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RIYADH: The 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history — at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Monterrey — brought Tunisia and Japan together in a meeting that carried major consequences for both teams.
VANCOUVER: Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim is just 18 and one of the youngest players at the World Cup, but he’s handling soccer’s biggest stage as a seasoned professional. The 6-footer is one of 22 teenagers on squads at the World Cup and he’s the youngest player ever to play for his nation in the tournament. Some are calling Abdelkarim Egypt’s heir apparent to Mohamed Salah, now 34, who is arguably the team’s biggest star. Abdelkarim subbed in for Salah in the 76th minute of Egypt’s World Cup opener against Belgium. What sets Abdelkarim apart is his poise.
INGLEWOOD: Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says that although his team is still being treated unfairly by the host US at the World Cup through travel restrictions and visa refusals, he is optimistic FIFA will persuade the Americans to lessen some of those strictures next week. “I am very glad that the Iranian nation is behind us,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. “Our martyrs in Iran, we play for them. But I know that this kind of behavior has hurt our people.
KANSAS CITY, Missouri: Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves against a relentless Ecuador attack, allowing The Blue Wave to earn a 0-0 draw against the heavily favored La Tri on Saturday night and earn the tiny island nation its first-ever World Cup point. The outcome also allowed Germany, which beat Ivory Coast earlier in the day, to clinch Group E. The 37-year-old Room, whose shutout of Jamaica last November sent Curacao to its first World Cup, bounced back from a 7-1 loss to Germany with one of the finest performances by a goalkeeper in World Cup history. His save total was one shy of the record — since saves became an official stat in 1966 — of 16 set by Tim Howard of the US against Belgium on July 1, 2014.
Spain extended their unbeaten streak in competitive fixtures to 32 matches during their World Cup opener last week. And yet, it was hard not to see La Roja’s scoreless draw against debutant Cape Verde — the third-least-populated country to ever qualify for the World Cup — as a disastrous start for Spain, who entered ranked second in the FIFA/Coca-Cola world rankings. The Spaniards will look to reestablish themselves as threats when they continue Group H play against Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. Spain (0-0-1, 1 point) controlled their opening match, holding 65 percent of the possession, a 27-6 edge in shots and 7-1 in shots on net. Defender Marc Cucurella chose to focus on the upside of starting with a performance like this. “I think it’s good that it happened to us in the first match,” Cucurella said. “Because maybe it happens to you in another round and you go home.” The addition of teenage star Lamine Yamal off the bench in the 71st minute, returning from a hamstring injury, transformed the attack.
CALIFORNIA: Belgium’s Jérémy Doku will not play in his team’s World Cup match against Iran on Sunday due to illness. The Manchester City winger was ruled out Saturday by the Red Devils for the match at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area. The speedy Doku started Belgium’s World Cup opener last Monday and played into the 86th minute of a 1-1 draw with Egypt. Doku reportedly left a practice early due to breathing issues during the week before the opening match. Doku has been in the spotlight in recent days after telling reporters that he planned to leave the team if necessary for the birth of his first child during the World Cup. Doku’s wife is due in early July, during the knockout stages. Belgium are 10th in FIFA’s world rankings, but they need a strong result against Iran to stay on track to win their group after being held to that surprising draw by Egypt.
HOUSTON: An early double from Brian Brobbey, two more in the second half for Cody Gakpo and a late goal from Crysencio Summerville helped the Netherlands cruise to an impressive 5-1 win over Sweden at the World Cup on Saturday. The Dutch delivered the performance coach Ronald Koeman had demanded after conceding near the end of regulation in a disappointing opening 2-2 draw against Japan and underlining the team’s credentials as among the favorites to go far in the tournament. Brobbey — chosen ahead of record scorer Memphis Depay — repaid Koeman’s faith with two goals in the opening 17 minutes to give the Dutch the early initiative and another two from Cody Gakpo in a seven-minute spell after the break put the match out of reach. His first came when he flicked the ball to Tijjani Reijnders who found Gakpo racing down the left flank to set up the Sunderland striker for a tap-in. Brobbey struck again when Denzel Dumfries swung in a perfectly weighted cross that he simply directed past Sweden goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt with an outstretched leg. SLOPPY SWEDEN The Swedes — full of optimism after crushing Tunisia 5-1 in their opening match — gave the ball away too easily and could not contain the Dutch attack. Graham Potter’s side played with more urgency following the first hydration break but it was never good enough against a ruthless Dutch side who converted their chances. Viktor Gyokeres presented the main danger for Sweden early on with a free kick and curling effort that tested Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Yasin Ayari had a chance to get Sweden back into the game but could not control the ball with his chest with only the goalkeeper to beat. Substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one back in the 59th
WASHINGTON: Days after scoring in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq, Norway defender Leo Ostigard has become a father, following the birth of his first child over FaceTime as he continues his World Cup campaign with the squad. Ostigard, who has been receiving parenting tips from teammate Erling Haaland, provided long-distance support to his partner Aurora Eidmann as she gave birth to their son on Friday. “I’m completely exhausted myself, it was absolutely amazing. She did so well, there wasn’t much I could say, I just had to help her work and get him out.