author - oman observer

KANSAS CITY: The Netherlands breezed into the World Cup knockouts as Group F winners with a commanding 3-1 victory over Tunisia on a ​rain-soaked Thursday, capitalising on another poor display...

Brazil's Neymar said he ⁠went to the dressing room and shed some tears ​alone following his return ​to the side after a gap of 981 days, coming on in the second half during Wednesday's...

* Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde can both reach ⁠round of 32 * Debutants Cape Verde played out draws with Spain and Uruguay * Saudi Arabia last reached ​the knockout rounds in 1994 Saudi Arabia and...

MANAMA: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf Arab allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the...

CHATTANOOGA: Spain have ⁠gone 33 matches unbeaten and faced opponents of every kind along ​the way, which is ​why defender Aymeric Laporte is not losing sleep over what Marcelo Bielsa's...

MEXICO: Mexico continued their perfect start to ​the World Cup with a 3-0 romp against a ​hapless Czech Republic on Wednesday, finishing their group-stage campaign with a flourish and killing off...

Vancouver: Switzerland served up a spoiler, flipping the ⁠table and kicking Canada out of Vancouver for the group of 32 round ​with a 2-1 win ​in Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon to finish atop...

Atlanta: Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his players have to believe they can become the first African winners of the World Cup after storming into the last 32 unbeaten. The Atlas Lions twice came...

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended ⁠the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup, insisting that for football's governing ​body they are driven purely ​by sporting...

* Netherlands top Group F ahead of Japan due to goals ⁠scored * Tunisia already eliminated after two heavy losses * Koeman may have to shuffle attackers due to injuries The Netherlands complete...

HOUSTON: Japan will be keeping a close eye on Sweden strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres when the two sides meet in their Group F finale at the World Cup on Thursday, where a guaranteed...

BOSTON: Already-qualified Germany ⁠will look to make it three wins out of their three Group E matches on ​Thursday when they take on ​Ecuador, aiming to stretch their winning run to 12...

PARIS/LONDON/ROME: Western Europe was in the grip of a deadly, record-setting heatwave on Wednesday that has killed dozens of people, closed schools, slowed trains, knocked out electricity and forced...

GUADALAJARA: Daniel ​Munoz fired Colombia into the World ​Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday, sealing a 1-0 win over DR Congo in Group K after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had threatened to turn the match...

Toronto, Canada: Panama were eliminated from World Cup contention after Croatia kept their hopes of progressing to the last 32 alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Tuesday. Croatia, who made it to the...

Foxborough: Andy SCOTT England coach Thomas Tuchel admitted his team had lacked a cutting edge in a frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday but insisted there were plenty of positive signs going...

Los Angeles: Rob Woollard Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics as he became the first man to score in six different World Cups on Tuesday while England's bid to reach the...

Paris:  ​Forty people have drowned in France over recent days as they ​sought to cool down to escape record heat, the prime minister said on Tuesday, as a heatwave swept across much of Europe....

ATLANTA: Morocco will be ⁠chasing not only victory but also goals against already-eliminated Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday, ​eager to finish top of ​their World Cup group ahead of Brazil. It...

Mexico: South ​Africa and South Korea both have victory on their agenda for their decisive World Cup Group A clash in Monterrey on Wednesday where similar playing styles could produce an...