Curious cat: Watch out for feline intervention at Cup
Like many soccer fans trying to predict the results of the World Cup, Achilles is busy studying the teams heading to Russia this month for the sport’s biggest global showdown. But he has one advantage: cat sense.
The furry white feline, who lives in St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, is being touted as a cat psychic who will predict the winners and losers of the tournament kicking off in Russia in two weeks.
Achilles has some big shoes — or tentacles — to fill: predecessor Paul the octopus became an international celebrity when at the 2010 World Cup he correctly forecast the outcome of Germany’s games and picked eventual winners Spain.
One of the many cats to have lived at the Hermitage, once the imperial Winter Palace, Achilles previously predicted outcomes during the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Achilles is deaf, meaning he will not be easily distracted by waiting journalists when he makes his predictions by choosing between two bowls of food, each bearing a team flag.
For his training, Achilles, dressed in a red soccer jersey, looks at a chart of the teams and game schedules, before, slightly reluctantly, moving onto an exercise wheel.
“Achilles is now in his place of work, he is preparing for the World Cup and going through the adaptation process,” veterinarian Anna Kondratieva said during a training session at a pet shop near the museum.
“People tend to feed him more than they should. When he came to us he looked like a football, not a cat, so we decided to put him on a strict diet.”
When Achilles is not in training, he can also be found posing for pictures in the museum yard, building a celebrity persona that is about to get a huge lift from one of the world’s most-watched sporting tournaments.
Last month, proving once again that bank analysts get bored just doing financial analyses, forecasters at Swiss-based UBS predicted the winner of the upcoming World Cup — and it’s Germany.
In a lengthy note issued by UBS Investment Research, the defending World Cup champions were forecast to come out on top again, following exhaustive research by a team of 18 analysts and 10,000 computer simulations of the tournament.
The analysts used factors such as team strength, qualification record and past World Cup performance.
The report gives Germany a 24 per cent likelihood of winning, followed by Brazil at 19.8 per cent and Spain at 16.1 per cent. “Germany and Brazil are set for an easy start, while Spain will have to hit the ground running if they are to beat Portugal, the current European champions, in their opening game,” Michael Bolliger, head of UBS’s emerging-market asset allocation, had said.
In a bit of a surprise, perennial disappointment England is ranked fourth-most likely to win, at 8.5 per cent. France, Belgium and Argentina are also seen as dark-horse contenders.
“England has a balanced team, an attribute that complements teamwork and can transform a successful team into a future champion,” Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a statement.
A March survey by JP Morgan, conducted with 100 clients at a Paris conference, also placed Germany as champions. Spain got ten nods, fewer than might have been expected for a consistently high-performance side that won in 2010 in South Africa.
However, they do face a testing opener against European champions Portugal.
Egypt, known as “The Pharaohs” and returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence, are the underdogs with the best chance of outperforming.
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Saint Petersburg Stadium
The venue will host atotal of seven games including fourin the group stage and a semi-final.
FIFA.com is bringing its series on the stadiums hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, where the best players in the world will be competing for the title of world champions, to a close. Today we present the Saint Petersburg Stadium, which has already passed a major test as the flagship arena of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
Matches
Saint Petersburg Stadium is hosting seven matches at Russia 2018, including knockout matches in the Round of 16, semi-final and the play-off for third place. Morocco kick off their campaign here against IR Iran on 15 June.
Capacity
During the World Cup, the venue will be able to seat up to 67,000 spectators.
Did You Know?
The renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won the tender to design the construction of the arena. Following his creative vision, the exterior of the stadium was built to resemble a space ship or a flying saucer landing in the Gulf of Finland. The venue has an extendable roof and a retractable pitch, meaning the facility can not only host football matches but also all manner of cultural and entertainment events. As an added bonus, the stadium is able to maintain a steady temperature of +20 degrees all year round.
First Matches
The stadium was opened in 2017 and, later that year, it hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, including the Opening Match and Final, when Joachim Low’s Germany overcame Chile. The biggest club in Saint Petersburg, Zenit, play their domestic and European fixtures here, while the venue also stages international matches, such as Russia’s 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in November 2017 and the 3-1 defeat by France in March of this year.
Legacy
Zenit will move in permanently to the Saint Petersburg Stadium after the World Cup. The venue will also continue to be an occasional home ground for the national team as well. Finally, three group stage fixtures at UEFA EURO 2020 will be held here.
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Kaliningrad Stadium
The stadium will host four games in the tournament all of them in the group stage.
As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet competing for the coveted trophy, FIFA.com continues the series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stadiums. Today we present the Kaliningrad Stadium, the westernmost destination of the tournament.
