30 June 2018

Knockout phase began with a bad habit, followed by thunder strikes...

1) World Cup 2018: match 49, day 16, knockout round 1 (last 16)


France - Argentina 4:3

Scorers: 1:0 13-pen (12.41) Antoine Griezmann
              1:1 41 (40.43) Angel di Maria
              1:2 48 (47.36) Gabriel Mercado
              2:2 57 (56.49) Benjamin Pavard
              3:2 63 (63.08) Kylian Mbappe
              4:2 68 (67.49) Kylian Mbappe
              4:3 90+2 (92.03) Sergio Aguero

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.56 + 4.57.


2) World Cup 2018: match 50, day 16, knockout round 1


Uruguay - Portugal 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 07 (06.43) Edinson Cavani
              1:1 54 (54.16) Pepe
              2:1 61 (61.11) Edinson Cavani

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.04 + 5.58.

South Korean-Mexican football relations

This is the story of how two nations can have friendly relations. If the first is doing a positive thing for the other, then the second country should respond as twice as much for the gratitude.
In the final games of the group stages everybody saw how the brave South Korean team humiliate the world champions Germany at stoppage time. Even the longest second half in this World Cup of almost nine and a half minutes (to be precise 9.19) did not help the Germans to score a goal, which meant Mexico could start to celebrate.
Over in their capital, it was a real party and a feast of joy, because their team qualified has for the knockout round. A group of jubilant supporters headed towards South Korean embassy in order to thank them for the passage. When the general consul Han Byuong-Jin was among the fans, and to be more fun, carried him on their backs, together with the song 'Korean brother, now you are Mexican', plus the traditional drink tequila was also present...



29 June 2018

Visiting team progressing through

Lincoln Red Imps - Drita 1:1, 1:4 after extra time

Scorers: 0:1 01 (01.14) Liridon Leci
              1:1 61 (60.47) Pedro Corral
              1:2 105+3-pen (107.40) Liridon Leci
              1:3 119 (119.07) Xhevdet Shabani
              1:4 120+4 (123.26) Haxhi Neziraj

With this win, at the final of preliminary round, the club from Kosovo earned the right to play in the first qualifying phase against Malmo.

Results from preliminary Europa league phase, leg 1

Europa - Pristina 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 44-pen (44.05) Enrique Carreno
             1:1 49 (49.02) Meriton Korenica


Birkirkara - KI Klaksvik 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 72 Michael Mifsud
             1:1 88 Deni Pavlovic

B36 Torshavn - Saint Joseph's 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 33-pen Lukasz Cieslewicz
             1:1 41 Salvador Manuel Alegre Delgado

Cefn Druids - Trakai 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 48 James Davies
             1:1 85 Donatas Kazlauskas

Engordany - Folgore 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 39 Christian Cellay
             1:1 73 Umberto Semeraro
             2:1 86 Miguel Luiz Enamorado

Tre Fiori - Bala Town 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 07-own goal Anthony Miley
             2:0 32 Giacomo Pracucci
             3:0 36 Mirco Vassallo

Not enough luck for one African team

1) World Cup 2018: match 45, day 15, round 3


Japan - Poland 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 59 (58.56) Jan Bednarek

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.01 + 3.01.


2) World Cup 2018: match 46, day 15, round 3


Senegal - Colombia 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 74 (73.35) Yerry Mina

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.03 + 4.03.
- Dramatic finish in group H: all was identical between Japan and Senegal, as they ended on second place with same points, goal-difference, plus no one won the duel when they played against each other. However, the Asian team has qualified for the knockout stage thanks to the fair-play rule as they received less yellow cards (4) against the African team which collected 6 in 3 matches.


3) World Cup 2018: match 47, day 15, round 3


England - Belgium 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 50 (50.05) Adnan Januzaj

Stoppage time played for both halves: 0.04 + 3.05.


4) World Cup 2018: match 48, day 15, round 3


Panama - Tunisia 1:2

Scorers: 1:0 33-own goal (32.42) Yassine Meriah
              1:1 50 (50.17) Fakhredine ben Youssef
              1:2 66 (65.21) Wahbi Khazri

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.08 + 7.30.

