Sports
Argentina battle Egypt, Swiss test Colombia in World Cup Round of 16
The World Cup knockout stage shifts into high gear this Tuesday when reigning champions Argentina look to stave off a physical Egypt side while an unbeaten Colombia defense put their reputation on the line against Switzerland.
Argentina and Egypt head into Tuesday’s last-16 clash with precious little time to recover after both endured punishing physical tests to open their knockout campaigns.
The defending champions, Argentina, needed extra time on Friday to edge past tournament debutants Cape Verde in a 3-2 thriller. Meanwhile, Egypt labored through a draining 120 minutes against Australia, ultimately advancing 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 deadlock.
The rapid turnaround has sparked serious recovery concerns, particularly for an Argentinian side whose previously flawless tournament run suddenly exposed glaring vulnerabilities.
Lionel Scaloni’s men struggled to dictate terms against Cape Verde, igniting an intense domestic debate over whether the performance was a minor speed bump or a blueprint for future opponents.
Former international striker Sergio Aguero voiced those anxieties on ESPN Argentina: “What worries me now is that there are only four days to rest, travel, many players were suffering from cramps, and now you play Egypt, who are also a very physically strong team. I think they have a little more quality at the front than Cape Verde.”
Even legendary captain Lionel Messi admitted to feeling the physical toll, lamenting that Argentina were unable to execute their signature high press against Cape Verde.
Egypt, meanwhile, are likely to draw immense encouragement from how easily the South Americans were rattled.
The North Africans have leaned heavily on rigid defensive organization while unleashing Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush on lightning-fast counterattacks.
However, Egypt’s ambitions rest on the health of Salah, who carried a hamstring concern into the Australia match and appeared visibly reluctant to operate at top speed.
Despite the pressure, Argentina are publicly maintaining a composed, respectful front. “It will be a very difficult match,” midfielder Leandro Paredes insisted.
“We are at the elite level of football and all national teams are very good and physical,” he said.
Swiss face stingy Colombia
While the battle in Atlanta centers on physical recovery, the showdown at Vancouver’s BC Place is a pure clash of styles. Colombia have conceded just a single goal all tournament, but their suffocating backline faces its ultimate litmus test against Swiss prodigy Johan Manzambi.
Manzambi began the competition as a bench option against Qatar. However, after an explosive two-goal cameo in a 4-1 thrashing of Bosnia, he has forced his way into the heart of Murat Yakın’s frontline, racking up three goals and two assists. Manzambi most recently manufactured an assist for Breel Embolo during a comfortable 2-0 last-32 victory over Algeria.
“From the first day, he was a special player, a valuable player … he’s improving from game to game, and he’s very dangerous for every attack,” Swiss manager Yakın said of his young star.
“Besides the fact that he brings out the quality of the other players on the pitch, he’s also very humble, he works cleverly and is team-oriented. It’s a great pleasure to see him play like that. And of course, if he helps the team to win, then it’s even nicer,” he said.
The Swiss possess a devastating attacking quartet. Manzambi, Embolo, Dan Ndoye, and Ruben Vargas have combined to score eight of Switzerland’s nine goals in North America.
They enter Tuesday exceptionally fresh, but Colombia present a far more intimidating collective unit than Algeria did.
The South Americans remain unbeaten, flawlessly blending emotional intensity, raw pace, and attacking flair with a disciplined, fiercely physical defense that chokes out spaces in midfield.
Swiss midfielder Ardon Jashari acknowledged that his side must brace for a relentless tactical war: “I think Colombia is for sure a different style of play to how they play football – they will play emotional football, but also very intensive and straightforward. We have to be prepared for that, because I think this will be a very strong collective opponent.”
To break through, Switzerland will rely heavily on Manzambi to spearhead their transitional play, hoping his penetrating direct runs can finally unlock the tournament’s most stubborn defense.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame a spirited challenge from Jan-Lennard Struff and soaring temperatures Tuesday to book his place in a third Wimbledon semifinal, moving one win closer to another Grand Slam final.