Matches
The Kaliningrad Stadium is hosting four matches in the group stage of the World Cup this summer, starting with Croatia v Nigeria on 16 June. A match that promises to be one of the most exciting of the group stages - the heavyweight clash in Group G between England and Belgium - is also taking place at the venue on 28 June.
As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet competing for the coveted trophy, FIFA.com continues the series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stadiums. Today we present the Kaliningrad Stadium, the westernmost destination of the tournament.
Capacity
During the tournament, the Kaliningrad Stadium will be able to hold up to 35,000 supporters.
Location
The new stadium was built on October Island, right in the heart of Kaliningrad. Having World Cup games in the city was the perfect excuse for local authorities to renovate the island, which had lain empty for many years and was not used for construction. After the tournament, an entire micro-district will be constructed around the stadium, including parks, a quay side and an embankment along the Pregolya Rive
Did You Know?
More than 12,000 piles were driven into the foundations of what became the Kaliningrad Stadium. Initially the plan was to build a 45,000-seater facility, but then the decision was made to reduce capacity to 35,000. Out of the other 11 Russia 2018 venues, only the Ekaterinburg Arena has the same capacity.
First Matches
Like a few other World Cup arenas, the Kaliningrad Stadium is finishing off its final preparations before the tournament. Local football club FC Baltika are expected to play a few home games of their current National Football League season at the new venue.
Legacy
After Russia 2018, the stadium will become the new home ground for FC Baltika. Both the outside of the facility and the seats were designed in the blue-and-white club colours of the Kaliningrad club.
FIFA World Cup 2018: A look at hilarious moments, tense battles between rivals from 1930 to 1970
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is in the offing, and another set of historical football memories will soon be created. Noteworthy losses, legendary goals and personal feuds have dotted the history of this tournament, which makes it such a fulfilling viewing experience.
Before we turn our eyes to Russia, here's a look at some unforgettable moments from previous years' World Cup matches — from stolen trophies to beer running out to the emergence of game-changing players like Pelé. In part one of this series, sportswriter Austin Coutinho flips through the pages of the years between 1930 and 1970.
Six matches to be held at the Samara Arena during Russia 2018
The venue’s design features space themes
Krylia Sovetov will move into stadium after the World Cup
As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet vie for the game's most coveted Trophy, FIFA.com continues its series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ venues. Today it is the turn of the Samara Arena.
Matches
The Samara Arena is hosting six games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia, including a Round-of-16 tie and a quarter-final match-up. Costa Rica kick off their tournament campaign here against Serbia on 17 June, while hosts Russia play their final group-stage match against Uruguay at the stadium on 25 June.
Capacity
During the tournament, the Samara Arena will be able to seat up to 45,000 spectators.
Location
The new World Cup stadium was built on the highest part of Samara in the Radiotsentr district.
Did you know?
The Samara Arena is distinguished by the outer-space motifs incorporated into its design. The façade of the stadium is a transparent dome, which gives the impression of a flying saucer or a spaceship. This reflects Samara’s vital role in Russian and global space exploration.
First matches
The first fixtures at the newly constructed Samara Arena took place in April and May this year. On 28 April, the venue was tested for the first time as local side Krylia Sovetov defeated Fakel Voronezh 2-1 in the second-division Football National League. On 6 May, 40,000 fans were in attendance for Krylia Sovetov’s second game at the stadium, a 1-0 victory against Kuban Krasnodar. The Samara Arena later hosted a third match between Lada-Togliatti and Nosta Novotroitsk in the Professional Football League, which ended 2-1 to Lada.
Legacy
After Russia 2018, the Samara Arena will become the permanent home ground for local side Krylia Sovetov, who won promotion to the top-flight Russian Premier League at the end of the season just concluded.
Comments
Curious cat: Watch out for feline intervention at Cup
Like many soccer fans trying to predict the results of the World Cup, Achilles is busy studying the teams heading to Russia this month for the sport’s biggest global showdown. But he has one advantage: cat sense.
The furry white feline, who lives in St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, is being touted as a cat psychic who will predict the winners and losers of the tournament kicking off in Russia in two weeks.
Achilles has some big shoes — or tentacles — to fill: predecessor Paul the octopus became an international celebrity when at the 2010 World Cup he correctly forecast the outcome of Germany’s games and picked eventual winners Spain.
One of the many cats to have lived at the Hermitage, once the imperial Winter Palace, Achilles previously predicted outcomes during the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Achilles is deaf, meaning he will not be easily distracted by waiting journalists when he makes his predictions by choosing between two bowls of food, each bearing a team flag.
