because Yogi will continue, I hope, because it's a success story, even if it was not the case," he said. Streich said at the beginning of Freiburg's training on Monday.

The fact that the former national player and television expert Dietmar Hamann brought him to discuss as a potential successor to Löw, commented the 53-year-old with a smile. "He said we can do something and that he appreciates us for our work," Streich said. "I'm very happy about that, everyone likes to be congratulated."

Compared to the kicker, the friendly football teacher also answered the question of whether he would qualify even in the event of Löw's resignation: "I can not do anything I have a contract with the SC Freiburg. "

+++ World cup of late decisions: Nine winning goals have fallen after 90 minutes +++

Belgium's late cheers on World Cup Round of 32 against Japan are complete at the tournament in Russia in the trend. The goal of Nacer Chadli in the fourth minute of stoppage time was already the ninth winner in the 90th minute or later

The Thomas Hitzlsperger World Cup expert in his Kicktipp league is not in the lead? Hardly otherwise, the ex-professional would not have addressed with the following tweet to anyone who is about to win their turn.

The TV expert specifically mentioned the outcome of the playoff stages between Russia and Spain, the host surprisingly could decide for himself. But the game was not the only surprise in the current tournament. Already against Morocco played the Spaniards well.

And also that Germany does not survive the preliminary round, should have hit the least. Since you had already tilted against probability – and perhaps against your own sympathies.

+++ Croatia after Elfmeterkrimi against Denmark next – quarter-final against Russia +++

Two quick goals and one furious final: On penalties Croatia continued its fairy tale of football. In the Nizhny Novgorod thriller, goalkeeper Danijel Subasic became a hero with three saves against Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schöne and Nicolai Jörgensen. Luka Modric and Co. celebrated Sunday 3: 2 (1: 1, 1: 1) against Denmark, entering the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Ivan Rakitic converted the decisive attempt against Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who had previously parried two penalties.

Croatia is one of the top eight teams in the world for the first time since the 1998 final. In the quarterfinals on Saturday (20.00 hours) waiting in Sochi surprising host of Russia, which had extinguished the Former champion of Spain. The Danes, on the other hand, have to wait 20 years for their second quarter-final of the World Cup. (dpa)

+++ Iniesta announces the end of the national team's career +++

The knockout round of the Spanish national football team meant for the midfielder Andres Iniesta, goal shooter 1-0 World Cup finals against the Netherlands 2010, farewell to the Furia Roja

"A wonderful magic has disappeared, sometimes the end is not what you were hoping for," said the 34-year-old, who played his 131st international match against Russia. The veteran moved from FC Barcelona to Vissel Kobe, the club of world champion Lukas Podolski. Spain lost to the host nation on penalties on Sunday in Moscow (3: 4). (sid)

+++ Russia is in the quarter-finals +++

A Russian dream come true, the curse of Spanish football continues: The Sbornaja has achieved in the sixteenths of his home World Cup " a small miracle "2010 world champion favorite with 4: 3 shot penalties. After 120 minutes of disappointing play, he was confessed 1-1 (1: 1, 1: 1)

Spain in particular played terribly heavily and continued with a black series. The Furia Roja has never won against the host of a big tournament in its successful history. The Luschniki stadium in Moscow, which was sold to 78,011 spectators, was shaken when goalkeeper Igor Akinfejew scored the decisive penalty against Iago Aspas. Artem Dschjuba (41) in hand equalized in the first period the goal of Alexander Ignashevich (12th)

In overtime, the Russians could thank Akinfejew, who saved his tired teammates against substitute Rodrigo (109) 1: 1. (Sid)

+++ Brych without a round of 16 at the World Cup +++

The knockout stages of the World Cup in Russia are held without the German referee Felix Brych. Munich has not been nominated by FIFA for the last two matches of the round of 16. The 42-year-old will have to wait for his second participation in the tournament after the preliminary round match between Switzerland and Serbia.

The second round of the English duel with Colombia on Tuesday (20.00) at Spartak Stadium in Moscow is led by American Mark Geiger. The match between Sweden and Switzerland (4 pm) is whistled by the Slovenian Damir Skomina.

