Tamannaah Bhatia turns heads Gallery

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Paris, Dec 21 (IANS) More than 3.5 billion people watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on TV at home, either on home televisions or on digital platforms, FIFA revealed on Friday.

The FIFA World Cup, which ran from June 14 to July 15 this year, has attracted a record combined 3.572 billion viewers, according to audience data for official broadcast coverage of the tournament, reports Xinhua news agency.

The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of coverage totalled 3.262 billion. A further estimated 309.7 million people caught the action on digital platforms, in public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants.

The final between France and Croatia on July 15 attracted a combined global audience of 1.12 billion for at least one-minute of coverage, comprising 884.37 million viewers to linear TV coverage and a further 231.82 million out-of-home and digital-only viewers.

The report, based on scheduling and audience data gathered from official television auditing agencies in markets around the world, also revealed that viewers watching on TV at home engaged with the coverage for longer than in previous FIFA World Cups.

The number of viewers following at least three minutes of the 2018 World Cup was 3.04 billion, a 10.9% increase on the 2014 edition in Brazil. The audience watching for at least 30 minutes also went up from 1.95 billion in 2014 to 2.49 billion this year.

"We're particularly pleased to see an increase in the average time viewers are engaging with matches, which shows that we are giving the fans what they want," said FIFA's Chief Commercial Officer Philippe Le Floc'h.

"The fact that half the world's population watched the FIFA World Cup reflects not just the high quality of our award-winning live coverage, but also that fans everywhere are insatiable for world-class football," Le Floc'h added.

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Houston, Sep 12 (IANS) The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) will be hosting a series of events - with headline authors as participants - in three cities across the United States, starting September 14 and ending on September 23.

The annual festival with its home in Jaipur will be hosting smaller editions in Houston and New York, apart from Boulder, where it has a presence for the last three year.

"With internationally acclaimed authors and thinkers taking part in a range of provocative panels and debates, at the core of programming are thoughts and issues that resonate with our times," the organisers, Teamwork Arts, said about the Houston leg of the festival that opens on Friday evening, with events concluding on Saturday.

After a gap of five days, the festival will be held in New York on September 20.

The highlights include a musical performance by Indian Sufi singer Zila Khan; vigorous panel discussions revolving around the history, culture, religion, foreign policy and the great passion for cricket in India; talks around the Bard of Avon and Shakespearea?s greatest and most evocative work and a session engaging with bilingual writers, mother languages, and the joy of communicating the "Babylonian bedlama of New York City.

On September 21, the festival will return for its fourth edition at Boulder. It will feature more than 60 authors "to explore today's hot topics while engaging the community in essential dialogue".

It will feature 40 sessions on indigenous cultures worldwide; global warming, water and climate change; the geopolitical jigsaws, culture and identity of the trans-Himalayan belt; immigration, ethno-cultural politics and race; biographies and biographers; feminism, poetry, and the craft of storytelling, among others - across three days, the organisers said.

Participating writers, apart from organisers, Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts, authors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, includes Shashi Tharoor, Kiran Desai, Sonal Mansingh, Sharmila Sen, Margo Jefferson, Navtej Sarna, Preti Taneja, Kurt Heinzelman, Lacy M. Johnson, McKenna Jordan, Rich Levy and Ruben Martinez, among others.
Jaipur Literature Festival is an annual literary event held in Jaipur in January and is widely attended.

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The 27-year-old did get off to a good start and after a timing of 8.28.56 minutes, Dattu found the sixth spot in the finals.

China's Liang Zhang clinched gold after timing 7.25.36 minutes, while South Korea's Dongyong Kim and Japan's Ryuta Arakawa bagged silver and bronze respectively.

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Jakarta, Aug 20 (IANS) Four players have been expelled from Japan's men's basketball team at the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia for allegedly hiring sex workers, the Japanese Olympic Committee said on Monday.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, the head of the Japanese delegation, said that the players in question had had their accreditations withdrawn and had been sent home, reports Efe.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) sources told EFE that the decision was taken after pictures of the basketball players wearing the national jersey walking with the alleged sex workers in the red light area of the Indonesian capital appeared in the Japanese press.

Yamashita said the four players went for dinner at a Japanese restaurant last Thursday, after which they were approached by a person who spoke Japanese and offered them the prostitutes' services.

The head of the delegation said the four players, named as Yuya Nagayoshi, Takuya Hashimoto, Takuma Sato and Keita Imamura had breached the delegation's code of conduct, and had arrived back in Japan on Monday, public broadcaster NHK reported.

"I deeply apologize for betraying the expectations of the Japanese people", Yamashita said.

The men's team had defeated Qatar 82-71 on Thursday, and lost against Taiwan 65-71 two days later. They are due to play Hong Kong on Wednesday.

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Paris, July 26 (IANS) France right back Benjamin Pavard's sublime volley against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup has been voted Goal of the Tournament, FIFA has announced on its official website.

The world's biggest football tournament in Russia produced 169 goals in 64 matches, reports Xinhua news agency.

Pavard, 22, netted the equalizer against Argentina with outside of his right foot in the 57th minute, before France triumphed 4-3 in round of 16 en route to their world champion.

In an online poll where over three million users casted their votes through the FIFA website, Pavard's stunner finally got a nod as the Goal of the Tournament.

"The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn't even think about it. I just tried to get over it and keep it down," Pavard told the FIFA website after that match.

"I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me. I didn't think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy," he added.

Pavard becomes the first European player to win the award since its inauguration in 2006. At the 2014 World Cup, it belonged Colombia's James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner of the tournament. Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina and Diego Forlan of Uruguay were other previous winners, in 2006 and 2010 respectively.

Juan Quintero's low free-kick for Colombia against Japan in the group stage finished second in the vote, while the third place went to Croatia midfielder Luka Modric's long-range shot against Argentina in group stage.

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New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The FIFA World Cup 2018 drama not just unfolded on the pitch in Russia but was also played out on Twitter in a massive way.

Whether it was to celebrate heart-pounding victories, watch live tournament analysis on the platform or to show sportsmanship despite tough defeats, football fans across the globe logged in to the micro-blogging website -- Twitter -- to experience every exhilarating and emotional moment as it happened.

