When england won cricket world cup

England struck three times and are in the World Cup quarter-finals; Cameroon went on strike twice and are out. This was a most extraordinary, almost mutinous tie, a searing, vituperative contest drenched in ugly incident and controversy with even a wild accusation of Fifa wanting England to win and therefore being racist. This was denied by Cameroon. It was summed up in injury-time when a needless, brutal challenge by Cameroon substitute Alexandra Takounda caught Steph Houghton painfully high on the ankle. It became yet another incident that was referred by the video assistant referee but only a yellow card was issued. Why? It felt by then that Chinese referee Qin Liang had had enough; that she was fearful that Cameroon may threaten to walk off for a third time; that she had had her fill of controversy and attention and even desired to placate them. The official had even pushed in the back at one stage by Cameroon’s Jeanette Yango but did not react. It felt the same when Qin did … [Read more...] about England cruise into World Cup quarter-finals as Cameroon rage at refs and VAR

1. This will be the 21st World Cup. 2. The first qualifier was played on March 12, 2015 between Timor-Leste (the national team of East Timor) and Mongolia. Timor-Leste won 5-1 on aggregate but the games were later awarded to Mongolia after it was revealed that Timor-Leste had fielded ineligible players. However, the decision took so long that Timor-Leste had already progressed, so Mongolia were not reinstated. Perhaps it was an omen… 3. This will be the penultimate World Cup with 32 nations. From 2026 onwards there will be 48 teams. 4. Iceland and Panama have qualified for their first ever World Cup. 5. One hit wonders. The list of teams to play one World Cup makes for great reading. It's a long one, but here are some of the nations not often heard of in world sport, let alone on its biggest stage: Wales, Jamaica, Cuba, Kuwait, Iraq, Indonesia, Haiti and Canada. 6. The distance between the easternmost (Kaliningrad) and westernmost (Ekaterinburg) host … [Read more...] about 100 things to know ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia

England should be given the 2018 World Cup instead of Russia, the former Uefa president Lennart Johansson has said. Johansson, who lost the 1998 Fifa presidential election to Sepp Blatter, says the 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards should be reviewed in the light of the new corruption charges. Johansson, 85, speaking after seven Fifa officials including two vice-presidents were arrested by police in Zurich for extradition to the USA, told the Swedish newspaper Sportbladet: “I expect they will reconsider the [World Cup] decisions. Blatter himself has said that the decision to go east wasn’t proper. I am sure the initiative will now be taken to make a new decision. “England haven’t had it since 1966 and it’s considered ‘the motherland of football’, whatever we might think. They are worthy of the attention.” He added: “I’m not surprised at what is happening. Blatter will obviously ensure that he wins the election in his own way. I … [Read more...] about England should host 2018 World Cup not Russia, says Lennart Johansson

Another four years has passed and it’s time for the football World Cup once again! Last time it was, surprise surprise, the Germans celebrating and many anticipate the same old story this summer as well. But the other 31 national sides might disagree and it will not be a walk in the park even for the Germans. The biggest favorites include Brazil, France, Argentina and Spain, in addition to Germany of course. As a matter of fact, Brazil is currently favored with odds of around 4/1 | 5.0 | 20%. The Germans follow with just a tad greater odds, with Spain now the third most likely team to win it according to odds market. Before getting all worked up and predicting the winner of the football World Cup 2018, let’s have a look at the groups and Accuscore ’s simulations. Group A: Surprisingly one of the suddenly more interesting groups of the tournament include Uruguay, Russia, Egypt and Saudi-Arabia. The odd man out is obviously the latter, but otherwise it’s a … [Read more...] about World Cup insight – Accuscore’s tournament predictions

Kosovo can take a step closer to joining Uefa this week, a move that could lead to a place in 2018 World Cup qualifying. Membership of Europe’s football governing body will allow the former Serbian enclave’s national team and clubs to start playing in continental competitions. That is the first step required before gaining Fifa membership, part of Kosovo’s wider push for international recognition since defying Serbia by declaring independence in 2008. Uefa’s executive committee can rule the Balkan republic eligible to apply when it opens a two-day session on Thursday in Malta. Full membership can be granted only by Uefa’s annual congress, which meets in March in Budapest, Hungary. “We are expecting in March to be full members of Uefa and then Fifa and to catch the qualification,” the Kosovo football federation secretary general, Eroll Salihu, said. With fast-track support from Fifa, Kosovo could begin World Cup qualifying next September. … [Read more...] about Kosovo hopeful Uefa admission can lead to place in 2018 World Cup qualifying