MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Cape Verde “believe” they can pull off one of the greatest World Cup shocks ever and stun Argentina, according to coach Pedro Leitao Brito. Cape Verde, the smallest nation to ever progress from the group stage at a World Cup, take on reigning champions Argentina in the round of 32 in Miami on Friday. Argentina, led by talisman Lionel Messi, are heavy favourites. But the Cape…
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said his team has respect for Cape Verde after the opponent reached the round of 32 match on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium through merit on the field. Cape Verde qualified to the knockout round of the World Cup after drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, earning second place in group H. “It’s a team that hasn’t lost. Against Saudi…
Ghana players are acutely aware of the humanitarian crisis encountered by people back home amidst flooding in capital Accra, with captain Jordan Ayew saying he is determined to bring joy to those affected when the Black Stars face Colombia in Friday’s World Cup round-of-32 meeting. The West Africans are preparing for their first World Cup knockout game in 16 years against a backdrop of heavy rains and flooding in Accra,…
Thomas Tuchel believes England will right the wrongs of the ‘Hand of God’ as “karma” will be on their side for their long-awaited return to the Azteca Stadium. Sunday’s mouthwatering World Cup round-of-16 clash against co-hosts Mexico takes the team back to the historic stadium for the first time since their unforgettable date with Diego Maradona in 1986. The late playmaker’s goals in Argentina’s 2-1 quarterfinal defeat of England have…
Thomas Tuchel has revealed Declan Rice was dealing with “terrible pain” against Congo DR — but the England midfielder has assured him he will be fine to face Mexico. The 27-year-old has been dealing with neural pain in his hamstring since Christmas, with the issue leading to his precautionary withdrawal in their World Cup opener against Croatia. Rice was able to start the next game against Ghana and, having sat…
Nottingham Forest have announced the departure of head coach Vitor Pereira less than five months after he was appointed. Forest said on Thursday that the club had taken the decision to exercise a mutual break clause in his contract, also confirming that other members of his coaching staff — Filipe Almeida, Luis Miguel, Bruno Moura, Marco Knoop and Pedro Lopes — had left the club. The move comes as a…
Pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5 a.m. BST for England‘s World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico that kicks off at 1 a.m. on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced. MPs had called for leeway beyond the 2 a.m. extended pub opening hours already in place for England matches during the tournament. England will face Mexico in the round of 16 after…
The Education Secretary says schoolchildren could watch England’s early-morning World Cup match against Mexico on Monday and still make it to class after head coach Thomas Tuchel said pupils should be allowed “an excuse for school.” Victory over Congo DR on Wednesday set up a meeting with the co-hosts in Mexico City that will kick off at 1 a.m. BST, likely impacting the size of the television audience able to…
The USMNT has no route to appeal the red card issued to Folarin Balogun in Wednesday’s round-of-32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, sources have told ESPN, meaning the forward will miss the World Cup round-of-16 clash against Belgium. And Balogun could yet face an extended suspension if FIFA’s disciplinary panel regarded his challenge on Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic as warranting more than the automatic one-match ban issued with World Cup red…
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson, the club have confirmed. Anderson passed a medical at England‘s World Cup training base in Kansas City and will formally complete his move to the Etihad Stadium once he returns from the tournament. Sources have told ESPN that the agreement is worth £116 million with no built in add-ons or bonuses. A statement released by City on…