With the biggest football event now over, Twitter has compiled the numbers and their visualizations, the massive role it played for fans since the event began on June 14.

Of the 115 billion impressions of Tweets during the FIFA World Cup, fans tweeted the most during the final between France and Croatia on July 15.

Also, fans tweeted the most when Kylian Mbapp? scored France's fourth goal in its World Cup final victory over Croatia than at any other point during the tournament.

It was followed by Philippe Coutinho's goal in extra time which gave Brazil 1-0 lead over Costa Rica on June 22 and the game where South Korea stunned Germany 2-0 on June 27 stood at third place.

Football fans in Brazil sent more tweets about the tournament than any other country followed by Japan, United Kingdom, United States and France.

When it came to the most-mentioned player of the tournament on Twitter, Brazilian star Neymar Jr. topped the charts and was follwed by Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, France's Kylian Mbapp? and Brazil's Philippe Coutinho, respectively.

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But most of all, Russia 2018 will be remembered for the superb quality of football as the game welcomed a bold new generation spearheaded by French teenager Kylian Mbappe while bidding farewell to the old guard led by Andres Iniesta, and perhaps also Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The following is the World Cup team of the tournament, according to Xinhua news agency:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium): The Belgium shot-stopper was brilliant throughout the tournament, especially late in his team's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Brazil when the 26-year-old made a number of fine saves as the Selecao peppered his goal in search of an equalizer. The Chelsea player just pips France's Hugo Lloris, whose howler that gifted Mario Mandzukic a goal in the final might have cost him his place.

Right-back: Kieran Trippier (England): Trippier was not only defensively sound at left wing-back for England, he also gave them another attacking edge with his speed off the mark and lethal crosses. In addition, the Tottenham Hotspur defender posed a constant danger with his delivery at set pieces and scored from a free-kick in his team's 2-1 semifinal loss to Croatia.

Center-back: Raphael Varane (France): The Real Madrid center-back was part of a supreme central defensive partnership for France alongside Samuel Umtiti. He blunted rival forwards with his speed, anticipation and aerial strength. The 25-year-old also left his mark in attack, scoring with a fine glancing header in France's 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

Center-back: Diego Godin (Uruguay): The 32-year-old was the bedrock of a Uruguay defense that was among the most frugal of the tournament. His understanding with Atletico Madrid teammate Jose Gimenez at the heart of the Celeste back-four was particularly decisive in the group stage, when Uruguay won each of their three matches without conceding a goal.

Left-back: Lucas Hernandez (France): Not even a guaranteed starter in Didier Deschamps' side at the beginning of the tournament, Hernandez quickly made the left-back position his own with a series of assured performances. It is true that there were few other obvious team-of-the-tournament candidates for this position, but Hernandez is a deserved inclusion for his blazing runs out of defense and for bringing a harder edge to the French side.

Defensive midfielder: N'Golo Kante (France): He might not be a born entertainer like Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann or Mbappe, but Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is proof that even in this age of social media and individual showmanship, there is still a place in football for the understated. The Chelsea midfielder was outstanding at Russia 2018 with his tireless box-to-box running and knack for effecting turnovers. An early yellow card in the final prompted Les Blues manager Didier Deschamps to withdraw him early in the second half of the final, but by then his impact had already proved to be telling.

Central midfielder: Luka Modric (Croatia): Croatia's Real Madrid playmaker was a deserving winner of the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player. He was deployed both as a deep-lying midfielder and, later in the tournament, in a more advanced free-roaming role. Not only did the 32-year-old cover more kilometers than any other player in the World Cup, he was also his team's key creative force, working brilliantly in tandem with Ivan Rakitic.

Attacking midfielder: Eden Hazard (Belgium): The Chelsea attacker scored two goals and provided two assists, leading Belgium to third place - their best ever World Cup finish. But those statistics only tell part of the story. The Real Madrid target also showed he is not averse to tracking back and he was the centerpiece of coach Roberto Martinez's counter-attacking tactics with his bursts forward, which often began in Belgium's own defensive third.

Right wing: Kylian Mbappe (France): The 19-year-old lit up the World Cup with his electric pace, power and lethal finishing. The high point of his tournament came in the round of 16 when he scored twice and drew a penalty in France's helter-skelter 4-3 win over Argentina. In doing so, Mbappe became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score twice in the same World Cup match. Then on Sunday he became only the second teenager - the other also being Pele - to score in a World Cup final.

Center forward: Harry Kane (England): Despite fading at the end of the competition as fatigue evidently set in, Kane became only the second Englishman after Gary Lineker to win the World Cup Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer at the tournament. The Tottenham Hotspur striker netted six goals -- all of which came in his first three matches - including a hat-track against Panama.

Left wing: Antoine Griezmann (France): The 27-year-old is the third Atletico Madrid player to make this team and the fifth Frenchman. Griezmann was decisive at key moments with his quality from set pieces, creativity in open play and coolness from the penalty spot, from where each of his four goals in Russia came. The 27-year-old's understanding with fellow forwards Mbappe and Olivier Giroud improved as the tournament progressed and he was awarded man-of-the match in the final with a goal and an assist.

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Di Candia said Montevideo mayor Daniel Martinez "requested to start the administrative process" of this project as a result of "the innumerable amount of rallies in favour of the player", reports Efe.

Di Candia also stressed that "it has been publicly stated" that Griezmann will visit Uruguay in December, when he is expected to receive a distinguished visitor memorial plaque.

Di Candia added that if the trip is postponed, it will be given "at another time".

Before France's quarter-final against Uruguay on July 6, 27-year-old Griezmann spoke of his affinity with the South American country, its people and their customs. Even though he scored against Uruguay, he refused to celebrate.

The Atletico Madrid star is good friends with Uruguay centre-backs Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez and is an avid fan of mate, a popular herbal drink in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil.

Griezmann also shared a special relationship with his former coach at Real Sociedad, Uruguayan Mart?n Lasarte under whom the Frenchman played between 2009-2011 at the Spanish club.

