Canada’s heroes tread new ground, South Korea has an extreme reaction to going out of the World Cup, and there are absolute scenes in Algeria’s home away from home in Lawrence, Kansas.
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Here are today’s World Cup quick hits.
1. Emotional Eustáquio sees Canadian ‘heroes’ through
Stephen Eustáquio was overcome with emotion. (AP Photo: Manu Fernandez)
It felt as though Canada would be forced to endure the torment of extra time.
It felt as though South Africa’s desperate defending was simply impenetrable.
But as the clock ticked into the red and extra time beckoned, Stephen Eustáquio took matters into his own hands and powered a low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
Eustáquio, a former Portuguese youth international, started the game as Canadian skipper and even after Alphonso Davies came on late, it was Eustáquio who carried his team to the next round.
“We worked a lot to get this victory, we really wanted to give this win to all the Canadians and we kept believing, we kept pushing,” Eustáquio said.
“It was an amazing goal, but when I shot, I felt that everybody shot with me. Everybody put a little bit of power on it and it went into the back of the net.”
Eustáquio has had to come through an emotional rollercoaster over the past couple of years.
His mother, Esmeralda, died of brain cancer in April 2023, with his father, Armando, unexpectedly passing away after a heart attack in May the following year.
“Everything I do is for my family,” Eustáquio said.
“For my parents, for my girlfriend, for my daughter, for my brother, for my friends back home, all of them.”
As for Canadian coach Jesse Marsch, he was clear about what he thought.
“Canadian heroes. The future of the sport in this country is huge because of you,” he said.
2. Richie’s reputation costs Canada penalty?
Richie Laryea’s reputation may have counted against him. (AP Photo: Manu Fernandez)
Late in the first half, Canadian Richie Laryea went down in the penalty area after tangling with Khuliso Mudau.
The referee, João Pinheiro, waved away the Canadian protests, and VAR agreed with the experienced Portuguese official.
But did Canada have a case?
“I would prefer to see a penalty given and an on-field recommendation,” former referee Christina Unkel told UK TV station ITV.
“In my personal opinion, I think that’s a foul and a penalty.”
However, former England player Bradley Wright-Phillips said there was nothing to see there and pointed out the Toronto FC players dubious history as a potential reason the spot kick was not awarded.
“On first look, it looks like a penalty,” Wright-Phillips said.
“Richie Laryea does however have a long history of buying penalties. If it goes to VAR, you’re taking that back.”
3. Love for Algeria from Lawrence, Kansas
Dorothy may have noted that there’s no place like home when she was wishing for a return to rural Kansas. And now Algeria’s players know what she meant.
In the small town of Lawrence, 40 minutes or so outside Kansas City, the Algerian team have found themselves a home away from home.
Les Verts are using the facilities of the University of Kansas as their training camp and the locality has welcomed them with open arms.
Videos of Algeria’s unexpected support in Lawrence have gone viral, showing emotional scenes of fans — many dressed in Algeria scarves, some fighting back tears — embracing the team and the World Cup atmosphere.
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“Seeing 500 to 600 people that first evening that were waiting outside of the hotel, it really gave me goosebumps,” Algeria coach Vladimir Petković said.
“They really wanted to celebrate this moment with our team.
“I hope that all of the neutrals do cheer on Algeria, because it’s been a wonderful feeling
“We’ll try and give them something back.”
Well, after Algeria confirmed their qualification, the team were welcomed back with flares and fireworks by the locals, revelling in their adopted team’s success.
4. No collusion between Algeria and Austria
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick scoffed at suggestions his side had played for a mutually beneficial draw against Algeria after Saturday’s chaotic 3-3 World Cup thriller.
The dramatic finale that sent both teams through to the knockout stage, he said, was proof there had been no collusion.
“In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can assume that it was an agreement, and especially what we saw during the last 90 seconds,” the 67-year-old said.
The match exploded into life deep into added time.
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez put his side 3-2 ahead in the 93rd minute, only for substitute Sasa Kalajdzic to equalise with virtually the last touch of the game.
“Three minutes to play, if somebody had said this would happen, you would have told them they were mad,” Rangnick said.
“I’ve been a coach for about 40 years and I don’t even remember a match that had such a dramatic course and such an unexpected trajectory.
“Most anticipated 0-0 or 1-1, and now it’s 3-3. It’s incredible. The locker-room is madness. If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a drama, I probably would have said he was completely mad.”
The German rejected suggestions that either side had been content to settle for a draw late in the game, noting that players continued to push for a winner before Mahrez’s strike.
“All who watched the game during the last 15 minutes must know there is no hint that the players absolutely wanted to have a draw,” he said. “I think they wanted to win.
“Nobody can tell me that suddenly in minute 93 somebody would plan: ‘oh yes, let’s score another goal.’ I think maybe it was the thought of one or two players in Algeria, but I think in the rest of the squad I don’t think it was the case, and not for me.”
5. South Korea’s president lets rip
Myung-Bo Hong resigned from his post after South Korea’s shock exit. (Getty Images: Carl Recine)
While it was South Africa got the round of 32 up and running today, plenty would have expected South Korea to be taking their spot — not least the nation’s president, Lee Jae Myung.
Lee absolutely blasted the team in a social media post on Sunday, demanding an inquiry after the Taegeuk Warriors’ disappointing exit..
“I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled,” Lee posted on X.
“Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions are everything. When ‘us versus them’ is prioritised over competence, and an incompetent person is selected as a leader, the outcome is as clear as day.”
Successive losses to Mexico and South Africa left South Korea third in Group A, outside the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo’s re-appointment as national team manager in 2024 had already led to allegations of favouritism and an opaque hiring process from Korean media.
“The reason such botched appointments — which fail to distinguish between public and private interests and prioritise personal gain over the public good — are possible is that it is impossible or difficult to monitor, check, and hold those with appointment authority accountable,” Lee wrote.
Hong resigned from his post later on Sunday, making a petition on the website of the national assembly for him to be sacked that has already garnered the required signatures to make a review, redundant.
ABC/Reuters
