Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported 22 million euros (£19.3m).

Leno becomes new manager Unai Emery’s second acquisition following the arrival of Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on a free transfer.
"Bernd is a goalkeeper of high quality and experience," Emery told the club’s website.

"He has been a top performer and regular number one goalkeeper with Leverkusen in the Bundesliga for the past seven years."

The 26-year-old is seen as the long-term successor to Petr Cech – a stopper over 10 years his senior.

Hosts Russia moved to the brink of the last 16 with a 3-1 win over Egypt, who face becoming the first country to exit the tournament.

Ahmed Fathi scored an own goal on 47 minutes in Saint Petersburg to give Russia the lead before Denis Cheryshev (59') and Artem Dzyuba (62') put the match beyond their opponents with two goals in three minutes.

It means Russia have scored eight goals in their first two matches following their opening night 5-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah netted a consolation goal from the penalty spot on 73 minutes, but his country are facing the exit door after losing 1-0 to Uruguay in their opener.

If Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia on Wednesday afternoon, they will join Russia in securing their progress at the finals with Egypt and Saudi Arabia both eliminated.

Germany coach Joachim Low said there was no need for panic or radical change despite his team again looking defensively vulnerable in their shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico in the opening game of their World Cup defence.

Germany showed many of the fault lines that had been there for all to see in recent games, and Mexico had obviously been doing their homework as they exploited them again and again and should have scored more goals. "In the first half we played very badly. We were not able to impose our usual way of playing," Loew told a news conference.

"But we will not just break apart now and become headless and do something completely different. There is no need to break out in panic just because we have lost a match."
It is true that few would bet against Germany turning things round in their remaining games against Sweden and South Korea, but all is clearly not right with the four-times winners.
"Our cover was often not good and we were left many times with just Jerome (Boateng) and myself in the back," said centre back Hummels, one of several Germans who will not want to watch a replay of Hirving Lozano's 35th-minute goal.

"We were warned (in the warm-up games). We played exactly like we did against Saudi Arabia (when Germany won 2-1) only against a better opponent. That's why the first half was like it was and Mexico obviously deserved to win it."
"If seven or eight players are attacking then it is clear that our attacking power is greater," said Hummels. "But that is something that I have often talked about internally. I does not always bear fruit."

Toni Kroos recognised that Germany, the ultimate tournament team, were now facing an unusual situation. "We are now under pressure, we have to get six points from the next games," he said.
"Overall we had our chances but did not score. We just lost the ball up front far too easily, and Mexico had always two or three people up front whom we failed to block efficiently."
Loew was at a loss to explain the problems. "We did not cover the spaces, we did not play our usual attacking game, we lost possession too often and so had to cover big distances, so the Mexicans had space to counter-attack," he said.

"When it came to passing, we were a bit negligent, which is quite unfamiliar when I look at this team.

"We simply have to concentrate on our strong points that we have not been able to bring to bear in the last two matches."

Brazil joined the host of big guns who have failed to fire in their opening World Cup game as lax defending from a corner allowed Switzerland to cancel out Philippe Coutinho's spectacular curling strike and grab a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The five-times world champions took a deserved lead midway through the first half in the Group E game when Coutinho's irresistible long-distance shot cannoned in off the far post, but Tite's side, who had looked so impressive in the tournament build-up, did not build on their advantage.

The highly organised Swiss hit back early in the second period from one of their few chances as Brazil's Casemiro and Miranda switched off and the unmarked Steven Zuber barely had to leave his feet to nod in Xherdan Shaqiri's whipped corner.
Brazil went all out in pursuit of a winner and came agonisingly close to finding it as Coutinho and Miranda lashed wide from inside the area while Neymar and substitute Roberto Firmino were denied by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

They had to settle for a point and joined fellow tournament favourites Germany, Spain and Argentina in failing to win their first game.

It was also the first time Brazil had not won a World Cup opener since drawing 1-1 with Sweden in the 1978 tournament.

"I was expecting to get a victory so, of course, I'm not happy with the result," Brazil coach Tite told a news conference.
"At this stage of a World Cup you have to take advantage of a goal and see that your opponents are taking risks and you need to have faster transitions."

Tite did not complain that his side were denied a penalty when Manuel Akanji wrapped his arms around Gabriel Jesus and had little sympathy with claims some of his players had been fouled when Switzerland levelled.

"I can't coach a team who complains. You can interpret the penalty in any way but there's no way you can complain."
Neymar's flamboyant blond 'spaghetti' haircut certainly caught the eye although he only gave glimpses of the spectacular dribbles and plays he is renowned for and which led Paris St Germain to shell out 222 million euros for.

