← Back to News
World Cup 2026: Cape Verde continue remarkable story; Messi, Mbappé and Haaland return – live
Players
T
The Guardian·about 10 hours ago

World Cup 2026: Cape Verde continue remarkable story; Messi, Mbappé and Haaland return – live

⚽ All the latest news from day 11 of the tournament
Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail us

Group G is pretty tight.

Belgium, who ought to be favourites, are between teams, the old stagers not what they were and younger players not as good – perhaps yet but possibly ever. They’ll hope to beat New Zealand in their final match and really should, but their attack doesn’t look poised to click.

I do wonder if they’ve enough goals in them when it comes down to the biggest matches, but they may only need one to win them.

And though it’s true that if you stop Lamine, you’re a long way towards stopping Spain, that’s easier said than done and, if Olmo stays in the team, though he’s not a possession player in the same way that Fabian Ruiz is, he’s a very serious goal-threat.

Continue reading...

Sources: The Guardian

Get WC 2026 Updates

Match previews, results, and standings — delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

How do you stop Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane?
Players

How do you stop Messi, Mbappe, Haaland and Kane?

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Four of the most in-form strikers in world football will look to add to their red-hot starts to the World Cup this week

B
BBC Sport·about 10 hours ago
Name the seven Scotland survivors from Clarke's first squad
Players

Name the seven Scotland survivors from Clarke's first squad

B
BBC Sport·about 10 hours ago
Cristiano Ronaldo risks ruining his legacy if he continues to stymie Portugal by starting | Miguel Dantas
Players

Cristiano Ronaldo risks ruining his legacy if he continues to stymie Portugal by starting | Miguel Dantas

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo’s problem is not his age. It is that nobody seems willing to tell him to his face what everyone else can see. In Portugal, patience for the legend has run dry.

T
The Guardian·about 10 hours ago
Messi and Argentina ready to turn up the heat after fast World Cup start
Players

Messi and Argentina ready to turn up the heat after fast World Cup start

It is the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s exploits against England. The scene is set for Lionel Messi to imbue the date with fresh significance How do you build on perfection? It is the poser Argentina face before a match that, for all its prosa

T
The Guardian·about 10 hours ago
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: David Joins Messi With Hat Trick
Players

2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: David Joins Messi With Hat Trick

Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race with our live tracker, featuring the latest goalscoring standings, player statistics, and updates.

F
Fox Sports·about 10 hours ago
New Zealand v Egypt: World Cup 2026 – live
Players

New Zealand v Egypt: World Cup 2026 – live

⚽️ Kick-off time: 6pm local/11am AEST/2am BST/9pm EDT ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Jonathan New Zealand arrived at this World Cup as rank outsiders but they are now 90 minutes from the knockouts. New Zealand, known as the All W

T
The Guardian·about 10 hours ago