FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout 32

VANCOUVER (Canada) – Switzerland moved into the last 16 of the World Cup with a controlled 2-0 win against Algeria on Thursday.

The Swiss will face the winners of Friday’s tie between Colombia and Ghana.

The effervescent Johan Manzambi created the first goal in Vancouver, surging down the left wing before crossing for Breel Embolo to tap in.

Dan Ndoye slotted in the second, shooting through a crowd of players. Algeria ‘keeper Luca Zidane was unable to get a strong enough hand to the ball on a bitterly disappointing night for the north Africans.

Algeria join Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal as African teams to be knocked out so far at the last-32 stage. Only Morocco have progressed. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Friday, July 3, 2026

Portugal advance in World Cup thanks to last-gasp Ramos winner

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Belgium late show floors Senegal at World Cup

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

The post Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 to move into World Cup last 16 appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

TORONTO (Canada) – Cristiano Ronaldo said it was a “coincidence of life” that Portugal’s World Cup last-16 win against Croatia on Thursday came almost a year since the death of his late teammate Diogo Jota.

Ronaldo and his teammates posed with Jota’s number 21 jersey after their gripping 2-1 win against Croatia sent Portugal into the last 16.

“The coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said. “We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable.”

Ronaldo also pulled on a number 21 jersey at the end of the game to conduct interviews.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said the victory had special meaning.

“For Portuguese fans this is a very happy day and also because of the meaning of the game, we’ve moved to the next phase, to the round of 16. In a year where we honored Diogo Jota.”

Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed when their car crashed as the Liverpool player drove through Spain on July 3 last year on his way back to report for pre-season training in England.

Earlier in the tournament, a black and white picture of Jota was shown on the giant screen at the stadium in Houston before Portugal’s first game against the Democratic Republic of Congo. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

Friday, July 3, 2026

Portugal advance in World Cup thanks to last-gasp Ramos winner

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Kane rescues England from DR Congo calamity to reach World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Majestic Olise raises France to another level at World Cup

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

The post ‘Coincidence of life’ says Ronaldo after Jota tribute a year from death appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

TORONTO (Canada) – Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after Croatia were dramatically denied an equalizer by VAR.

Ramos settled a classic World Cup game when he connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snuff out a Croatia team which had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping heat in Toronto.

Croatia thought they had snatched a goal in the dying seconds of extra time, but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside.

The Croatians were left stunned by the decision, and their fans began hurling rubbish on the pitch.

In the seconds before Gvardiol’s disallowed goal, the Portuguese bench and coach Roberto Martinez were growing increasingly livid, begging match officials for the final whistle.

Cristiano Ronaldo played his role in the victory, stroking home a penalty that cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener.

It was Ronaldo’s first ever goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup, and it made him the oldest scorer in that phase in the tournament’s history.

His remarkable international career will now have another chapter when Portugal face Spain in Dallas on Monday.

After the match, Ronaldo shared a long exchange with Croatian legend Luka Modric, one of football’s all-time greats, whose World Cup career has almost certainly ended with Thursday’s defeat.

The match marked the first time that two outfield players aged over 40 took to the same pitch in a World Cup.

At the end, the Portugal players also paid tribute to late teammate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash a year ago, by holding up his number 21 shirt.

Ronaldo penalty

After a lacklustre first half, Croatian veteran Perisic stunned the Portuguese by slotting the ball under the advancing Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute.

Within minutes, Ronaldo had the ball in the net after controlling a long pass, but his effort was disallowed for offside.

But Portugal got level when Renato Veiga was grabbed by Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic in the penalty area and after a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty with ease, hitting the ball straight down the middle of the goal and pumping his fists with joy afterwards, triggering defeaning cheers in the Toronto stadium.

In a pulsating game, Manchester City forward Mateo Kovacic’s low shot was pushed onto a post by ‘keeper Costa’s fingertips.

Still Croatia pushed and Peta Sucic had the ball in the net but the assistant referee’s flag was up for a clear offside.

Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 81st minute to allow Ruben Neves to come on.

The sellout crowd of 43,000 erupted with appreciation as Ronaldo went off — unsure in the moment if he would appear again at in World Cup.

Croatia continued to create more chances than their opponents and Mario Pasalic came so close to winning the game with a header at the far post, but it bounced just wide.

