AAO KHELEIN

1.Can Belgium’s Golden Generation deliver against pre-tournament favourites France? 2.The European neighbours have the strongest teams on paper and have played some of the most exciting football at the World Cup so far. 3.With Mbappe, Dembele, Pogba and Griezmann, France have a relatively young team oozing quality. But do they have the maturity to go all the way? 4.For Belgium, it could be the last World Cup for a lot of players who are approaching 30. The pressure of a place in a World Cup final might get to a team that has virtually no experience playing big international matches! 5.Both teams have solid defences and assured goalkeepers so it will fall to the attacking players to take their chances and make a difference. 6.England meanwhile have their task cut out if they are to beat a Croatian side that have won all their matches at this World Cup. 7.Harry Kane has led the English charge with 6 goals but the concern for them is that 8 out of the 11 English g...

Saint Petersburg: France's record international goalscorer Thierry Henry will be presented with an awkward situation when his nation takes on neighbours Belgium, his current employers, in Tuesday's highly anticipated FIFA World Cup semi-final. Having led his country's forward line for over 13 years, during which he scored 51 goals, helping win France's first ever World Cup in 1998 followed by the European Championship two years later, few have ever been able to question the former striker's loyalty to Les Bleus' cause, reports Efe. That position will be firmly challenged on Tuesday, however, as Henry prepares to take a seat in the opposite dugout. Belgium's assistant coach since 2016, Henry has played a crucial role in helping Belgium's so-called "golden generation" reach their potential and mount a serious bid to take the World Cup home to Brussels. The tournament's top scorers, Belgium's talented front line featuring Romelu Luka...

St. Petersburg: Although the Tour de France cycle race would normally be the focus of French and Belgian sports fans at this time of year, it's a fair bet that Tuesday's World Cup semi-final here will beat the viewing figures of the annual cycle race in the two nations in question. France look to return to the final of the World Cup for the first time since 2006, while the Belgians look to confirm the promise of their 'golden generation' and reach the final for the first time, reports Xinhua news agency. The Belgians have won all five of their matches in Russia, scoring 14 goals and leaving Brazil and Japan by the wayside. In the quarter-final against Brazil they showed their adaptability and in the last 16 they showed their resilience by fighting back from 0-2 down against the Japanese. Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has shown that he can make changes to his system, using a 4-3-2-1 for most of the tournament, but adapting to a 4-3-3 to exploit Brazil's weaknes...

Sochi: Russia will look to book their place in the semi-final of the ongoing 21st edition of FIFA World Cup when they square off with Croatia in the quarter-final clash here at Fisht Stadium on Saturday. Russia, who came into the tournament ranked 70, surprised the spectators around the world with their impressive run in the tournament so far. The hosts will be coming off in the clash on the back of their two convincing victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt while a 0-3 defeat against Uruguay in their third and final group-stage match. The Igor Akinfeev- led side, in one of the major upsets of the tournament, defeated pre-tournament favourites Spain 4-3 via penalty shootouts after the high-voltage round of 16 ended with a 1-1 draw at full time. Croatia, on the other hand, are so far unbeaten in the tournament and will definitely be fancying their chances against the host nation. The Croatians squeezed past Denmark 3-2 in the penalty shootout in their high-voltage round-16 clash t...

Nizhny Novgorod (Russia): Uruguay striker Luis Suarez said that the absence of fellow attacker Edinson Cavani from the line-up was decisive in the team's 0-2 loss to France here in their 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final. The Paris Saint-Germain striker was kept from playing by an injury suffered in the round-of-16 match against Portugal, where he scored both of Uruguay's goals, reports Efe. "Cavani has been essential for us because of the class of player he is. He scored two goals, and those who took his place did it in the best possible way and gave their all for the team. But that's no excuse," Suarez said on Friday. He also spoke about veteran head coach Oscar Tabarez and the possibility he will continue after his contract with the Uruguay national team ends following the World Cup. "Everyone knows what El Maestro means to the team and to Uruguay. For all he has done and for all the respect he has won. I believe what's called for at this point i...

Kazan (Russia): Belgium overcame five-time world champions Brazil 2-1 here on Friday to book their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup only for the second time after a gap of 32 years. Fernandinho's own goal in the 13th minute and Kevin De Bruyne's 31st-minute strike meant Belgium led 2-0 at the half-time. Renato Augusto (76th minute) revived Brazil's hopes but it was too late. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2u16CE6

Nizhny Novgorod (Russia): France rode goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann to ease past Uruguay 2-0 in a big-ticket FIFA World Cup last-eight stage clash here on Friday. Varane (40th) glanced past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera after Griezmann floated a free-kick into the box from the right side. In the second half, Griezmann (61st) made the most of a goalkeeping howler from Uruguay shot-stopper Fernando Muslera to double the advantage. France will now take on either Brazil and Belgium in the semi-final. via Sify.com https://ift.tt/2zhVdFb