World Cup Daily: Mexico’s good luck charm; Salah relief; Underwhelming hosts; Neuer fitness

MEXICO haven’t made it past the round of 16 at a World Cup since 1986. It’s a frustrating run that has obviously weighs heavily on the nation. So much so that they’ll try anything for luck.

Will Mexico's chances in Russia be enhanced by this?

MEXICAN weathergirl Yanet Garcia was kicked on the backside on live TV in a bid to bring good luck to the Mexico during the World Cup.

The 27-year-old, dubbed ‘the sexiest weathergirl on the planet’, was a willing subject of the unconventional ritual as her two co-presenters lined up to give her the boot.

For the stunt she donned her national team’s home shirt and a figure-hugging dress.

Mexico seemingly need any help they can get.

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They have been knocked out in the round of 16 in the last six World Cups, stretching back to USA 1994 and have never made it past the quarter-finals, which they have landed in twice (1970and 1986).

Mexico play their opening World Cup Group F game against 2014 winners Germany on June 17 before facing South Korea and Sweden in their remaining games.

Will Mexico's chances in Russia be enhanced by this?

Egypt confident Salah will be fit

The Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) says Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury will not keep him out for longer than three weeks, meaning he should be fit to play at least some part in the country’s World Cup campaign.

The Liverpool forward was injured in the first half of last weekend’s Champions League final against Real Madrid and left the field in tears.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said after the game that Salah’s World Cup campaign was in jeopardy but the EFA gave an optimistic update after their president Hani Abu Reda, national team coach Hector Cuper and doctor Mohamed Abou El-Ela met with the forward in Valencia, where the 25-year-old is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

A post on the federation’s Facebook page said that “the period of absence of Salah due to injury will not exceed three weeks.”

That could still rule him out of Egypt’s opening World Cup match on June 15 against Uruguay, with their second against hosts Russia coming four days later.

But if he misses those games, he could play in Egypt’s final group match against Saudi Arabia on June 25.

Australia are going to the big party and Russia are in trouble.

Russia form concern grows

World Cup hosts Russia have made a disappointing start to their final preparations for their home tournament with 1-0 defeat to Austria.

A 28th minute goal from Alessandro Schoepf was enough to give Austria victory in Innsbruck.

Austria did not qualify for Russia but have won four consecutive games under new coach Franco Foda and will be in high spirits for hosting Germany this weekend.

Photo: Mourinho at Austria vs Russia to watch Marko Arnautovic #mulive [laola1] pic.twitter.com/cgAb1aeG76

— utdreport (@utdreport) May 30, 2018

Russia in contrast have not won a match in six attempts.

They have one more match to turn the tide, next week at home to Turkey, before opening the World Cup against Saudi Arabia on June 14 in Moscow.

Coach Stanislav Cherchesov’s side are a lowly 66th in the FIFA ranking but with Egypt and Uruguay the other teams joining them in Group A, failure to reach the knock-out stages in front of their own fans would be a disaster.

Meanwhile, Japan were defeated 2-0 by Ghana in their last match at home before the tournament in what was coach Akira Nishino’s debut.

It was a tough night at the office for Japan.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey gave the visitors the lead in Yokohama after only nine minutes and a penalty from Emmanuel Boateng, early in the second half, sealed matters.

Nishino replaced former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who had guided the team to qualification only to be sacked in April following disappointing friendly results earlier this year.

Japan face Switzerland away on June 9 and Paraguay four days later in Innsbruck, Austria, to conclude their build-up before meeting Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H.

Manuel Neuer is making great progress from a long-term foot injury.

Neuer makes ‘some great saves’

Manuel Neuer took another step towards the World Cup, after eight months sidelined with injury, by impressing in a training match for Germany’s Under-20 against the senior team.

Germany’s captain and goalkeeper, who suffered a fractured foot last September, impressed for the junior team in a 2-0 defeat by the senior Germany team.

He was only beaten by a Thomas Mueller penalty and a goal from Julian Draxler in the shortened training match, which was 35 minutes per half.

“He faced some shots on goal and made a few very good saves. It is another step in the right direction,” said Germany’s assistant coach Thomas Schneider.

Earlier in the week, Neuer played his first game back in a 7-1 win over the Under-20 team at Germany’s World Cup training camp in north Italy.

Neuer will play his first full match after injury in Germany’s friendly away game against Austria in Klagenfurt this weekend.

The whole of Brazil will be delighted by this sight.

Neymar making great progress

Brazil star Neymar is getting fitter every day as the striker recovers from a broken foot, national teammate Danilo said from their pre-World Cup training camp in London.

The Paris Saint Germain forward was injured in February and is yet to play a match since then, with two weeks to go before the World Cup kicks off in Russia.

“He’s getting better every day, getting faster, more agile and more difficult to defend against,” said Manchester City’s Danilo, who knows Neymar from his Santos days.

“He’s so fast you wouldn’t know whether to go, left, right, forwards or backwards,” Danilo said of Neymar’s trickery.

“We hope he’ll be 100% ready or as ready as is possible.”

Brazil play Croatia at Liverpool on Monday (EST) and against Austria in Vienna on June 11 before their opening World Cup game with Switzerland on June 18.

Banned ref ‘won’t be replaced’

The World Cup referee given a life ban in his homeland Saudi Arabia this month for a match-fixing attempt will not be replaced at next month’s tournament in Russia.

The Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) said two weeks ago that it had barred referee Fahad Al Mirdasi after he confessed to offering to fix the final of his country’s domestic cup competition.

FIFA confirmed that Al Mirdasi’s World Cup selection had been withdrawn with immediate effect.

He had been on the FIFA referees’ list since 2011 and officiated at last year’s Confederations Cup in Russia.

Ashley Young is wary of being subjected to racist behaviour.

England ‘talk about’ racist abuse

Ashley Young says England’s stars have discussed how they should react if they are subjected to racist abuse in Russia.

Young is aware that issues with racism could flare up during the tournament after a number of reports of abuse in Russian football.

Earlier this month, the Russian Football Union was fined heavily by world governing body FIFA following discriminatory chants from fans during the friendly against France in St Petersburg in March.

Manchester United and England winger Young admitted he has already talked about the problem with his international team-mates.

“Whether it’s going to happen, whether you are on the pitch, I’m not sure how you react to it,” he said.

“I’m sure we’ll talk about it and we have talked about it, in the squad, in what to do and what not to do.”

England boss Gareth Southgate last week revealed part of his planning for the tournament would include preparing his players for any racist incidents they may face.

Originally published as World Cup Daily: Mexico’s good luck charm; Salah relief; Underwhelming hosts; Neuer fitness