Congo shirts to key chains, fans flock for World Cup mementos
(fixes typo in finals in paragraph 2)
Congo Sport News
Spain power into last 16 at World Cup, Portugal face Croatia
LOS ANGELES: European champions Spain cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria to set up a potential showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header sealed victory for the Spaniards, who produced their most complete performance of the tournament to advance to the next round. Spain opened their World Cup campaign with a faltering 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but have subsequently built momentum with each match. With Spanish movie stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the 70,492 crowd at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Thursday, Spain were always in control against a limited Austrian side who failed to register a single shot on goal. Oyarzabal fired Spain into the lead in the 36th minute, sweeping in a low finish to crown a slick passing move, and more deft inter-play set up Porro to head home the second in the 66th minute. Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal grabbed his second in the 89th minute, coolly tucking away a low finish from Marc Cucurella’s pinpoint cross.
Impossible for England to acclimate to altitude for World Cup match against Mexico, Tuchel says
ATLANTA: From the altitude of Mexico City to the memories of Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal, England will have to contend with brutal conditions and the weight of history when they play co-host Mexico at the World Cup on Sunday. The Azteca Stadium — the site of the round of 16 game and the scene of Maradona’s memorable goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals — sits at more than 7,300 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level. With little time to acclimate, conditions are against England’s team and very much in favor of Mexico, which are undefeated in 10 World Cup games at their home stadium over three tournaments. “My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said.
Extra time for England fans as pubs open til 5 am for Mexico clash
LONDON: Pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 5 am (0400GMT) on Monday to allow football fans to watch England’s World Cup clash with Mexico. After England made it into the last 16 in the World Cup, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to. “Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.” Captain Harry Kane scored twice on Wednesday to rescue England from the brink of a humiliating World Cup exit, defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a nail-biting match in Atlanta. Kane’s crew are now preparing for a daunting trip to take on Mexico on their home turf in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sunday. England manager Thomas Tuchel has already made the case for parents to allow their kids to stay up to watch the match, even though it’s a school night. “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football,” Tuchel urged after his team’s victory. “There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch...
A breath of fresh air? England in peril as they hit the high ground in Mexico City
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, July 2 : The first signs may come before kickoff. A faster heartbeat. Deeper breaths. Perhaps a restless night's sleep.
England's World Cup hopes cannot rest on Kane alone
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, July 2 : England's World Cup campaign has increasingly come to rest on the shoulders of Harry Kane, whose goals, link-up play and ability to deliver in decisive moments have repeatedly rescued a side still searching for fluency and conviction.
Starmer mulls steps to let all pubs open late for England-Mexico World Cup match
Keir Starmer is considering steps to see pubs open longer for the next England match that kicks off at 1am on Monday.
Spain, Portugal eye World Cup last 16
LOS ANGELES: European champions Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal aim to book their places in the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday as Algeria look to salvage some pride for African football. Spain take on Austria in Los Angeles, where a win will keep them on course for a potential meeting with Portugal in the next round. Portugal play Croatia in Toronto in a game that could mark the final career World Cup match for either Ronaldo or his former Real Madrid team-mate and veteran Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. The late match sees Algeria aim to revive African fortunes after a rocky start to the knockout rounds for teams from the continent. Ivory Coast, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all fallen at the first knock-out hurdle in the last 32 after advancing from the group stage. Algeria, who squeezed into the last 32 with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Austria on Saturday, face Switzerland in Vancouver. After arriving at the World Cup as one of the favorites, Spain have made a relatively low-key start to the tournament. A shock 0-0 draw with Cape Verde was followed by a 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia before an attritional victory over Uruguay. But Spain coach Luis de la Fuente maintains his team are on an upward curve and are exactly where they want to be as they reach the business end of the tournament. “This squad is used to breaking records and overcoming rough patches; we are determined to keep moving forward,” De la Fuente said on Wednesday. “From the time we arrived here up to the Uruguay match, we’ve seen the team begin to regain the automatic movements and patterns they had in the past. Now we have to deliver; there is no margin for error.”