But when Ramos connected, the net bulged and Portugal were through.

While the crowd tilted towards Portugal, the sizeable and vocal Croatian contingent smothered the stadium with booes every time Ronaldo touched the ball.

Tens of thousands of people with Portuguese lineage live in and around Toronto and Ronaldo’s presence in the city also sparked waves of enthusiasm — and chaos on a major highway a day before the match.

A multi-lane expressway was forced to close Wednesday when hundreds of fans lined the shoulder hoping to get a glimpse of the passing Portuguese team bus.  –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

Friday, July 3, 2026

Spain ease past Austria with 3-0 World Cup win

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Belgium late show floors Senegal at World Cup

The post Portugal advance in World Cup thanks to last-gasp Ramos winner appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

SANTA CLARA (United States) – Folarin Balogun scored and was sent off as the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday.

The co-hosts’ first World Cup knockout victory in nearly a quarter-century — and only their second ever — sets up a clash with Belgium in Seattle on Monday.

Balogun’s goal on the stroke of half-time had sent the California crowd into delirium, with some 30 million Americans expected to be watching the blockbuster clash across the nation.

But the striker saw red as VAR intervened following a nasty clash with Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic. But even with the US forced into a 10-man rearguard action, Malik Tillman curled in a free kick to secure the win.

US supporters had flocked into the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in festive mood, their exuberant confidence summed up by the traditional pre-match fighter jet flyover in the bright California skies.

Bosnia’s tactics were made clear from the kickoff — an immediate long ball — while the US defense quickly camped out on the halfway line, always pushing forward.

Still, Bosnia had the best early chances. Forty-year-old captain Edin Dzeko held up a launched pass from his goalkeeper and laid it off for Ermedin Demirovic, who shot right at Matt Freese.

The US ‘keeper made another good save moments later from a Kerim Alajbegovic corner, which threatened to swing straight into his net.

But the US pressure began to tell. Balogun had a decent penalty shout for a clumsy Amar Dedic tackle waved away. Soon after the American striker had the ball in the net, but was offside from Weston McKennie’s smart pass.

Those near misses enlivened an increasingly anxious crowd. But their nerves were soon reduced, as Balogun scored in the 45th minute.

US captain Tim Ream had intercepted a Bosnian goal kick, swiftly playing it to Tillman. His through ball deflected into the path of Balogun, who tucked it under the goalkeeper.

Impressive holding midfielder Tyler Adams nearly created a second before the break. He found Sergino Dest, who headed back to Balogun. His shot from the six-yard line clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Historic win

Just five minutes into the second half Dzeko limped off. Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez made a triple substitution.

A younger, more mobile front line featuring Wisconsin-born, US-raised Esmir Bajraktarevic immediately pressed higher and faster.

In the 64th minute, Balogun was shown a straight red after VAR review, harshly judged to have stamped on the back of Muharemovic’s foot.

With the crowd stunned, Demirovic spurned a chance to add insult to injury, shooting straight at Freese from a dangerous position.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino used the hydration break to gather his squad in a tight huddle on the field, rallying his outnumbered troops to hold out for the game’s final phase.

Despite his team suddenly being on the backfoot, Christian Pulisic put the ball in the net, but was comfortably offside.

And in the 82nd minute, the US won a free kick on the edge of the Bosnian box from a pull on Dest. Tillman curled it over the wall and to the right of Nikola Vasilj, whose fingertips could not keep it out.

The Americans rode out a nervy 10 minutes of stoppage time, substitue Ermin Mahmic’s shot flashing inches wide of the far post.

But they ultimately holding out for a clean sheet and a historic win, keeping alive their World Cup journey on home soil, as “USA” chants and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” reverberated around the giant arena that hosted this year’s Super Bowl. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Belgium late show floors Senegal at World Cup

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

The post Balogun scores and sees red as US beat Bosnia 2-0 appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

SEATTLE (United States) – Youri Tielemans scored the latest winner in World Cup history as Belgium mounted an incredible comeback from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 and qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday.

Senegal appeared on course for a first win in a World Cup knockout match since their 2002 debut after taking a 2-0 lead through strikes from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr in Seattle.

However, Belgium forced extra time as Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans scored in the final five minutes, before the Aston Villa midfielder completed a remarkable turnaround by converting a penalty in the 125th minute.

