Dalic quits after 'incredible era' as Croatia coach

Zagreb: Croatia's most successful football coach, Zlatko Dalic, resigned on Wednesday, ending a tenure that included taking the team to the 2018 World Cup final.

"As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to achieve new successes with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this incredible era to a close," he said in a statement. iwanktv.club

"I am leaving with a full heart and proud that I have made my contribution to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football," the 59-year-old added.

Dalic took over as coach in October 2017.

Apart from their final defeat in Russia, where Croatia, led by Luka Modric, lost to France, Dalic guided the nation to the 2022 Qatar World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 last 16.

"Zlatko's name will remain forever written in golden letters in the history of Croatian football," Croatian Football Federation (HSN) head Marijan Kustic said.

Croatia failed to move into the last 16 of this year's World Cup, losing 2-1 in a gripping match against Portugal earlier this month.

Local media are tipping former international Slaven Bilic as Dalic's likely successor.

Bilic, 57, has coached several clubs, including West Ham United, where he played in the mid-1990s.

The former defender's last coaching position was at Saudi Arabia's Al-Fateh, during the 2023-2024 season.

Dalic has repeatedly said he considered his job the "biggest privilege and pleasure a coach can have".

His most notable previous coaching spells came outside Europe -- he was in charge of top Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Faisaly and Al-Hilal.

In 2014, the former defensive midfielder took over Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he was named coach of the year twice, leading the club to the 2016 Asian Champions League final.

Doha, Qatar: Spain have made winning look routine at the FIFA World Cup, but Belgium’s growing confidence suggests today’s quarter-final could be anything but.

A place in the last four is at stake when two of Europe’s biggest football nations meet at Los Angeles Stadium today (10pm Qatar time), with La Roja’s flawless campaign coming up against a Belgian side that has gathered momentum with every passing match.

European champions Spain arrived in North America as one of the favourites and have done little to challenge that tag.

They topped Group H before sweeping aside Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edging Portugal 1-0 in a tense Iberian derby, where substitute Mikel Merino struck deep into stoppage time to seal their place in the quarter-finals.

More impressively, Luis de la Fuente’s men have yet to concede a goal, becoming the first team in World Cup history to register six successive clean sheets.

Spain’s defensive solidity has been matched by the quality throughout the side. Rodri continues to dictate play from midfield, Pedri and Dani Olmo provide the craft, while teenager Lamine Yamal remains one of the tournament’s biggest attractions despite the extra attention he receives from opposing defenders.

Mikel Oyarzabal has also been a key figure in Spain’s attacking surge, leading their scoring charts with four goals in five matches at the tournament.

“He brings so much to the team with his dribbling and presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opposing players close in on him, which opens up space,” Olmo said of his Barcelona teammate Yamal.

“Lamine scores and assists, he’s always done that in his short career, and even when he doesn’t, he’ll keep helping us with the work he’s doing.”

Spain’s success has been built as much on discipline as flair.

“We are a team where everyone attacks and everyone defends,” Olmo said. “The coach says the number nine is the first to defend and the others follow suit. The defensive line has been spectacular. If we keep a clean sheet, we’re closer to winning.”

Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne in action during a training session yesterday. (PICS: AFP)

Belgium, meanwhile, have quietly grown into one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams. After opening with draws against Egypt and Iran, the Red Devils found their rhythm by thrashing New Zealand 5-1 to finish top of Group G. They then produced a stirring comeback from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32 before dismantling co-hosts United States 4-1 in Seattle to reach the last eight.

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Rudi Garcia’s side still leans on the experience of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, while Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere have added pace, creativity and goals to Belgium’s attack.

The only major setback ahead of the showdown is the absence of Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the United States.

Today’s contest will renew a World Cup rivalry that has produced one win apiece. Belgium eliminated Spain on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 1986 quarter-finals before La Roja responded with a 2-1 victory in the group stage at Italia ‘90.

Overall, Spain have enjoyed the upper hand in the fixture, winning 12 of their 22 meetings, with Belgium claiming five victories and five matches ending level.

Spain’s perfect record and defensive resilience make them deserved favourites, but Belgium’s ability to overcome adversity and hurt opponents in different ways makes this one of the World Cup’s most intriguing quarter-finals.

أعلن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم موافقته على تجديد عقد حسام حسن مدرب المنتخب الوطني، بعد مسيرة ناجحة في كأس العالم، إذ حقق الفراعنة أول فوز في تاريخهم في النهائيات.
وقاد حسن مصر لتحقيق أول فوز لها في كأس العالم في دور المجموعات، قبل الخروج من دور الـ 16 بعد خسارة درامية قرب النهاية 3-2 أمام الأرجنتين حاملة اللقب.
وقال في بيان «أعلن هاني أبو ريدة رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم موافقة مجلس إدارة الاتحاد على تجديد التعاقد مع حسام حسن، المدير الفني للمنتخب الوطني الأول، وإبراهيم حسن مدير المنتخب، وذلك في إطار حرص المجلس على استكمال المشروع الفني للمنتخب الوطني، والبناء على ما تحقق من إنجازات تاريخية لكرة القدم المصرية خلال الفترة الماضية. وأوضح رئيس الاتحاد أن مجلس الإدارة سيستكمل الإجراءات الخاصة باعتماد وتجديد التعاقد، خلال اجتماعه المقبل، وذلك فور وصول بعثة المنتخب الوطني إلى مصر.

