World Cup murals have represented a continuously evolving story in Kazan. While they are certainly impressive aesthetically, it s what you can t see that makes them particularly important, even symbolic of the change such a tournament can bring.
The murals project was initially started ahead of the 2017 Confederations Cup.
The local Supernova group were commissioned to produce several pieces around the city; Rubin midfielder Ruslan Kambolov and Russian great Igor Netto getting huge works dedicated to them near Kazan Arena.
Another was produced at the end of the Reka Bulak canal, depicting players from many of the participating countries with their arms around each other in a show of unity.
I’m making mural visits a daily thing at the moment.
This one h…
Rafael da Silva will complete his switch to Lyon this week after the Ligue 1 side confirmed the defender has passed a medical and signed a four-year deal.
The Brazil international made over 150 appearances for Manchester United since arriving in 2008, but the signing of Matteo Darmian has pushed him down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
As a result he has opted to move to France, with Lyon paying an undisclosed fee for the 25-year-old right-back.
Rafael will be unveiled by the Stade Gerland outfit later this week, once all the formalities have been completed between the two clubs.
Earlier on Monday Rafael bid an emotional farewell to United, posting messages of thanks on Twitter.
I want to thank Manchester United fans for all the love duri…
his retirement from professional football. The 37-year-old is well known for having bounced around a series of different clubs throughout his 20-year career in the sport, with his most notable spell in the game coming during his four years with Norwich City. He was the guiding light behind their back to back promotions into the Premier League, and at one point, there were rumours of a big money move for the Englishman.
While he may never have reached the biggest heights in the game he certainly made an impression, even being on the verge of a call-up to England s Euro 2012 squad before talks fell apart. In the wake of this decision, it s been confirmed that he ll be taking up a coaching role with the Canaries, in what many fans will rightly see as a fitting end to what has bee…
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko responded in scathing fashion over the latest anti-doping allegations to hit the country s sports organisations and called the International Olympic Committee s (IOC) and World Anti-Doping Agency s (WADA) own process into question when addressing the Confederations Cup closing news conference in St Petersburg.
Germany face Chile in the final of the tournament on Sunday, a dry run of sorts for the Russia 2018 World Cup and FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised the hosts on account of feared issues with hooliganism, violence and racism being absent.
But the spectre of doping continues to dog Russian sport.
Solicitor Richard McLaren published a report in December last year claiming that, between 2011 and 2015, more than …
With hopes of a domestic and European treble still burning brightly, Barcelona s next test comes at city rivals Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
Luis Enrique s side have enjoyed a productive week, with Tuesday s 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain sealing a 5-1 aggregate success and a place in the last four of the UEFA Champions League for the seventh time in eight seasons.
With a Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao still to look forward to and a two-point lead over Real Madrid at the summit, Barca are on course to repeat their treble-winning feat of 2008-09.
They can take confidence from a strong record in this derby, with six successive wins over Espanyol and no defeats since a 2-1 reverse in February 2009.
The reverse fixture at Camp Nou in…
Atletico Madrid striker Luciano Vietto is making the move to Sporting CP, the LaLiga club confirmed on Tuesday.
Vietto, 25, has spent this season on loan at Fulham, but will join the Portuguese giants in a reported €7.5million move.
The Argentinian joined Atletico from Villarreal in 2015 before spending time on loan at Sevilla, Valencia and Fulham.
Atletico de Madrid has reached an agreement with Sporting CP over the transfer of Luciano Vietto, the club said in a statement.
The striker, who is currently on loan at Fulham, arrived at our club ahead of the 2015-16 season and will now continue his career in Portugal.
Vietto made 38 appearances in all competitions for Atletico and will join a Sporting side certain to finish third behind Benfica a…
Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato could be on his way back to AC Milan in January.
The major Italian media outlets – Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport – are claiming that Rossoneri are working to make a reunion with Pato happen this winter as their efforts to bring back Zlatan Ibrahimovic are getting unrealistic.
Alexandre Pato was never shy of his wish to return to AC Milan but the finances could be the biggest stumbling block in any deal with Tianjin Quanjian.
Pato’s release clause is standing at whopping €25 million which is more than AC Milan would be willing to pay, while Pato’s yearly wage of €9 million would also be a major issue.
The Brazilian could be willing to cut his season earnings to move back to Europe even if only o…
Florin Andone s first goal for Brighton and Hove Albion secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win at 10-man Huddersfield Town.
The pre-season arrival from Deportivo La Coruna produced a fine diving header to complete the turnaround after Mathias Jorgensen s opener, the fastest Premier League goal this season, was cancelled out by Shane Duffy.
Jorgensen struck after just 55 seconds but David Wagner s side conceded on the brink of half-time following Steve Mounie s red card for a foul on Yves Bissouma.
And Andone came up with the winner on his first start as the visitors numerical advantage told, bringing a halt to the Terriers recent revival and giving Chris Hughton s men their first win since October.
69: GOOOOOOAAAAALLL! The pressure pays off! GET IN THERE!
Didier Deschamps believes Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann are developing a useful understanding in France s attack at Euro 2020.
The world champions will seal top spot in Group F on Wednesday if they are able to beat Portugal, their conquerors in the last 16 of Euro 2016.
An already enviable array of talent at Deschamps disposal was bolstered by Benzema s return from a near six-year international exile ahead of the tournament, allowing the head coach to field a dream forward line of Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe alongside the Real Madrid striker.
The returns so far have been occasionally promising, if not prolific, with Mats Hummels own goal the difference in a 1-0 opening win over Germany before Griezmann salvaged a 1-1 draw against group outsiders Hungary �…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he and Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho are twins when it comes to their thirst for success.
A spiky and tempestuous rivalry sparked between the two men when they led Barcelona and Real Madrid on either side of El Clasico s divide in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Their appointments at City and United last year meant renewed hostilities between two brilliant and contrasting tacticians; Guardiola the romantic cast against Mourinho the arch pragmatist once more.
City won at Old Trafford last season – they remain the last Premier League team to do so – and the sides shared a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium in April.
United knocked their neighbours out of the EFL Cup in between those fixtures. Mourinho w…