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KANSAS CITY, Kansas, June 18 : Argentina returned to training with Lionel Scaloni facing fresh selection dilemmas, after the holders opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, as competition for the striker role again pits Lautaro Martinez against Julian Alvarez.

The starters were back on the training pitch ahead of the second match against Austria on Monday, after only working in the gym on Wednesday, with Martinez having led the line in the opener before Alvarez replaced him in the 55th minute.

Alvarez was the regular starter heading into the tournament, but Scaloni opted for Martinez – echoing their triumphant Qatar 2022 campaign, when the Inter Milan player began as first-choice striker but Alvarez took over from the third match onwards.

Scaloni said before the Algeria game that the Atletico Madrid man had recovered from an ankle issue and was available.

After the match, he highlighted the “incredible physical work” by Martinez in the opener.

“The coach is constantly making decisions – who plays, who doesn’t, who comes on, who comes off,” he told reporters after the match. “Everyone would like to play, but building the team requires 11 players, and you look for the ideal functioning.”

Argentine media and journalists attending Thursday’s training session said Scaloni was likely to pick Alvarez over Martinez for their Group J match against the Austrians.

“Blessed doubts and blessed competition,” former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Carlos Navarro Montoya told Reuters, saying the difficulty of having to choose between the two centre-forwards reflected the quality of the Argentine side.

“Martinez is a brilliant finisher, more of a penalty-area striker, while Julian gives you finishing and presence in the box but also contributes outside it and can be more involved. He may have greater physical intensity when pressing,” Navarro Montoya said.

The debate extends beyond the attack.

There is also uncertainty at right back, where Gonzalo Montiel started against Algeria but Nahuel Molina, typically the first-choice option, came on at halftime.

Left back Nicolas Tagliafico also remains a doubt due to a calf injury, with Facundo Medina having deputised against Algeria. The Argentine FA said on Wednesday that Tagliafico was working on the pitch and progressing positively.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico: Mexico booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage as Group A winners and secured home advantage for the round of 32 after Luis Romo’s second-half strike earned the tournament co-hosts a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday (Jun 18).

The victory moved Javier Aguirre’s side onto six points from two matches and ensured their first knockout game would be played in Mexico City on Jun 30, while maintaining their perfect start to the tournament.

Romo broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart, capitalising on a costly mistake by goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu. The South Korea keeper spilled a cross after colliding with a teammate, allowing the Mexico midfielder a simple finish into an unguarded net from the centre of the box.

“It was a very close game; we didn’t give up a single centimetre and fought for every ball as if it were our last,” Aguirre told Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca.

“It was a game where whoever made a mistake would lose, and it was them… It was a game to forget, but the result is one to remember.”

The goal transformed the mood inside Guadalajara Stadium after an uninspiring first half that ended with sections of the home crowd booing the hosts off the pitch.

Mexico had started brightly but struggled to turn early possession into clear chances, with South Korea growing into the game.

Captain Edson Alvarez, deployed in central defence after Cesar Montes’ suspension, produced a spectacular overhead clearance off the goal line to deny Son Heung-min, although the South Korea captain was later flagged offside.

The Asian side finished the half stronger, controlling possession and unsettling a Mexico side that looked increasingly frustrated as the interval approached.

HOSTS WEATHER LATE STORM

Romo’s goal moments after the restart lifted both Mexico and the crowd, with supporters breaking into renditions of Mexican folk song Cielito Lindo (Lovely Sweetheart) as Aguirre’s side seized control of a match that had threatened to drift away from them.

Mexico nearly doubled their advantage midway through the second half when Raul Jimenez controlled a pass from Julian Quinones before firing a half-volley from close range, only for Kim to produce an outstanding save.

The South Korea goalkeeper made another excellent stop to deny substitute Obed Vargas, diving low to push away a powerful long-range effort.

South Korea threw numbers forward in search of an equaliser and came agonisingly close in the closing stages, but goalkeeper Raul Rangel preserved Mexico’s lead with a remarkable double save from point-blank range.

Rangel first blocked a close-range effort with his foot before scrambling across his line to keep out the rebound.

Mexico withstood wave after wave of South Korean pressure in a tense finish to secure their second straight win and become the first team to qualify for the knockout stage, where they will face a third-placed team.

The result also gave Mexico their first World Cup group-stage victory on home soil outside Mexico City and secured their first top-place finish in a World Cup group since 2002, when Aguirre was also in charge.

Aguirre’s side will close out the group phase against Czech Republic, while South Korea can still secure progression when they face South Africa on Wednesday.

“We were patient, not passive. It’s not easy, we’re seeing some very close matches,” Aguirre added.

“We’ll see how the last match plays out and wait for our opponent. I’m leaving happy because it means we’re not leaving home, our beloved Mexico.”

BOSTON, June 18 : For Morocco fans gathering in Boston on Thursday ahead of their team’s next World Cup match, the days of the Atlas Lions being African strugglers are never coming back.

