Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal's most dangerous attacking form has yet to arrive at the 2026 World Cup, even as La Roja prepare for a high-stakes quarter-final against Belgium.
Kylian Mbappe atoned for a first-half penalty miss with a decisive strike as France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals, advancing to the semi-finals while drawing level with Lionel Messi atop the scoring charts.
France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco at Gillette Stadium extended a familiar knockout pattern, yet the night still rewrote African World Cup history and elevated Yassine Bounou into an elite penalty-saving club.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi offered blunt praise for France after a second straight tournament exit to Les Bleus, calling for self-criticism while insisting the Atlas Lions can still climb higher.
Erling Haaland has scored seven goals in four World Cup appearances for Norway and says the pressure should fall on England as clear pre-tournament favourites ahead of their quarter-final meeting in the United States.
A World Cup quarter-final between FIFA's top-ranked France and eighth-placed Morocco carries security deployments in Paris, cross-flag celebrations abroad, and a shared history that football alone cannot settle.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui Ouahbi says his side will not celebrate progress before lifting the trophy, framing Thursday's France rematch as a quarter-final mission rather than a bonus round.
Morocco will face France in the World Cup quarter-finals without injured striker Ismael Saibari, but Walid Ouahbi insists his side will not treat reaching the last eight as enough and will push to hurt the reigning finalists.
Ståle Solbakken says Norway are medically ready for their World Cup quarter-final against England, identifies Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as the Three Lions' top threats, and clears Martin Odegaard after illness rumors.
Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James worked away from England's main group ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami, while suspensions and yellow-card pressure add further layers to Thomas Tuchel's selection puzzle.
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