Praia, Cape Verde: Applause erupted, drums began to beat and car horns honked: Cape Verde's narrow loss to Argentina was cause for celebration early Saturday in Praia as the Blue Sharks' World Cup dream run came to a sad but brilliant end.

The African archipelago of just over 500,000 people progressed to the knockout stages in their first ever World Cup after drawing with European champions Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the group stage.

However after an epic last-32 contest in Miami where Cape Verde pushed Argentina to the brink, the reigning world champions snatched a 3-2 win to move on, and the rank outsiders' journey was over.

"We lost the match, but we feel like we achieved a victory because we held our own against the world champions," fan Adilson Soaresz told AFP. "Cape Verde was magnificent".

The Atlantic island nation has become one of the fairytale stories of this year's expanded 48-team tournament, confounding expectations.

In Praia, festivities continued until nearly 3:00 am (0400 GMT) with vuvuzelas and live music blasting in the streets.

"Cape Verde leaves the World Cup with its head held high", supporter Pedro Ramos told AFP from a fan zone in Praia, where Cape Verdeans and visitors had gathered to watch the clash.

"We were so close to beating Argentina. We were allowed to dream", he said, gleeful that the Blue Sharks had made "the Argentines sweat".

Down to wire

The overwhelmingly Argentine crowd in Florida was stunned on the hour mark when Deroy Duarte fired in an equaliser for the Blue Sharks to take the game to an extra 30 minutes.

However an own goal from Diney Borges under pressure from Argentina's Cristian Romero in the 111th minute settled the match, with Argentina moving on to face Egypt.

Cape Verde's wild success against the world champions and the match's down-to-the-wire nature made fans feel like they were witnessing something special.

"It felt like watching a World Cup final", said Armando Lopes, a diplomat. "Who would have ever imagined that Cape Verde would push Argentina to extra-time in a World Cup match?"

Ahead of the game Cape Verde coach Bubista had said that "we are calm because we earned our place here on merit and there is nothing to fear or worry too much about".

"We know the importance of the match ahead. It is the match of our lives, but we are going to enjoy it and give our best."

حسم الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم الجدل الذي أثير خلال الساعات الماضية بشأن مستقبل قائد المنتخب الوطني محمد صلاح، بعد توديع منتخب مصر منافسات كأس العالم 2026 من دور الـ16، مؤكدًا أن نجم الفراعنة سيواصل مشواره الدولي، وأن فكرة اعتزاله اللعب مع المنتخب ليست مطروحة على الإطلاق.
وجاءت تصريحات خالد الدرندلي، نائب رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم ورئيس بعثة المنتخب في كأس العالم، لتضع حدًا للشائعات التي انتشرت عقب الخروج من البطولة، بعدما أكد بشكل قاطع أن محمد صلاح مستمر مع المنتخب الوطني، مشددًا على أن وجوده يمثل قيمة فنية ومعنوية كبيرة لا يمكن التفريط فيها.
وقال الدرندلي: “محمد صلاح مستمر مع المنتخب، ولا يمكن الاستغناء عنه، فهو قائد حقيقي.”
وكانت أنباء قد ترددت عقب خسارة المنتخب المصري أمام الأرجنتين بنتيجة 3-2 في دور الـ16، حول إمكانية إعلان صلاح اعتزاله اللعب الدولي، خاصة في ظل حالة الحزن التي سيطرت على الجماهير المصرية بعد نهاية مشوار المنتخب في البطولة.
ورغم الإقصاء، قدم محمد صلاح بطولة مميزة، وقاد المنتخب المصري بروح القائد داخل الملعب وخارجه، وكان أحد أبرز عناصر الفريق طوال مشوار كأس العالم، إذ لعب دورًا كبيرًا في وصول الفراعنة إلى الأدوار الإقصائية لأول مرة في تاريخهم، وهو الإنجاز الذي سيظل محطة بارزة في تاريخ الكرة المصرية.
ويؤكد تمسك اتحاد الكرة باستمرار صلاح أن المرحلة المقبلة ستشهد الاعتماد على خبراته الكبيرة في قيادة جيل جديد من اللاعبين، خاصة مع الاستحقاقات المهمة التي تنتظر المنتخب، وفي مقدمتها التصفيات القارية والدولية والبطولات المقبلة.
ويعد محمد صلاح أحد أعظم اللاعبين في تاريخ الكرة المصرية، بعدما سجل اسمه بحروف من ذهب مع المنتخب الوطني، وحقق العديد من الأرقام القياسية والإنجازات الفردية والجماعية، ليصبح رمزًا لجيل كامل من اللاعبين والجماهير.
ويرى مسؤولو اتحاد الكرة أن وجود قائد بحجم محمد صلاح لا يقتصر على الجانب الفني فقط، بل يمتد إلى دوره القيادي داخل غرفة الملابس، وقدرته على نقل خبراته للاعبين الشباب، وهو ما يجعل استمراره ضرورة في المرحلة المقبلة.
وبتصريحات خالد الدرندلي، يكون الاتحاد المصري قد أغلق الباب أمام كل التكهنات، مؤكدًا أن رحلة محمد صلاح بقميص منتخب مصر لم تنته بعد، وأن قائد الفراعنة سيواصل قيادة المنتخب في الاستحقاقات المقبلة، سعيًا لتحقيق المزيد من الإنجازات وإسعاد الجماهير المصرية.