Specials

Golden Griezmann delivers on the biggest stage

On Sunday night Griezmann and his teammates produced a pulsating performance before falling to the ground, hugging and sobbing as world champions.

Mandzukic's head and Perisic's hand end Croatia's dream run

The immense ground support turned into a collective sigh when Mario Mandzukic's misplaced header resulted in an own goal.

Refugee at 6, World Cup best player at 32 – the Luka Modric story

Modric's run up to the final stage of the highest platform of international football was not easy at all.

It's bravo Les Bleus!

The French were one of the favourites going into Russia 2018 and they lived up to the billing by regaining the World Cup.

The story of Croatia's origin

German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher recognised Croatian and Slovenian independence, ahead of other European Union countries.

Deschamps looks to his own three Cs for ultimate success

Deschamps revealed he had come up with a variation on the industry model for success - company, customers and competitors - to help his players deal with the pressures of playing such a big game.

A to Z of Russia 2018 World Cup

As the FIFA World Cup comes to a close here is a look at the A to Z of Russia 2018.

France peaking just at the right time

Tournament experience has been key for both the players and coach Didier Deschamps.

#WaistcoatWednesday: England fans suit up ahead of Croatia clash

Some England fans want matchday in Moscow dubbed 'Waistcoat Wednesday' in tribute to manager Gareth Southgate, who has taken to wearing a waistcoat on the touch-line along with suit trousers and a dress shirt and tie.

Frenzy in France as Les Bleus dream of second world title

Delirious supporters draped in the tricolor flag spilled on to Parisian boulevards as the blare of car horns reverberated through the French capital.

What now for Neymar after image-shattering World Cup?

The PSG striker arrived in Russia hoping to guide Brazil to their sixth title and also as favourite to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.

World Cup Diary: The emotion called Brazil!

Brazil is an incredibly passionate nation and everything that people do, they do with pride and enthusiasm.

The secret behind Belgium’s emergence as a football powerhouse

Belgium, who have never been a first-rank soccer nation, will start as favourites when they take on France in a last-four encounter at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 10.

The lady in the Croatian dugout who once beat Steffi Graf!

Iva Olivari, manager of the Croatian national team, was the national champion in the U-14 category in the erstwhile Yugoslavia.

Hazard not Neymar takes over as tournament's star

Face to face with Neymar on Friday, the difference between their contributions was strikingly evident.

Tale of two keepers as Uruguay slip costs them against France

Griezmann's long-range shot slipped through the Uruguay keeper’s fumbling hands just after the hour to effectively seal the result for France and ensure their progress to the semi-finals.

Belgium outwit Brazil in a thriller

Belgium used a combination of daring, intelligence, resilience and a bit of luck to oust World Cup favourites Brazil 2-1 in a memorable quarterfinal.

Stalin won't mind if you raise your voice before him now!

Stalin's summer home in Sochi is now a hotel. This was the leader's home in the last two decades of his life. His bed and swimming pool and billiards board are all intact here.

A kick that changed the fortunes of a Kerala footballer

K Rajesh, who was an integral part of the Kerala Police team in early 1990s, currently is a Circle Inspector attached to the Malabar Special Police (MSP) unit.

Big chance for Hazard to set the record straight

There is always a nagging doubt that when the going gets tough, the attacking midfielder might once again prove anonymous.

From villain to elder statesman, Suarez's stunning transformation

Surez comes to Uruguay's World Cup quarterfinal against France on Friday an all-together wiser and maturer.

England find a new calmness to banish the hoodoo

Southgate has been smart enough to realise that while pundits may dismiss the shootout as a lottery, it is in fact a supreme test of nerve and skill.

A Russian cop who loves India, Bollywood

Albert, who hailed from Altai Krai, a border region in southwest Siberia and the birthplace of Mikhail Kalashnikov, shares a special bond with India.

Possession no longer the law for winning World Cup

The three sides who have bossed the ball the most in Russia, Spain, Germany and Argentina have all said 'do-svidaniya' before the quarter-finals.

A World Cup dream: Sherif scratches off a ticket to Russia

The Malappuram native won the first prize of a 'scratch and win' contest held by a private firm in Dubai.

The unsung heroes of Brazil

Brazil's defensive record under coach Tite has been remarkable, with only six goals conceded in 25 matches, and they have been just as miserly in Russia where they have only conceded one goal.

