Germany faces the 2026 World Cup with renewal and immediate challenges

Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa said goodbye to his position as Uruguay coach this Tuesday. It was at the Centenario stadium, at a conference in which he lamented the team’s early elimination from the World Cup.

Bielsa acknowledged that some players asked him to modify aspects of his working method. “This current sadness of all soccer fans is the weight that I have to assume, which is worth much more than you imagine tolerating that weight,” he declared.

The man from Rosario described the situation as a “painful closure” and denied that there were any questions about his tactical approach. However, he admitted that he held meetings after the 5-1 win over the United States in a friendly.

Bielsa’s concessions

The coach accepted two changes requested by the team: training the entire group in a single group, instead of dividing it into two as was his custom, and limiting collective and individual talks about tactics and regulations.

His departure opens a new chapter in the history of the Uruguayan team. The fans hope that the next coach can reverse course and lead the team to better results in future competitions.

Galician domain

France demonstrated its power by beating Sweden 3-0 in the 2026 World Cup, with a double from Kylian Mbappé that places it at the all-time top for goals in World Cup qualifiers.

Mbappé scored in the 45th and 74th minutes, reaching nine goals in direct elimination phases of World Cups. He thus surpassed the Brazilians Leonidas and Ronaldo, who had eight. In addition, he reached 18 goals in his World Cup career, one less than Lionel Messi’s record.

The first goal came after a corner kick play. Mbappé received from Ousmane Dembélé, cut back Viktor Gyökeres and shot cross to beat Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.

“We are aware of the situation, where we are and what we must do,” declared Mbappé.

Bradley Barcola extended the lead in the 53rd minute. Coach Didier Deschamps, back after his mother’s funeral, replaced Mbappé in the 85th minute to applause.

“We have a mission, and I am part of it, side by side with them,” said Deschamps. “Before our match there were complicated matches in the round of 32. We have to appreciate the moment.”

France has 13 goals in the tournament, six from Mbappé, who equaled Messi in the World Cup scoring chart. The French team will now face Paraguay in the round of 16.

With this performance, France confirms its status as a candidate for the title, backed by the punch of its star and collective work.

Morocco advances on penalties

Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty and Morocco knocked out the Netherlands in the round of 32 of the World Cup. The Atlas Lions will face Canada in the round of 16.

Cody Gakpo put the Oranje ahead in the 72nd minute, but Issa Diop equalized with a header in the first minute of stoppage time. The game went to overtime and then to penalties, where both teams missed half of their shots.

Yassine Buonou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty in the penultimate turn. Saibari did not fail and sealed the pass for Morocco, which in Qatar 2022 was the first African team to reach the semifinals.

“It was a team effort, we executed the plan very well,” said Saibari, chosen player of the match.

Coach Ronald Koeman regretted the elimination:

“It’s hard, but that’s how it is. Morocco had the best opportunities.”

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams raised doubts due to possible unequal crossings, but this duel between the sixth and seventh in the FIFA ranking demonstrated parity. Hours earlier, Paraguay had also eliminated Germany on penalties.

The match was played in Monterrey, with the sun illuminating Cerro de la Silla at the beginning and the moon over the BBVA Stadium at the end. Up to 20,000 Dutch fans were expected, but the stands showed a large Moroccan presence.

The Netherlands has four more years without a world title, while Morocco continues its path to repeat the feat in 2022.