Nigeria striker Sadiq Umar have become Steven Gerrard’s ninth signings as Rangers manager. He has joined the Ibrox club on season-long loan deals, subject to international clearance. Umar, 21, has been loaned out by Roma, having spent time with Dutch outfit NAC Breda on loan last season. Umar was a member of the Nigeria squad that earned bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The Uruguay international midfielder has completed his £27m move from Sampdoria to the Gunners. The 22-year-old starred at the World Cup before his country were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. He had put his move to north London on hold to focus on the showpiece tournament in Russia but Arsenal have now confirmed their latest summer deal.
Nigeria World Cup left-back Bryan Idowu,26, has signed for Russian premiership side Lokomotiv Moscow. The Russia-born player joins on a three-year deal. He moves from financially-stricken FC Amkar Perm, who were relegated to the third tier in June. “I’m really excited by the opportunity to join Lokomotiv and really looking forward to joining the team at the training camp,” he told Lokomotiv’s website. “As a young boy I watched the club in the Champions League against the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan, they had a great squad and the whole country was proud of the team. “So I’m looking forward to being part of it.”
Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres has signed for Japanese side Sagan Tosu. His Atletico Madrid contract ran out this summer and was not renewed, with his final appearance as a 90th-minute substitute in the Europa League final defeat of Marseille. The Spaniard, 34, rejoined his boyhood club in 2014 after a loan at AC Milan.
The 12 young footballers freed from a cave in Thailand have been offered the chance to attend the World Cup final but are too ill to travel, FIFA says. Divers completed the rescue of the Wild Boars football team and their coach on Tuesday, 17 days after they got trapped underground. Offers of support have come from across the world, with Manchester United offering the chance to attend a game. England’s Kyle Walker and Jack Butland have offered to send kit to the boys.
Manchester City have broken their club record to sign winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City for £60m. The 27-year-old has signed a five-year deal to become the Blues’ first recruit since they won the Premier League. They walked away from a potential deal for the Algerian in January after being put off by Leicester’s valuation. Mahrez said the club’s style of play is “perfect” for him and he wanted to be part of a club which is “redefining the English game”.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus, becoming one of the four most expensive players of all time. A deal worth 112m euros has been reached between the two clubs that has seen the Portuguese sign a four-year deal with the Italian champions. Ronaldo, 33, won four Champions League titles in his nine years at Real. “The time has come to open a new stage in my life, that’s why I asked the club to accept transferring me,” he said.
Tuesday 10 July
France 1 – 0 Belgium
France advance to final.
Belgium to play third place match.
Pep Guardiola was Barcelona coach when Spain won the 2010 World Cup and he was Bayern Munich coach when Germany won in 2014. He’s now Manchester City coach although Barcelona and Bayern players formed the core of those Spain and Germany teams whereas the only City players in England’s starting line-up have been John Stones, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling. Could it be argued that City’s style of play under Pep has influenced Gareth Southgate and the rest of his players? We are watching.
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined West Ham on a three-year deal and says he has moved to the club he supported as a boy. The 26-year-old England player’s contract with the Gunners expired at the end of June. “It feels special. Many people know that I’ve had a special bond with this club growing up,” he said. “I’ve got good memories of my childhood supporting West Ham, watching them at Upton Park.”
Brazil midfielder Paulinho has left Barcelona to rejoin his former club Guangzhou Evergrande, the Chinese club have announced. The 29-year-old will return on loan after just one season in Spain, with no transfer fee announced. Paulinho played 34 games and scored nine goals as Barcelona won La Liga last term, and started all five of Brazil’s World Cup games in Russia.
Ex-Barcelona and Roma coach Luis Enrique has been appointed as Spain manager on a two-year contract. The 48-year-old former Spain midfielder replaces Fernando Hierro, who stepped down as interim boss on Sunday. Hierro – who is not returning to his role as sporting director – was placed in temporary charge of the team after Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the World Cup. Enrique has been out of management since leaving the Nou Camp last June.
Tuesday 10 July
France vs Belgium – Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg – 7pm
Wednesday 11 July
Croatia vs England – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow – 7pm
Sweden 0 – 2 England
Russia 3 – 4 Croatia (Croatia won on penalties. 2 – 2 AET)
England and Croatia advance to Semi finals
Paris St-Germain have signed former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on a free transfer. Buffon, 40, left Juventus at the end of last season, ending a 17-year stay at a club where he played 656 times. The nine-time Serie A winner was rumoured to be offered an off-field role at Juve but has signed a one-year deal with the French champions with the option for a further 12 months.
Uruguay 0 – 2 France
Brazil 1 – 2 Belgium
France and Belgium advance to Semi Finals
1. France
Total contract value: $1.1 billion
Highest-paid player: Kylian Mbappe
If you didn’t know it before, you know it now: France tops the list of the most valuable teams at the 2018 World Cup. Its top players play for the biggest clubs all over Europe, and nearly all of them earn healthy paychecks for their efforts.
Third seed Marin Cilic let a two-set lead slip as he was knocked out in the second round of Wimbledon by Argentina’s Guido Pella. Last year’s beaten finalist was well in control before rain halted proceedings on Wednesday evening. But on the resumption, Pella was the better, wrapping up the third set and taking the fourth on a tie-break. And the world number 82 held his nerve to convert his fourth match point and win 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.
Leon Balogun has called on his Nigeria team-mates to learn football’s darker arts following their World Cup exit. The Super Eagles exited the tournament last week when losing to Argentina, who themselves crashed out on Saturday. “It’s always important when you play internationals to be a bit dirty,” the defender, 30, told BBC Sport. “That’s what Argentina has, definitely, and you also need to be cold-blooded – that’s probably the most important (lesson from this World Cup).” Despite winning just 22 caps, Balogun is one of the more experienced figures in a Nigeria squad that was the youngest of all the teams in Russia, with an average of 25.
Friday 6 July
Uruguay vs France – Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod – 3pm
Brazil vs Belgium – Kazan Arena, Kazan – 7pm
Saturday 7 July
Sweden vs England – Samara Arena, Samara – 3pm
Russia vs Croatia – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi – 7pm
Naija Sports Crib 