Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
2018 fifa world cuplatest news & developments
Stuart Baxter resigns as Bafana Bafana coach. (Oliver Weiken/Getty)

Baxter resigns as Bafana coach

The 65-year-old has called time on his management of the national squad

France’s Kylian Mbappe during training. (Reuters/Stephane Mahe)

Mbappé is Time magazine’s ‘Future of Soccer’

Mbappe became the youngest French goalscorer in World Cup history when he struck in a 1-0 win over Peru in the group stages

Croatia’s Ivan Perisic hits the post with a shot. (Christian Hartmann/Reuters)

England turn to next generation to get creative against Croatia

Gareth Southgate has gone even younger in his search for the midfield maestro he believes England has lacked since the days of Paul Gascoigne

Republicans are keenly aware that losing their majority will hamstring Donald Trump’s political agenda over the next two years. (Reuters/Leah Millis)

Uefa Nations League seeks relevance

The Europeans have worked hard to create a new format that won’t bore fans to death

Germany fans display a banner referencing Germany’s Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gundogan and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. (Reuters/Carl Recine)

Five key dates in the Mesut Özil saga

Here are the key moments that culminated in Mesut Özil’s bombshell announcement he was retiring from international football

“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.” — Mesut Özil (DW)

Özil quits Germany, citing racism and disrespect’

The Arsenal midfielder was widely criticised and reportedly received threats after he was photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani celebrates scoring their second goal with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

We claim Mbappé but is he one of us?

"Why are our prospective sports stars, our artists, our scientists, our accountants…appreciated away from Africa?"

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the commission’s first public hearing on state capture and corruption. (Gulshan Khan/AFP)

Russia’s Pussy Riot claim World Cup pitch invasion

A security source told Interfax that the four were delivered to a local police station for questioning after being dragged off the pitch by stewards

Croatia fans poke fun at World Cup semifinals losers England following the Balkan country’s victory.

Football takes a U-turn on its way ‘home’

How an earwormy, tongue-in-cheek song became an anthem of hope for Three Lions believers

Croatian footballer Domagoj Vida

Here’s to the flying chessboards

Suddenly, surreally, the prospect of Croatian hands lifting the fabled trophy is plausible.

Croatia’s Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida celebrate after the match

Croatia head for first World Cup final after foiling England

In London, an initial wave of elation turned to heartbreak as 30 000 beer-soaked fans in Hyde Park watched their team come up short

‘They say: ‘No, just make us the beef and the spinach and the pap.’ But I say: No, you have to get some veggies also.’ (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)

Coming home? Not this year as England bows out

England’s hopes dashed in semifinal against Croatia.

Ognjen Vukojević

Croatia assistant coach booted for ‘Glory to Ukraine’ video

Ognjen Vukojević, assistant coach and Dynamo Kiev scout, has been sent home from Russia after posting a politically sensitive video on social media.

“Corruption is thieving. It diverts money meant for service delivery. The commission must do its work to restore people’s confidence in the state,” says Zizi Kodwa

England dreaming but Croatia set to provide biggest World Cup test

Can Gareth Southgate now become the first manager to win a World Cup semi-final with England on foreign soil?

Russia fan looks dejected at the end of the match

Russia’s fairytale World Cup run ends in tears

The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick of making it into the semi-finals for the first time since 1966

England’s John Stones and Jesse Lingard celebrate after the match.

Fans go wild as England reach World Cup semis

England has reached the semifinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1990

Mexico’s fans celebrate victory of their team after the match against Germany.

Polls Mexican style: Sex, sport and rock

Here is a look at the lighter side of the country’s elections

Sharp: Japan’s Gaku Shibasaki sliced Belgium open with ease.

Five stars born in Russia 2018

The football extravaganza is the perfect showcase for those players who want to bump up their monetary value

Style on a plate: White fish in coconut milk with noodles.

Gareth Southgate: England’s end to penalty jinx deserved

It was just the second time in eight occasions England have won a shootout at a major tournament, and the first time ever in the World Cup

The Wild Boars soccer team

England dare to dream after Belgium World Cup heroics

In a tournament full of surprises, Gareth Southgate’s young England team are the only former champions left in the lower half of the draw