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Zanetti: Egypt Gave Argentina Their Toughest World Cup Test
Argentina legend Javier Zanetti has named Egypt as the toughest opponents the holders faced on their route to the 2026 World Cup final. cricket-ipl.in
“The Egyptian national team played a wonderful match against Argentina,” Zanetti said while attending the final against Spain.
“They were extremely organised and made the match difficult for us.”
Asked whether Egypt had provided Argentina’s toughest test of the tournament, Zanetti replied: “Yes, I think so. Egypt have great players and proved that.”
Argentina needed a dramatic late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 in Atlanta. Hossam Hassan’s side held a two-goal advantage until the 79th minute.
Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring after 15 minutes. He converted the rebound after Emiliano Martínez saved his first attempt.
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir then saved an early Lionel Messi penalty. The Al Ahly goalkeeper also denied several other chances as Argentina pushed for an equaliser.
Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage through Mostafa Ziko before half-time. However, VAR identified a foul by Marwan Attia during the build-up.
Ziko eventually scored in the 67th minute to put Egypt 2-0 ahead. He finished a quick counterattack after Ibrahim Adel carried the ball into Argentina’s half.
Argentina launched their comeback through Cristian Romero with 11 minutes remaining. Messi equalised four minutes later before Enzo Fernández struck the winner in stoppage time.
The result ended Egypt’s first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds. It also drew criticism from the Egyptian Football Association, which questioned several refereeing decisions.
Argentina later survived another difficult contest against Switzerland. They then overturned a deficit to beat England 2-1 in the semi-finals, with Fernández and Lautaro Martínez scoring late goals.
The post Zanetti: Egypt Gave Argentina Their Toughest World Cup Test appeared first on KingFut.
Argentina goalkeeper Martinez wants teammates to shine
New York, USA: Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he wants his teammates to take the spotlight ahead of Sunday's World Cup final against Spain, playing down his own role in the team's bid for back-to-back titles.
"I don't want to be making the headlines," the 33-year-old told reporters on Friday. "I want my teammates and the manager to trust me. That's more important to me than making the headlines. I want my teammates to be the stars. Goalkeepers are the only ones who don't need to score goals. They don't have to be the protagonist. But if they need me, I will be there to help them, and if not, I will celebrate exactly the same way."
Martinez has played through pain for much of the tournament after fracturing a bone in the ring finger of his right hand while warming up for Aston Villa ahead of the club's UEFA Europa League final win over Freiburg on May 20. He returned to training with Argentina's squad in Kansas City on June 12, days before the team's tournament opener against Algeria.
"It still hurts," he said. "I knew it was going to hurt, I tried to avoid surgery. I consulted a great number of hand specialists in England, the United States and other countries. They said I'd have to undergo surgery. They told me I couldn't even train. After the Egypt game [in the round of 16] I could start training normally, and now I feel much better."
Martinez said he had drawn on the experience of Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph over France on penalties to stay composed under pressure this time.
"In that final we were totally superior to France for 90 minutes," he said. "But I let in three goals [in the 120 minutes], and when that happens you are usually out of the tournament. I can concede goals, but in the next play I am the same player as always. I try not to let the pressure get to me."
The former Arsenal player said he felt at ease heading into the clash against the reigning European champion.
"To be honest, I feel really calm. It's my second time," he said. "Many people think good goalkeepers need to make great saves. It goes beyond that. It's your positioning, moving your line higher, being composed. My teammates are so good on the ball that they see calmness and safety when they look back, so that they can go forward with confidence."
On Sunday's opponents, Martinez said Spain's threat went beyond teenage forward Lamine Yamal.
"Spain has a great team. I know many of them, because many play in the Premier League," he said. "It's not just Lamine. They have players who work for the team. They are in the final for a reason. They have their strengths, but so do we. I hope it's a final that goes down in history for the fans."
ترامب يحضر النهائي ويسلم الكأس
أعلن البيت الأبيض، أن الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب سيحضر المباراة النهائية. وقالت المتحدثة باسم البيت الأبيض، كارولين ليفيت، في مؤتمر صحفي: «ان حضور ترامب للمباراة النهائية «سيكون تتويجا لما أصبح أكثر بطولات كأس العالم مشاهدة، وأكثرها أمنا، وأنجحها في تاريخ الولايات المتحدة. إنها خاتمة تليق ببطولة أظهرت قدرة أمريكا على استضافة العالم على أكبر مسرح ممكن».
