0:11
Socceroos enter unfamiliar territory with chance to make history against Egypt
Australia have previously faced formidable opponents in World Cup knockout matches but this time a spot in the last 16 is in their own hands
⚽️ When do the Socceroos play Egypt in their next game?
⚽️ Full Socceroos coverage | Player guide
Dead ahead, the Socceroos stare at a destination they have never been to before. No, it’s not the gargantuan silver tortoise shell called Dallas Stadium, under which their last-32 World Cup clash against Egypt will be played on Friday (Saturday 4am AEST). Rather, it is victory in a World Cup knockout match, something that has eluded them on the two previous occasions they have progressed beyond the group stage.
Australia’s coach, Tony Popovic, is aware of the stakes. “If we perform very well, we have a chance to make history, that’s what we’re working towards,” he said at the pre-match press conference. “The players are ready, they’re relaxed. Tomorrow, we put on a top performance and it gives us a chance to make that history as a side.”
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1:26
Rangers linked with Partizan captain Dragojević - gossip
Rangers reportedly have a bid rejected for Partizan Belgrade's Vanja Dragojević as Celtic are said to have tabled an offer for Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, while there's also news from Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian, Motherwell, St Mirren and St Johnstone.
1:53
Manzambi dazzles as Switzerland cruise into last 16 with win over Algeria
No wonder Newcastle United are working overtime to wrap up a deal for Johan Manzambi. The secret, if indeed it ever existed, is well and truly out when it comes to the 20-year-old Freiburg forward who destroyed the Algeria defence to tee up Breel Embolo for Switzerland’s opener in an ominously comfortable victory to reach the last 16. Granit Xhaka, as any good captain would, has tried to keep a lid on soaring expectations, but doing so just got that bit tougher after the Swiss recorded victory in a knockout game at the World Cup for the first time since 1938.
“He’s had a great tournament, keep your eyes on him,” came the pre-match message from the stadium announcer accompanying images of Manzambi limbering up on the giant cuboid screen dangling from the roof. The same display detailed Manzambi as sixth in Fifa’s jazzy power rankings for attacking, behind a star-studded cast led by Kylian Mbappé and including Michael Olise, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Algeria, however, did not heed the warning.
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3:09
Norway's Viking row takes over the World Cup – video
The Viking row, a synchronised rowing chant performed by the Norwegian football team and their fans, is the viral phenomenon of the 2026 World Cup. The action, which typically starts with the blowing of a Viking horn, involves sitting as if in a longboat and – in unison and to an accelerating drumbeat – drawing an imaginary oar though water while chanting 'Ro' (Norwegian for 'row'). It has been adopted by many World Cup fans, including Norwegian MPs and police officers in Dallas
‘Bigger than football’: Norway fans’ Viking row makes waves at World Cup
3:53
Martínez says there was no ‘lucky call’ after record four goals ruled out in Portugal win
‘The balls have a chip in them – it is clear why VAR intervened’
Croatia manager Dalic says ‘emotions have been literally killed’
Roberto Martínez commended the numerous VAR interventions that helped Portugal past Croatia, and said there was no “lucky call”, after his team narrowly edged an incident-packed match to progress to the last 16 of the World Cup.
For the first time in the history of the tournament four goals were disallowed in the same game, with Croatia seeing three separate efforts chalked off, while Ronaldo also had a goal overturned. The final incident came in the very last seconds when Josko Gvardiol thought he had equalised in the 103rd minute of the match, only to be called offside. A snick-o-meter had detected the slightest of contacts between the ball and a teammate’s head as it crossed the box.
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4:58
Sports media world reacts to disallowed Croatia goal vs. Portugal
Croatia was knocked out of the World Cup in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s round of 32 on Thursday night in Toronto.
It appeared that Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol had delivered one of the most dramatic equalizers in World Cup history, 12 minutes into stoppage time.
However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside ruling after a VAR review determined that the ball touched the head of Croatia’s Igor Matanovic before the goal.
Here’s what the Croatia (disallowed) goal looked like with Derek Rae on the Fox play-by-play call. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/rswf6yIhj2 https://t.co/aPHVoGXRWy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 3, 2026
A dramatic would-be-tying Croatia goal is disallowed due to offside after VAR review, as it looked on the Fox broadcast.
Portugal wins 2-1. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/C3plCHfvVu
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 3, 2026
A tough way for Croatia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup to come to an end pic.twitter.com/0jLL1xixoq
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026
Rather than being in a 2-2 tie with the chance to advance to the round of 16, Croatia’s World Cup run ended just minutes later.
