Modric seeks to derail Messi's bid for World Cup glory
Lionel Messi and Luka Modric face off in a mouthwatering World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday, desperate to seize their final chance to win football's ultimate prize.
Japan Sport News
World Cup underdogs changing face of FIFA tournament
Riyadh: As the World Cup enters its final stages, the world’s biggest sporting event has lived up to the motto, “in football, anything can happen.” The Qatar tournament’s underdogs have challenged the status quo by recording wins against some of the highest-ranked teams in the competition.
Argentina and Messi in World Cup showdown with Modric’s Croatia
DOHA: Argentina and Lionel Messi face Croatia on Tuesday in a World Cup semifinal that pits South American flair against the guile of Luka Modric and a remarkable fighting spirit. In the second semifinal on Wednesday, reigning champions France take on giant-killing Morocco, the first African team ever to reach the last four of a World Cup. But first all eyes will be on the cavernous Lusail Stadium, where Messi, now 35, will attempt to guide Argentina into the final for the second time in eight years against the beaten finalists in 2018. Messi, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown an extraordinary career by finally winning the World Cup and emulating another Argentinian legend, the late Diego Maradona. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was a pivotal figure in Friday’s stormy quarter-final win over the Netherlands, when a record 18 yellow cards were shown and players from both sides were involved in a melee as the referee fought to regain control. The match ended with Argentina players appearing to taunt their distraught Dutch opponents before sprinting away to celebrate after a penalty shoot-out win. Even the normally mild-mannered Messi was caught up in the bad blood, shouting abuse at Dutch players while he was being interviewed after the game. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni defended his players’ conduct in an eve-of-game news conference on Monday, insisting they had nothing to apologize for. “The game the other day was played in the right way by both teams. That is football,” said the 44-year-old Argentina coach. “I don’t buy this idea that we don’t know how to win. The game was played in the right way.”
Euronews Debates: How do you respond and reconstruct when disaster strikes?
More than a decade has passed since an undersea earthquake set off a tsunami which devastated parts of Japan’s northeastern coast, causing extensive damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Croatia v Argentina: Keys to the World Cup semi-final
Croatia and Argentina face each other on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
Fukushima: Japan prepares to discharge water from the plant into the sea
11 years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan is working hard to overcome challenges posed by its water. Since the Tohoku tsunami of 11 March 2011, Japan has been decommissioning and decontaminating the nuclear power plant, which is expected to take 30 to 40 years.
Croatia 'want more' on return to World Cup semi-finals - Dalic
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said the 2018 World Cup runners-up hope Tuesday's semi-final against Argentina in Qatar will be remembered as the "greatest game" in the country's history.
Croatia 'want more' on return to World Cup semi-finals, says coach
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said the 2018 World Cup runners-up hope Tuesday's semi-final against Argentina in Qatar will be remembered as the "greatest game" in the country's history.