كما سيحضر رئيس الوزراء الإسباني بيدرو سانشيز المباراة النهائية. وأكد مكتب رئيس الوزراء الإسباني أن سانشيز سيحضر المباراة قبل أن يتوجه مباشرة إلى الجزائر في زيارة رسمية كانت مقررة سلفًا.
من جهتها قالت الرئيسة المكسيكية كلوديا شينباوم إنها ستحضر المباراة النهائية، وذلك بعد تلقيها دعوة من الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب.
العد التنازلي لنهائي المونديال.. كأس العالم يزين محطة "غراند سنترال" بنيويورك
نشر الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم فيفا صورًا لفعالية احتفالية أقامها في محطة غراند سنترال الشهيرة بمدينة نيويورك، للاحتفاء بالعد التنازلي لنهائي كأس العالم 2026، المقرر إقامته الأحد المقبل على ملعب نيويورك نيوجيرسي بمدينة إيست رذرفورد.
وزين فيفا المحطة التاريخية بأعلام الدول الـ48 المشاركة في البطولة، من بينها إسبانيا وإنجلترا، إلى جانب عرض كأس العالم أمام الساعة الشهيرة رباعية الأوجه بالمحطة، في مشهد لاقى تفاعلًا واسعًا على منصات التواصل الاجتماعي.
كما تمت برمجة لوحات المغادرة بالمحطة لعرض مواعيد انطلاق المباراة النهائية بتوقيت مدن حول العالم تمثل الدول المشاركة، من بينها مدريد وبوينس آيرس وطوكيو والرباط وتورونتو وأوكلاند ومكسيكو سيتي، في إشارة إلى الطابع العالمي للبطولة.
وأوضح فيفا أن الفعالية تعكس كيف ستنطلق المباراة النهائية في لحظة واحدة بتوقيت نيويورك نيوجيرسي، بينما يتابعها الجمهور في مختلف أنحاء العالم في التوقيت المحلي لكل دولة.
يُذكر أن المباراة النهائية تجمع الأحد المقبل بين منتخبي إسبانيا والأرجنتين، بعدما ودّع منتخب إنجلترا البطولة إثر خسارته في نصف النهائي أمام الأرجنتين 2-1، ليخوض مباراة تحديد المركز الثالث أمام فرنسا.
Sindhu wins Japan Open to end title drought
Tokyo: Indian badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu ended a title drought of almost two years at the Japan Open on Sunday and said winning would give her "a lot of confidence".
Sindhu, a world champion in 2019 and Olympic silver medallist in 2016, beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in Tokyo to win the competition for the first time.
It was her first title since she won the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow in 2024.
Sindhu has set her sights on a medal on home soil when New Delhi hosts the world championships next month, and she said her win in Japan would boost her chances.
"This one was very important because playing in finals is one thing, but winning and getting that gold is a different thing altogether," the 31-year-old said.
"I'm happy that I'm on the positive side. This gives me a lot of confidence."
Sindhu was playing in her first final since winning in Lucknow, after losing in the semi-finals twice on badminton's world tour this year.
She is currently ranked number 10 in the world.
Sindhu jumped out to an early lead against world number three Yamaguchi and held on to take the first game.
She clinched the title when Yamaguchi hit a shot that was called in, only for Sindhu to successfully overturn it with a challenge.
"I had tears in my eyes because it was really important to me," Sindhu said.
"I am working hard and focusing hard on myself.
"I kept believing that I could do it, even though a lot of people were wondering what was happening."
Popov wins men's title
France's Christo Popov captured the men's singles title, beating Japan's Koki Watanabe 21-11, 21-19 in the final.
It was Popov's third title of the year, following wins at the European Championships and German Open.
"It's a great performance, it's one of the biggest things I've done in my life," said world number five Popov, who was the fifth seed in Tokyo.
"I'm actually very happy to do it in Japan. I've always liked the country, the culture and respect."
Popov said his performances in Tokyo had convinced him that he can win a medal at the world championships.
Gold medalist France's Christo Popov (L) and silver medalist Japan's Koki Watanabe pose on the podium. (Photo by Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP)
"I know it's very difficult, way harder than here," the 24-year-old said.
"I think the pressure is much higher as well and the players will be ready 100 percent there.
"I want a medal, that's my goal."
China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping won the mixed doubles title, beating Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 14-21, 21-15.
South Korea's Kim Hye-Jeong and Kong Hee-yong won the women's doubles title after an epic battle against China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, eventually triumphing 14-21, 21-15, 30-29.
Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri beat South Korean top seeds Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 21-19, 21-17 in the men's doubles final.