1 hour ago
Key events
Starting lineups are coming up soon but Belgium’s preparations person progressive a dispute pinch Sporting complete nan fittingness of Zeno Debast. The centre-back was connected nan chair for nan first clip this World Cup against nan USA aft missing nan commencement of nan tourney pinch an injury. His nine support that he is not fresh to play and nan Belgian FA said “this appraisal differs from that of nan Red Devils’ aesculapian staff”. Belgium look to person bowed to Sporting’s wishes and nan FA said he would not play successful this quarter-final.
As mentioned, an ominous France squad await nan winners of this one aft they eased past a beautiful meek Morocco successful Boston yesterday.
Jonathan Wilson was there:
double quotation markHow tin you extremity France? You tin take sides pinch awesome organisation and concentration, artifact and tackle and harry and work, your keeper tin make 2 aliases 3 fantabulous saves, and past 1 of their forwards conjures a extremity for illustration that.
And truthful was Raphaël Jucobin:
double quotation markIn his pre-match property conference, Deschamps conceded that his squad could still amended successful beforehand of goal. “The amended nan value of nan opponent, nan much objective you person to be,” he underlined. As Les Bleus hole to time off nan eastbound seashore for nan first clip since their presence successful nan US for their semi-final successful Dallas, location is simply a consciousness that they will beryllium leaving nan comfortableness area they person established some connected and disconnected nan pitch.
Preamble
Hello and invited to nan 2nd quarter-final of nan 2026 World Cup. After dealing pinch nan USA (and everything else) successful nan past 16, nan past waste of Belgium’s aureate procreation must now return connected nan unmovable entity of this tournament. Spain are yet to concede a extremity aft 5 matches and person not travel this acold astatine nan World Cup since they won nan damn point successful 2010.
While nan World Cup pedigree of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku is unquestionable – they hit Brazil successful their past quarter-final – we are still yet to spot Lamine Yamal’s existent presence connected this stage. The Barcelona winger, who turns 19 connected Monday, has registered a azygous extremity and nary assists astatine these finals and is possibly nan only world superstar yet to make his mark. Could coming beryllium his day?
The victor of this 1 will play France (good luck) successful nan semis adjacent Tuesday successful Dallas.
Kick-off successful Los Angeles is midday section time, 8pm BST and 5am AEST. Feel free to get successful touch pinch maine via email. Let’s go.
