Author: Faz Ali

This author has written 32 articles

Jarell Quansah receives two-match ban after Mexico red card

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  • Post last modified:10 July 2026
Jarell Quansah receives two-match ban after Mexico red card

England’s last‑16 win over Mexico came at a cost. Jarell Quansah, starting at right‑back in the Azteca stadium, was sent off just before the hour mark and has now been handed a two‑match suspension after FIFA ruled his challenge on Jesús Gallardo amounted to serious foul play. The decision leaves Thomas Tuchel short of options on the right side of defence as England prepare for Norway on Saturday. Corrupt FIFA extends ban The incident came in the 54th minute. Quansah slid in on Gallardo, catching him high on the shin. Referee Alireza Faghani initially let play continue, but VAR intervened. After…

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Erling Haaland late double sends Brazil home

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  • Post last modified:7 July 2026
Erling Haaland late double sends Brazil home

Erling Haaland delivered the decisive blows in New Jersey, striking twice in the final stages to send Norway into their first-ever World Cup quarter-final and dump brazil out at the last‑16. The Manchester City striker rose to meet a pinpoint Andreas Schjelderup cross on 79 minutes, then drove in a second in stoppage time to cap a clinical, minimal‑touch performance that punished Brazil’s wastefulness.   Neymar, introduced for only his second appearance of the tournament, converted a late penalty deep into added time, but it arrived too late to alter the outcome. Bruno Guimarães had earlier seen his own spot‑kick saved…

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Ounahi’s sharp double keeps Morocco in the World Cup

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  • Post last modified:6 July 2026
Ounahi’s sharp double keeps Morocco in the World Cup

Morocco are into the last eight again, and they did it with a second‑half surge that Canada simply couldn’t live with. After a first half where Jesse Marsch’s side pressed high, created the better chances and forced Yassine Bounou into multiple stops, the Atlas Lions woke up after the interval and closed the door on the co‑hosts’ World Cup.  Canada’s early pressure was real. Jonathan David’s angled effort was palmed away by Bounou, and Tani Oluwaseyi spun sharply off Redouane Halhal to go clean through, only for Bounou’s left foot to keep Morocco level. Tajon Buchanan later forced another save with…

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream stays still alive as Luka Modric bows out

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  • Post last modified:3 July 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream stays still alive as Luka Modric bows out

Portugal survived a wild, sprawling finish in Toronto to edge Croatia 2-1 and reach the last 16, a night defined by Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-ever World Cup knockout goal, Gonçalo Ramos’ late header, and a dramatic VAR intervention that denied Josko Gvardiol a stoppage‑time equaliser. Croatia had led through Ivan Perisic and looked the sharper side for long stretches, but Portugal’s response and the officiating that followed, swung the contest and kept Ronaldo’s final World Cup alive. Luka Modric, 40 and almost certainly at his last tournament, walked off with the opposite fate. Croatia strike first The opening half offered little beyond…

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Switzerland end 88-year wait with clinical win over Algeria

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  • Post last modified:3 July 2026
Switzerland end 88-year wait with clinical win over Algeria

Switzerland finally snapped their long‑running World Cup knockout drought with a composed, controlled 2-0 win over Algeria in Vancouver, booking their place in the last 16 and ending 88 years of frustration on the biggest stage. Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye delivered a landmark night for Murat Yakin’s side, who now move on to face either Colombia or Ghana. Algeria arrived with intent, energy and a clear plan to unsettle Switzerland early. For the opening minutes, it worked. They pressed high, moved the ball sharply and forced the Swiss back. But once Switzerland found their rhythm, the game tilted…

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Senegal fall short as Youri Tielemans drags Belgium back from the brink

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  • Post last modified:5 July 2026
Senegal fall short as Youri Tielemans drags Belgium back from the brink

Belgium were dead on their feet. Two goals down with four minutes left, outplayed for long stretches, and staring at a World Cup exit that felt both deserved and inevitable. Then Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans ripped up the script. And in extra time, Tielemans delivered the final twist: a penalty awarded after a marathon VAR check, slammed home in the 125th minute, sealing a 3-2 win and a last‑16 date with USA. This was chaos, drama, and a comeback built on pure nerve but without the overblown theatrics. Belgium survived because they finally woke up. Senegal took control Senegal’s start…

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Heartbreak for DR Congo as Harry Kane saves England

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  • Post last modified:5 July 2026
Heartbreak for DR Congo as Harry Kane saves England

Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta, setting up a World Cup last‑16 tie against co‑hosts Mexico and dodging what would have been a disastrous early exit. Thomas Tuchel’s team were given a genuine scare in their round‑of‑32 opener at the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, falling behind to Brian Cipenga’s seventh‑minute strike and spending most of the night wrestling with DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who kept England out until Kane finally broke through. The win sends England on to Mexico City with momentum on the scoreboard if not…

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Paraguay delivers World Cup shock to send Germany packing

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  • Post last modified:30 June 2026
Paraguay delivers World Cup shock to send Germany packing

Germany’s World Cup campaign ended with a thud in Boston as Paraguay held their nerve from the spot to dump out the four‑time champions after a tense 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. The underdogs, ranked 34th in the world, survived long stretches without the ball, frustrated Germany’s attack, and then outlasted them in a dramatic shoot-out to reach the last 16.  Julio Enciso’s first‑half header gave Paraguay a surprise lead. Although Kai Havertz levelled shortly after the break, Germany never found the extra gear they needed. Their dominance in possession, 78% in the first half counted for nothing as Paraguay’s defensive…

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Jubilant Morocco hold their nerve to reach World Cup last 16

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  • Post last modified:30 June 2026
Jubilant Morocco hold their nerve to reach World Cup last 16

Morocco’s World Cup story keeps bending in unexpected directions, and in beautiful Monterey it took another sharp turn. Mohamed Ouahbi’s side, organised, stubborn and unshakably calm, edged past the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw to book a last‑16 meeting with Canada. It was a night where Morocco’s rhythm, passing ability, and speedy attacks got them the win in the end. The Dutch, for all their attacking talent, turned up to attempt a defensive masterclass which failed. The Netherlands had arrived with momentum and expectation. Morocco arrived with big ambitions, but they left with more. World Cup: Netherlands and Morocco…

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DR Congo faces England next after historic World Cup comeback

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  • Post last modified:29 June 2026
DR Congo faces England next after historic World Cup comeback

DR Congo needed nothing but a win in their final group game, or go home. By the final whistle, they had their first-ever World Cup victory, a 3-1 comeback over Uzbekistan, and a knockout clash with England locked in. Yoane Wissa, already carrying two goals into the third match day, left with two more and a performance that defined the Leopards’ night. This was tight, tense, and shaped by moments, some ruled out, some seized, some survived. But it was DR Congo’s resilience that carried them through. DR Congo brought chaos early Uzbekistan came out swinging. Inside the opening minute, Eldor…

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Mohamed Salah leads pharaohs to landmark World Cup win

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  • Post last modified:23 June 2026
Mohamed Salah leads pharaohs to landmark World Cup win

Egypt finally has a World Cup win to its name. It took 92 years, four tournaments and a second‑half surge in Vancouver, but Mohamed Salah dragged his country over the line with a goal, an assist and a performance that shifted the entire tone of its campaign. New Zealand struck first. Egypt finished stronger. By the end, the Pharaohs were deserved 3-1 winners, their first-ever victory on this stage. Egypt suffered an early setback Finn Surman’s opener came from the type of moment that drives coaches wild. A corner, a lapse in concentration, and the New Zealand defender rose unmarked to…

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Cape Verde lands another huge point as Group H thriller ends level

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  • Post last modified:23 June 2026
Cape Verde lands another huge point as Group H thriller ends level

Cape Verde’s 2026 World Cup debut keeps gathering momentum. After shutting out Spain, Cape Verde backed it up with a fearless 2-2 draw against two‑time champions Uruguay in Miami, claiming a second Group H point. The team proved its opening night resilience was no fluke.   Cape Verde played with clarity, confidence and refused to be intimidated. They led, fell behind, then found a way back again. Uruguay had the pedigree, but the Blue Sharks had the conviction. Cape Verde player Pina strikes first Kevin Pina set the tone early. His long‑range free‑kick, hit with clean precision, went straight through Uruguay’s…

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Switzerland take control with ruthless late surge in Los Angles

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  • Post last modified:21 June 2026
Switzerland take control with ruthless late surge in Los Angles

For more than an hour in Los Angeles, this World Cup group B clash drifted without rhythm. Switzerland had the ball, Bosnia-Herzegovina had the threat on the break, and neither side looked capable of landing a decisive punch. Then Murat Yakin turned to his bench and the tie flipped on its head. Johan Manzambi, just 20 years old and barely settled into the game, detonated the contest with a thunderous volley only 166 seconds after coming on. It was the spark Switzerland had been searching for, the moment that cracked open a stubborn match and set the tone for a 4-1 win…

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Canada hit six as Qatar collapse in Vancouver World Cup match

