World Cup, Portugal vs Croatia: Ronaldo consoles Modric as Portugal beat Croatia in late VAR drama

Cristiano Ronaldo embraces Luka Modric in tears after Portugal ended Croatia’s FIFA World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-1 win in the round of 32 on Thursday. Moments after a lengthy VAR review denied Croatia a stoppage-time equaliser, Ronaldo stepped forward to console his former Real Madrid teammate, as Modric acknowledged the traveling fans in what could prove to be his final World Cup appearance.

After the match, Ronaldo said, “I played with Modric for many years. It’s great to see him still playing at the top level.” “I told him: Congratulations, Luca. Good luck with the future of your career.”

Emotional scenes followed a dramatic finish in Toronto, where substitute Goncalo Ramos headed home Rafael Leao’s cross to score in the fourth minute of extra time. Portugal in the round of 16.

Croatia believed they had forced extra time when Josko Guardiol fired deep into the net in stoppage time, but VAR ruled out the goal after Mario Pasalic was ruled offside when Igor Matanovic flicked the ball.

Portugal will now face Spain in the round of 16 after the European champions defeated Austria 3-0 on Thursday.

Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through Ivan Perisic, who finished after Josip Stanisic’s cross took a deflection off Ruben Dias. The goal moved Perisic past Davor Sukar as Croatia’s top scorer in World Cup history.

Portugal controlled the ball for long periods but struggled to make any breakthroughs until VAR awarded a penalty for a foul on Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga. Ronaldo stepped up in the 68th minute and easily converted the goal, making him the oldest player to score in a men’s World Cup knockout match at the age of 41. It was also the first knockout-stage goal of his World Cup career.

Roberto Martínez introduced Ramos midway through the second half and the striker made a decisive impact. Rising above the Croatian defence, he powered Leão’s cross past Dominik Livakovic to put Portugal ahead in stoppage time.

Croatia desperately tried for one last chance and when Guardiol headed the ball into the net in the 103rd minute they thought they had got it. The celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review revealed an offside violation in the build-up, confirming Portugal’s place in the last 16.

The result ended Croatia’s campaign on a sad note. As the players collapsed onto the field at the final whistle, Modric stood before the Croatian supporters and tearfully applauded them, before Ronaldo crossed the pitch to embrace his long-time friend and say a few quiet words, bringing an emotional end to one of the defining careers in World Cup history.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

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-Saurabh Kumar

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July 3, 2026 08:18 IST

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Rahul Dravid 2.0? Samit’s batting resembles ‘The Wall’, leaves fans in awe Cricket News

Rahul Dravid 2.0? Fans were surprised to see Samit's batting resembling 'The Wall'
Rahul Dravid and Samit Dravid (Agency Image)

It was a familiar sight at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Wednesday. As soon as Samit Dravid stepped out to the crease for Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026, it only took a few balls to draw comparisons with one of them on social media. indian cricketThe greatest batsman of.The trigger movement, upright stance, high left elbow and compact backlift immediately evoked memories of his father, Rahul Dravid. For many fans watching, it appeared as if “The Wall” had returned to the crease.Samit arrived in a difficult situation after Blasters lost two wickets inside the first eight balls. Instead of panicking, the young batsman played with composure and kept the innings steady before being dismissed after scoring 32 runs in 23 balls.Their contributions proved vital as Rohan Patil scored 64 and Praveen Dubey added 51 to take Bengaluru Blasters to 203/7. Hubli Tigers chased enthusiastically, led by Manwanth Kumar’s explosive 60, but ultimately missed out by just two runs.Although Samit’s innings included six fours, it was his technique that became the biggest talking point. His crisp square cuts, fluent cover drives, controlled pull shots and balanced footwork bore an uncanny resemblance to Rahul Dravid’s trademark style, leading online fans to describe him as a “photocopy” of the former Indian captain.Given his upbringing, these comparisons are not unexpected. Having grown up in Karnataka’s cricket system under the guidance of one of the game’s finest technicians, Samit naturally developed many of the fundamentals of batting that made his father a legend.However, despite the similarities, young people are pursuing their careers with a different skill set.While Rahul carved his legacy as one of the greatest specialist batsmen in cricket history, Samit has emerged as a genuine fast bowling all-rounder. Along with his middle-order batting, he offers medium pace and has already made a strong mark in age-group cricket.He played a key role in Karnataka’s victorious 2023–24 Cooch Behar Trophy campaign, scoring 362 runs and also taking 16 wickets. A standout performance of that tournament came in the form of a crucial 98 against Jammu and Kashmir.Those performances led to him being selected in the India Under-19 squad for the home series against Australia in 2024. However, that opportunity was cut short due to a knee injury. Since his recovery, Samit has resumed his progress and continues to cement his credentials through consistent domestic performances with both bat and ball.The next generation of the Dravid family does not end here.Rahul Dravid’s younger son Anvay Dravid is also making his mark on the national stage. Unlike Samit, Anvay is a wicketkeeper-batsman, similar to the role played by his father during his international career.The 17-year-old was recently named in India’s Under-19 squad for the Sri Lanka tour starting on July 14.Anvay captained Karnataka Under-19 in the quarter-finals of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and scored 220 runs including 82 not out in six matches. He also represented India Under-19 B in a triangular series involving India A and Afghanistan Under-19, before being selected for Team C in the Under-19 One-Day Challenger Trophy after another impressive performance in domestic cricket.

