Stones happy to send 'dirtiest team' Colombia home from WC

Manchester City splashed out a reported £47.5 million ($61 million, 55 million euros) to sign England defender John Stones from Everton on Tuesday.

Stones agreed a six-year contract with City and is reported to have become the second most expensive defender in history behind Paris Saint Germain and Brazil star David Luiz.

"I'm absolutely delighted to sign for City and now the deal's done I'm looking forward to the next stage in my career," Stones told City's website.

News of Stones' imminent move to Eastlands had leaked out earlier in the day when UEFA's website included the 22-year-old centre-back in City's squad for next week's Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest.

City responded by quickly announcing the deal.

Croatia face France in Moscow on Sunday attempting to win their first World Cup while Didier Deschamps' side are aiming to land their second title two decades on from their triumph on home soil.

France, who are clear favourites to triumph in the Luzhniki Stadium, will also be spurred on by the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final to Portugal in Paris.

It is a final few people anticipated when football's global showpiece kicked off four weeks ago.

Croatia have brought joy to their Balkan nation of just four million people by defying the odds to progress to the final while reigning champions Germany, then Argentina and Brazil all fell by the wayside in Russia.

They have been inspired by mercurial midfielder Luka Modric while coach Zlatko Dalic, who only took over last year with the squad in chaos, has coaxed remarkable performances from his team.

Deschamps would become only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager -- he was captain when France lifted the World Cup in 1998.

His France side, spearheaded by 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe and the more seasoned Antoine Griezmann, are the favourites.

Paul Pogba has finally become a leader in midfield for France and N'Golo Kante has excelled in doing the tireless work that allows his teammates to shine, while Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane are the nucleus of a solid defence.

Les Bleus laboured through their group, beating Australia and Peru by the odd goal and drawing with Denmark in the only goalless game of the tournament.

Then they hit form, sweeping aside Argentina in a match which announced to the world that Mbappe is set to be an international superstar as he scored twice and outshone Lionel Messi.

But apart from that 4-3 win, France have played like a Deschamps side, with the emphasis on defence.

Manchester City defender John Stones has praised manager Pep Guardiola for making him a "better player and person" during their first year together at the Etihad Stadium.

Stones struggled to deliver under weight of expectations when he joined City from Everton last season, then as the world's second most expensive defender behind Chelsea's David Luiz.

However, Guardiola's constant support and work behind the scenes with the 23-year-old is finally paying dividends as Stones helped City claim six clean sheets over the last seven games in all competitions.

"He's (Guardiola) always positive and wanting me to do better and that's what I try to repay him on the pitch," Stones told reporters.

"The games this season speak for themselves: clean sheets both in the Champions League and Premier League. I feel like I'm developing as a player and a person under him.

"That's all down to the players around me, him and the staff that are there. All I want to do is keep this run going and see where it takes us."

Premier League leaders City have scored 22 goals and conceded just twice in their opening seven league games as players appear to be responding to the demands of the Spanish coach's attacking philosophy.

Stones believes his England team mates have what it takes to play a similar style but said that results take priority on the international stage.

"We've got the players to do it," Stones said.

"It's so different -- but we're always striving to become better and there's a lot of likeness between how City play and international football. But to gel all those things is very difficult."

England will qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia if they win at home to Slovenia on Thursday, while a draw will also do the trick if Slovakia fail to beat Scotland away in the other Group F qualifier.

Manchester City have been dealt a double injury blow as Kyle Walker and John Stones will miss Sunday's crucial clash in the Premier League title race against Arsenal.

Both players were injured on international duty with England.

Walker was replaced early during a 1-0 defeat to Brazil with a hamstring problem, while Stones limped off in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Belgium due to an adductor issue.

Defending champions City are third in the Premier League, but just one point behind leaders Arsenal, who are ahead of Liverpool only on goal difference.

The absence of the key defensive duo is also a worry for City with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final away to Real Madrid on April 9.

"Kyle's (injury is) more tough than John's but they will be out - I don't know for how many games," said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

However, there was more positive news for Guardiola as Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne all look set to return from injury.

De Bruyne, who sat out City's 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle before the international break, has suffered an injury-plagued season after missing the first five months of the campaign with a hamstring tear.

However, the 32-year-old has provided 12 assists and scored twice in 12 appearances for City this season when fit.

"Kevin is so important," added Guardiola. "It has been a tough season for him with injuries.

"He has been out for a long time but he trained really well yesterday. We will see what he does in the next days."

De Bruyne scored twice in City's 4-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad last season that proved a telling blow to the Gunners' title aspirations.

Mikel Arteta's men look a more mature and well-rounded force this season, but face the acid test of whether they are ready to dethrone City as English champions on Sunday.

City have not lost at home in 38 games in all competitions, stretching back to November 2022.

Guardiola's men also remain on course to repeat their treble triumph of last season.

The winners of City's Champions League tie against Madrid will play either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last four.

City also face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals next month.

"This season has been really good," said Guardiola.

"To be in contention for the three important titles now, we've done incredible work.

"Now it's the last 10 games of Premier League, we start an important time. We play the leaders of the Premier League and I'm sure the people (City's fans) will give us what we need to perform at our best."

France's soccer coach will have a subway train station named after him to celebrate his World Cup win and poet Victor Hugo will have to share his memorial slot on Paris's transport map with the team's goalkeeper and captain.

As "Les Bleus" headed home with the World Cup trophy on Monday, the French capital's RATP transport authority said it was renaming six metro subway stations in their honour for the day.

One station, Notre-Dame des Champs, will now be called Notre Didier Deschamps (Our Didier Deschamps), in an hommage to the coach.

Didier Deschamps is one of just three men in the history of the World Cup to take the trophy as team coach after winning it as a player - he helped the team to its first victory in the tournament in 1998.

Victor Hugo station is being renamed Victor Hugo Lloris after captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Bercy station will become "Bercy les Bleus", close to "Merci Les Bleus".

"Les Bleus" are returning on Monday from World Cup host country Russia to celebrate their victory with a parade on the Champs Elysees.

At one end of that avenue another subway stop called "Charles de Gaulle - Etoile" is being renamed "On a 2 Étoiles", replacing the wartime leader with the boast "We have two stars", one for each World Cup win.

With demand for the French team jersey surging, police urged crowds to move away from the entrance of the Nike shop on the Champs Elysees early on Monday.

England, which surprised many by getting as far as the semis, has changed Southgate station on the London Underground to Gareth Southgate Station in honour of the national coach.