Instead, Brazil's second most expensive player, Coutinho, pulled the strings, constantly finding right winger Willian and drifting striker Jesus with sweeping passes although Switzerland managed to deal with the threat.

Coutinho's whirlwind finish delighted the Rostov Arena, where yellow-shirted Brazil fans vastly outnumbered the red of the Swiss, although Tite's side failed to build further momentum, as Neymar was frequently stopped in his tracks by tactical fouls.

Brazil always looked in control until they ceded a corner and Zuber took full advantage of their collective lapse of concentration to level.

World Cup Group E, Rostov Arena – Brazil 1 (Coutinho 20’) Switzerland 1 (Zuber 50’)

Brazil had to settle for a point from their opening clash at the World Cup after being pegged back by Switzerland.

Philippe Coutinho curled home a wicked effort from 20 yards as the South Americans made a flying start, but Steven Zuber headed home from a corner to equalise after the restart.

Miranda flashed a shot wide and Fabian Schaer made a crucial block as Brazil almost snatched victory in the closing stages, but it was not to be.

The result means that Serbia lead Group E after beating Costa Rica 1-0 earlier in the day.
TALKING POINT
Can Brazil bounce back? This is only the third time Brazil have drawn their World Cup opening match - they've won 16 other times, and the losses were back in the day when the tournament was first created. They didn't look dominant during this match - and the talismanic Neymar didn't look entirely fit most of the time.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Yann Sommer (Switzerland): The goalkeeper could do nothing about Coutinho's goal but after that he was absolutely solid despite the pressure his occasionally shaky defence put him under.

PLAYER RATINGS
Brazil: Alisson 7, Thiago Silva 7, Miranda 6, Casemiro 6, Gabriel Jesus 6, Neymar 7, Coutinho 7, Marcelo 6, Danilo 6, Paulinho 6, Willian 7. Subs: Renato Augusto 6, Fernandinho 6, Firmino 6.

Switzerland: Sommer 8, Lichtsteiner 7, Akanji 6, Seferovic 6, Xhaka 6, Behrami 6, Rodriguez 7, Zuber 7, Dzemaili 6, Schaer 6, Shaqiri 6. Subs: Lang 6, Embolo 6, Zakaria 6.
KEY MOMENTS
11' - CLOSE! That falls to Paulinho at the far post, who's in acres of space, but Sommer gets his fingertips to it to nudge it away from the goal.

20' - GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Switzerland. And that's Philippe Coutinho, doing Philippe Coutinho things. Edge of the box, beautiful first touch, and an accurate curling biff of a second.
50' - GOAL! Brazil 1-1 Switzerland. Shaqiri swings it in and Zuber meets it with a powerful smack of a header. There are five defenders around him failing to challenge as he leaps to meet it.
69' - CLOSE! Coutinho slices his shot wide of the far post, having taken a great touch and created marvellous space for himself.

88' - CLOSE! Snap chance from close range falls to the forehead of Neymar, under some pressure, and into the arms of Sommer.

90' - CLOSE! Sommer makes another great save, batting away the header from Firmino, who's given all the space he could possibly require.

KEY STATS
The last player to be fouled more in a World Cup game than Neymar in this match (10 fouls) was Alan Shearer in 1998 (11 v Tunisia).

Steven Zuber has been directly involved in six goals in his last six international starts for Switzerland (four goals, two assists).

Since 1966, Brazil have scored 37 goals from outside the box at the World Cup; 11 more than any other team.

World Cup Group C, Mordovia Arena – Peru 0 Denmark 1 (Poulsen 59’)

Denmark survived a Peru onslaught to open their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Saransk.

Yussuf Poulsen’s second-half goal was enough to give Age Hareide’s side a narrow victory, although they were saved a number of times by Kasper Schmeichel, who almost single-handedly prevented Peru from finding the back of the net.

Jefferson Farfan and Andre Carrillo both came close for Peru, but Christian Cueva was made to rue spurning the South Americans’ best opportunity, blasting over a penalty kick that was awarded following the use of VAR.

Peru picked themselves up and continued to create scoring chances, with Paulo Guerrero coming off the bench in the second half, but they could not find the equaliser that their performance probably warranted.
TALKING POINT
Will Peru be able to pick themselves up after this? The sight of a Cueva devastated at the end of the match provided the defining image of this match for Peru. Of course, he was the one who missed the penalty kick at the end of the first half. Had he converted that this match might have turned out very differently for the Peruvians, who played with a lot of verve and energy. So will they take the positives from this performance or will this defeat crush their World Cup optimism?

