Key events
Australia lost to Egypt on penalties in one of the more disastrous shootout cock ups. Changing goalkeepers is a bold move, especially when Mat Ryan made a right Shilton of himself.
Jonathan Wilson was there.
Some comforting words from Zlatan.
Jack Snape was left to ponder what could have been.
Jurgen Klopp is the obvious – and best – choice for Germany. They were pretty mediocre throughout the competition, getting lucky against Cote d’Ivoire, then succumbing to Ecuador and Paraguay. I am impressed than Nagelsmann felt it could carry on.
Klopp confirms talks over Germany job
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he’s in negotiations to take over as Germany coach and says he’s “recharged” the energy he was missing when he left Liverpool.
Klopp is the German soccer federation’s preferred candidate after Julian Nagelsmann resigned Friday, four days after Germany lost on penalties to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32.
“Julian has stepped down and the (federation) is working on the succession and has approached me in the course of those considerations,” said Klopp, speaking from New York on German broadcaster Magenta TV in his role as a World Cup commentator late Friday.
Klopp was the only coach named in a federation statement on the team’s future, which said Klopp had “signalled his willingness” to take over. Klopp said talks would take time because of his current contract as head of global soccer for Red Bull’s network of clubs.
Klopp hasn’t coached since he left Liverpool in 2024, saying at the time he was “running out of energy” after eight years with the club where he won the Premier League and Champions League.
“About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job or for another year with Liverpool. Since then I’m more than recharged, I’m ready,” he said.
Germany’s next coach will need to make sweeping changes and he said he would need “intensive talks” with the federation to agree on the key points of how to transform the team’s fortunes.
It was the third men’s World Cup in a row that Germany has not reached the round of 16. Germany hasn’t won a knockout game since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.
Klopp said Nagelsmann was an “excellent coach” and not to blame for the team’s deeper problems.
“German soccer is obviously at a turning point now,” Klopp said. “Now we need to change things fundamentally. Whether that’s me in the end or whoever it may be, that doesn’t change the fact that changes are necessary.” AP
We will move along to Fifa kick-off tombola in a bit but we shall run through the rest of Friday’s action.
I think I speak for many football fans when I celebrate Ghana’s elimination as they were pretty much unwatchable.
Ed Aarons witnessed their demise to Colombia in Kansas.
Thanks David. Total Editorial from the Guardian sports desk this morning as we react to the situation. We can play in many positions and it often bamboozles the opposition.
In an early tactical reshuffle, Will Unwin (better adjusted to altitude) will now take over while I catch my breath. Lots more to come from last night’s games, including Australia really botching their penalty shootout against Egypt.
A game like that deserves its own photo gallery so we’ve obliged. Some crackers in the set below.
“We did our best and we did it with bravery. Never did we fail to stay true to our identity, which is why I am so proud of what my players did.” The words of Cape Verde coach Bubista after his team gave Lionel Messi and Argentina a mighty scare in Miami.
Rival boss Lionel Scaloni, taking charge of his country for the 100th time, was a relieved man. “We suffered a very difficult game, we are still here but it won’t be easy, this is a very difficult World Cup. I hope the fans can have a drink now to relax for a bit.”
More quotes here from last night’s 3-2 epic.
Cape Verde out after classic with Argentina
There’s only one place to start – that World Cup classic between Argentina and Cape Verde. Here’s Barney Ronay (who watched it unfold at the Miami Stadium) on how the tiny island nation took the World Cup holders to the brink.
“Cape Verde, once again, were not done. They pressed, won three corners in quick succession. And with 102 minutes on the clock made it 2-2, with a moment of startling brilliance from Sydney Lopes Cabral, a goal that felt like one of the great World Cup moments, shades of Josimar ‘86, mixed with François Omam-Biyik, 1990 and all that.
“Cabral took the ball way out on the left, nipped inside, measured his strides, and produced the most beautifully pure right foot shot into the far corner past Emiliano Martínez, the ball seeming to hang in the damp Florida air, a perfect white orb, following that delicious parabola into the far corner.”
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of day 24 at the World Cup. We’ll have reaction to a thrilling day 23 and build-up to the first matches of the last 16: Canada v Morocco and Paraguay v France.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jul/04/world-cup-2026-cape-verde-give-argentina-mighty-scare-last-16-mexico-v-england-fixture-chaos-morocco-canada-france-paraguay-live
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