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Women’s T20 World Cup: England Women bury South Africa’s ghosts, prepare for blockbuster final against Australia

England Women finally exorcised the evils of their recent past with a thumping 40-run win over South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Kennington Oval on Thursday, booking a thrilling title clash against Australia at Lord’s on July 5.

Having suffered heartbreaking defeats to the Proteas in the semi-finals of the 2023 T20 World Cup and 2025 ODI World Cup, England enter the competition carrying the burden of those painful memories. However, led by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, the hosts produced a brilliant all-round performance to end South Africa’s campaign and keep alive their dream of lifting the trophy on home soil.

England vs South Africa, Women’s T20 World Cup Semifinal: Update | Achievement:

The win also sets up an ideal finale between the two unbeaten teams of the tournament. Australia captured the title by defeating West Indies in the first semi-final, while England responded with an equally dominant performance and ensured that cricket fans were treated to one of the biggest rivalries in women’s cricket on the grand stage of Lord’s.

South Africa made a great start

Shabnim Ismail performed brilliantly in the powerplay. Courtesy: Reuters

The evening got off to a bad start for England as South Africa chose to bowl first due to overcast conditions. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail made full use of the movement on offer, dismantling the top order and reducing the hosts to 22/3 inside the powerplay.

Ismail created history when she dismissed Amy Jones to become the first bowler to take 50 wickets in Women’s T20 World Cup history. Capp then bowled out the tournament’s top scorer Danny Wyatt-Hodge for 12, after which Ismail had Ellis Capsey out LBW, reducing England’s score to 35/3 after six overs.

With South Africa in strong control, England were in desperate need of someone to steady the innings, and their experienced campaigners answered the call in spectacular fashion.

Strong comeback of Sciver-Brunt

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight led England’s comeback. Courtesy: Reuters

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, returning from injury, played an innings befitting the occasion. Along with former captain Heather Knight, they withstood the early pressure before launching a remarkable counterattack that completely changed the momentum.

The pair made a record-breaking 133-run partnership for the fourth wicket, the highest partnership for any wicket in a Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final. Sciver-Brunt performed brilliantly, scoring 75 runs in 47 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six and registered her eighth Women’s T20 World Cup half-century to equal the tournament record.

Knight played an excellent supporting role and scored 58 runs in 47 balls with the help of six fours and a six. The duo cleverly rotated the strike, punished loose balls and did not allow South Africa to make any breakthroughs in the middle overs.

England made a great recovery

Although Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in the final over to dismiss both well-set batsmen and finish with figures of 2/25, the damage had already been done.

Danny Gibson added valuable runs with four byes on the last ball to take England to a strong score of 169/7. Given the position they were in after the powerplay, the hosts had staged one of the finest recoveries in Women’s T20 World Cup knockout history.

For South Africa, Kapp was exceptional with the new ball, returning figures of 1/16 from four economical overs, while Ismail finished with 2/31 after a brilliant opening spell.

England’s bowlers tightened their grip

England restricted South Africa to 129 runs for 8 wickets. Courtesy: Reuters

Chasing 170, South Africa made a confident start through openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brittas, who added 43 runs for the opening wicket and kept the required pace under control for some time. However, the England bowlers never allowed the innings to gain sustained momentum.

Lynsey Smith made the breakthrough by dismissing Wolvaardt for 17, with Sophie Ecclestone taking a brilliant overhead catch. From here the England attack strengthened its grip on the match.

