Gloria's Scoop

Prior to seeing France lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy, the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) came together to decide where the Russia 2018 awards should go. Luka Modric (L) and Kylian Mbappe (R) share World Cup stage Golden Ball Award: Luka Modric Croatia owed their place in the Final in large part to their supremely gifted No10. His two goals and one assist almost pale in comparison to his tireless work in the midfield, where he used his incisive vision to great effect in guiding his team, setting the tempo, and exploiting gaps in opposition defences.

60  years since someone as young as 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe scored in a World Cup Final: the then 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against Sweden in 1958. This was also the highest scoring final in regular time since Sweden 1958's finale. France Win Their Second FIFA World Cup Title France have won the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia after defeating Croatia 4-2 in a thoroughly entertaining Final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in what was a fitting end to an outstanding tournament.

Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title and spoil the American's dream comeback as a mum. Serena Williams   The German 11th seed, 30, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion 6-3 6-3 to add this title to her 2016 Australian Open and US Open crowns.

Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard struck at either end of their Play-off for Third Place with England to secure bronze at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - their best-ever performance at the global finals.

Croatia showed themselves and the world what they are capable of. They produced their best performance of the tournament right when they needed it most, showing their deep reserves of strength with another victory from a game that went to 120 minutes. Despite a quick England goal just five minutes from the start, Zlatko Dalic's side turned it around. France, are you ready? Croatia have reached their first FIFA World Cup™ Final, coming from behind to defeat England 2-1 after extra time at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow - with Mario Mandzukic's extra time goal the decisive strike.

France continue their brilliant showing as they avoided falling into Belgium's trap. After the Red Devils had dominated the first half, largely thanks to an awesome Eden Hazard, France took responsibility and controlled the match in the second. Didier Deschamps's team has many faces to it, but they are all smiling now. Samuel Umtiti's headed winner has returned France to the FIFA World Cup™ Final for the third time in 20 years, sealing a 1-0 win over Belgium in Saint Petersburg.

Just one week ago, LeBron James created shockwaves in the NBA world when  he agreed to a four-year contract  to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

Russia came a cropper against their strongest opponents at the competition. The first half was relatively evenly matched, with chances and a goal at both ends. The Croats gained the ascendancy in the second half, but Russia displayed their spirit once again to hold firm and force extra time, like in the previous round. Unfortunately, on this occasion they did not keep their cool from the spot. Croatia Through To Face England In The Last Four aAfter Defeating Russia 4-3 In Shoot-out   Twenty years on from Croatia first taking the FIFA World Cup by storm, Zlatko Dalic's team have booked the country's place in the semi-finals for the second time in their history.

A dream can’t last forever; at some point you have to wake up. That moment came for Sweden tonight. Robin Olsen and Victor Lindelof had impressive performances but it wasn’t enough. Mikael Lustig’s absence was notable in the Swedish defence that, for the first time at this World Cup, had troubles in the air. When the disappointment has run its course, these players will look back on this World Cup with pride. England advance into their first FIFA World Cup semi-final in 28 years England advanced to their first FIFA World Cup semi-final since Italy 1990 with a 2-0 win over Sweden thanks to a pair of headed goals by Harry Maguire and Dele.

Having enjoyed a relatively stress-free campaign so far, Uruguay were made to suffer against France. Though  Les Blues  dominated play,  La Celeste  still managed to create openings, but could find no way past Lloris, who was on top form. Tabarez reshuffled his midfield in the second half but was unable to alter the course of the game.  France celebrate their win against Uruguay France won through to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 12 years after seeing off a combative Uruguay side that struggled in the absence of the injured Edinson Cavani. 

While Belgium took the lead with a combination of fortune and their attacking skill, the Brazilians were calmer in possession after half-time, played their game and stifled the Belgians. Nevertheless,  A Seleção  were simply not clinical enough in front of goal to convert their chances – and were not helped by a superb performance from Courtois. Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring goal against Brazil Belgium beat Brazil 2-1 in Kazan to set the first semi-final of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in stone, and booking their return to the final four for the first time in three decades. A Seleção  seized control of the match in the first half, seeing Thiago Silva’s effort hit the post, as the Red Devils rode their luck while relying on the counter-attack. The Belgians were ahead against the run of play after Fernandinho, replacing the suspended Casemiro, deviated a flicked-on corner into his own net. There was nothing fortunate about the European side’s second. Rem...

