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France Urges Calm During World Cup Game against Morocco

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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France Urges Calm During World Cup Game against Morocco

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder

France has urged its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to face African champions Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, after previous high-profile matches led to unrest.

Morocco won independence from France in 1956 and has a mostly settled relationship with the former colonial power, which is home to hundreds of thousands of Moroccans or French citizens of Moroccan descent.

Several members of Morocco's national team this year were born in France and play for French clubs.

Team captain Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain but plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

Celebrations were mostly peaceful when France beat Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

But security forces are to be on alert around France during the game from 10:00 pm (20:00 GMT) on Thursday.

"I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility. It has to remain a celebration," Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told the France Info broadcaster.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has said "no misconduct would be tolerated".

After the PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in May, Paris police took 225 adults into custody, charging around half of them with offences including confronting the police and material damage, the city's top prosecutor said.

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Sports

Kane Proud of Achievements, Not Giving Too Much Thought to Ballon d'Or

Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
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Kane Proud of Achievements, Not Giving Too Much Thought to Ballon d'Or

Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
Munich's Harry Kane applauds after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SV Elversberg and FC Bayern Munich in Elversberg, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Harry Kane described the 2025-26 campaign as the best season of his life after scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England, and while his performances have made him a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or he says he is not focused on individual awards.

No English player has won the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001 and Kane is up against tough competition ⁠with Lamine Yamal ⁠and Kylian Mbappe also in the running.

"I’ve never liked talking too much about myself. The only thing I’d say is that last season was incredible, both personally and for the team," Kane ⁠told Spanish outlet Marca in an interview published on Friday, according to Reuters.

"It was, by far, the best season of my life."

Kane said he was proud of his tally of 73 goals, which was the highest since Lionel Messi netted a record 82 times in 2011-12 but that it might not be enough to claim the mantle as the ⁠world's ⁠best player.

"I’m extremely proud of that ... but the Ballon d’Or isn't in my hands. It depends on the people who vote. As far as I’m concerned, last season is in the past.

"Now I’m focused on this one and I’m looking forward to seeing what else I can achieve."

The winner will be announced at the official awards ceremony on October 26.

Sports

Former Australia Captain Ryan Absent from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Friendlies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
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Former Australia Captain Ryan Absent from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Friendlies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has omitted 105-cap former captain Mathew Ryan from his squad for friendlies against Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane later this month, Australia's last home matches before the Asian Cup early next year.

Ryan, 34, went to this year's World Cup as skipper and presumed starting goalkeeper but was dropped for Patrick Beach and brought on only as a substitute for the penalty shootout as Australia lost to Egypt in ⁠the Round of ⁠32.

The 26-man squad includes Beach and 15 other players who were involved in the World Cup campaign, as well as seven uncapped players. Jordan Bos, Cristian Volpato and Cameron Burgess were unavailable because of injury.

Midfielders Riley ⁠McGree and Patrick Yazbek were recalled after missing the World Cup because of injury.

Australia play five-times world champions Brazil in Townsville on September 25 and again in Brisbane four days later. They also play away friendlies against Qatar and Jordan before the January 7 to February 5 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

"We have picked a squad with an eye on the AFC Asian ⁠Cup ⁠2027 and an eye on the future, and it's a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team," Reuters quoted Popovic as saying.

Squad: Patrick Beach, Kealey Adamson, Paul Izzo, Aziz Behich, Kasey Bos, Jacob Chapman, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Dylan Leonard, Harry Souttar, Yaya Dukuly, Jackson Irvine, Jacob Italiano, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alexander Robertson, Patrick Yazbek, Marcus Younis, Eli Adams, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Tete Yengi.

Sports

Teenager Samba Strikes Twice on Debut as Man City Thrash Norwich in League Cup

Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Teenager Samba Strikes Twice on Debut as Man City Thrash Norwich in League Cup

Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Floyd Samba wanted to give a good account of himself on his Manchester City senior debut but scoring twice and being named man of the match in Thursday's 5-0 League Cup win over Norwich City was more than the 17-year-old could have hoped for.

City manager Enzo Maresca promoted the English midfielder to the first team after he excelled in the ⁠under-18 setup last ⁠season, and played him in an unfamiliar number nine role for the third-round match at the Etihad Stadium.

But Samba seized the opportunity, scoring the game's first goal with a precise ⁠header in the 28th minute before bending a shot into the corner from 20 yards early in the second half, Reuters reported.

"To get a debut like that is mind blowing. I couldn't believe it myself, but that is just the beginning, I have got a big career ahead of me," he told the BBC, ⁠adding ⁠that the established first-team players had given him some advice.

"I spoke to all of them, they have all been brilliant ... giving me advice like, play your game, be you. Those words have given me confidence and helped me score those two goals today."

Defending champions City will host Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round next month.