The recognition is granted to foreigners who visit the South American country and who, due to their artistic, cultural, sporting or philosophical talents, deserve to be a distinguished guest.

"In this case we are talking about a distinguished athlete, world champion and someone who has somehow put the name of Uruguay in the public arena recently. Someone who stood out in some way as a fan of our country and our customs," he said.

For Di Candia, Griezmann "shows a lot of respect" for Uruguayan football culture.

After being chosen as best player in the 2018 World Cup Russia final, the Atletico de Madrid striker participated in a press conference in which an Uruguayan journalist offered him the flag of his country.

Griezmann claimed it and put it on his shoulders before continuing with the conference, without removing it until completing his talk with the media.

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Paris, July 16 (IANS) France's 2018 FIFA World Cup champions arrived in Paris on Monday with their golden trophy in hand, after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.

Les Blues are expected to head to a victory parade down the Champs Elysees avenue in an open-top bus, where hundreds of thousands of people have been waiting to celebrate France's second World Cup win, after their first victory in 1998 when they hosted the tournament, reports Efe.

As the national squad's plane arrived, Charles de Gaulle airport's fire brigade gave a water jet salute.

Minister of Sports Laura Flessel was on hand to welcome the team, with Les Bleus' captain Hugo Lloris the first to exit the plane holding the trophy, followed by coach Didier Deschamps and French soccer federation chairman Noel Le Graet.

The players then headed on to a small stage for their first photo with the World Cup trophy on French soil, before being whisked inside to begin their triumphant tour of the city.

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Helsinki, July 16 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday presented his US counterpart Donald Trump with an official ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and wished the American leader a successful organisation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Putin handed over the official match ball of the 2018 World Cup to Trump at a press conference after their summit talks here, reports Tass news agency.

"As for the ball being in our court on the issue of Syria - Mister President (Trump) just said we have successfully organized the world football championship. And speaking about the ball, I am turning it over to Mister President," Putin said as he gave the official ball of this World Cup, Telstar 18 by Adidas, to Trump.

"The ball is now in your court," the Russian president said.

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"Foreign citizens who stayed legally in Russia with Fan IDs but tried to cross the border with Western countries via (Russia's) Kaliningrad, Murmansk and Leningrad regions will be expelled. They have violated their purpose of stay and will be expelled from Russia," Gorovoy said, reports Sputnik news agency.

Gorovoy added that the majority of the individuals were citizens of Kenya, Morocco, and other African countries.

The Fan ID, a FIFA-issued identification card for all match ticket holders needed to enter World Cup stadiums, replaced usually strict Russian visas.

In late June, Finnish media reported that the country's authorities were looking at five asylum applications from people who arrived in Finland through Russia with Fan IDs.

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By Debayan Mukherjee

Kolkata, July 16 (IANS) The football mad state of West Bengal which was otherwise missing its euphoria of a World Cup final due to non-involvement of Brazil and Argentina, sprung to life in certain pockets after France lifted their second title beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

From Chandannagar, located 35 kilometres north of Kolkata, which was once the French colony of Chandernagore, to the consulate here -- merry-making defined the hour as Les Bleus supporters partied till the wee hours on Monday.

At the Alliance Fran?aise du Bengale, affiliated to the international network of the Alliances Fran?aises in the world, 30-odd French expatriates came together at a star hotel on Park Street to watch the final.

There were close to 50 more students of the Alliance Fran?aise du Bengale, some German expatriates and the city's France fans who had only one prayer on their minds.

"It was crazy. There was tension after the first half as Croatia were the better team. But in the second half as France scored the goals, the mood changed quickly and expatriates started singing the national anthem," a spokesperson of the consulate said.

"Merci (thank you in french) to all of those who backed us. I am over the moon," Fabrice Plan?on, director of Alliance Fran?aise du Bengale told IANS.

France rode an own goal from Croatia's Mario Mandzukic to take the lead which was cancelled out by Ivan Perisic. Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty to regain France's lead which was further increased to 3-1 by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe before Mandzukic pounced on a blunder from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to reduce the difference.

At Chandannagar, a huge giant screen was set up at The Strand, on the bank of the Hooghly river where thousands of enthusiasts gathered to watch the summit clash.

"It was a scene to savour after France won the World Cup. Paris is far from here but the atmosphere was no different," Sumita Rakshit, a resident, gushed.

Since morning the fervour surrounding the grand finale was unmistakable around the area which is an hour away from the city.

There were supporters who had their faces painted blue, white and red and Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezman shirts on their back.

The French flag was almost in everybody's hand as kick off time grew nearer.

"We were here at The Strand in 1998 too. We fondly remember (Zinedine) Zidane scoring two goals with his head. Then we were left gutted in 2006 (when France lost to Italy in the final)," said another resident, who is a Mbappe fan.

After Argentine referee Pitana Nestor blew the final whistle, the small town known for bright festival lights, rejoiced in the hue of blue, red and white as residents exchanged pleasantry and sweets.

The music blared loud from the speakers and went on till late into Monday as some youths prepared dinner near the Strand and the menu was in keeping with Bengali cuisine.

Chandannagar in Hooghly district was one of the first outposts of India's colonial past, a French colony rather like Puducherry.

It remained an overseas territory of France in India for different time periods stretching over 250 years since 1673. It finally became a part of the Indian union in 1952, five years after the country won independence from British rule.

The town of Chandannagar still has strong French cultural links, which draw tourists from the European nation.

The Chandannagar Museum and Institute (Institut de Chandernagore) possesses a rich collection of French antiques, while the Chandannagar gate constructed in 1937 on the anniversary of the Fall of Bastille, has etched on it the slogan of the French Revolution "Libert?, ?galit?, fraternit? (Liberty, equality and fraternity)".

A French cemetery stands opposite a large lake. Another major attraction is the Sacred Heart Church that was designed by French Architect Jacques Duchatz and inaugurated in 1884.

(Debayan Mukherjee can be contacted at debayan.m@ians.in)

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) Over the past month he has been widely acclaimed as a superstar in the making. On Sunday, Kylian Mbappe confirmed that he is already a giant of the game as France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium here.