Charlie Dean removed both Marijne Kapp and the dangerous Brits, whose fighting 51 proved to be South Africa’s only significant contribution with the bat. Freya Kemp cleverly mixed her pace to dismiss Anne Dirksen, Lauren Bell removed Sune Luus before producing a superb slow yorker to clean bowl Ayabonga Khaka, while Ecclestone completed another economical spell with the wicket of Chloe Tryon.

England were equally quick in the field, with Danny Wyatt-Hodge producing a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Sinalo Jafta as South Africa slipped further behind the asking rate.

Only the Britons crossed the 50-run mark, while the Proteas were restricted to 130, giving England a comprehensive win. Sciver-Brunt’s side now head to Lord’s full of confidence for a blockbuster final against defending champions Australia, where the title will be decided between the two unbeaten teams of the tournament.

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Sabyasachi Chaudhary

Published on:

July 3, 2026 02:38 IST

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Big relief to Rajasthan Royals as HC removes major hurdle for IPL in Jaipur. cricket news

Big relief to Rajasthan Royals as HC removes key hurdle for IPL in Jaipur
Rajasthan Royals (ANI photo)

Jaipur: with Rajasthan High Court A major hurdle in the state cricket administration has been removed with the suspension of the ad-hoc committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The High Court has appointed Bhaskar A Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary in the state Home Department, as the sole administrator and directed him to complete the long-pending democratic elections within three months.The ad-hoc setup was hanging fire for more than two and a half years after the exit of former chairman Vaibhav Gehlot in February 2024. Despite seeing a revolving door of political coordinators and multiple extensions, the temporary panel completely failed in its original mandate of conducting the elections.The immediate outcome of judicial realignment is positive for the sports scenario of the state. A stable, constitutionally elected leadership will eventually be able to resume work on the association’s half-built Premier Chonup Stadium project and resolve other long-pending issues. Over the years, local cricket development has been held hostage by disputes over exorbitant rental fees and access to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.Importantly, the HC order also strengthens the prospects Indian Premier League (IPL) continues in Jaipur. Relations between the RCA and the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) had broken down in early 2024, when the Sports Council sealed the stadium and the RCA headquarters over the expiry of its MOU and outstanding dues of around Rs 8 crore.With the RCA transformed into an unelected ad-hoc committee, the apex cricket board (BCCI) made an extraordinary, one-time arrangement to allow the sports council to host IPL matches in Jaipur for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Rajasthan Royals Under this special arrangement match operations are coordinated directly with the sports department, although the BCCI generally prefers to deal with the appropriately elected member association. However, the BCCI has repeatedly clarified that such temporary reforms cannot continue. IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal has said that IPL matches can be held in Jaipur only if the RCA conducts proper elections and forms a democratically elected body, as well as ensuring that the venue is up to IPL standards. The franchise is also assessing the readiness of the facility.By appointing a professional administrator with a clear mandate to conduct elections within three months, the HC has directly addressed BCCI’s key condition. This significantly improves the chances of the Royals continuing to play their home matches in Jaipur without any administrative uncertainty.Long running questions: Now questions are being raised over the fate of the actions taken by the outgoing ad-hoc panel, including the recently initiated internal inquiry against Bharatpur DCA secretary Shatrughan Tiwari over harassment complaints by women players.People familiar with the matter say the new administrator may investigate such matters if the affected players approach RCA again.Additionally, some players have expressed concerns over whether their performances in the recently concluded Colwyn Shield, which serves as a major selection criteria for the senior men’s team, will be considered by the elected body in the future. They are hoping that their efforts will not go in vain.

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Wimbledon 2026: Iga Swiatek reaches third round, Fritz, De Minaur make great starts

Defending champion Iga Swiatek put her early-round wobble firmly behind her by reaching the third round of Wimbledon 2026 with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova on Thursday, July 2.

After being trailed by three sets to Taylor Townsend in her opening match, the Polish star produced her best performance on center court. Swiatek dominated from the start, breaking Pliskova repeatedly with her trademark aggressive baseline game and giving the Czech player little chance to settle down.

Although Pliskova offered more resistance in the second set, Swiatek maintained control, serving efficiently and directing rallies to finish in straight sets.

wimbledon 2026 day 4 updates

The six-time Grand Slam champion displayed the grass-court confidence that led her to the Wimbledon title last year, hitting hard on both wings and moving fluently around the court.

