Young Frenchman becomes star at Cup
When Benjamin Pavard took a downward swipe at a bouncing ball and sent a curving shot into the net, everything changed.
Unknown to many just a few months ago, the 22-yearold France defender is now one of the stars of the World Cup.
“I don’t think I quite realize what’s happening to me,” Pavard said. “I’m profiting from every moment.”
In 29 matches for France, first on the country’s youth teams and then with the senior squad, the right back has not lost a game. If he can extend that streak through France’s semifinal match Tuesday against Belgium and then in the final Sunday in Moscow, he’ll be a World Cup champion.
“I hope that I’ll stay undefeated through 31 games and that we’ll lift this cup,” said Pavard, known for his penetrating play and gritty defending on France’s right flank.
Against Argentina in the Round of 16, it all came together with a spectacular strike to level the score at 2-2. France went on to win, 4-3.
That night, Pavard said he was so excited that he couldn’t sleep.
France coach Didier Deschamps’ first-choice right back, Djibril Sidibe, injured his right knee in April, making way for Pavard. He came to the World Cup after making only six appearances for France, all in friendlies. In Russia, he has started all of France’s World Cup matches except one.
Croatia sacks ex-player
Croatia expelled former player Ognjen Vukojevic from its World Cup delegation Monday for making a pro-Ukraine video with defender Domagoj Vida.
The Croatian Football Federation and Vida apologized for the video, which was posted after the team beat Russia on penalties Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The video shows Vida, who scored against Russia, shouting “glory to Ukraine” before Vukojevic adds “this win is for Dynamo and Ukraine ... go Croatia.” Both Vida and Vukojevic previously played for Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev, and Vukojevic is now a scout there.
FIFA fined Vukojevic 15,000 Swiss francs ($15,150) later Monday for unsporting behavior.
The video angered many social media users in Russia, which has tense relations with Ukraine and annexed the Crimean peninsula from the country in 2014. Some Russians said they would cheer against Croatia in its first World Cup semifinal since 1998.
FIFA rules bar players from making political gestures at the World Cup and the governing body gave Vida a formal warning Sunday, but did not impose a match sanction.
Ukraine’s government accuses Russia of arming proRussian separatists who control part of the east of the country, and of backing up the separatist groups with military forces.
Officials retained
Mark Geiger is among 12 referees still in contention to handle the World Cup final.
The American referee handled one of the most volatile games in Russia — England beat Colombia in a Round of 16 game in Moscow.
FIFA has announced its list of referees, assistants and video assistant referees who have been retained for four games in the final week. Referees still on duty include Geiger, Alireza Faghani of Iran, and four from Europe.