Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 24 at the tournament – your one-stop shop for everything you’ve missed overnight in North America.
For all the latest news, viral moments and what to look out for, stay right here.
OVERNIGHT ACTION
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (AET)
In what will go down as one of the great World Cup fixtures, Argentina were spared from the jaws of a humiliating defeat by a late Christian Romero header, which flew in off the forearm of Diney Borges.
The mayhem in Miami began when Lionel Messi made it seven goals in four games with a sumptuous takedown and finish on 29 minutes. At that point, some – maybe even Argentina themselves – probably assumed the tie was done and dusted.
But the resurgent Cape Verdeans hit back just before the hour through Diroy Duarte, who must have thought he was dreaming when he picked up the ball in acres of space in the box and rolled an effort through the legs of Lisandro Martinez into the back of the net.
Amid an Argentinian onslaught, Cape Verde – placed 64th in FIFA’s rankings – held on to force extra time, but just moments later Martinez curled one into the top corner to put the South Americans in front once more.
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Sidny Lopes Cabral scored one of the great World Cup goals during Cape Verde’s clash with Argentina
The Cape Verde left-back blitzed into the stands to celebrate with his girlfriend in sheer disbelief
Yet then, when it appeared hope was lost, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced the sublime. With the ball at his feet to the left of the Argentinian box, the full-back cut inside, beating Alexis Mac Allister in the process, and curled an effort magnificently past Emi Martinez into the far top corner. Lopes Cabral wheeled away to celebrate in ecstasy, and blitzed straight to his girlfriend perched at the front of the adjacent stand. It was, arguably, the moment of the summer.
In the end, the South Americans prevailed thanks to Romero’s header, which flew into the top corner past the stellar Vozinha, who saved seven shots on the night.
Argentina are through to face Egypt, while Cape Verde’s incredible journey across the pond is over. The African players were in tears post-match. What they’ve achieved this summer will live long in the memory.
READ OLIVER HOLT’S REPORT HERE.
Ghana 0-1 Colombia
Colombia dominated a toothless Ghana but only scraped through to the last 16 thanks to an early Jhon Arias tap-in.
The South Americans had 20 shots and denied the Africans a single effort on target as they set up a tie against Switzerland in the next round.
Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi produced a string of fine saves throughout the game, including denying Luis Diaz, as both teams toiled in temperatures exceeding 30C.
But Colombia only needed one moment of magic and that came from the boot of early substitute Luis Suarez, whose pinpoint cross from the right found Arias at the back post in the 14th minute.
While Los Cafeteros face the prospect of a quarter-final against Argentina if they get that far, Ghana have been sent packing deservedly. Throughout the tournament, they registered a mere four shots on target.
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Jhon Arias scored as Colombia beat a toothless Ghana to set up a tie with Switzerland
VIEW FROM THE GROUND
I was taking leave of Dallas when a scene encapsulated the vast gulf between the haves and the have-nots in the Land of the Free. The golden statue, glittering in the hot morning sun is called ‘Golden Boy’ in these parts, and it once surveyed all of New York from the top of the AT&T building on Broadway. The plaque beneath it states that Evelyn Beatrice Longman, commissioned to create it in 1914, was depicting the ‘power and speed behind modern commerce.’
There was neither power nor speed in the man who shuffled past it pushing a green shopping trolley at 8.30am. He might have been 40, or even 50, and he intermittently screamed in a way which made it hard to tell what he was angry about. A world that had left him behind, certainly. He wasn’t the only one. A half-dressed guy pushed a rollator nearby. A man on the street corner begged a few dimes. Golden boy looked resplendent and there was glorious birdsong – a tufted titmouse the app told me. Trolley guy headed off, continuing to scream at no one in particular. He’ll be here when the World Cup is long gone.
By Ian Herbert
A man pushing a trolley strolls past the ‘Golden Boy’ statue in Dallas, Texas on Friday morning
CELEBRITY WATCH
If you hadn’t quite worked it out yet, peering out underneath that bucket hat, clad in an all-white Adidas outfit, is none other than the legendary Samuel L. Jackson.
The Star Wars, Coach Carter and Pulp Fiction actor, 78, was in the house at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas to present the match ball for Egypt’s victory over Australia.
After rousing loud applause from the crowd, Jackson also shared a handshake with Mo Salah.
A little-known fact about the US actor: he’s actually a Liverpool fan after he became ‘captivated’ by Anfield while filming his 2001 film The 51st State in the city.
Star Wars and Pulp Fiction actor Samuel L. Jackson was in attendance at Egypt’s clash with Australia in Dallas
The 78-year-old was pictured sharing a handshake with Mo Salah pitchside
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Colombia’s fans do it better than most. This chap put in a great effort with his multi-coloured plumage, and we’ll even compliment him by saying there are shades of Carlos Valderrama in there.
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
As a footballer, there can be no more nerve-wracking moment than that period before it’s time to step up and take a penalty. Never mind in a shootout when your nation’s World Cup status is on the line.
