Russia Extends Cherchesov Stay After World Cup Success

Head coach Russia Stanislav Cherchesov has been rewarded with a contract extension for masterminding an impressive run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

The agreement means the 54-year-old will remain at the helm until Euro 2020 with the Russian Football Union retaining the option of additional two-year extension.

Having entered as the worst-ranked team, the host nation defied expectations to reach the World Cup knockout rounds with comprehensive group stage wins over Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

They then stunned 2010 champions Spain in a tense penalty shootout in the last 16, before losing in the same manner to eventual finalists Croatia.

Cherchesov was congratulated by Russian president Vladimir Putin and is now looking forward to building on the breakthrough showing.

"I am glad that we will continue to work with the Russian team," he said.

"In terms of team results the bar is raised high enough. I would like to continue further in the same spirit.

"We understand the full measure of our responsibility, we will do our work with dignity."

Cherchesov's accomplishments led to his inclusion on an 11-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men's Coach award for 2018.

A former international goalkeeper, he managed the likes of Spartak Moscow and Legia Warsaw before taking his country's top job in August 2016.

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Sweden Will Maintain Their Strengths - Granqvist

Andreas Granqvist has vowed that Sweden will not alter the way they played heading into their World Cup quarter-final with England.

Janne Andersson's side have had less possession than their opponents in three out of their four matches at the World Cup so far, relying on their strong defensive structure to keep teams at bay.

That tactic has worked well, and if not for Toni Kroos' sublime free-kick in the last minute of the Group F clash with Germany, Sweden would have an undefeated record in Russia.

And Granqvist, who has scored twice from the penalty spot, claims Sweden have no plans to change how they set up when it comes to facing England in Samara on Saturday.

"Normally the other teams have better players on paper. We let them have the ball in the places we want them to have the ball," Sweden's captain, who will return to Helsingborgs IF at the end of his World Cup campaign, told reporters.

"If you look at the games we have played, of course the opponents have more ball possession, but we have created more chances.

"This is how we play, this is what we need to do. This is our strength and we need to show our quality against other strong teams.

"This is the way for us to have success and we're going to continue this way."

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