The 19-year-old netted his fourth goal of the tournament and generally created havoc for Croatia's defence with his clever runs into space and devastating speed, reports Xinhua news agency.

His 65th-minute strike -- a whistling 25-yard effort that flew into the bottom corner -- made him the youngest player since Pele to score in a World Cup final. The Brazilian legend achieved the feat as a 17-year-old in 1958.

Mbappe's dazzling performances at Russia 2018 also pose a tantalizing question: Is the Paris Saint-Germain forward ready to dethrone Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player on the planet?

Ronaldo scored four goals in this tournament but was unable to help his team advance beyond the round of 16. Messi was a shadow of his usual self, scoring just once in an erratic Argentina side that also bowed out in the first round of the knockout phase.

Sunday's match -- an often chaotic end-to-end battle sprinkled with moments of brilliance and some horrendous mistakes -- was an entertaining climax to a tournament with no shortage of drama.

Even before the final, this was already a World Cup to remember.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino went as far as to say that it was the best of all-time and it is hard to argue. The tournament has been replete with sparkling individual performances, surprise results, dramatic finishes and brilliant goals.

The tone was set on the opening day when hosts Russia romped to a 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, fired by two superb goals from super-sub Denis Cheryshev.

Just 24 hours later, Cristiano Ronaldo netted a hat-trick -- including a stunning late free-kick -- to earn Portugal a 3-3 draw with Spain in a thriller in Sochi.

There were upsets and early exits aplenty. Defending champions Germany lost to Mexico in their first match and were sent packing before reaching the knockout phase after a 2-1 defeat to South Korea.

Other shocks included Croatia's 3-0 defeat of Argentina and Russia's penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the round of 16.

Football fans were also treated to a plethora of gripping matches. Among them were France's 4-3 round of 16 victory over Argentina; Belgium's tense 2-1 defeat of Brazil in the quarter-finals; and penalty shoot-out victories for England against Colombia, Russia against Spain, and Croatia against Denmark and Russia.

As far as individual performances go, it is hard to look beyond Mbappe's explosive display for France against Argentina in Kazan. The 19-year-old tore the Albiceleste's defence to shreds as he became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score twice in the same World Cup match.

Special mentions also go to Kevin De Bruyne for helping to unravel Brazil in Kazan, Luka Modric for his control and artistry -- which included a brilliant long-range goal against Argentina -- and Croatia's Ivan Perisic for sinking England in their semi-final by scoring one goal and setting up another.

Then there have been the goals. Nacho's volley against Portugal, Toni Kroos's free-kick routine against Sweden, Cheryshev's long-range bomb against Croatia, Benjamin Pavard's strike with the outside of his boot against Argentina and Messi's deft control and finish against Nigeria are just a few of the contenders for goal of the tournament.

In addition, Russia 2018 has been laced with stories of extraordinary battles against adversity. Several of Croatia's players have spoken of their families' difficulties just to survive during the country's war of independence from 1991 to 1995.

Among those most deeply affected was Modric, whose grandfather was killed by Serbian forces near his home. Modric's family was forced to live at a refugee hotel in Zadar and his parents scarcely had enough money to pay for his shin pads so that he could play in the local junior competition.

Later Modric would face hurdles of another kind; he was rejected by Croatian giants Hajduk Split in his early teens due to his slight frame.

That didn't stop him from striving to achieve his dream and he was subsequently given a chance by Dinamo Zagreb, where he launched the platform for a career that has taken him to Tottenham Hotspur and his current club Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old was immense in this tournament. Before the final he had run more kilometres than any other player at the World Cup while also being his team's key creative weapon. He was a deserving winner of the Golden Ball, awarded to the World Cup's best player.

But this was France's tournament. Didier Deschamps' men began in unconvincing fashion, grinding out a 2-1 victory over Australia. But they grew with every match and by the end of it they looked a supremely well-oiled machine that had struck a perfect balance between defensive discipline and unrivalled attacking flair.

They also showed that in Mbappe they have a player worthy of ending Ronaldo and Messi's decade-long Ballon d'Or monopoly.

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A total of 35 days in Russia gives you a lot to think about and a lot to remember, too much to express in 500 words, but some impressions from the World Cup should be written down for posterity, reports Xinhua news agency.

A lot of people, both fans and reporters, myself included, travelled to Russia with a few doubts; let's be honest: publicity for Russia isn't always great and as England coach Gareth Southgate commented on Saturday, political relations between Russia and the UK are not good, and we had all read stories of Russian mafia, hooligans... So what were the people like? Fantastic!

Everyone seemed to take the World Cup to their hearts and make an effort to make us feel welcome. A special mention to the volunteers, putting their English to good use and high-fiving everyone in sight.

It can't have been easy in 36 degrees Celsius in Volgograd with the midges!

Language is an issue (especially if you don't speak or read Russian and not many of us do, which can make navigation difficult), but several times I found myself sitting next to new friends, enjoying some excellent Russian beer, swapping selfies and discussing football and most of all feeling welcome.

Transport was always going to be an issue in such a big country and it was a shame to see empty seats in the England v Sweden game in Samara simply because all of the flights from Moscow were full as were the trains.

Overall, however, I have a very positive feeling about my travels (and I really don't like flying at all). All of my flights left and arrived on time, they were efficient, punctual and we got a free meal on the plane (Are you listening Easyjet, Ryanair and British Airways?).

I made all of my connections, even those with a swift turnaround, and my bags were on the same plane as I was. You can't really ask for much more than that and during the early stages, especially, it was fun to see fans from all over the world catching their flights to all points in the various Moscow airports, which served as the World Cup transport hub.

Some of the roads maybe could use some resurfacing, it has to be said, especially around the smaller venues and I have to say some taxi drivers were slightly 'over enthusiastic' in their driving.

I was told by one companion, how his taxi sped around a corner with the driver shouting "Schumacher!" while the reporter quailed in the back seat, while my own kidneys will need a while to recover after we were taken on a sightseeing trip to the shores of the Sea of Azov along 'roads' which left a bit to be desired.

