Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was guarded about whether Angel di Maria would be available for Friday's World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands but said on Thrusday that every player who took the field would be fit.

Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday that Portugal were "too united to be broken by outside forces" after it was reported he had threatened to walk out on the squad after being benched against Switzerland.

A Brazil-Argentina World Cup semi-final encounter looms large as the South American arch-rivals have the possibility to face off in what will be their first World Cup meeting in 32 years provided both the teams win their quarter-final berths.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) on Thursday denied Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to abandon the World Cup squad after being benched against Switzerland.

Luis Enrique was sacked as Spain coach on Thursday after the team's elimination in the last-16 at the World Cup with the country's under-21 manager Luis de la Fuente named as his replacement by the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Brazil's current first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker was still a toddler when Claudio Taffarel dived to his left to keep out Daniele Massaro's spot-kick and set up the Selecao's penalty shoot-out win over Italy in the 1994 World Cup final.

Germany coach Hansi Flick will keep his job and lead the team at Euro 2024 despite their crushing World Cup disappointment, the German Football Association (DFB) said on Wednesday.

FIFA on Wednesday sanctioned World Cup quarter-finalists Croatia following abuse by their fans targeting Canada's goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

Brazil's Vinicius Jr said they would not stop dancing to celebrate goals at the World Cup as it was an expression of happiness that was part of Brazilian culture.

As Croatia prepare to face World Cup favourites Brazil in their quarter-final clash on Friday, defender Dejan Lovren is bracing himself for another confrontation with his old nemesis Neymar.

 It is no secret that Argentina's dreams of a third World Cup triumph lie largely on the shoulders of Lionel Messi but another man bearing the same first name is also integral to the hopes of the Albiceleste.

Despite a few blips in the group-stage, the World Cup title contenders have found their stride at the business end of the tournament. Netherlands, England, France, Brazil, Argentina- all these sides have played some scintillating football. But Luis Enrique's Spain have come up short as they failed to convert all their penalties in the shootout against Morocco in their last 16 clash even after practising a thousand penalties in training. How much did you enjoy the last 16?

Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said Brazil players' celebratory dancing after scoring goals is not disrespectful, ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash on Friday.

Belgium captain Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international soccer aged 31 on Wednesday after his team's group-stage exit at the World Cup.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said his plan was to let Spain have the ball after his side's dramatic penalty shootout win in their World Cup last-16 match on Tuesday.

Brazil’s players have divided opinion after they celebrated their goals in the 4-1 World Cup mauling of South Korea with some extravagant dance moves, with even their coach getting in on the act.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said his decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of his team for Tuesday's 6-1 triumph over Switzerland in the World Cup last 16 had been "strategic and nothing more."

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos was as surprised as anyone at being named in the starting lineup for Tuesday's 6-1 hammering of Switzerland in the World Cup last-16 and managing to score a hat-trick was beyond his imagination.

Morocco's Yassine Bounou put his World Cup penalty-saving heroics against Spain on Tuesday down to a mixture of luck and intuition.

Moroccans wildly celebrating their team's historic World Cup knockout victory over Spain on Tuesday were joined by people across the Middle East and North Africa ecstatic at what they saw as a victory for the entire Arab world.