Australia's Popovic optimistic despite penalty heartbreak

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Australia's Popovic optimistic despite penalty heartbreak

Arlington: Tony Popovic defended his decision to ask defender Lucas Herrington to take one of his side’s penalties just two days before his 19th birthday in their 4-2 shoot-out loss against Egypt at Dallas Stadium on Friday as Australia exited the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Herrington hit the crossbar with Australia’s fourth spot-kick to allow Hossam Abdelmaguid to roll in the winner following a 1-1 draw after extra time, with Popovic also choosing to replace goalkeeper Patrick Beach moments before the match went to penalties.

The decisions didn't work out but the tactician said Australia had much to savour after a campaign which had numerous positives.

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R32: Australia 1 (2)-(4) 1 Egypt

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

R32: Australia 1 (2)-(4) 1 Egypt

Arlington: Australia's FIFA World Cup 2026 challenge came to an end on Friday as they suffered a 4-2 defeat on penalties to Egypt in the Round of 32.

Level 1-1 after 120 minutes, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed in the shootout as Australia's wait for a first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout stage win continued.

Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history, with either defending champions Argentina or Cabo Verde their last 16 opponents.

R32: Colombia 1-0 Ghana

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

R32: Colombia 1-0 Ghana

Kansas City: Colombia saw off toothless Ghana 1-0 on Friday to become the final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.

The South Americans dominated the game at Arrowhead Stadium but ended up with just Jhon Arias's early goal to show for their superiority as they now look forward to a meeting with Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday.

R32: Argentina 3-2 (AET) Cabo Verde

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

R32: Argentina 3-2 (AET) Cabo Verde

Miami Gardens: Argentina were given a huge scare before ending Cabo Verde's fairytale run as Lionel Messi netted his 20th FIFA World Cup goal in a 3-2 win after extra-time to reach the last 16.

Messi's sublime control and finish for his seventh goal at this tournament in four games put the defending champions in command, but Deroy Duarte's strike on the hour mark forced Argentina to expand more energy in the sapping Miami heat.
 
Lisandro Martinez briefly restored Argentina's lead early in extra time before Sidny Lopes Cabral's stunning shot rocketed into the top corner.
 
Another Argentina corner finally got the job done when Cristian Romero rose highest to head Messi's corner, the ball going in after taking a deflection off Diney Borges for an own goal.

Preview - R16: Paraguay v France

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Preview - R16: Paraguay v France

Philadelphia: Kylian Mbappe's France have been the outstanding team so far at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will be expected to get the better of Paraguay on Saturday and extend their run to the quarter-finals.

Perhaps the only thing that can stop Mbappe and Les Bleus is the threat of extreme heat and possibly storms in Philadelphia.

It is a last-16 tie with a clear favourite, but a match-up with historic significance on the July 4 weekend in the birthplace of American independence.

After winning the trophy in 2018 and losing the 2022 final on penalties, France are hoping to become only the third team in FIFA World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals, after West Germany and Brazil.

Preview - R16: Canada v Morocco

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

Preview - R16: Canada v Morocco

Houston: Canada will have to be at their best to deny an impressive Morocco as the co-hosts look to extend their record-breaking run at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Saturday's Round of 16 tie.

The 1-0 win against South Africa in the Round of 32 saw Jesse Marsch's Canada advancing to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history and the American tactician will be keen to keep the positive run going.

Morocco, however, will have no fear after knocking out three-time runners-up Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32, with Mohamed Ouahbi confident his charges are capable of taking on any team.