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All You Must Know About Russia 2018 World Cup: Key Dates, Match Venues, Kick-off time, Who missed out & More

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Russia 2018 World Cup: Key Dates, Match Venues, Kick-off time, Who missed out & More

The start of the 2018 World Cup is just eight months away, and after the latest round of qualifiers, the line-up for the tournament is almost complete.

England will be in Russia and could be joined by Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland if they make it through the play-offs.

But what are the key dates for the World Cup? Where are the venues? When will the matches be played? And who will be watching the tournament from home? Here’s all you need to know…

Who has qualified automatically?

Of the 31 places up for grabs at the World Cup – with Russia qualifying as hosts – 23 have been secured.

Europe’s confirmed representatives so far are England, Germany, Belgium, Iceland, Poland, Serbia, Spain, France and Portugal.

Neymar will play for Brazil in the World Cup in Russia next year

From South America, five-time winners Brazil have qualified along with Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina.

Costa Rica, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Panama have also secured their spots.

There are still places yet to be decided in Africa as the final round of group matches take place in November.

Who could still qualify?

Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland could be in Russia if they make it through the play-offs. There are eight teams in Europe competing for four qualifying places.

New Zealand face Peru in a play-off for a qualification place and there’s also another spot up for grabs between Australia and Honduras.

When are the play-offs and how do they work?

The two-legged ties will be played during the next international break in November, with the first legs between November 9-11 and the second legs between November 12-14.

The eight play-off sides in Europe are Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Greece, Switzerland and Sweden.

The format for the draw sees the top four FIFA-ranked sides – Switzerland, Italy, Croatia and Denmark – seeded in one pot and drawn against the remaining four sides.

The first ball drawn will be the home team for the first leg and the draw will be held in Zurich on Tuesday, October 17.

Who has missed out?

There will be some big names not in Russia.

Sanchez. He will miss 2018 World Cup after Chile lost 3-0 to Brazil
Photo: Skysports

Two-time champions Argentina almost missed out but eventually secured their place with a win over Ecuador, however Chile were eliminated after their final day 3-0 defeat to Brazil.

Panama’s dramatic late winner against Costa Rica meant USA missed out on qualification for the first time since 1986.

Wales and Scotland both held their destiny in their own hands heading into their final qualifying matches, but both failed to get the results they required to advance.

Robben’s Holland missed out of World Cup
Photo: Sky Sports

Netherlands missed out on a second successive major tournament after finishing behind France and Sweden and Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey and Norway will also be watching the tournament from home.

Gareth Bale will not be at the World Cup

Cameroon and Ghana both failed to qualify from Africa along with Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria, who had a dismal qualifying campaign.

China will also not be in Russia, along with Ecuador and Venezuela.

When’s the World Cup draw?

The draw for the group stages will be held on Friday, December 1 in Moscow. It will take place at the State Kremlin Palace inside the Moscow Kremlin and you will be able to follow the draw live on Sky Sports digital platforms.

In a change to previous editions, the 31 qualified teams will be allocated into four pots depending on their FIFA ranking as of October 16, 2017. That means the seven highest-ranked teams in the world will go into Pot 1 along with hosts Russia, with the rest of the teams then allocated pots in descending order of their rankings.

The four pots will be emptied and nations will be drawn into four-team groups from A to H.

When is the World Cup?

Just under 250 days to wait…

The World Cup gets underway on Thursday, June 14, with hosts Russia playing the opening match. The tournament will finish on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium, the same venue where it started a month earlier.

Before the final, the round of 16 matches get underway on June 30, with the quarter-finals on July 6 and 7 and the semi-finals on July 10 and 11.

Where will it be played?

Russia is a vast country with 11 time zones, but all the venues for the World Cup are in the west to avoid too many travel issues.

There are 12 venues across 11 cities, with Ekaterinburg the furthest east and Kaliningrad the furthest west.

The stadium in Ekaterinburg – the Ekaterinburg Arena – includes one of the more unique features of all the venues as it has two temporary stands outside the original perimeter to ensure it meets the FIFA-sanctioned minimum of 35,000 spectators.

The biggest stadium will be the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and the other venues are the Kaliningrad Stadium, Volgograd Stadium, Fisht Stadium, Kazan Arena, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Samara Stadium, Rostov-on-Don Stadium, Spartak Stadium, Saint Petersburg Stadium and Saransk Stadium.

When will matches kick-off?

The opening match of the tournament will be played at 6pm Moscow time (4pm UK time) on Thursday, June 14.

Group stage matches will be played throughout the day, with some starting at 3pm Moscow time (1pm UK time) and others at 6pm and 9pm Moscow time (4pm and 7pm UK time).

The final will again be played at 6pm Moscow time.

Who are the favourites?

It’s a close-run thing for favouritism with Sky Bet between defending champions Germany (11/2), France (11/2) and Brazil (13/2).

ermany won the World Cup for a fourth time with victory over Argentina in Brazil in 2014.

Spain are 7/1 while England are rated as 20/1 shots.