“In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe in it,” said Belgium coach Rudi Garcia.

Belgium go through to a potential meeting with the United States, who face Bosnia and Herzegovina later on Wednesday, but it will be a bitterly painful pill to swallow for Senegal.

“We’re out –- it hurts. We must congratulate the team, who gave it their all, but unfortunately we weren’t able to hold on to our two-goal lead,” rued Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.

A defeat would surely have signalled the end of the road for the last remnants of Belgium’s golden generation — Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and perhaps Thibaut Courtois — but instead they live to fight another day.

After a 5-1 win over New Zealand that clinched top spot for Belgium in Group G, Garcia named an unchanged side with Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere leading the attack and Lukaku on the bench.

Thiaw made three changes to the Senegal side that thrashed Iraq 5-0, which allowed them to squeak through as the last of the eight best third-place teams.

Pape Gueye started after scoring twice as a substitute in that match, while Pathe Ciss and Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye came into the line-up.

Senegal nearly went ahead through the in-form Sarr, who hit the post after Courtois inadvertently diverted a cross into the Crystal Palace forward’s path.

The Lions of Teranga did take the lead, however, when Sarr’s header from Sadio Mane’s cross came back off the same post, with Diarra reacting quickest to turn the rebound home.

Belgium’s best chance of the half fell to Maxim De Cuyper, whose curling effort from outside the area drew an outstanding full-stretch save from Mory Diaw.

Diaw was again filling in for Edouard Mendy, who returned to Saudi Arabia for tests on a knee injury he suffered in Senegal’s second game of the tournament.

Belgian fightback

Belgium unsurprisingly turned to their all-time leading scorer at the interval, with Lukaku having already proven his value as a substitute against Egypt and New Zealand in the group phase.

But Belgium fell further behind six minutes into the second half when Sarr chested down Moussa Niakhate’s long pass over the defence before firing an emphatic finish beyond Courtois.

De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were hauled off as Belgium appeared to be heading out, but Lukaku — limited to barely an hour’s play with Napoli this season — grabbed his team a lifeline in the 86th minute.

He swept home from a Thomas Meunier cross and, just three minutes later, Belgium were level. Diaw failed to deal with Leandro Trossard’s delivery into the box and Tielemans held off two defenders to nod into an empty net.

Belgium substitute Dodi Lukebakio clipped the crossbar late in the second period of extra time as the match appeared destined for a penalty shootout.

But there was one final twist when Tielemans went down under a challenge from Lamine Camara, prompting referee Said Martinez to award a penalty after a VAR review.

Tielemans stepped up and dispatched with aplomb to cap a stunning fightback and break Senegalese hearts. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Kane rescues England from DR Congo calamity to reach World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Majestic Olise raises France to another level at World Cup

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

The post Belgium late show floors Senegal at World Cup appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

EAST RUTHERFORD (United States) – That France are more than living up to their status as favourites at this World Cup may be down to the goals of captain Kylian Mbappe, but also in a large part to the creative genius of Michael Olise.

There is a sense that, after years of prioritising pragmatism over flair, coach Didier Deschamps has decided to hand the keys to his brilliant attacking players as he aims to end his long reign with another World Cup triumph.

That may yet change when it comes to the latter stages and the quality of the opposition increases, but France have been irresistible so far with Olise helping raise them to another level.

Les Bleus were at their thrilling best in a 3-0 win over Sweden in New Jersey on Tuesday that made it four wins, and 13 goals scored, so far at the tournament as they eased through to a last-16 tie against Paraguay.

Olise has not scored any of those goals, with Mbappe netting two at the MetLife Stadium to move to six in total, and Bradley Barcola getting the other on the day.

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has four and Desire Doue one, but Olise’s display against Sweden was majestic, as he set up two goals to become this World Cup’s leading assist provider.

The Bayern Munich player did almost break his tournament duck with the game still goalless, but his breathtaking overhead bicycle kick came back off a post — even Mbappe was in awe at the execution.

“It was a fantastic bit of skill. Unfortunately it didn’t go in, but people come to the stadium to see that kind of thing,” Mbappe said.

The exciting version of France that has emerged at the end of Deschamps’ 14-year tenure can be traced back to a Nations League quarter-final against Croatia in March last year.

After losing 2-0 away in the first leg, Deschamps decided to remove one of his three defensive midfielders, and add another forward.

