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Saudi Arabia and Cape ​Verde will seek a win to earn a place in the World Cup Round of 32 ‌when they clash on Friday, with the latter hoping to continue their run as one of the stories of the tournament and many fans’ second favourite team.

Fancied Spain head Group H with four points from two games, while their final opponents Uruguay have two. Cape Verde also have two points and Saudi Arabia one, meaning any of the four ​teams can still qualify for the next stage.

The African side are making their debut ⁠at the World Cup but have earned praise for a battling goalless draw with Spain and a more evenly-contested 2-2 ​result against Uruguay, where they showcased their never-say-die spirit.

The Saudis lost 4-0 to Spain in their last game but will fancy their chances and hope the Cape Verdeans run out of steam in humid Houston.

Such has been the popularity of the latter at their Florida training base that they were joined on Wednesday by Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Dominic Casciato for training and an exchange of jerseys.

There will certainly be many willing them to continue their journey into the next round.

Saudi Arabia have their own ambitions and their coach Georgios Donis, who took over in April, will hope for a ​much improved performance on their heavy defeat by Spain, which had followed a ​hard-earned 1-1 draw with ⁠Uruguay.

Mohamed Kanno could return in the midfield after he surprisingly only came on at halftime against Spain, with the coach suggesting those who criticised his side following that defeat need to be realistic.

Saudi Arabia’s only previous appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds was at the 1994 tournament in the United States when they exited in the last 16. – Reuters

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Vinicius Junior made it four goals in three games at the World Cup as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, sealing progress to the last 32 as Group C winners and leaving their opponents in danger of another first-round exit.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius took advantage of a defensive howler to give Brazil an early lead in Miami and headed in another in first-half stoppage time.

Scotland were never really in it and Matheus Cunha got a third on the hour mark for the record five-time World Cup winners, who brought on Neymar towards the end for his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years.

There are doubts as to whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side are genuine contenders to win this tournament but boosted by finishing top of the group they head to Texas for a last-32 tie in Houston on June 29.

That will be against the runners-up in Group F, which will be either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.

After scoring in both the opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and the 3-0 win over Haiti, Vinicius is the first Brazilian to find the net in every group game at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did it in 2002.

With four goals, he is one behind Lionel Messi and level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.

Scotland, meanwhile, are at real risk of yet another group-stage elimination, as has been their fate at every previous major tournament in which they have participated that includes eight World Cups before this year.

Co-hosts Mexico cemented top place in World Cup Group A with a perfect record as they defeated the Czech Republic 3-0 in the Estadio Azteca.

Mexico move on to a last-32 match in the same stadium on June 30 while the Czechs return home after finishing bottom of the group.

Mateo Chavez gave Mexico the lead in the 55th minute and Julian Quinones took advantage of disarray in the Czech defence six minutes later to extend the lead.

Alvaro Fidalgo completed a sparkling evening for the Mexicans as he smashed in a cross four minutes into added time.

Mexico even brought on goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa as a second-half substitute, allowing the veteran to play in a sixth World Cup finals at the age of 40.-AFP

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Ghana coach, Carlos Queiroz, has praised goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for his outstanding performance in the Black Stars’ goalless draw with England at the Boston Stadium. 

The Hearts of Oak goalkeeper produced a series of key saves, including a decisive stop to deny England winger, Bukayo Saka, as Ghana held firm to grab a key point against the Three Lions. 

In a post-match press conference, coach Queiroz said Asare deserved special recognition for his display. 

“Usually, I don’t like to talk. Never, never. I avoid talking about individual players. But I think he deserves applauds,” the Portuguese coach said. 

“He was brilliant because he’s in a specific position in the team and this is only due to the quality of the player, first of all, and the work that we did with all of them. 

“So, since the beginning, and my approach, it is work with all players and make them ready to perform. I know and I learned in this business that we can win a couple of games with 11 players, but we can never succeed if we don’t have a team ready to fulfil all the obligations.” 

Ghana’s disciplined defensive performance frustrated England, with Asare’s interventions helping Ghana maintain a clean sheet against one of the tournament favourites. 

Queiroz stressed that the result reflected collective effort rather than individual brilliance. 

“As you see today, he comes out, he performs. Other players also come and they did well. This is the most important thing. We have 26 players ready to perform, so congratulations to them. 

“And special, which is not easy when you play one game that demands 90 minutes of full concentration, resilience, fighting, and determination. 

“When 11 men go inside one pitch and they share a common dream, things can happen and all my players, they play for each other. They don’t play for the scoreboard. They don’t play against the watch. They don’t play against the history. They just play for each other, to the teammate that was side by side with them,” he said.  

The Black Stars remain second in Group L, level on points with England (four points) and the former Great Olympics goalkeeper would be expected to retain his place in goal for the decisive fixture against Croatia at the Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday. –GNA

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Ghana midfielder, Kwasi Sibo, says the Black Stars are not looking back after holding England to a 0-0 draw, declaring that the Black Stars will go all out against Croatia to finish top of World Cup Group L.

Sibo started in midfield at the Gillette Stadium as Ghana executed Carlos Queiroz’s game plan to frustrate England and leave both sides on four points after two matches.

“I’m always grateful, always thankful to God for the opportunity to play and whenever I do play, I’ll give everything I can,” Sibo said.

The 26-year-old told ghanafa.org that the squad followed Queiroz’s instructions to the letter. “He told us to be compact. He told us to fight for each other. And he told us that, at this moment, he knows that we will suffer because we are playing against a great team. But still, we should keep our mentality tough, fight from the first minute to 90 minutes,” Sibo said, adding that, “I think we listened to him and we followed his instructions and we did the job for him.”

“Now, the game against Croatia — I don’t think; I just believe that we’re going to take all three points,” he said. “We want to be leaders in the group and we are not looking back.”

“Against England, we defended a lot. We had one chance that maybe could have given us three points. So going against Croatia, it’s all in all, for the nation.”

The Real Oviedo player put up an outstanding display against the Three Lions to help his team keep a clean sheet – marinating an unbeaten record in the two matches.

“I think we did our best to get a possible result that we were hoping for. It’s just the plan of the coach, and we did follow the plan. Yeah, as a footballer, you know, there are ups and downs. And I feel like this moment is one that I have to enjoy. I have to keep fighting for my nation and just hope for the best.”

Commenting on his selection against, after being benched against Panama, Sibo said: “I’m a player that always play for the team. I’m not an individual player, so I always support my teammates. So, every player that will be on the field is good to play for the nation. So, I always support the team and I always do my best to always be available for the team and for the coach.

On playing alongside Thomas Partey, he described that as a moment to tap from his experience.

“He (Partey) has a lot of experience from playing in the top leagues. So, every time training with him at the training grounds, we learn a lot from him, especially me as a midfielder, always playing close beside him. So we learn a lot. And when we saw him starting the game, we were all happy and we were all with him to let him stay focused and help the team,” he indicated.

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The senior national team, the Black Stars, will face off with the Vatreni of Croatia at the Philadelphia Stadium in the final Group L fixture of the ongoing FIFA World Cup tomorrow at 9pm local time.

Ghana needs at least a point to solidify its status as an automatic qualifier for the round of 32 to avoid any last-minute calculations.

Currently joint table-toppers with the Three Lions of England on four points apiece, victory will see Ghana through, as will a draw.

A defeat, however, will leave Ghana on tenterhooks, as the compilation of other results will be needed to determine if they advance.

Unlike Ghana, Croatia needs nothing less than three points to guarantee progression and avoid calculations. 

With their fate fully in their own hands, it sets up a genuine all-or-nothing clash between the two sides, who have very different stakes in the match.

This decisive clash will be the first time the two sides meet in a competitive match at the senior level. 

While it is Ghana’s fifth appearance at the Mundial, it is the seventh showing for the Croats, who have played a total of 32 games since their first appearance at the France 1998 tournament.

On the other hand, Ghana has played a total of 17 games, with a quarterfinal finish at the 2010 edition in South Africa being their best result.

The Black Stars come into this match with less experience compared to their counterparts, who are ahead on all scorecards except for the current Group L table.

In Zlatko Dalic, Croatia has a coach who has been at the helm for the last nine years, holding the record as the longest-serving and most successful manager in the country’s history. 

He guided them to a runners-up finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a bronze medal finish at the last edition in Qatar, and a runners-up spot in the 2023 UEFA Nations League.

However, it will be the fifth for his opposite number, Coach Carlos Queiroz. 

He reached a historic milestone by managing five consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments since South Africa 2010 when he led his native Portugal to a Round of 16 showing. 

His posture and game plan in the opening two fixtures have prompted many connoisseurs of the game to reassess Ghana’s performance.

As one of the most experienced tacticians in world football, Coach Queiroz is fully aware of the arithmetic involved and many expect him to set up Ghana to employ the same strategy against.

The victory over Panama provided a vital boost for Croatia as they relied on veteran leadership, with Luka Modric playing a pivotal defensive role to celebrate his 200th cap. 

While the first half was cagey and lacked offensive firepower, the tactical changes made by head coach Zlatko Dalic and the supportive atmosphere from fans at the stadium in Toronto ultimately made the difference.

The Vatreni’s midfield, in its current state, carries a quality that Ghana’s defensive block will have to absorb for 90 plus minutes, just as they did in the last game.

Many believe that adopting a low block in this match could be a dangerous tactic, although it worked against England. 

Instead, a middle block strategy to win the ball and play on the counter may work better for coach Queiroz’s side.

Ahead of the tournament, the form guide told almost similar stories for both teams.

However, the 1-0 win over Panama demonstrated their ability to grind out results when it matters, showcasing the experience of the side under pressure.

Having reached at least the semi-finals in the last three editions of the World Cup, many Croats believe Coach Dalic is well-equipped to do what is necessary tomorrow and guide the team through to the next stage seamlessly.

Ghana has had its fair share of disappointing results heading into the tournament, suffering an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Austria, a 2-1 defeat to Germany, and a 2-0 loss to Mexico before settling for a 1-1 draw against Wales.

However, with the arrival of Coach Queiroz, whose first competitive game was against Panama, Ghana’s World Cup tournament form has been built on defensive solidity.

Conceding zero goals across two World Cup games is a remarkable achievement for a side that struggled in pre-tournament friendlies.

That 1-0 win over Panama demonstrated their ability to score when needed, while the goalless draw with England revealed a tactical discipline that coach Queiroz has clearly instilled in the team in a short period.

Ghana goes into tomorrow’s game with momentum and a clean sheet record that Croatia will have to break at all costs if they wish to keep their legacy alive at the Mundial over the last three editions.

For many Ghanaians, who until the win against “Los Canaleros” of Panama in the group opener had little hope in the abilities of the Black Stars to produce a good showing at the tournament, the draw against England last Tuesday has brought renewed hope and energy, with virtually the whole nation now backing the side to triumph over Croatia.

Victory tomorrow is on the cards for many Ghanaian fans who believe that overcoming the 13th-ranked best football team in the world is achievable for the 65th-ranked Black Stars.

For neutrals, the question remains whether Croatia can unlock a side that has kept two clean sheets in the competition so far.

The likes of strikers Prince Adu Kwabena, Inaki Williams, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew, and Brandon Thomas-Asante—all of whom have seen action—have failed to score. 

This is another aspect of the team’s performance that the Portuguese coach needs to address as the tournament progresses.

Another worrying signal that Ghanaians are waking up to today is the fact that finishing at the top of the Group L table or qualifying as one of the third-best teams will mean staying in the United States for the round of 32 game fixture. 

In contrast, a second-place finish will mean the team heading to Toronto for their first knockout game and this scenario would also mean that midfield general Thomas Teye Partey will miss out on the game due to Canadian visa entry issues, which caused him to miss his team’s opening game against Panama.

While some Ghanaians are divided on this issue, others are gradually growing faith in Coach Queiroz to find an antidote, as he did in the first game.

Already, there are calls for the Ghana Football Association to secure coach Queiroz with a long-term contract to allow him the chance to build a stronger national team, regardless of how far he goes in the tournament.

Canadian referee Drew Fischer will be the man in charge of the match and will be assisted on the lines by fellow countrymen Michael Barwegen and Lyes Aefa.

BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY

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Didier Deschamps is flying back to France to ​attend his mother’s funeral and will ‌not coach the team’s last Group I game at the World Cup against Norway, ​the French federation said on ​Tuesday.

“Didier Deschamps will not be able ⁠to oversee training sessions ahead of ​the Norway v France match. He will ​also be absent from the bench for Friday’s final Group I game,” the FFF said ​in a statement.

“The national team ​coach learned this morning of the death of ‌his ⁠mother and will return to France to attend her funeral.

“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football ​Federation, who ​is ⁠currently at the France team’s base camp, Deschamps has entrusted ​assistant coach Guy Stephan with ​responsibility ⁠for leading the squad until his return.”

France have already qualified for the knockout ⁠stage ​after beating Senegal 3-1 ​and Iraq 3-0 in their first two games.- Reuters

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Daniel Munoz fired Colombia into the World Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday, sealing a 1-0 ​win over DR Congo in Group K after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had threatened to turn the match ‌into a night of frustration.

Munoz struck the winner from the right side of the penalty area in the 76th minute, finally beating Mpasi who had repeatedly denied Colombia with an inspired performance.

Colombia, who opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, ​commanded possession and created numerous chances.

James Rodriguez, making his 10th World Cup appearance to equal the Colombian ​record jointly held by Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama, forced Mpasi into action with ⁠a powerful strike in the 11th minute.

The goalkeeper stood firm, repelling efforts from Jhon Arias and winger Luis Diaz, ​who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute, controlling a chipped pass inside the penalty area, ​turning smartly, and firing a shot goalwards, only for Mpasi to save with his foot.

The African side, buoyed by their opening 1-1 draw with Portugal, threatened sporadically through Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa but lacked a clinical finish.

By halftime, Colombia had registered ​15 shots, including six on target, with nine of their 10 outfield players attempting efforts.

In the stands, DR ​Congo had support from Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, the team’s famous “living statue” fan, who made his World Cup debut after missing the opener ‌against ⁠Portugal because of Ebola quarantine requirements.

Colombia resumed on the front foot after the break, Diaz forcing another fine save from Mpasi in the 51st minute before Arias dragged the rebound wide.

Wissa almost snatched the lead for DR Congo in the 73rd minute when his shot from Simon Banza’s assist was blocked, but Colombia struck shortly after through Munoz.

“Just ​because I scored the ​goal doesn’t mean I’m the ⁠hero. I belong to everyone; we’re all in this together. We secured the three points as a team, as Colombia; here, we’re one family,” Munoz told Colombian TV.

Diaz ​later thought he had doubled the advantage with a finish into the top corner, ​only for the ⁠effort to be ruled out for offside.

“Against a team like that, you have to find the spaces between the lines; if you play too predictably, they press you and hit you on the counter-attack,” Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said.

Colombia moved ⁠to ​six points from two matches and guaranteed their progress to the knockout ​stage ahead of their final group game against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday.

DR Congo remained on one point and will need ​a result against Uzbekistan to keep their qualification hopes alive.-Reuters

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A leading boxing promoter, Mr Dave Bishop, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bishop Boxing Promotions, has received an Honourary Doctorate in Global Partnership Leadership and Sports Management by the Kennedy University of France.

The award seeks to honour his work connecting athletics, entrepreneurship, and international community-building.