Russia eyes World Cup after Spain win

Russia had already defied expectations by reaching the World Cup last 16 for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union but after victory over Spain fans now believe the tournament's lowest-ranked team could go all the way.

Spain fall victim to own patience and Russian resistance

Spain reached the pinnacle of the sport on the back of a game built on relentless passing aligned with bottomless patience and faith that they would always, eventually, find a way through.

The soccer fan who brought his family in spirit to Russia

Gilberto, a Mexican fan, has the most tragic World Cup story. He lost his wife and children to a fatal car crash after having planned to go to Russia together to watch Argentina and Mexico.

Messi & Ronaldo bid farewell to World Cup glory

Given their ages - Messi is 31 and Ronaldo 33 - this could be the last the world sees of the pair, who have monopolised the world player of the year award for the last 10 years, on the biggest stage of all.

Russian 'brides' take the field to prove a point

'It's not only a man's game,' said Maryana Raznogorskaya, the team's goalkeeper. 'The most important thing is friendship and solidarity.'

Mbappe outshines Messi as France stamp their class

The 19-year-old ravaged Argentina from start to finish in France's thrilling 4-3 win in Kazan and the South Americans' only recourse to halt his lethal bursts forward was to take turns in fouling him.

St Petersburg pizza art gives fans a shot at biting Suarez

Uruguay's record scorer arrived in Russia looking to dispel the memory of his infamous bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

After a terrific group stage, merciless knockout awaits

The departure of Germany and Argentina's failure to win their group, have led to an unbalanced draw with the top half packed with favourites - five-time winners Brazil, Messi's Argentina, Ronaldo's Portugal, France and Belgium.

A soccer fanatic who named his kids after the game

Fathima Soccey is currently living with her husband in Abu Dhabi, while Socco works as an architect in Sharjah.

Senegal pay a heavy price for total commitment

Senegal became the first side in World Cup history to be eliminated by the fair play regulations.

England's camaraderie is doing the team wonders

England teams of the past have not shown the kind of team spirit that can be seen now.

Germany, Loew failed to see the writing on the wall

Germany should really not be surprised by their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years.

World Cup Diary: Talented Russian juggler knows Malayalam!

When Onmanorama came across a multi-faceted genius in St Petersburg who could twist his tongue to say Aana Alaralodalaral.

Watch World Cup action live at Manjeri's Luzhniki

In a nutshell, the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia is just a ‘duplicate’; the ‘original’ Luzhniki is right here in Manjeri!

Shaky Argentina live to fight another day

Not even a lively performance from Messi as they edged out Nigeria 2-1 to finish second in Group D will give their large traveling band of supporters in Russia much in the way of confidence.

Early goal achieved, but can Les Bleus go all the way?

France coach Didier Deschamps, termed it mission accomplished as his side finished top of Group C ahead of the Danes after a goalless draw with the Scandinavians.

Krestovsky Stadium - an engineering marvel

Constructed at a whopping cost of $1.1 billion (around Rs 7,500 crore), it is considered one of the most expensive stadiums ever built. India's Mangalyaan mission cost just about Rs 450 crore or $73 million!

Suarez on the way to redemption

Suarez has come to Russia a wiser man and has led his team to a superb start at Russia 2018.

England finally play like a Premier League team, thanks to Southgate

What Southgate has shown is that if English players are given the licence to play in the way they do for clubs, they can deliver the kind of intense & exciting football that makes the Premier League such a compelling competition.

Kroos steps forward as Germany's undisputed leader

Kroos kept Germany alive in the World Cup and established himself as the undisputed leader of the team at a time when others of his generation had failed to do so.

South America disappoints but is the demise permanent?

Of the five South American teams present in Russia, only Brazil and Uruguay have not been beaten.

Dare to dream? Young England show pedigree on World Cup stage

To speak of England winning the World Cup had become slightly preposterous, and the preserve only of the more fanatical patriot.

World Cup Diary | A meeting with the fortune-telling cat

Achilles, the white-furred male cat, is Russia’s successor to Paul the Octopus, who became an unlikely star of the 2010 World Cup by predicting the outcome of eight matches.

Is the world cup a goal-less draw for the economy?

Analyses put the total economic impact of the world cup at $30 billion by 2023.