Ukraine's Presidential Office Furious After FIFA Rejects Their Proposal That President Zelensky Addresses The World Cup Final

FIFA boss Gianni Infantion (left) and Ukraine President Volodymy Zelensky (right).

CNN: Exclusive: Ukraine’s presidential office criticizes FIFA for refusing to show Zelensky’s message of peace at World Cup Final  

Ukraine’s presidential office is criticizing FIFA for refusing to show a video message from President Volodymyr Zelensky in Qatar’s Lusail Stadium ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday. 

The video, which was recorded in English, is meant to be an “appeal for peace,” Ukraine’s presidential office said in a written statement to CNN on Saturday. 

“Qatar supported the President’s initiative, but FIFA blocked the initiative and will not allow the video address of the president to be shown before the final game,” the statement said.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Ukraine Angry After FIFA Rejects Zelensky Request To Address World Cup Final (Zero Hedge)  

Update #2: Exclusive: FIFA rebuffs Zelensky’s request to share message of peace at World Cup final (CNN)  

WNU Editor: FIFA is making it very clear to everyone that they do not want politics involved in the World Cup. Especially in tomorrows final.

Mayhem In Paris After France Wins The World Cup

Daily Mail: France's World Cup celebrations marred as fans are choked by tear gas after police also use water cannon and clash with revellers in Paris as a MILLION people party into the night on the Champs-Élysées

* Pockets of looting broke out on the Champs-Élysées as French fans celebrated their side's World Cup win
* A jubilant French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated wildly with his wife Brigitte at the Luzhniki stadium
* In Paris 90K gathered next to the Eiffel tower to watch the match on vast TV screens and sing the Marseillaise
* The boom of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air in Paris and car drivers honked their horns incessantly

Police forces fired tear gas as scuffles and pockets of looting broke out on the Champs-Élysées as French football celebrations in Paris soured following their sides World Cup victory over Croatia in Moscow.

Revelers set off smoke bombs in the national colors - blue, white and red - obscuring Napoleon's triumphal arch as police tackled the crowd using water canons.

People climbed atop every newspaper kiosk and bus stop in the area to wave flags and lead the crowds below in cheers. The national anthem, the Marseillaise, rang out, cars honked horns and cherry bombs cracks.

Looters broke into shop fronts and smashed windows before they were driven back by riot police brandishing shields.

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Update #1: Looters, violence and road accidents tarnish French World Cup party (The Local)
Update #2: French police clash with unruly fans, clear Champs Elysees (Reuters)


WNU Editor: With millions on the streets the police are totally overwhelmed. You have to let the emotions run their course.

Black Flies And Mosquitoes Have Invaded The World Cup In Russia

Flies & mosquitoes a problem in Volgograd ... as experienced while trying to talk for TV. @AP_Sports
England-Tunisia here tonight #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KEPvnG5Tsh

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) June 18, 2018

USA Today: Massive swarms of bugs are invading the World Cup ahead of England-Tunisia in Volgograd

Flies and mosquitos are running rampant in the Russian city of Volgograd ahead of Monday's World Cup clash between England and Tunisia.

Helicopters have been deployed to spray insecticide on the Volgograd Arena, which will host four games over the course of the tournament.

Volgograd – formerly Stalingrad – sits along the Volga River in the southwest part of the country. The stadium itself is right on the bank of the river, which many fear could mean the bug problem will be even worse than in other parts of the city.

English press and fans have taken to Twitter to voice the seriousness of the problem. The swarms of bugs have caused some broadcasters to cancel live shots and are wreaking havoc in the city's fan zones.

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WNU Editor: I have experienced the man-eating black flies and mosquitoes that show-up at this time of year in this part of Russia .... it is no joke. These things eat you alive ... and it is a gazillion times worse outside of the cities. But as bad as it is in Russia .... take it from me .... these flies and mosquitoes are puny to the ones that swarm the Quebec Laurentians and northern Quebec at this time of year. I was once caught in a swarm .... and I literally had to run for my life because to these guys I was prime beef. That is why it is always a relief to see the dragonflies show up. Now these guys are even bigger than the flies and mosquitoes .... and they eat these guys like there is no tomorrow that within a week or two everything returns back to normal. Sighhh .... the cycle of life.

This Is The Star Of The World Cup In Moscow

A participant dresses Achilles the cat in Russian colors on Wednesday after predicting a win for Russia against Saudi Arabia in Thursday's opening match. Dylan Martinez/Reuters

NPR: Achilles The 'Psychic' Cat Predicts Russia Win In World Cup Opening Match

An "official oracle" has spoken — or eaten, technically — and predicted victory for Russia.

That was the news from St. Petersburg Wednesday after Achilles the cat picked Russia to win the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday in a game against Saudi Arabia.

He picked between two bowls of cat food, and chose the one marked with the three colors of the Russian flag — "however not without hesitation," according to Russia's state-owned Tass news agency.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Only in Russia.

Hat tip to Fred for this link.

Germany Wins The World Cup

Germany Celebrate World Cup triumph Over Argentina As Angela Merkel Congratulates Country's Goal Hero 'Super' Mario Götze -- Daily Mail

* Mario Götze scores for Germany in extra time, taking his team to a fourth World Cup title
* Germany the first European side to win the trophy in South America, winning the World Cup for fourth time
* World Cup final between Germany and Argentina kicked off at 8pm at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro
* Pre-match closing ceremony featured performances by Shakira and Carlos Santana
* Famous trophy was brought into the stadium by supermodel Gisele Bundchen and 2010 winner Carles Puyol
* Fans also watch the action unfold in fan parks on Copacabana beach, as well as in Berlin and Buenos Aires
* Worldwide audience of up to one billion people were expected to tune in for the biggest game in the football calender
* David Beckham in the stands for the match - as his sons sported Argentina shirts
* Sir Mick Jagger, Brazilian football legend Pele, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Rihanna also watched the game
* Score was 0-0 at the end of first half of extra time, with Gonzalo Higuain's goal for Argentina ruled offside

Germany's Mario Götze scored with a brilliant finish to win the World Cup for Germany tonight, as his team beat Argentina 1-0 in the hotly-contested final.

The Bayern Munich star coolly slotted home to score in the 113th minute, after his team had battled long into extra time in their bid to take home the famous trophy for the fourth time - the first as a unified nation.

Midfielder Götze, 22, came on as a substitute to net the winner, controlling the ball with his chest before volleying it into the Argentine goal, making the Germans the first European team to win the title in South America.

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My Comment: Now that was a soccer game. Congrats to the German team .... but it could have gone either way.