28 June 2018

This curse is still ongoing

With the surprising shocking exit of (now the old) champions Germany, our world will have new football winners from middle of July. In the past, 13 different teams have won the title with last defender Brazil who triumphed in 1962 and 4 years earlier (1958), plus they are only the second team who have done double success (after Italy). The list is quite long, but here are 4 teams which returned home empty handed and on the same way.

New football king is going to rule the world from 15 July onwards

1) World Cup 2018: match 41, day 14, round 3


Mexico - Sweden 0:3


Scorers: 0:1 50 (49.48) Ludwig Augustinsson
              0:2 62-pen (61.35) Andreas Granqvist
              0:3 74-own goal (73.33) Edson Alvarez

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.08 + 4.10.


2) World Cup 2018: match 42, day 14, round 3


South Korea - Germany 2:0


Scorers: 1:0 90+1 (91.07) Kim Young-Gwon
              2:0 90+6 (95.52) Son Heung-Min

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.02 + 9.19.
- World champions Germany are out of the World Cup as the team failed to reach the knockout stage.

3) World Cup 2018: match 43, day 14, round 3


Switzerland - Costa Rica 2:2


Scorers: 1:0 31 (30.28) Blerim Dzemaili
              1:1 56 (55.27) Kendall Waston
              2:1 87 (87.02) Josip Drmic
              2:2 90+3-own goal (92.54) Yann Sommer

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.11 + 5.05.
- Penalty from Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica) hit the crossbar which bounced back from the goalkeeper to score an equalizer in this duel.

4) World Cup 2018: match 44, day 14, round 3


Serbia - Brazil 0:2


Scorers: 0:1 35 (35.02) Paulinho
              0:2 67 (67.19) Thiago Silva

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.56 + 3.02.

27 June 2018

Preliminary start

Champions league: semifinal mini-tournament in Gibraltar.

Santa Coloma - Drita 0:0, 0:2 after extra time

Scorers: 0:1 99 (98.53) Xhevdet Shabani
              0:2 108-first half extra time (105+2.39) Fidan Gerbeshi

La Fiorita - Lincoln Red Imps 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 02 (01.48) Anthony Hernandez
              0:2 51 (50.37) Alejandro Moreno

On Friday night Lincoln Red Imps is going to play in the preliminary final with Drita for the right to enter the first qualifying stage.

Europa league:

Sant Julia - Gzira United 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 19-pen (19.18) Amadou Samb
              0:2 87 (86.45) Jorginho

Worst and shameful match so far ended scoreless

1) World Cup 2018: match 37, day 13, round 3

Denmark - France 0:0


Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.33 + 3.05.

2) World Cup 2018: match 38, day 13, round 3

Australia - Peru 0:2


Scorers: 0:1 17 (17.14) Andre Carrillo
              0:2 49 (49.09) Paolo Guerrero

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.02 + 4.01.

3) World Cup 2018: match 39, day 13, round 3

Iceland - Croatia 1:2


Scorers: 0:1 53 (52.32) Milan Badelj
              1:1 75-pen (75.10) Gylfi Sigurdsson
              1:2 90 (89.43) Ivan Perisic

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.11 + 4.04.

4) World Cup 2018: match 40, day 13, round 3

Nigeria - Argentina 1:2


Scorers: 0:1 14 (13.55) Lionel Messi
              1:1 51-pen (50.25) Victor Moses
              1:2 86 (85.49) Marcos Rojo

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.09 + 4.27.

26 June 2018

Long live the final whistle

1) World Cup 2018: match 33, day 12, round 3

Saudi Arabia - Egypt 2:1


Scorers: 0:1 22 (21.27) Mohamed Salah

              1:1 45+6-pen (50.36) Salman al-Faraj
              2:1 90+4 (94.06) Salem al-Dawsari

- Fahad Mosaed al Muwallad al Harbi (Saudi Arabia) did not convert a penalty at 40 (40.17) after Essam el-Hadary (Egypt) stopped the ball with a fantastic save.
- Stoppage time played for both halves: 6.39 + 5.31.

