Australia advances to round of 32; Paraguay awaits as best third

Guillermo Almada has taken the reins of América, replacing André Jardine. The Uruguayan strategist arrives after a complicated experience in Spanish soccer, where he coached Valladolid and Real Oviedo without good results.

Despite this, Almada received offers to continue in Europe. However, he decided to return to Mexico to coach the Águilas.

“A pleasure and an important challenge for me. After my departure I had many offers to stay in European football, but when America arrived I didn’t even think about it, it is a situation that presents itself to you once in a lifetime,” declared Almada.

Reception of the squad and objectives

Regarding how he has been received by a group that worked with Jardine for three years, Almada assured that the arrangement is “spectacular.”

“I have found a spectacular willingness among the players to face all the challenges we have and face them with the greatest responsibility of winning, there is no other reality in this club,” said the former coach of Santos and Pachuca.

For his part, Santiago Baños, sports president of América, made the objective of the semester clear.

“The requirement that this club has is to fight for all the titles. The first commitment is in the Leagues Cup, the idea is to close the reinforcements as quickly as possible so that they can integrate into the work necessary to face the League and then focus fully on the League, be protagonists and, I repeat, try to look for another title,” said the manager.

A 40-year-old goalkeeper who thrilled the world

Cape Verde reached the round of 32 of the World Cup without winning a single match. And yet, his time in the tournament will be remembered. Much of the credit goes to Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who was about to star in one of the biggest surprises in football history.

On Friday, the Blue Sharks fell 3-2 to Argentina in overtime. Lionel Messi had to sweat to avoid the hit. But the scoreboard does not reflect Cape Verde’s feat.

The path of a debutante

The African team debuted with a goalless draw against Spain, with Vozinha as a figure. Then, two more draws were enough for them to advance from the group stage. The goalkeeper fulfilled his dream: his mother traveled to the United States to see him play.

Against Argentina, Vozinha grew bigger. He stopped at least four of Messi’s shots in the last 60 minutes of the game:

• At 63′, he blocked a point-blank shot, narrowing the angle.
• In the 73rd minute, he deflected an incoming free kick with his outstretched hand.
• In added time, he dropped to his knees to save a low free kick.
• Already in extra time, he flew to his left to deflect another shot from the Argentine star.

But Messi’s hierarchy weighed: he gave a goal and an assist from a corner kick, and Lautaro Martínez scored the final goal in the second extra time.

More than a defeat

Cape Verde is the smallest nation in area that has reached a World Cup. Its population is equivalent to 1% of that of Argentina. For his participation, he will receive 11 million dollars from FIFA.

The team made itself known on the biggest stage. And Vozinha, with his mother in the stands, earned the respect of the world.

Historic victory for the Pharaohs

Egypt achieved its first victory in a direct elimination phase of the World Cup. They beat Australia 4-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in regular time. Defender Hossam Abdelmaguid converted the final shot and unleashed euphoria among the 70,244 fans in Dallas.

Mohamed Salah, captain and former Liverpool star, played all 120 minutes despite hamstring discomfort. “Today was one of the best days of my life,” he declared.

The penalty shootout

Harry Souttar missed the first penalty for Australia. Lucas Herrington, 18, crashed his shot off the crossbar on the fourth attempt. Abdelmaguid, without international goals in 15 games, finished low on the left while goalkeeper Mathew Ryan launched himself to the opposite side.

Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Salah and Abdelmaguid scored for Egypt. Australia scored through Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil.

“I just prayed: God, make the Egyptian people happy,” confessed coach Hossam Hassan.

The match

Emam Ashour put Egypt ahead in the 13th minute with a header at the near post. Australia equalized in the 55th when Mohamed Hany scored his second own goal of the tournament, deflecting an Aiden O’Neill free kick. Hany had earlier collided with Connor Metcalfe and was assessed for possible concussion, but continued.

Australia has three defeats in World Cup qualifying rounds; two of his goals have been own goals. “It hurts when you’re that close,” said his coach Tony Popovic.

What’s next

Egypt will face Argentina or Cape Verde on Tuesday in Atlanta. It is the fourth World Cup of the Pharaohs, the first with 48 teams. Salah has one goal less than the Egyptian record of 69, held by current coach Hassan.