Security never seemed to be an issue; there was a heavy police presence on the streets of Moscow, but it felt reassuring rather than intimidating and it did the job. Likewise the security around the stadiums was effective and reasonably unobtrusive, probably because everyone understood it was necessary, and it is nice to go into a ground knowing that all you need worry about it whether or not your team are going to win or lose.

Maybe it was the large numbers of Latin American fans (at least in the early stages), but it also seemed to be a joyous World Cup, with street parties and celebrations and excellent relations between supporters.

I remember Iran fans getting excited in Moscow and chanting in the street and everyone wanting a photo...and Peruvians everywhere... I mean everywhere! Even where their side wasn't playing. I only saw a couple of reports of minor disturbances (Argentine fans angry after losing 0-3 to Croatia), but thankfully there was nothing major, with good relations at the forefront.

And if that was the case, it was not just down to the fans, but the Russian people: had they rejected the tournament it wouldn't have been as good, but they welcomed it with open arms, as if it was a matter of national pride for it to be a success and to see what they are really like. They opened their hearts to us (It's not often you are given free dried flying fish wings to have with your beer) and in turn we have opened our heart to the Russian people.

At the end of the day. France won the World Cup, but in terms of friendship and understanding, we all did.

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Avron station has become "Nous Avron Gagne" referring to a similar sounding phrase in French "Nous Avons Gagne", which means "We have won", reports Sputnik news agency.

Charles de Gaulle-Etoile station turned into "On a 2 Etoiles," which means "We have two stars" in reference to the second star over the badge on the national team's shirts commemorating the number of times they have won the FIFA World Cup.

Victor Hugo station was renamed "Victor Hugo Lloris" to mark the contribution of France captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Bercy has become "Bercy Les Bleus," which is a word-play since "Bercy" sounds similar to the French "merci" meaning "thank you".

The name of France's head coach who steered his side to triumph now appears on two stations, with Notre-Dame des Champs having been renamed "Notre Didier Deschamps", and Champs Elysees-Clemenceau becoming "Deschamps Elysees-Clemenceau."

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) Croatia chief coach Zlatko Dalic said his side's appearance in the World Cup final should provide inspiration to other small national teams striving for international football success.

With a population of around 4.5 million, Croatia became the smallest European nation to reach the World Cup final in the 88-year history of the competition.

But their thrilling run at Russia 2018 ended at the final hurdle with a 2-4 loss to France at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

"On our bus there is a slogan that says, "We are a small nation with big dreams," Dalic told a press conference. "That's a good message to all. If you work hard, you can produce good players and get results. You have to believe it is possible. Maybe things have to fall into place. But you have to have a dream and ambition and follow them. Then maybe those dreams can come true in football or life in general.

"You should never give up. You should never stop believing. At 4-1 (in Sunday's match), I never stopped believing. This is life. I think that overall Croatia played a great tournament. I would like to thank all my players for what they have done. Taking a look back, I am proud of my players and my country."

Dalic said France were deserving champions but questioned a decision by Argentine referee Nestor Pitana to award a controversial first-half penalty to Les Bleus.

Pitana consulted the Video Assistant Referee before ruling that Ivan Perisic handled the ball in Croatia's penalty area following a corner. Antonio Griezmann converted the resultant penalty to give his side a 2-1 lead.

"I don't usually talk about these things. But let me comment on something: In a World Cup final you don't give that penalty," Dalic said.

"I have to congratulate my players for maybe the best game we played here (at the World Cup). We controlled the match but against such a strong side like France you cannot afford to make mistakes. We are a bit sad but also proud of what we have done."

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Buenos Aires, July 16 (IANS) The Argentine football federation, AFA has parted ways with the national men's team head coach Jorge Sampaoli after the side's poor performance at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

"Today the Argentine football federation and Jorge Sampaoli agreed by mutual consent to bring to an end his position as head of the national team," the AFA announced in a statement on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The split comes just one year into Sampaoli's five-year contract with the AFA.

Sampaoli was named head coach of Argentina in June 2017 and his last game in charge was the defeat in the last 16 to eventual champions France.

Sampaoli coached Argentina to register seven wins, four draws and four defeats in 15 matches in the past 12 months.

Argentina lost in the pre-quarterfinals to France in the 32-nation championship.

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) France forward Antoine Griezmann hailed his "extraordinary" teammates after Les Blues won the FIFA World Cup for a second time.

Griezmann was named man of the match, scoring from the penalty spot and setting up Paul Pogba for France's fourth goal in their 4-2 victory over Croatia on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

He also delivered the 18th-minute free-kick that flew into the back of the net after a deflection off Mario Mandzukic's head.

"For me the collective is the most important thing. If you have a strong and united team, you can do anything," the Atletico Madrid forward said after the match.

"I have extraordinary teammates and now we're going to be a part of history. Maybe it won't hit home immediately but in the future our children are going to be proud of what we have done. Now we have to enjoy it."

Griezmann, who scored four goals during the World Cup, has been touted as a possible winner of this year's Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player.

The 27-year-old said his immediate priority is to celebrate the World Cup triumph with his teammates, friends and family.

"We still have the European Super Cup (in August) to play and I hope that we can win it," Griezmann said. "But right now I want to enjoy this. I can focus on that later."

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Paris, July 16 (IANS) French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a reception ceremony on Monday for the national football team at his Elysee Palace official residence to celebrate their victory against Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The world cup champions, also known among fans as "Les Bleus", will arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport north of Paris at around 3.30 p.m., reports Efe news.

The group will then move along the Champs-Elysees on a bus before meeting Macron at the Elysee Palacer.

The French president and his wife Brigitte Macron, who watched the world cup final on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, will hold a reception ceremony in honour of the team in the gardens of their residence.

Families of the players will be invited to the ceremony along with more than 1,000 children, 300 athletes and members of the football clubs for which the teammates play, according to a statement from the presidential office.

To guarantee the security of the parade on the Champs Elysees, the police announced a special deployment of 2,000 officers and armed security guards in the capital, and added that more details on the security protocols will be provided on Monday morning.

Over the weekend, authorities deployed over 4,000 security officers in the Compo de Marte area in Paris, where more than 90,000 fan gathered to watch to game, and another 12,000 officers across the capital.

