Japan fight back in 2-2 Dutch thriller at World Cup

Arlington, United States: Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 in Texas on Sunday to open their World Cup campaigns.

A match that had bubbled away in the first period sparked into life in the second half. ipl-today.in

Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk scored with a fine header, only for Keito Nakamura to quickly level, before winger Crysencio Summerville's delicious curled finish into the bottom corner just after the hour.

The Dutch looked like they would hold on, but Japan levelled at the death with Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada credited with the goal after a deflection.

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Sweden face Tunisia in a competitive-looking Group F later Sunday.

Japan and the Netherlands are in North America missing key players through injury, but on paper this was still one of the more attractive fixtures in the group stage.

Both have been touted as dark horses capable of going far at the tournament -- the Dutch have been runners-up three times whereas Japan have never gone beyond the last 16.

The Netherlands made a confident start and nearly took the lead after three minutes, Donyell Malen allowed to swivel inside the box and forcing a smart save from Zion Suzuki.

The impressive air-conditioned arena is usually home to the Dallas Cowboys, and at the hydration break the NFL team's cheerleaders were shown on the massive screen hanging over the pitch performing one of their routines.

The stoppage seemed to help Ronald Koeman's side and Roma forward Malen again worked Suzuki with a header from a corner, then Cody Gakpo fired wildly over the bar.

Japan's fans, who had hardly stopped singing and outnumbered the Dutch contingent, were briefly silenced.

The first real chance for Hajime Moriyasu's team came a few minutes before the break when a cross evaded the backtracking Summerville but Nakamura pulled his low effort wide.

The Dutch had looked most threatening in the air, so it was no surprise when Liverpool talisman Van Dijk rose to plant a well-placed header into the bottom corner after a pinpoint cross from club team-mate Ryan Gravenberch on 51 minutes.

The lead lasted just six minutes, Nakamura wriggling free and firing low past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the ball taking a small deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke.

In a madcap period of play, the Dutch forged ahead once more on 64 minutes when West Ham's Summerville beat his man on the right wing and curled into Suzuki's bottom-right corner with his left foot.

Both teams rang the changes and had chances to score again, before Kamada's chaotic leveller from a corner.

Yasser Ibrahim said Egypt are ready for their opening match against Belgium, as the defender prepares for his first World Cup appearance.

Egypt defender Yasser Ibrahim said the national team fear no opponent and are ready to face Belgium in their opening Group G match at the FIFA World Cup.

Ibrahim said Egypt respect Belgium but will enter the match with confidence. He said the squad is focused on starting the tournament with a strong result.

The defender said playing at the World Cup had been a childhood dream and described his selection in the squad as an honour.

He credited head coach Hossam Hassan with keeping the squad focused. He said Hassan regularly speaks to the players about his own experience with Egypt at the 1990 World Cup.

The Pharaohs are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. The team will open against Belgium before facing New Zealand and then Iran.

The two sides are set to face each other on June 15 in Seattle. The match will kick off at 10 p.m. Cairo time.

The post Yasser Ibrahim Says Egypt Ready for Belgium Opener appeared first on KingFut.

Madrid: Real Madrid announced the signing of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on Monday, for a fee reported to be 55 million euros ($63.8 million).

"Real Madrid and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Marc Cucurella, who will join our club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2032," said Los Blancos in a statement.

The 27-year-old left-back joined Chelsea from Brighton in 2022 after coming through La Liga champions Barcelona's academy and moving to Getafe.

Cucurella is at the World Cup with Spain, and becomes the only Real Madrid player in Luis de la Fuente's squad.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was re-elected earlier in June, following two seasons without winning a major trophy and appointed Jose Mourinho as coach this week.

Los Blancos are set to sign Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate at the end of his contract at Anfield and have been linked with Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season in a disappointing campaign, with Cucurella critical of the decision to sack Enzo Maresca in January.

Cucurella had two years left on his deal at Stamford Bridge, where he won the Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League in 2025.

Doha, Qatar: Following a breakout performance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim is set to make his debut at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the USA, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 edition marks the historic participation of eight Arab nations, including Qatar, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

Abdelkarim features as a centre-forward in Egypt’s final 26-player squad,alongside talismanic captain and global star Mohamed Salah, bringing together two generations of Egyptian football.The Pharaohs have been drawn in Group Galongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, with their opening match against Belgium scheduled for 15 June, 10pm Doha time,at Lumen Field in Seattle, USA.

The young player’s remarkable ascent to the senior level began with a standout showing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, proving to be a pivotal turning point in his international career.

In an exclusive interview with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 Local Organising Committee, Abdelkarim said: “Playing at the U-17 World Cup in Qatar was an unforgettable experience for me. It was the first time I truly felt the global stage. The intensity, the pressure, and the pride of representing my country all came together in a way that pushed me to grow as a player.”

His decisive goal scoring at the youth tournament drew attention from leading European scouts, eventually leading to a move from Al Ahly to FC Barcelona.

After joining the Spanish side, Abdelkarim made an immediate impact with a hat-trick for their youth team that sealed the side’s Divisió d’ Honor Group 3 title.

“Joining FC Barcelona was a dream come true, and the U-17 World Cup in Qatar played an important role in my move. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of top clubs around the world, and it helped me prove that I could perform under pressure. Competing against some of the best young talents in the world gave me confidence,” he explained.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 made history as the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup, welcoming 1,008 young players to showcase their talent across 104 matches.

Hosted entirely across eight pitches of the Aspire Zone Competition Complex, the tournament’s centralised hosting concept formed the cornerstone of the scouting experience.

A total of 130 scouts from leading football clubs around the world attended the event, allowing them to observe talents from a single venue.

Doha, Qatar: Egypt will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign today carrying both ambition and history on their shoulders as the Pharaohs attempt to secure their first-ever victory at football's biggest tournament when they face Belgium in their Group G opener.

The clash at Seattle Stadium is expected to play a significant role in shaping the group standings. Belgium arrive as favourites not only for the match but also to finish top of the group, while Egypt are widely viewed as contenders for the second qualification spot alongside Iran, with New Zealand considered outsiders.

Although the two sides have never met at a World Cup, previous encounters offer encouragement for the Egyptians. The teams have faced each other four times, with Egypt winning three matches and Belgium claiming one victory. Their most recent meeting came in November 2022, when Egypt defeated Belgium 2-1 in Kuwait ahead of the Qatar World Cup.

Egypt enter the tournament under the guidance of national football icon Hossam Hassan, who has overseen a remarkable revival since taking charge in 2024. The former striker has led the Pharaohs in 30 matches, recording 18 wins, eight draws and only four defeats, while the team scored 45 goals and conceded 19.

Hassan guided Egypt to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team finished fourth, before leading the Pharaohs back to the World Cup for the first time in eight years after topping their qualifying group.

The team's preparations for the tournament have generated optimism. Egypt opened their warm-up schedule with a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia before holding Spain to a goalless draw in Barcelona. A 1-0 win over Russia followed, while a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazil in their final friendly demonstrated the team's ability to compete against elite opposition. Much of Egypt's hopes will rest on the attacking partnership of captain Mohamed Salah and Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush. Salah has recovered from the injury that affected him at the end of Liverpool's season and returned to action against Brazil, while Marmoush arrives in the United States following another impressive campaign in Europe.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Hassan praised Salah's leadership and influence within the squad, describing him as one of Egypt's most important players and stressing the need for a positive result against Belgium.

Belgium, meanwhile, arrive in North America with a point to prove. The Red Devils are making their 15th World Cup appearance and remain eager to erase memories of their disappointing group-stage exit at Qatar 2022.

Since taking charge in January 2025, French coach Rudi Garcia has rebuilt confidence within the squad and successfully guided Belgium through qualification without suffering a defeat. The team also impressed in its preparations, recording victories over the United States, Croatia and Tunisia.

Belgium continue to boast one of the strongest squads in the tournament. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois anchors the defence, while Kevin De Bruyne remains the creative force in midfield. Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku and all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku provide additional firepower in attack.

Garcia has warned against underestimating Egypt, highlighting the quality of the African side and his previous experience working with Salah during their time together at Roma.

With a place in the knockout race potentially at stake from the opening round,today's encounter promises a fascinating contest between two ambitious sides. For Egypt, victory would mark a historic breakthrough on the World Cup stage. For Belgium, it would represent the ideal start to a campaign they hope can finally deliver a place among football's elite.