Portugal-Espagne : le coach portugais de l’OL Paulo Fonseca confiant …

Le Portugal rencontre l’Espagne ce lundi pour un choc en 8es de finale de Coupe du monde au Stade de Dallas. Une rencontre très attendue. Interrogé par les médias de l’Olympique Lyonnais concernant la rencontre, l’entraîneur lusitanien Paulo Fonseca, ancien coach du FC Porto et de Braga, a répondu et s’est montré confiant envers le groupe de Cristiano Ronaldo. saltysenoritaaz.org

« Je sais que tout le monde attend à ce que l’Espagne gagne et c’est vrai que l’Espagne est une bonne équipe, mais on a déjà prouvé qu’on pouvait battre l’Espagne. Donc, je suis très tranquille avec ça », a glissé le technicien de 53 ans en marge de l’entraînement des Gones.

The post Portugal-Espagne : le coach portugais de l’OL Paulo Fonseca confiant pour sa nation appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Switzerland vs Colombia Prediction. Switzerland face Colombia — the tournament’s best defensive side — at BC Place, Vancouver on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 (22:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)). Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in the R32; Colombia edged Ghana 1-0 through an Arias goal. Zakaria and Jaquez are both ruled out for Switzerland. Our prediction: both teams to score. Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 16
Date & kick-off	Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 22:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)
Venue	BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
How they got here	Switzerland: beat Algeria 2-0 in the R32. Colombia: beat Ghana 1-0 (Arias 14’) in the R32 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
Format	Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out.
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Switzerland’s history-making run vs Colombia’s iron defence

Switzerland are living history. Their 2-0 win over Algeria in the Round of 32 gave them three consecutive World Cup victories for the first time in their history, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches. Nine goals scored in the tournament reflects an attacking output that belies their reputation as a defensive-minded European side. Murat Yakin’s team have been one of the most cohesive and well-organised sides in the competition.

The standout Switzerland story is Johan Manzambi, who has five goal contributions in the tournament — a record for under-21 players in the last six decades of World Cup history, surpassed only by Thomas Müller’s contributions in that same period. Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas retain their attacking wide roles, and Breel Embolo continues to lead the line. Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler provide the defensive midfield platform.

However, Switzerland carry two significant absences. Denis Zakaria and Luca Jaquez are both ruled out with injuries. Jaquez had been filling in at right-back, and his absence leaves a gap that Yakin must address before kick-off.

Colombia have been the tournament’s most defensively formidable team. With only one goal conceded in five matches — the best record in the entire competition — Néstor Lorenzo’s side have demonstrated an ability to absorb pressure and strike effectively on the counter. Their 1-0 win over Ghana was controlled and professional, with Jhon Arias scoring in the 14th minute. Arias has scored three in his last five games and carries real threat from his advanced midfield position.

James Rodríguez, still the creative heartbeat at 33, starts alongside Jhon Córdoba up front and Luis Díaz on the left. Daniel Muñoz, Colombia’s tournament top scorer, provides both defensive and attacking contributions from right-back. This is a match Colombia will approach with confidence: their best-ever World Cup showing was a quarter-final in 2014, and victory here matches that.

Availability

Player	Status
Denis Zakaria (Switzerland)	OUT — injury. Ruled out of this match.
Luca Jaquez (Switzerland, RB)	OUT — injury. Was covering right-back. Replacement to be confirmed before kick-off.

Team news and expected line-ups

Switzerland: Zakaria and Jaquez both out. Right-back replacement TBC. Ndoye and Vargas retain wide roles. Manzambi in advanced midfield. Embolo leads.

Colombia: No changes. Arias starts after decisive Ghana goal. James orchestrates. Díaz and Córdoba in attack. Muñoz at right-back.

Switzerland (4-2-3-1 expected)	Colombia (4-3-3 expected)
Kobel (GK)	Camilo Vargas (GK)
Widmer/Replacement (RB)	Muñoz (RB)
Elvedi (CB)	Sánchez (CB)
Akanji (CB)	Lucumí (CB)
Rodriguez (LB)	Mojica (LB)
Freuler (DM)	Rios (DM)
Xhaka (DM)	Lerma (CM)
Ndoye (RM)	Arias (RM)
Manzambi (AM)	James (AM)
Vargas (LM)	Díaz (LW)
Embolo (ST)	Córdoba (ST)