The world No. 1 was tested by the 36-year-old German, particularly in the opening two sets, but held his nerve to secure a commanding 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 quarterfinal victory.
Sinner will face either seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic or Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday as he bids to reach the seventh Grand Slam final of his career and his first of the year.
The Italian also passed another important test by coping well with temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) at the All England Club, a notable improvement after previous struggles in the heat, including his dramatic second-round collapse at this year’s French Open, where he squandered a two-set lead and a 5-1 advantage before losing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
“Thanks for reminding me,” the four-time Grand Slam champion joked when asked about the heat.
“We worked a lot, especially after Paris, trying to understand what went wrong there.
“In any case, it was a huge test today, but I felt really comfortable physically.
“If it happens again, and I hope not, we know we need to change a couple of things.”
Sinner was beaten by Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals this year after winning their previous five meetings.
They have met three times before at Wimbledon. Djokovic won the 2022 quarterfinal and the 2023 semifinal before Sinner gained revenge in last year’s semifinal.
“If it’s Novak, I feel like every match is different. Even when I had this small streak with him, I felt like every match has its own story,” Sinner said of potentially facing the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“In any case, I’m happy to be back in the semis. I’m happy to fight for every ball, then we’ll see.
“He has won this tournament so many times, and he knows exactly how to approach it. I’m looking forward to it.”
If Djokovic loses, Sinner can take confidence from winning his last five matches against Auger-Aliassime, dropping only one set in the process.
Struff started strongly, perhaps buoyed by pushing Sinner in a tight defeat on grass at Halle last month, but fell a set behind after being broken in the 11th game.
Struff carved out a set point in the second set, but Sinner saved it as the match went to a tiebreak.
The top seed quickly moved 5-2 ahead in the tiebreak and clenched his fist in delight when Struff sent a backhand long to give him a two-set lead.
Struff became the oldest first-time men’s Grand Slam quarterfinalist of the Open era by reaching the last eight.
But his resistance ended as Sinner won the final three games to wrap up the match.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into alleged aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguayan senator posted racist remarks targeting Kylian Mbappe following Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the investigation was launched after the French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint with the national unit responsible for combating online hate speech.
Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, made the comments on X after Mbappe converted the decisive penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday. She targeted the France captain with racist insults about his origins, upbringing, education and appearance.
France has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals, where it will face Morocco on Thursday.
Mbappe called Amarilla a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the remarks were allegedly made because of the victim’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion. The offenses are punishable by up to one year in prison and a 45,000-euro fine ($51,000).
The Paris prosecutor’s office can investigate statements made abroad because the victim is a French national.
Amarilla later issued an open letter in French and Spanish on social media, saying her problem was with the player, not France. She wrote that she regretted insulting Mbappe with “the same insults” she had received as a mixed-race person and said she had deleted her post.
But she also demanded an apology from Mbappe, accusing him of gender-based violence in his comments about her and threatening legal action if he did not retract them.
The Paraguayan government released a statement Monday afternoon condemning Amarilla’s remarks as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.” It added that the senator’s comments do not represent either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.
The FFF denounced Amarilla’s comments as “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable,” while French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for Mbappe.
Defending champions Argentina produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, overturning a two-goal deficit in the final 11 minutes to beat a fearless Egypt 3-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and book their place in the quarterfinals.
For more than 75 minutes, Lionel Scaloni’s side looked destined for a stunning exit as Egypt, inspired by Mohamed Salah and an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, stood on the verge of the greatest victory in the nation’s soccer history.
Instead, Argentina showed the resilience that carried them to the world title four years ago, scoring three unanswered goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Cristian Romero sparked the comeback, Lionel Messi restored parity, and Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround with a stoppage-time winner that sent the holders into the last eight, where they will face the winner of Switzerland and Colombia.
Egypt silence the champions
Argentina entered the knockout clash as favorites after topping their group, but Egypt, appearing in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, refused to be intimidated.
The African side struck first in the 15th minute when defender Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to power home Marwan Attia’s delivery, stunning the heavily pro-Argentina crowd in Atlanta.
The goal rattled the holders, but they were handed an ideal opportunity to respond just four minutes later after winning a penalty.
Messi stepped up looking to level the contest, only for Shobeir to dive brilliantly and deny the Argentine captain.
The Egypt goalkeeper continued his remarkable display moments later as Messi also struck the post, leaving the defending champions frustrated.
Despite dominating possession and creating the better chances, Argentina went into halftime trailing 1-0.
Egypt continued to defend with discipline while remaining dangerous on the counterattack.
Their reward came in the 67th minute when Mostafa Ziko finished off a swift attacking move after being picked out by Haissem Hassan, doubling Egypt’s advantage and putting one foot in the quarterfinals.
At 2-0, Argentina appeared out of answers.
But champions rarely surrender quietly.
The comeback began in the 79th minute when Messi floated a dangerous ball into the area and Romero met it with a powerful header to cut the deficit.
Suddenly, belief returned to Argentina, and panic crept into the Egyptian defense.
Just four minutes later, Messi delivered once again.
After Gonzalo Montiel found the veteran forward inside the box, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner calmly beat Shobeir to make it 2-2, redeeming himself after his earlier penalty miss.
King of goals
The goal marked Messi’s eighth of the tournament, moving him to the top of a tightly contested Golden Boot race after beginning the day level with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland on seven goals.
It also extended an extraordinary streak, with Messi now scoring in nine consecutive World Cup matches for Argentina dating back to their triumphant 2022 campaign.
Fernandez completes unforgettable comeback
With extra time looming, Argentina continued pressing for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the second minute of stoppage time.
Substitute Lautaro Martínez delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, where Enzo Fernandez rose above the defense to head home the decisive goal, completing an astonishing three-goal comeback in roughly 13 minutes.
The dramatic finish sparked wild celebrations among Argentina’s players and supporters as Egypt’s dream run came to a heartbreaking end.
Messi drives another Argentine escape
Although his missed penalty threatened to become the defining moment of the night, Messi ultimately dictated the comeback.
The 39-year-old captain finished with a goal and an assist while repeatedly creating danger throughout the match. His eighth goal of the tournament strengthened his bid to capture the first Golden Boot of his career after finishing runner-up in 2022.
Messi also moved further up the all-time World Cup scoring charts, adding another milestone to an already historic international career.
The result ended Egypt’s finest World Cup campaign, but Hossam Hassan’s side departed with enormous credit.
After reaching the knockout stage for the first time and eliminating Australia in a penalty shootout, the Pharaohs came within minutes of producing one of the greatest upsets in tournament history.
Shobeir’s heroics in goal, Ibrahim’s opener, Ziko’s clinical finish and Salah’s leadership highlighted a performance that demonstrated Egypt’s growing ability to compete with the world’s elite.
Argentina controlled possession, generated significantly more scoring opportunities and eventually overwhelmed Egypt’s tiring defense, but the match exposed vulnerabilities that Scaloni’s side will need to address as the tournament intensifies.
Wimbledon reaches the quarterfinal stage Tuesday, featuring 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic against third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and Naomi Osaka, fresh off her win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, facing Karolina Muchova.
Djokovic’s scrappy win over Roman Safiullin in the round of 16 got him the record for the most Wimbledon wins with 106 victories at the All England Club. But the 39-year-old still has major hurdles to cross before he can achieve his dream of a record 25th Grand Slam.
The 39-year-old has been dragged into four-set battles in the last two matches and his 3 1/2 hour contest with qualifier Safiullin left Djokovic knowing he had won ugly.
“I enjoy the battle. I enjoy the suffering in a sense, to some extent, even though I don’t want it, I don’t invite it,” Djokovic said after his win over Safiullin.
“If it happens, you just have to grind and look for a way to win.”
Djokovic faced third seed Auger-Aliassime twice in 2022, with each player winning once.
