Sid Lowe on Lamine Yamal. We may be hearing more about this young man.
Lamine Yamal is just 18, but he has said before that he has taken on “too much” responsibility for almost as long as he remembers. In a recent interview with El País, he said he first felt something like fame, exposure, when he was 13. At the start of this competition a video did the rounds of him walking round Walmart. Much was made of it, too much you might think and you wouldn’t be wrong, but it wasn’t meaningless. It mattered, and to him particularly: a rare opportunity to do something normal. Or not quite: the video appeared, which said something too.
Gilberto Mora has earned rave reviews in this World Cup and rightly so. The teenager looks a quality player, superb technique but I was speaking to someone who has followed him closely and is suspicious he will struggle physically against England. I reckon he will embrace the challenge.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a new one-year contract to stay at Celtic.
The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder, capped 35 times by England, joined on a short-term deal in February after being released by Besiktas last summer, impressing in a Celtic shirt as he helped them to a league and cup double.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 32, made 12 appearances, scoring two goals including a match-winning strike on debut against Livingston.
“I’m delighted to be staying at Celtic for another year,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
“It was an incredible time last season and to be part of that success in winning the league and Scottish Cup was so special.
“I’m really excited to be back and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the boys and getting to work ahead of what will hopefully be another successful season.” PA Media
Jacob Steinberg has some advice for Tuchel, too.
The answer is using the tactic that has so often disrupted Tuchel’s England: stifle Mexico with the dreaded low block. The worst way to approach this game would be allowing it to become chaotic. England cannot give Mexico space to run in behind. Mexico have pace on the flanks and would love to play against a high line.
From stopping Mora to keeping the home crowd quiet, Nick Ames tells the England team what they need to do to beat Mexico.
Lars Sivertsen, meanwhile, talks of Norway’s new golden generation and the hope they have brought to the nation.
Norway’s first golden generation qualified for two World Cups, soared to second place in the Fifa rankings, beat the likes of England, Italy, Netherlands and Brazil, but never won a knockout game at a major tournament. And they exited both 1994 and 1998 World Cups with a sense of regret and unfulfilled potential. The current players know this story well. Three of them have fathers who played at the World Cup in ’94. The current manager, Ståle Solbakken, knows it intimately. He played just over an hour in that defeat by Italy. “Historically in tournaments, Norway have played well in qualifying and then performed worse at the World Cup,” Solbakken mused in a Netflix documentary released before this tournament. “Now we have to see if we can raise our game”.
Messi is massive in Munshiganj. Thousands came out in Bangladesh to watch Argentina take on Cape Verde clad in blue and white.
It is Brazil v Norway tomorrow. I do not think Gabriel Margalhaes will be too excited about facing Erling Haaland again. It should be a fine battle.
Thiago Rabelo takes a deep dive into Carlo Ancelotti and what he has brought to Brazil.
Ancelotti has not been afraid to make important decisions, such as leaving Neymar out of the starting XI. The 34-year-old is not the player he once was, nor is he fully fit. But other, less experienced managers would not have cared about that; they would still have picked Neymar plus 10 other players. Under Ancelotti, however, Neymar has played only 14 minutes at this World Cup, against Scotland, and did not feature against Japan. Neymar, in turn, has understood his role in the squad. He knows he is no longer Brazil’s star player. That status now belongs to Vinícius Júnior.
England get hostile welcome in Mexico City
England received a hostile welcome as they arrived at their Mexico City hotel ahead of Sunday night’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico.
England had been hoping to keep their location undisclosed after Mexico supporters used loud speakers, horns and motorcycles to try to disturb the sleep of Ecuador’s players before their last-32 tie, which the co-hosts won 2-0 on Wednesday night.
But when England’s coach arrived at their hotel, hundreds of fans were already there, with many booing while others chanted “Mexico”. At least one supporter within the crowd could be seen holding up an England shirt.
Security has been increased outside the hotel after events earlier in the week, which led to complaints from Ecuador’s football federation. There has also been an increase in security in the city after four people died during the celebrations that followed Mexico’s win over Ecuador.
Thomas Tuchel’s men take on the co-hosts in a mouth-watering clash at the Azteca, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm local time (1am Monday BST).
Fifa had considered moving kick-off forward due to a forecast for storms in the region but, after five-and-a-half hours of uncertainty on Friday evening, the decision was made to stick with the original schedule. Both England and Mexico had voiced opposition to rescheduling the game less than 48 hours before kick-off. PA Media
Updated
Marc Guehi considers Mexico favourites for England’s World Cup last-16 clash at the Estadio Azteca.
