Cape Verde advances to World Cup knockout rounds, France secures top spot in Group I
via The Namibian3 min read
Cape Verde has made history by reaching the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time, drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to secure second place in Group H. They will now face Argentina in the last 32. Coach Bubista expressed the team's belief that "nothing is impossible." Spain topped Group H after defeating Uruguay 1-0, eliminating Uruguay from the competition. Spain's victory came with injuries to Yeremy Pino and Nico Williams. These results also confirmed the advancement of England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt, and Paraguay. France dominated their match against Norway, winning 4-1 to claim first place in Group I. Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick for France. The anticipated duel between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland did not materialize as Haaland was benched. Dembele emphasized the importance of staying focused for the upcoming challenges. France will play Sweden in the last 32, while Norway will face Ivory Coast. Senegal also progressed to the last 32 after a 5-0 victory over Iraq, qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams. Iran drew 1-1 with Egypt in Group G, leaving them in third place and awaiting other results to determine their advancement. Belgium secured first place in Group G with a 5-1 win against New Zealand, with goals from Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Laliq Adams secured a gold medal in the girls under-14 shotput event at the World Youth Games in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Saturday. Her winning throw measured 13.58 meters. This marks Namibia's first gold medal at this year's event, with Adams following Mathew Coetzee, who won gold last year in the 80m dash. Adams is a student at Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool, which congratulated her, stating that her hard work, dedication, and determination have borne fruit, and that she represented both the school and Namibia with pride. The school also extended congratulations to her coaches, parents, and supporters, acknowledging their contribution to her historic achievement.
Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup, finishing atop Group G in Vancouver. Leandro Trossard scored twice, with additional goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers. This win placed Belgium in first place ahead of Egypt on goal difference. Egypt secured the runners-up spot after a 1-1 draw with Iran. Belgium dominated the match, with Trossard opening the scoring after a VAR decision overturned an initial penalty. Trossard added a second goal in the second half, followed by De Bruyne's strike, which temporarily put Belgium in the lead on goal difference. Although New Zealand's Elijah Just scored a consolation goal, Lukaku and Saelemaekers sealed the victory for Belgium, ensuring their first-place finish.
Uruguay has been knocked out of the World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Guadalajara. A goalkeeping error by Fernando Muslera allowed Alex Baena's shot to secure the win for Spain, who topped Group H and avoided a last-32 match against Argentina. Spain will now face Austria or Algeria. Uruguay's loss meant debutants Cape Verde advanced to the next round, where they will play Lionel Messi and the defending champions. This early exit marks a disappointing tournament for Uruguay, who were considered a highly-ranked team. Reports of player discontent, including Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, with coach Marcelo Bielsa's tactics emerged during the tournament. Bielsa took responsibility for the team's performance. Spain, despite the win, showed a labored attacking performance, raising concerns for coach Luis de la Fuente ahead of the knockout stages. Spain also faces injury concerns with Yeremy Pino and Nico Williams. Uruguay's tournament concluded with Agustin Canobbio receiving a red card in stoppage time. Spain remains unbeaten in 34 competitive games and has not conceded a goal in the World Cup, but their attacking play has yet to fully convince.