Iceland are the smallest-ever nation to reach a World Cup and they can be backed at 200/1 to spring a surprise and win the tournament.

-Sky Sports

OPINION

Why Osimhen Was Paid ₦186m For Scoring Against Maduka Okoye

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Why Osimhen Was Paid For Scoring Against Maduka | Fab.ng

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen earned a bonus for his performance on Monday night! He scored a goal against his Nigerian teammate, Maduka Okoye, who plays as a goalkeeper for Udinese.

This goal triggered a clause in Osimhen’s contract with Napoli, resulting in a €125,000 (around ₦186 million) bonus. Even though Napoli only tied the game 1-1, Osimhen’s goal was financially rewarding.

After playing against Maduka Okoye, Osimhen receives €125,000.

Victor Osimhen, the powerful striker for Napoli, had a night of mixed emotions. On one hand, his team only managed a 1-1 draw against Udinese. On the other hand, Osimhen himself had a very successful performance.

The highlight of his night was a fantastic headed goal against Udinese’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, who also hails from Nigeria. This goal wasn’t just strategically important, but it also held financial significance for Osimhen.

Why Osimhen Was Paid For Scoring Against Maduka | Fab.ng

News outlets had previously reported that Osimhen’s contract included a bonus clause tied to reaching several league goals for the season. His strike against Udinese brought his total to 15, triggering the clause and earning him a cool €125,000. So, while Napoli may not have taken home the win, Osimhen certainly had something to celebrate.

Osimhen’s performance stats with Napoli this year

Victor Osimhen is having a strong season for Napoli, even though he hasn’t quite matched his incredible performance from last year. This season, he has scored 15 goals in 23 games. That’s a very respectable goal-scoring record, but it falls short of the 26 goals he scored last season, which helped Napoli win the title.

There’s a reason why Osimhen’s goal total is a bit lower this season: he missed some important games due to injury and his commitment to playing for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite missing these games, Osimhen is still on pace for his second-best season in Naples! With more games to play this season, he could still reach or even surpass his goal total from last year.

For more football updates, check here.

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OPINION

Sha’carri Richardson: A Look Into The Life Of The World’s Fastest Woman And Her Rise To Prominence

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Sha'carri Richardson: The World's Fastest Woman | Fab.ng

Sha’Carri Richardson, an American track and field athlete, is renowned for her exceptional speed and charismatic personality. She specialises in the 100- and 200-metre events and initially gained widespread attention in 2019. 

Both triumphs and challenges have marked Richardson’s journey to becoming one of the fastest women in history. Despite facing adversity, including the loss of her mother, struggles with substance abuse, and a temporary ban from competition, she has consistently persevered and overcome obstacles. 

In 2023, Richardson achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a world champion, solidifying her status as a resilient and inspiring figure in the world of athletics.

Sha’carri Richardson’s age

Sha’Carri Richardson’s birthday is on March 25, 2000. This means that she was 24 years old when this was written. Even though she is a young runner, Sha’Carri Richardson has already accomplished amazing things in track and field. She has broken records and become one of the fastest women in history.

Sha’carri Richardson’s height 

Sha’Carri Richardson is an amazing track star, but she’s on the shorter side for sprinters. She’s only 5 feet, 1 inch tall. Even though she isn’t tall, she makes up for it in other ways. Sha’Carri has incredible strength and runs with perfect form. 

Her lower height gives her a centre of gravity closer to the ground. This helps her launch out of the starting blocks quickly and lets her develop a unique running style that has made her a champion.

Sha’carri Richardson’s mother 

Reports indicate that Sha’Carri Richardson’s mother, Shayaria Richardson, was herself a track and field athlete, though she and Richardson’s father were not significantly involved in their daughter’s life. 

Consequently, Richardson was primarily raised by her grandmother, Betty Harp, and her aunt. Despite her mother’s absence, the 24-year-old athlete has expressed gratitude for bringing her into the world. However, tragedy struck in 2021 when Richardson’s mother passed away. 

This event had a significant impact on her career, as she was disqualified from the Olympics for failing a drug test, and testing positive for marijuana shortly after winning the women’s 100m U.S. Olympic Trials. 

In an interview, Richardson disclosed that she turned to the banned substance as a means of coping with her mother’s death, which occurred just a week before the Olympic trials.

Where is Sha’carri Richardson from?

Sha’Carri Richardson was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. It’s where she first started running at the young age of nine. She did so well in middle and high school that she became a famous sprinter all over the country. 

Even though she now travels to compete, Dallas is still her hometown and where her love for running began. She went to college at Louisiana State University for a year but then decided to run professionally in 2019.

How fast can Sha’carri Richardson run?

Sha’Carri Richardson is renowned for her remarkable speed, achieving a personal best legal time of 10.65 seconds in the 100 metres. She achieved this impressive feat when she won the 100m title at the 2023 World Championships held in Budapest.

What is Sha’carri Richardson’s fastest time?