2) World Cup 2018: match 34, day 12, round 3

Uruguay - Russia 3:0


Scorers: 1:0 10 (09.29) Luis Suarez

              2:0 23-own goal (22.41) Denis Cheryshev
              3:0 90 (89.48) Edinson Cavani

- Two yellow cards in this game received Igor Smolnikov (Russia) at 36 (35.38).- Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.11 + 4.36.

3) World Cup 2018: match 35, day 12, round 3

Islamic Republic of Iran - Portugal 1:1


Scorers: 0:1 45 (44.21) Ricardo Quaresma

              1:1 90+3-pen (92.49) Karim Ansarifard

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.06 + 7.11.

- Alireza Beiranvand (Islamic Republic of Iran) produced one of the best saves in the whole match from 11 metres as Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) kicked a poor penalty in 53 (52.24), while 30 minutes later he was very, very lucky not to get a direct red card on the off the ball incident (which he had to receive it, but probably his 'glorious name' has saved him).


4) World Cup 2018: match 36, day 12, round 3


Spain - Morocco 2:2


Scorers: 0:1 14 (13.24) Khalid Boutaib

              1:1 19 (18.51) Isco Alarcon
              1:2 81 (80.35) Youssef en-Nesyri
              2:2 90 (90.09) Iago Aspas


Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.13 + 6.43.

25 June 2018

EuroCup competitions kicks-off with a new stage

As the World Cup 2018 is still the main focus sports event in the world, another 2 competitions are beginning in the continent next week and now they are 'shy from the dark' (until the real action starts). Every season in both European Cup tournaments are opening the low ranked clubs with qualifying phase. But, in 2018-19 season where it was way too quickly announced and introduced, will be played a new stage called: preliminary.

In Gibraltar is going to start this new phase for the 'strongest' league. There is a long road entering the group stage, and this is the very first: preliminary phase. Only 90 minutes will be played in the following 2 duels, while 3 nights later is going to be the final.

Tuesday, 26 June at 17.00 CETSanta Coloma - Drita.
Tuesday, 26 June at 21.00 CETLa Fiorita - Lincoln Red Imps.

Winners from the above 2 games will meet at the final on Friday, 29 June at 20.30 CET.

Europa league ia also affected with this change, and 7 duels is going to be played. Only one match will be on the Champions league day, whilst the rest are going to be played on the usual day for this competition.

Tuesday, 26 June at 20.00 CETSant Julia - Gzira United.

Thursday, 28 June at 18.00 CETEuropa - Pristina.
Thursday, 28 June at 19.00 CETBirkirkara - KI Klaksvik.
Thursday, 28 June at 20.00 CETB36 Torshavn - Saint Joseph's.
Thursday, 28 June at 20.00 CETCefn Druids - Trakai.
Thursday, 28 June at 20.00 CETEngordany - Folgore.
Thursday, 28 June at 20.45 CETTre Fiori - Bala Town.

Decisive group games

From next week, and for the second time in this World Cup, 4 games is going to be played on one day. In order not to have any illegal activities two games will start at the same time. This means that in the next 4 days all group matches are going to finish before knowing the pairs for last 16. But prior to that, 16 more matches awaits us and each day 2 groups will be completed.

25 June, Monday at 16.00 CET: Saudi Arabia - Egypt.
25 June, Monday at 16.00 CET: Uruguay - Russia.

25 June, Monday at 20.00 CET: Islamic Republic of Iran - Portugal.
25 June, Monday at 20.00 CET: Spain - Morocco.

26 June, Tuesday at 16.00 CET: Australia - Peru.
26 June, Tuesday at 16.00 CET: Denmark - France.

26 June, Tuesday at 20.00 CET: Iceland - Croatia.
26 June, Tuesday at 20.00 CET: Nigeria - Argentina.

27 June, Wednesday at 16.00 CET: Mexico - Sweden.
27 June, Wednesday at 16.00 CET: South Korea - Germany.

27 June, Wednesday at 20.00 CET: Serbia - Brazil.
27 June, Wednesday at 20.00 CET: Switzerland - Costa Rica.

28 June, Thursday at 16.00 CET: Japan - Poland.
28 June, Thursday at 16.00 CET: Senegal - Colombia.

28 June, Thursday at 20.00 CET: England - Belgium.
28 June, Thursday at 20.00 CET: Panama - Tunisia.

All the above games have to finish first in order to know 8 pairs for the first knockout stage or last 16. Next weekend we will know the first 4 teams who will progress to the quarter finals, with the following schedule:

On 30 June, Saturday at 16.00 CET is going to play the winner in group C against second placed team from group D.
At 30 June, Saturday at 20.00 CET will meet the winner of group A who is going to play against runner-up from group B.

