ReutersHosts Russia face struggle to improve ahead of World Cup
Russia's early Confederations Cup exit has sparked a wave of concern among fans as the 2018 World Cup hosts scramble to avoid another embarrassment at next year's finals. Stanislav Cherchesov's side slumped out of the World Cup warm-up event on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Mexico that featured shaky goalkeeping and missed chances. With less than a year to the World Cup finals, Russia are left with few options to add depth to their squad and unlike other countries fighting for a spot in the tournament, they will not have the chance to gauge their strength in qualifying.
- NBC Sports
FIFA release “Garcia Report” in full; issue statement
FIFA has released the previously confidential Garcia report into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process. Previously the report, compiled in 2104 by American lawyer Michael Garcia, was said to be private and would never be released by FIFA. Garcia, hired as an independent ethics investigator, quit when FIFA instead released a 42-page version of his report which acted as a summary of his findings, as he clashed with FIFA’s now former chairmen of the ethics committee, Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert.
- FC Yahoo
Why hasn't a favorite really emerged at the Confederations Cup?
The four teams expected to reach the Confederations Cup semifinals have done so, and that’s about it. When the Confederations Cup field was finalized earlier this year, the eight-team field seemed to have two tiers, more or less. On one side, you had lesser national teams like Australia, Cameroon, New Zealand and host Russia.
Headlines
- Why hasn't a favorite emerged at the Confederations Cup?
- After leak, FIFA releases report on World Cup bidding corruption
- Russian national team needs to sort itself out before hosting World Cup
- Schaerlaeckens: USMNT Gold Cup roster leans heavily on youth, fringe
- Germany, Chile advance as expected at Confederations Cup