Key stats

• Switzerland: R32 result — beat Algeria 2-0.
• Switzerland: 3 consecutive World Cup wins — first time in their history.
• Switzerland: 7-match unbeaten streak. 9 goals scored in the tournament.
• Johan Manzambi: 5 goal contributions — record for under-21 players in 60 years of World Cup history.
• Denis Zakaria: OUT — injury. Luca Jaquez: OUT — injury (was covering right-back).
• Breel Embolo: leads the attack. Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas retain wide roles.
• Switzerland form: W W W D D — unbeaten in 7.
• Colombia: R32 result — beat Ghana 1-0 (Arias 14’) at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
• Colombia: 1 goal conceded in 5 WC matches — best defensive record in the tournament.
• Colombia: unbeaten in last 6 matches (W5 D1).
• Jhon Arias: scored the decisive goal vs Ghana. 3 goals in last 5 games.
• James Rodríguez: creative leader. Still orchestrating at 33.
• Luis Díaz: key attacking threat from the left.
• Jhon Córdoba: confirmed starting striker — resolved earlier token from session files.
• Daniel Muñoz: tournament top scorer from right-back; goal involvements throughout.
• H2H: Colombia W2 Switzerland W1 from 3 meetings. No draws in any previous encounter.

Head-to-head

Colombia lead the head-to-head, winning two of the three previous meetings between the nations. Notably there has never been a draw in any of their three encounters. Colombia won 3-1 in 2007 and 2-0 in 1994, while Switzerland won 3-2 in 1991.

Date	Result
25 March 2007	Colombia 3–1 Switzerland
27 June 1994	Switzerland 0–2 Colombia (1994 World Cup group stage)
4 February 1991	Colombia 2–3 Switzerland

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC)
Switzerland	W W W D D — 7-match unbeaten run; beat Algeria 2-0 in R32
Colombia	W D W W W — 5 wins in last 6; only 1 WC goal conceded

Our prediction

Switzerland’s nine tournament goals and attacking quality through Manzambi, Ndoye, Vargas and Embolo give them a genuine threat in the final third. Their ability to find the net consistently through the group stage and R32 makes them capable of breaking down Colombia’s defensive structure.

Colombia’s single goal conceded in five matches represents the most miserly defence in the competition. Muñoz, Arias, James and Díaz also carry real counter-attacking quality that can test Switzerland’s backline — particularly with Jaquez absent. The H2H shows no draws in three meetings. Both teams have shown they can score when it matters.

Our prediction: both teams to score.

Odds and markets

Odds correct at 2200Hrs UTC on Tuesday,7^th July 2026.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the Switzerland vs Colombia event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Switzerland vs Colombia kick off?

Kick-off is at 22:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, at BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

How did Switzerland beat Algeria?

Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches and giving the Swiss their first-ever run of three consecutive World Cup wins.

How did Colombia beat Ghana?

Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City in the Round of 32. Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute, and Colombia’s defensive organisation held firm to protect the lead.

Who is Johan Manzambi?

Johan Manzambi is a young Switzerland forward who has accumulated five goal contributions at this World Cup. This makes him one of the most impactful under-21 players in World Cup history over the last six decades, according to the KE article.

Are Zakaria and Jaquez playing for Switzerland?

No. Both Denis Zakaria and Luca Jaquez have been ruled out through injury. Jaquez had been covering the right-back position. Switzerland will need to confirm a replacement before kick-off.

READ ALSO: USA vs Belgium prediction.

La Fédération française de football a écrit à la Fifa pour demander de retirer le carton jaune donné à Michael Olise los du 8e de finale de Coupe du monde contre le Paraguay.

Après le carton jaune reçu par Michael Olise lors du 8e de finale contre le Paraguay, la FFF, d’après RMC Sport, a écrit à la FIFA pour demander l’annulation du carton infligé par l’arbitre ouzbek Ilgiz Tantashev à Philadelphie. Les Bleus avaient réussi à s’imposer péniblement grâce à un penalty de Kylian Mbappé inscrit après l’heure de jeu et subi de nombreuses fautes de leur adversaire.

Lors de la dernière minute du temps réglementaire d’un match très tendu, Michael Olise s’accroche avec Matia Galarza. Le Paraguayen simule un coup reçu et tombe à terre. Le Français reçoit un avertissement, le troisième pour les Bleus lors de la rencontre après Koné et Barcola. Considérant ce carton comme une injustice et pouvant le priver d’une demi-finale en cas de nouvel avertissement contre le Maroc, jeudi, à Boston, la FFF a fait appel.

