Kylian Mbappe has matched Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, as both players now have seven goals following Mbappe’s decisive penalty against Paraguay.
Other contenders include Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, each with five goals, and Vinícius Júnior with four. Additionally, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, also at four, is poised to make a move in the coming hours.
Remarkably, seven goals already surpass the top scorer’s total from ten of the last twelve World Cups.
Brazilian star Rodrygo has returned to his home country after joining the World Cup festivities in the United States. In his recent column, he highlights the contrast between a nation enjoying the tournament and one that is entirely consumed by it. Brazil is set to face Norway in the last-16 match today at 9 PM BST.
“The rhythm of life in Brazil – the “land of football” as we call it – is dictated by the team’s progress in the World Cup. Work schedules are affected, as are the operations of certain public services. Daily life doesn’t stop, but we go to great lengths to shape it around Brazil’s matches. Afterwards, as one of our sayings goes, we “It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-0.” with everyday life.”
Emma Hayes, in her latest World Cup column, suggests that while life doesn’t begin at 40, it certainly doesn’t signal the end for a world-class footballer.
It’s time for a Q&A session with Luis de la Fuente! The manager of Spain shares insights on advice for Lamine Yamal, the challenges of coaching, and how his current squad compares to the champions of 2010. Sid Lowe has compiled this insightful piece.
Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, is a divisive figure, and some might jokingly refer to him as “England stepped off their seventh flight in 12 days on Friday and are about to play their fourth game in 13 days. The period was always going to be a grind; one simply to plot a course through.” based on public perception. Did Canada truly outperform Morocco, as he claims? Morocco’s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, had a sharp response: “This wasn’t really about the new style. This was a very old-fashioned Morocco performance, dogged and dour, admirably competitive, and with the undoubted ability of the more creative players seen almost entirely in counterattacks. Whether their cagey start was by design or because they were forced into it by Canada’s ferocity, though, was unclear.”
As the clock strikes 1:30 AM in Mexico City, the sounds of excitement fill the air. Are England’s players managing to catch any sleep before their match? The game is set to kick off at 6 PM local time, which translates to 1 AM BST in the UK. Here’s the latest update from David Hytner in Mexico City.
“The World Cup favourites were forced to drop a gear or two but still had too much for a Paraguay team that set out for a fight but were ultimately no more than a nuisance.”
Our team is on the ground in Mexico City, gearing up for the much-anticipated match. In between running 5k races to adjust to the altitude, they have also gathered insights, starting with Nick Ames, who has quotes from both managers: England’s Thomas Tuchel and Mexico’s Javier Aguirre.
Jonathan Wilson reported from Houston Stadium as Morocco triumphed over Canada, marking a significant moment as they became the first African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time. Three second-half goals secured their victory.
“This wasn’t really about the new style. This was a very old-fashioned Morocco performance, dogged and dour, admirably competitive, and with the undoubted ability of the more creative players seen almost entirely in counterattacks. Whether their cagey start was by design or because they were forced into it by Canada’s ferocity, though, was unclear.”
In Philadelphia, Paul MacInnes reported on France’s 1-0 victory, drawing parallels to their last-16 encounter in 1998, which is well-remembered for different reasons.
“The World Cup favourites were forced to drop a gear or two but still had too much for a Paraguay team that set out for a fight but were ultimately no more than a nuisance.”
Good morning, afternoon, or evening, depending on your location! It seems we are approaching the decisive stages of the World Cup, as evidenced by the emergence of the first two quarter-finalists. Morocco displayed clinical finishing against co-hosts Canada, while France prevailed in a tough match against Paraguay.
Stay tuned for reactions to these two last-16 fixtures and the buildup to the eagerly awaited face-off between Mexico and England at the Azteca Stadium. Additionally, Brazil’s clash with Norway is on the horizon, making this a thrilling time in the tournament. Are you ready for day 25 of the World Cup? Let’s dive in!
