The World Cup is almost upon us, as footballers around the globe prepare to pit abilities against each other on the biggest stage. With big moves up for grabs, Sportsmail looks at those in the shop window.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still not satisfied with his omission from the Swedish national team for Russia and believes the national media cost him a spot in the 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Sweden could be missing a few players for Saturday's group match against defending champion Germany because of illness and injury.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proved he is still in the shape of his life, despite recently being snubbed by Sweden for the 2018 Russia World Cup. The iconic forward is ESPN's latest body cover star.

Sweden boss Janne Andersson accused the Germans of gloating and 'rubbing his face' in defeat after the goal which puts them back in control of their destiny in Group F.

They may no longer be able to count Zlatan Ibrahimovic among their ranks, but the enigmatic striker's retirement has certainly not hindered Sweden at the current World Cup.

Sweden have lit the blue touchpaper before Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with England by accusing Ashley Young of diving. Young has been criticised in the past for going to ground too easily.

The whole world can see Harry Kane is top of the goalscoring charts at Russia 2018, but it's not the only important statistic in which he is leaving his international striker rivals trailing in his dust.

The Russian National Tourist Office reiterated on social media on Thursday morning that the embassy was now making an exception to their usual process and issuing visas within one working day.

Certain airlines including Emirates, Etihad, American Airlines and Qatar Airways will be broadcasting England's World Cup quarter final live on Saturday afternoon.

James Milner has revealed that he is excited to get the pre-season underway but insists their first fixtures has ruined his World Cup wall chart as Liverpool's first friendly clashes with England's quarter-final.

The unnamed bride, based in England, posted an angry Facebook post declaring that 'under no circumstances' would the match be shown. She has also asked guests to not check the score.

SAMI MOKBEL IN SAMARA: Southgate, who has considered giving his midfield a defensive feel against Swedenn by starting with Dier in place of Alli, has nurtured a feeling of togetherness.

The last time a Scandinavian nation beat England in the World cup the reaction from Norwegian commentator Bjørge Lillelien was pretty un-Scandinavian to say the least.

England have booked their place in the semi-finals at the World Cup and it was all down to hard work on and off the pitch throughout the tournament, says BBC pundit Alan Shearer. 

Sweden started the match brightly as they threatened the Austrian goal but in the end were the cause of their own downfall after a horror own goal put them at a disadvantage early on. 

You know a match is perhaps not the most interesting when the key moment is a second half substitute. This was the case in Sweden, as the sub almost poked his own eye out while coming on.

ADAM SHERGOLD AT WHITEHALL STADIUM: England ended their Under 17s European Championship campaign on a winning note but it wasn’t enough to carry them to the quarter-finals.

Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' record of 167 caps for Spain as they thrashed the Faroe Islands 4-0 in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday night.

Spanish papers have heaped praise on Sergio Ramos as the captain looks set to break Iker Casillas' record by winning his 168th cap for Spain.

PETE JENSON IN OSLO: Bournemouth's Joshua King won a point for Norway against Spain scoring a penalty against Kepa Arrizabalga after the Chelsea keeper had given away the spot-kick.

Sydney-born Konta, 28, moved to Eastbourne in East Sussex with her Hungarian parents when she was 14-years-old.

Heather Watson is part of a new crop of players that have recently re-energised the British game. Katie Nicholl meets the British tennis star who's aceing it on and off Centre Court

The athlete, 28, has revealed that her family members and close friends have failed to recognise her when she is out of her tennis whites.

Johanna Konta met the Duchess of Cambridge at the practice courts before the match but was not aware that the tennis-loving royal was also in the stands.

Johanna Konta knows she faces an 'inspired' opponent in Petra Kvitova in the last 16 at Wimbledon on Monday. Czech sixth seed Kvitova has breezed into the fourth round.

MIKE DICKSON ON CENTRE COURT: It was all there again for Jo Konta - another Grand Slam semi-final, this time against a possibly vulnerable Serena Williams.

Johanna Konta suffered a first-round defeat at the Rogers Cup in Toronto as the British No 1 was beaten in straight sets by 19-year-old Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Jo Konta emerged again as the last surviving British player when she powered into the last 16 of the US Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over China's Shuai Zhang.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Martina Navratilova described the British No 1's performance in beating China's Zhuai Shang on Friday night as 'A-plus' as she prepares to take on Karolina Pliskova next.

The actor, 38, looked enthralled as he watched Johanna Konta of Great Britain play against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic on Sunday.

British No 1 Jo Konta has recovered sufficiently from lingering knee issues and expects to be fully fit for the Australian Open.

MPs insisted Boris Johnson and rival Jeremy Hunt must 'prove' their commitment to the union during the campaign.

Nicola Sturgeon said the case for breaking up the UK was 'stronger every day' after the research found 52 per cent would support the move.

John McDonnell has been accused of treating Jeremy Corbyn 'like a puppet' amid claims he failed to warn the Labour leader the party would not block a second Scottish independence referendum.

The SNP leader vowed to pass the law on the issue by the end of 2019 with a view to holding the vote in the second half of next year.

Jeremy Corbyn met Ian Blackford, the Scottish nationalists' Westminster leader, yesterday to agree an election should only be held after Britain has secured another Brexit delay from the EU.

The Scottish Labour leader today fired a public broadside at Jeremy Corbyn as he warned him not to agree a back room deal with the SNP to get into power.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon broke ranks with other Remainers by suggesting that a confidence vote to oust Boris Johnson should be held before an extension is secured.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said today that any vote of no confidence would have to come after a crunch EU summit in three weeks time otherwise ex-Tory Remainer rebels would not back it.

Boris Johnson said the 2014 ballot - when Scots voted to stay in the union - was a 'once in a generation' decision.

Ian Blackford said today the SNP will draw up a 'wish list' of demands ahead of potential post-election cooperation talks with Labour as he hinted scrapping Trident could be one of the party's red lines.

Jeremy Corbyn made yet another attempt to clarify his stance on a Scottish independence referendum today, saying: 'Certainly not in the first two years.'

Labour's leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, today suggested that if would only require 'the election of parties into a majority' to provide a mandate.

Teenage psychopath Aaron Campbell, who raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail on the Isle of Bute, was subject to the SNP's Named Person scheme, a secret report reveals.

STEPHEN GLOVER: The British are respected for their good sense and moderation, or used to be. But they may be about to choose an extremist government that would crash the economy.

EUAN McCOLM: English voters wonder why Boris Johnson is bothering with Scotland as its health service is ailing and school attainment has dropped by more than a third due to changes by the SNP.

The SNP won 35 seats in 2017 but managed to secure 12 more at the general election last week - a surge which has bolstered Ms Sturgeon's calls for a second breakaway ballot.

The SNP leader made the admission as she addressed the Holyrood parliament and tore into the Prime Minister after his election win. The SNP itself now holds 47 of the 59 seats in Scotland.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she had won overwhelming support north of the border in the election last week - and the PM had no right to block a new bid to break up the UK.