The reward for Wednesday’s 2-1 comeback win against the Democratic Republic of Congo is Sunday’s mouthwatering last-16 tie in Mexico City.
A hostile atmosphere and high altitude await Thomas Tuchel’s men in Mexico, where England defender Guehi makes the Euro 2024 runners-up underdogs against the World Cup co-hosts.
“We know they’re a good team and they’ve got the fans on their side, so it’ll be going into the cauldron,” the England defender told Fifa. “But it’ll be a fun test. I’d say they’re kind of favourites. They’re at home and they know the environment a lot better. They haven’t conceded so far and have got a perfect record.
“You come to these competitions to play against top teams, in top atmospheres. It’s a match we’re all looking forward to.”
Alexander Abnos on why this USA team is worth celebrating.
So in the US, what is our reason to cheer the US at a time when we are led by a government despised at home and abroad? How do we put the ICE raids and the attacks on other countries and the mistreatment of so many of our fellow Americans aside and allow ourselves to feel patriotic for 90 minutes, plus extra time, and – God forbid – penalties too?
I’m half-English on my mum’s side and half Mexican-American. This [game against England] is probably the worst of all scenarios for me. I was born in the US but grew up in England so have always been an England supporter as well as Mexico. But the older I get, and the more I visit Mexico, the greater appreciation and pride I have for my Mexican roots. I don’t recall there being as big a level of excitement or togetherness as there has been this time. Mexico don’t have any world-class players, so team cohesion is key. And the Mexico fans have truly been a 12th man, more than I’ve ever seen.
Were some of these written at 5.30am by a man questioning his life choices? There’s only one way to find out.
What do you do as an England fan in Mexico City with some time to kill? Of course you go to watch the wrestling.
It was a striking image, the picture that best captured France’s World Cup campaign to this point. Not the one that caught Michael Olise in full flight as he executed a perfect bicycle kick that only sprang ungratefully off a Swedish post. Nor the one of the squad posing together on their private jet, turqoise hoods drawn tight to their chins. Instead it was the one of the hug, first between Kylian Mbappé and Didier Deschamps, and then with the rest of the squad too, as they celebrated the opening goal of their 3-0 last-32 victory over Sweden in a purposeful manner.
More Messi magic yesterday. That man knows the way to goal. Who is challenging him for the Golden Boot? Find out here …
I’ve always thought a Saturday Kitchen Live live blog would do good business on a weekend. People could argue over the recipes, rate Matt Tebbutt’s intros out of 10 etc and so forth. If Lifestyle are reading, I am available.
We had fish tacos last night and I am now using the leftover guacamole with some eggs. I assume I will be deported before the match against Mexico because I am showing my true colours.
As it looks like the England match is not moving from a 1am kick-off on Monday. Do send in how you are planning to watch. Out and about? At home? Will the kids be allowed to stay up? Have you booked Monday off or will you be WFH?
Declan Rice says England are ready to cope with whatever Mexico throw at them in Sunday’s World Cup encounter at the electric Estadio Azteca.
From unabated hostility to playing at high altitude, Thomas Tuchel’s side expect to face a variety of obstacles as they seek to keep alive their quest to join Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 heroes in immortality.
England dealt with an additional headache just before flying to Mexico City as Fifa discussed whether to move the last-16 clash to an earlier kick-off time due to the risk of weather disruption.
Tuchel’s team landed on Friday to news that the game would stay at 6pm local (1am on Monday in the UK) rather than be brought forwards six hours, with more fun and games potentially in store before the tie starts.
“It’s kind of going to be like an away game for us,” England midfielder Rice said. “They’ve played every game in Mexico so far, been at home the whole tournament, so for us it’s just being able to go there and deal with what’s going to be thrown at us.”
Mexico boast an astonishing record at the Azteca, having lost just two of their 89 competitive matches at a ground England play at for the first time since Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ helped Argentina to a 2-1 quarter-final win. PA Media
How does altitude affect performance? Nicola Davis has the answer.
Max Rushden on Bolivian farmers and altitude.
The Azteca is around 2,200m above sea level – which means Dan Burn will be 2,202 metres above sea level. Presumably the Mexican hotel will give him a toddler single bed, legs poking out of the open window as the home fans’ car horns beep all night. We saw what happened to the Ecuador lads. How noise cancelling can noise-cancelling headphones get? How many decoy hotels do England need to get a good night’s sleep?
Barney Ronay is primed for the big one in Mexico City. Is this when England finally come good?