The win extended her successful title defense and set up a third-round clash with Filipina star Alexandra Ella, who advanced after defeating Australia’s Maya Joyce.

De Minaur, Fritz continue to dominate

Fifth seed Alex de Minaur also enjoyed an easy passage into the third round after beating France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in a superb all-round performance.

The Australian needed just over 90 minutes to dismiss the experienced left-hander, using his exceptional pace and counter-punching ability to neutralize Mannarino’s flat groundstrokes.

De Minaur was clinical on serve, relentless in defense and sharp on returns, extending her run in the tournament without losing a single set. He will next face Zachary Swajda or Kamil Majchrzak as he bids to progress beyond the Grand Slam quarter-final stage for the first time.

Taylor Fritz was equally impressive as the sixth seed defeated fellow American Patrick Kipson 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 to continue his strong Wimbledon campaign.

Last year’s semi-finalist dominated the opening two sets with powerful serving and aggressive first-strike tennis, giving Kipson few opportunities to dictate the game.

The world number six faced a tough challenge in the third set as Kipson fought back to level at 4–4, but Fritz quickly regained control and took a break at a crucial stage before going out of the match. The American will next face either Gabriel Diallo or Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the fourth round.

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Sabyasachi Chaudhary

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July 2, 2026 19:53 IST

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‘Enough’: Former England captain demands Brendon McCullum’s resignation after Ben Stokes’ retirement. cricket news

'Enough': Former England captain demands Brendon McCullum's resignation after Ben Stokes' retirement
England’s Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum watch from the dressing room balcony (Getty Images)

Former England captain michael vaughn Has launched a scathing attack on England’s leadership while demanding a head coach Brendon McCullum And Managing Director of Cricket Rob Key will have to step down after this ben stokes The curtain came down on his international career.Stokes, 35, announced his retirement from international cricket and stepped down from captaincy of England after the team’s crushing 160-run defeat to New Zealand in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Sunday. The result sealed a 2–1 series defeat and extended England’s disappointing performance in the longest format.England have now managed only two wins from their last 10 Test matches, a sequence that includes losses to Australia and New Zealand as well as a home series draw against India.Responding to the team’s recent performances, Vaughan said that he has reached a point where he cannot accept England’s standards.“When I saw it on the fourth evening last week, I was like, ‘No, we can’t accept this’ as former players of the game,” Vaughan said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.“And it was that period that I looked at and I said ‘No, enough is enough’. English cricket has got to be better than this.”Vaughan believes the time has come for sweeping change at the top, questioning whether McCullum is the right man to take England forward despite his popularity.“I think Baz McCullum is a great person but he is not a great coach and for England, as former players and fans of English cricket, we should be aiming to be the number one team in the world and at the moment we are seventh.“We have won two games out of 10 matches, and those two wins came at the cesspit at Lord’s and at the MCG, which was a two-dayer, so the only two games we have won have been at the Farmers Ground.“This can’t be right.”The former captain said England supporters deserved much better and insisted the current state of the team was unacceptable.Vaughan said, “I want change. I’ve seen a lot. I care a lot about English cricket and I hate watching it and you can’t tell me that 20,000 people aren’t thinking the same thing.”“Enough when the opposition is laughing at you in your own backyard. We need to move forward.”Vaughan also raised questions over the future of Rob Key, who has been overseeing England’s cricket operations since replacing him ashley giles As Managing Director in 2022. Key appointed McCullum as Test coach later that year before expanding his responsibilities across all three international formats in September 2024.According to Vaughan, England’s struggles are not limited to Test cricket only, with the team’s white-ball performance also declining under the current structure.“I’m very disappointed to see this, it’s ridiculous,” Vaughn said. “You have to say that Rob Key’s job is at risk. He’s got to be on the hook. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob Key goes.“They’re not being coached well. You’re telling me that if Andy Flowers had been in charge… this team would have got the same results they’re getting? Not a chance.”With Stokes’ retirement bringing an end to one of England’s most impressive eras, Vaughan believes the team must now use this moment to reset its leadership and direction after a long period of disappointing results.

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Shahrukh Khan unveils new Los Angeles cricket stadium, thanks Jay Shah for support

In a significant effort towards cricket’s global expansion, the Knight Riders group has officially opened the doors to their brand new international stadium in the United States. The new Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles marked its historic unveiling on Wednesday by hosting its inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) match between the Los Angeles Knight Riders and Washington Freedom.

The purpose-built venue at Fairplex Pomona represents a major infrastructure milestone, making the Knight Riders the first global franchise brand to set up their own international-standard cricket stadium abroad.

Taking to social media to celebrate this historic occasion, Bollywood megastar and Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan expressed his immense gratitude towards the key administrators of the game for helping turn the long-cherished dream into reality. Khan clearly acknowledged the institutional support that facilitated the ambitious transatlantic project, offering special appreciation to BCCI secretary Jay Shah and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Shah Rukh Khan said in his Instagram post, “What started as a dream has turned into a reality today.”

“A place that is built not only for sports but also for entertainment and families and memories that last forever.

“Special thanks to Jaibhai who has been so kind during this journey @JayShah220988, and to @ICC and Sanjog Gupta for being so supportive. This is for LA, for cricket fans around the world and for the Knight Riders family. Believe in the Purple and Gold.”

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Built to specific international dimensions, the stadium features eight natural turf wickets, six massive 120-foot floodlight towers for night broadcasts and a massive main concourse engineered by removing over 32,000 metric tonnes of soil.

Speaking at the launch, Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore underlined that the facility serves as a definitive statement of intent for the future of the sport in the United States. The venue is set to host a blockbuster week of MLC matches from July 1 to July 5, establishing Southern California as a major cricket hub ahead of the sport’s inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games.

While the results on the field will be up and down, with the home team suffering a tough six-wicket defeat against a disciplined Washington Freedom unit in the opening encounter, the structural foundation laid by the franchise promises long-term dividends.

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July 2, 2026 13:42 IST

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MLC 2026: Washington Freedom beats LA Knight Riders, moves to fourth place in standings | cricket news

MLC 2026: Washington Freedom beats LA Knight Riders, moves up to fourth in standings
Mark Chapman (Photo by @WSHFreedom on X)

Washington Freedom produced a brilliant all-round performance to beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by six wickets and move up to fourth from bottom in the Major League Cricket 2026 points table. Their bowlers and fielders sealed the win by restricting LAKR to just 108 runs in 17.5 overs on a sluggish surface.After electing to bat, Knight Riders struggled to build momentum. Colin Munro Scored 25 runs, while Matthew Tromp scored 21 runs. rovman powell Contributed to the battle of 30. However, Washington’s disciplined bowling attack continued to take wickets at regular intervals. -Saurabh Netrawalkar And Mitchell Owen took three wickets each, while Ben Dwarshuis and Ian Holland took two wickets each. Washington’s fast fielding and excellent catching also played a key role in dismantling the LAKR batting line-up.Chasing a modest target of 109, Washington suffered two early setbacks as Sunil Narine dismissed Mitchell Owen and Andries Ghouse to give the Knight Riders hope of a comeback. However, Captain steven smith He remained calm even under pressure and found the ideal partner in Mark Chapman.The pair made a vital partnership of 62 runs and took the game away from LAKR. Chapman played an aggressive innings of 34 runs in 30 balls before getting out. andre russellBut by then Washington was firmly in control. Smith chased the target brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 44 balls and leading his team to victory with almost three overs to spare.The comprehensive win not only boosted Washington Freedom’s net run rate but also took them into the top four of the standings. Despite Narine’s impressive spell of 2 for 25, the Knight Riders were unable to defend their low score as Washington secured a comfortable win.

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World Cup: 10-man USA keeps World Cup dream alive, dispatches Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach last 16

The United States kept their World Cup dream alive with a thrilling 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, securing a place in the round of 16 despite playing the final leg with 10 men. Folarin Balogun gave the co-hosts the lead before being sent off, but Malik Tillman put the result beyond doubt with a spectacular free-kick as the Americans mustered their courage to see the game out.

The win sends the Americans to the Round of 16, where Belgium awaits in Seattle on July 6, and keeps alive hopes of equaling or bettering their memorable quarterfinal performance in 2002.

USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIFA World Cup: Highlights

The United States earned its first World Cup knockout win since 2002, but it was not going to be easy after Balogun, who broke the deadlock just before halftime, was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute.

Matt Freese made three saves to record his second clean sheet of the tournament as the home visitors held the co-hosts over the line.

Bosnia and Herzegovina were playing in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time and made a great start. Following the early corner, Frij was forced to make back-to-back saves from Ermedin Demirovic and Kerim Alajbegovic as the visitors threatened to take the lead.