France beat Croatia 4-2 at the finals on Sunday. This is the second World Cup win for the French team.

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) Every World Cup has its winners and losers: no matter who finally lifts the trophy, with some footballers' performances seeing their stock rise dramatically and earning them a big-money move over the summer. These are some players whose displays in Russia will have attracted attention and who could be on the move.

Kylian Mbappe's performance in the final and his award for the young player of the tournament, only served to confirm that far from being a promise, he is already a reality as a footballer.

The 19-year-old was one of the sensations of the World Cup and although the teenager already made a big money move from Monaco to Paris Saint Germain a year ago, his displays could well be just what a team looking for a new star player and willing to splash out over 200 million euros is looking for... especially if their previous stars left earlier this month, reports Xinhua news agency.

Eden Hazard's Belgium may have fallen at the semifinal stage, but the Chelsea winger only enhanced his reputation as they achieved a best ever third place finish, which he helped seal with a shimmy and a shot against England. Whether Chelsea would sell could be a factor, but if they were willing to let him go, Spain could be a destination.

Even though he was substituted early in the final N'golo Kante's midfield displays have been one of the key features of France's march to their second title: once again there are only a small number of clubs who could afford him, but the man who only five years ago was in the French second division must be attracting envious looks.

Golden Gloves winner, Thibaut Courtois is being linked with a move away from Chelsea after his performances: it could be a busy few weeks at Stamford Bridge.

Paul Pogba had a difficult relationship with Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho last season and his performances in Russia and goal in the final have only increased his value: if Mourinho wants to say 'au-revoir' to the midfielder, now is probably the moment to sell.

Golden Boot winner Harry Kane confirmed himself as one of the best strikers in the World and once again could be a target for a massive club looking to sign guaranteed goals, although once again the price tag is going to be huge. His Tottenham team-mate Kieran Trippier, relatively unknown before the World Cup could also have suitors after his exception tournament.

Elsewhere Croatia defender, Domagoj Vida can expect to receive offers to take him away from Turkish side, Besiktas, with the English Premier League a possible destination, while Villarreal may think this is the perfect moment to cash in on Denis Cheryshev after he became a national hero with Russia and Ahmed Musa's goals for Nigeria could tempt someone to give him another chance despite his disappointing spell at Leicester City.

Leicester City will have to work hard to keep hold of Harry Maguire after the central defender they bought from Hull City for just 17 million pounds a year ago was arguably England's best player in Russia.

Maguire's power in the air, pace and ability to play the ball from the back must have captured the attention of a host of clubs and Leicester could probably triple what they paid for him if they were willing to sell.

Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez was also impressive and Atletico Madrid will have to fend off interest for the 23-year-old, although they could be tempted to cash in on his 32-year-old team-mate Diego Godin, another who had an excellent tournament in Russia and who is being linked strongly with Juventus.

One factor to bear in mind, however, is that with the transfer window in the Premier League closing on August 9th this year, deals will have to be done quickly and whatever happens is going to happen soon.

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) Brushing aside talk during the FIFA World Cup as to whether France played attractive football or not, head coach Didier Deschamps on Sunday said all that matters is they are champions and will remain at the top for the next four years.

France clinched their second World Cup after 1998 by beating maiden finalists Croatia 4-2 in a dramatic final at the Luzhniki Stadium here.

Since their drab 0-0 draw to Denmark in the group stages, there has been talk of Deschamps, known for his pragmatic approach, resorting to a conservative brand of football in order to grind out results.

But since the third Group C game, France showed their attacking flair against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round of 16 tie, coming from behind to win 4-3 followed by wins over tough teams like Uruguay and Belgium to advance to the final.

At the summit clash, the Les Bleus saw off a resilient Croatia riding a spirited second half display.

"So, of course the question to be asked is always: are France a beautiful champion? Well, we are world champions and France are going to be on top of the world for next four years. That's what needs to be remembered," Deschamps was quoted as saying by FIFA at the post match press conference.

A first-ever own goal in a World Cup final gave France the lead as Mario Mandzukic headed a free-kick into his own net in the 18th minute but Croatia pulled level through a strike from Ivan Perisic in the 28th minute.

Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty in the 38th minute to regain France's lead which was further increased to 3-1 by Paul Pogba in the 59th minute.

Kylian Mbappe (65th) made it 4-1 before Mandzukic pounced on a blunder from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to reduce the difference to two in the 69th minute, giving some hope to Croatia. But the third goal from Croatia never arrived as the talented French side, coached by Didier Deschamps sealed a deserving triumph.

France thus pulled level with South American powerhouses Argentina (1978, 1986) and Uruguay (1930, 1950) as the third nation with two World Cup titles.

"I had a very young group, 14 of them were on a discovery journey in the World Cup. But the quality was there. My greatest source of pride with this group is that they managed to have the right state of mind for such a tournament. I repeat all the time: never give up, never give up anything.

"There are imperfections and today we didn't do everything right but we do have those mental and psychological qualities that were decisive for this World Cup. In the first half of this final we didn't have much but we were leading 2-1," he added.

Deschamps, who captained the title winning 1998 French side, achieved the rare distinction of becoming only the third man, in history -- after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and German legend Franz Beckenbauer -- to win the World Cup both as a player and a head coach.

Meanwhile, an elated Atl?tico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, who was adjudged the man of the match, said they can't wait to party with the French people.

"I don't realise yet what it is. I'm very proud of this team: the players and the staff, the technical staff and medical staff. We were really a united group," said the France forward.

"We did something incredible, we made history and we are going to enjoy it. We're going to see our families and we're going to party. Tomorrow in France will be the same, we're going to party with the French people."

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Moscow, July 16 (IANS) Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic feels his team played the best match of the FIFA World Cup despite losing 4-2 to France in the final here on Sunday.

"I congratulate France on their title. We played well in the first 20 minutes, we controlled the game. Then there was an own goal from a set play. We came back to life, dominated and then the penalty was given," Dalic was quoted as saying by fifa.com after the game.

