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Bellingham and Kane secure England's top spot in World Cup group
via The Namibian3 min read
England secured qualification for the World Cup knockout rounds as group winners after a 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey. Jude Bellingham scored in the 62nd minute and then assisted Harry Kane for the second goal, sealing the top spot in Group L. England manager Thomas Tuchel commented on the tough match against a physical opponent, stating that England would improve during the knockout phase. This win means England will face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 32 in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Croatia claimed second place in the group with a 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia, with goals from Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic. Croatia's victory eliminated Scotland from the tournament. Portugal, among the tournament favorites, will play Colombia later today, with Colombia needing only a draw to top Group K. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez emphasized focusing on the current game rather than future opponents. Twenty-eight teams have already advanced to the last 32, with four places remaining to be filled.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadDR Congo secured a historic 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, marking their first-ever World Cup win and qualifying for the last 32. Yoane Wissa scored twice, contributing to DR Congo's success. Uzbekistan initially took the lead with Eldor Shomurodov's goal, but Wissa equalized from a penalty. Fiston Mayele then scored to put DR Congo ahead, and Wissa sealed the win with his second goal in stoppage time. The win means DR Congo will face England in the next round. This achievement continues a strong performance by African teams in the tournament, with only Tunisia eliminated so far.
Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 to claim second place in Group L and advance to the World Cup last 32. Petar Sucic opened the scoring for Croatia in the first half. Ghana equalized in the second half through Derrick Luckassen. Nikola Vlasic scored a late winner for Croatia, setting up a knockout match against the second-placed team from Group K. Ghana had already secured their progression to the last 32 before the match, marking their third appearance in the knockout stages of a World Cup. The match saw Sucic score his second international goal, while Luckassen's goal was his first for his country.
Must ReadSouth Africa coach Hugo Broos is preparing for a significant match in his 38-year career as Bafana Bafana face Canada in the first last-32 fixture of the World Cup. The 74-year-old Belgian grandfather expressed joy at his team's success in reaching the knockout phase for the first time. South Africa secured second place in Group A and qualification after a 1-0 victory over South Korea, with a goal from Thapelo Maseko. This followed a 2-0 loss to Mexico and a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. Broos, who has coached the team since 2021, noted the team's belief in themselves after the emotional moment of progressing past the group stage. He stated, "We are ready for the Canadians. My team will fight for 90 minutes, and longer if necessary." Should South Africa defeat Canada, they would play the Netherlands or Morocco in the last-16. Broos also addressed past criticism, stating, "I do things my way. I do not read social media trash. I never listen to people who think they are important. It would be better for them to shut up." He recalled a suggestion for a statue in his honor, remarking, "I told them to make it of wood so it burns quickly when we fail." Broos previously guided Cameroon to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations title. South Africa experienced a decade of underachievement after the 2010 World Cup. When Broos took over in 2021, Bafana were attracting small crowds, but a recent warm-up match drew 50,000 supporters. The team finished third at the 2024 Afcon and won a 2026 Wo