For his training, Achilles, dressed in a red soccer jersey, looks at a chart of the teams and game schedules, before, slightly reluctantly, moving onto an exercise wheel.
“Achilles is now in his place of work, he is preparing for the World Cup and going through the adaptation process,” veterinarian Anna Kondratieva said during a training session at a pet shop near the museum.
“People tend to feed him more than they should. When he came to us he looked like a football, not a cat, so we decided to put him on a strict diet.”When Achilles is not in training, he can also be found posing for pictures in the museum yard, building a celebrity persona that is about to get a huge lift from one of the world’s most-watched sporting tournaments.
Last month, proving once again that bank analysts get bored just doing financial analyses, forecasters at Swiss-based UBS predicted the winner of the upcoming World Cup — and it’s Germany.
In a lengthy note issued by UBS Investment Research, the defending World Cup champions were forecast to come out on top again, following exhaustive research by a team of 18 analysts and 10,000 computer simulations of the tournament.
The analysts used factors such as team strength, qualification record and past World Cup performance.
The report gives Germany a 24 per cent likelihood of winning, followed by Brazil at 19.8 per cent and Spain at 16.1 per cent. “Germany and Brazil are set for an easy start, while Spain will have to hit the ground running if they are to beat Portugal, the current European champions, in their opening game,” Michael Bolliger, head of UBS’s emerging-market asset allocation, had said.
In a bit of a surprise, perennial disappointment England is ranked fourth-most likely to win, at 8.5 per cent. France, Belgium and Argentina are also seen as dark-horse contenders.
“England has a balanced team, an attribute that complements teamwork and can transform a successful team into a future champion,” Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a statement.
A March survey by JP Morgan, conducted with 100 clients at a Paris conference, also placed Germany as champions. Spain got ten nods, fewer than might have been expected for a consistently high-performance side that won in 2010 in South Africa.
However, they do face a testing opener against European champions Portugal.
Egypt, known as “The Pharaohs” and returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence, are the underdogs with the best chance of outperforming.
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-Gyu (Vissel Kobe, Japan), Kim Jin-Hyeon (Cerezo Osaka, Japan), Cho Hyun-Woo (Daegu FC)
Defenders: Kim Young-Gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande, China), Jang Hyun-Soo (FC Tokyo, Japan), Jung Seung-Hyun (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Yun Yong-Sun (Seongnam FC), Oh Ban-Suk (Jeju United), Kim Min-Woo (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-Ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Hong Chul (Sangju Sangmu), Go Yo-Han (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea City, England), Jung Woo-Young (Vissel Kobe, Japan), Ju Se-Jong (Asan Mugunghwa FC), Koo Ja-Cheol (FC Augsburg, Germany), Lee Jae-Sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Lee Seung-Woo (Hellas Verona, Italy), Moon Seon-Min (Incheon United),
Forwards: Kim Shin-Wook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Hwang Hee-Chan (FC Red Bull Salzburg, Austria)
Coach: Shin Tae-Yong
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Saint Petersburg Stadium
The venue will host atotal of seven games including fourin the group stage and a semi-final.
FIFA.com is bringing its series on the stadiums hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, where the best players in the world will be competing for the title of world champions, to a close. Today we present the Saint Petersburg Stadium, which has already passed a major test as the flagship arena of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
Matches
Saint Petersburg Stadium is hosting seven matches at Russia 2018, including knockout matches in the Round of 16, semi-final and the play-off for third place. Morocco kick off their campaign here against IR Iran on 15 June.
Capacity
During the World Cup, the venue will be able to seat up to 67,000 spectators.
Did You Know?
The renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won the tender to design the construction of the arena. Following his creative vision, the exterior of the stadium was built to resemble a space ship or a flying saucer landing in the Gulf of Finland. The venue has an extendable roof and a retractable pitch, meaning the facility can not only host football matches but also all manner of cultural and entertainment events. As an added bonus, the stadium is able to maintain a steady temperature of +20 degrees all year round.
First Matches
The stadium was opened in 2017 and, later that year, it hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, including the Opening Match and Final, when Joachim Low’s Germany overcame Chile. The biggest club in Saint Petersburg, Zenit, play their domestic and European fixtures here, while the venue also stages international matches, such as Russia’s 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in November 2017 and the 3-1 defeat by France in March of this year.
Legacy
Zenit will move in permanently to the Saint Petersburg Stadium after the World Cup. The venue will also continue to be an occasional home ground for the national team as well. Finally, three group stage fixtures at UEFA EURO 2020 will be held here.
