All the intriguing highs and lows
THE World Cup is only set to kick off today‚ but already there is a coach that has been sacked!
The Dispatch brings you news from Spain‚ Egypt‚ England and Morocco‚ among others‚ in today’s World Cup diary. RUSSIAN ROULETTE
In a case of shooting themselves in the foot that would make even Safa proud‚ Spain have sacked their coach Julen Lopetegui just two days before the start of the World Cup.
Spanish football bosses were angered that Lopetegui had accepted the role of Real Madrid coach for next season‚ replacing Zinedine Zidane who resigned last month.
“We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck‚” Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales said. SALAH DRESSING
Never let it be said that the Russians will miss the opportunity for some good old propaganda.
When the Egypt squad turned up for training in Grozny with some 8 000 locals in attendance‚ the leader of Chechnya‚ a republic within Russia‚ Ramzan Kadyrov‚ was not best pleased that Mo Salah was not part of the players being put through their paces.
Liverpool star Salah is recovering from a shoulder injury and so is not yet taking part in full training ahead of Egypt’s opening fixture against Uruguay tomorrow.
He was in fact back at the team hotel sleeping‚ but Kadyrov would not be denied his opportunity and went to the team base to collect him.
A groggy-looking Salah was then paraded around the stadium next to Kadyrov. BABY BOOMERS
Many people assume that Paris St Germain and France starlet Kylian Mbappe will be the youngest participant at the 2018 World Cup at 19 years and five months.
But there is a player who is actually 15 days younger than him‚ Australia’s attacking midfielder Daniel Arzani‚ who will be the youngest star in Russia.
Arzani plays for Manchester City’s satellite club Melbourne City and big things are expected of him in the coming years.
He is some way older though‚ by two years and four months‚ than the record holder as the youngest player to feature at the global showpiece.
Northern Ireland and Manchester United midfielder Norman Whiteside was just 17 years‚ one month and 10 days when he played in Spain in 1982. BREAKING A FAST
Four of the five African teams competing at the World Cup have been hindered‚ to some extent‚ in their preparations as players fast for Ramadaan and see a natural lowering from their physical peak.
Egypt‚ Tunisia‚ Morocco and to some extent Senegal have had players observing the holy month‚ which is scheduled to end today.
There is no doubt that it has an effect on the players‚ who are expected to not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset‚ yet have had training and matches to contend with.
But coaches involved have tried to tapdance around the subject‚ with Morocco’s Herve Renard suggesting he “did not want to deal with it‚ deliberately‚ because it is a sensitive subject”.
Egypt’s Hector Cuper admitted that it had affected his players in the build-up to the tournament.
Interesting‚ Egypt forward Mo Salah had chosen not to fast ahead of the Uefa Champions League final for Liverpool against Real Madrid.
A Kuwaiti sheik later said that the shoulder injury he had received in the decider that threatens his World Cup participation was “divine punishment”.
RASH CHALLENGE
Marcus Rashford has been in excellent form for England in the buildup to the World Cup‚ but the Manchester United striker faces being KO’d before the finals have begun.
Rashford will have his injury assessed as the team arrived in Russia on Wednesday.
“Marcus took a slight knock‚ but nothing too serious‚” England coach Gareth Southgate said.
“We’ll look at that ahead of tomorrow’s session.”
England open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday.