Modrić’s milestone overshadows Bellingham’s trophy snub at World Cup

Luka Modrić celebrated his 200th international appearance as Croatia edged past Panama 1-0 in the World Cup second round. The win secured Croatia’s place in the knockout stage, while Panama’s 0-1 defeat marked their second loss of the tournament. Ivan Perišić made his 19th World Cup appearance for Croatia, but the PSV forward struggled to impact the first half. Ante Budimir’s 54th-minute goal — Croatia’s first shot on target — sealed the win. Panama, despite competitive displays against Croatia and Ghana, now face elimination. Jude Bellingham accepted the Man of the Match award after England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana but immediately questioned its fairness. “I don’t deserve it to be honest,” he said. “It should go to a Ghana player, one of the boys who defended so well.” Colombia progressed to the knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo. Daniel Muñoz’s 77th-minute strike broke Congo’s defensive line, though Congo’s stand-in supporter Michel Nkuka Mboladinga remained motionless throughout.

South Africa to meet Canada in World Cup round of 32 in LA

Mboladinga, known for his statue-like presence at the Africa Cup of Nations, made his World Cup debut in Guadalajara. He missed Congo’s opener due to Ebola quarantine measures but stood for 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss. A Norwegian fan stole the spotlight by refusing to join the team’s synchronized rowing celebrations after Norway’s win over Senegal. Emil Anners Lappen told Verdens Gang the idea was “a stupid concept” and compared it to Iceland’s thunderclap antics. “Now everyone knows I’m protesting, I definitely won’t row again,” he said. FIFA president Gianni Infantino hailed the World Cup as “unbelievable” in New York overnight. “This is bigger than anything the world has ever seen,” he said. “The stadiums are full, the cities are full, and the atmosphere is incredible.”

Davies set for Canada debut vs Switzerland with World Cup fate on line

Cristiano Ronaldo declined to address questions about Lionel Messi after Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. When asked, he responded with “Next question” and looked away. He also dismissed criticism following his performance against DR Congo. Tonight’s fixtures include Switzerland vs Canada at 21:00, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar at 21:00, Scotland vs Brazil at 00:00, Morocco vs Haiti at 00:00, Czech Republic vs Mexico at 03:00, and South Africa vs South Korea at 03:00.