NESTOR PITANA TO REFEREE IN OPENING MATCH
MOSCOW: Argentine referee Nestor Pitana will take charge of Thursday’s opening World Cup match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia in Moscow, FIFA said on Tuesday. Assisting him at the Luzhniki Stadium will be compatriots Juan Pablo Bellati and Hernan Maidana, with Sandro Ricci from Brazil designated as the fourth official.
The Video Assistant Referee team, being used at a World Cup for the first time, is composed of Massimiliano Irrati of Italy (VAR), Mauro Vigliano of Argentina, Carlos Astroza of Chile and Italian Daniele Orsato. Pitana, who has been an international referee for eight years, will be on duty in his second World Cup after officiating in four games in 2014.
FIFA decision on 2026 World Cup host today
MOSCOW: FIFA members will decide on Wednesday whether the 2026 World Cup should be played in North America or return to Africa for just the second time, in Morocco. The choice is clear -between a slick bid based on gleaming stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada or an ambitious attempt from Morocco based on as-yet largely unbuilt facilities. On the eve of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, 207 FIFA member nations will cast their vote in a congress of world football’s governing body. Morocco’s bid for 2026 was only cleared to advance to the runoff vote earlier this month, despite a FIFA evaluation report which classified the north African nation’s stadia, accommodation and transport as “high risk.” The report left the Us-canada-mexico bid as the clear front-runner.
Brilliant Belgium rip into Costa Rica in warmup
BRUSSELS: A powerful brace from Romelu Lukaku and a glittering performance from Eden Hazard saw Belgium beat Costa Rica 4-1 in Brussels in their final World Cup warm up on Monday. But Belgium fans will have watched in horror as Hazard, showing great form lately, limped off in the 70th minute. His teammates later dispelled any fears of lasting damage to the diminutive
Chelsea forward. “I’m not too worried about Eden, he’s a tough guy. He gets kicked all the time, but soon gets over it,” said Lukaku after the game. Coach Roberto Martinez’s multi-talented Red Devils were just too much for Costa Rica, who opened brightly and even took the lead through Brian Ruiz with a slick finish after some early pressure from the visitors. But the side that beat Egypt 3-0 last week, with a world-class Hazard pulling the strings, was 2-1 up by half-time thanks to finishes from Dries Mertens and Lukaku. The giant Manchester United target man got his second with a powerful header after running into space with great speed. He then set up strike partner Michy Batshuayi for the fourth and the pair did a dance to celebrate. Belgium’s Group G rivals will have been warned.