MAN OF THE MATCH
Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark): He has yet to concede a goal for Denmark in 2018. This was a magnificent performance from Schmeichel, who did more than anyone else to thwart Peru. Denmark sat back and absorbed pressure for much of the match, but they still allowed their opponents a number of chances in front of goal. But when their defence failed them, Schmeichel was on hand to stop Peru. He was solid for the full 90 minutes.
PLAYER RATINGS
Peru: Gallese 8, Advincula 6, Ramos 6, Rodriguez 5, Truaco 6, Yotun 6, Tapia 6, Flores 7, Cueva 6, Carrillo 8, Farfan 7. Subs: Aquino, Ruidiaz, Guerrero 6.

Denmark: Schmeichel 9, Dalsgaard 6, Kjaer 7, Christensen 8, Larsen 6, Kvist 5, Delaney 5, Sisto 5, Eriksen 7, Poulsen 8, Jorgensen 5. Subs: Schone 5, Braithwaite 6, Jorgensen.

KEY MOMENTS
13’ - BIG SAVE! That's the closest we have come to an opener. Carrillo cuts inside off the right wing on to his left foot and gets the curling shot away, but Schmeichel makes the diving save.

45’ - PENALTY KICK TO PERU! Cueva goes down inside the area and on first viewing it looked like the Peruvian had his heels clipped. Will we go to VAR for this? This is a big call for the referee... he goes over to the viewing area... and... has used VAR to give the penalty! Cueva was caught by Poulsen.

46’ - BLASTED OVER THE BAR! Cueva stepped up to the 12-yard mark and he has smashed his penalty kick well over the bar. That's not even close! What a chance for Peru.

56’ - HOW DID THEY MESS THAT UP? That should be a Peruvian goal. Cueva cuts inside, passes to Carrillo, who can't control it, and then Truaco completely scuffs his shot wide. Yikes.

58’ - GOAL! Peru 0-1 Denmark. Denmark have taken the lead! Peru were caught up the pitch on the break, Eriksen prods through the pass for Poulsen, who had space. He was onside, held his run and slid a finish past Gallese. The Danes are ahead!
70’ - INCHES WIDE! That looked destined for the back of the Danish net. A cross was headed back across goal and Carrillo and Farfan couldn't force it in at the back post. So close!

79’ - BACKHEEL WIDE! Wow, that was soooo close to an equaliser. Cueva's shot falls at the feet of Guerrero with his back to goal six yards out. He tries a backheel, but it flashes just past the post.

83’ - WHAT A CRUCIAL BLOCK! Just for a moment, that looked to be curtains for Peru. The ball fell to Jorgensen unmarked 10 yards out. But Advincula made an amazing block with an outstretched leg!

86’ - THAT WAS THE CHANCE! That should have been the equaliser for Peru. Carrillo beat his man, surged down the right and set up Farfan for the shot, but Schmeichel saves with his feet!

KEY STATS
Four penalties have been given in a single day of the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

More penalty kicks have been missed at this World Cup than were missed at the 2014 World Cup.

Christian Eriksen's assist was his 17th goal (12) or assist (five) in his last 14 international games for Denmark.

ON THE SAME TOPIC

World Cup Group D – Croatia 2 (Etebo 32’ og, Modric 71’ pen) Nigeria 0

Croatia got their World Cup campaign off to a solid but unspectacular start with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria at Kaliningrad Stadium.

The Vatreni looked the better side throughout but benefitted from a large slice of luck as an own goal by new Stoke City defender Etebo Oghenekaro just past the half hour gifted them the opener.

The Super Eagles improved after the break but lacked a cutting edge, and their hopes were dashed 19 minutes from time when Luka Modric tucked home a penalty.

The results sees Zlatko Dalic's men move top of Group D following Argentina's surprise draw with Iceland earlier in the day.

Croatia will now meet Lionel Messi and Co in Nizhny Novgorod on Thursday, while Nigeria take on Iceland in Volgograd on Friday afternoon.

TALKING POINT
Croatia do enough as Modric shows up Messi. Following Argentina's shock draw, Croatia knew a victory would put them in the driving seat in this potential group of death. The Croatians seemed to struggle with that knowledge at first and flattered to deceive for much of the contest, but Nigeria huffed and puffed without any end product. A win is a win and Modric's penalty was an interesting footnote to a first day in the pool that saw Lionel Messi miss his own cue from the spot. There should be more to come from this talented Croatia team, but it already looks like a tall order for this Nigeria side to progress.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Luka Modric (Croatia): Played within himself at times, but helped dictate the play to ensure Croatia remained largely in control. Capped a solid showing with a cool spot kick to seal a first opening match victory for his country at the World Cup in four attempts.

