Sports 30 June 2026

World Cup in uproar: Morocco and Paraguay knock out giants

The 2026 World Cup knockouts began with breathtaking upsets. Morocco dumped out the Netherlands and Paraguay sent Germany home.

If there is a stage where the favourites wobble, it is this one. The 2026 World Cup knockouts have barely begun and already floored some of the tournament’s biggest names. Anyone who likes heart-in-mouth football has been well served.

The Netherlands fell first. They drew with Morocco in regulation and went out on penalties, with the Moroccan goalkeeper turning hero. Morocco confirm once more that their historic run at the previous World Cup was no one-night fluke.

Right after, Germany. The mighty Germans drew with Paraguay and also crumbled in the penalty lottery, an outcome nobody had on their card. The South Americans celebrated like it was a final, and fair enough.

And Brazil had to sweat

Not everything was a fall of giants. Brazil came close to a scare against Japan, who went ahead, but turned it around and sealed progress in stoppage time. A sigh of relief for the Brazilian faithful.

The read is the usual one at these tournaments: the gap between big and small has shrunk. Walk in thinking you have already won, and you lose. And that is exactly what makes this stage the most addictive of all.

For Portugal, it is a warning. Croatia await, and no team can take anything for granted.

See also: Portugal face Croatia in the last 16. Official results at FIFA.

By Vasco Almada

Image: Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sports 4 September 2026

Seven years, 278 games, and a fee Arsenal will not name

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Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal after seven years. The club confirmed the permanent transfer to Al-Hilal in a statement that adds up his time in north London — 278 appearances, 62 goals, last season's Premier League title, the 2020 FA Cup, the 2023 Community Shield. What the statement does not add up is the money. No figure, no valuation, not even the usual line about undisclosed terms. He arrived from Ituano in July 2019 as a teenager nobody outside…

Sports 3 September 2026

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Sports 1 September 2026

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Sports 31 August 2026

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Sports 30 August 2026

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Sports 28 August 2026

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Sports 27 August 2026

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Sports 25 August 2026

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Portuguese canoeist Ana Brito waves from her kayak in Portugal's colours on the Mar Piccolo course in Taranto

Sports 23 August 2026

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Sports 22 August 2026

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Sports 21 August 2026

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Sports 21 August 2026

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Sports 20 August 2026

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Sports 20 August 2026

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