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Liverpool's Slot Warns 'Margins Are Small' in Champions League Push

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
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Liverpool's Slot Warns 'Margins Are Small' in Champions League Push

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Arne Slot warned on Friday that "margins are small" in the Premier League as Liverpool aim to strengthen their push for a place in next season's Champions League.

The Reds are fifth in the table after two straight league wins, five points clear of Brighton, who have played a game more.

The top five teams in the Premier League gain automatic entry into next season's Champions League.

Liverpool face a tough task on Saturday against Crystal Palace, whom they have failed to beat in three meetings so far this season.

Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether he was planning for next season after a disappointing title defense but was keen to shift the focus back onto the current campaign.

"Of course there are conversations going on about next season but my complete focus is, and still should be, on this season, because margins are small," said the Liverpool boss.

"One or two results can make a big difference, as we saw, because I think two weeks ago we weren't five points clear of the number six, and two results later we are, so it can also go both ways.

"So my full focus is on Palace, which is needed because, as you know, we've played them three times already this season and we're unable to beat them once."

Liverpool lost to Oliver Glasner's side on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield before defeats in the Premier League and the League Cup.

The Reds have picked up vital wins against Fulham and Everton this month but have also suffered demoralizing defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Manchester City in the FA Cup.

"In the last eight games we picked up 16 points, and it doesn't always feel like that, because in between we have to play PSG, Man City," AFP quoted Slot as saying. "But our recent league form is acceptable."

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not played since mid-March due to injury but Slot said he was close to a return and could be ready to face Palace.

Number two goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is sidelined with an injury he picked up last week against Everton, meaning that Freddie Woodman would deputize for Palace if Alisson were not fit.

Slot brushed aside speculation linking Alisson with a move away from Anfield at the end of the season.

"We don't react to rumors in this room," said the Dutchman.

"We only react when facts need to be told, and that's not the situation at the moment.

"But the main focus for Ali is, I think, very clear -- that's getting back into goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for, and then he wants to be in goal for the country he loves to play for, and that's Brazil."

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Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Bilal El Khannouss celebrate after the match as Morocco qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Bilal El Khannouss celebrate after the match as Morocco qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. (Reuters)
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Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Bilal El Khannouss celebrate after the match as Morocco qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Bilal El Khannouss celebrate after the match as Morocco qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. (Reuters)

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his team is primed to make a deep run at the World Cup, declaring that the Atlas Lions could be "unstoppable" if they play to their potential.

The Moroccans, beaten semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, advanced to the last 16 on Monday after winning a thrilling battle with the Netherlands on penalties in Monterrey.

It was another stylish display by the African champions, who dominated for long periods in a match that finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Ouahbi said Moroccan football is now reaping the benefits of the 2022 team's groundbreaking exploits in becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

"The World Cup in Qatar changed the mentality of the Morocco team, and I'm well placed to speak about this," said Ouahbi, who last year coached Morocco to a momentous victory at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Morocco forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi celebrates with fans after winning in the shootout during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between the Netherlands and Morocco at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026. (AFP)

"Moroccan players in Morocco believe in themselves, the supporters, the fans believe in us as well. It's so important. They're demanding, but it's because they know just how far we can go," he said.

Morocco face co-hosts Canada in the last 16, with a potential quarter-final meeting with France looming on the horizon.

Ouahbi said there would be no question of complacency against Canada.

"We know that it's game after game, and people think that it's kept to be easy for us, it's going to be a walk in the park for Morocco, which is not the case. Canada is a team that is going to be difficult for us."

But Ouahbi said Morocco could go even further than the 2022 team if they fired on all cylinders.

"What we need to be telling ourselves is no one can stop us," he said. "We're unstoppable if we play the football that we know how to play.

The Moroccan team starts to celebrate after winning on penalty kicks the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)

"But nobody is unbeatable. And I tell my guys that as well. If we get things wrong, we'll go home, and we need to ensure that we have all the tools that we're using, the tools in our arsenal to go as far as we can, and that's the mentality that we want all of our players in Morocco to have."

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman meanwhile said Morocco's emergence reflected the quality of African football.

"It's very clear watching this World Cup that African teams have greatly improved in tactical sense, and also in the way they play their matches," Koeman said.

"Morocco is the country that, in terms of talents, really generates good players, young players that continue to join the major clubs in Europe. It's not without a reason why they have a higher ranking than the Netherlands."

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Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

Paraguay's head coach Gustavo Alfaro celebrates with his players after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match Germany against Paraguay, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 29 June 2026. EPA/GREG COOPER
Paraguay's head coach Gustavo Alfaro celebrates with his players after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match Germany against Paraguay, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 29 June 2026. EPA/GREG COOPER
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Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

Paraguay's head coach Gustavo Alfaro celebrates with his players after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match Germany against Paraguay, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 29 June 2026. EPA/GREG COOPER
Paraguay's head coach Gustavo Alfaro celebrates with his players after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match Germany against Paraguay, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 29 June 2026. EPA/GREG COOPER

Paraguay's players have turned themselves into football legends by defeating Germany in the World Cup on Monday, coach Gustavo Alfaro said.

"We never believe that we are beaten," Alfaro told reporters after his team's penalty shootout victory. "Twenty-six warriors went out there and they came back as legends."

The Argentine coach had come under criticism after Paraguay lost their opener 4-1 to co-hosts the United States, and scored only one more goal in their other two group matches.

However, they squeezed into the ⁠knockout rounds and ⁠then stunned Germany 4-3 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 over 120 minutes, handing the four-time champions their first-ever World Cup shootout defeat.

Alfaro said the heavy defeat by the United States had paved the way for Monday's historic win.

"If we had not learned from ⁠the loss, we would not have been prepared for this match," Reuters quoted him as saying. "I told the players that we have lived through an epic evening."

Paraguay opened the scoring against the run of play in the 42nd minute with a Julio Enciso header before Kai Havertz equalized in the 54th minute.

The South Americans then dug in, surviving a disallowed German goal and hanging on for penalties.

Jose Canale hammered home the winning kick, but only after two of ⁠his teammates ⁠failed to convert theirs.

"As things always are with us, we don't do things without suffering," Alfaro said, adding a special tribute for Canale whose professional career has been marked by loan spells with clubs in Paraguay, Argentina and Mexico.

"Canale is one of life's champions because he has had to go through a lot of adversity," Alfaro said. "A night like this is one of the gifts that life can give you. It's divine justice."

Paraguay will face either France or Sweden in the round of 16 on July 4.

Sports

Shootout Win Sends Morocco Past Netherlands, Into Matchup vs. Canada

Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Shootout Win Sends Morocco Past Netherlands, Into Matchup vs. Canada

Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Morocco's Ismael Saibari (11) reacts after scoring the winning penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Ismael Saibari scored in the fifth round of a penalty shootout and Morocco remained alive at the World Cup following a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the round of 32 on Monday at Guadalupe, Mexico.

Saibari's kick into the left side of the goal gave Morocco a 3-2 victory in the shootout and set up a round of 16 match against Canada on Saturday at Houston, Reuters reported.

Morocco trailed 1-0 and was minutes from elimination before 6-foot-4 defender Issa Diop scored on a header off a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi just seconds after the clock reached the 90-minute mark. Diop tallied his first international goal after ⁠switching his allegiance ⁠to Morocco from France earlier this year.

Yassine Bounou made one save for Morocco over the 120 minutes of regulation time.

However, his biggest stop of the night came in the fifth round of the shootout when he used his left hand to stop a shot toward the top of the goal from Crysencio Summerville.

Soufiane ⁠Rahimi and Talbi also scored for Morocco in the penalty shootout. Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Summerville all missed from the spot for the Netherlands.

The Dutch had reached the round of 16 each of the previous 11 times they competed at the World Cup.

Cody Gakpo scored from near the penalty spot in the 72nd minute to give the Netherlands a late lead. Bart Verbruggen had four saves for the Dutch in regulation but guessed wrong and dived to his left on Saibari's decisive shot.

Morocco took 11 ⁠shots in ⁠the 120 minutes, while the Netherlands had six. The African side had a 5-2 edge in attempts on target.

In a duel of two top-10 teams in the FIFA world rankings, the seventh-ranked Netherlands finally broke through when Gakpo scored off a spinning pass from Summerville while on the turf.

Gakpo went to his knees and buried his head into the ground in a solemn celebration just days after announcing that he and his partner lost their unborn child.

Sixth-ranked Morocco advanced after they were the runner-up in Group C. They advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Netherlands were eliminated after they were the winner of Group F.