A first-ever own goal in a World Cup final gave France the lead as Mario Mandzukic headed a free-kick into his own net in the 18th minute but Croatia pulled level through a strike from Ivan Perisic in the 28th minute.

Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty in the 38th minute to regain France's lead which was further increased to 3-1 by Paul Pogba in the 59th minute.

Kylian Mbappe (65th) made it 4-1 before Mandzukic pounced on a blunder from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to reduce the difference to two in the 69th minute, giving some hope to Croatia. But the third goal from Croatia never arrived as the talented French side, coached by Didier Deschamps sealed a deserving triumph.

"I have to congratulate my players, it was maybe the best game we played in these championships; we controlled the match but we conceded," Dalic further said.

He added that Croatia, playing their first-ever World Cup final, can be very proud of their achievements.

"Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes. We are a bit sad but we have to be proud as well for what we've done."

Croatia's celebrated FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said they were unlucky to have not won the crown despite being the better team in the first period.

"We were the better team in the first half, we were attacking, but we were unlucky tonight. They scored four goals from their three shots on goal. But I congratulate France, they deserved it."

France thus pulled level with South American powerhouses Argentina (1978, 1986) and Uruguay (1930, 1950) as the third nation with two World Cup titles.

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Buenos Aires, July 16 (IANS) The Argentine press ran front-page stories on Sunday, the day of the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, ripping Jorge Sampaoli as reports emerged that the Argentine Soccer Federation (AFA) and the national team coach had parted ways.

Sampaoli's squad was eliminated in the round of 16 by France, which rolled to a 4-2 win on Sunday over Croatia in the World Cup final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, reported EFE news agency.

The front-page headline in La Nacion said "Sampaoli se rinde y ya no es mas el tecnico de la seleccion argentina" (Sampaoli Surrenders and Is No Longer the Argentine team's coach).

The daily "Clarin," ran a story, headlined "Solo falta la firma" (All That's Missing Is the Signature), adding that the AFA agreed to pay Sampaoli $2 million to void his contract, with the deal expected to be inked on Monday.

The 58-year-old Sampaoli used 57 different players in a World Cup cycle of 15 matches, finishing with a record of 7-4-4.

In the World Cup, Croatia beat Argentina 3-0 in the group phase, while eventual champion France knocked off the South American squad 4-3 in the round of 16.

Argentine soccer fans had high expectations for their team heading into the World Cup.

Argentina's roster was headlined by superstar FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who failed to score in the round of 16 against France and had just one goal in the tournament.

The sports daily Ole said Sampaoli's departure ended "408 turbulent days" at the national team's helm.

Several media outlets reported that the AFA wanted to move on from the Sampaoli era and shift the focus to finding a successor to lead the squad against Brazil in the 2019 Copa America.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) Former England defender Rio Ferdinand on Sunday said current superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are "handing over their crown" as the world's best footballer to teenage France sensation Kylian Mbappe.

"He is the guy who will be standing up on that Ballon d'Or podium in years to come. Easy," the former Manchester United stopper-back Ferdinand was quoted as saying by BBC.

"I hope my old club is chasing him. He has that connection with Paul Pogba too," he added.

Mbappe, 19, netted his side's fourth goal as France got past gritty Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final here, and won the tournament's best young player award.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) England's Harry Kane won the Golden Boot award while Croatia captain Luka Modric walked away with the Golden Ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup here on Sunday.

Apart from the duo, France's 19-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe was the winner of the Young Player Award, while Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made 27 saves, was named as the winner of the Golden Glove, reported Xinhua news agency.

Courtois emerged as the best custodian after conceding just five goals in seven matches.

Kane ended with six goals; two more than Antoine Griezmann, who was joined on four by Romelu Lukaku of Belgium and Russia's Denis Cheryshev.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) France scored twice in each half as they thumped combative maiden finalists Croatia 4-2 in a dramatic final at the Luzhniki Stadium to win the FIFA World Cup for the second time in 20 years here on Sunday.

A first-ever own goal in a World Cup final gave France the lead as Mario Mandzukic headed a free-kick into his own net in the 18th minute but Croatia pulled level through a strike from Ivan Perisic in the 28th minute.

Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty in the 38th minute to regain France's lead which was further increased to 3-1 by Paul Pogba in the 59th minute.

Kylian Mbappe (65th) made it 4-1 before Mandzukic pounced on a blunder from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to reduce the difference to two in the 69th minute, giving some hope to Croatia. But the third goal from Croatia never arrived as the talented French side, coached by Didier Deschamps sealed a deserving triumph.

France thus pulled level with South American powerhouses Argentina (1978, 1986) and Uruguay (1930, 1950) as the third nation with two World Cup titles.

With this win, Deschamps, who captained the title winning 1998 French side, achieved the rare distinction of becoming only the third man, in history -- after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and German legend Franz Beckenbauer -- to win the World Cup both as a player and a head coach.

Known for his pragmatic approach, Deschamps ensured that France, overwhelming favourites coming in to the final, did not waste the glory moment like they did it two years ago against Portugal in the summit clash of the European Championship.

Even though the 4-2 scoreline clearly paints the picture clear in favour of the French, the on-field action was a different story. France hurt Croatia when they were enjoying dominant phases. It says a lot about Deschamps' vision.

For the Croatians, it was a tearful end to a brave, gruelling campaign which saw them being stretched to the limit in each of their previous knockout matches.

Against Denmark and Russia, they prevailed via penalty shootouts, while in the semi-final against England, they started poorly conceding the first goal within five minutes before winning in extra-time.

Exactly 20 years after the golden generation comprising legends like Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban finished third at their first ever World Cup, Croatia displayed similar never-say-die attitude and fighting spirit to take the football world by storm for a second time. A remarkable achievement for a tiny war-torn nation of just over four million people who emerged from the bloody disintegration of erstwhile Yugoslavia only in 1991.

Once again defying the critics, Croatia -- the lowest-ranked team to ever reach the final -- were sharper of the two sides at the beginning, with Perisic dominating the left flank. The East Europeans also made a couple of threatening incursions on the other flank as France looked to absorb the early pressure.