On 01 July, Sunday at 16.00 CET are going to compete: first in group B versus second in A.
At 01 July, Sunday at 20.00 CET will clash the winner of D group - second in group C.

24 June 2018

Crazy for goals: 14 were scored today, beating the record from yesterday

1) World Cup 2018: match 30, day 11, round 2

England - Panama 6:1


Scorers: 1:0 08 (07.51) John Stones

              2:0 22-pen (21.38) Harry Kane
              3:0 35 (35.12) Jesse Lingard
              4:0 39 (39.14) John Stones
              5:0 45-pen (45.18) Harry Kane
              6:0 61 (61.06) Harry Kane
              6:1 77 (77.16) Felipe Baloy

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.04 + 4.23.

- Other players were so close but it finally came today: the first hat trick.
- Apart from the mentioned hat trick, Panama have scored its first ever goal at the World Cups tournaments.

2) World Cup 2018: match 31, day 11, round 2

Japan - Senegal 2:2


Scorers: 0:1 11 (10.57) Sadio Mane

              1:1 34 (33.22) Takashi Inui
              1:2 71 (70.26) Moussa Wague
              2:2 78 (77.32) Keisuke Honda

Stoppage time played for both halves: 0.58 + 4.00.


3) World Cup 2018: match 32, day 11, round 2

Poland - Colombia 0:3


Scorers: 0:1 39 (39.04) Yerry Mina

              0:2 69 (69.03) Radamel Falcao
              0:3 75 (74.43) Juan Cuadrado

Stoppage time played for both halves: 4.07 + 5.04.

Madrid club has switched car companies

From last Wednesday Atletico Madrid have a new sponsor. Alfa Romeo has been replaced by Hyundai for which the club signed a deal until 2021. President of the club Enrique Cerezo and the marketing vice-president of Hyundai Andreas-Christoph Hofmann were both delighted about the signed agreement. Of course this implies that the company will supply the team with its best cars, while in return players from next season (2018-19) is going to promote and wear the logo of this South Korean manufacturer.

23 June 2018

On a rainy afternoon seven entertaining goals were scored at first game

1) World Cup 2018: match 27, day 10, round 2

Belgum - Tunisia 5:2


Scorers: 1:0 06-pen (06.00) Eden Hazard

              2:0 15 (15.20) Romelu Lukaku
              2:1 17 (17.08) Dylan Bronn
              3:1 45+3 (47.58) Romelu Lukaku
              4:1 51 (50.36) Eden Hazard
              5:1 89 (89.16) Michy Batshuayi
              5:2 90+3 (92.24) Wahbi Khazri

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 4.09 + 3.02.

- Fourth time lucky for Michy Batshuayi. In the most attractive game of the tournament so far, the Belgian striker scored the last goal from his fourth attempt in the second half (after coming on as substitute): on the first strike the ball was cleared off the line, in second the obstacle was the cross bar, while the Tunisian goalkeeper (Farouk ben Mustapha) prevented him to score with an excellent save from a close range for the third time. All these three strikes happened in a space of five minutes.

2) World Cup 2018: match 28, day 10, round 2

South Korea - Mexico 1:2


Scorers: 0:1 26-pen (25.24) Carlos Vela

              0:2 66 (65.27) Javier Hernandez (also known as Chicharito)
              1:2 90+2 (92.08) Son Heung-Min

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.42 + 5.05.


3) World Cup 2018: match 29, day 10, round 2

Germany - Sweden 2:1


Scorers: 0:1 32 (31.48) Ola Toivonen

              1:1 48 (47.29) Marco Reus
              2:1 90+5 (94.43) Toni Kroos


- Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.00 + 7.08.
- For the first time at the event Jerome Boateng (Germany) received two yellow cards at 82 (81.33) minute.

