Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
Audio By VocalizeHarry Kane scored twice in the first half as England eventually saw off Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup title assault in Texas on Wednesday. …
Kane scores twice as England beat Croatia to launch World Cup chargeCitizen Digital
… "So everyone's got to be ready, everyone's got to feel loved, everyone's got to feel like they're playing a huge part of the team." England launch their bid for World Cup glory against Croatia next Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. …
Whole England squad must feel 'loved' at World Cup: BellinghamCitizen Digital
… "The most important thing is team spirit because that goes a long way." Thomas Tuchel's men face Costa Rica in their final friendly on Wednesday before a Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. …
Gascoigne urges England to replicate 1990 spirit at World CupCitizen Digital
… The Three Lions will kick off their tournament on June 17 against Croatia in Dallas, where the mercury is set to hit 35 degrees C (95F) next week. …
Tough World Cup conditions no 'excuse' for England, says TuchelCitizen Digital
… A mixture of injuries and poor form had left him outside the national team set-up, with Ancelotti citing concerns over his fitness after leaving him out of Brazil's squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia. …
Neymar a doubt for Brazil's World Cup opener due to injuryCitizen Digital
… "He is a natural finisher, he can help us with set pieces, he is very strong in the air, very good in using his body." England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 with group games to follow against Ghana and Panama.
Tuchel has 'no fear' after omitting star names from England's World Cup squadCitizen Digital
… The Croatia captain has been training this week with a face mask and, save for any accidents, he will be in Allegri's starting XI against Cagliari. …
Juve risk disaster as Serie A's Champions League race goes down to the wireCitizen Digital
… boola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); Rice and company are saddled with the burden of finally bringing home a major trophy, with their World Cup campaign starting against Croatia …
England's Rice braces for 'hate and love' at World CupCitizen Digital
… boola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); The 10 acts qualified from Tuesday's first semi-final: -- Belgium: Essyla, "Dancing on the Ice" -- Croatia …
The 10 qualifiers from the Eurovision first semi-finalCitizen Digital
… Kenya will face strong opponents including Croatia, Mexico, Spain, China, and Uruguay, while the men’s program continues to grow through grassroots training and continental qualifiers. …
Kenya's beach handball team qualify for Youth Olympics through global rankingEngland and Argentina will meet in a 2026 World Cup semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026, renewing their old rivalry as England bids to reach their first final in six decades while Messi's Argentina seeks to win back-to-back World Cups.
10 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
England and Argentina will meet in a 2026 World Cup semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026, renewing their old rivalry as England bids to reach their first final in six decades while Messi's Argentina seeks to win back-to-back World Cups.
10 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Slaven Bilic has been appointed head coach of Croatia's national football team, replacing Zlatko Dalic who resigned after the country's World Cup exit. The 57-year-old former Croatian international defender, who previously coached Croatia from 2006 to 2012, was unanimously appointed by the Croatian Football Federation.
15 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Slaven Bilic, who previously coached Croatia from 2006 to 2012, has been unanimously appointed as the country's national football team head coach, replacing Zlatko Dalic who resigned after Croatia's World Cup exit.
13 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain's Lamine Yamal, hoping to win the World Cup as a teenager like Kylian Mbappe did in 2018, faces France and their superstar captain in Tuesday's semi-final. Yamal has already impressed in major tournaments, scoring in Euro 2024's semi-final against France when he was 16.
13 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the last-16 match, with the 41-year-old Portugal captain fighting back tears after a disappointing performance. He said he would leave the tournament with a clear conscience and reflect on what comes next.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, played his final World Cup match as Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 in the round of 16, ending his bid to win the tournament. The Portugal captain said he would leave "with a clear conscience" and reflected that his 2016 Euro title with the national team was equally significant to him as a World Cup would have been.
7 July 2026 · The Standard →
The United States will face Belgium on Monday in a World Cup quarter-final match in Seattle. US striker Folarin Balogun, who had received a straight red card for stepping on an opponent's foot in the previous round and faced a one-game ban under FIFA rules, has had his ban suspended after Donald Trump intervened with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Norway will face Brazil in the World Cup last 16, with striker Erling Haaland having scored five goals at the tournament, including a late winner against Ivory Coast that secured Norway's first World Cup knockout victory. Norway has never lost to Brazil in four previous meetings, with two wins and two draws.
4 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cape Verde, the smallest nation to reach the knockout rounds, will face defending champions Argentina in a World Cup last-16 match in Miami. The Atlantic archipelago qualified by drawing with Spain and finishing ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
3 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Substitute Goncalo Ramos scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to edge Portugal past Croatia in their 2026 World Cup round of 32 match in Toronto. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to equalize after Ivan Perisic's opener, and Croatia's last-gasp equalizer was ruled out for offside.
