Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 26 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
Mexico 2-3 England
The World Cup’s most iconic stadium was never going to disappoint, was it? Even President Donald Trump was gripped, hailing Harry Kane as a ‘great player’ after he scored and assisted as England beat Mexico to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Jude Bellingham scored twice in two minutes, propelling England into dreamland. Exquisite wing play from Bukayo Saka crafted the opener, as Bellingham expertly timed his run into the penalty area to guide his header into the back of the net.
Moments later, England were away again. Bellingham shifted right to Kane, and Kane found Bellingham in the six-yard box. A simple side-footed finish earned England their second as they carved through Mexico.
Donald Trumps hails Harry Kane after goal and assist against Mexico
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England were incisive. However, anyone under the illusion that it was going to be straightforward after taking a two-goal advantage was severely mistaken. Mexico fought back before half time when Julian Quinones scored after England failed to deal with a dubious free-kick.
There was more drama after the break, too, when Jarell Quansah saw red for a late challenge. Yet England promptly shrugged that off. Anthony Gordon cleverly drew contact from Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel inside the penalty area to earn Kane a spot kick, which he coolly slotted away.
But Mexico regained control when Kane became the first player to score and concede a penalty in a World Cup match since 1966. Raul Jimenez scored his customary goal against Jordan Pickford. The onslaught followed, but every player defended like their lives depended on it.
A colossal performance more than worthy of a spot in the last eight. At that venue, in those conditions, it was the first time England looked like true contenders.
READ OLIVER HOLT’S MATCH REPORT HERE.
Brazil 1-2 Norway
Norway produced a shock upset, knocking Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil out of the World Cup, to set up a quarter-final against England.
Unsurprisingly, it was Erling Haaland on the scoresheet, bagging a second half brace to draw level on seven goals with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the tournament.
The Manchester City striker towered above Gabriel to head Andreas Schjelderup’s cross past Alisson. While his second was a moment of pure individual class with a bulleted strike from outside the area finding the bottom corner. Brazil were helpless. Haaland was nonchalant.
Erling Haaland scored his second goal from outside the box this season to book Norway a spot in the last eight
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Neymar came on for his final international appearance and managed to sign off with a goal from the spot, but it was no more than a consolation in the 10th minute of second half stoppage time. It was Brazil’s second penalty of the afternoon after Bruno Guimaraes failed to convert in the first half.
England have a better side than Norway on paper, but so did Brazil. Haaland will worry Tuchel’s army.
READ IAN HERBERT’S MATCH REPORT HERE.
VIEW FROM THE GROUND
A drive from Philadelphia to New Jersey, today, to cover Brazil v Norway.
The evocative views of the New York skyline it offered will live longer in my mind than driving the New Jersey Turnpike – which felt less significant in the doing than I’d imagined, given Simon and Garfunkel’s immortal line about counting cars on it.
But it was this billboard at the entrance to the George Washington Bridge, as I skirted New York, which most struck a chord.
You’d imagine that spot on the Hudson River would be one of the most prime in all of America for an image of Christian Pulisic, the brilliant and underrated Tyler Adams, or another USA player.
Yet here, as in Qatar four years ago, it’s Argentina who are the most celebrated, photographed and advertised team: marketeers’ gold.
In this case, they advertise the official Argentina team sweet. But even in Odessa, the place in the west of Texas I wrote of last week, the single World Cup billboard carried a Lionel Messi image promoting beer.
It’s Argentina’s embedded place in the football consciousness, as well as the team itself, that England would be up against if they reach the semi-finals and face them.
By Ian Herbert
Argentina’s place is embedded in football consciousness
TEAM OF THE DAY
CELEBRITY OF THE DAY
Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted watching on in New York as Haaland chaired Norway’s impressive victory over Brazil.
DiCaprio, a staunch Messi fan, may have been sweaty-palmed witnessing Haaland’s prolific finishing as he staked his claim for the Golden Boot.
The 51-year-old was sat alongside musician Lukas Haas and Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire.
The Titanic and Wolf of Wall Street star is more often spotted watching basketball side LA Lakers rather than football matches. Although he has supported Messi at Inter Miami on a couple of occasions.
His ex-girlfriend Camila Morrone, 29, has also taken in a World Cup match in recent weeks, supporting Argentina as they beat Jordan 3-1.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
England’s perfect pair Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham presented themselves to the crowd with their arms out after Bellingham scored England’s opener. It’s Bellingham’s trademark goal celebration and has been since he started at Birmingham City.
At Euro 2024, Kane joined in with Bellingham. Against Mexico on Sunday, the pair created another iconic photograph. Hopefully, this campaign ends in a final, too.
Jude Bellingham scored England’s opening goal – and celebrated alongside Kane
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
The bizarre and the human from Neymar, who announced his retirement from international football after Brazil were dumped out by Norway.
Neymar returned to the Brazil squad after a three-year hiatus for one final shot at World Cup glory. Introduced as a 67th minute substitute, he was on the pitch as that dream faded at Haaland’s mercy.
The 34-year-old scored a consolation penalty in the dying seconds, cutely burying to Orjan Nyland’s left. The pair shared words in the build up to the kick and Neymar strangely laughed in Nyland’s face after scoring a meaningless goal in the ninth of 10 minutes added on. Of course, Nyland had the last laugh.
It prompted a baffled reaction online, but discourse soon turned to Neymar’s legacy as the reality set in that this was his final appearance on the world stage.