PLAYER RATINGS
Croatia: Subasic 6, Vrsaljko 7, Strinic 7, Lovren 7, Vida 7, Rakitic 7, Modric 8, Perisic 7, Kramaric 7, Mandzukic 7, Rebic 6. Subs: Brozovic 6, Kovacic 5, Pjaca n/a.

Nigeria: Uzoho 7, Idowu 6, Ndidi 6, Ekong 6, Balogun 6, Etebo 6, Ighalo 6, Mikel 7, Moses 7, Shehu 6, Iwobi 6. Subs: Musa 6, Iheanacho 6, Nwankwo n/a.

KEY MOMENTS
14' - CROATIA CHANCE! Mandzukic lays the ball back for Perisic who sees his 20-yarder fly just over after sublime build-up from Modric on the left.

32' - GOAL! Croatia 1-0 Nigeria. Mandzukic dives to meet a right-wing corner, but his header comes off Etebo and flies into the bottom corner.
39' - CROATIA CHANCE! Kramaric meets Rakitic's pinpoint cross from the left but his header loops just over the bar.

55' - CROATIA CHANCE! Perisic delivers a wonderful cross from the left for Rebic who somehow guides over the top from close range. It should be two.

71' - GOAL! Croatia 2-0 Nigeria. Modric steps up and coolly fires a low penalty into the left-hand corner he is facing. The referee pointed to the spot after Ekong wrestled Mandzukic to the floor as the forward looked to attack a left-wing corner.

KEY STATS
Neither side attempted a single shot on target in the first half. The last game to not have a shot on target before half-time at the World Cup also involved Croatia (vs Mexico in June 2014).

Nigeria have lost each of their last seven World Cup matches when they have conceded the first goal.

Nigeria have won only one of their last 13 games at the World Cup.

Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick on Friday, and told reporters after the match that he always believes in his own ability.

Cristiano Ronaldo is confident Portugal will progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup after his hat-trick stunned Spain in an astonishing 3-3 draw in Sochi.

Ronaldo – at 33 years and 130 days – became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, twice putting Portugal ahead before his 88th-minute free-kick secured a precious point.

It was the 51st treble of Ronaldo’s goal-filled career as he became the fourth player to score in four different World Cup and the first to do so at eight consecutive international tournaments.
“We have to look to the next match now because our goal is to win,” Ronaldo said.

“We have to take it match by match and move on through the group stage.

“We are not the favourites but we will do our best and try to beat Morocco on Wednesday.

“I think the team played very well and is going to do well for sure.”
Ronaldo’s records might stack up like his goals, but he was determined to focus on the team ethos of the reigning European champions.

Spain dominated for large periods – Diego Costa twice equalised and Nacho putting them ahead with a superb strike – but Portugal rallied in the final moments for Ronaldo to level.

“I am very happy, and I always believe in myself,” the Real Madrid forward added.

“It is one more (hat-trick) in my career but the most important thing to me is to highlight what the teams has done.
We played against a favourite team that wants to win the World Cup and we were winning twice during the game.

“We almost made those three points and we managed to draw. We are very happy because this game was about to end and we managed to equalise.

“We have to evaluate what the team did because it was a very hard-fought game.”

Portugal and Spain are both currently playing catch-up in Group B as Iran shocked Morocco 1-0 earlier in the day to top the section.
Ronaldo’s second goal on the stroke of half-time was down to a dreadful error from David de Gea, considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world.

The Manchester United star allowed Ronaldo’s straightforward shot to slip through his grasp and into the net.

But stand-in Spain coach Fernando Hierro – who replaced the sacked Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday – gave a massive vote of confidence to De Gea after the game.

“We don’t have any doubts about De Gea and he doesn’t have any doubts about himself either,” Hierro said.
I gave him a long embrace, we know that being a goalkeeper requires special psychology and is a difficult position to play in.

“He has had lots of good days. We are a family, we are a team, and we stick together.”

On being thrown into the deep end when Lopetegui was sacked for accepting the Real Madrid job just weeks after signing a new contract as Spain manager until 2020, Hierro said: “There was a plan for us in the opening match and we have stuck to that.
“But we have adapted very well because this situation was not easy.

“But when you have the staff and these excellent young professionals it makes your life a lot easier.

“I hope this squad will continue to show that motivation and strength as we progress.”