Central & South America

Brazil's four-goal first half vs. South Korea was football heritage

In a World Cup of meticulously calculated added time, South Korea was extremely grateful to the officiating crew for only adding five minutes to the end of the first-half Monday after Brazil scored four salacious goals and accented each with a three-part dance production.

You felt bad for the Taegeuk Warriors because it definitely got embarrassing, but this is why you always, without fail, put Brazil on the television when they're playing at a World Cup — this is the beautiful game.

Seeing the Messi kids hugging each other after daddy's goal vs. Australia will melt your heart

This World Cup is special for Lionel Messi — not only because he wants glory, not only because it's probably his last one, but also because his three kids are old enough to watch him play.

"From the very beginning, from kick-off to the final whistle, I'm thinking of my children," confessed the Argentine star after defeating Australia and qualifying for the quarterfinals against the Netherlands. 

Brazil coach Tite delivers one-word answer when asked if Neymar's fit to face South Korea

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Brazil forward Neymar will train later on Sunday and is set to play for the five-times champions in their World Cup last-16 match against South Korea after recovering from an ankle injury, coach Tite said.

Neymar suffered the injury in Brazil's opening 2-0 win over Serbia, which ruled him out of their 1-0 win over Switzerland and the shock defeat by Cameroon, one of a series of injury problems within the squad.

"Neymar will train today in the afternoon and if he trains well he will play," Tite told a news conference.

Messi and Argentina expect classic quarterfinal against old rivals Netherlands

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tough but beautiful encounter with the Netherlands when the sides meet in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal.

Argentina beat Australia 2-1 while the Netherlands defeated the United States 3-1 on Saturday to set up a tantalizing clash between two of the great teams of world football who famously met in the 1978 World Cup final which the South Americans won.

Vincent Aboubakar accepts red card with a smile after scoring winning goal vs. Brazil and taking his shirt off

Scoring a last-minute winning goal against Brazil is not a usual achievement among soccer players, but Cameroonian captain Vincent Aboubakar can scratch that from his bucket list. The striker bagged a header in the 93rd minute during the last match of Group H in the 2022 World Cup and celebrated accordingly by taking his shirt off.

‘El Diablo’ Luis Suárez refuses to apologize for role in Ghana's 2010 exit ahead of rematch

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Uruguay's Luis Suárez refused to apologize to Ghanaians on Thursday for his role 12 years ago in their biggest World Cup setback, arguing it wasn't his handball that denied Ghana a quarterfinal winner but their missed penalty that followed.

A win for Ghana against Uruguay in Friday's final Group H match could avenge their acrimonious defeat by the South Americans in 2010, when Suárez used his hand to block an extra-time winner for Ghana, who missed the resulting spot-kick and lost the penalty shootout that followed.

Senegal advances, eliminates Ecuador and likely awaits England (maybe USA) in last-16

Questions surrounded Senegal heading into the World Cup after star attacker Sadio Mané was ruled out of the tournament, but the Lions of Teranga aren't the champions of Africa because of the efforts of one single individual. Senegal clinched the runner-up spot in Group A and eliminated Ecuador by defeating La Tri 2-1 at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.

A costa de Ecuador: Senegal avanza a octavos y rinde tributo al legendario Papa Bouba Diop

A Ecuador se le acabó la gasolina y tras caer 2-1 ante Senegal se despidió del Mundial de Catar.

Luego de vencer a la selección anfitriona en el debut y de robarle un empate a los Países Bajos, La Tri solo necesitaba de un empate ante los campeones africanos para sellar su paso a la segunda fase.

Costa Rica sepulta los fantasmas del 7-0 y logra la primera victoria de la Concacaf en el Mundial

Nunca es fácil levantarse de un 7-0 en contra, pero Costa Rica encontró la manera de sacudirse del trauma que significó la goleada sufrida ante España y mantenerse con vida en el Mundial luego de derrotar a Japón 1-0.  

Su victoria además es la primera de una selección Concacaf en Catar.

Gol de Costa Rica vs Japón

No voy a negarlo. Como tantos otros, pensé que la generación dorada de los ticos no tenía cómo reaccionar al desastre de su debut.

Watch: Costa Rica shocks the world with late winner over Japan

Los Ticos were in a world of hurt after their opening match, losing 7-0 to a well-oiled Spain side. The Costa Ricans were sentenced to death by passing as Luis Enrique’s side completed a staggering 1,045 passes in the match, but their performance against a Japan side that shockingly beat Germany on matchday one was more than laudable, grabbing a winner in the 81st minute while also keeping the Samurai Blue off the score sheet. 

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