United News of Bangladesh

Giovani Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Lionel Messi to score in this World Cup as the defending champions finished the group stage with a three-game sweep after a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday night. Lo Celso, in his first World Cup start, put Argentina ahead to stay when he scored on a direct free kick in the 19th minute. Messi added one of his own after entering the game in the second half, and the top scorer in World Cup history extended his mark to 19 goals. Messi, the leader in this tournament with six goals, was among nine Argentina starters changed from the previous game since Group J was already clinched before the match. He entered in the 60th minute, three days after his 39th birthday, and in the same stadium where he broke the scoring mark last Monday, and scored in the 80th minute. Their captain had scored all five of Argentina’s goals in wins over Algeria and Austria, including his first-ever World Cup hat trick and then two goals in his record-setting game on Monday. He has scored in seven consecutive World Cup games, breaking a tie with France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho for the longest all-time streak. In the first half, Lautaro Martinez put Argentina up 2-0 when he scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute, in the same sequence when his close-range shot ricocheted off the crossbar. Martinez, who was subbed out for Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were the only players to start all three of Argentina’s group matches. Argentina, which has seven wins and two draws in its last nine World Cup games, plays in the round of 32 on Friday against Cape Verde, the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout round. That game is in Miami, the home of Messi’s Major League Soccer team. This is the fifth time Argentina has won all of its matches in group stage, and first since back-to-back tournaments in 2010 and 2014. Argentina has 14 wins, two losses and three draws in its last 19 group games. France and Mexico were the only other squads in this expanded 48-team World Cup to get the maximum nine points in the group stage.

Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches after netting in Argentina's final Group J game against Jordan on Saturday, extending his all-time tournament scoring record. The 39-year-old scored his 19th World Cup goal in the 80th minute with a precise free kick after being fouled just outside the penalty area. His low strike slipped through two Jordan defenders and found the left corner of the net. Messi to begin Argentina's final group match on bench, could feature as substitute

For 52 years, Congo secured a historic place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time with a 3-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan on Saturday, setting up a Round of 32 clash against England. Making their first World Cup appearance since competing as Zaire in 1974, Congo recovered from an early setback after Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan the lead with a lobbed finish in the 10th minute. The African side dominated after the break and equalised in the 68th minute when Yoane Wissa converted a penalty after being fouled by Abdukodir Khusanov inside the box, sending goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way. Fiston Mayele completed the turnaround 10 minutes later, finishing at the near post after Meschack Elia's effort was deflected into his path. Wissa added his second goal in stoppage time with a curling strike into the bottom corner to seal the victory. The result marked Congo's first-ever World Cup win after earning their first point with a 1-1 draw against Portugal earlier in the tournament. They advanced as one of the best third-placed teams and became the eighth African nation to progress from the group stage. Congo's achievement erased memories of their difficult 1974 campaign, when they lost all three matches, including a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia.

Colombia secured top spot in Group K after a 0-0 draw against Portugal on Saturday, with both teams already assured of places in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage before kickoff. The result means Colombia will face Ghana in the Round of 32 after the African side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia earlier in the day. Portugal, runners-up in the group, will meet Croatia. Both sides created several scoring opportunities in an entertaining contest. Portugal's Bruno Fernandes was denied by Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in the first half, while Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa produced six saves—more than he managed in his previous two matches combined. Colombia thought it had claimed victory in stoppage time through Davinson Sanchez, but his header was ruled out for offside. Portugal endured an inconsistent group campaign, opening with a surprise 1-1 draw against DR Congo before Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. Colombia, absent from the 2022 World Cup, advanced after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 and DR Congo 1-0. The match at the Miami Dolphins' stadium attracted a sellout crowd of 64,478, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, former Colombian star Carlos Valderrama, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, actor Matt Damon, NBA player Jimmy Butler and former NFL quarterback Jameis Winston.

Tiny Cape Verde continued its remarkable World Cup journey by becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament's knockout stage, thanks largely to the outstanding performances of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. "We are small," Vozinha said. "But we have big hearts and we are fighters." Cape Verde secured its place in the round of 32 after playing out a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia on Friday night, extending its unbeaten run with a third consecutive draw in the group stage. Making its World Cup debut, the island nation off Africa's west coast had already stunned football fans by holding 2010 champion Spain to a goalless draw before coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. "The team was very eager to show this to the whole world," Cape Verde coach Bubista said while wrapped in his country's flag. "We are proud to have reached this stage. We have shown that we are a small country, but we fight for the things we want to achieve." Cape Verde finished second in the group with three points behind Spain, which defeated Uruguay on Friday to top the standings. The Blue Sharks will now face defending World Cup champion Argentina in Miami on July 3. Three draws do not always guarantee progress at a World Cup. Wales (1958), Ireland and the Netherlands (1990), and Chile (1998) all advanced after drawing all three group matches, while New Zealand failed to do so in 2010 despite the same record. On the eve of the match, Bubista said, "Everyone is entitled to dream and nothing is impossible." His players turned that belief into reality by taking the nation of just over 500,000 people into the knockout phase. Among the fans was a woman with her face painted in the colours of Cape Verde's flag, holding a sign that read: "Small Islands, Big Dreams." Vozinha once again played a decisive role, making several key saves to deny Saudi Arabia. He first stopped a header from Mohamed Kanno in first-half stoppage time before producing another fine save in the 66th minute to push away Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat's effort. He also denied Abdullah Al-Hamdan deep into stoppage time. "There is a lot of quality in our national team," Vozinha said. "Maybe many of you think the Cape Verdean player is not good enough. But we came here to show that we have a lot of quality. We are here to compete and our players can play anywhere, in the big competitions and big leagues." A group of shirtless supporters painted one letter each of Vozinha's name across their chests as they cheered him on. Watching proudly from a luxury suite was his mother, Ana Candida Evora, waving a small Cape Verde flag. It was her second match of the tournament after visa issues prevented her from attending her son's seven-save performance against Spain. Cape Verde also created chances of its own. Kevin Pina fired just over the crossbar in the 50th minute, while goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais denied Laros Duarte in the 74th. Nuno da Costa's late effort also went wide. The final whistle was followed by scenes of celebration after Spain completed its victory over Uruguay, confirming Cape Verde's place in the knockout stage. Many players and fans were seen celebrating emotionally, with some in tears. Reflecting on the achievement, Bubista said he had always believed his country would one day compete on football's biggest stage. "I've always said that sooner or later Cape Verde would be on such a stage," he said. "Of course it's hard to predict something like this, but I always believed." Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, was eliminated after finishing the group stage with two points. "We were very poor in terms of creating things, controlling the game and creating actions," Saudi coach Georgios Donis said. "One cannot win a game this way. It would be very difficult."

Egypt reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history after securing a 1-1 draw against Iran on Friday, while Iran were left waiting to learn whether they will also advance. The result saw Egypt finish second in Group G behind Belgium, who sealed top spot with a 5-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver. Belgium had earlier drawn 1-1 with Egypt in the group stage. Iran still have a chance of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time since the tournament expanded to 48 teams, but their qualification now depends on other results. Egypt made a bright start, taking the lead in the fifth minute through Mahmoud Saber. Mohamed Salah, the former Liverpool forward, played a key role in the move before Saber fired the ball through the legs of Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. Iran responded quickly, with Ramin Rezaeian equalising nine minutes later to level the match. The Iranians thought they had snatched a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time when Shoja Khalilzadeh found the net in the 93rd minute. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a video review, denying Iran all three points. A victory would have guaranteed Iran a place in the knockout stage. The match, promoted as a "Pride Match" in Seattle, ended with Egypt celebrating a historic qualification, while Iran's hopes of progressing remain uncertain.

Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium bounced back from a sluggish start to cruise past New Zealand 5-1 on Friday, securing a place in the knockout stage of the World Cup. The convincing victory lifted Belgium to the top of Group G. They will now face one of the third-placed teams in the round of 16 on Wednesday in Seattle. The group-stage finale was played at the same time as the other Group G match in Seattle, where Egypt and Iran played out a 1-1 draw. Belgium entered the match under pressure after managing only two draws in their opening games, sharing points 1-1 with Egypt before being held to a goalless draw by Iran. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the net as Belgium completed an impressive turnaround. The team was eager to avoid another early exit after failing to get past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, following a third-place finish at the 2018 tournament in Russia. Elijah Just scored New Zealand's lone goal. The All Whites needed a victory to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive, but the defeat ended their campaign without a first-ever World Cup win.

Lionel Messi will not be in Argentina's starting lineup for Saturday's final Group J match against Jordan, but head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the World Cup's all-time leading scorer is expected to make an appearance later in the game. Speaking on Friday, two days after Messi celebrated his 39th birthday, Scaloni said through an interpreter that the Argentina captain would start on the bench before being introduced at some stage during the match. The coach, however, did not reveal when Messi would enter the contest or provide details about his starting XI against tournament debutants Jordan, who have already lost their first two group matches. Messi has been in outstanding form, scoring all five of Argentina's goals in its opening two World Cup fixtures. His tally of 18 goals across six World Cup tournaments makes him the competition's all-time leading scorer. The Argentine star matched former Germany striker Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals after recording his first World Cup hat trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria. He then surpassed Klose by scoring twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the same venue hosting Saturday's group finale. Klose reached his 16-goal mark in 24 World Cup appearances and capped his international career by helping Germany defeat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2014 World Cup final. France forward Kylian Mbappé also equaled Klose's record earlier this tournament with two goals against Iraq but remained on 16 career World Cup goals after failing to score in France's 4-1 victory over Norway on Friday. Widely regarded as one of football's greatest players, Messi has represented Argentina in 201 international matches, including a record 28 World Cup appearances. He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup games, joining France's Just Fontaine and Brazilian legend Jairzinho as the only players to achieve that milestone. Before the tournament, Messi managed a minor hamstring issue suffered while playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Although he has shown no signs of discomfort since arriving at the World Cup, Argentina appears determined to manage his workload with the knockout rounds approaching. If La Albiceleste reaches another World Cup final, the team would have to play five knockout matches in just 17 days, beginning next Friday in South Florida and ending with the championship match on July 19. With Argentina already assured of first place in the group, Scaloni is expected to rotate much of his lineup. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could be the only regular starter to retain his place. Midfielder Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut after replacing Messi late in the opening win over Algeria, is expected to start in the captain's place against Jordan. "Our goal is for the team to maintain the same style of play," Scaloni said. "Jordan is a quality opponent, and we're approaching the game with full respect. We want to improve on certain aspects from the last match while continuing to dominate possession and control the game."

Spain booked its place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage as Group H winners after defeating Uruguay 1-0 on Friday, with another costly error by veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera sending the two-time champions out of the tournament. Uruguay finished its campaign without a single victory, collecting just two points from three group-stage matches. Spain, the reigning European champion, topped the group with seven points and will meet the runner-up from Group J—either Austria or Algeria—in the Round of 32 on Thursday in Inglewood, California. The decisive goal came in the 42nd minute when Álex Baena fired from inside the penalty area. Muslera failed to deal cleanly with the effort, allowing the ball to slip past him into the net. It marked the third goalkeeping mistake by the 40-year-old during the tournament. Muslera later asked head coach Marcelo Bielsa to substitute him at halftime. "It was his decision to come off," Bielsa told reporters after the match. The Uruguayan coach admitted responsibility for the disappointing campaign, insisting his players deserved far more from their performances. "Nobody wants to hear explanations at a time like this," Bielsa said. "The responsibility is mine. I failed despite having a squad full of talented players." Ranked 19th in the FIFA standings, Uruguay became the highest-ranked nation eliminated from the competition so far. Elsewhere in the group, Cape Verde secured second place after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, finishing on three points—one more than both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Although Uruguay ended third, its total was not enough to qualify among the tournament's best third-placed teams. The final whistle brought emotional scenes, with several Uruguayan players in tears while many supporters voiced their frustration by booing the team as it left the pitch. Despite being one of the most highly anticipated group-stage fixtures, the match produced few clear scoring opportunities. "I'm very proud of everything we've achieved," Baena said afterward. "We performed at a very high level." Uruguay appealed strongly for a late penalty after Federico Viñas went down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved play on. Tensions escalated in stoppage time when Agustín Canobbio was shown a red card for a challenge on Spain defender Paul Cubarsí. His teammates escorted him off the field, but after the match he returned in an attempt to speak with the referee. World champions in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay entered the decisive match under pressure following consecutive draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Local media had also reported growing unrest within the squad regarding Bielsa's leadership. Spain, aiming to win its second World Cup title after lifting the trophy in 2010, began the tournament with an unexpected 0-0 draw against Cape Verde before responding with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. La Roja are hoping to progress beyond the Round of 16 for the first time since their championship-winning campaign. Teenage forward Lamine Yamal, still recovering from a left hamstring injury, was unable to make a major impact and was substituted in the 76th minute for Ferran Torres. The 18-year-old had also been taken off at halftime against Saudi Arabia and appeared only as a second-half substitute in the draw with Cape Verde. Uruguay suffered another setback before halftime when midfielder Manuel Ugarte sustained an apparent knee injury. He was receiving medical treatment on the field when Spain scored and was eventually stretchered off. Among the 45,065 spectators at Estadio Akron was Spain's King Felipe VI. Before kickoff, both teams observed a minute's silence to honor the victims of the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela late Wednesday.

Cape Verde continued its fairytale debut at the FIFA World Cup by securing a place in the knockout round after playing Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw on Friday. The result made the tiny island nation the smallest country ever to advance beyond the group stage of the tournament. Located off Africa’s west coast, Cape Verde has impressed throughout its first World Cup appearance. The Blue Sharks opened with a goalless draw against 2010 champions Spain before battling back to earn a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. With three draws from three matches, Cape Verde finished second in the group with three points, behind Spain, which defeated Uruguay on Friday to claim top spot. Cape Verde will now face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 in Miami on July 3. Although three draws are not always enough to progress at a World Cup, Cape Verde joined a select group of teams to qualify without winning a group-stage match. Wales achieved the feat in 1958, while Ireland and the Netherlands did so in 1990, followed by Chile in 1998. New Zealand, however, drew all three of its matches in 2010 but failed to advance. Ahead of Friday’s match, Cape Verde head coach Bubista expressed optimism, saying everyone has the right to dream and that nothing is impossible. His team proved those words true by overcoming the odds and guiding the nation of just over 500,000 people into the last 32. Supporters embraced the historic occasion, with one fan displaying a sign reading, “Small Islands, Big Dreams,” while wearing face paint in the colors of Cape Verde’s flag. The Blue Sharks were once again inspired by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. The 40-year-old produced another outstanding display, adding to a tournament that has earned him more than 16 million Instagram followers. Vozinha made a crucial stop in first-half stoppage time, comfortably collecting Mohamed Kanno’s header before denying Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat with an acrobatic save in the 66th minute. He preserved the clean sheet again in stoppage time by blocking Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s late effort. Fans celebrated their goalkeeper throughout the match, with a group of shirtless supporters each painting one letter of his name across their chests. Watching proudly from the stands was Vozinha’s mother, Ana Candida Evora, who waved a small Cape Verde flag from a luxury suite. It was her second appearance at the tournament after visa complications prevented her from attending her son's remarkable seven-save performance against Spain. Cape Verde also threatened at the other end. Kevin Pina fired narrowly over the crossbar early in the second half, while Laros Duarte was denied by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais in the 74th minute. Nuno da Costa missed one final opportunity in the closing moments when his shot drifted wide. The missed chances ultimately mattered little. Shortly after the final whistle, Spain completed its win over Uruguay, officially confirming Cape Verde’s place in the knockout stage. The historic achievement sparked emotional celebrations among the players and supporters, many of whom were reduced to tears as Cape Verde completed one of the tournament’s most remarkable underdog stories.