Joachim Löw will discuss his future as Germany's coach in the coming days.GETTY IMAGES
Joachim Löw is "set for showdown talks" with German FA (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel about his future as Germany coach following the team's group-stage exit from the World Cup. Grindel said, "I spoke with Joachim Löw [Wednesday] evening. We agreed to speak in the coming days about how we proceed." After landing in Frankfurt on Thursday, Löw said again that he "will take his time before deciding his future" (ESPN.com, 6/28).
Indian audiences are "hooked" on the World Cup, "surpassing expectations for football viewership in India in its second week." Official broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India said that 69.3 million viewers tuned in to the live telecast of the first 26 matches across Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3 and Sony ESPN channels. Cumulatively, the tournament has garnered more than 117.3 million viewers, including "live matches, wraparound shows, highlights, repeats and surround programming" across SPN Sports Network and its video streaming service, SonyLIV (ECONOMIC TIMES, 6/28).
As Sweden defeated Mexico 3-0 to top Group F, Swedes "took to social media to celebrate the victory and reject racism." Winger Jimmy Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents who emigrated from Turkey, was "racially abused in the aftermath of that game." But on Wednesday, a hashtag which translates as #WeAreSweden was used "thousands of times" on Twitter. Durmaz said, "When you threaten me, when you can call me a terrorist, then you have gone far beyond the border" (BBC, 6/28).
Egypt FA President Hany Abo Rida said that "fasting ahead of the World Cup affected" the side's campaign in Russia. The squad chose to fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that ended the day before Egypt's opening game. Egypt lost each of its group games. Abo Rida said, "It affected us badly. I talked with them before the World Cup but they refused (to break their fasting)" (BBC, 6/28).
Sardar Azmoun said that insults he received during the WC caused his mother's health to worsen.GETTY IMAGES
Iran striker Sardar Azmoun announced his retirement from int'l football on Thursday, saying that he "decided to quit the national team because insults aimed at the 23-year-old had ruined his mother's health." Iran was knocked out of the World Cup with a win, a defeat and a draw in its Group B matches. Azmoun said that he was "subjected to abuse for his performances" (REUTERS, 6/28).
Diego Maradona's lawyer offered a 300,000 Argentine peso ($10,700) reward "to track down the creators of audio clips that claimed the Argentina great had died." Maradona has been a "lively presence" at Argentina's matches. He was pictured receiving treatment after the country's match with Nigeria following a "health scare," but a pair of Spanish-language audio recordings suggested Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack. Maradona "was not happy that the clips went viral, worrying his family" (FOUR FOUR TWO, 6/28).
South Korean fans "rejoiced" on Thursday and called for national service exemptions after their team went out of the World Cup in a "blaze of glory," eliminating Germany with a "shock" 2-0 victory. Dozens of online petitions were launched on a presidential website "urging Moon Jae-in to exempt star players," including Tottenham forward Son Heung-min and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, from their mandatory two-year military service (AFP, 6/28).
