Association football

“The day of the great reckoning has arrived,” announced the headline in daily newspaper 24 Sata, reflecting the excitement and anticipation in Croatia as the national team prepare to face the five-time world champions at the start of the biggest tournament in football on Thursday.

By George Georgakopoulos

Xanthi will remain in the top flight for the 26th season in a row, after defeating second-division club Olympiakos Volou 2-1 on Wednesday in the long-overdue relegation play-off at Thessaloniki.

The World Cup starts in Brazil tonight, but eyes will be on what’s happening off the pitch as well as the beautiful game, or ‘joga bonito’ on it Never in recent history has the World Cup arrived with such extremity of expectations on and off the pitch.

Italian coach Roberto Mancini has left Turkish giants Galatasaray by mutual agreement after less than a season in charge, the club announced on June 11.

"Our relationship with the coach Roberto Mancini and his contract of
employment, which was signed on 1 October, 2013, has been terminated by
mutual agreement," the club said in a statement.

Roberto Mancini will remain the Galatasaray coach, Turkish media reported June 10, after weeks of rumors that the former Manchester City and Inter man would part ways with the Istanbul club.

Mancini took over from Fatih Terim in the early stages of the season and led Galatasaray to the second place in the league. He also won this year's Cup trophy with the Lions.

The samba beats are rolling and the world's eyes are now on Brazil. Come Thursday, women will have one more reason to nag at their husbands as they tune into the World Cup fever.

Croatia looks to make its mark at World Cup

 Two headers gave Greece its only victory in four friendlies in 2014

Panayiotis Kone ended Greece's nearly four-game goalless streak in the first half and the Europeans beat Bolivia 2-1 on Friday night at New Jersey, in its last friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is banking on Brazilian support for his country at the World Cup, where he says they are in the toughest of the eight groups.
   

Former Bosnian Army soldier Edin Dzeko was jailed for 12 years over the killings of six Croat fighters and a civilian couple in the village of Trusina near Konjic in 1993.