Sha’Carri Richardson unofficially recorded an even faster time of 10.57 seconds at the 2023 Miramar Invitational. This impressive achievement was aided by a strong tailwind, highlighting Richardson’s immense potential and exceptional talent.

Who is Sha’carri Richardson’s coach?

Sha’Carri Richardson is under the coaching guidance of Dennis Mitchell, who himself is a former Olympic medalist. Mitchell’s expertise has played a crucial role in propelling Richardson’s career to new heights, resulting in numerous remarkable achievements. 

Mitchell’s extensive experience in track and field is a valuable asset to Richardson’s training regimen. During his active years as an athlete, Mitchell had an illustrious career, clinching gold in the 4x100m relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. 

Additionally, he earned a bronze and a silver medal in the 100m and 4x100m relay events, respectively. Mitchell, who also coaches Noah Lyles, received the prestigious Coach of the Year award in 2023. 

This accolade was bestowed upon him following the outstanding performances of both Richardson and Lyles at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, where they secured several medals.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dennis Mitchell (@greenmachine)

Is Sha’carri Richardson married?

As of the current time, Sha’Carri Richardson is not married. According to multiple sources, the American athlete is currently single and not in a relationship. However, in the past, Richardson was in a relationship with a female Jamaican athlete, Janeek Brown for two years before they parted ways in February 2022.

Sha’carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson

Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson have forged an engaging rivalry in track and field. Both athletes are highly accomplished sprinters, consistently pushing each other to excel. In 2023, their fierce competitions were the focal points of attention. 

Richardson showcased her dominance in the 100m event, securing the World Championship title. Meanwhile, Jackson exhibited her prowess in the 200m, setting the second-fastest time in history. 

Fans eagerly anticipate their anticipated clash at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they are expected to compete in both the 100m and 200m races.

Sha’carri Richardson Olympics 

Sha’Carri Richardson has yet to compete in an Olympic event in her career. She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics by winning the women’s 100-metre race at the United States Olympic Trials. 

Unfortunately, her victory was nullified after she tested positive for cannabis use following the trials, rendering her ineligible to compete. Despite this setback, Richardson rebounded in 2023, enjoying a remarkable year. 

As she looks ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Richardson is now considered the favourite to make her Olympic debut, determined to make the most of this opportunity after her previous disappointment. 

Sha’carri Richardson Instagram 

Sha’Carri Richardson maintains a significant following on Instagram, where her handle is @itsshacarri, boasting over 3 million followers. 

On her Instagram profile, Richardson frequently showcases her fashion sense, collaborates with various brands, and shares updates about her life events with her audience.

Sha’carri Richardson and Nike

In 2023, Sha’Carri Richardson, the world champion, signed a lucrative five-year contract with Nike, valued at $20 million. This deal was secured following her remarkable success on the global stage, although she had been endorsed by the brand since 2019. 

Alongside her partnership with Nike, Richardson has additional endorsement deals with Apple Music, Beats, and Sprite.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nike Women (@nikewomen)

Sha’carri Richardson’s networth 

The estimated net worth of the American sprinter falls within the range of $1 million to $5 million. The bulk of her wealth stems from her earnings as a track and field athlete, along with lucrative endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Beats, and Apple Music.

For more sports updates, check here.

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SPORTS

Tuchel Points Out Bayern Munich’s Plan To Stop Real Madrid

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Tuchel: Bayern Munich Plans To Stop Real Madrid | Fab.ng

Bayern Munich faces a tough challenge in the upcoming Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid. Head coach Thomas Tuchel is determined to snap a negative trend against their Spanish rivals.

Losing Streak

Bayern Munich has been struggling against Real Madrid in recent years. They haven’t secured a win in their last seven encounters, with a staggering four of those losses happening on their home turf, the Allianz Arena. This dismal record adds pressure to the upcoming match.

Tuchel’s Optimism

Despite the daunting statistics, Tuchel maintains a positive outlook. He believes his team has the capability to overcome Real Madrid and secure a crucial victory in the first leg. This confidence is likely fueled by Bayern’s current good form, having won four consecutive games in all competitions.

Real Madrid’s Dominance

However, Real Madrid shouldn’t be underestimated. They’ve established themselves as Bayern’s nemesis in recent Champions League clashes. Their dominance is evident in the six wins they’ve achieved during this seven-game stretch.

The upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter. Can Bayern Munich break the losing streak and gain the upper hand, or will Real Madrid continue their winning ways?

“We want to play the game in isolation, without any background thoughts. That’s important to ensure we have the freedom to play a top game,” said the Bayern boss. “We’ll try our all to win the game. Then we’ll know how things stand for the second leg.

“The job against Real is about getting enough people in attack to hurt them, but also not to expose ourselves. We need a good balance of discipline and freedom. Obviously, we also need some luck in the game, momentum.”

That’s important information to add to the context of the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid matchup! The first leg on April 30th at Allianz Arena will set the tone for the return match at Santiago Bernabeu on May 8th. Knowing both dates gives fans a clearer picture of the overall schedule and how each team might approach the first leg strategically.

For more sports news, check here.

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