Surprise semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco are ranked seventh in the world and were leading against Brazil in their opening game of this year’s tournament before having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

A win against Scotland on Friday would put the North Africans in a strong position to qualify for the knockout rounds, with minnows Haiti their final opponents in the group phase.

Supporters let off red and green smoke canisters and danced to the beat of drums at an eve-of-game meet-up on Boston Common, a park in the city centre.

Many said the high standards now expected of Moroccan football had become the norm, with several players on the books of some of Europe’s top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s creative midfielder Brahim Díaz.

“To get to the World Cup used to be an achievement,” said Oussama Khatem, a 35-year-old financial crime investigator from Montreal, pushing his two young children in a pushchair draped in the red Moroccan flag.

“Now there is no big difference with Germany, France, Spain. Now it’s going to be every time that you see Morocco in the World Cup.”

Khatem, like many Moroccan fans, attributes their rise to the prowess of foreign-born players as well as to the creation of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in 2010 when the kingdom’s football standing was at rock bottom having failed to reach the World Cup since 1998.

Morocco finally returned to the tournament in 2018 before their stunning run four years later in Qatar, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal before losing to France in the semi-finals.

Last year, Morocco won the under-20 World Cup, offering the prospect of another generation of talent coming through.

That talent will get the chance to shine on home soil when Morocco co-hosts the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Khatem said other African countries and beyond in the developing world now look at Morocco as an example.

“Morocco is showing to all African countries, to all countries, that they can make it into the top four,” he said.

Moussin Muslih, 52, who travelled from Morocco to the United States for the group games, said he was confident of a win against Scotland and another string of victories similar to their exploits of 2022.

“We hope that this World Cup will be another amazing run, Inshallah (God willing),” he said.

June 19 : Slovenian cyclist Urska Zigart suffered a fractured jaw following a crash in the final kilometre of stage two of the Tour de Suisse Femmes in Locarno on Thursday, her team AG Insurance-Soudal said.

The 29-year-old lost control at speed on a road hump and crashed heavily, sliding several metres along the tarmac and remaining motionless for a period after the fall.

“After undergoing several medical assessments, Urska has been diagnosed with a fractured jaw. Fortunately, no other injuries were detected during the examinations,” the team said.

“The team’s medical staff are currently evaluating the next steps required to ensure Urska receives the best possible treatment and recovery process. At this stage, our primary focus is on her health and wellbeing.”

Zigart was conscious following the incident, Slovenian media reported, as she spoke to compatriot and four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar, who is competing in the men’s race and leads the general classification after two stages.

June 18 : Luis Romo’s second-half winner sent Mexico into the World Cup knockout stage as Group A winners, but the co-hosts’ 1-0 victory over South Korea owed more to opportunism and defensive resilience than attacking fluency.

Javier Aguirre’s side have opened the tournament with two wins, secured top spot with a game to spare and ensured their knockout campaign against a third-placed team will begin in Mexico City on June 30.

On paper, it has been a perfect start. On the pitch, it has been more complicated.

Romo broke the deadlock in the 50th minute after South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu collided with teammate Lee Gi-hyuk and spilled a cross into the midfielder’s path, leaving him with a simple finish from the centre of the box.

The goal was greeted with relief as much as celebration after a first half in which Mexico struggled to turn possession into clear chances and Romo acknowledged the struggles.

“I don’t think we played a perfect game, but we won and that’s the most important thing – the fans will be happy,” he told Mexican TV.

The hosts started brightly at Guadalajara Stadium, but South Korea grew into the game and sections of the home crowd booed the Mexican players at halftime.

Mexico played with greater authority once ahead, with Raul Jimenez nearly adding a second from close range and substitute Obed Vargas forcing Kim into a sharp low save from distance.

Aguirre acknowledged the performance had been short of fluency, while pointing to South Korea’s organisation.

“It wasn’t a great match, but the opposition didn’t let us do much either,” he said.

Mexico’s most decisive moments came in defence.

Captain Edson Alvarez, filling in at centre back after Cesar Montes’ suspension, produced an acrobatic goal-line clearance to deny Son Heung-min before the South Korea captain was flagged offside.

Late on, Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel preserved their lead with a remarkable double save from point-blank range as South Korea pushed desperately for an equaliser.

Those interventions underlined both Mexico’s resilience and their vulnerability.

They were organised, committed and ruthless enough to punish an error. But they were also short of rhythm in the final third and needed defensive heroics to protect a lead created by a mistake rather than a sweeping attacking move.

The hosts are through, unbeaten and headed for a home knockout tie. They are also still looking for a sharper cutting edge if they are to progress deep in the tournament.

June 19 : Steve Corica, who led Auckland FC to the A-League championship in only their second season, is leaving the club to pursue an opportunity overseas, the team said on Friday.

Corica guided Auckland to a first-place finish in the regular season in their inaugural 2024/2025 campaign before they lost in the semis of the Finals series.

This season, they secured the A-League championship to become the first New Zealand team to win the Grand Final in the competition’s 20-year history.

