Chechen strongman makes Egypt's Salah honorary citizen

Russian artists create stunning stone mosaics of two World cup stars, Argentina's Leo Messi and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah. Their inspiration for making such a masterpiece comes from a desire to create mementos for visiting fans. The artists wanted to surprise the fans and to show off their city as well so that their visit will be memorable.

The artists from Kazan meticulously designed and set eachtiny stone very carefully by looking at photographs of the players to capture their specific looks. They choose Messi and salah for their popularity ahead of World cup. While Messi and Salah are not going to Kazan, but there are lots of fan who desperately want to see them.

The portraits will be available to see in the streets of Kazan in a special exhibition organized by the team in order to provide a perfect picture opportunity for tourists and fans.

Kazan is one of 11 host cities for the Russia 2018 World Cup. The city’s eponymous Kazan Arena is one of 12 host venues, and will host six games in total.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was able to name influential midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara in his side for Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid after the pair recovered from muscle injuries.

Fabinho has not featured since sustaining a muscular injury in a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on May 10.

Thiago was brought off at half-time of Liverpool's 3-1 win over Wolves last weekend nursing an Achilles problem.

Klopp opted for Ibrahima Konate in defence ahead of Joel Matip as he looks to combat the speed of Madrid's left winger Vinicius Junior.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti makes just one change from the side that started the second leg of their dramatic semi-final win over Manchester City.

The fit-again David Alaba replaces Nacho, but there is no place in the starting line-up for Eduardo Camavinga or Rodrygo despite their starring role off the bench in Real's run to the final.

Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard are also included on the Madrid bench.

Starting line-ups for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France on Saturday :

Liverpool (4-3-3)

Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson (capt); Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz

Coach: Jurgen Klopp (GER)

Real Madrid (4-3-3)

Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; Fede Valverde, Karim Benzema (capt), Vinicius Junior

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (ITA)

Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Chelsea women's striker Sam Kerr both achieved a notable double on Thursday as they were named the player of the year by England's Professional Footballers Association after they each won corresponding awards from sportswriters.

Salah topped a poll of his fellow players ahead of Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne, who had won for the previous two years and was again a key member of the Manchester City team which took the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool by just a single point.

Salah was named PFA player of the year for a second time, having previously won in 2018, after a season where Liverpool lifted both the League Cup and FA Cup, while also getting to the Champions League final where they lost to Real Madrid.

Egypt striker Salah finished as the Premier League's joint top-scorer alongside Tottenham's Son Heung-min with 23 goals.

"It's a great honour to win a trophy, individual or collective," Salah said.

The 29-year-old, who has confirmed he will see out his contract at Liverpool next season while remaining non-committal on his future at Anfield beyond 2023, added: "This one is a really good one to win, especially because it's voted by players."

Salah was also named footballer of the year by England's Football Writers' Association in April, with Kerr, 28, winning the equivalent women's award.

The Australian was honoured again Thursday after her 20 goals made her the top scorer in the FA Women's Super League, with the striker helping Chelsea complete a domestic double.

Egyptian international Mohamed Salah's stunning first season with English Premier League side Liverpool earned him a long-term contract with the club on Monday.

"Liverpool Football Club can confirm Mohamed Salah has signed a new long-term contract with the club," read the club statement.

"The Egypt forward has committed his future to the Reds by putting pen to paper on the deal, a little over one year after originally arriving at Anfield from AS Roma," it said.

Egypt’s Mo Salah arrived in Russia with his wing ahead of their third appearance FIFA World Cup and the Pharaohs immediately treated to the traditional ‘lezginka’ dance by locals at the team’s base in Chechnya.

The squad will be based at ‘The Local Hotel’ in Grozny, the capital city of the Chechen Republic, as a Chechen pair in traditional Chechen dress performed the lezginka dance - a folk dance originating from the Lezgian people of the Caucasus region - as the players disembarked coaches outside the hotel. 

The dance is traditionally performed by a man, often with a sword, and imitating an eagle. The dancer falls to his knees, leaps up, and dances with steps and strong, sharp arm and body movements like the bird.

استقبال بعثة المنتخب الوطني لدى وصولها فندق لوكال مقر اقامة البعثة طوال فترة اقامتها بجروزني pic.twitter.com/ca9WuWCD2c

EFA.eg (@EFA) June 10, 2018