Rabona TV recaps a thrilling World Cup matchday headlined by Lionel Messi's historic hat-trick and clinical displays from Mbappé and Haaland. A star-studded matchday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered some of the most memorable individual performances of the tournament so far. On the newest edition of Rabona TV’s daily recap, the conversation focuses on marquee players delivering elite performances on the world stage. Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear the complete tactical breakdown. The headline story belonged entirely to Argentina’s captain. Lionel Messi put on a masterclass performance by scoring a clinical hat-trick against Algeria, a feat that officially moved him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose at 16 career World Cup goals. The high-scoring drama continued in the other fixtures as European heavyweights took care of business. Kylian Mbappé looked unstoppable while securing a brace in France’s win over Senegal, while Erling Haaland matched that feat with a brace of his own to guide Norway past Iraq. The episode concludes with a close look at a tight tactical battle between Austria and Jordan. The Austrian side had to work incredibly hard to break down a resilient, defensive Jordan squad that was making its historic World Cup debut before eventually securing the victory. You can stream the entire analysis right now. Check out the Rabona TV World Cup Recap on Spotify to get the complete breakdown of the latest matchday stats, goal records, and group standings.
Rafael van der Vaart said he never meant to "hurt or discriminate against anyone" with his comment.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal is taken by surprise with Yoane Wissa scoring a late first-half equalizer for DR Congo. Heavy favorites Portugal and a resilient DR Congo squad clashed Wednesday afternoon at NRG Stadium for a highly anticipated Matchday 1 Group K showdown at the 2026 World Cup. After the Selecao grabbed a rapid, early breakthrough, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were stunned deep into first-half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa soared above the defense to bury a dramatic, late equalizer. As expected, Portugal controlled possession early and created multiple chances against a deep Congo defense. The opening goal came in the sixth minute when Pedro Neto delivered a cross to the penalty spot, allowing João Neves to arrive from deep and head it in, holding a 1-0 lead until the equalizer came. The historic moment unfolded during a clever short-corner routine, with Arthur Masuaku drifting inside from the right flank to orchestrate the attack. Whipping a pinpoint, dangerous cross into the heart of the 18-yard box, Masuaku picked out Wissa, who completely shook off his marker, Tomas Araujo, and rose unopposed to shoulder the hopes of his nation and smash home a thumping header. DR CONGO HAS ITS FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/FSopuazQ08— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2026 *Developing story…
England finally get their World Cup campaign under way against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday after lengthy preparation under the watchful eye of Thomas Tuchel
Portugal are heavily-fancied at this summer’s tournament
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Ronaldo became the oldest player ever to start a World Cup match, and after Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the 6th minute, everything initially seemed to be going exactly according to plan....
If a recent update from the Sky Sports reporter Patrick Berger is believed to be true, Celtic are keeping close tabs on Cole Campbell ahead of a potential summer move. The USA attacking ace has return...
Full preview of Panama for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. As one of the most intriguing international soccer teams 2026 has to offer, the Panama national team enters the competition carrying a new level of expectation. Far from the roster that struggled through its 2018 debut, Los Canaleros have evolved into a formidable presence among FIFA World Cup 2026 teams. Currently ranked 33rd globally, they arrive in North America boasting recent deep runs in regional competitions and a more sophisticated possession-based approach. Fans can expect a battle-hardened squad capable of frustrating technically superior opponents. This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down how the Central American side plans to navigate a difficult group stage. We provide a complete Panama tactical analysis, highlight the Panama key players to watch, and assess how the Panama coach transformed their qualification campaign. Team profile CoachThomas ChristiansenNicknameLos CanalerosFIFA ranking33rdConfederationCONCACAFGroupLBest World Cup resultGroup stageWorld Cup appearances2Last World Cup appearance2018 How Panama play Under their current setup, the preferred Panama formation relies on a European-style possession model that prioritizes building from the back. The team averaged an impressive 61.9% possession during their qualifiers, leaning heavily on positional play principles to dictate the tempo against regional opponents. In possession, their midfield serves as the primary engine for launching dangerous counter-attacks. They excel at circulating the ball in tight spaces, though converting sustained possession into goals remains a frustrating challenge. Despite creating 40 big chances in qualification, the team struggled with finishing, missing 29 of those premium opportunities. Defensively, the squad operates within a compact block designed to keep opponents at arm’s length. They recorded five shutouts in their qualifying run, demonstrating solid organization and resilience However, their progressive passing and defensive structure can falter when facing high-pressing elite teams. If their attacking players can capitalize on transition moments, this tactical approach could keep them competitive against the tougher opposition waiting in the group stage. Thomas Christiansen: The coach behind Panama Thomas Christiansen has managed the national team since 2020, guiding the program through a significant tactical transformation. The former Leeds United boss initially faced challenges, including missing out on the previous global tournament after a heavy defeat to the United States. Despite early setbacks, Christiansen successfully instilled a possession-oriented philosophy inspired by his playing days at Barcelona. His leadership yielded a runner-up finish at the 2023 Gold Cup and a trip to the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League finals. Known for his tactical flexibility, Christiansen understands that dominating the ball against global heavyweights is unrealistic. His pragmatic adjustments and calm demeanor have earned him immense respect among supporters. His ability to adapt defensive structures on the fly will directly shape how the team navigates their challenging summer schedule. Key player: Adalberto Carrasquilla Adalberto Carrasquilla is the undisputed engine in the center of the field for the national team. The Pumas midfielder recently made history as the first Panamanian to be named CONCACAF Player of the Year in 2024, following his Golden Ball performance at the 2023 Gold Cup. Operating as a central playmaker, Carrasquilla utilizes his exceptional vision and passing range to launch quick counter-attacks. He frequently dictates the pace of the game, helping his side maintain possession while identifying gaps in the opposition’s defense. Beyond his technical skills, his relentless work rate is crucial for winning the ball back in transition. If opponents manage to press him out of the ga
⚽️ Kick-off: 3pm local time/4pm EDT/9pm BST/6am AEST⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email ScottIt’s day seven of the 2026 World Cup, and finally England are on their way. They are Tom’s 26. Hear the roar, of the red, white and … ah who remembers that cheesy old song anyway? Point is, after an interminable wait, England are at long last getting down to business.Whether they’d have hand-picked Croatia as their first opponents is a moot point. On the one hand, England are a young and vibrant team, the sap rising, while most of Croatia’s first choice are in their 30s and their captain and talisman Luka Modric is now into his fifth decade. But on the other, this is a team that reached the final in 2018 and the semis last time round, and all of that Croatian experience has got to count for something. Continue reading...
"Character, grit, determination: I’m proud of every one of you. Now let's go to Rimini and win it!" Head Coach Lorenzo Cresta affectionately patted each of his players on the head as he congratula...
Sky Sports Racing's Kieran O'Sullivan previews a fascinating clash in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday and thinks a new king could be crowned.
Here are four bets that our soccer handicapper likes in the coming days of the 2026 World Cup.
Despite missing the friendlies and the opening match against Morocco, Neymar Jr. is reportedly making significant progress in his recovery from injury. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, he could soon make his debut for the Canarinha during the group stage. After nearly three years of absence, Neymar Jr. has been called up by Carlo Ancelotti to play in the 2026 World Cup. However, he has experienced some physical problems that caused him to miss the friendlies and the opening match against Morocco. As a result, reports claimed that he would miss the two remaining matches. Despite this, the 34-year-old star could reportedly feature with Brazil during the group stage vs Scotland. According to Monique Danello, via TNT Sports Brazil, Neymar Jr. is still training separately from the Brazil squad. While he took part in the warm-up, he continued with his individual work. He appears set to miss the next match against Haiti. Nevertheless, he has already made progress in his physical recovery, which means he could have a chance to make his 2026 World Cup debut against Scotland in the final group-stage match. Coming off a fairly serious injury, the 34-year-old star may not start, as doing so would risk a setback in his recovery. However, he could come off the bench, looking to gain playing time. With this in mind, all eyes would be on his performances, especially ahead of the knockout stages. As Brazil’s biggest star, Neymar Jr. would look to make an immediate impact in the scoring and creative side. Unlike previous years, Brazil no longer depends on Neymar Jr. from a soccer perspective. Instead, head coach Carlo Ancelotti places all his hopes on the Vinícius Jr.–Raphinha duo. Nevertheless, Endrick and Igor Thiago still have to step up in terms of goalscoring. Because of this, the 34-year-old star would arrive in a very different role: A complementary one, as he would have to help enhance the performances of his teammates. Neymar Jr. of Brazil reacts next to teammate Vinícius Júnior of Brazil Neymar Jr. may boost Brazil’s offense Under Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil have gained an offensive identity, coming to dominate their rivals. Vinícius Jr. emerges as the most important player, dribbling past defenders and scoring key goals. Boosting the creative side, Raphinha has gained protagonism, playing as an attacking midfielder. Nonetheless, they have not found a player capable of dictating play and elevating those around him, giving Neymar Jr. a huge opportunity. In case Neymar gets playing time, it would be as an attacking midfielder, forcing Raphinha to play as a right winger. With the 34-year-old star on the field, he would attract multiple defenders, opening gaps in the rivals’ defensive line. Thanks to his vision and passing ability, Vinícius Jr. and Raphinha would get plenty of opportunities to score. Moreover, Igor Thiago or Endrick would have more space to attack, something that was limited against Morocco.
Ombudsman successfully defended his Prince of Wales’s Stakes crown with a brilliant display in Royal Ascot’s day two feature.
The wait is over as Three Lions get Group L underway in Dallas
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been in battle with each other throughout their career, but how do they compare when the World Cup is considered
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England in a major tournament for the first time against Croatia, almost two years after Gareth Southgate's exit