ALAMEDA, California — Over a journey that has taken him from crying in his father’s car after being cut from a second A-League academy, to playing in Serie A and at a World Cup with the Socceroos, Cristian Volpato has revealed he was torn between Australia and Italy until “something clicked” just a week out from the tournament. Volpato, 22, stunned Australian football when he flew into Los Angeles to…
Noni Madueke says England are taking penalty practice “extremely seriously” as Thomas Tuchel’s side head into the World Cup knockout stage. The Three Lions face Congo DR in the round of 32 on Wednesday — having topped Group L thanks to wins against Croatia and Panama sandwiching the stalemate with Ghana. England are heavy favourites for the meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta but nothing is being left to…
Right-back Marcos Llorente said Spain are working hard to get the best out of star winger Lamine Yamal as they prepare to face Austria in the FIFA World Cup round of 32. Spain trained at their tournament base in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Monday, a day before flying out to Los Angeles for their first game of the knockout phase at SoFi Stadium. Rated among the World Cup favourites, Spain qualified…
HOUSTON — Casemiro said Brazil avoided one of the all-time great World Cup shocks against Japan by keeping “calm” after the five-time winners fell behind against Hajime Moriyasu’s team in their round of 32 tie. Kaishu Sano’s 29th minute goal had raised the prospect of Brazil suffering their first-ever competitive defeat against Asian opposition and crashing out of the World Cup at the earliest point since a group stage exit…
Real Madrid have confirmed that Nico Paz will stay at Serie A‘s Como for another season, with the LaLiga giants retaining an option to bring the playmaker back to Madrid in 2027. Paz, 21, has starred for Como since joining in 2024, helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history last season and being named Serie A’s best midfielder. The Argentina international — currently…
Yoane Wissa is relishing the challenge of taking on one of the world’s best teams as the Democratic Republic of Congo face England in a historic clash. Thomas Tuchel’s side start knockout action with a round-of-32 showdown against the Leopards in downtown Atlanta. DR Congo are at just their second World Cup and this is their first ever knockout match, having progressed as a third-placed side with Saturday’s 3-1 comeback…
Adrien Rabiot says France want to give head coach Didier Deschamps “something to rejoice over” at the World Cup following the death of his mother. Deschamps missed France’s 4-1 win over Norway in their final group game on Friday having returned home, but will be back in the dugout for Tuesday’s last-32 knockout tie against Sweden at the New Jersey/New York Stadium. Two-time winners France, beaten finalists in 2022, are…
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…