Neymar fell to the floor in tears at full time, as his Brazil career came to an end without a major accolade to accompany it.
STAT OF THE DAY
England’s resolute victory over Mexico marked their first-ever World Cup win against a host nation. A gargantuan performance to reach the last eight of the World Cup.
With all the talk of the altitude foiling England alongside Mexico’s stellar home record – losing at the Azteca just twice before – the Three Lions dug deep to reach the last eight of the World Cup for the 11th time.
The odds were stacked against England, particularly having to defend for 35 minutes with 10 men, but Tuchel’s men found a way.
It was the kind of performance that could kickstart a genuine bid to end 60 years of hurt.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
1) Will Donald Trump’s pressure on FIFA pay dividends for the United States?
The expectations on Folarin Balogun are astronomically high as co-hosts the United States face Belgium for a spot in the last eight.
Not only from the US public, but also from President Donald Trump, who intervened to secure a reprieve for Balogun’s one-match ban following his dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There are serious questions over political interference to be answered, with FIFA seemingly pressured by the US President to suspend the ban of their top scorer – despite their rules stating that red cards cannot be overturned at the tournament.
Donald Trump seemingly pressured FIFA into suspending Folarin Balogun’s ban for a year
Folarin Balogun has been in top form at the World Cup, scoring three goals in three matches
Instead, they found a loophole to suspend the ban for a year. Regardless of the outcome in Seattle, Balogun promises to be the talking point.
If he scores, there will be discussions of legitimacy and fairness, although Trump would almost certainly proclaim justice because his dismissal in the Round of 32 was soft in the first place.
Meanwhile, if he blanks, many will wonder whether the hoo-ha and potential corruption allegations were worth the stress.
Focusing on the football, Balogun has scored three goals in three matches, and his newly established availability to face Belgium gives the US a reasonable chance.
2) The latest on Jordan Henderson as the England squad fly back to Kansas
Jordan Henderson, a non-playing substitute, suffered a fall on the Azteca pitch and was taken to hospital after passionate celebrations with England fans after beating Mexico.
Following the Wonderwall singalong with the England fans, Henderson hit the deck when climbing back over the advertising hoardings to get back onto the pitch.
Jordan Henderson has been hospitalised with a wrist injury
He immediately received medical attention and was carried off on a stretcher, with Tuchel later confirming Henderson suffered a ‘really bad wrist injury’.
England will return to their Kansas City training base without the hospitalised 36-year-old. An update is expected from the FA over the coming days.
3) The end for Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career could come to an end tonight. Spain are red-hot favourites against Portugal, and defeat would signal the end of the 41-year-old’s sixth – and most likely final – appearance at the tournament.
It would also end his dream of lifting football’s biggest prize, having already achieved almost everything else in the game.
Should Portugal exit, Messi will always have the status of a world champion to call upon in debates over which of the two generational talents were superior.
Could this be Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell?
Regardless, Ronaldo’s tournament legacy is secure – whether it ends against Spain tonight or in New York in a few weeks’ time.
With 11 goals, he is the only player in history to have scored at six different FIFA World Cups.
His finest performance on the biggest stage came against Spain in 2018, when he scored a stunning hat-trick. He will be hoping to produce something similar tonight.
TODAY’S GAMES
Portugal vs Spain (Dallas, 8pm, BBC)
Spain have been growing into the tournament nicely. The tournament favourites attracted early scepticism after being held to a draw by minnows Cape Verde in their opening match.
But most recently, a 3-0 win over Austria saw Spain back at their free-flowing best. Mikel Oyarzabal has been unplayable leading the line, scoring four goals at this World Cup and 17 goals in his last 16 starts for Spain.
If Luis de la Fuente side hit their level, it is tough to envisage anything but a Spain win.
However, Portugal do have quality. Notwithstanding that Ronaldo, 41, is a man on a mission as he takes his last shot at winning the World Cup. There has been much made of his ego at this tournament, with many wondering whether Roberto Martinez could command his respect to manage him.
Martinez took the bold decision to substitute Ronaldo after he scored a penalty against Croatia in the Round of 32. A decision which paid off, with his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scoring in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time to bypass Croatia. He whinged when he was withdrawn, he celebrated with Ramos when he scored.
Portugal are a solid outfit. Particularly in midfield with PSG pair Joao Neves and Vitinha running the show. But Spain are the clear favourites in this Iberian Derby.
Prediction: Spain win.
USA vs Belgium (Seattle, 1am, BBC)
This is the United States’ best chance of beating a major European side. Mauricio Pochettino’s outfit are well-oiled, with quality splattered all over the pitch.
Balogun’s availability is significant, but the spine behind him is also solid. The US have scored 10 in four games at this tournament and the last of the three co-hosts remaining in the competition after Canada and Mexico exited over the last few days.
Belgium are not at the peak of their powers. They were average against Egypt and Iran. They are the least imposing of the top 10 ranked nations in the competition.
In fact, they should have gone out to Senegal. They were outplayed and unimposing throughout, but a collapse from the 86th minute enabled Belgium to complete a remarkable turnaround – courtesy of a Romelu Lukaku strike and a brace from Youri Tielemans.
The worry for the US is that Belgium’s unexpected lifeline victory will give them unbridled confidence for their second chance. That said, with the home crowd on side in Seattle, the US will fancy their chances.
Prediction: USA win.
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