World Cup as it happened: Salah magic breaks Kiwi hearts

That’s a wrap from nine.com.au’s live coverage of day 11 of the World Cup.

I am a New Zealand fan so I am off to have a cry and grab some lunch.

It has been another terrific day of action, with Spain getting back on track, Cabo Verde shocking the world for a second time and Egypt making history with their first win.

We will do it all again from 5am AEST tomorrow.

Socceroos veteran Jackson Irvine has warned Paraguay will be an unpredictable and street smart opponent in their final World Cup group game on Friday (AEST).

A win or a draw will guarantee Australia’s progression.

The Socceroos and Paraguay both sit on three points behind Group D leaders the United States, who have six.

Türkiye have been eliminated.

“Listen, it is just a totally different type of game. We all know that in the games we’ve played against South American teams in the past,” midfielder Irvine told reporters.

“Watching Paraguay against Türkiye, there was a sequence towards the end of the game that kind of sums up their style of football.

“It was with about five minutes to go. They won the ball back high up the pitch, and they had a chance to go to the corner, and the guy just whips the cross in to the back stick with three men and they go on and try to score again with 10 men, when they’re 1-0 up.

“You know what kind of game it’s going to be. They have incredible individual quality, as you saw in some moments, and you expect the unexpected.”

The TAB have Paraguay as $2.80 favourites, with Australia at $4 and the draw paying $2.25 for your hard-earned dollar.

Cape Verde coach Bubista believes his World Cup debutants have proved that dreams can triumph over financial constraints after they claimed another precious point in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay on Sunday.

The African nation have now drawn with heavyweights Spain and Uruguay to put themselves in contention for a historic knockout stage qualification.

“Once you’re on the pitch, a lot of things become equal. As big as the opponent might be on the world stage, many national teams become equal,” a beaming Bubista told reporters.

“We wanted to show that not only in football, but also in other aspects of life.

“Show that you can achieve great things regardless of your challenges, whether they’re financial or of any other kind. Just so long as you have a dream and chase after it.”

Cape Verde’s remarkable performances have the coach daring to think about progression from the group stage in the 48-team tournament where the best third-placed teams also advance.

They are in third place with two points, level with Uruguay and two points behind group leaders Spain.

It was a frantic end to that match in Vancouver but Egypt hold on for a famous 3-1 win over New Zealand.

It was a completely different game in the second half and Egypt are deserved victors.

It is their first-ever World Cup win while New Zealand will continue their own hunt in their final group game against Belgium on Saturday (AEST).

Egypt are now top of Group G on four points.

Egypt are now on the verge of a historic World Cup win as Trézéguet heads in their third from a corner.

That was virtually non-existent defending from New Zealand and their own hopes of creating history are now surely dashed.

Egypt have never won a World Cup match.

They lead 3-1 after 82 minutes and Mo Salah is coming off to rapturous applause.

Whatever was said to Egypt’s XI at half-time has worked a treat.

Mo Salah, the Egyptian King, has punched his team into the lead. It was only a matter of time until we saw his talent truly put on show.

Everyone was expecting a goal from Salah and he just did exactly that, smashing the ball in from the right wing.

It is his 68th goal for the national team.

“You just need one moment for these players to come alive”.

Just as Casey Stoney said that in commentary on SBS, Egypt ramped up their attack and set up a beautiful play for Mostafa Zico to score.

Zico moved to the middle and sent a perfect header down the middle, with goalkeeper Max Crocombe unable to prevent it from flying past the side of his face.

He looked stunned, he could definitely see it coming.

The scores are now all level in Vancouver. Game on!

Shaun Evans was back at work on Monday (AEST) as the Australian official oversaw the New Zealand vs Egypt World Cup fixture.

The Australian was at the centre of controversy last week when he was investigated for an alleged white supremacist hand gesture ahead of Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao.

Evans denied that suggestion and FIFA cleared him of any sinister wrongdoing.

“I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind,” Evans said in a statement.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Egypt may have fired an early warning shot in the opening minute of this half, but New Zealand have quickly taken back control of this game.

Callum McCowatt was the man who nearly slotted their second goal, but he put too much power into his shot and it went straight over the crossbar.

Very unfortunate for the Kiwis.