In England’s first sport of the FIFA World Cup 2026 (in opposition to Croatia), captain Harry Kane joined the league of elite forwards at present working on the World Cup to attain two targets or extra of their staff’s opener. It’s an elite group that features Argentina’s Lionel Messi (hat-trick in opposition to Algeria), Norway’s Erling Haaland (two targets in opposition to Iraq), France’s Kylian Mbappe (two targets in opposition to Senegal) and Germany’s Kai Havertz (two targets in opposition to Curacao).
Who’s but to hitch this group is Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a wretched sport in opposition to Congo, going goalless after having simply two photographs in the entire sport. Congo ended up holding Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1-1 draw with Joao Neves’s sixth minute aim getting cancelled out by Yoane Wisse’s strike within the first half.
Ronaldo’s two photographs got here within the 68th minute and the 73rd minute, each off course.
After the sport, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez was repeatedly requested if he thought of taking out Ronaldo on Wednesday.
“It is unnecessary to get the most effective world scorer to be out while you want targets,” Martínez mentioned. “The expertise of Cristiano within the field is necessary. The way in which that he attracts defenders is necessary.”
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Martínez was then requested if Ronaldo will begin Portugal’s upcoming matches in opposition to Uzbekistan and Colombia contemplating his age.
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“We deal with each participant in the identical means. We take it step-by-step,” Martínez mentioned. “We’ll assess each participant. It’s not a particular difficulty. We don’t deal with Cristiano with age … we deal with him how he feels.”
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Wednesday’s sport was the 229th of Ronaldo’s worldwide profession, probably the most for a person in historical past
Ronaldo himself didn’t face the media after the sport, the place he seemed pissed off more often than not. However he wrote on his social media handles: “It wasn’t the beginning we needed, however that is removed from over. Head up and deal with the following sport.”
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Harry Kane will get two probabilities to get penalty proper
Whereas Ronaldo was in all probability left wishing for extra probabilities to show that he’s nonetheless obtained it, in England’s sport in opposition to Croatia in Group L, Harry Kane actually obtained two probabilities to get off the mark.
After England had been awarded a penalty attributable to Luka Modric’s careless kick that hit Noni Madeuke, Kane stepped as much as take the spot kick. His first try was saved by the Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic. However the VAR dominated that Livakovic’s toes had been off the aim line as Kane struck the ball after an preliminary stutter-step.
So Kane obtained one other chunk on the cherry. This time, he didn’t miss. The England captain has now scored his final eight penalties after lacking a spot kick in opposition to France within the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
England’s Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring a aim throughout the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Croatia in Arlington, Texas, close to Dallas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photograph)
Kane was again at it within the first half, nodding in a header to attain his second aim. In a while, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford scored two extra targets to offer England a victory. Croatia did claw again twice within the sport, due to targets from Petar Musa and Martin Baturina.
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Kane’s brace means he now has 10 World Cup targets, which ranges the English report that Gary Lineker set taking part in within the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Kane, who received the Golden Boot in 2018 in Russia by scoring six occasions, is the primary participant from England to attain a number of targets in three Cup appearances. He has 81 worldwide targets.
“Clearly it’s a fantastic milestone to achieve, to get 10 targets in a World Cup. … To succeed in double figures on this wonderful match could be very particular,” Kane mentioned. “And it’s the primary sport, I’m feeling good. I mentioned earlier than the sport, bodily, mentally, the targets I’ve scored this 12 months (are) on the highest degree I’ve ever had in my profession. … I get pleasure from being on the pitch once I’m feeling on this type.”
Ghana take down Panama
In an early morning sport performed on the Toronto Stadium, Ghana scored a late winner to stun Panama. Caleb Yirenkyi scored within the ninety fifth minute for Carlos Queiroz’s Ghana. The end result denied Panama a primary World Cup level.
Remarkably, the main target was on Queiroz, who has now coached groups at 5 successive World Cups. He was in command of Portugal at South Africa 2010, Iran at Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, and now’s on the helm of Ghana on the 2026 version.