Just eight teams remain at the World Cup, and few would have predicted that so many big names would be missing from the quarter-finals in Russia.
The round of 16 saw Spain, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico eliminated, joining the likes of Germany, who fell at the group stage, and Italy, who failed to reach the finals at all.
Among those still standing, Brazil and France represent the early favourites while Sweden and Russia have advanced further than many would have expected, and all will be eyeing a run to the final after the unpredictable way this tournament has unfolded.
With just over a week of the World Cup to go, we weigh up the chances of the quarter-finalists heading into a mouth-watering round of matches.
Uruguay v France
Date, time a…
Unions representing workers at South Africa s World Cup stadiums will resume wage talks on Monday to avert a strike that could delay construction deadlines, SAPA news agency said on Friday.
Workers at five 2010 World Cup stadiums still under construction in Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, Nelspruit and Johannesburg have threatened to down tools on Wednesday over wage disputes.
The parties were looking for common ground and committed to meet again, said Joe Campanella, spokesman for the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors.
Basically, we are back on negotiating terms, we have resumed talking to each other, Campanella told SAPA.
The talks between the unions and the contractors body will be facilitated by the country s labour relations …
The Football Association has received a €30,000 fine due to the behaviour of some fans during England s Euro 2020 semi-final win over Denmark.
England came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 after extra time and reach their first major tournament final since winning the 1966 World Cup.
Yet the win was partially marred by the conduct of some supporters at Wembley on Wednesday.
The FA was charged by UEFA s Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body for fans booing the Danish national anthem, setting off fireworks and for the use of a laser pointer, which was shined in the face of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as he prepared to face Harry Kane s extra-time penalty.
Schmeichel saved Kane s spot-kick but the England captain tucked away the decisive goal on the r…
Arturo Vidal s trophy-laden run has continued at Barcelona after the Chile international collected an eighth straight league winners medal.
Ernesto Valverde s team sealed LaLiga glory by beating Levante 1-0 at Camp Nou, with Vidal a four-time Serie A winner with Juventus and a three-time Bundesliga champion at Bayern Munich having appeared in 30 of Barca s 35 games in his first campaign in Spain.
Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini won the league for an eighth successive occasion with Juve this season, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only other man to have clinched eight successive titles across multiple major European leagues.
Ibrahimovic s run from the 2003-04 season until 2010-11 featured triumphs with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan…
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has extended his contract with the German giants for another two years until the end of 2011.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will stay until December 31, 2011 the contract was signed two or three months ago, club spokesman Markus Horwick told Germany s SID sports agency on Wednesday ahead of Bayern s Champions League tie here against Bordeaux.
The former German international has been chairman of Bayern since 2002.
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Everton risked the fury of their fans after appointing former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as the replacement for Carlo Ancelotti on this day in 2021.
Benitez had enjoyed great success during a six-year spell at Anfield, including winning the Champions League in unforgettable circumstances in 2005 – as well as reaching the final two years later – and lifting the FA Cup in 2006.
His arrival at Goodison Park came following the departure of Ancelotti, who left four weeks earlier to return to Real Madrid.
Our new manager.
— Everton (@Everton)
The controversial appointment saw Benitez sign a three-year contract with the Toffees, making him only the second person to have managed both Liverpool and Everton after William Edward Barclay in the 189…
Ah, yes. Another NFL Thursday night “classic” as the Carolina Panthers visit the Houston Texans. But hey, at least one of the teams looks good heading into this matchup.
Matt Rhule and Sam Darnold have the Panthers off to a somewhat surprising 2-0 start. While the Texans have shown more fight than most expected, they will be without starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor in this one. But does Houston still have value getting more than a touchdown at home?
Find out with our free NFL betting picks and predictions for Panthers vs. Texans on Thursday, September 23.
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The Philadelphia Eagles swap out the winter coats for sunglasses and shorts when they head to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Round.
These teams tangled back in Week 6 with Tampa Bay dominating the bulk of that 28-22 Thursday night matchup but allowing a late Philadelphia touchdown to soil the spoils for Buccaneers bettors as 7-point road favorites. This time around in the NFL Playoffs, the Bucs are giving 8.5 points to the Eagles inside Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Before you place our Wild Card bets, check out our free NFL picks and predictions for Eagles at Buccaneers on January 16.
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Two of the NFL’s brightest young stars will duel tonight when Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers clash with Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lawrence defied the odds in his sophomore season by leading the overachieving Jags to a 9-8 record and first place in the AFC South. The 23-year-old QB got better as the year progressed, logging three 300-yard passing games from Week 12 onwards. His finest effort came against the Titans on December 11, when Lawrence threw for a career-high 368 yards and three touchdowns in a statement-making 36-22 win.
Herbert, meanwhile, regressed in most statistical categories in his third season, but came up big when it mattered most. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year recorded his highest complet…
Monday Night Football odds round up a fascinating Week 5 in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers traveling to the Black Hole to clash with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ahead of tonight’s big game at Allegiant Stadium, we’re going to be diving into the Jordan Love odds, a player who’s really shone at points this season.
Will Love take his Packers to 3-2 or will the Raiders get their second win of the season? I break it all down in my free NFL picks for Jordan Love below; be sure to check out our Packers vs. Raiders predictions and our best Monday Night Football prop picks as well.
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