A month of football starts Thursday as Russia hosts the World Cup
Hi, all it's that tournament that comes round every 4 years. It's the FIFA world cup. This year it's being held in Russia. Throughout the competition, I will be writing about the big matches that are taking place. I will also be writing reports on the England matches. But I thought I'd start by doing a preview of the tournament. This is Russia's second major sporting event in recent years after the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The World Cup has been seen as a chance for Russia to see itself in a good light after the IOC suspending them from the Rio Summer Olympics and this years Winter Olympics in South Korea. Also leading up to the World cup there has been issues of racism from the Russian fans, but that the team are prepared to take in their stride. Also, there have been issues with hooliganism after the Russian and English fans collided before their match in Marseille in Euro 2016. Aside from that, the country is also welcoming 31 of the world's best international teams to it and want to showcase Russia all over the world and to invite everyone to visit it soon. It is also the most extended world cup in terms of travel with stadiums being as far north as Saint Petersburg in the North to Sochi in the South, from Yekaterinburg in the East to Kaliningrad in the West. It is also the first world cup playing in three different time zones since USA 1994 with the kick-off times being either three hours ahead of us, 4 hours ahead of us or 5 hours ahead of us.
For Russia, they start the tournament against Saudi Arabia on the 14th of June. They then have to play Uruguay who has in their ranks Edison Cavani of PSG and Luis Suarez of Barcelona. And then take on Egypt with a red-hot and near-fit Mo Salah and the oldest player in the whole competition in goal-keeper Essam El-Hadary. In Group B it's a battle between neighbours, 2010 World Cup winners Spain and current European Champions Portugal and they entertain Morroco and Iran. Meanwhile, in Group C, the 1998 Winners France are playing against ever-presents Australia, playoff qualifiers Denmark and Peru. Group D features Argentina with Lionel Messi, and they face the team that shocked the European championships in 2016 by defeating England in the last 16, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
Group E is where the last host's Brazil featuring Neymar, Fred and Philippe Coutinho play Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica. Group F is being contested between the defending Champions Germany, Sweden, Mexico and South Korea. Group G is England's group, and they face a difference of teams and two old foes in previous world cup tournaments. Their first match is against what the experts call the weakest team to come from the African qualifying group Tunisia, who they faced in their first match in France 1998, debutants Panama who qualified for the world cup ahead of USA. The last team is the world number one in Belgium, who they faced in the quarter-finals of Italia 90, which became the big match when the draw was made as it was a match featuring well-known stars in the Premier League. The final group features Poland with top striker Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Senegal, Columbia and Japan.
As I said earlier, I will be writing on the matches, and the first match will be Thursday's opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Speak to you soon.
KRO Mark
For Russia, they start the tournament against Saudi Arabia on the 14th of June. They then have to play Uruguay who has in their ranks Edison Cavani of PSG and Luis Suarez of Barcelona. And then take on Egypt with a red-hot and near-fit Mo Salah and the oldest player in the whole competition in goal-keeper Essam El-Hadary. In Group B it's a battle between neighbours, 2010 World Cup winners Spain and current European Champions Portugal and they entertain Morroco and Iran. Meanwhile, in Group C, the 1998 Winners France are playing against ever-presents Australia, playoff qualifiers Denmark and Peru. Group D features Argentina with Lionel Messi, and they face the team that shocked the European championships in 2016 by defeating England in the last 16, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
Group E is where the last host's Brazil featuring Neymar, Fred and Philippe Coutinho play Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica. Group F is being contested between the defending Champions Germany, Sweden, Mexico and South Korea. Group G is England's group, and they face a difference of teams and two old foes in previous world cup tournaments. Their first match is against what the experts call the weakest team to come from the African qualifying group Tunisia, who they faced in their first match in France 1998, debutants Panama who qualified for the world cup ahead of USA. The last team is the world number one in Belgium, who they faced in the quarter-finals of Italia 90, which became the big match when the draw was made as it was a match featuring well-known stars in the Premier League. The final group features Poland with top striker Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Senegal, Columbia and Japan.
As I said earlier, I will be writing on the matches, and the first match will be Thursday's opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Speak to you soon.
KRO Mark
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