Vinicius sorry after Brazil World Cup exit

Rio De Janeiro: Vinicius Junior has spoken of his "overwhelming frustration" after Brazil's World Cup elimination by Norway in the round of 16.

The 25-year-old apologized to fans for Brazil's 2-1 loss to Norway last Sunday, a result that marked its earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

"Almost four years later, I'm once again thinking about what to write after the disappointment of a World Cup," he said, referring to the quarterfinal loss to Croatia in Qatar. cricket-ipl.in

"So many people of all ages supported us and embraced our dream that it would be unfair to remain silent. But I needed a few days to reflect."

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Brazil finished top of its World Cup group and beat Japan in the round of 32 before last Sunday's defeat in New Jersey.

Vinicius scored four goals and provided an assist during the tournament, taking his overall World Cup record to five goals and three assists in nine games.

"Wearing the Brazil shirt is the greatest honor of my life, and going out of a World Cup in the round of 16 is a feeling that's hard to explain," he said. "I know how much I prepared, how focused I was and how badly I wanted this, for all of you and for my family."

The Real Madrid forward added "The frustration is overwhelming. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we didn't. I'm sorry, and I'll keep fighting for our dream of taking Brazil back to the top of the world."

Los Angeles: England and Argentina will meet on Wednesday in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final infused with decades of bitter rivalry after they battled past Norway and Switzerland respectively in the quarter-finals.

The South Americans and their talisman Lionel Messi must defeat England in Atlanta to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.

England and their key partnership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane must win to have any hope of ending a 60-year wait for a major trophy.

The winner of that game will take on the victor of France’s semi-final with Spain -- they meet in Texas on Tuesday -- in the final on July 19.

The Argentina v England match comes 40 years after a seismic encounter in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Argentina secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Azteca with two goals from Diego Maradona -- one the infamous “Hand of God” when he punched the ball into the net and the other a dazzling solo effort considered one of the greatest goals ever to grace a World Cup.

For Maradona’s heir, Messi, it will be his 206th match in an Albiceleste shirt, but his first ever against England.

The match will also take place against the backdrop of a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, known in Spanish as the Malvinas.

Britain sent a military taskforce in 1982 to reclaim the islands after Argentine troops invaded.

After Argentina beat a dogged Swiss side 3-1 in Kansas City on Saturday thanks to extra-time goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, their coach Lionel Scaloni attempted to take the political heat out of the meeting with England.

“The message is this is a football game. That’s what I can say,” Scaloni said.

“It is a football game and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach and this is a football game and that’s all.” That coach, Thomas Tuchel, was angry with his England team after they needed extra-time on Saturday to end Norway’s historic run in sweltering Miami.

Two goals from Jude Bellingham gave England a nervy 2-1 victory to send them into the semi-finals for only the fourth time in history.

Tuchel said his team would need to make a noticeable improvement if they were to have any chance of reaching the final.

In energy-sapping Florida heat and humidity, England’s shaky defence allowed Andreas Schjelderup to unleash a rasping shot from the left to put Norway ahead on 36 minutes.

But England got a huge break in first-half stoppage time when Bellingham equalised after an attack that was initiated when a goal kick from Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to hit an overhead camera cable.

Norway’s players protested in vain and the goal stood. The Norwegians also had a goal controversially disallowed before Bellingham then poached the winner in extra-time.

“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,” Tuchel said afterwards.

“The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance... we were very lucky today.” While football’s world governing body FIFA later said there was “no evidence” the ball had hit the cable before England’s first goal, Norway coach Stale Solbakken was adamant.

“That was unlucky for us,” Solbakken said. “The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction. But we can’t do anything about that.” Erling Haaland, the marauding forward who scored seven goals as Norway reached uncharted waters at the tournament, said his team’s performance had inspired a new generation.

“How we put Norway on the map is maybe one thing that touches me the most,” said Haaland, who failed to score for the first time in 15 competitive games for his country.

“Hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to Euros, World Cups and everything because our generation is amazing and also all this gives motivation to young people back in Norway that it’s possible to play a big stage in the world with a Norwegian shirt.”

DOHA: Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia hailed his side's resilience and unwavering belief after they produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and book their place in the Round of 16.

With Belgium trailing 2-0 until the closing stages of normal time, Garcia said his players never lost faith despite staring at elimination before Romelu Lukaku's late strike sparked an extraordinary turnaround.

"In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe in it," Garcia said after the dramatic victory.

"I told the players we had to score the 2-1 goal, and then anything could happen. Football is about emotions. Coming back and winning under such circumstances can unify the group and make them realise that, until the final whistle blows, anything is possible."

Garcia also acknowledged that Belgium had spent much of the evening chasing the game against an impressive Senegal side but praised his players for refusing to give up when the match appeared lost.

"Senegal deserved to win," he admitted. "But I am happy it was us."

Belgium's comeback was completed in dramatic fashion after captain Youri Tielemans scored twice in the closing moments, including a stoppage-time penalty in extra time, while substitute Romelu Lukaku's introduction transformed the momentum after his goal ignited Belgium's fightback.

Tielemans described the victory as one of the proudest moments of his international career.

"We fell behind and then it's up to us to show a reaction. We did," the captain said.

"Being part of this comeback is a proud moment because I scored the last two goals to give the team the win today."

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also credited Belgium's mental strength, believing the momentum shifted immediately after Lukaku reduced the deficit.

"When Romelu made it 2-1, the whole team believed we could do it and the Senegalese started to have doubts," Courtois said. "If you can win like that, it gives an energy boost."

For Senegal, the final whistle brought only heartbreak after a performance that looked destined to secure a place in the Round of 16 before slipping away in the closing minutes.

Head coach Pape Thiaw admitted the defeat would take time to accept after watching his side surrender a commanding advantage.

"It is a cruel loss," Thiaw said.

"We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However, a football match is not an 85-minute one. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that."

Although Senegal questioned the late penalty that ultimately decided the contest, Thiaw refused to blame the officials for the outcome.

"We believed there was no penalty. The players tried to challenge the decision. It's their right. But the penalty was taken, and this is the reason why we are now eliminated."

Instead, the Senegal coach focused on the disappointment of falling short after producing one of his team's strongest displays of the tournament.

"This match meant a lot to us. We wanted to qualify for the Senegalese people. Unfortunately, we are eliminated. I am sad, and the players feel the same."

Defender Krepin Diatta echoed his coach's emotions, admitting Senegal had let a historic opportunity slip through their hands.

"We were determined to write some beautiful pages in the history of our football in this World Cup, and we have to accept that we failed in this mission," Diatta said.

"Given what we offered, we shouldn't have lost this match."

Goalscorer Habib Diarra also struggled to hide his disappointment after the dramatic collapse.

"We're disappointed," he said. "We had a good first half, but it wasn't enough. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we're devastated. It's very tough."

Belgium now advance carrying renewed confidence after a comeback that Garcia believes could define their World Cup campaign. Senegal, meanwhile, leave the tournament with painful memories of a match that was within their grasp, but also with the respect earned from a spirited campaign that ended in the cruellest of circumstances.