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Lionel Messi scored again, making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain delivered at least one goal.Messi’s goal in the 29th minute was the 20th of
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Ben Stokes posted one last farewell to international cricket on Friday, thanking fans and team-mates alike for a "mad 15 years".The 35-year-old former England captain retired in extraordinary fashion during the third Test against New
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Novak Djokovic earned another slice of Wimbledon history as the seven-time winner advanced to the fourth round, while defending champion Jannik Sinner powered past Jenson Brooksby on Friday.Djokovic beat French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech 7-5,
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Naomi Osaka's day out at Wimbledon went much better than plans for her young daughter's birthday.The four-time Grand Slam champion reached the fourth round at the All England Club for the first time Friday in
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Tadej Pogacar begins his quest for history on Saturday as he bids to win a record fifth Tour de France.As has been the case in the previous five years, his main competition will come from
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The Organising Committee for the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship has approved the championship's operational framework as preparations continue for the event, which will take place at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi from August 1 to
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) has held exploratory discussions in Tokyo on the future of professional wrestling in the Middle East, welcoming a delegation from Dubai-based promotion WrestleFest DXB to its headquarters to explore the region's
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Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history by beating a dogged Australia 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday.A tense affair in which Egypt and their off-colour
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Mexico’s Gilberto Mora and Brian Gutierrez take part in a training session at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Mexico City on July 4, 2026, on the eve of the World Cup round of 16
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Egypt's Mohamed Salah and teammates celebrate after Hossam Abdelmaguid scores the penalty past Australia's Mathew Ryan to win the shootout at Dallas Stadium in Arlington,Texas, yesterday. (Reuters) Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history by beating a dogged Australia 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday.A tense affair in which Egypt and their off-colour captain Mohamed Salah wasted the better chances had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes in Texas.Lionel Messi's Argentina loom next for Egypt, as long as the reigning champions avoid a massive upset against tournament debutants Cape Verde in their last-32 encounter.The Pharaohs will celebrate anyway having reached this stage of a World Cup for the first time ever.Australia coach Tony Popovic threw on experienced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan for the penalty shootout in a last-gasp gamble.Shooting towards the Egypt fans and whistles raining down, defender Harry Souttar blazed the first penalty over to put the Socceroos on the immediate backfoot.They next five players all scored, including Salah with the coolest of penalties, before 18-year-old Australia defender Lucas Herrington hit the bar.Abdelmaguid kept his nerve to send Egypt through to leave Salah in tears of joy and break Australia hearts.Emam Ashour had given seven-time African champions Egypt the lead from a header after 13 minutes at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys.The early goal put the onus on a shot-shy Australia who scored only twice in the group phase to attack in front of a crowd of 70,000.With Salah mostly ineffective following injury in Egypt's last game, the Socceroos equalised 10 minutes after half-time when Mohamed Hany headed into his own net.Both sides sensed history, neither having won a knockout game before at a men's World Cup, and they went to extra time after some late Egypt pressure.With nothing to divide them they went to penalties. Popovic's side had nearly taken the lead with less than five minutes gone as Cristian Volpato - who switched to Australia from Italy on the eve of the World Cup - rattled the top of the crossbar.Egypt, who won a World Cup match for the first time in the group phase when they beat New Zealand 3-1, looked nervy at the back.Slightly against the run of play Hossam Hassan's men took the lead.Australia forward Nestory Irankunda failed to pick up Ashour, who headed home at the back post from a cross by Karim Hafez for his second goal of the tournament.The Socceroos had their first shot on target 10 minutes before the break when full-back Aziz Behich fired tamely at goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.His father, Ahmed, played in goal for Egypt at the 1990 World Cup.The 34-year-old talisman Salah, who came into the match after a hamstring strain, made little impact in an attritional first 45 minutes.The half ended with Jordan Bos, one of the fastest players at the tournament, in a heap after a robust flying challenge from Rabia.The wing-back had to be helped from the pitch and was replaced at half-time by Kai Trewin in a blow to Australian hopes.Seconds after the restart it should have been 2-0 when Egypt's Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush slid the ball off-target from close range.Egypt's coach had said he was wary of Australia's physical approach, and so it proved as Hany headed under pressure into his own net from an in-swinging Socceroos free-kick.It was Hany's second own goal of the tournament.Former Liverpool superstar Salah remained a peripheral figure but was involved in the build-up as Australian stopper Patrick Beach saved athletically deep in added time to keep out Ramy and force another 30 minutes.Egypt finished normal time the stronger and Salah fired well over early in extra time on his weaker right foot, with penalties looking increasingly inevitable.Salah though was to prove more reliable in the shootout as Egypt triumphed. Related Story
