History was made on Tuesday as all four FIFA World Cup matches take place on Tuesday ended in a draw for the first time in 68 years.
Australia also got a look at potential knockout opponents. If the Socceroos finish as runner-up in their group, they’ll face the Group G runner-up in the Round of 32, with those teams in action today as Belgium and Egypt and Iran and New Zealand faced off.
UFC 329: McGregor v Holloway 2 | SUN 18 JULY 11AM AEST | Conor McGregor is back. The Irish superstar takes on the always dangerous Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
FULL 2026 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE WITH AUSTRALIAN TIMES AND DATES
EXPLAINED: Why Socceroos already have one foot in World Cup knockout stage after epic opening game upset
WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE: Spain vs Cabo Verde scores, stats and more
WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE: Belgium vs Egypt scores, stats and more
WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay scores, stats and more
WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE: Iran vs New Zealand scores, stats and more
Cape Verde hold Spain to 0-0 draw | 02:01
KIWIS TWICE SURRENDER LEAD IN THRILLER
Iran twice battled back for a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday in their frenetic opening match of a World Cup campaign that has been utterly overshadowed by war, politics and protests.
The Iranian team’s very presence at the Los Angeles Stadium had long felt uncertain, after months of military conflict between their nation and the United States.
At last able to focus on the football, the Iran players twice found themselves trailing to the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, thanks to goals from New Zealand striker Elijah Just.
But with a vocally pro-Iran crowd drowning out planned protests by anti-government demonstrators, equalizers from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi spared Team Melli any further blushes.
The Iran team have dealt with a gamut of obstacles before even arriving at this World Cup, from delayed and refused US visas, to moving their training camp to Mexico at the last minute.
Hundreds of protesters against Iran’s ruling regime demonstrated outside the venue Monday, saying the team does not represent their people.
Many inside the stadium sported anti-government emblems, nonchalantly flouting FIFA rules against political messaging, and the Iran anthem received boos and cheers.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei had insisted on the eve of the game his players would not “pay attention to any of the hype.”
But his side was stunned by an early New Zealand goal on the counter created by veteran striker Chris Wood.
Collecting a long pass in the seventh minute, the Nottingham Forest target man expertly held up the ball, turned and played in the onrushing Elijah Just.
After a sharp exchange of passes with Sarpreet Singh and Wood, Just leapt and smashed a volley into the net.
Iran’s star forward Mehdi Taremi nearly levelled in the 23rd minute, the former Inter Milan man’s long-range effort ricocheting off the right post.
They came close again as Kiwi keeper Max Crocombe was tackled outside his box, only able to watch as a lobbed effort at his open goal faded wide.
Iran’s equalizer did come in the 32rd minute with a poacher’s finish from wingback Rezaeian.
Rezaeian latched onto a rebound following Saman Ghoddos’ smart pass into Shahriyar Moghanlou, whose shot on the turn was blocked by the outstretched leg of Finn Surman.
Iran defender Ali Nemati thought he had scored in first-half stoppage time, but his header from a free kick was comfortably offside.
New Zealand retook the lead in the 55th minute. Motherwell striker Just bagged a brace via a crisp one-two with Wood, after Liberato Cacace had stolen the ball on the halfway line.
But they were again pegged back nine minutes later, as Mohebi’s leaping header from Rezaeian’s superb cross glanced off the inside post.
The game’s final half hour saw Iran on the front foot, but unable to grab a winner due to a combination of sloppy finishing and dogged New Zealand defending.
The draw dents Iran’s hopes of progressing to the knockouts for the first time, though fellow Group G contenders Egypt and Belgium also drew Monday.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s wait for a first World Cup win goes on.
READ MORE
Hero Roos captain was just axed at WC. Here’s what we know… and a murky theory
‘S**t’s hilarious’: US pundit doubles down — then gets brutal smackdown from Socceroos icon
Socceroos Daily — Aussies given WC warning; great’s plea for overnight sensation
CAPE VERDE STUN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
Spain failed to find a way past inspired Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha as the 40-year-old secured a stunning 0-0 draw for the World Cup debutants and was reduced to tears at his heroics.
La Roja rolled into Atlanta as one of the pre-tournament favourites with coach Luis de la Fuente boasting that he has the best squad in the competition.
Yet a Spain side featuring a Ballon d’Or winner in Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, fresh from a second consecutive Champions League victory with Paris Saint-Germain, and packed with many of the squad that won Euro 2024 could not breach Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Even the introduction of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal on his return from injury in the second half did not break the deadlock as Vozinha marshalled his backline to a clean sheet they will never forget.
“Very proud. For me it is an honour for me to represent my country,” Vozinha told reporters.
“We are from a small country. Our qualification was very difficult in a group with Cameroon and Libya, but we knew if we followed the plan of the coach, we had a great chance to qualify.