+++ members of stars of France in the bleachers with thrown objects +++

Unsightly scenes in the stadium of the World Cup in Kazan: In the stand of angry Argentine fans, French football players were injured during the 4: 3 knockout between Team Tricolore and Argentina, among them the parents of goalkeeper Kylian Mbappe, family members and Thomas Lemar's friends, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele

All were behind the French federation. the French coaching bank has been placed. After cheering the French doors, he threw projectiles, especially filled beer cups. Ordnungspersonal had to intervene for the rest of the game.

+++ James suffered a bruise +++

Colombian superstar James Rodríguez suffered a right calf bruise in his team's final match at the world had to hurt from the place. This was announced by the Colombian Association after an MRI scan in Kazan on Sunday night. A hamstring was not present. If midfielder Bayern Munich in Tuesday's round of 16 (20:00 CEST) in Moscow against England can play, the association has made no statement.

Rodríguez had the 1-0 win Thursday against Senegal after about half an hour have to be replaced. "I hope that the investigations will bring us good news," coach Jose Pekerman said after the final whistle. His team is now preparing for a knockout match without the top scorer of the 2014 World Cup. "James is a leader for all of us – but if he can not play, there will be some. others in its place, "said Saturday midfielder Carlos Sánchez

+++ Ronaldo leaves the future open +++

Cristiano Ronaldo has his future in the Portuguese national team after leaving the Round 16 World Cup left open. "It's not a moment to talk about the future of players or coaches," said the World Player after the 2-1 (1-0) defeat of European champions on Saturday night against Uruguay, "proud of the team". The team is young and strong and can continue to play for titles in the future. We are leaving the tournament in the lead, "said Ronaldo.

The tournament in Russia was the fourth Ronaldo World Cup.With the match against Uruguay, he tied Bastian Schweinsteiger: As the world champion German has now denied the 38 matches of Portugal at the finals of Europe and the World Cup, he has more.The record will therefore fall at the earliest in 2020, Portugal should qualify for the ME paneuropean – and Ronaldo still plays for the national team at the age of 35.

"Everything in Portugal hopes that he will be there in 2022, even though he will be 37 years old at the time" said teammate Bernardo Silva on behalf of his team. The coach Fernando Santos commented: "Cristiano still has a lot to give to football and I hope that it will stay to help young players grow and develop.We have a team with a lot of young players and of course we all want it with us. "

+++ Boateng: The resignation has never been a problem +++

Defender Jerome Boateng resigned after the accident of the World Cup excluded from the national team. "It was never a problem for me, I can not even reach the zenith of my performance," said 29-year-old Welt am Sonntag. He wanted despite the strong disappointment with the first exit of the selection of the DFB in a group stage of the World Cup "necessarily continue to play", added the defender of FC Bayern Munich.

Boateng was also supportive of coach Joachim Loew. "Certainly," replied the 2014 world champion to a similar question. Löw had given the team "clear words and instructions that we have not implemented," Boateng assured. When the new start with the national team after the summer holidays, he wanted to "show another face with the other again." I want to represent with them Germany we know. A strong Germany, a strong national team. "

With misunderstanding has responded the national player 73 times to the harsh criticism of playmaker Mesut Özil. "It does not work, Mesut is a human, you can not give up all the criticism of one, the whole team is in charge," Boateng said. Özil had been heavily attacked because of photos taken together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and was at the World Cup as a symbol of German failure. "With the photo was unfortunate, it was a difficult situation for him recently," Boateng said. However, he is opposed to individual players being scapegoats.

+++ For Ronaldo, Cavani pulls Uruguay in the quarterfinals +++

Edinson Cavani shot Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Russia and dreams of the Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has finished. The South Americans won 2-0 (1-0) Saturday night in Sochi with Cavani's double (7th / 62nd minute). Portuguese defender Pepe (55th) had provided for the provisional allowance. Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain lost the injury in the 74th minute

After the champion of world Germany, now also champion of Europe Portugal leaves early, the blue sky is growing more and more to a Mitfavoritsten on the World Cup trophy. Ronaldo, 33, may have missed his last chance for the world title. Uruguay, meanwhile, defies France in the quarter-finals Friday in Nizhny Novgorod

+++ Fans gobble the eggs of South Korean players at the airport +++

South Korean players have been bombarded by ferocious supporters. About 300 fans and journalists in a good mood were waiting for the team of coach Tae-Yong Shin at Incheon Airport

When the team posed for photos, the eggs flew towards the team, as reported by the kicker.

+++ Kylian Mbappe shoots France in the quarterfinals +++