Viewers, then, were unsurprisingly left bewildered when ITV’s cameras panned over the shoulders of Egypt’s players, before their shootout against Australia, to show the squad gathering around to watch Kylian Mbappe highlights.
What the footage didn’t show, of course, was that the Egyptians were actually studying a clip of Mat Ryan – the keeper Australia had just subbed on – trying to save an Mbappe penalty in LaLiga.
Anyhow, whatever Mo Salah and Co were watching appeared to work, as they ran out winners against the Australians to seal their spot in the Round of 16 for the first time ever.
STAT OF THE DAY
The clash with Cape Verde marked Messi’s 203rd Argentina appearance, taking him level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s international record. And the goal with which he celebrated the occasion was his 12th in his last eight World Cup games. The last time he failed to find the back of the net at international level was in a group stage match against Poland in 2024.
At some point, we’re going to run out of superlatives for the great man.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
1. Canada in danger of becoming the first host nation knocked out?
For the first time so far this summer, Canada and Jesse Marsch will head into a World Cup clash as genuine underdogs when they face Morocco tonight.
That, however, will be a feeling that the Canadians are no strangers to. Before this tournament, they had lost all six of their previous World Cup matches in the only two previous versions the nation had qualified for – in 1986 and 2022.
But in Houston, where temperatures could soar to 35C today, Canada face the monumental task of overcoming a Moroccan side who have looked one of the tournament’s best.
With Mexico and the US not playing until Monday and Tuesday respectively, it means Canada may well become the first host nation eliminated from the tournament.
Jesse Marsch and Canada face Morocco this evening in Houston and go into the clash as huge underdogs
2. Mbappe continues his pursuit of the Golden Boot
Has there been a more impressive all-round performer than Kylian Mbappe in North America this summer?
Lionel Messi, perhaps, is the only star who could rival the Frenchman, who will be confident of adding to his goal tally of six tonight against Paraguay.
Messi marked his 20th World Cup goal and moved to the top of this tournament’s goalscoring chart with his strike against Cape Verde, while Mbappe’s goal against Sweden was his 18th on the biggest stage. Could the world’s two best players meet in the final in New Jersey? I wouldn’t be surprised, whatsoever, if that scenario materialised.
3. Paraguay look to make it two upsets out of two
Prior to their Round of 32 tie against overwhelming favourites Germany on Monday, Paraguay were given barely a chance of progressing. Yet, after a stunning 120 minutes and penalty shootout in Boston, the South American nation will face France for a place in the quarter-final.
Should the Paraguayans defy all the odds twice in a week, they will equal their best-ever World Cup finish. Should they lose, as is widely expected, it will mark the fourth time they have been knocked out in the last 16 in nine World Cup appearances.
They are rank outsiders with the bookies to progress at 12/1, but mountains are there to be climbed, are they not?
Paraguay knocked Germany out in dramatic fashion this week to set up a Round of 16 tie with France
TODAY’S GAMES
Canada vs Morocco (6pm, Houston, ITV)
When Cody Gakpo lashed home to put the Netherlands 1-0 up in muggy Monterrey, the Moroccans must have feared their World Cup campaign could be over – only to be saved by an Issa Diop header in the dying embers. Incredibly, ex-West Ham defender Diop only switched his allegiance from France to Morocco a matter of months ago.
Thereafter came a cagey extra-time before, in a stunning penalty shootout, the Moroccans broke Dutch hearts when new Bayern Munich man Ismael Saibari fired home the winning spot-kick to set up this evening’s clash with the Canadians.
Taking place in Houston, the clash will mark the first time the hosts have travelled out of Canada this tournament. Jesse Marsch’s side could however be boosted by the return of Alphonso Davies, who made his first appearance in more than a year in the victory over South Africa on Monday.
After that win, Marsch hailed his team during an inspiring on-the-pitch team talk as ‘Canadian heroes’ – and that they are. This clash, however, against the best Africa has to offer, will likely come as one step too far for Canada.
Prediction: Morocco win
Morocco are many people’s dark horses for the tournament and knocked out the Netherlands this week
Paraguay vs France (10pm, Philadelphia, BBC)
It’s four wins, 13 goals and just two conceded for France in their opening four games on American soil. The latest a 3-0 drubbing of Graham Potter’s Sweden on Tuesday. During that victory, against a side boasting Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up top, the French barely appeared to have left third gear.
In Philadelphia tonight the world’s best side, at least in FIFA’s estimations, face a nation ranked some 34 places below them in Paraguay. Though, if Paraguay’s scalp of Germany suggests anything, it’s that the South Americans are not to be underestimated.
France boast a clean bill of health heading into this one, while Paraguay will be boosted by the return of Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez after suspension.
Should the French progress, as Daily Mail Sport predicts, they will likely face Morocco in the quarter-final, four years after the two nations met at the semi-final stage in Qatar.
Prediction: France win
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