Uruguay's World Cup squad - the 23-man names
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera, Martin Silva, Martin Campana.
Defenders: Diego Godin, Sebastian Coates, Jose Maria Gimenez, Maximiliano Pereira, Gaston Silva, Martin Caceres, Guillermo Varela.
Midfielders: Nahitan Nandez, Lucas Torreira, Matias Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Carlos Sanchez, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Cristian Rodriguez, Gaston Ramirez.
Strikers: Cristhian Stuani, Maximiliano Gomez, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez.
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Kaliningrad Stadium
The stadium will host four games in the tournament all of them in the group stage.
As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet competing for the coveted trophy, FIFA.com continues the series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stadiums. Today we present the Kaliningrad Stadium, the westernmost destination of the tournament.
Matches
The Kaliningrad Stadium is hosting four matches in the group stage of the World Cup this summer, starting with Croatia v Nigeria on 16 June. A match that promises to be one of the most exciting of the group stages - the heavyweight clash in Group G between England and Belgium - is also taking place at the venue on 28 June.
Capacity
During the tournament, the Kaliningrad Stadium will be able to hold up to 35,000 supporters.
Location
The new stadium was built on October Island, right in the heart of Kaliningrad. Having World Cup games in the city was the perfect excuse for local authorities to renovate the island, which had lain empty for many years and was not used for construction. After the tournament, an entire micro-district will be constructed around the stadium, including parks, a quay side and an embankment along the Pregolya Rive
Did You Know?
More than 12,000 piles were driven into the foundations of what became the Kaliningrad Stadium. Initially the plan was to build a 45,000-seater facility, but then the decision was made to reduce capacity to 35,000. Out of the other 11 Russia 2018 venues, only the Ekaterinburg Arena has the same capacity.
Like a few other World Cup arenas, the Kaliningrad Stadium is finishing off its final preparations before the tournament. Local football club FC Baltika are expected to play a few home games of their current National Football League season at the new venue.
Legacy
After Russia 2018, the stadium will become the new home ground for FC Baltika. Both the outside of the facility and the seats were designed in the blue-and-white club colours of the Kaliningrad club.
Socceroos Russia 2018 squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Matt Jurman, Mark Milligan, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic
Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Robbie Kruse, Mat Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos
Axed: Josh Brillante, Fran Karacic, James Troisi, Nikita Rukavytsya
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-03/socceroos-world-cup-squad-announced-russia-2018/982927
FIFA World Cup 2018: A look at hilarious moments, tense battles between rivals from 1930 to 1970
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is in the offing, and another set of historical football memories will soon be created. Noteworthy losses, legendary goals and personal feuds have dotted the history of this tournament, which makes it such a fulfilling viewing experience.
Before we turn our eyes to Russia, here's a look at some unforgettable moments from previous years' World Cup matches — from stolen trophies to beer running out to the emergence of game-changing players like Pelé. In part one of this series, sportswriter Austin Coutinho flips through the pages of the years between 1930 and 1970.
https://www.firstpost.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2018-a-look-at-hilarious-moments-tense-battles-between-rivals-from-1930-to-1970-4492181.html
As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet vie for the game's most coveted Trophy, FIFA.com continues its series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ venues. Today it is the turn of the Samara Arena.
Matches
The Samara Arena is hosting six games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia, including a Round-of-16 tie and a quarter-final match-up. Costa Rica kick off their tournament campaign here against Serbia on 17 June, while hosts Russia play their final group-stage match against Uruguay at the stadium on 25 June.
Capacity
During the tournament, the Samara Arena will be able to seat up to 45,000 spectators.
Location
The new World Cup stadium was built on the highest part of Samara in the Radiotsentr district.
Did you know?
The Samara Arena is distinguished by the outer-space motifs incorporated into its design. The façade of the stadium is a transparent dome, which gives the impression of a flying saucer or a spaceship. This reflects Samara’s vital role in Russian and global space exploration.
First matches
The first fixtures at the newly constructed Samara Arena took place in April and May this year. On 28 April, the venue was tested for the first time as local side Krylia Sovetov defeated Fakel Voronezh 2-1 in the second-division Football National League. On 6 May, 40,000 fans were in attendance for Krylia Sovetov’s second game at the stadium, a 1-0 victory against Kuban Krasnodar. The Samara Arena later hosted a third match between Lada-Togliatti and Nosta Novotroitsk in the Professional Football League, which ended 2-1 to Lada.
Legacy
After Russia 2018, the Samara Arena will become the permanent home ground for local side Krylia Sovetov, who won promotion to the top-flight Russian Premier League at the end of the season just concluded.