Olise, who had made his senior international debut six months earlier off the back of an impressive Olympics, was brought in for the second leg to play in the number 10 role, behind Mbappe.

He scored a superb free-kick, sparking a comeback as France went on to win the tie on penalties.

‘Future Ballon d’Or’

Now 24, he gradually established himself in the starting line-up, just as he was starring for Bayern.

The season just finished saw him score 22 goals in all competitions as Bayern won a domestic double and lost in the Champions League semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain.

In his last game before the World Cup, he scored a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 friendly win against Northern Ireland.

“Michael has been putting together really top-class performances off the back of a very good season. He needed a bit of time get his bearings with us but he is a major influence,” said Deschamps.

“When he touches the ball, things happen.”

Deschamps knows how important Olise is on the pitch, despite being one of the least outspoken members of the squad off it — born in London to a Nigerian father and a Franco-Algerian mother, his grasp of French is not perfect.

“Michael is a bit of an introvert. The important thing is that he is not introverted on the pitch,” added Deschamps.

Not necessarily mastering the language has not mattered for a player who rarely gives interviews.

“Let’s just say I prefer to talk with my feet,” he told French sports daily L’Equipe recently.

The former Chelsea academy player initially emerged at Reading before joining Crystal Palace in 2021.

He made his name in the Premier League while in South London, where he got his debut under Patrick Vieira — a World Cup winner with France in 1998.

“You could see the type of player he was, his ability,” said Sweden coach Graham Potter, who came up against Olise while managing in England.

“I think players’ journeys sometimes, they’re not quite straight lines. Whereas with him, you could see that he was just ready to go.”

Vieira described him to L’Equipe as “a future Ballon d’Or winner” — maybe even this year if he keeps playing like this at the World Cup. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

The post Majestic Olise raises France to another level at World Cup appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico turned on the style at their iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, brushing Ecuador aside 2-0 to break their World Cup knockout curse dating back 40 years.

The round-of-32 match was delayed for an hour due to stormy weather and when it started the co-hosts flew out of the blocks, mounting wave after wave of attacks.

In a supercharged atmosphere, Julian Quinones gave Mexico a deserved lead midway through the first half with a thunderous strike and then turned provider for Raul Jimenez.

Ecuador desperately needed to wrest back the momentum after the break but struggled to shift through the gears, with the home side largely in control.

Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout game since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament.

Tuesday’s win means they are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup games at the Azteca and will fancy their chances against England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16.

Mexico were one of only three teams in the group phase to win all three of their matches, alongside France and Argentina, and did not concede a single goal.

Ecuador finished third in their group, scoring just two goals.

Gilberto Mora, 17, was named in the starting line-up for Mexico, becoming the second-youngest player to start a knockout match at the World Cup finals behind Pele in 1958.

The home team started on the front foot, refusing to allow a shell-shocked Ecuador to settle.

Jimenez wasted a glorious headed chance in the seventh minute and Mora flashed just wide.

At the other end, John Yeboah muscled his way into the penalty area in a rare foray forward for the visitors, clipping the outside of the near post.

Mexico took the lead in the 22nd minute when Saudi-based Quinones received the ball from Roberto Alvarado and tore down the left before driving into the box and unleashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Hernan Galindez, raising the roof.

The first hydration break failed to change the script and Mexico doubled their lead after half an hour when Quinones fed Fulham striker Jimenez, who fired a rocket into the top corner.

Raul Rangel produced a fine save to keep out another Yeboah effort as Ecuador got a foothold in the match but chances kept flowing at the other end.

Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece made a number of changes after the break in an effort to find a way back into the match.

But Mexico, largely content to sit back, still looked the more threatening team, with Cesar Montes twice going close.

Ecuador substitute Kevin Rodriguez poked just wide with just over a quarter of an hour but their chances ran out.

Piero Hincapie was sent off in stoppage time after covering his mouth during a confrontation with an opposition player to cap a miserable night for Ecuador.

Mexico will hope the Azteca, which hosted the World Cup final in 1970 and 1986, works its magic again in the last 16 on Sunday.

From the quarter-finals onwards, all the matches at the World Cup will be taking place in the United States. — AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

The post Mexico see off Ecuador to break 40-year World Cup curse appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

EAST RUTHERFORD (United States) – Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Michael Olise was in scintillating form as France beat Sweden 3-0 at the World Cup on Tuesday and set up a last-16 clash with Paraguay.

