France Triumphs Over Senegal in Tournament Opener
In today’s opening match, France overcame a disjointed first half to secure a comfortable 3-1 victory against Senegal. Although Les Bleus did not appear at their best for significant periods, the quality of players such as Olise, Mbappé, Doue, and Barcola proved decisive.
Mbappé has now scored 14 goals in 15 matches, equalling Gerd Muller on the all-time World Cup goalscoring list, trailing only Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose. He is poised to leave North America as the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup finals history.
Max and the team celebrate Cape Verde on the latest Daily pod.
Hervé Renard Returns to World Cup as Tunisia Coach
International manager Hervé Renard will participate in the tournament after all. Renard, known for his distinctive fitted white dress shirt, qualified Saudi Arabia for the World Cup but lost his position just before the tournament began. The Frenchman has now accepted Tunisia’s call for help and will replace Sabri Lamouchi as head coach for the remainder of the tournament. Lamouchi, formerly of Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City, was dismissed following a heavy opening defeat to Sweden.
Football Daily Roundup and Insights
Michael Butler compiled the latest Football Daily roundup, which includes features on Pico Lopes, Marcelo Bielsa, and the late Roy Hattersley.
As we approach the third fixture of matchday six, we take a moment to explore the perspective of David Squires.
Argentina vs Algeria: Match 19 Live Coverage
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of match 19 of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Algeria. Kick-off for this Group J encounter at Kansas City Stadium is scheduled for 8pm local time (9pm EDT/2am BST/11am AEST).
The arrival of the defending champions always adds excitement to the tournament, and today is no exception as Argentina begin their campaign. The presence of La Albiceleste also highlights the participation of captain Lionel Messi, whose influence in the region is significant since his move to MLS.
Messi’s crowning achievement came in 2022, when he secured the World Cup title, solidifying his status among football’s all-time greats. While he has the opportunity to add a second winner’s medal in North America, he faces a more challenging task this time as he and his team contend with the inevitable effects of time.
Algeria present a formidable early test for the ageing Argentine squad defending their title. Ranked 28th globally, Algeria is coached by the experienced Vladimir Petkovic and captained by the accomplished Riyad Mahrez. Their preparations for the tournament included a victory over the Netherlands in Rotterdam and a commanding 4-0 win against Bolivia, Argentina’s northern neighbors.
I will return shortly with team news and a summary of all matchday action so far. Meanwhile, you can follow the Iraq vs Norway match and send any comments about the tournament to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@the.com.
