World Cup 2018: England hit Panama for six and bulldoze Gareth Southgate’s pleas for modest expectations June 24, 2018 Gareth Southgate spent many months leading up to this World Cup calling for more realistic expectations of his England team in light of recent tournament failings. It was a sensible and measured stance in keeping with the coach’s level-headed tenure and won him much admiration. After today’s record-breaking 6-1 win over Panama, however, Southgate will [...]
World Cup 2018: Panama are organised and tough but are hoping for a miracle against England June 21, 2018 The parallel between Panama – England’s next opponents – and Costa Rica is a fairly obvious one. Both are Central American countries, both are small, and both are used to being underestimated on the football pitch. But while Costa Rica are playing at their fifth World Cup, Panama are at their first, thanks to a [...]
Burger King apologises for Russian promotion offering free burgers to women who get pregnant by World Cup stars June 21, 2018 Burger King Russia has apologised after it ran a marketing campaign offering women a lifetime supply of free meals if they got pregnant by football stars playing at the World Cup. The bizarre promotion was posted on a Russian social media website by Burger King on Tuesday, before being deleted after a public backlash. The [...]
World Cup 2018: Nordin Amrabat incident highlights football’s poor relationship with concussion June 20, 2018 Five days ago Nordin Amrabat lay prone at the side of the pitch. The Morocco right-back had collided with Iran’s Vahid Amiri during their World Cup match. His arms were rigid, his mind foggy. When he came round from his unconscious state he was slapped around the face and sprayed with water. He was substituted, [...]
World Cup 2018: Russia defy 125/1 odds with blistering start – so why have the hosts been so good? June 20, 2018 So hopeless did Russia’s prospects look in the days leading up to this World Cup that supporters were being urged to grow moustaches in a desperate attempt to lift the national team and its under-fire manager, the bewhiskered Stanislav Cherchesov. It is not known precisely how many Muscovites took up the gauntlet laid down by [...]
Why Opec matters June 20, 2018 Whether we like it or not oil prices matter, as they affect everything connected with a modern economy, from movement of goods and services, to the amount of disposable incomes for ordinary consumers. That is why this week’s Opec meeting is important in the context of future direction for oil prices, which have risen over [...]
World Cup 2018: Harry Kane saves England in opening win over Tunisia but Three Lions almost pay for missed chances June 18, 2018 It was torturous. It was exasperating. As the minutes ticked by it was increasingly desperate, as has become customary at major tournaments. But, for the first time since 2006, England made a winning start to a World Cup as Harry Kane’s goals – the decider coming in stoppage time – eventually saw off Tunisia 2-1 [...]
World Cup 2018: What we learned from the first weekend – big guns Germany, Brazil and Argentina fire blanks and VAR increasing the penalty count June 18, 2018 Brazil’s 1-1 with Switzerland last night continued an underwhelming start from the teams fancied to win this World Cup. Tite’s men were merely following a pattern laid out by Argentina (held by Iceland), Spain (held by Portugal), Germany (beaten by Mexico) and France (unconvincing winners over Australia). Russia’s five-goal thumping of Saudi Arabia aside, it [...]
Spend more on defence to tackle rising Russia threat, MPs say June 18, 2018 The government should increase its spending on defence in order to deal with rising threats from rogue states such as Russia, a group of MPs have said. A report, published by the Defence Select Committee this morning, has called for spending to rise from two per cent – the target recommended by Nato – to [...]
Oil and gas add to current market worries June 18, 2018 Recent rises in the oil and gas price worry some in the markets. Will they trigger more inflation? Will there be supply interruptions given the US wish to sanction Iran, given the troubles in Venezuela, and the growing hostility of the West towards Russia? We think there are stresses, but not ones which need become [...]