Big guns limber up ahead of World Cup
moscow — The World Cup big guns limbered up on Monday ahead of the tournament opener in Russia while brash underdogs Australia warned Euro 2016 finalists France to brace for an early shock.
As the atmosphere built before Thursday’s curtain-raiser between the hosts and Saudi Arabia, the French and Argentine players were put through their paces while Brazil took the day off.
World champions Germany, seeking to equal Brazil’s record of five World Cup wins, will land in Russia on Tuesday, along with Gareth Southgate’s youthful England side.
Brazil and Neymar arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in the early hours in buoyant mood after hammering Austria 3-0 in their final warm-up match on Sunday.
Neymar, who broke a bone in his foot in February, marked his first start in more than three months by scoring in Sunday’s easy victory in Vienna, drawing level with Romario
Come the France game, we’re going to be ready... and giving ourselves opportunities to win this game Mat Ryan, Australia goalkeeper
on the list of Brazil’s all-time leading scorers behind only Pele and Ronaldo.
Russia was a disputed choice when it was handed the World Cup in a closely watched 2010 vote that has since been tainted by bribery charges, and the 2018 tournament takes place against a background of international tensions.
Russia and the West have engaged in a major wave of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions since London accused Moscow of being behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Britain in March.
But as the clock ticks down to the opener in Moscow’s imposing 80,000-capacity Luzhniki stadium, the tournament is beginning to catch the public mood, with about 3,500 fans attending Australia’s training session in the central city of Kazan.
Fans shouted “Austral-iya” several times during training and also “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, go, go, go”.
Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan warned France that a new, improved Australia team are plotting an early World Cup shock when the sides meet in Kazan on Saturday.
“Come the France game, we’re going to be ready... and giving ourselves opportunities to win this game,” the Brighton stopper warned, “We can’t wait for Saturday.”
France, who boast “world-class” talent in Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, according to Australia midfielder Massimo Luongo, are among the tournament favourites in Russia alongside Brazil, Germany and Spain.
A big question mark hangs over the participation of Egypt and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, who is still receiving treatment for the shoulder injury he suffered in the Champions League final.
Team doctor Mohamed Abou alEla admitted the striker, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool this season, was unlikely to play in Egypt’s opening Group A match against Uruguay on Friday.
But Salah did some light running in Grozny on Monday, monitored by medical staff.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said his international future will be determined by his country’s performance at the World Cup. —