2018 WORLD CUP: CAVANI'S DOUBLE SENDS PORTUGAL HOME

Edinson Cavani scored twice as Uruguay shattered Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream with a 2-1 victory over Portugal.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani curled home a superb 62nd-minute winner to settle a thrilling second round duel in Sochi which sends Uruguay into a quarter-final against France next Friday.

Cavani had already put Uruguay in front early on, only for Pepe to head Portugal level in the 55th minute in a thrilling contest that was not the battle of attrition many predicted.

Pepe’s goal was the first time the South Americans’ defence had been breached in this tournament, but they stood firm after that and are beginning to look like genuine contenders moving into the latter stages in Russia.

The only downside for Oscar Tabarez’s side was the sight of Cavani limping off late on, raising a question mark over his fitness for next week’s last eight showdown with the French in Nizhny Novgorod.

Meanwhile, European champions Portugal go home, as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi bow out of the competition on the same day.

In contrast, Uruguay march on with arguably the best defence in international football and one of the best strike pairings anywhere.

Suarez and Cavani combined brilliantly for the seventh-minute opener on Russia’s Black Sea coast.

Cavani picked out Suarez on the left with a cross-field ball, before continuing his run into the penalty area and meeting the Barcelona striker’s return delivery at the back post, the ball smacking off his face and flying in.

Cavani can now look forward to coming up against his Paris Saint-Germain strike partner Kylian Mbappe, so impressive for France against Argentina.

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2018 WORLD CUP: MBAPPE’S DOUBLE FIRE FRANCE INTO QUARTER FINALS

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France dumped Lionel Messi and Argentina out of the World Cup with a 4-3 win in an outstanding round-of-16 tie in Kazan.

Argentina had come from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 in a match illuminated by outstanding goals from Angel Di Maria and Benjamin Pavard, but a quickfire second-half double from Mbappe put France firmly in the driving seat before Argentina struck again in added time.

Seven minutes in came the first indication of the havoc Mbappe was to wreak when he turned and ran at the heart of the Argentina defence, Javier Mascherano bringing him down 25 yards out.

Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba stood over the ball and, when the former unleashed a strike, the ball crashed off the bar with Franco Armani beaten before Argentina scrambled it away.

After 11 minutes, Mbappe's brilliance engineered the breakthrough for France as he embarking on a scorching run from deep inside his own half all the way into the Argentina box, where he was brought down by Marcos Rojo.

After a VAR check had been carried out to confirm the decision, Rojo was booked and Griezmann sent Armani the wrong way to give Didier Dechamps' side the lead after 13 minutes.

But out of nothing, Argentina were level thanks to a moment of brilliance from Di Maria who, 30 yards out and central, sent a sublime left-footed strike past Hugo Lloris and into the top corner with 41 minutes gone.

Federico Fazio replaced Rojo as Argentina made a change, and within moments of the restart the revitalised Di Maria won the dangerous free kick on the left from which his side turned the game around.

The ball was floated in and half-cleared to Messi, who turned and hit a low shot that deflected off Gabriel Mercado's foot and bounced beyond Lloris.

But Deschamps' side had to wait only moment longer before the second brilliant goal of the game brought them level, Pavard thundering home a wonderful angled half-volley from the edge of the box after 57 minutes.

Seven minutes later, France were ahead as a pulsating game took yet another twist and Mbappe got the goal he richly deserved, Pogba's blocked shot falling to him inside the area and his low shot, after he had made space brilliantly, going in off Armani.

Argentina responded by bringing on Sergio Aguero for Enzo Perez, but they were in desperate trouble after 68 minutes as France opened up a two-goal lead and Mbappe got his second, latching on to Giroud's beautiful touch and burying the finish.

With minutes left, the brilliant Mbappe was substituted to a huge ovation, Florian Thauvin coming on  but they were made to sweat at the end when, with two of four added minutes player, Aguero nodded home Messi's pass to give his side a glimmer of hope.

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Super Eagles’ players depart Russia, team officials to arrive Abuja Saturday

Following Tuesday’s exit of the Super Eagles from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, members of the team have been leaving their Essentuki Camp Base in Russia.

Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), that most of the players have left Russia for their respective bases.`
“Instead of returning to Nigeria, the Super Eagles players have been returning to their respective bases one after the other, where they have since reunited with their families,’’ he said.
Players who have had their early exit from the camp include team captain Mike Obi, Odion Ighalo, Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Leon Balogun, Alex Iwobi, Kenneth Omeruo and Tyronne Ebuehi.                                   
Olajire, however, said those remaining in the team’s camp include Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Francis Uzoho, John Ogu, Chidozie Awaziem, Oghenekaro Etebo and Simeon Nwankwo.
He said the duo of Ahmed Musa and Bryan Idowu are staying put in Russia where they ply their trade for their respective clubs.
While Musa plays for CSKA Moscow, Idowu is a defender for Amkar Perm of Russia.2q
However, the team’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, had stayed back in the team’s Essentuki camp to mark his 65th birthday anniversary on Thursday.
Toyin Ibitoye, the team’s Media Officer, also said the coaching staff and other backroom staff would depart Russia on Friday and arrive in Abuja on Saturday.
The Super Eagles had failed to reach the competition’s second round after a 1-2 loss to Argentina in their last Group D game played at St. Petersburg.

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