From Jordan Pickford, who made a name for himself, to Eric Dier, who scored the decisive penalty, no member of Gareth Southgate’s team will ever forget this night. The coach can be proud of his players, who implemented their game plan and showed an irrepressible will to win. England will return to their base in Repino to work on closing out matches, but for now they can enjoy their first victory in a knockout game for 12 years. England celebrate win against Colombia England defeated Colombia to reach the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. Penalties were needed at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium to decide the match and keep alive the Three Lions’ dream of a second World Cup title after 1966.

The dream continues for Sweden. It wasn’t the most confident of wins but they got the job done as Forsberg quietened his recent critics. Gustav Svensson did an impressive job replacing one of the team’s key players in the suspended Sebastian Larsson, but a big blow for the Swedes was seeing one of their giants in defence, Mikael Lustig, leaving the pitch injured. But, all in all, being in a quarter-final is an achievement the team can be very proud of. Sweden booked their place in the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time in almost a quarter of a century after Emil Forsberg forced a slender 1-0 win over Switzerland in Saint Petersburg.

It’s a very disappointing result for Japan, having gone two goals up. Everything seemed to be under control, but an error by goalkeeper Kawashima led to the first goal. From that moment on, the team lost the tempo and rhythm of the match. They quickly conceded the equaliser, before the cruellest of third goals. Belgium celebrate victory after disappointing result Belgium’s team of stars demonstrated their strength of character by coming back fr om two goals down to claim victory over Japan in a wild game at the Rostov Arena.

Mexico fought bravely against Brazil, but in the end they deservedly lost against a better team.  El Tri  played a risky strategy in the first half, pressuring the South Americans very aggressively and making them suffer every time they had the ball. The idea was to score quickly and then manage the rhythm of the game. But that didn’t happen and the team tired. After they conceded the goal, while they still kept on fighting, they never seemed to be in a position to equalise, even with Guillermo Ochoa denying the Brazilians a second goal until the final stages. Brazil's Neymar celebrates after scoring goal against Mexico   Neymar scored his sixth FIFA World Cup goal, before substitute Roberto Firmino added one late on, to lift Brazil past Mexico 2-0 to advance into the quarter-finals at Russia 2018.

After a thrilling start to the match, with both sides scoring in the opening four minutes, Croatia needed penalties to see off a brave Denmark side that played their most adventurous football of the competition but without reward. Croatia celebrate win against Denmark after penalty shout out The Danes opened the scoring in the opening minute, as Mathias Jorgensen shot though a sea of legs and saw the ball squirm under Danijel Subasic’s body and over the line.

Russia defeated Spain on penalties to earn victory after the inaugural shootout of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Koke saw his effort saved by Igor Akinfeev, before Iago Aspas's unsuccessful spot kick sent the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow into delirium. It had all started so well for  La Roja  - who silenced the Luzhniki in the opening moments - a set-piece providing the opportunity for Spain to take the lead.

"Cristiano still has a lot to give to football and I hope he will stay to help the young players grow and develop. We have a team with many young players and of course we all want him there with us." Fernando Santos, Portugal coach FIFA  | Two of football's biggest stars exited the FIFA World Cup in the space of just four hours as the knockout stages kicked off with an almighty bang. First, Lionel Messi’s Argentina departed following an incredible goal-fest with France, before Uruguay edged out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

It was not Uruguay's finest performance, but the result is what counts for  La Celeste . Oscar Tabarez had called on his players to be calm and collected and, leaving aside his irrepressible strike force, that is what made the difference in midfield and defence. Uruguay, the team with the best defensive record in the group stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia with zero goals conceded, held firm to sink Portugal 2-1 in Sochi on Saturday to set up a quarter-final tie against France. Edinson Cavani's early opener from a superb Luis Suarez cross put  La Celeste  in the driving seat, enabling them to sit back and soak up the Portuguese pressure. The European champions huffed and puffed but could not blow down the Uruguayan house, searching in vain for a moment of magic from Cristiano Ronaldo, who passed up a presentable chance from a dangerously positioned free-kick. It was from another sort of dead-ball delivery that Portugal found a chink in the armour, Pepe equ...

Argentina’s World Cup dream lies in ruins! The  Albiceleste  lost to a France outfit that was simply a better team. Jorge Sampaoli’s side were unable to make the most of the chances they created and, in the space of 11 minutes, lost everything that they had worked so hard for.  France celebrate epic win aginst Argentina in the first round of 16 encounters at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia   In the first of the Round of 16 encounters at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, France defeated Argentina 4-3 in a spectacular game to match their achievement from four years ago and book a place in the quarter-finals.