Mbappe finished a superb move to break the deadlock just before half-time in the last-32 tie watched by 80,663 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice — once through Mbappe and once through Olise.

The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating in terms of possession and shots on goal.

Olise set up Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second on 53 minutes, and then delivered a delightful pass for Mbappe to complete a convincing victory.

Mbappe’s strikes saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the all-star golden boot race at this World Cup.

The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, meaning he is just one behind Messi’s overall record of 19 — a mark which 27-year-old Mbappe will keep chasing.

He celebrated his first goal by running across to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final group game against Norway to travel home for his mother’s funeral.

Deschamps will step down at the end of the competition after 14 highly successful years in charge.

Going out in the last 32 would have been such an anti-climactic way to depart for Deschamps, who captained the first France team to win the World Cup in 1998 and coached them to glory in 2018.

In 1998, France’s run to victory on home soil included a 1-0 last-16 win over Paraguay, when Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in extra time.

Les Bleus will face the South Americans in the last 16 again this time, on Saturday in Philadelphia.

France will be fully expected to win and march on.

Olise on another planet

Mbappe and Olise were again central figures, with Ousmane Dembele also showing flashes of his brilliance while Barcola was preferred to Desire Doue as the fourth forward.

Sweden have quality in attack too, with the Premier League trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But they couldn’t get enough of the ball to create chances and Graham Potter’s team now go home.

Getting this far should really be seen as a success for them, however, after they only made it to North America through the back door of the play-offs.

Intense pressure 

Olise released Mbappe through the middle to put the ball in the net in the 20th minute, only for a tight offside call to cut short the celebrations.

However, that sparked an intense spell of French pressure which eventually resulted in the opening goal.

Some of their football was mesmerising, as Mbappe hit the post from a Jules Kounde ball across the face of goal and Adrien Rabiot fired narrowly over.

Olise then struck an upright with a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick before Dembele put the rebound wide.

The opener came right on half-time, after an Olise effort was tipped behind by Swedish ‘keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Dembele and Olise combined at the resulting corner before finding Mbappe, and he did the rest.

Sweden needed the interval to regroup, but they conceded again eight minutes after the restart as the magical Olise threaded a pass through the legs of Gustaf Lagerbielke for Barcola, who lashed in.

Olise couldn’t score when clean through, but soon after he delivered an exceptional assist for Mbappe to curl in again on 74 minutes.

France look untouchable even if the toughest tests are still to come, although Paraguay will find it hard to live with them. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16

The post Mbappe scores twice as France breeze past Sweden into World Cup last 16 appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

MONTERREY — Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday after a thrilling battle in Monterrey finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the crucial save to block the Netherlands’ fifth penalty from Crysencio Summerville before striker Ismael Saibari stepped up to blast home the winning spot-kick that sealed a 3-2 shootout win.

The victory sends Morocco into a last 16 clash with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

An enthralling match had gone to extra time after Issa Diop had glanced in a dramatic equaliser for Morocco in the first minute of stoppage time as the Netherlands closed in on victory.

The Dutch had taken the lead midway through the second half with a goal from Cody Gakpo, playing just days after his partner had confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn son.

Liverpool forward Gakpo sank to the turf and appeared overcome with emotion as he was surrounded by team-mates in a prolonged group embrace.

But Morocco forced extra time when an unmarked Diop headed home from substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s cross in injury time.

Morocco had created the better chances of a fractious encounter, which saw players from both sides flying into tackles to test the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

The Atlas Lions almost took the lead on 20 minutes when Neil al-Aynaoui glanced an Achraf Hakimi corner goalwards only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen was pressed into action moments later, this time doing well to tip a vicious strike from Hakimi over the bar.

The fierce nature of the contest was on full display midway through the half when Saibari was lucky to escape sanction after elbowing Jan Paul van Hecke in the face.

The Dutch continued to enjoy plenty of possession but were unable to convert it into goalscoring chances.

Their best effort came on 44 minutes when Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven uncorked a ferocious shot from the edge of the area that was tipped over by Bounou.

Van Hecke continued to find himself in the thick of the action, and after bloodying his head in a collision in the penalty area, made his presence felt with a crunching tackle that upended el-Aynaoui just before half-time.