3 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain defeated Austria 3-0 in their World Cup knockout match, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (2) and Pedro Porro, advancing to face either Portugal or Croatia in the last 16. Spain controlled the match with dominant possession and play at Los Angeles's SoFi Stadium.
3 July 2026 · The Standard →
Substitute Goncalo Ramos scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send Portugal into the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Croatia, after Cristiano Ronaldo had equalised from a penalty earlier in the match.
3 July 2026 · The Standard →
Spain defeated Austria 3–0 in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header securing their passage to the last 16. The victory sets up a potential matchup with Portugal and marks Spain's most complete performance of the tournament.
3 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Portugal and Croatia meet in a 2026 World Cup round of 32 match in Toronto on July 2, with Canada's environment ministry warning that temperatures could reach 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), feeling like 44 Celsius due to humidity. Both teams have declined to use the heat as an excuse ahead of the 7:00 pm kickoff.
2 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both over 40, will meet for the first time as outfield players aged over 40 at a World Cup when Portugal face Croatia in the last-32 clash on Friday. Both players face questions about whether their veteran status benefits or burdens their teams' tournament hopes.
1 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will make history as the first two outfield players aged over 40 to face each other at a World Cup when Portugal take on Croatia in the last-32. Both players, once Real Madrid teammates, have shown their age despite their status as national heroes, though Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan to become the first player to score at six World Cups.
1 July 2026 · The Standard →
England midfielder Jude Bellingham said the team achieved their objective of winning their World Cup group after a 2-0 victory over Panama, but warned there was still significant room for improvement ahead of the knockout stage.
28 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to claim second spot in Group L and secure passage to the World Cup last 32, with Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic scoring after Ghana equalized through Derrick Luckassen.
28 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 on Saturday to secure second place in Group L and progress to the World Cup knockout stages. Goals from Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic, sandwiching a Ghana equalizer, secured the 2018 runners-up a last-32 clash against the Group K runner-up in Toronto on Thursday.
28 June 2026 · The Standard →
Scotland manager Steve Clarke resigned Saturday following his side's elimination from the World Cup group stage. Clarke led Scotland to the past two European Championships and a first World Cup appearance since 1998, but the team failed to progress beyond the group stage despite beating Haiti 1-0.
28 June 2026 · The Standard →
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored in the second half as England defeated Panama 2-0 at MetLife Stadium, securing top place in Group L and advancing to the last 32. Kane's goal was his third of the tournament, moving him to 11 World Cup goals for England.
28 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England, level on four points with Ghana after two games, face Panama at MetLife Stadium seeking a victory to claim top spot in Group L. Portugal enter their Group K clash with leaders Colombia knowing only a win will enable them to leapfrog the South Americans into first place.
27 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said his team is "perfectly ready" for Saturday's World Cup group finale against Colombia at Miami Stadium despite Florida storms disrupting preparations. Martinez noted the team began planning in March and completed 13 training sessions in Miami to adapt to the weather and local pitch conditions.
27 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England, level on four points with Ghana, face Panama aiming for top spot in Group L, while Portugal take on Colombia knowing only a win will let them leapfrog into first place in Group K. Both nations have shown inconsistency, mixing laboured performances with moments of quality.
27 June 2026 · The Standard →
England drew 0-0 with Ghana at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, with Jude Bellingham attributing the result to "second game fever"—a pattern where England wins their opening match before drawing their second game in major tournaments.
24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England was held to a goalless draw by Ghana in their second World Cup group match on Tuesday in Foxborough, with Jude Bellingham attributing the result to "second game fever" — a recurring pattern where England wins their opening match before drawing the second in major tournaments.
24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana in a World Cup match, leaving them with work to do as they bid to progress as Group L winners. Despite dominating possession with 19 shots to Ghana's two, England failed to score, with late attempts from Nico O'Reilly and Harry Kane hitting the woodwork.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →
Panama were knocked out of World Cup contention after Croatia defeated them 1-0, with Ante Budimir scoring in the 54th minute. Panama's coach Thomas Christiansen said his team was unable to convert chances, though he expressed pride in their performance against the higher-ranked side.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →
Brazil will seek to qualify for the last 32 of the World Cup against Scotland as the tournament shifts to six games a day. Carlo Ancelotti's side expect to progress, though Scotland aims to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →
England drew 0-0 with Ghana at the World Cup on Tuesday despite dominating possession with 79 per cent, according to coach Thomas Tuchel, who said his team lacked a cutting edge but remained on course in their quest to win the tournament.
24 June 2026 · The Standard →