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VANCOUVER, June 18 : Canada’s Alphonso Davies will start on the bench when his side take on Qatar in their second World Cup Group B match at BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui again left record goalscorer Almoez Ali on ​the bench, naming an unchanged side from the one that drew 1-1 with Switzerland.  

• Davies has struggled with a hamstring injury recently but was declared fit on Wednesday by coach Jesse Marsch.

• Cyle Larin, who came off the bench to score Canada’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina, starts.

• Tani Oluwaseyi and Liam Millar drop to the Canada bench, replaced by Larin and Ali Ahmed.

• Boualem Khoukhi, who scored Qatar’s goal against Switzerland, will again captain the side.

Lineups: 

Canada: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair ​Johnston, Luc ​De Fougerolles, ⁠Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea; Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Ali Ahmed; Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, ​Cyle Larin.

Qatar: Mahmoud Abunada, Pedro Miguel, Issa Laye, ​Jassem Gaber, Edmilson Junior, Akram Afif, ​Ayoub ⁠Aloui, Homam Ahmed, Yusuf Abdurisag, Boualem Khoukhi, Assim Madibo.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 18 : Despite France’s well-established pecking order, a sluggish first-half display in the 3-1 win over Senegal at the World Cup may have offered hope to those on the fringes of Didier Deschamps’ starting lineup, with defender Malo Gusto making clear he intends to push for a place in the team.

Malo Gusto acknowledged that Jules Kounde remained the first choice right back but said competition was fierce throughout the squad.

“We know we have a squad of very high quality and competition is important,” Gusto told reporters on Thursday.

“I know Jules starts. I came here to play, that’s why I’m here. The coach makes his choices. I’ll be ready whatever happens and I’ll give everything for the shirt whenever I’m on the pitch.”

The Chelsea defender said he had not yet discussed his role with Deschamps but insisted his focus was on being prepared when called upon.

“Honestly, I haven’t spoken to the coach yet. My role is mainly to be ready. I didn’t start the first match, so I have to stay focused and I know that when the coach puts me on the pitch, I’ll give everything and I’ll make sure I show that I can play and that I can be in the starting 11,” Gusto said.

The 23-year-old added that simply being selected for a World Cup squad was not enough to satisfy him.

“My mindset is that I’m in the squad and I want to play,” he said. “As a player, you want to take part. These are the competitions that drive me.”

France take on Iraq in Philadelphia in Group I on Monday.

June 18 : After scoring the goals in Boston that caused seismic shocks in his native country, Norway striker Erling Haaland went incognito to check out the sights of New York with his partner during a well-earned break from the World Cup on Thursday.

Wearing a light-coloured baseball cap and dark sunglasses, the 25-year-old posted pictures of himself and Isabel Haugseng Johansen in Times Square and outside famous eatery Katz’s Deli on social media, with New Yorkers seemingly unaware that one of the world’s most famous soccer players was in their midst. 

“It helps to hide the hair, to be honest,” Haaland wrote on Snapchat, referring to his famous flowing blond locks that are usually tied in a knot when he plays. 

Haaland scored twice in Norway’s dominant 4-1 win over Iraq – their first World Cup game in 28 years – and his side’s reward was a couple of days off ahead of their meeting with Senegal, who opened their Group I campaign with a 3-1 defeat by France. 

Norway and Senegal meet at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on June 22, and Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken said he was more than happy to let his charges loose for a few days’ rest and relaxation with friends and family. 

“Everyone needs a little break. The guys benefit from clearing their minds a little, and getting away from me and others,” Solbakken said.

June 18 : Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov sent a signed jersey bearing the message “I am sorry” to a cameraman injured in an accidental collision during his country’s World Cup opener against Colombia, the Uzbekistan Football Association said on Thursday.

The Manchester City player crashed into the broadcast camera operator while attempting to challenge Colombia forward Luis Diaz near the touchline during the first half of Wednesday’s Group K match.

The cameraman received medical attention and was taken to hospital following the incident.

The Uzbek federation said its representatives later visited the operator and presented him with a shirt signed by Khusanov, who also wished him a speedy recovery.

“The defender also conveyed his sincere wishes for a speedy recovery and sent his regards to the operator,” the federation said in a social media post.

Khusanov was booked for the challenge as Uzbekistan lost 3-1 to Colombia in the country’s first World Cup match.

The 22-year-old centre back, who joined Premier League side Manchester City from French club Lens, has become a key figure for Uzbekistan, who are making their tournament debut under coach Fabio Cannavaro.

INGLEWOOD, California, June 18 : Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coach Sergej Barbarez refused to give up their World Cup hopes after a late collapse in a 4-1 defeat by Switzerland on Thursday left them needing to beat Qatar in their final Group B game to boost their chances of qualifying.

Bosnia held firm until the 74th minute when Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi struck three minutes after coming on.

Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic’s red card six minutes later opened the door for Ruben Vargas, Manzambi again and a stoppage-time Granit Xhaka penalty to complete the rout.

“We have this third game and nothing is lost,” Barbarez told reporters. “We have to win it, of course, if we want to get further. This defeat is huge for us, but I don’t like whining.”

CNA Games

Barbarez felt Bosnia had their best spell before a hydration break midway through the second half, shortly after they created two rare clear openings against a Swiss side that had dominated possession but struggled to break down a packed defence.

“We were the better team (before the hydration break). We had two or three excellent chances which should have ended in goals. We controlled the match and did a lot of pressing,” he said. 

The breakthrough came after a half-hearted clearance, with Manzambi’s right-foot shot helped into the net by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

“This goal should not have happened,” Barbarez said. “The goal came from an individual mistake and then we had a red card. Even much more experienced teams get affected by that.”

Switzerland exploited the extra space, Vargas firing into the bottom corner before setting up Manzambi’s second after 90 minutes.

Bosnia substitute Ermin Mahmic volleyed in a consolation goal early in stoppage time, but Xhaka restored Switzerland’s three-goal margin from the spot.

The result left Switzerland on four points before facing Canada in Vancouver, while Bosnia, on one point, meet Qatar in Seattle.

“I told the players they have one hour to cheer up and lift their heads,” Barbarez said. “Life goes on. We have another match ahead of us and, trust me, they will be ready.”

INGLEWOOD, California June 18 : Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said a carefully planned double substitution after the second hydration break proved decisive in his side’s 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, with Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas exploiting tiring opponents to spark a late scoring burst.

The World Cup Group B clash appeared destined to remain deadlocked as Bosnia frustrated Switzerland’s possession-heavy approach before substitute Manzambi broke through in the 74th minute, three minutes after entering the game.

Vargas, also introduced late, added a second before setting up Manzambi’s second, with Granit Xhaka’s stoppage-time penalty completing the rout after Bosnia had been reduced to 10 men.

“It was very important that we had all of our energy on the pitch. This was our strategy,” Yakin told reporters.

“We needed to be very patient and stay in the game. It was important that after the second hydration break we changed some things. That was the edge we had. We brought on very quick players. Our opponents ran a lot and this created gaps.”

TIMING CRUCIAL

Yakin said the timing of the substitutions was as important as the changes themselves.

“We could have made the substitutions earlier, but then the opponent would have had the chance to react,” he said. “That’s why I waited for the hydration break. This was the right decision today.”

The Swiss coach revealed he had already told Vargas, one of Switzerland’s most dangerous attacking players, that he would have to wait for his opportunity.

“I told Vargas I would bring him on as soon as the opponents started to get more tired,” Yakin said. “We brought him on at the right time. Today it was a tactical decision.”

Manzambi, 20, justified the move with two goals and another lively display.

“He is a very happy person with so many football qualities,” Yakin said of the Freiburg player. “He can dribble, score and put a lot of pressure on opponents. He can surprise us as much as the opponent.”

Yakin also credited the hydration breaks themselves, saying they had become a tactical tool.

“During three minutes we could talk about substitutions and things we needed to change,” he said. “We can use elements such as cooling breaks in our favour.”

The victory moved Switzerland on to four points and put them in a strong position heading into their final group match against Canada.

INGLEWOOD, California, June 18 : Johan Manzambi said he hoped he had repaid the faith shown in him after coming off the bench to score twice in Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B of the World Cup on Thursday.

The 20-year-old midfielder was introduced late in the second half at Los Angeles Stadium and made an immediate impact, striking twice to seal a victory that lifted Swiss spirits after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Qatar in their opener.

“It’s incredible, it’s the first brace of my entire career,” Manzambi said. “And to do it at the World Cup, especially after we didn’t get off to the best start.”

Manzambi said he had not had many options when the chance for his first goal arrived in a crowded penalty area.

“Honestly, there wasn’t much space in the box,” he said. “I don’t think there were a thousand options, but – thank God – it came off.”

The Freiburg player said he had entered the match determined to make an impact rather than feeling any nerves on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I came on with the mindset of wanting to help my team, to give the best I could,” he said. “The advice I got was purely tactical. (Swiss coach Murat Yakin) told me to let my talent shine, and I think I showed that.”

Yakin praised Manzambi’s versatility and unpredictability, saying the youngster’s range of qualities gave his side another attacking option.

“Johan is just a very happy person with so many football qualities,” Yakin said. “He had a very good season with Freiburg. He is very versatile – in defence, midfield, on the flanks, as a striker.”

Yakin added that Manzambi still needed to develop more structure in his game but said Switzerland were willing to give him freedom.

“He put a lot of pressure on the opponent,” Yakin said. “He’s a player who can surprise us as well as the opponent.”

Yakin said Manzambi could yet earn a starting role. 

“Maybe we can use Johan right from the start,” he said. 

“We will see what will happen in the future.”

Manzambi said having his family present made the day even more special and said Switzerland’s squad had responded well after a sluggish opening to the campaign.

“The whole team has a really good feeling,” he said. 

“We know why we didn’t start so well, and we knew we had to do more.”

June 18 : Paramount Skydance said on Thursday “UFC Freedom 250,” a mixed martial arts event held at the White House, drew an average of 7 million viewers in the United States.

