The game is on:
The World Cup is set to kick off only on Thursday‚ but already a coach has been sacked.
Here is news from Spain‚ Egypt‚ England and Morocco‚ among others‚ in our 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 in May.
“We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish him the greatest of luck‚” Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales said. “The negotiations have occurred without any information to the Spanish FA and we were informed just five minutes before the press release.
“There’s a way to act that needs to be fulfilled.”
Whatever their feeling of being betrayed‚ to dispense with the national coach just 48 hours before the start of the World Cup seems extreme.
“We had to react. I know that whatever I do I will be criticised‚ I accept that‚” Rubiales said.
Spain on Wednesday named federation sporting director Fernando Hierro as its World Cup coach to replace Lopetegui.
His only real coaching experience came when he was in charge of second division Spanish outfit Oviedo for one season.
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 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 is not yet taking part in full training ahead of Egypt’s opening fixture against Uruguay on Friday. 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 paraded around the stadium next to Kadyrov‚ who even put his injured shoulder to the test by lifting the Egyptian’s arms in boxing style celebration.
BABY BOOMERS
Many people assume that Paris St Germain and France starlet Kylian Mbappe will be the youngest player at the 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 the tournament 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 Ramadan 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 on Thursday.
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 tap-dance 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 conceded that it had affected his players in the build-up to the tournament but would also not speak to the religious side.
Interesting‚ Egypt forward Salah chose 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 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 build-up to the World Cup but the Manchester United striker faces being KO’d before the finals have begun.
Rashford‚ who is likely to be an impact player off the bench to complement lead forward and team captain Harry Kane‚ will have his injury assessed as the England team arrived in Russia on Wednesday.
“He took a slight knock‚ but nothing too serious‚” coach Gareth Southgate said.
England open their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on Monday.