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  • Post last modified:21 June 2026
Canada hit six as Qatar collapse in Vancouver World Cup match

Canada moved to the brink of the World Cup knockout stages with a commanding 6-0 win over nine‑man Qatar in Vancouver, a night defined by Jonathan David’s hat-trick, Cyle Larin’s early breakthrough and a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Kone. Jesse Marsch’s side were in control from the opening whistle, sharper in every duel and relentless in their pressure. Qatar, by contrast, unravelled quickly with two red cards, minimal attacking threat and long spells spent pinned inside their own half. The scoreline reflected the gulf in quality, but the mood inside BC Place shifted when Kone was stretchered off after a…

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Kylian Mbappe lights up the states with excellent opening performance

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  • Post last modified:17 June 2026
Kylian Mbappe lights up the states with excellent opening performance

Kylian Mbappe arrived in New Jersey with questions swirling around his season, but he left MetLife Stadium reminding everyone why the World Cup remains his stage. France’s 3-1 win over Senegal hinged on his brilliance, a sharp, decisive double that pushed him to the top of France’s all‑time scoring charts and set the tone for their Group I campaign.   France were flat in the first half, sluggish in possession and second-best in most duels. Senegal carved out the better chances, with Ismaïla Sarr and Nicolas Jackson both threatening. But once the break came and went, Mbappe shifted gears. The Real…

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Sweden secure comfortable win over Tunisia

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  • Post last modified:15 June 2026
Sweden secure comfortable win over Tunisia

Sweden opened their World Cup campaign with a ruthless performance, easing past Tunisia 5-1 in a match that underlined the attacking depth Graham Potter has built. It was not flawless — but what mattered was control, clarity and a front line that looked sharp from the first whistle. Gyökeres strikes early Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, the two strikers Sweden have long hoped would peak at the same time, delivered exactly what Potter wanted: movement, power, and goals. Between them, they set the tone for a night that rarely drifted from Swedish hands. Tunisia had their moments, especially early on, but…

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Serena Williams makes winning return at Queen’s with confident doubles victory

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  • Post last modified:10 June 2026
Serena Williams makes winning return at Queen’s with confident doubles victory

Serena Williams walked back into professional tennis after nearly four years away and immediately reminded the sport what she still carries: presence, power, and a competitive edge that hasn’t dimmed with time. At 44, the 23‑time Grand Slam singles champion made a winning comeback in the doubles event at Queen’s, partnering 17‑year‑old Canadian Victoria Mboko to defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar‑Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7‑6 (7‑2) 6‑2. It was Williams’ first professional match since the 2022 US Open, and her first ever appearance at the historic Queen’s Club. The reception matched the moment. A standing ovation greeted her as she stepped…

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Somali referee dropped from World Cup after US visa denial

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  • Post last modified:10 June 2026
Somali referee dropped from World Cup after US visa denial

Somalia’s top referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been dramatically ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, ending what would have been a landmark moment for Somali football. The 34‑year‑old, voted Africa’s best referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali official to take charge at a men’s World Cup finals. Instead, he was forced to fly back to Istanbul after being turned away at Miami International Airport. FIFA confirmed the decision late on Monday, acknowledging that one of Africa’s most respected officials would not be part of the tournament after US…

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Christian Eriksen doing well at home after collapse during friendly

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  • Post last modified:10 June 2026
Christian Eriksen doing well at home after collapse during friendly

Christian Eriksen’s collapse during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine sent a jolt through the Nature Energy Park crowd and brought the match to an immediate halt. What began as a routine warm‑up fixture ahead of the summer schedule turned into a moment of collective fear, one that revived memories no Danish supporter ever wanted to relive. The 34‑year‑old midfielder went down shortly after the hour mark, appearing to clutch his chest before falling to the turf. Players reacted instantly, waving urgently for medical staff while forming a protective circle around him. The stadium, loud only minutes earlier, fell into a stunned, suspended…

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Celtic fan groups unite in opposition over Robbie Keane appointment

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  • Post last modified:9 June 2026
Celtic fan groups unite in opposition over Robbie Keane appointment

Robbie Keane’s path back to Celtic has hit a massive wall, is due to him not condemning Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine. A club where he once dazzled on loan is no longer warmly remembering him for his footballing achievements. What began as murmurs of discomfort has now hardened into robust opposition. Dozens of Celtic supporter groups have signed a joint letter opposing Keane’s potential appointment, citing his decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv during Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. The message is blunt. The mood is serious and the pressure on the Celtic board is unmistakable. Celtic fans aren’t…

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