Croatia were physically overwhelmed. Ghana were not. Panama took England down into a pit of pain. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were slick, fearless and a bit unlucky. Through all this the lurking feeling has been: OK, when will it start? No, I mean really start. When will it hit the groove? When do they need to actually be good?
We shall have a look forward to the England game. Yesterday was all a bit silly as rumours began circulating about the change to the kick-off time in Mexico. My phone was pinging with school dads excited to not to have to stay up until 3am BST to watch the game in its entirety.
Now the plan for one father is to watch Brazil v Norway and then Mike Bassett England Manager before England starts. Other ideas can be found here …
Jonathan Wilson has taken a look at the African teams in the tournament and whether they have, in fact, underperformed.
Nine African sides made it through their groups, and those who had insisted Caf deserved better could claim vindication. Uefa and Conmebol, the South American federation, got 13 and five sides through to the last 32 respectively. It was Asia and, surprisingly, North and Central America who underperformed, only Japan and Australia making it through from the AFC and only the three hosts from Concacaf. In that regard, this has been an excellent World Cup for Africa, even if Tunisia did turn in one of the worst performances by any side in history. By falling behind after seven minutes then four minutes and three minutes in their three games, they broke Mexico’s 96-year-old record for most time spent trailing in a World Cup, taking the mark from 240 minutes to a remarkable 256.
The latest World Cup Daily has landed. Get Max and Baz in your ears now!
Australia lost to Egypt on penalties in one of the more disastrous shootout cock ups. Changing goalkeepers is a bold move, especially when Mat Ryan made a right Shilton of himself.
Jonathan Wilson was there.
Some comforting words from Zlatan.
Jack Snape was left to ponder what could have been.
Jurgen Klopp is the obvious – and best – choice for Germany. They were pretty mediocre throughout the competition, getting lucky against Cote d’Ivoire, then succumbing to Ecuador and Paraguay. I am impressed than Nagelsmann felt it could carry on.
Klopp confirms talks over Germany job
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he’s in negotiations to take over as Germany coach and says he’s “recharged” the energy he was missing when he left Liverpool.
Klopp is the German soccer federation’s preferred candidate after Julian Nagelsmann resigned Friday, four days after Germany lost on penalties to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32.
“Julian has stepped down and the (federation) is working on the succession and has approached me in the course of those considerations,” said Klopp, speaking from New York on German broadcaster Magenta TV in his role as a World Cup commentator late Friday.
Updated
We will move along to Fifa kick-off tombola in a bit but we shall run through the rest of Friday’s action.
I think I speak for many football fans when I celebrate Ghana’s elimination as they were pretty much unwatchable.
Ed Aarons witnessed their demise to Colombia in Kansas.
Thanks David. Total Editorial from the Guardian sports desk this morning as we react to the situation. We can play in many positions and it often bamboozles the opposition.
In an early tactical reshuffle, Will Unwin (better adjusted to altitude) will now take over while I catch my breath. Lots more to come from last night’s games, including Australia really botching their penalty shootout against Egypt.
A game like that deserves its own photo gallery so we’ve obliged. Some crackers in the set below.
“We did our best and we did it with bravery. Never did we fail to stay true to our identity, which is why I am so proud of what my players did.” The words of Cape Verde coach Bubista after his team gave Lionel Messi and Argentina a mighty scare in Miami.
Rival boss Lionel Scaloni, taking charge of his country for the 100th time, was a relieved man. “We suffered a very difficult game, we are still here but it won’t be easy, this is a very difficult World Cup. I hope the fans can have a drink now to relax for a bit.”
More quotes here from last night’s 3-2 epic.
Cape Verde out after classic with Argentina
There’s only one place to start – that World Cup classic between Argentina and Cape Verde. Here’s Barney Ronay (who watched it unfold at the Miami Stadium) on how the tiny island nation took the World Cup holders to the brink.
“Cape Verde, once again, were not done. They pressed, won three corners in quick succession. And with 102 minutes on the clock made it 2-2, with a moment of startling brilliance from Sydney Lopes Cabral, a goal that felt like one of the great World Cup moments, shades of Josimar ‘86, mixed with François Omam-Biyik, 1990 and all that.
“Cabral took the ball way out on the left, nipped inside, measured his strides, and produced the most beautifully pure right foot shot into the far corner past Emiliano Martínez, the ball seeming to hang in the damp Florida air, a perfect white orb, following that delicious parabola into the far corner.”
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of day 24 at the World Cup. We’ll have reaction to a thrilling day 23 and build-up to the first matches of the last 16: Canada v Morocco and Paraguay v France.