Morkel backs Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

India bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday said they will not displace openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma easily despite teen phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi knocking on the team’s door.

“We need to respect the fact that we had our No. 1 batter in T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma. Sanju was the player of the World Cup. So, it’s only fair to show faith. Yes, there’s a young man knocking on the door and it’s exciting. But I reckon not just for those two, but the rest of the group, it’s a good sign to show that we back you guys,” Morkel said on the eve of the second T20I against England here. milkshakeslot.lat

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Lionel Messi and Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 in a thrilling match in which the tiny island nation challenged the reigning champion until the final minutes of extra time.

The go-ahead score for Argentina was credited as an own-goal after Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Cape Verde’s Diney Borges in the 111^th minute.

Messi scored early in regulation, his record-extending 20^th career World Cup goal. Lisandro Martinez scored in the 103^rd to put Argentina ahead 2-1.

Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte scored for Cape Verde – both equalisers that stunned the pro-Argentina crowd in South Florida.

Argentina advanced to face Egypt, which beat Australia in a penalty shootout earlier Friday, in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Cape Verde’s memorable World Cup debut had been a stunning run that few outside the tiny island nation off the western coast of Africa could have predicted.

Behind the stellar play of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, Cape Verde became the smallest country to reach the knockout round, securing surprising draws against Spain and Uruguay and another against Saudi Arabia.

Vozinha had 10 saves against Argentina, including five against Messi.

Messi added another brilliant goal to his resume, sneaking behind the Cape Verde defense on a well-timed run as Martinez lofted a pass toward him, taking a quick touch and hammering a finish into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Vozinha for a 1-0 lead in the 29^th minute.

The Argentina captain has seven goals in this tournament – one more France’s Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race as the top scorer in this year’s World Cup – and extended his World cup record, moving two goals ahead of Mbappe on the all-time list. He has 12 goals during his record eight-match scoring streak.

Miami [US], July 4 (ANI): Following Cabo Verde’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign, which saw them bow out in the round of 32 after a loss to defending champions Argentina, former Arsenal and France football legend said that it does not matter how many people a nation has, but the belief to achieve something does.

Cabo Verde, with a population of approximately 530,000, became the smallest nation to reach the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, that too on their debut. With a brave goalless draw against European champions Spain, a draw against Uruguay and a world-class showing in a 3-2 loss against Argentina, the Vozinha-powered team has shown that, irrespective of its population, inexperience and popularity at a global level, it belonged at the World Cup, emerging as one of its most wholesome success stories.

Speaking on Fox Sports, Henry said, “You know what’s actually impressive? It is not so much on how they played and everything, which is impressive, but the number of people who live there."

“How do you believe that you can do that? This is why I always say to people like, it reminds me, I know it’s not the same competition, Iceland. And what Iceland did at one point, and I know it was the Euro (first appearance in 2016, reaching quarterfinals) and I know it was against your beloved England, but it reminded me, sorry, that it does not matter the amount of people that you have, if you have that belief that you can achieve something, you can always do it," he added.

On a concluding note, Henry said that Cabo Verde is a “good reminder of not believing in what people can say about where you’re from".

“Make them know and let them know where you’re from with how you perform. Now everybody knows where Cabo Verde is. That is the most important thing," he signed off.

Coming to the match, Cabo Verde, making their first appearance in the World Cup knockout stages, started brightly and tested Argentina early through Ryan Mendes before the South American giants gradually asserted control.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Lionel Messi produced a moment of brilliance, controlling Lisandro Martinez’s diagonal pass before firing into the roof of the net. The strike marked his seventh goal of the tournament, taking him to the top of the Golden Boot standings.

Argentina looked comfortable before halftime, but Cabo Verde returned with renewed intensity after the break. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Mendes released Deroy Duarte, who finished confidently from a tight angle to score his country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage goal and level the contest.

Despite creating several chances, Argentina were repeatedly denied by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose outstanding saves from Messi kept the scores level and forced the match into extra time.

Argentina restored their advantage almost immediately after extra time began as Lisandro Martinez converted from close range following a corner in the 92nd minute. Yet Cabo Verde refused to back down, with Sidny Lopes Cabral producing a stunning curling effort in the 103rd minute from a tight angle to make it 2-2 once again.

The decisive moment came in the second half of extra time when Messi’s corner was met by Romero, whose powerful header took a slight deflection off Diney Borges before finding the back of the net in the 111th minute.

Cabo Verde nearly forced penalties late on, but Emiliano Martinez produced a vital save to deny Lopes Cabral’s powerful free-kick and secure Argentina’s progress.

Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16, while Cabo Verde exit the tournament after earning widespread praise for their debut World Cup campaign. (ANI)

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Dallas [US], July 4 (ANI): Following Egypt’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 clash win over Australia, former Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny hailed the team’s skipper Mohamed Salah, expressing that the “joy is so sweet" after clinching the round of 16 berth.

Egypt created history by winning a FIFA World Cup knockout match for the first time, defeating Australia 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash in Dallas on Friday to book a place in the last 16. The Pharaohs, who had never progressed from a World Cup knockout tie, held their nerve from the spot after 120 minutes failed to separate the sides. Egypt will now face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16.

After the match, Elneny, who played for Egypt from 2011-25 and is well known for his stint with English football giants Arsenal from 2016-2024, posted a picture with Salah in the dressing room.

“Proud of you, the joy is so sweet @MoSalah," said the caption.

فخور بيك الفرحة حلوة اوى @MoSalah pic.twitter.com/OXtOmZhb8p

— Mohamed ELNeny (@ElNennY) July 3, 2026

Salah was one of the architects of the win, creating five scoring chances in the match and scoring in the penalty shootout as well.

Australia had started brightly against Egypt and nearly took the lead inside five minutes when Cristian Volpato’s long-range effort clipped the top of the crossbar. Jordan Bos also threatened before Rami Rabia produced a crucial last-ditch challenge to deny the winger.

Despite the strong opening, Egypt struck with their first effort on target in the 13th minute. Karim Hafez delivered a precise cross from the left, and Emam Ashour headed beyond goalkeeper Patrick Beach to give the Pharaohs the lead.

The Socceroos found an equaliser shortly after halftime when Mohamed Hany diverted a dangerous Australian free-kick into his own net, setting up a tense finish.

Australia had to rely on Beach to stay in the contest as the goalkeeper produced an excellent one-handed save to deny Rabia’s header, while Harry Souttar made a crucial block to keep out Haisem Hassan as the match went into extra time.

Neither side could find a winner in the additional 30 minutes. Veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan was introduced late in anticipation of a penalty shootout, but Egypt ultimately held their nerve from the spot.

Souttar blasted Australia’s opening penalty over the crossbar before Mohamed Salah converted with a Panenka for Egypt. After 18-year-old Lucas Herrington missed Australia’s fourth penalty, Hossam Abdelmaguid calmly slotted home the decisive spot-kick to seal a 4-2 shootout victory. (ANI)

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