Daily Archives: July 7, 2026

Lionel Messi inspires Argentina to all-time great World Cup comeback against Egypt

“Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to one of the great World Cup comebacks as they came back from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and seal their place in the quarter-finals. Argentina had found themselves behind at half-time in the tournament for the first time in 16 years after Yasser Ibrahim’s 15th-minute header and a Messi penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir. The reigning champions appeared on the brink of elimination when Mostafa Ziko put Egypt 2-0 up in the 67th minute, after already having seen a goal ruled out for a VAR intervention on a challenge in the build-up. Lionel Scaloni’s side had other ideas, though. …”
NYT/ATH
BBC: Egypt fume at ‘injustice’ and make Messi favouritism claims after exit (Video)
YouTube: Argentina vs Egypt Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

USMNT left shocked and dumbfounded by sudden World Cup exit after Belgium defeat

“Chris Richards keeled over, and Tyler Adams sobbed. Weston McKennie slumped in a chair, mind spinning, stare blank, while Matt Freese wandered and Tim Ream pondered the end. They, the U.S. men’s national soccer team, had just been banished from their home World Cup, beaten down by Belgium; and in the misty aftermath, players seemed and sounded shellshocked. They were shocked by their inexplicable sloppiness, by a flop that not a single one of them could answer for. But they were also shocked by the abruptness of their exit, by the sudden end of a charmed run that they genuinely felt would take them to places the USMNT had never been before. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)
NYT/ATH: The United States’ dream didn’t die. It was overturned (Video)
YouTube: United States vs Belgium Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16