The post Coupe du Monde 2026 : La FFF a envoyé une demande à la FIFA pour annuler le carton jaune d’Olise appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

USA vs Belgium prediction.Co-hosts USA face Belgium in the Round of 16 at Lumen Field, Seattle on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 (02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)). Balogun’s one-match ban was suspended by FIFA — he is available. Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 AET; Lukaku expected to start over De Ketelaere. Our prediction: both teams to score.Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 16
Date & kick-off	Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)
Venue	Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA
How they got here	USA: beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in R32. Belgium: beat Senegal 3-2 AET (Tielemans 120’ penalty) in R32.
Format	Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out.
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Home comforts vs Belgium’s dominance

The United States arrive in Seattle for a match they were built to reach. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been one of the tournament’s most entertaining attacking sides, scoring in every match and averaging at least two goals per game. Their 2-0 win over Bosnia in the R32 was comfortable. The Stars and Stripes are bidding for their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002, and playing at Lumen Field adds a home dimension to a game they will treat as the most important in the programme’s history.

The biggest pre-match development arrived late: a linked KE article confirms FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-match ban. The USA’s top scorer with three tournament goals — initially facing a suspension after his red card vs Bosnia — is cleared to start. Christian Pulisic continues to captain and orchestrate. Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman retain their places in the XI.

Belgium have never lost to the United States in modern football history. Their only defeat across the full head-to-head came at the 1930 World Cup. Since then, Belgium have won six consecutive meetings, including a 5-2 victory in a March 2026 friendly — just months before this tournament. Rudi Garcia’s side were pushed to extra time by Senegal before Youri Tielemans’ 120th-minute penalty sealed a 3-2 win. Romelu Lukaku has come off the bench to score in two consecutive matches and that form earns him a first start of the tournament, with Charles De Ketelaere dropping to the bench. Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard complete a formidable attacking unit.

Team news and expected line-ups

USA: Balogun AVAILABLE — ban suspended by FIFA (5 July ruling). Expected to start. Pulisic captains. Dest and Tillman retain places. Adams anchors midfield.

Belgium: Lukaku STARTS — replaces De Ketelaere after bench goals in two straight matches. De Bruyne orchestrates. Doku and Trossard wide. Tielemans and Onana in midfield.

USA (4-3-3 expected)	Belgium (4-3-3 expected)
Freese (GK)	Courtois (GK)
Freeman (RB)	Castagne (RB)
Ream (CB)	Mechélé (CB)
Richards (CB)	Theate (CB)
Robinson (LB)	De Cuyper (LB)
Adams (DM)	Tielemans (CM)
Tillman (CM)	Onana (DM)
Dest (RW)	Doku (RW)
McKennie (CM)	De Bruyne (AM)
Pulisic (LW)	Trossard (LW)
Balogun (ST)	Lukaku (ST)

Key stats

• USA: R32 result — beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0.
• USA: scored at least 2 goals in every World Cup match. Averaging 2+ goals per game.
• Folarin Balogun: 3 tournament goals. Red card vs Bosnia. BAN SUSPENDED by FIFA on 5 July — available to start.
• Christian Pulisic: captain and creative leader.
• USA: bidding for first World Cup quarter-final since 2002.
• USA form: W L W W W.
• Belgium: R32 result — beat Senegal 3-2 AET (Tielemans 120’ penalty).
• Belgium: unbeaten in over a year (last defeat: Ukraine, March 2025).
• Romelu Lukaku: scored from bench in two consecutive matches. STARTS vs USA.
• Kevin De Bruyne: Belgium’s creative fulcrum. Central to everything.
• Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard: direct, dangerous wide options.
• Belgium: beat USA 5-2 in a March 2026 friendly. Beaten USA in all 6 of the last meetings.
• Belgium’s only defeat to USA: 1930 World Cup.
• Belgium form: W W D D W.
• H2H: Belgium W6 USA W1 (1930) in 7 meetings. USA last beat Belgium 93 years ago.

Head-to-head

Belgium have dominated the recent head-to-head utterly. USA’s only ever win came at the 1930 World Cup. Since then, Belgium have won six consecutive meetings, with the most recent being a 5-2 victory in a March 2026 friendly — played just before this tournament.

Date	Result
28 March 2026	USA 2–5 Belgium (International Friendly)
1 July 2014	Belgium 2–1 USA (2014 World Cup R16, AET)
30 May 2013	USA 2–4 Belgium (Friendly)
6 September 2011	Belgium 1–0 USA (Friendly)
25 February 1998	Belgium 2–0 USA (Friendly)
1930	USA 3–0 Belgium (1930 World Cup)

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC)
USA	W L W W W — 2-0 vs Bosnia in R32; scoring in every match
Belgium	W W D D W — unbeaten 12+ months; Lukaku scoring from bench

Our prediction

USA have the home support, the scoring threat — especially with Balogun reinstated — and the momentum of co-host advantage. