Category: worldcup

Key Match-Ups in World Cup Final Between Argentina and France

DOHA—Argentina and France meet in Sunday’s World Cup final at Lusail Stadium. Both countries are bidding for their third title with the French having the chance to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962. Here are three of the key match-ups that are likely to have a strong bearing on the result: Kylian…


Messi Confirms Qatar Final Will Be His Last World Cup Game

Lionel Messi has confirmed he will play his last World Cup game when Argentina take on France or Morocco in Sunday’s final in Qatar. Messi leads Argentina to a 3–0 win over Croatia in their semi-final on Tuesday and will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring the country its…


Messi, Modric Carry Argentina, Croatia Into World Cup Semis

DOHA, Qatar—Tears are flowing from soccer’s biggest superstars as they make emotional exits from what might be their last World Cup. First it was Neymar. Then it was Cristiano Ronaldo. Could Lionel Messi be next? Momentum is building behind Messi’s push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game. The 35-year-old Argentina…


Morocco Reaches World Cup Semifinals, Tops Portugal, Ronaldo

DOHA, Qatar—Morocco became the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals by beating Portugal 1–0 on Saturday, likely ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of ever winning soccer’s biggest prize. Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute to continue Morocco’s improbable run that has generated an outpouring of pride in the Arab…


Neymar Says He Is Unsure If He Will Play Again With Brazil

AL RAYYAN, Qatar—Brazil’s Neymar said on Friday he was unsure if he would play again for the national team after their heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to Croatia on penalties. “Honestly, I do not know. I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I’m not thinking straight,” an emotional…


Croatia Beats Brazil on Penalties in World Cup Quarterfinals

AL RAYYAN, Qatar—Croatia knocked Brazil out of the World Cup, beating the five-time champions 4–2 in a penalty shootout on Friday in the quarterfinals. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved a penalty attempt by Rodrygo and Marquinhos later hit the post. Neymar had scored late in the first half of extra time to give Brazil the…


Spain in Mourning, Local Moroccans Rejoice at World Cup Surprise

BARCELONA/MADRID—Spain fans were left in tears on Tuesday after the team crashed out of the World Cup on penalties to Morocco, whose fans filled the streets with cheers, flares, and flags from Barcelona to Madrid, and the enclave of Melilla. People had packed into bars decked out in the red and yellow Spanish flag to…


Croatia Beat Japan on Penalties to Reach World Cup Quarter-Finals

AL WAKRAH, Qatar—Croatia goalkeeper Dominic Kivakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma, and Maya Yoshida before Mario Pasalic netted the winning spot-kick in their 3–1 shootout win over Japan on Monday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. With the scores deadlocked at 1–1 after an absorbing 90 minutes, Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma went closest in…


Netherlands Eliminates US in Round of 16 at World Cup With a 3–1 Victory

AL RAYYAN, Qatar—Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored in the first half and Denzil Dumfries added a late goal as the Netherlands eliminated the United States from the World Cup with a 3–1 victory Saturday that advanced the Dutch to the quarterfinals. Second-half subsitute Haji Wright cut the U.S. deficit to 2–1 in the 76th…


Netherlands Eliminates US in Round of 16 at World Cup With 3–1 Victory

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) fell to No. 8 Netherlands 3–1 on Dec. 3 at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Denzel Dumfries assisted the first two goals and put the game away late with his own finish. The Netherlands scored first from a back-cross from Dumfries to Memphis Depay for his 43rd international…