France star Kylian Mbappé laughed and smiled — and scored, of course — when Paraguay tried to bait him and his teammates into fouls and provoke fights, as hot heads became a recurring theme during one of the steamiest World Cup games on record. After the final whistle, Mbappé kept on walking and left Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill hanging as Gill extended his right hand in a show of sportsmanship.…
The Socceroos will hope Jordan Bos has avoided a serious left knee injury as the dynamic wing-back heads in for scans. Bos suffered the injury when he was clattered in a challenge late in the first half of Australia’s round-of-32 loss to Egypt. Editor’s Picks Penalty heartbreak for Australia vs. Egypt as World Cup knockout win still eludes Socceroos Joey Lynch The wing-back was prone on the turf for several…
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal from the penalty spot as France defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the World Cup round of 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday. Paraguay’s physical tactics presented France with a difficult problem to solve but eventually Mbappé had the final say with a second-half penalty. Diego Gómez’s knee collided with the onrushing Désiré Doué, and with the aid of VAR, the referee pointed to the spot, and…
MEXICO CITY — Mexico manager Javier Aguirre is ignoring any talk of the altitude favouring his side when they face England at the Azteca Stadium in their World Cup round of 16 match and says all the discussions over the kick-off time potentially shifting has not impacted his team. The knockout match on Sunday will be played in front of a huge home crowd, while Mexico have lost just two…
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti maintains he is not about to set up an “anti-Erling Haaland plan” when his side look to shackle the Manchester City forward and get past Norway to secure a place in the World Cup quarterfinals. After topping Group C, Ancelotti’s side came from behind to beat Japan in their round of 32 tie with a stoppage time goal from Gabriel Martinelli. Brazil will face another stern…
Morgan Rogers says he is “not sure I’m worth all of that” after being linked with a £130 million ($174m) move away from Aston Villa this summer. Rogers is currently part of England’s World Cup squad gunning for glory in North America, but has been linked with a transfer to Premier League champions Arsenal. Aged 23 and under a long-term contract at Villa Park, it would take a mammoth transfer…
Canada coach Jesse Marsch insisted that his side were “the better team” in their 3-0 World Cup defeat to Morocco on Saturday, saying “I’d rather be us than them.” Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third in the round-of-16 game in Houston, as Morocco progressed to the quarterfinals. Canada dominated the first half, with chances for Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi, before Ounahi gave…
MEXICO CITY — The message from Mexico‘s players to England ahead of Sunday’s World Cup round of 16 match is they are ready to “make it the best game” of their lives, and they are confident the home support in the vast Azteca Stadium could swing the match in their favour. Mexico men’s team’s record at the Azteca Stadium is astonishing. They have lost just two of 89 matches they’ve…
NEW YORK — Norway coach Stale Solbakken said it is a “great honour” to face Carlo Ancelotti in Sunday’s World Cup round-of-16 tie against Brazil after rejecting claims he disrespected the Seleção coach in a filmed dressing-room address when he declared: “Ancelotti, we are coming for you!” The Norwegians go into the New Jersey clash defending an unbeaten record against Brazil having never lost against the five-time World Cup winners…
SEATTLE — United States men’s national team defender Tim Ream said that the diverse background of the players on the USMNT is “a true representation of what America is.” The U.S. captain spoke to reporters prior to the team’s World Cup training session on the campus of the University of Washington, with the USMNT set to celebrate the July 4 holiday later in the day at a rooftop bar where…