Sports

Under 20 W/Cup: Brazil Battle First Timer Isreal In Q/ Final

Published

3 years ago

June 1, 2023

Spread the love

Ten-man Brazil on Wednesday dribbled out of the U20 world championship, African representative, Carthage Eagles of Tunisia 4-1 in a grueling encounter at La Plata stadium.

Brazil that had beaten another African team in Nigeria 2-0 now meets Israel in the quarterfinal at San Juan on Saturday.

Although Robert Renon of Brazil bagged a red in the 45th minute of play it did not affect the game where Andrey Santos got a brace in the 31st and 90+10th minute. Star boy Marcus Leonardo opened scoring for Brazil via a penalty in the 11th minute. Magical Leonardo it will be recalled scored against Domini Republic and got the brace in the 2-3 loss to Italy.

Silva Dos actually scored the 3rd goal for Brazil in 90+1 minute before Santos scored the 4th goal at 90+10 and Ghophe pulled one back at 90+13 minute for Tunisia.

The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia from Africa had lost to the Three Lions of England by a lone goal; pecked to submission Iraq by 3-0 but lost again to Uruguay by a lone goal. On the 6th of March Tunisia lost to Senegal 0-3 and got punished by Nigeria on the 10th of March 0-4.

Brazil was humbled by the Junior Azzuris of Italy 3-2; bounced off Dominic Republic 6-0 and maintained the winning jinx over Nigeria 2-0. On the 22nd of April 2023 Brazil dismissed Uzbekistan 4-1 and on 26th April played 1-1 with Iraq.

Both sides have never met before.

Brazil is reckoned to be the second most successful team at U20 in the world having won the title 5 times in 1983 at Mexico when she defeated Argentina by a lone goal to win 1st title; in 1985 at Soviet Union when she beat Spain 1-0 after beating Nigeria 2-0 in the semi; 1993 in Australia after beating Ghana 2-1; 2003 at UAE when Brazil spank rivals Spain again 1-0 and 2011 in Columbia when Portugal was humbled 3-2.

Brazil was Runners-up 4 times also in 1991 at Portugal where she lost to Hosts Portugal 4-2 on penalties after goalless full time; in 1995 in Qatar where she lost 0-2 to Argentina and 2005 in Netherlands where she beat Morocco 2-1 in Losers’ final after losing to Argentina 1-2 in the semis. She won Bronze twice in 1979 and Saudi 1989 beating USA 3-2.

The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia got bashed 6-0 by Mexico on her first International outing at Tunis on 2th June 1977 but on 20th June 2002 she had grown to wallop Libya 5-0 also in Tunis. In her first Group game on 22nd May she lost to Junior Three Lions of England by a slim lone goal and in the second group game on the 26th of May she nipped Iraq 3-0. On her way to Argentina 2023, she played 3-3 with Congo; lost eventual African Champions, Senegal 0-3 and got wounded by the Flying Eagles of Nigeria 0-4 showing that Tunisia is not a fantastic side playing last 5 games winning one, drawing one and losing 3 with 6 goals scored and 11 conceded.

There were two previous appearances of Tunisia at theU20 World Cup in 1977 when she hosted and placed 14th and at the Soviet Union in 1985 where she placed 16th as she was edged at the group stages.

Later today, Italy will meet England at La Plata at 2200 hours. Nigeria faces Argentina at 2200 hours at Juan. Ecuador will meet South Korea at Santiago on Thursday, 1st June at 1830 hours. Ecuador will slug it out with South Korea on Thursday at 2200 hours.

Perhaps you want to peep at the quarterfinal pairings. Israel vs Brazil at San Juan on Saturday at 1830 hours. USA versus Gam/Uru on Sunday 4th June at 1830 hours. Eng/Ita vs Columbia at San Juan on Saturday 3rd June at 2200 hours. Ecu/SKor vs Arg/Ngr on Sunday at 2200 hours.

Eniola Olatunji

International News

Barcelona Seals New Deal With Head Coach Flick

Published

16 hours ago

May 18, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Barcelona completes contract renewal with head coach Hansi Flick, per official announcement.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Flick’s new contract with Barcelona runs until June 2028, with an option to extend until June 2029, meaning the coach could stay for three more seasons.

In his first season in charge, Flick led the team to a domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

This season, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup again and retained the La Liga title, bringing his total to five trophies in two seasons.

Entertainment

Erling Haaland Makes Acting Debut In Animated Film

Published

16 hours ago

May 18, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Erling Haaland will follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and Vinnie Jones by taking his first steps into the acting world, with the Norwegian striker set to make his film debut.

The Manchester City striker will voice a character described as ‘an animated version of himself’, in the upcoming animated film Viqueens.

This is according to the Hollywood Reporter, who say that the 25-year-old is playing a Viking called Haaland in the motion picture.

The adventure-comedy is directed and co-written by the award-winning Harald Zwart, the Norwegian director known for The Karate Kid and Agent Cody Banks.

‘As a Norwegian storyteller making a Viking adventure for a global audience, having Erling Haaland join feels incredibly exciting,’ said Zwart.

‘Erling has already become a kind of real-life Viking icon around the world – powerful, fearless and uniquely Norwegian.

‘Bringing him into this universe as himself gives the film an unexpected energy and authenticity that felt completely right for this story.’

Solveig Langeland, managing director of Sola Media, added: ‘Erling Haaland transcends sports – he’s a global cultural figure.

‘His involvement brings another exciting dimension to a film that already combines international adventure, humour, and emotional storytelling in a way we believe will resonate with audiences everywhere.’

He follows the likes of Beckham and Jones, who have already hit the cinema screens around the country.

Beckham made his silver screen debut in his pal Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur back in 2017 alongside film stars Charlie Hunnam and Eric Bana, playing hardened battleguard Trigger in the flick.

Meanwhile, Jones is known for portraying gangsters on screen, and as recently as 2024 played gamekeeper Geoff in Ritchie’s series The Gentlemen, featuring Theo James.

He famously also played Coach Dinklage in She’s the Man, and was The Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand.

Haaland may need a while before he becomes the big actor that Jones has become, though, with plenty of years on the pitch still ahead of him.

The striker’s focus will currently be on winning the Premier League with Manchester City, as they look to hunt down Arsenal, who are two points ahead at the top, with two games to go.

Haaland will next be in action on Tuesday night as they travel to Bournemouth.

International News

Iran squad travel to Turkey for friendlies, US visas

Published

19 hours ago

May 18, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match and apply for visas to fly to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, Iranian media reported.

The team plan to participate in the tournament despite co-host Washington having launched a war against Iran with a massive wave of attacks alongside ally Israel on February 28.

The fighting has been on hold for weeks thanks to a ceasefire, but peace talks have failed to make a breakthrough and new drone attacks against Gulf countries at the weekend combined with threats from US President Donald Trump raising fears of a return to fighting.

The team “departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

– ‘Let ’em play’ –

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted that Iran is welcome at the tournament, while organiser FIFA has said it will go ahead as planned and rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting they may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

The Iranian football team hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, are due to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

AFP