As the half ended Saibari just failed to connect with a cross that flashed across the Dutch goal before going behind.

The drama continued into an end-to-end second half, but appeared to have tilted in the Netherlands’ favour when coach Ronald Koeman brought on forward Wout Weghorst in a flurry of substitutions after the hydration break.

Weghorst made an immediate impact flicking on a long ball to send Summerville bearing in on goal. Summerville crossed to Gakpo, who hurled himself at the ball to score.

The Netherlands, superbly marshalled by Gakpo’s Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk, appeared to be heading for victory but Diop’s late header sent it to extra-time.

Morocco looked to have made the breakthrough when Soufiane Rahimi went through on goal in the 96th minute, only to be denied by a jaw-dropping save from Verbruggen.

The Netherlands held on for penalties but despite Morocco missing their first when El-Aynaoui hit the bar, the north Africans recovered to win. — AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock

The post Morocco down Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16 appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

FOXBOROUGH (United States) – Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay in the last 32 after losing 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Foxborough on Monday.

It marks the first time that Germany have ever lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup.

Julio Enciso headed Paraguay into a shock lead before half-time, but Kai Havertz levelled for Germany on 54 minutes with his third goal of the tournament.

Jonathan Tah saw a goal disallowed after a VAR review in extra time, before Paraguay held on to shock Germany in a wild, nerve-jangling shootout as the momentum swung back and forth.

Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved from Havertz and Nick Woltemade, but his teammates blew two chances to win it before Jose Canale blasted in the winning spot-kick after Tah had blazed his effort over the bar.

It marked another premature exit for Germany who were playing in their first knockout-stage appearance since winning the 2014 World Cup.

Paraguay celebrated arguably their greatest win at the tournament, but they face the daunting prospect of running into an in-form France next should Les Bleus beat Sweden.

Gill described the victory as “an immense thrill”.

“We managed to hold on. We opened the scoring, they equalized, but then we managed to keep it up. Obviously, we analyzed every player and every detail of the penalty takers,” he said.

“Thank God I was able to save two penalties. This is a privilege; we eliminated a champion. This is dedicated to all Paraguayans.”

Julian Nagelsmann handed Deniz Undav his first start of the tournament, after the Stuttgart striker scored three times in the opening two games as a substitute.

He came in for Jamal Musiala as Nathaniel Brown returned at left-back, having missed the Ecuador loss as a precaution due to a minor injury.

Miguel Almiron was recalled by Paraguay following a one-match ban after becoming the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth during an on-field confrontation under new FIFA rules.

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro had urged his players to grasp the opportunity of a lifetime, and they came close to scoring barely a minute into the game.

Junior Alonso found space at the back post from a corner but was unable to beat Manuel Neuer.

Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao in their opener offered a glimpse of their attacking firepower, but it papered over what has otherwise been an often blunt forward line.

Undav floated an effort wide as Germany struggled to break down a compact Paraguay defence, and they paid the price when they lost their shape before half-time, allowing Enciso to head home.

Paraguay recycled possession after Neuer punched clear a corner, working it out wide on the right for Matias Galarza to fizz in a cross that picked out a completely unmarked Enciso.

Remarkably, it was Paraguay’s first goal in the World Cup knockout stage, having failed to score in their previous five matches, including a 1-0 defeat by Germany in the last 16 in 2002.

Germany brought Leon Goretzka on at the break but almost conceded again when an under-hit backpass from Joshua Kimmich forced Neuer to race out and stop Enciso.

However, they at last breached Paraguay’s dogged rearguard when Florian Wirtz cut in from the left and delivered a cross that Havertz glanced into the far corner to ease Germany’s nerves.

Paraguay lost Enciso to injury, and with it their main outlet.

But Gill reacted sharply to claw away Havertz’s header from another Wirtz cross and Paraguay bravely clung on to send the match into extra time.

Tah thought he had put Germany in front with a powerful back-post header from Nathaniel Brown’s looping corner, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul by Waldemar Anton on the goalkeeper.

Anton headed straight at Gill from another corner, but Paraguay withstood Germany’s set-piece barrage and then kept their cool to spring a monumental World Cup upset. –AFP

RELATED ARTICLES

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup last 16

The post Germany dumped out by Paraguay in seismic World Cup shock appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.