Golden Soccer 360

World Cup assistant referees have been instructed to keep their flag down for tight offside calls in Russia, according to FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina. Collina says linesmen have been told to keep their flags down in order to enable the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to make the correct decision. VAR will be used for the first time at the World Cup in this summer's tournament in Russia. "If you see some assistant referee not raising the flag, it's not because he's making mistakes," said Collina, at the World Cup referees media day on Tuesday. "It's because he's respected the instruction to keep the flag down. "They were told to keep the flag down when there is a tight offside incident and there could be a very promising attack or a goal-scoring opportunity because, if the assistant referee raises the flag, then everything is finished. "If the assistant referee keeps the flag down and the play goes o...

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has given Egypt a timely boost after he joined the squad's training session on Wednesday. Salah had been a doubt after suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 26. However, the 25-year-old was spotted taking part in the session - going through a range of warm-up exercises with his team-mates. On Monday, Egypt's medical staff stated they remained unsure whether he would be fit for their opening game as he did not take part in a training session. Their World Cup campaign begins on Friday in Group A against Uruguay. Russia and Saudi Arabia complete that group. If Salah does not make it back in time for Uruguay, his next target will be getting fit for a clash with hosts Russia on June 19, before Egypt round off their group campaign against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd six days later. Egypt are training at the Akhmat-Arena in Chechnya's capital Grozny. via Sky Sports

Marcus Rashford will miss England training on Wednesday with a slight knee strain, but the injury is not thought to be serious. The 20-year-old underlined his claims for a starting place in England's World Cup opener against Tunisia with a man-of-the-match display and outstanding opener against Costa Rica last week. England manager Gareth Southgate revealed upon landing in Russia on Tuesday that the Manchester United forward had sustained a "slight knock" - a knee complaint that kept him out of the first training session as a precautionary measure. England face Tunisia in their opening World Cup game on Monday before they face Panama and Belgium in their remaining Group G fixtures. via Sky Sports

Toby Alderweireld has suggested he would be open to staying at Tottenham beyond this summer. The defender saw his playing time limited during the 2017/18 season due to injuries and reports of a stalemate over a new contract. Alderweireld has just over a year left on his current contract, which includes a one-year extension option, and more than a year of talks over a new deal have yet to result in agreement. Manchester United are among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old, but, asked he if could stay at Tottenham, Alderweireld said: "Yeah, why not? "I have two years left on my contract. I don't know what is going to happen." Alderweireld is currently away with Belgium at the World Cup and will face some of his Tottenham team-mates when Belgium and England meet in their final Group G game. While Belgium are among the favourites to win the World Cup, Alderweireld also thinks England are going to enjoy a "very good" tournament. "I have...

Arsenal are one of a number of clubs interested in Portugal winger Gelson Martins and are in advanced talks with Germany goalkeeper Bernd Leno, according to Sky sources. The Gunners have also agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund for defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, with the transfer expected to be formally announced on July 1. Martins could be available on a free transfer as he is one of four Sporting Lisbon players who moved to terminate their contracts, citing 'just cause' after Sporting's players were attacked at the club's training ground last month. The 23-year-old, who is part of Portugal's World Cup squad, scored 10 goals in 42 appearances for Sporting last season. Leno was named in Germany's provisional squad for Russia but did not make the final 23. He has made 304 appearances for Leverkusen but has been reportedly told he can leave the club after they signed Finnish stopper Lukas Hradecky from Eintracht Frankfurt. The 26-year-old Leno w...

Jack Wilshere’s future remains uncertain but talks are ongoing between him and Arsenal, according to Sky sources. Sky Sports News has been told a potential departure from the Emirates is complicated by a loyalty payment the midfielder is due. Wilshere will be out of contract on July 1. The 26-year-old, who has been at the club since he was nine, has so far been unable to agree terms on a new deal. However, he told  Soccer Saturday  last month he was keen to stay at the club and was "hopeful" of agreeing a new contract to remain. Wilshere has struggled with injuries in recent years but played 38 times for Arsenal last season in what proved to be Arsene Wenger's final campaign at the club. However, that was not enough to convince Gareth Southgate to include Wilshere in his 23-man England squad for the World Cup in Russia. via Sky Sports

Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann says he has made a final decision about his future but has refused to reveal where he will be playing next season. Griezmann, a former target for Manchester United, has been strongly linked with Barcelona this summer after scoring 29 goals in 49 games for Atletico last season. The 27-year-old called a press conference while on international duty with France on Tuesday but refused to confirm if he will move clubs this summer or remain at the Wanda Metropolitano. "Today is not the day to talk about my future," he said. "Yes, I have already made a decision about my future. But I'm not going to speak about it today. "It's not the time or the place." Griezmann had previously hinted that his future would be sorted before the start of the World Cup and  Sky Sports'  Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes the French striker is at risk of angering fans with his lack of clarity. "Whiche...