“The dream came true. We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde.”
– Nomadic club career –
Vozinha was only really tested in a short spell of Spanish pressure just before half-time.
He turned over Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header and got down well to Ferran Torres’ low shot before producing his best stop at full stretch from an Aymeric Laporte header.
His tears at full-time were provoked not only by the size of Cape Verde’s achievement, but the fact he was not able to share the moment with his mother and grandparents.
“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here, they died a few years before, and they did everything for me and my life,” he added.
“Also my mum she didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. The money for the visa, we didn’t manage (to do) on time and I would like her to be here.
“But I am very happy and also happy for all the Cape Verdean people.”
Vozinha’s nomadic career has taken him from his homeland to Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Slovakia before his latest move to Portugal.
And he now has a legion of new fans.
In just a few hours his Instagram account ballooned from a mere 50,000 followers to three million.
Cape Verde coach Bubista paid tribute to one of his most experienced players, who on his 89th cap finally reached the biggest stage in world football.
“He was overcome with emotion. He has a lot of experience and has given so much to get to this stage. They were tears of resilience,” said Bubista.
“He has spent many years with us. I normally do not like to comment on individuals, but he had a great performance.
“He was the best player on the pitch but I think we were defensively very strong and he is there to help the team.”
READ MORE
WC Daily — AFL star fumes over Socceroos clash; coach faces sack after 90 mins
Aussie ref’s staggering explanation over WC hand gesture as FIFA responds to ugly fallout
Talking Pts — Huge snub exposes thrilling ‘Roos reality; Popa truth we all should’ve known
Egypt denied a first ever World Cup win | 01:24
EGYPT LET CHANCE AT HISTORIC FIRST SLIP
Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday.
Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal.
With the draw, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on.
This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece and with Group G fixtures to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.
For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-placed finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.
Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia’s squad.
With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker that created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.
However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne but his sweetly-struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.
It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match — after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.
De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free-kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.
Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.
The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.
With 65 minutes gone, Rudi Garcia decided to send on Lukaku. The change immediately paid dividends as Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer showed his predatory instincts to dash in on a Thomas Meunier cross, with his presence enough to destabilize Hany who put through his own net.
Salah departed the field with 15 minutes remaining as Egypt sought to shut up shop and ultimately held out for a point.
Socceroos turn attention to USA clash | 03:28
BEACH-LIKE PERFORMANCE SAVES SAUDIS
Uruguay dominated but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in the sweltering heat of Miami on Monday to leave an intriguing Group H wide open.
The stalemate came hours after one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history when European champions Spain were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in the same group.
After the first round of games in the pool all four teams have one point. Defender Abdulelah al-Amri gave the Saudis a surprise lead near the end of the first half only for Uruguay’s second-half pressure to pay off with 10 minutes left through Maxi Araujo.
Uruguay, World Cup winners in 1930 and 1950, saw their arrival in the United States from Mexico delayed by a snag with the paperwork for their plane.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side though had the first chance of the game when Araujo stung the palms of Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais after five minutes.
In evening temperatures of more than 30C and energy-sapping humidity, both teams struggled to create much in front of goal early on.
Just after the half-hour mark the Saudi stopper was called into action again to parry away a diving header from close range by Federico Vinas.
The Saudis, who stunned eventual champions Argentina 2-1 to start their campaign at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, looked to hit their opponents on the break.
They had their first real opportunity shortly before half-time when Amri forced Fernando Muslera to palm away his fizzing shot.
Four minutes before the break the defender did score, reacting fastest to poke home from close range after Muslera spilled a header from a corner.
After a toothless first period, Bielsa had seen enough, dragging off defender Matias Vina and anonymous former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.
Winger Agustin Canobbio and left-sided Juan Manuel Sanabria were introduced. The double substitution sparked Uruguay — who surprisingly did not play a single World Cup warm-up game — into action in the second half.
Saudi coach Georgios Donis, brought in just two months before the tournament, saw his team retreat farther and farther back.
On the hour Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte pinged the ball against the foot of the Saudi post from well outside the box.
The pressure finally told late on when Owais made a mess of a routine stop and Araujo gobbled up the rebound.
There looked to be only one winner after that, but Saudi Arabia just about held on for a vital point.
Aus centre of attention ahead of USA | 02:40
Tuesday June 16 World Cup schedule (all times AEST)
Match 14 – Group H – Spain drew with Cape Verde 0-0, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 16 – Group G – Belgium drew with Egypt 1-1, Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 13 – Group H – Saudi Arabia drew with Uruguay 1-1, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 15 – Group G – Iran drew with New Zealand 2-2, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Follow Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup action below!
#Adessonews seleziona nella rete articoli di particolare interesse.
Se vuoi leggere l’articolo completo clicca sul seguente link
Source link