The live event, which Paramount said was the most-watched in Paramount+ history, attracted a total of 17 million viewers across the U.S. and Latin America, including audiences that watched some parts of the MMA fights.

Paramount said that U.S. viewership was based on Nielsen data, while Latin American viewing was tracked by Adobe Analytics.

“UFC Freedom 250” was held on June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, while kicking off celebrations of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The event, which culminated in Justin Gaethje’s upset victory over Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title, also marked a first for the UFC, with every fight ending in a knockout or technical knockout.

The UFC will announce viewership numbers outside the U.S. and Latin America next week, Paramount said. The event was available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Latin America.

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, June 18 : There is absolutely no euphoria among Morocco players following a World Cup opening draw against five-times champion Brazil but the team are aiming to go beyond their semi-final spot four years ago, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi said on Thursday.

Morocco, who stunned Brazil by taking the lead before settling for a 1-1 draw in their opening Group C match last week, face group leaders Scotland on Friday, with a win pushing the Africans closer to the knockout stage.

The Scots, winners 1-0 over Haiti in a scrappy opener, will seal qualification with victory.

“We know this World Cup will be longer than Qatar 2022 and we need to manage the entire tournament well. We did not come here to just play Brazil, play a fabulous match and that’s it,” Ounahi told a press conference.

“We want to go further than we did in Qatar.”

WAVE OF ENTHUSIASM

Four years ago, Morocco, who will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain, beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their run to the last four, stunning the football world and unleashing a wave of enthusiasm back home.

This time round Morocco are no longer tournament dark horses, and against the Scots they are the clear favourites.

“We all know that we need to get a result,” Ounahi said. “We have 40 million Moroccans behind us. We have an abundance of talent, a complete squad, and we hope to do better than in Qatar. We are aiming to go to the furthest possible point.

“Tomorrow’s match will be more important and harder. Scotland have three points, we have one and we cannot forget that. We need to win so our third match (against Haiti) is easier for us,” said the midfielder.

The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, qualify for a new round of 32, with 48 teams in the competition compared to 32 four years ago.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said there was no lingering euphoria among his players following the draw against Brazil.

“We cannot forget the Brazil match but we have to switch to Scotland,” Ouahbi said. “We have one point and they have three points. Euphoria? no euphoria. The players know it, we know it. We have to be even better for the next match. We will develop our game and our level.”

VANCOUVER: Jonathan David bagged a hat-trick as Canada secured their first ever World Cup finals victory and boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a 6-0 thrashing of hapless nine-man Qatar on Thursday (Jun 18).

The co-hosts’ joy at the resounding victory was tempered by a serious injury suffered by midfielder Ismael Kone, but they moved top of Group B with four points after two matches, while Qatar are bottom with one. Canada next host second-placed Switzerland, who also have four points, in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Roared on by a vocal red-and-white crowd, Canada came out all guns blazing. Cyle Larin repaid coach Jesse Marsch’s faith in the 16th minute, reacting quickest after goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada saved David’s effort to give the hosts the lead.

Larin, who scored off the bench in Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been handed a start alongside David, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Canada doubled their advantage 13 minutes later, David meeting a cross with a powerful volley and the match swung completely in Canada’s favour when Qatar were reduced to 10 men.

A penalty was initially awarded for El Amin’s foul on Tajon Buchanan, but a VAR review ruled the offence occurred outside the area. The decision was downgraded to a free kick, but Homam Ahmed’s yellow card was upgraded to a red.

David added his second just before halftime, bundling home from close range after Abunada had saved Larin’s header, leaving Qatar with a mountain to climb.

KONE INJURED

Kone sustained his injury following a tackle by Assim Madibo and was carried off on a stretcher, but the 24-year-old was later seen sitting up and waving to the crowd, his left leg in a large inflatable protective boot.

Tempers and emotions spilled over following the incident and Madibo was shown a red card to reduce Qatar to nine men.

Substitute Nathan Saliba, who replaced Kone, added the fourth by whipping in a free kick before running to the sideline and holding up Kone’s shirt in tribute to him.

Things went from bad to worse for Qatar as midfielder Mohammad Mannai turned the ball into his own net before David completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to compound a miserable night for the visitors. 

There was plenty of bite to the contest, and Marsch turned that intensity into celebration at full-time, facing the stands and pumping his fists in front of a partisan crowd in a country better known for its ice hockey passion. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was also in attendance to support his team.

“We wanted to play the kind of football that would electrify the crowd. We wanted to showcase the kind of talent, the mentality that we have,” Marsch said. “There is going to be 40 million Canadians who claim they were in the stadium today. But these 55,000 were lucky. 

“Ismael will be fine. We will get him good doctors – we’ll get him back. Obviously, our heart is with him, but that kid has got a big future and he’s a big part of everything we do,” Marsch said of Kone. 

Qatar next face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle, with coach Julen Lopetegui insisting his side will regroup. 

“We have two red cards, so those players are out for the next match,” Lopetegui said. 

“There is a big difference between the teams, and the next match will be more difficult. But we are not here because someone gave us a place. We are here because we earned it, and we will play and fight until the end.”