Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner for Brazil to beat plucky Japan 2-1 in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Monday. Kaishu Sano‘s first-half opener gave Japan real hope to cause an all-time upset but Casemiro headed home an equaliser after 56 minutes. Martinelli then struck six minutes into added time to break Japan’s hearts and ensure the five-time winners advanced beyond this tough test. It was…
Manchester City have announced Enzo Maresca as their new manager. The Italian, 46, replaces Pep Guardiola on a three-year deal after a compensation settlement was agreed with Maresca’s former club, Chelsea. He returns to City for a third spell after previously working in the club’s academy and as Guardiola’s first-team assistant. “Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is…
Steve Clarke said it was a straightforward decision to step down from his role as Scotland head coach because he always planned to depart if the World Cup did not go to plan. The 62-year-old told his players on Saturday night, at their hotel in Charlotte, that he was bringing the curtain down on his seven-year reign after it was confirmed that the Scots had failed to get out of…
ALAMEDA, California — Socceroos attacker Connor Metcalfe says the “inner anger” from a frustrating Bundesliga campaign with St Pauli is helping to fuel his breakout FIFA World Cup, and that a rematch with Egypt in the round of 32 offers not only a chance at history, but also a bit of personal revenge. Starting and scoring the Socceroos’ 2-0 win over Türkiye before shifting to a bench role in their…
Argentina defender Giuliano Simeone revealed texts on Sunday from 2023 where he vowed to debut in this edition of the FIFA World Cup after suffering from a serious leg injury that forced him to the sidelines for five months. “I will tell you one thing,” Simeone said in a message he posted on Instagram from a group text with friends on Aug. 6, 2023. “I will play the next World…
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to engage in “mind games” ahead of the round of 32 clash with Japan on Monday. The Seleção take on Japan in one of the more evenly matched first knockout ties on paper. Both sides went unbeaten in the groups, with Brazil drawing 1-1 with Morocco, before beating Haiti and Scotland 3-0 to qualify top of Group C. Japan, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with the Netherlands,…
BOSTON, Mass — Julian Nagelsmann said Paraguay are an “uncomfortable” opponent for Germany in the round of 32 and believes his team will need a “perfect” performance to get through. Germany are set to play their first World Cup knockout tie for 12 years in Boston on Monday. Nagelsmann branded the game “do or die” but backed his players to bounce back from their group stage defeat to Ecuador. “They…
HOUSTON — For the third consecutive game — and arguably their biggest ever at the FIFA World Cup — Japan will be without key playmaker Takefusa Kubo for Monday’s massive round-of-32 meeting with Brazil. But having seen his side get this far even without the Real Sociedad star, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu is optimistic his charges can still pull off what most would view as a huge upset — and…