“I hope that I can show that I’ve improved as a player,” the 25-year-old Canadian said about his clash with Djokovic.
“It’s a big honor for me … as a kid I didn’t appreciate it as much, but now that I’m a player, the load of work he’s done over the years, I mean, I’m not even near any of that. Just to think about it, it’s crazy. You get dizzy just to think about it.”
Osaka back in business
There were glimpses of the old Osaka in her dominant win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16. The Japanese 14th seed, who is making headlines with her fashion at Wimbledon, is now being regarded as one of the top picks for the title.
The 28-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam in 2021, dominated the serve and her blistering forehands defused the attack of Sabalenka, who had beaten Osaka in three earlier meetings this year.
“I thought about it as a practice match. I was just telling myself, like, there’s a really big crowd for this practice match, but we’re going to get through it,” said Osaka after reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time.
Osaka is up against a player who has now reached the quarter-finals three times, but never gone beyond that at the All England Club.
Muchova and Osaka have each won three of their six past matches, with the Czech 10th seed winning their only grass-court meeting at the Bad Homburg Open last month.
“I think we did a great decision that I played two tournaments before Wimbledon so I get few more matches to feel better on the grass,” Muchova said after knocking out former Wimbledon champion and compatriot Barbora Krejcikova in the round of 16.
Sinner up for stuff right
Defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner faces a familiar foe in German first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Jan-Lennard Struff, whom the Italian has beaten in all three of their past meetings.
“Whatever happened in the past, it’s gone already. Now we see if we found a solution. If not, we keep working for the next one,” the four-time major winner said of his progress so far.
“Quarter-final of a Grand Slam, the feelings are different. There is definitely more tension. In the same time, I’m very happy where I am at the moment. Then we see how it goes.”
Struff, 36, became the oldest man in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam last eight for the first time, when Hubert Hurkacz retired due to a hip injury during their round of 16 clash, while Struff was leading the fifth set 4-2.
“I’m very happy because it’s a huge achievement for me. I’m 36, my first quarters, it’s amazing … trying to recover for the next one,” Struff said.
Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty lifted France to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay in scorching heat Saturday, sending Les Bleus into a World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco.
France captain Mbappe coolly stroked in a 70th-minute spot-kick to settle a tense duel with the tough-tackling Paraguayans in furnace-like conditions at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
The goal was Mbappe’s seventh of the tournament, putting him alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Paraguay, who pulled off a massive upset in the last 32 by ousting four-time champions Germany on penalties, frustrated France for long periods with an ultra-disciplined defensive effort.
But the introduction of substitute Desire Doue for left winger Bradley Barcola in the 61st minute led to the breakthrough.
Paris Saint-Germain player Doue cut in menacingly from the left and jinked past several Paraguayan players before being upended by Diego Gomez in the area.
There was a brief delay after referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on, but when the incident was sent to VAR for review, the Uzbek official swiftly pointed to the spot.
Mbappe stepped up and converted with aplomb to settle a match played in temperatures of around 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) as a heatwave roasted the northeastern United States as it celebrated the July 4 holiday.
“We knew what sort of match we were in for, but I think today went really well,” Mbappe said after an ill-tempered affair that saw three France players pick up yellow cards.
“They thought we’d turn up in tuxedos, that we’d just come to pull off some spectacular moves,” Mbappe added.
“But we know how to play the dirty game too. And we did that today; we won, and even in that respect we were better than them.”
France will now face Morocco in the quarterfinals in Foxborough, outside Boston Thursday – a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal won by Les Bleus.
Morocco end Canada dream
Morocco booked their place in the last eight earlier Saturday after ending co-host Canada’s World Cup campaign with a clinical 3-0 victory in Houston.
Two goals from Azzedine Ounahi and an injury-time effort from Soufiane Rahimi sealed the win for Morocco at the NRG Stadium.
The reigning African champions, who had produced a superb performance to eliminate the Netherlands in the last 32, were made to work hard for victory by a Canada side who dominated the early exchanges.