Here’s a look at how the sports media world reacted to the stunning turn of events:
Croatian First Take is gonna do numbers Friday.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) July 3, 2026
Incredibly, they will also blame LeBron. https://t.co/7T94Y9gBOx
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) July 3, 2026
Hosted by Scott Var Pelt… https://t.co/bnIYrJ3KcA
— Steve Levy (@espnSteveLevy) July 3, 2026
He touched it but are we saying the Portuguese defender didn’t deliberately try to head it?! pic.twitter.com/fQOd1Pc93l
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) July 3, 2026
“The sensor is the reason why that goal was disallowed… I do think it was the correct decision.”@ChrisWittyngham and @marcelobalboa17 break down Croatia’s last-minute disallowed goal pic.twitter.com/Gefh6YoD5X
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) July 3, 2026
VAR and its variants across all sports exist out of a goal to eliminate mistakes by getting every call right.
Even if I think the call in the Croatia match was correct, it’s clear that no replay system can accomplish that goal or even bring us meaningfully closer to a world…
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) July 3, 2026
This was WILDDDD. So much fun to watch https://t.co/53ewotv8oB
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) July 3, 2026
I DON’T UNDERSTAND: FIRST, how was Croatia allowed to score the potentially tying goal with beyond the allotted 10+ minutes of stoppage time??? Do refs just guess or let the trailing team have 1 more possession? Insane time-keeping.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 3, 2026
I DON’T UNDERSTAND: SECOND, why was Croatia’s goal disallowed by what looks like a phantom touch of hair that triggered offsides??? A chip on the ball detected … hair??? Insane. But I guess Portugal survived by a hair.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 3, 2026
VAR sucks. Clear no doubt worst thing about this World Cup has been VAR.
— James Seltzer (@JamesSeltzer) July 3, 2026
This is a wild new feature- the chip in the ball graph that shows when it gets touched. the NBA is gona have this asap pic.twitter.com/3fSixXuhob
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) July 3, 2026
Heartbreaking for Croatia. Three goals, including two for Croatia, overturned by VAR. Tough way to go out for Luka Modric, an absolute legend.
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) July 3, 2026
how long until people complain that VAR is too good?
— Anthony Dabbundo (@AnthonyDabbundo) July 3, 2026
VAR ruins another World Cup game.
— Ben Heisler (@bennyheis) July 3, 2026
While it’s a very unfortunate way for Croatia to go out, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will gladly take a World Cup knockout-stage win any way they can get it.
CRISTIANO RONALDO TIES IT UP FOR PORTUGAL!
Derek Rae has the play-by-play call for Fox. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/MXWYBGdeEe
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 3, 2026
WHAT A GOAL FOR PORTUGAL FOR THE LEAD!
Derek Rae with the call for Fox. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/YXGeR0Z5Dm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 3, 2026
Portugal moves on to face Spain in the round of 16 on Monday at 3 p.m. ET in Arlington, TX.
The post Sports media world reacts to disallowed Croatia goal vs. Portugal appeared first on Awful Announcing.
9:52
Melting hot! When Ireland played Mexico in 43C heat at 1994 World Cup
As the mercury rises at this year’s World Cup, we asked former Republic of Ireland footballers Jason McAteer and John Aldridge about the infamous match in Orlando that was played in 43 degree heat
“Some of the boys were melting,” says Jason McAteer as he recalls one of the most notorious matches in World Cup history. “Especially Steve Staunton and Tommy Coyne, they really struggled in the heat.”
It was the group stage of the 1994 World Cup and the Republic of Ireland, having just defeated eventual finalists Italy in their opening match, were facing Mexico at the Citrus Bowl in Florida.
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10:40
Late VAR drama as Portugal beat Croatia to keep Ronaldo's World Cup dreams alive
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dreams were kept alive in controversial fashion as he helped his Portugal side fight back from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 and set up a mouth-watering last 16 tie with Spain.
11:02
Ramos sends Portugal into last 16 as VAR drama caps wild finish against Croatia
Rafael Leão dropped to his knees. His cross had just been flicked into the net by Gonçalo Ramos to take Portugal to the last 16 of the World Cup. Leão’s expression was not one of delight, but relief.
Billed as the last dance for two footballing icons, it was Luka Modrić who, at the age of 40, had to leave what will surely be his final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, plays on, and both scored and was even substituted in a match of endless incident. But this was a contest about more than two individuals, who were far from the most influential players on show. Instead this was an old-fashioned World Cup battle between hardened teams, with momentum swinging first one way then the other then back again. Neither side was willing to give up on their dream, and Portugal were the lucky ones in the end.
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12:06
Switzerland v Algeria: World Cup 2026 last 32 – live
Switzerland and Algeria lock horns tonight at BC Place in Vancouver. Kick‑off is 8 p.m. local, which lands at 11 p.m. on the East Coast. It’s a last‑32 showdown, and the stakes are clear: a spot in the round of sixteen.
Switzerland’s path has been steady. They slipped into a late draw against Qatar in the opener, then surged past Bosnia and Herzegovina. A win over co‑host Canada capped an unbeaten group run and secured top spot.
Algeria arrives hungry, looking to build on their own group performance. They’ll need to stay compact and press early, especially against a Swiss side that likes to control possession.
Expect a tight contest, with both teams vying for the first knockout win. Keep an ear out for any late drama—World Cup nights love a surprise.
