Sports

Reigning champions Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 on Tuesday as Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time record for goals at World Cups when he scored a hat-trick. Messi netted a spectacular opener from distance in Kansas City, then poked home from close range before completing his first ever World Cup hat-trick to give him a total of 16 goals.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France launched their bid for a third World Cup crown with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in Group I on Tuesday. Real Madrid star Mbappe took his career World Cup goals tally to 14– just two behind all-time leader Miroslav Klose–and Bradley Barcola was also on target as Les Bleus secured all three points for ...

Bangladesh might have to field a fresh-looking side under a new skipper on Wednesday, with sources hinting that Towhid Hridoy is set to lead the side for the first time in his career as regular captain Litton Das might have to sit out the T20 series opener against Australia at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium. Litton, ...

A rare piece of FIFA World Cup history was repeated on 15 June as all four matches played on the day ended in draws, marking only the second such occurrence in the tournament’s history. According to The Athletic, the previous instance came on 15 June 1958, when four World Cup matches on the same day also finished level. Remarkably, the ...

Iran came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their long-awaited opening game at the World Cup on Monday as European heavyweights Spain were frustrated in a shock stalemate by tiny tournament debutants Cape Verde. After months of uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament following the war in the Middle East, all eyes were on ...

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 ...

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 ...

Sweden crushed Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday to leave the North African nation’s defensive reputation in tatters and seize control of World Cup Group F. Graham Potter’s men took the lead in Guadalupe in the seventh minute courtesy of Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari’s thunderbolt from outside the box, following a mix-up at the back. The celebrations of Ayari, who is of ...

Japan twice came back from a goal down to secure a 2-2 World Cup draw with the Netherlands on Sunday as Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute deflection earned Hajime ​Moriyasu’s side a point in the Group F clash at Dallas Stadium. The game came to ‌life after a tense opening 45 minutes, with Virgil van Dijk giving the Dutch the lead with ...

Germany walloped Curacao 7-1 in their World Cup opener on Sunday ​after Felix Nmecha scored the tournament’s ‌fastest goal so far and then drew a penalty in first-half stoppage time which Kai Havertz ​converted to extend the lead. The four-times ​champions dominated from the start of ⁠the Group E match against the smallest ​nation to qualify for a World Cup ...