But Morocco made the crucial breakthrough just after halftime when Ounahi swept in a powerful low shot from the edge of the area.
Ounahi made victory inevitable eight minutes from time with his second before Rahimi’s late goal on the counterattack left Canada heading for the tournament exit.
“We are very happy,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. “It’s a World Cup match and these are difficult games with teams playing for their lives. Canada were impressive – they played a top match. It was no surprise for us, but in the second half we were able to profit from the space they left us.”
Morocco are the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals in back-to-back World Cups, providing yet further evidence of the team’s emergence among the world’s elite footballing nations.
“We’re no longer a surprise today and that’s a great source of pride,” Ouahbi said.
“I think this is only the beginning and I hope we’ll keep producing this kind of run for many years.”
Canada coach Jesse Marsch said he believed his team had been the superior side but paid the price for poor finishing.
“We were the better team,” Marsch said. “It’s just they had a bit of quality in the final third and we lacked the ability to make a play when we needed to,” he said.
Saturday’s games kicked off the Round of 16 as the tournament reaches its final stages.
On Sunday, England face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in a much-anticipated encounter, while Brazil take on Norway at East Rutherford in New Jersey.
Spain and Portugal renew one of international football’s fiercest rivalries in Monday’s World Cup Round of 16, with veteran Cristiano Ronaldo facing teenage star Lamine Yamal in a showdown that also serves as a rematch of last year’s Nations League final.
Portugal won that final on penalties after a 2-2 draw, spoiling Spain’s attempt to defend their title and add another trophy to the European Championship crown they had claimed a year earlier.
For Luis de la Fuente’s side, it remains the one blot on an otherwise gleaming three-year run that began with the 2023 Nations League title and has now stretched to 34 matches unbeaten.
Spain, smooth on the ball, ruthless in exploiting space and miserly at the back, have not conceded a World Cup goal since their group match against Japan at Qatar 2022.
Yet Portugal are no ordinary obstacle, especially with a midfield of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes capable of going toe-to-toe with Spain’s technicians.
In last year’s Nations League final, Portugal did not pretend they were going to out-glitter Spain. They were drilled, compact and stubborn, refusing the open, attacking approach France had tried before being beaten by Spain in a nine-goal thriller in the semifinals.
They also had Nuno Mendes, whose evening became a personal duel with Spain’s right side. The Paris Saint-Germain full back was stretched repeatedly, yet still found the energy to disrupt Spain and hurt them going forward.
He is likely to be handed a similar double shift on Monday: smother Lamine’s invention and charge upfield whenever Portugal get the chance.
Headline act
Lamine remains Spain’s headline act, a teenage winger playing with the assurance of someone who treats pressure as a mild inconvenience.
But Spain are far more than one prodigy.
Their passing patterns are slick, their attacking movement sharp and their defensive structure has become one of the tournament’s most reliable foundations.
“We need to keep growing, but we’re not afraid of anyone,” Lamine told reporters after Spain’s 3-0 win over Austria.
Portugal arrive in less serene condition. They struggled badly against Croatia to reach the last 16 and had endured problems in the group stage, finishing second behind Colombia after two draws.
Spain, by contrast, have grown into the tournament since beginning with a goalless draw against Cape Verde.
Then there is Ronaldo, still there, still defiant, still demanding attention even as the pitch he commands has shrunk. The explosive force of old may have dimmed, but he remains dangerous inside the box, as Spain discovered when he converted a loose ball to make it 2-2 in the Nations League final and send the match towards extra time.
When Ronaldo was beginning his quest for 1,000 career goals, Lamine was nearly a baby. On Monday, they meet in a knockout match where one generation may shove another towards the exit.
Ronaldo’s sister has said he will leave the national team after the World Cup, meaning every Portugal match could now be his last. For two sides who arrived among the favourites to lift the trophy, a round-of-16 exit would feel brutally early.
Spain want revenge. Portugal want another ambush.
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