Minute silence

At the World Cup 2018 so far there are many surprising results where favorites are not even close enough to win. There is no point mentioning what happened yesterday night to the dreadful Argentina team, as Croatia played their best football. The North Americans have disappointed many fans once again and now is on the verge of elimination. Most are angry at the players, manager and this is how one local media expressed their view after the game. In a moment of anger or something else, to be honest, no one expected this to happen at their studio...


Humane gesture from their opponents

Nigeria today deservedly won against Iceland, but before this duel one case was related to both these teams.
Before the World Cup began, Carl Ikeme was the first-choice goalkeeper of the African team. Unfortunately, leukemia (leukaemia) has prevented the 32-year-old to be present in Russia. To show their full support the Icelandic players have been photographed with their shirt and his name was printed as number 1, while all are sending him best wishes and speedy recovery.
On social media this picture was shared by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (who is also holding the jersey), which was colleague with the goalkeeper in Wolverhampton. 'I am wishing him all the best from the squad, and it just shows that football is one big family that will stick together. Even though we are playing against him, of course, this is just much bigger than football.', said the manager of Iceland Heimir Hallgrimsson.

22 June 2018

Another 11 metre miss, plus first turnaround at the competition

1) World Cup 2018: match 24, day 09, round 2

Brazil - Costa Rica 2:0


Scorers: 1:0 90+1 (90.27) Philippe Coutinho

              2:0 90+7 (96.49) Neymar

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.08 + 8.04.

2) World Cup 2018: match 25, day 09, round 2

Nigeria - Iceland 2:0 


Scorer: 1:0 49 (48.24) Ahmed Musa

            2:0 74 (74.17) Ahmed Musa

- Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.05 + 6.29.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a penalty at 82 (82.08), after the 'policeman from above' awarded Iceland the punishment.

3) World Cup 2018: match 26, day 09, round 2

Serbia - Switzerland 1:2


Scorers: 1:0 05 (04.48) Aleksandar Mitrovic

              1:1 52 (51.55) Granit Xhaka
              1:2 90 (89.38) Xherdan Shaqiri

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.02 + 5.48.

Language problem

Whether is stupidity to stage a protest over this non-existing problem or the world football organization does not have a clue about languages, we will never find out. The Croatian fotball federation strongly expressed their furiosity at FIFA, because in one of the billboards was written 'Serbo-Croatian' as a given option of a translating language, and that hapenned before the Argentina match. The 'controversial' billboard was immediately removed from the media conference hall, but reporters took a picture where English and Spanish were being wrote in latinic, while Russian and Serbo-Croatian was with cyrillic letters.
This problem did not concerned the players, as Croatia humiliated Argentina later in the night...

Official business trip

Due to the extra popularity of this sport, and especially in events like the World Cup in Russia, men will do everything to attend games even when it is forbidden from our females. Thus, if one of us is being caught up at the stands then we are going to be in a lot of trouble. In order not to be seen, a group of fans from Islamic Republic of Iran was out of luck when they shown on camera an interesting banner. However, on return back home we do not want to imagine what their wives will think of if they see the following picture...

21 June 2018

Equal number of goals from first and second halves in three games

1) World Cup 2018: match 21, day 08, round 2

Denmark - Australia 1:1


Scorers: 1:0 06 (06.08) Christian Eriksen

              1:1 38-pen (37.56) Mile Jedinak

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.03 + 3.08.

2) World Cup 2018: match 22, day 08, round 2

France - Peru 1:0


Scorer: 1:0 34 (33.43) Kylian Mbappe


Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.04 + 4.25.

3) World Cup 2018: match 23, day 08, round 2

Argentina - Croatia 0:3


Scorers: 0:1 53 (52.37) Ante Rebic

              0:2 80 (79.57) Luka Modric
              0:3 90+1 (90.46) Ivan Rakitic

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.05 + 4.05.

Almighty player

We have the first Uruguayan footballer who has scored goals in three different World Cups: in 2010 at South Africa gave 3 goals, 4 years later in Brazil 2, while today he scored the only goal of the game of the second round (and still is ongoing at the competition). On top of that this man also did a jubilee as he appeared for the hundredth time at the national team against Saudi Arabia. His name is Luis Suarez.

