Sports
Yamal: I Am Prepared For 2026 World Cup Action
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has disclosed that he is fit and ready for the 2026 World Cup.
Yamal is expected to be fit for the tournament that begins on June 11 in North America. He injured his left hamstring while converting a penalty kick with Barcelona in a Spanish league match on April 22
The 18-year-old Yamal went down after converting a first-half penalty kick in the game against Celta Vigo. He scored and immediately looked to the bench to signal he was hurt. He dropped to the ground as his teammates arrived to celebrate, then appeared to grab the back of his left leg.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said last week after including Yamal in his World Cup squad that the forward was expected to be ready to play either the first or second Spain match. La Roja will debut against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta.
In a chat with RFEF, Yamal stated that he can;t wait to play at the 2026 World Cup.
“Finally, the moment has come. I think ever since the Euros ended, we were all thinking about this day and we’re all really excited. We’re coming in as the team we are, as European champions, and we’re going all out.”
“I remember the sequence when I got injured. I was praying inside that it was nothing, that it was just a cramp or something minor, because I felt the World Cup was so close and I knew it was a hamstring injury, which I’d never had before, but I knew it wouldn’t be a short recovery. So I was afraid it would be serious, and above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could relapse and miss the World Cup.
“It’s also true that it helps knowing you’re going to play in a World Cup, so your mind feels as if you haven’t played a single match all season, and I’m really eager to make my debut.
“In my mind, it feels like I’ve been playing football for 10 years, but in reality it’s been three years, and four years ago I was playing with them at the local sports centre. So, a kid who was playing with you three years ago is now going to play in a World Cup. It has to be something crazy, really crazy.”
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has hailed Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario as one of the greatest players of all-time in the FIFA World Cup scoring charts after scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win over Algeria this week.
Messi also expressed surprise that the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid striker wasn’t in first place.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward surpassed Ronaldo’s 15 World Cup goals before equalling Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s 16 World Cup goals, thanks to his three goals against Algeria in their World Cup opener.
“It is a great honour to be able to compete with all these greats, including Ronaldo Nazario, among the players I have watched,” Messi said (as per Albiceleste Talk).
“He was one of the greatest players of all time, and yet he is not in first place. So in the end, it’s just a statistic.”
Messi will now hope to lead Argentina to victory when they face Austria in their next game.
DR Congo midfielder, Ngal Ayel Mukau, has admitted there was no tactical plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo in their 2026 World Cup opener. The Leopards held Portugal to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, after Yohan Wissa’s header cancelled out Joao Neves’ goal.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Mukau accepted Ronaldo is still one of the greatest players, but is not the same as before.
He said: “A special plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo? To be honest, not really.
“We know that he isn’t the same as before. He’s a bit older now. But still, he’s one of the greatest… much respect to him.” Mukau’s comments come amid calls from fans and pundits for Ronaldo to be given limited playing time in the national team.
Ghana won a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening World Cup Group L clash in Toronto on Wednesday.
Caleb Yirenkyi bundled in the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sending thousands of Ghanaians in Canada’s largest city into a frenzy and settling an otherwise attritional battle.
Both sides largely struggled to generate chances in the first half after Panama striker Cecilio Waterma’s second minute attempt was steered away by outstretched Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.
The Black Stars didn’t attempt a shot on goal through the first half.
The second half played out under steady rain at the Toronto Stadium but saw more sustained attacking play.
Cristian Martinez triggered a massive roar from the loud Panamanian contingent when he lashed a shot into the side-netting in the 60th minute.
But the match looked headed for a scoreless draw until Yirenkyi put the Black Stars ahead.
Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz turned to his side’s fans after the goal, urging them on in celebration.
Queiroz only took charge of the Black Stars a couple of months before the start of the tournament.
Wednesday’s fixture made him only the second coach to appear in five consecutive World Cups, after leading Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Loud boos rang out across the crowd of nearly 43,000 during a second-half hydration break under pouring rain.
Ghana triumphed despite being without Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain. Canadian authorities denied him a World Cup visa, over the British case.
Colombia beat debutant Uzbekistan
Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening Group K game on Wednesday thanks to an inspired performance from Luis Diaz at the Estadio Azteca.
The Bayern Munich forward provided an assist, a goal and also hit the post as the Colombians resisted a battling performance from the Uzbeks in front of 80,824 spectators in Mexico City.
Diaz’s superb lofted pass allowed Daniel Munoz to volley in after 40 minutes, but Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized with his nation’s maiden World Cup goal as he reacted first to head in a rebound from Eldor Shomurodov’s saved volley.
Diaz put Colombia back into the lead as he fired a shot that Uzbek goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov should have stopped.
In the dying seconds Jaminton Campaz made it three for Colombia with a fine header.
The win put Colombia top of a group that also features Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who drew 1-1 earlier.
AFP
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