France, however, drew first blood against the run of play when Griezmann earned a free-kick after being fouled by midfielder Marcelo Brozovic 30 yards out. Griezmann whipped the ball into the penalty area, where Mandzukic rose highest to get the touch that sent the ball past Danijel Subasic and inside the far corner in the 18th minute.

France could have doubled their advantage five minutes later when Blaise Matuidi put through Killian Mbappe on goal but Domagoj Vida made a brilliant tackle to deny the teenager.

France could hold on to their lead for only 10 minutes as Croatia hit back through Perisic. A free-kick from the left saw Luka Modric float the ball to the far post, where Sime Vrsalko headed it across the penalty area. Mandzukic headed it to left for Vida who then teed it for Perisic on the edge of the box. The Inter Milan winger unleashed a left-footed low drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

France regained the lead 10 minutes later when the referee Nestor Pitana used the Video Assiantant Referee (VAR) to determine that Perisic had handled the ball while marking Matuidi at the near post defending a corner from the right from Griezmann in the his 36th minute corner. Griezmann then rolled the resulting penalty past Subasic into the bottom left corner.

Croatia tried to respond to this goal by earning two corners late in the first half but they yielded nothing as France head into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Croatia started the second half very strongly, with Ante Rebic's diagonal effort from about 15 yards was tipped over the bar by Lloris, who couple of minutes later had to rush ahead to smother a counter-attack.

France showed threatened on the counter-attack, but Subasic came off the line to block a drive from Mbappe on the left in the 52nd minute.

Seeing continuous Croatian attacks, France substituted defensive midfielder N'golo Kante with Steven Nzonzi. France doubled their advantage in the 59th minute when N'Zonzi passed the ball to Pogba, who then ran towards the Croatian box. After a one-two with Mbappe, Pogba's first shot from just outside the box was blocked but at the ball fell at his feet, he then employed a left-footed drive to the bottom right corner.

Despite the two-goal cushion, France didn't relent and Mbappe became the first teenager after Pele in 1958 to score in a final as his right-footed drive from the left-hand of the box beat Subasic at the right bottom corner in the 65th minute.

Trailing 1-4, Croatia seemed down and out until a blunder from keeper Lloris gave them their second goal in the 69th minute. A long back pass from Giroud was met by Lloris but his pass to a teammate was intercepted by a high-pressing Mandzukic.

Croatia pushed for their third goal but it never came. Ivan Rakitic attempted a left-footed flick which missed the right post by a whisker. He followed it up with a long-range drive but Lloris saw it fly over the bar.

Croatia threw in Andrej Kramaric and Marko Pjaca but the French defence stood tall to keep the scoreline 4-2 at the end of 90 minutes.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho and United States actor and musician Will Smith were among the stars rocking the stage on Sunday for the 2018 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony, ahead of the final match pitting France against Croatia.

The 15-minute show featured several songs, culminating with the official World Cup song "Live it Up" performed by Smith alongside musicians Nicky Jam of the US and Era Istrefi of Kosovo, produced by DJ Diplo, reports Efe.

At one point in the 15-minute ceremony, Ronaldinho surprised the audience by showing up on the field playing a tall, wooden, Afro-Brazilian hand drum known as an atabaque, and was greeted with enthusiasm by the fans inside Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

The ceremony ended with the World Cup being brought into the stadium, carried by Russian model Natalia Vodianova and former Germany captain Philipp Lahm, who led the national team to victory in the 2014 World Cup.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) The president of Russia Vladimir Putin on Sunday offered to give 2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar the opportunity to share Russia's organising lessons learned through hosting the 2018 World Cup.

Putin spoke to Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during a ceremony at the Kremlin to symbolically transfer the World Cup hosting powers to Qatar, which was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, reports Efe,

"I am sure that our friends from Qatar will carry out the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the same level. And of course, we are ready to share the experience we have gained hosting the tournament this year with our friends from Qatar," Putin said.

Putin also gave al-Thani the football to be used during Sunday's final.

Al-Thani expressed his hope that Qatar's national team would repeat the Russian team's success, which reached its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal.

Infantino enthusiastically proclaimed "We have all fallen in love with Russia... in four years, we will all fall in love with Qatar."

Earlier this week, FIFA's president confirmed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is to take place from November 21 to December 18.

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Moscow, July 15 (IANS) Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Croatian national team jersey in red and white with the number 9 and the name Putin written on it. After that, Kitarovic and Putin began their bilateral talks.

Putin accepted the gift with a smile. The Croatian leader explained that the jersey is "for tonight", reports Tass news agency.

Grabar-Kitarovic was wearing a pantsuit in traditional Croatian colours: red and white.
Putin has welcomed his Croatian counterpart in Kremlin.

"First of all, I want to congratulate your team on their successful participation in the World Cup," the Russian president said during the talks with Grabar-Kitarovic. "I am sure that tonight, we will witness an interesting and beautiful game."

The Russian leader assured that Russia did everything to create the necessary condition for all players, including the Croatian team.

"I think that our teams have played very well, too, we played beautifully and with dignity, and made millions of fans proud," the Russian president said, commenting on the quarterfinals match between Russia and Croatia.

During the talks, Putin noted that the relations between the two countries are developing successfully, and last year, there was an increase in turnover for the first time since 2014.

"The same can be noted during the first quarter of this year - steady growth," he said, adding that the volume of accumulated Russian investments in Croatia's economy reaches about $400 million. "I hope that this figure will grow," the Russian president added.

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The AFA will pay Sampaoli $2 million for early termination of his duties instead of the $20 million indicated in his contract which was initially valid until 2020, Sputnik news agency quoted daily sports newspaper Ole as reporting on Sunday.

The 58-year-old specialist took charge of the South American giants in May 2017 with the two-time champions struggling to qualify for the World Cup.

After an underwhelming qualification campaign, Argentina managed to set off to Russia, where the team scraped into the knockout stage with a 2-1 win over Nigeria only to be sent home after losing 3-4 to France.

In June, the media reported that the Argentina players unanimously voted for Sampaoli to be sacked as the team's head coach after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland and thrashed 0-3 by Croatia in their opening World Cup games.

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