20 June 2018

Identical three results

1) World Cup 2018: match 18, day 07, round 2

Portugal - Morocco 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 04 (03.57) Cristiano Ronaldo

Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.02 + 5.05.

2) World Cup 2018: match 19, day 07, round 2

Uruguay - Saudi Arabia 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 22 (22.13) Luis Suarez

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.04 + 3.59.

3) World Cup 2018: match 20, day 07, round 2

Islamic Republic of Iran - Spain 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 54 (53.34) Diego Costa

Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.10 + 4.04.

Qualifying layout for Europa league

Europa league are also facing quick and accepted changes. Also new phase is introduced, plenty of matches are going to be played so at the end we have to see if this abrupt shift is going to give promising results or not. In a rather unusual day, today the European football organization did couple of draw for this competition.

Preliminary phase:
First 90 minutes is scheduled to take place on 28 June (unless otherwise stated), whilst all duels from second leg is going to be played on 05 July.

Europa - Pristina.
Sant Julia - Gzira United (26 June).
Engordany - Folgore.
B36 Torshavn - Saint Joseph's.
Birkirkara - KI Klaksvik.
Tre Fiori - Bala Town.
Cefn Druids - Trakai.

First qualifying round:
Both deciding matches for the first qualifying round will be played next month: dates are 12 and 19 July.

Stjarnan - Nomme Kalju.
Ilves Tampere - Slavia Sofia.
Birkirkara / KI Klaksvík - Zalgiris.
Fola Esch - Europa / Pristina.
Glenavon - Molde.
Dunajska Streda - Dinamo Tbilisi.
Stumbras - Apollon Limassol.
Siroki Brijeg - Domzale.
Glasgow Rangers - Skupi.
Progres Niederkorn - Gabala.
Racing Union - Viitorul.
Samtredia - Tobol Kostanay.
Partizani - Maribor.
Neftci - Ujpest.
Buducnost - Trencin.
Derry City - Dinamo Minsk.
B36 Torshavn / St Joseph's - OFK Titograd.
Zaria Balti - Gornik Zabrze.
Spartak Subotica - Coleraine.
Pyunik - Vardar.
Shamrock Rovers - AIK.
Connah's Quay Nomads - Shakhtyor Soligorsk.
Lahti - Hafnarfjördur.
Ventspils - Luftetari.
Cliftonville - Nordsjaelland.
Banants - Sarajevo.
Engordany / Folgore - Kairat Almaty.
Petrocub - Osijek.
Anorthosis Famagusta - Laci.
Ferencvaros - Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Balzan - Kesla.
Honved - Rabotnicki.
Rudar Pljevlja - Partizan.
CSKA Sofia - Riga.
Milsami Orhei - Slovan Bratislava.
Radnicki Nis - UE Sant Julia / Gzira United.
Lech Poznan - Gandzasar Kapan (former name: Gandzasar).
Chikhura Sachkhere - Beitar Jerusalem.
Vaduz - Levski Sofia.
Zeljeznicar - Narva Trans.
Cefn Druids / Trakai - Irtysh.
Hibernian - NSI Runavík.
Rudar Velenje - Tre Fiori / Bala Town.
Levadia Tallinn - Dundalk.
IB Vestmannaeyja - Sarpsborg.
FC Copenhagen - KuPS Kuopio.
Liepaja - Hacken.

Second qualifying round:
In order not to be called lazy UEFA goes one step further with things. Duels from this round are going to be played on 26 July, and return legs are on 02 August.