Bishop is also on track to receive an M.B.A. in International Business at the university’s December convocation in Boston, Massachusetts.

A committed philanthropist and development advocate, Dr Bishop, also pairs an international sports career with tangible grassroots impact.

In Ekroful, he holds the title of a Development Chief and has driven projects that bolster employment, nurture small enterprises, upgrade infrastructure, and create programmes for youth — all contributing to the town’s economic resilience and social wellbeing.

“I’m convinced that sport is more than competition — it’s a bridge to opportunity, a classroom for character, and a way to expand the circle of shared prosperity,” Bishop said in a chat with the Times Sports on Tuesday.

He said that “If we invest in people and their potential, we ignite communities and unlock futures for the many, not just the few.”

Bishop, a distinguished figure in the entertainment industry, is campaigning for the position of Second Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) in the forthcoming elections.

His platform centres on transparent leadership, athlete-centred policies, systematic talent development, and deeper international collaboration to bring resources and visibility to Ghanaian boxing.

He has since been commended by his peers and community partners for leveraging global relationships to attract investment and expertise while creating local pathways for athletes and entrepreneurs through his promotions work.

The honourary doctorate recognises his efforts to professionalise sports management with an emphasis on sustainable partnerships and social impact.

As Bishop prepares for his December graduation and continues his GBA campaign, supporters say his combination of business insight, community-first values, and dedication to athlete welfare position him to shape both regional development and the future of boxing in my Ghana.

Meanwhile, his latest boxing promotion has been slated for late August at a venue to be decided soon.

BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER

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The Black Stars coach, Carlos Queiroz, has asked Ghanaians to be calm in the face of the nationwide celebration over the team’s exploits at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

He said this in his post-match interaction after guiding the Black Stars to hold the Three Lions of England in a goalless second Group L encounter at the Boston Stadium.

Prior to that, Ghana had accounted for Panama 1-0 in their group opener in Toronto, Canada.

With that, the Black Stars lie second in Group L behind England with four points, differentiated by a solitary goal with last round of matches against Croatia and Panama looming.

The good fortune notwithstanding, Queiroz insisted that Ghana’s work was far from finished despite the valuable 0-0 draw with England, telling the fans that the Black Stars were “just on our way to reaching the World Cup knockout stage.”

“We have not won anything yet,” Queiroz said post-match. “We’re just on our way to reaching the main goal, which is to qualify for the second round of the World Cup,” he noted.

The coach dedicated Tuesday’s performance to the supporters back home. “We have to dedicate this effort to the fans of Ghana,” he said, citing that, “They deserve it. The players gave everything.”

Queiroz praised his squad’s resilience after Benjamin Asare’s clean sheet and a disciplined defensive display from Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Marvin Senaya and Gideon Mensah.

“Points in this World Cup are terribly expensive,” Queiroz added. “When you get one, you have to fight for it. Now we recover and focus on Croatia.”

Queiroz made four changes from the 1-0 win over Panama, handing starts to Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare and Kwasi Sibo in a 4-3-3 formation.

England dominated possession early through Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, but Ghana’s midfield trio of Partey, Sibo, and Caleb Yirenkyi kept the Three Lions at bay.

The best chance of the first half fell to Harry Kane in the 34th minute, but Asare stood tall to deny the England captain from close range.

Ghana’s biggest opening came just after the hour. Inaki Williams broke behind Marc Guehi and forced a sharp save from Jordan Pickford, with Antoine Semenyo firing the rebound over.

Both coaches turned to their benches late on. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford tested Asare from distance, while Jordan Ayew and Semenyo looked to hit England on the break, but neither side could find a breakthrough in front of 65,878 at Gillette Stadium.

Even though England applied pressure in the closing stages, they appeared very fortunate not to concede a penalty late on when Ezri Konsa challenged Prince Kwabena Adu in the area, bringing him down without making any contact with the ball.

The result means England and Ghana each sit on four points in Group L.  Ghana face Croatia in their final group game on June 28.

BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER

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