Welcome to day two of the World Cup
Good morning to anyone just joining us for the second day of the World Cup. My name is Frances Howe and I’m joined by my colleagues Vince Rugari and Nick Ralston who are in Canada ahead of the Socceroo’s debut tomorrow.
Earlier this morning hosts Canada drew 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first time they’ve ever not lost a World Cup match since making their debut in 1986. Later on, we’ll be with you play-by-play as our American hosts play Paraguay in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, here are some stories you can read to catch you up to speed:
Wayne Rooney fury as Bosnia keeper avoids red card: ‘He could have knocked him out’
Red cards aplenty on the opening night but why was there no red card on the second night? If bewilderment followed the sendings-off when Mexico faced South Africa, the puzzlement continued after Canada and Bosnia took a point each in Toronto.
Everything revolved around a moment in the second half when Tani Oluwaseyi surged on to a through ball. He was fractionally offside but carried on chasing – out came Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj who got there first, made a big punch to clear but then connected with the Canada striker’s head.
VAR, of course, analysed everything and took no action but it was one of those situations which created debate, so much so that in Salford, BBC pundit Wayne Rooney was incensed that Vasilj had not been banished.
Speaking of viral moments, have you seen the Mexican duck!?
Now this is what I’ve waited four years for. A duck wearing a soccer jersey. Nothing exemplifies the unifying spirit of the World Cup like cross-species patriotism. I’m not positive, but it looks like it might also be wearing soccer boots.
I hope it managed to get a good view of the game, it’s a very well-behaved bird trucking along without so much as a lead.
Recap: What happened during Canada v Bosnia Herzegovina this morning?
For long spells of Canada’s World Cup Group B opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina it looked like the co-hosts would come up short but striker Cyle Larin came off the bench and calmed their nerves with an equaliser that secured a glorious first point.
Playing in the country’s first men’s World Cup game on home soil, the Canadians enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created plenty of chances.
However, a sucker-punch goal from Jovo Lukic for the Bosnians in the 21st minute left the World Cup co-hosts in a deep hole and it fell to Larin to drag them out of it.
After spending 76 minutes stewing on the bench after being left out of Jesse Marsch’s starting lineup, Southampton striker Larin had a point to prove and scored less than three minutes after coming on with an excellent turn and shot.
US pundit stuns French legend Thierry Henry with comment about actor James Corden
We might have our first truly viral moment of the World Cup, with French striker turned commentator Thierry Henry shocked after US pundit Alexi Lalas swore live on air.
Lalas, a former US international, who has also had some choice things to say about the Socceroos in the lead up to the tournament, described British actor James Corden a “full-kit w–ker”, leaving Henry stunned.
The pair were on a panel for US broadcaster Fox Sports, when they went to a promotion for Corden’s show After Hours, which is being screened during the tournament.
In what turned out to be a bit of cross-promotional banter that backfired spectacularly, Fox host Rebecca Lowe through to the panel saying, “Can we talk about James Corden for a moment?” Lalas quickly fired back: “Yeah, what do you guys call him? A full kit w–ker, right? Or whatever it means.”
In football fandom, the term is used to describe an adult who not only puts on their team’s jersey but goes that one step extra and accompanies it with the team shorts and socks too.
The remark shocked Henry and Lowe, while fellow panellist, Swedish great Zlatan Ibrahimovic let out a “wow”.
Lowe then let Lalas know that wasn’t a word you could mention on British television.
Entertainment or sport? Peter FitzSimons’ verdict on the 2026 World Cup so far
Last week, I suggested that to boost flagging World Cup ticket sales, FIFA should give one of its peace prizes – no, really – to everyone who buys a ticket. This week, it emerges that the Cup’s problems run much deeper than that.
Complaints start with the Americans having turned the whole thing into a premium entertainment product rather than a sporting festival for the people. Tickets for popular matches are going for tens of thousands of dollars, while other matches will likely be played before sparsely populated stands.
There is also the issue of supporters and officials from various countries being hassled at the American border (see the referee from Somalia who was sent home). Further criticism focuses on the fact that as the whole tournament is so dispersed throughout the American continent, there will be no atmosphere, and that in those few places where people are gathering in force, the accommodation costs would kill a brown dog.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, however, waxed dismissive on the US being appalling hosts of the World Cup and doesn’t care at all about the Yanks sending the Somalian official home.
To keep reading the full story from Peter FitzSimons, click here.
Welcome to day two of the World Cup
Good morning to anyone just joining us for the second day of the World Cup. My name is Frances Howe and I’m joined by my colleagues Vince Rugari and Nick Ralston who are in Canada ahead of the Socceroo’s debut tomorrow.
Earlier this morning hosts Canada drew 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first time they’ve ever not lost a World Cup match since making their debut in 1986. Later on, we’ll be with you play-by-play as our American hosts play Paraguay in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, here are some stories you can read to catch you up to speed:
How far will the Socceroos go?
Getting dizzy with all the World Cup predictors? Me too. Here’s an easy breakdown of just how far the Socceroos may go, brought to you by our experts, including five-time FIFA World Cup contender, former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams:
Bosnian fans fill the Canadian streets
Check out this footage of Bosnian fans in Toronto ahead of their match against the host nation this morning. Something about this video and the World Cup spirit nearly brings a tear to my eye.
Full-time in Toronto
History made for Canada – their first-ever point at a World Cup as the game ends 1-1 in Toronto with goals from Jovo Lukic in the 21st minute and Canada’s Cyle Larin in the 78th.
Canadians are crossing their fingers
There will be six minutes of extra time to close out this match, if Canada can hold on to this 1-1 scoreline, they should be happy. It will be the first time since their World Cup debut in 1986 that they’ve done so much as draw in a group-stage match. It’s not promising for the rest of the tournament, but it’ll give Alanis Morisette and Michael Buble something else to sing about.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
