REUTERS

Luka Modric suggested that his team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday had turned up the heat on Group D favourites Argentina who were held to a tame 1-1 draw by Iceland earlier in the day.

England midfielder Fabian Delph is ready to miss a World Cup match in order to be present at the birth of his third child, the Manchester City player said on Saturday.

Dries Mertens conceded that Iceland’s surprise draw with Argentina had served as a World Cup warning to his side as they prepared to face another small debutant team Panama on Monday.

The Taliban announced a surprise three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday, which began on Friday, except against foreign forces. It overlaps with an Afghan government ceasefire announced to run until Wednesday.

With the world watching him in a World Cup opener against Iceland, the normally brilliant Messi struck a weak spot kick that was saved, leaving Argentina with a disappointing 1-1 draw.

Brazil will be looking to avoid the pitfalls their fellow World Cup favourites Argentina, Spain and France fell into in their opening games when the five-times world champions take on a fiercely organised Switzerland team on Sunday.

Luka Modric’s coolly taken 71st minute spot kick gave the scoreline a clear-cut feel, but the fact that Croatia failed to score on their own from open play was testament to some wayward shooting.

Thousands of Greeks protested outside parliament against the accord with Macedonia, calling for Tsipras to resign. Police used stun grenades and tear gas to prevent them from entering the building.

Brimming with confidence, Osorio conceded the four-times world champions Germany were tournament favourites but said his team Mexico was in with a chance.

Germany left Brazil in tears last World Cup but defender Marcelo, on the eve of their Group E opener against Switzerland, insisted there were no psychological scars.

With Lionel Messi stepping up to restore Argentina’s lead, tiny Iceland’s first ever appearance at the World Cup finals, Hannes Halldorsson admitted that he felt the pressure.

Despite an abundance of individual talent, Argentina have looked anything but impressive during Jorge Sampaoli’s year in charge.

Yussuf Poulsen redeemed himself by scoring the solitary goal against Peru after giving away a first-half penalty as Denmark picked up a crucial victory in Group C to begin their World Cup campaign at the Mordovia Arena on Saturday.

With all the talk about the front three, it was the influential Paul Pogba who came to the rescue as France claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win against Australia in their World Cup opener on Saturday.

Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said his gutsy team should count themselves just plain unlucky to have gone down 2-1 to France in their World Cup opener on Saturday

Vladimir Petkovic said his side must be prepared to win ugly in Sunday’s World Cup Group E opener against the footballing beauty of Brazil and their talented forward line, led by the dazzling Neymar.

Gareth Southgate has told his players the starting line-up for Monday’s World Cup Group G opener against Tunisia and is hoping to keep it secret until shortly before kick off.

Serbia will come up against one of the World Cup’s toughest defensive units in Costa Rica on Sunday

While no one has yet claimed responsibility, the Islamic State affiliate, which did not sign on to the cease fire, has a strong presence in the area.

Mesut Ozil has fully recovered from a minor knee injury in their penultimate warm-up match and is fit to play in their World Cup opener against Mexico on Sunday