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Dortmund Rues Missed Penalty in 1-1 Draw with Lowly Mainz

Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
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Dortmund Rues Missed Penalty in 1-1 Draw with Lowly Mainz

Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)
Moussa Niakhate of Mainz, left, in a duel with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. (AP)

Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw with lowly Mainz while Leipzig again missed the chance to move to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Leipzig, which was denied top spot in losing to Dortmund 3-1 last weekend, could manage only 2-2 at Wolfsburg and it remains a point behind league leader Bayern Munich. Bayern hosts Freiburg on Sunday.

Dortmund was looking for its fourth win in five league games under new coach Edin Terzić but was frustrated by a committed performance from Mainz in Bo Svensson’s second game in charge.

The draw was enough for Mainz to move off the bottom on goal difference from Schalke, which visits Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

Dortmund got off to a fine start with Erling Haaland firing inside the left post in the second minute. But the goal was ruled out through VAR as Thomas Meunier was offside in the buildup.

Jude Bellingham struck the post toward the end of the half and it was as close as Dortmund came to scoring before the break.

Mainz defended doggedly and took its chance in the 57th when Levin Öztunali eluded Mats Hummels with a back-heel trick and let fly from 20 meters inside the top right corner.

The visitors almost grabbed another shortly afterward when Alexander Hack struck the crossbar with a header.

The 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko had just gone on for Dortmund and he played a decisive role for his side’s equalizer in the 73rd, keeping the ball in play before sending in a cross that was cleared by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene – only as far as Meunier, who fired back in to equalize.

Meunier was then fouled in the penalty area by Hack, giving Reus a chance to score from the spot. The Dortmund captain sent his kick outside of the left post.

It could have been worse for Reus’ team as Mainz captain Danny Latza hit the post late on. Dortmund remained fourth, four points behind Bayern, which has a game in hand.

Werder Bremen scored late to beat Augsburg 2-0 at home, Cologne drew with Hertha Berlin 0-0, and Hoffenheim vs. Arminia Bielefeld also ended scoreless.

Stuttgart hosted Borussia Mönchengladbach in the late game.

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Egypt’s Mo Salah Adds to List of Accolades in World Cup Against New Zealand

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - New Zealand v Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 21, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - New Zealand v Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 21, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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Egypt’s Mo Salah Adds to List of Accolades in World Cup Against New Zealand

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - New Zealand v Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 21, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - New Zealand v Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 21, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

While Mohamed Salah's club career is still undecided, he's building his legacy with Egypt.

Salah scored his 68th goal in international play, a total now just one goal shy of current Egypt coach Hossam Hassan’s career record for the Pharaohs, in a 3-1 World Cup victory Sunday night over New Zealand.

It was his third World Cup goal after he netted two at the 2018 tournament in Russia. Three goals at the World Cup gives the 34-year-old Salah the most ever for an Egyptian player.

Salah played for Liverpool for nine seasons, winning two Premier League titles and becoming the league's leading foreign goal scorer. But he had a dip in form this season and amid tensions, announced his contract with the squad would be ended a year early.

His departure from Anfield sparked discussion as to where the striker would be going next. For now, he plays for Egypt with his future plans still uncertain.

While between clubs, Mo Salah has etched his name further into the history books as the captain of the first Egyptian team to win a World Cup match.

“What happened today is history for us as Egyptians,” Salah said. “We see a lot of teams win games, but for us as Egyptian, it doesn’t happen often, first time in history.”

Fans would have to wait to see the Salah they grew to expect at Liverpool. He started slow in the first half, missing wide left on a direct free kick and watching New Zealand take an early lead, but he would not be denied for long.

Salah scored Sunday on a pass from Mostafa Ziko in the 67th minute. The ball slid underneath a defender and past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe to give the Pharaohs a 2-1 lead.

Salah wasn’t done adding to his resume quite yet, getting an assist in the 82nd minute on the Pharaohs’ final goal, his second assist of this game. He also had an assist on Egypt’s lone goal in its 1-1 draw against Belgium earlier in the tournament.

“He’s a good player,” New Zealand captain Chris Wood said. “You have to keep an eye on him.”

The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner scored nine goals in 10 matches to qualify the Pharaohs for this World Cup. Salah became the career scoring leader in African World Cup qualifying history.

Salah should have his share of clubs interested in his talents after a strong start to the World Cup.

“Salah worked hard on the pitch,” Egypt manager Hossam Hassan said. “I am sure we are going to see more from him.”

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Tuchel’s England Face Defensive Questions Despite Flying Start at World Cup

Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, arrives to an England Press Conference during an England FIFA World Cup 2026 Camp on June 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Getty Images/AFP)
Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, arrives to an England Press Conference during an England FIFA World Cup 2026 Camp on June 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Tuchel’s England Face Defensive Questions Despite Flying Start at World Cup

Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, arrives to an England Press Conference during an England FIFA World Cup 2026 Camp on June 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Getty Images/AFP)
Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, arrives to an England Press Conference during an England FIFA World Cup 2026 Camp on June 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Getty Images/AFP)

England's much-vaunted attack clicked impressively in their opening World Cup win over Croatia, but defensive fears linger as they attempt to seal a place in the knockouts on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel's men were twice pegged back in the first half in Arlington, Texas, before upping their game to win 4-2.

It was an impressive performance against an experienced if ageing Croatia team, but there will be stiffer challenges ahead against sides who boast more pace and firepower, such as France, Spain and Argentina.

Next up for England are Ghana in Boston -- the Three Lions will go through to the last 32 as Group L winners if they beat the African side and Panama fail to beat Croatia.

On the surface, the problem is not obvious. After all, England breezed through qualifying without conceding a single goal in eight matches.

But their defense has two major weaknesses -- a lack of experience and a worrying injury record.

Former England defender Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, said the team's first-half display against the Croats would have unnerved them.

"I think that it will make Thomas Tuchel adjust for maybe games two and three, and make him think slightly differently about how he sort of maybe plays that defense, and how he looks at protecting them," he said.

The head coach opted to leave three players with significant tournament experience at home -- Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester United pair Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.

England lost Tino Livramento to injury before they had kicked a ball in anger, replacing him with Trevoh Chalobah, who has just one cap under his belt.

- Inexperience -

It means the nine defenders in the 26-man squad have a total of 191 caps between them, with 90 of those belonging to John Stones.

Three members of the back four -- the injury-prone Reece James, Ezri Konsa and 21-year-old Nico O'Reilly -- were making their World Cup debuts against Croatia.

The main debate centers on whether Manchester City defender Marc Guehi should replace Konsa in central defense, though the Villa defender has been a favorite under Tuchel.

The German values the experience and composure of Stones even though he started just five Premier League games last season before leaving City.

But former England striker Chris Sutton believes Tuchel should pair Konsa and Guehi rather than start Stones, whom he says lacks the athleticism of the two younger defenders.

"I think Konsa and Guehi have better attributes in terms of one-against-one situations than John Stones and there will be times in games when they will be isolated one-against-one against players of the highest class," he told the BBC.

England forward Ollie Watkins is less concerned, brushing aside concerns over the back four while speaking to reporters at the team's training base in Kansas City on Sunday.

"I think people are always going to try and criticize and find certain areas they can pick on but I think defensively we've got world-class players at the end of the day who have won major trophies and played at the highest level possible," he said.

"I think maybe we started the game a little bit nervously the other day but you've seen once the nerves are out of the lads' system, I think in the second half we absolutely blew Croatia away."

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Ageless Messi Has World Cup Scoring Record in His Sights

Lionel Messi is already the joint highest scorer in World Cup history after one game of the 2026 tournament. Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP
Lionel Messi is already the joint highest scorer in World Cup history after one game of the 2026 tournament. Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP
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Ageless Messi Has World Cup Scoring Record in His Sights

Lionel Messi is already the joint highest scorer in World Cup history after one game of the 2026 tournament. Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP
Lionel Messi is already the joint highest scorer in World Cup history after one game of the 2026 tournament. Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP

Lionel Messi and World Cup holders Argentina face Austria in Dallas on Monday with the Argentine great needing one more goal to rewrite the record books.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, equaled Miroslav Klose's all-time mark of 16 World Cup goals when scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 opening win over Algeria, AFP said.

The Argentina captain was tearful after his first goal, and it later emerged that his father is recovering from an unspecified health issue.

Despite his personal travails and a troubled build-up because of a hamstring injury, Messi's mere presence appears to inspire his teammates.

"If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all," said midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after the win against Algeria.

Argentina can qualify for the next round with a victory and would be assured of finishing top of Group J if Jordan fail to beat Algeria later on Monday.

- Mbappe's century -

Another player chasing the all-time World Cup scoring record, Kylian Mbappe, will play his 100th game for France when they meet Iraq in Philadelphia.

"There is nothing bigger -- one hundred is a historic figure, and to have the chance to reach that tally here at a World Cup means it will be a special match for me," Mbappe told reporters on Sunday.

Mbappe, 27, is tied with West Germany legend Gerd Mueller on 14 goals after he netted twice in France's opening 3-1 win against Senegal in Group I.

France, who were beaten by Argentina on penalties in the last final in 2022, will expect to brush aside the Iraqis to guarantee a ticket to the knockout phase.

Norway and their marksman Erling Haaland, who scored twice against Iraq in a 4-1 opening win, will also be guaranteed of going through from Group I if they beat Senegal in New Jersey and France defeat Iraq.

- Cape Verde magic -

In Sunday's action, Spain got their campaign back on track with a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia and debutants Cape Verde conjured another memorable performance to snatch a 2-2 draw with Uruguay.

European champions Spain were frustrated in a 0-0 draw with World cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening game, sparking criticism at home.

But against the Saudis, Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal opened the scoring as he made his first start in two months since recovering from a hamstring problem.

Mikel Oyarzabal added two more, before a Hassan al-Tambakti own goal.

Spain coach Luis De la Fuente said his squad had been fueled by the criticism of their opening performance.

"When someone questions your work, it is only human that anyone with courage and pride reacts to prove people wrong," said De la Fuente.

The win put Spain top of Group H with four points after two matches.

Cape Verde grabbed another point in an entertaining draw with Uruguay in Miami.

Their coach Bubista said his team were now dreaming of a place in the knockout rounds -- a scenario that would have been unthinkable before the tournament.

"We want to show the entire world that we are in the condition to fight for qualification, and I think that that's what we showed today in today's match," Bubista said.

Belgium are still looking for their first win after being held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in Group G.

The Red Devils, who also drew with Egypt in their opening game, finished the game in Los Angeles with 10 men and struggled to break down a resolute Iranian side.

The Egyptians moved to the top of the group on Sunday after coming from behind to claim the first World Cup victory in the country's history, 3-1 win over New Zealand.

Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Zico and Trezeguet scored Egypt's goals after Finn Surman had given New Zealand the lead.

"It's incredible, I don't know how to express it in words," former Liverpool star Salah said of the historic first win.

"It's a great achievement for all the players and the subs, and hopefully we can make history and qualify first."