Glenavon / Molde - Anorthosis Famagusta / Laci.
Banants / Sarajevo - Atalanta.
Birkirkara or KI Klaksvík - Zalgiris / Vaduz - Levski Sofia.
Engordany or Folgore - Kairat Almaty / AZ Alkmaar.
Aberdeen - Burnley.
Rudar Pljevlja or Partizan - Cefn Druids or Trakai - Irtysh.
Balzan / Kesla - Milsami Orhei / Slovan Bratislava.
Cliftonville / Nordsjaelland - Shamrock Rovers / AIK.
Rudar Velenje or Tre Fiori - Bala Town / Steaua (FCSB).
Hapoel Haifa - Lahti / Hafnarfjordur.
Levadia Tallinn / Dundalk - AEK Larnaca.
Zaria Balti / Gornik Zabrze - Buducnost / Trencín.
Ferencvaros / Maccabi Tel Aviv - Radnicki Nis / UE Sant Julia or Gzira United.
CSKA Sofia / Riga - Admira Wacker.
Spartak Subotica / Coleraine - Sparta Prague.
RasenBallsport Leipzig - Liepaja / Hacken.
Stjarnan / Nomme Kalju - FC Copenhagen / KuPS Kuopio.
Ufa - Siroki Brijeg / Domzale.
Samtredia / Tobol Kostanay - Pyunik / Vardar.
Jagiellonia - Rio Ave.
LASK Linz - Lillestrom.
Honved / Rabotnicki - Progres Niederkorn / Gabala.
Petrocub / Osijek - Glasgow Rangers / Skupi.
B36 Torshavn or St Joseph's - OFK Titograd / Besiktas.
Dunajska Streda / Dinamo Tbilisi - Derry City / Dinamo Minsk.
Ventspils / Luftetari - Bordeaux.
Zeljeznicar / Narva Trans - Stumbras / Apollon Limassol.
Racing Union / Viitorul - Vitesse.
Saint Gallen - IB Vestmannaeyja / Sarpsborg.
Dinamo Brest - Atromitos.
Sevilla - Neftci / Ujpest.
Connah's Quay Nomads / Shakhtyor Soligorsk - Lech Poznan / Gandzasar Kapan.
Hibernian / NSI Runavík - Asteras Tripolis.
Chikhura Sachkhere / Beitar Jerusalem - Partizani / Maribor.
Genk / Fola Esch - Europa or Pristina.
Djurgarden - Mariupol.
Hajduk - Ilves Tampere / Slavia Sofia.

Clarification: as preliminary phase is not yet played, in some pairs above is inserted the word 'or', while in some duels the sign '/' means playing against that team.

Wrong town

Why you have to be extra careful when going on a trip (in large countries) tells the next story, where the situation, you have to agree, is somewhat comic. Nowadays when we have various satellites, plenty of navigation systems you cannot get lost, but that is not always the case.
A group of Switzerland supporters instead of going into the right town, they arrive in another with the same name. Not realizing that they are far away from the right place 1.281 kilometers, they came into Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great), while the fans should have arrived at the right destination: Rostov-on-Don. According to police, the fans did find the right name of the street, but could not find the hotel. After realizing what kind of terrible mistake have done, they called the operator who explained: 'You are in Rostov, but you are in Rostov Veliky. Your team does not play in this city, but in Rostov-on-Don. It is a thousand kilometers south from here', cited from Russian media.
This kind of mistakes can happen and can be forgiven, however it is not forgivable that these supporters most importantly missed their team watching against Brazil last weekend.

Different fates for two awards

Players who are the best on the pitch undoubtedly deserve various awards, but some will have to turn down the prize even if the footballer is already chosen...
We begin with the sad moment first. Mohamed el-Shenawy was voted the best player for his wonderful saves against Uruguay last Friday. Unfortunately, the player did not receive the award which was given by 'Budweiser'. We all know that this sponsor is producing beer, and also we are aware that Islam forbids the use of alcohol. Thus, from the Egyptian team came the conformation that their goalkeeper is refusing to receive this prize due to his religious beliefs. The 29-year-old have been photographed, but walked without the trophy from the sponsor.
And, from sad we are switching to happy news. After the projectile from 25 metres last Sunday versus Costa Rica, Aleksandar Kolarov has won a vehicle. 'After consultation with the supporters in Samara, we decided to reward the player who scores the first goal in our stadium in Samara', said the Governor of the Samara region Dmitry Azarov. So, the Serbian captain is now rich with one car: Lada 4x4 (Lada Niva) as a present for the beautiful goal.

19 June 2018

Very 'good' opening of the day

1) World Cup 2018: match 15, day 06, round 1

Colombia - Japan 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 05-pen (05.16) Shinji Kagawa 
              1:1 38 (38.12) Juan Quintero
              1:2 73 (72.41) Yuya Osako

Stoppage time played for both halves: 1.03 + 5.09.