“It has been a fantastic two years with a city, a fan group and a team that have all been way beyond my expectations,” the 53-year-old said in statement.

“I didn’t know quite what I was getting into when I joined two years ago, but what an experience it has been.

“We started with nothing. Then year one we’re Premiers, winning the first piece of A-League silverware for any Kiwi club, and then year two we’re riding a bus down the middle of Queen Street parading the championship trophy.”

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, June 18 : Mexico coach Javier Aguirre played down his team’s achievement of topping a World Cup group for the first time since 2002 after their 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, saying the real measure of success would come later in the tournament.

The co-hosts became the first team to book a place in the knockout stage, sealing top spot in Group A with the victory in Guadalajara and matching the achievement of Aguirre’s 2002 side.

“I didn’t know that statistic,” Aguirre, who is coaching Mexico at a third World Cup, told reporters. “It’s anecdotal. It was anecdotal in 2002 and it’s anecdotal now because what matters in the end is the final position.”

The result guarantees Mexico at least one knockout-stage match in Mexico City, a prospect Aguirre welcomed as his side seek to build momentum in front of home support.

“There’s nothing like playing at home, it’s priceless,” he said. “The Mexico factor is hugely important.”

Mexico delivered a nervy performance in their tournament opener against South Africa but Aguirre said his players had learned valuable lessons from that match.

“Today we learned from our mistakes,” he said. “We weren’t spectacular, but we played a good match.

“That speaks to the team’s maturity. We were much more patient.”

Asked what set this squad apart from previous Mexican teams he had managed, the 67-year-old said with a smile: “(This team) has a calmer coach.”

He also joked that he had stopped fighting battles over players using mobile phones and had become less rigid than the intense manager who led Mexico in 2002 and 2010.

“I’m much more relaxed and composed now,” he said. “Age helps. Two granddaughters help.”

While Mexico have secured home-field advantage for the next round, Aguirre said he was determined to keep expectations in check ahead of their final group match against the Czech Republic.

But he also wanted to give them the belief they can achieve more.

“I want to convince my players that we can get into the top 10 in the world,” he said. “That would be something very special for us.”

June 19 : The London Marathon will be staged over two days for the first time in its history in 2027, with elite women racing on Saturday and elite men on Sunday, organisers said on Friday.

The one-off change is set to allow a record 100,000 participants to take part across the weekend, with the event scheduled for April 24-25, marking its 47th edition.

“By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon,” said London Marathon chief executive Hugh Brasher.

He added that the expanded format could raise more than 150 million pounds ($200 million) for charity while generating a 400 million pounds boost to the UK economy.

June 19 : The London Marathon will be staged over two days for the first time in its history in 2027, with elite women racing on Saturday and elite men on Sunday, organisers said on Friday.

The one-off change is set to allow a record 100,000 participants to take part across the weekend, with the event scheduled for April 24-25, marking its 47th edition.

“By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon,” said London Marathon chief executive Hugh Brasher.

He added that the expanded format could raise more than 150 million pounds ($200 million) for charity while generating a 400 million pounds boost to the UK economy.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico: South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said his players must not dwell on their 1-0 defeat by Mexico after a goalkeeping error proved decisive in their second Group A match at the World Cup.

South Korea conceded early in the second half when goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu lost control of a high ball under pressure, allowing Luis Romo to score.

“The goal we conceded was regrettable, but there is no need to hang our heads,” Hong told reporters. “The result is disappointing, but I believe the players executed the plans we prepared for this game well.”

Hong said South Korea had expected Mexico to press aggressively from the start and had focused on surviving the early stages without conceding.

“It was crucial not to concede until the 20th minute of the first half, and the players held on well,” he added.

“After that, the game’s rhythm shifted to our side, and we were able to lead in both pressing and game management.”

Hong declined to blame Kim directly for the goal, saying he had yet to review the collision that led to the mistake.

“It was crucial not to concede until the 20th minute of the first half, and the players held on well,” he added.

“After that, the game’s rhythm shifted to our side, and we were able to lead in both pressing and game management.”

Hong declined to blame Kim directly for the goal, saying he had yet to review the collision that led to the mistake.

June 19 : Steve Corica, who led Auckland FC to the A-League championship in only their second season, is leaving the club to pursue an opportunity overseas, the team said on Friday.

Corica guided Auckland to a first-place finish in the regular season in their inaugural 2024/2025 campaign before they lost in the semis of the Finals series.

This season, they secured the A-League championship to become the first New Zealand team to win the Grand Final in the competition’s 20-year history.

“It has been a fantastic two years with a city, a fan group and a team that have all been way beyond my expectations,” the 53-year-old said in statement.

“I didn’t know quite what I was getting into when I joined two years ago, but what an experience it has been.

“We started with nothing. Then year one we’re Premiers, winning the first piece of A-League silverware for any Kiwi club, and then year two we’re riding a bus down the middle of Queen Street parading the championship trophy.”