England and Argentina to meet in World Cup semi-final, renewing historic rivalry
via The Namibian5 min read
England and Argentina are set to face each other in a World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, a match anticipated to be infused with decades of rivalry. Argentina, with Lionel Messi, advanced after defeating Switzerland, while England, led by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, beat Norway. The South American team aims to become the first to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962, while England seeks to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy. The upcoming game revives memories of their 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Argentina secured a 2-1 victory with two goals from Diego Maradona, including the controversial "Hand of God" goal. This will be Messi's first match against England. The encounter also takes place against the backdrop of a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands. Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni emphasized that the match is solely a football game, despite the historical context. England's coach Thomas Tuchel expressed dissatisfaction with his team's performance against Norway, despite their 2-1 extra-time victory, highlighting the need for significant improvement. Norway's coach Stale Solbakken and player Erling Haaland commented on a controversial moment where a goal kick appeared to hit an overhead camera cable before England's first goal, and Haaland expressed pride in Norway's performance inspiring a new generation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Despite mandatory SIM registrations, Namibians are experiencing an increase in 'vishing' scams, prompting regulatory authorities, network providers, and financial institutions to advise vigilance. Vishing, or 'voice phishing', involves scammers using phone calls to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, transferring money, or granting account access, primarily through psychological manipulation. Consumers frequently lose money and personal data, with police reports confirming ongoing incidents, including two cases documented in the past two weeks. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia Cran, Mobile Telecommunications Limited MTC, and the Bank of Namibia BoN emphasize that while new registration requirements enhance accountability, they do not fully address advanced social engineering tactics. Cran spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano notes that mandatory SIM registration links SIM cards to verified identities but cannot completely eradicate scams, serving mainly to aid law enforcement. MTC stressed that it is not liable when customers voluntarily provide banking PINs, one-time passwords, or identification details to scammers. BoN spokesperson Josefina Oskar states that SIM registration is only one part of a broader fraud prevention framework and does not solely prevent vishing or financial fraud. Oskar calls for coordinated action among financial institutions, mobile network operators, Cran, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to strengthen fraud pre
Must ReadFrance and Spain are scheduled to compete in a World Cup semi-final at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. France, the reigning European champions, have advanced to the last four with a strong attacking force led by captain Kylian Mbappe, who has scored eight goals in six games. His teammates include Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue. Spain, under Luis de la Fuente, have reached the semi-finals with a possession-based style of play, relying on midfielders like Rodri, Pedri, and Fabian Ruiz to support winger Lamine Yamal. This match is anticipated to be a clash of styles, with Spain aiming to control possession and pressure France's defense, while France's attack will challenge Spain's defense. Spain has a recent record of success against France, including a 5-4 victory in the UEFA Nations League last year and a 2-1 semi-final win at the 2024 European Championship. Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 the day before the match, expressed confidence, stating Spain has "no fear." Spain coach De la Fuente echoed this sentiment, acknowledging France's form but believing in his team's capability. France's coach Didier Deschamps, who will step down after the finals, has led his team to three consecutive World Cup semi-finals, a feat achieved by only two other nations. Mbappe highlighted the team's unity and support for their coach.
Must ReadVusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala has rejected a 12-year prison sentence and withdrawn from his plea deal with the state, returning the R228 million police tender corruption case to its initial stage. Matlala, along with his companies Medicare24 Tshwane District and Luxo Africa Brand Investments, appeared before magistrate Ignatius du Preez in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes court. Matlala had previously pleaded guilty on June 25 to seven counts of fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to a police health tender awarded to Medicare24 Tshwane District. The original plea agreement, negotiated with the National Prosecuting Authority鈥檚 Investigating Directorate Against Corruption Idac, would have resulted in an effective eight-year sentence and required Matlala to testify against senior police officers. However, Magistrate Du Preez rejected this agreement on July 1, deeming it too lenient, and proposed an effective 12-year sentence. Du Preez stated that Matlala's cooperation was driven by self-preservation rather than remorse. With the collapse of the deal, Matlala is entitled to withdraw his guilty plea, and the state will need to prove its case from scratch. The matter has been postponed to September 11, and Matlala remains in custody. The tender, initially advertised at R360 million, was awarded for approximately R228 million in June 2024 and canceled in May 2025 after an internal audit flagged irregularities, with about R50 million already paid out. Matlala also face