2) World Cup 2018: match 16, day 06, round 1

Poland - Senegal 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 37-own goal (36.58) Thiago Cionek
              0:2 60 (59.57) M'Baye Niang
              1:2 86 (85.41) Grzegorz Krychowiak

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.19 + 4.11.

3) World Cup 2018: match 17, day 06, round 2

Russia - Egypt 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 47-own goal (46.32) Ahmed Fathi
              2:0 59 (58.38) Denis Cheryshev
              3:0 61 (61.09) Artem Dzyuba
              3:1 73-pen (72.40) Mohamed Salah

Stoppage time played for both halves: 06 seconds + 4.04.

Additional information: just 176 seconds was needed for Carlos Sanchez (Colombia) to pick up a direct red card, first of the tournament.

Timetable until second qualifying round for Champions league

Lowest ranking teams at the continent always first are opening every EuroCup season. In a slightly new and different format, today the draw is performed only for the 'strongest' competition. As always, duels are starting with first 2 qualifying phases, but before that, this time is inserted one small mini-tournament.

Preliminary stage:
UEFA quickly introduced a new stage to this competition and by that completely complicate this league. From 2018-19 season it is going to debut a preliminary (something like a pre-qualifying) stage. On 12 June it was conducted a mini-draw for the preliminary phase, which basically the first kick-off of the season is going to be on 26 June with semi final matches, while 3 days later (29 June) is going to be the mini-final (will play the winners from those 2 duels). Gibraltar was chosen to be the host for these games.

Santa Coloma - Drita.
La Fiorita - Lincoln Red Imps.

First qualifying round:
After that the ('real') and little bit toughest matches are going to begin. On 10 and 11 July are the first matches, while week after will be played the return leg from the first qualifying stage.

Torpedo Kutaisi - Sheriff Tiraspol.
Skendija - TNS (The New Saints).
Suduva - APOEL Nicosia.
Olimpija Ljubljana - Qarabag.
F91 Dudelange - Videoton.
Winner of preliminary round - Malmo.
HJK Helsinki - Vikingur.
Ludogorets - Crusaders.
Cork City - Legia.
Valur Reykjavik - Rosenborg.
Kukesi - Valletta.
Flora Tallinn - Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Spartaks Jurmala - Crvena Zvezda (Red Star).
Alashkert - Celtic.
Spartak Trnava - Zrinjski.
Astana - Sutjeska.

Second qualifying round:
Schedule for second qualifying stage will have to be played on 24 and 25 July, while is going to end one week later with the second leg. Pairs are the following:

Champions path:
Astana / Sutjeska - Midtjylland.
Ludogorets / Crusaders - F91 Dudelange / Videoton.
Kukesi / Valletta - Olimpija Ljubljana / Qarabag.
Cluj - winners of preliminary round / Malmo.
Dinamo Zagreb - Flora Tallinn / Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Spartaks Jurmala / Crvena zvezda - Suduva / APOEL Nicosia.
BATE Borisov - HJK Helsinki / Víkingur.
Skendija / TNS - Torpedo Kutaisi / Sheriff Tiraspol.
Cork City / Legia - Spartak Trnava / Zrinjski.
Alashkert / Celtic - Valur Reykjavík / Rosenborg.

League path:
PAOK - Basel.
Ajax - Sturm Graz.

18 June 2018

Couple of names are written two times

1) World Cup 2018: match 12, day 05, round 1

Sweden - South Korea 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 65-pen (64.37) Andreas Granqvist

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.09 + 4.09.

2) World Cup 2018: match 13, day 05, round 1

Belgium - Panama 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 47 (46.41) Dries Mertens
              2:0 68 (68.11) Romelu Lukaku
              3:0 75 (74.41) Romelu Lukaku

Stoppage time played for both halves: 2.03 + 4.06.

3) World Cup 2018: match 14, day 05, round 1

Tunisia - England 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 11 (10.31) Harry Kane
              1:1 35-pen (34.45) Ferjani Sassi
              1:2 90+1 (90.31) Harry Kane

Stoppage time played for both halves: 3.06 + 4.06.