The Americans gradually joined the competition and began to gain possession. Christian Pulisic thought he had broken the deadlock in the 78th minute, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Earlier, the hosts finally eased their pressure in first-half stoppage time. Tarik Muharemovic’s ball into the defensive mix-up headed into Balogun’s path, and the striker reacted quickly, stopped, turned on his left foot and calmly slipped the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs for his third goal of the tournament.

Balogun almost doubled the advantage later when he crashed Sergino Dest’s pass against the crossbar.

The game changed in the 64th minute when Balogun was sent off after a challenge on Muharremovic. Referee Raphael Clowes initially allowed the game to continue, but was called to the pitchside monitor, where he changed the decision to a straight red card after seeing the defender being caught above the ankle by Balogun’s studs.

With just over 25 minutes remaining, Bosnia and Herzegovina sensed an opportunity and committed to pushing more players forward. The United States were forced to penetrate deep into their own half, but defended with discipline, limiting the visitors to few clear openings despite the numerical disadvantage.

Bosnian captain Edin Dzeko’s evening ended early in the second half when the 40-year-old limped off the field with a leg injury. Asmir Bajraktarević, who was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and made one appearance for the United States in 2024 before switching allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina, came up against his former national team.

All the nervousness inside the stadium disappeared when Tillman produced the decisive moment in the 82nd minute. After Stjepan Radeljic was booked for fouling Dest just outside the area, Tillman doubled the lead and sealed the result by firing a superb free-kick over the wall and into the top corner.

Pochettino named the same starting eleven that defeated Paraguay 4–1 in the opening match, with Pulisic retaining his place after recovering from the calf injury that had ruled him out against Australia and limited him to a substitute appearance against Turkey in the Group D final.

The United States will now face Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals, although they will be without Balogun, whose suspension is the only disappointment on an otherwise memorable night for the co-hosts.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

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July 2, 2026 07:51 IST

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India-England T20I first match washed out in rain after Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, visitors score 189/7. cricket news

India-England T20I first match washed out by rain after Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, visitors' score 189/7
England vs India 1st T20 match abandoned due to rain (Image: BCCI)

India’s opening T20 match against England at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street was abandoned without a single ball being bowled in the second innings as the outfield was unfit for play due to persistent rain.Winning the toss, India chose to bat first and recovered from a poor start to post a competitive score of 189/7 in the allotted 20 overs thanks to an explosive half-century from Abhishek Sharma and a captaincy innings from Shreyas Iyer. However, the final say was the weather as England could not start chasing the target of 190 runs due to continuous rain.India’s innings got off to a bad start as Saqib Mahmood struck early to dismiss Sanju Samson, while Ishan Kishan was run out due to a mix-up, leaving the visitors struggling at 6/2.With India under pressure, Abhishek Sharma launched a breathtaking counterattack. The left-handed batsman shattered England’s fast bowlers with a fearless display of strokeplay and completed his half-century in just 20 balls. Additionally, he also became the fastest batsman from a full member country to complete 100 sixes in T20 Internationals.

Partnership for Abhishek and Shreyas

Abhishek and Iyer added 82 runs for the third wicket to take control of the innings. The opener was eventually dismissed after scoring a brilliant 59 off 24 balls, which included six fours and four sixes, before being dismissed LBW by Sam Curran.After Abhishek was out, captain Shreyas Iyer took the responsibility in the middle overs. Combining calculated aggression with sensible strike rotation, the right-handed batsman scored 68 runs from 47 balls, which included six fours and a six. During his innings, Iyer also crossed the 5,000 international runs mark and became the latest Indian batsman to achieve the feat.Although Saqib Mahmood dismissed Iyer and returned with impressive figures of 3/33, India got valuable runs late through Shivam Dubey. The all-rounder remained unbeaten on 42 off just 21 balls, hitting three sixes and two fours to take the visitors to 189/7.

rain spoiled the game

England never got the opportunity to start their reply. Heavy rain fell immediately after the innings break and continued throughout the evening, leaving the ground staff unable to prepare the playing surface before the cut-off time. As a result, the match was officially abandoned without a single ball being bowled in England’s innings, leaving both teams to settle for no result.Brief Score: India 189/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 68, Abhishek Sharma 59, Shivam Dubey 42*; Saqib Mahmood 3/33).

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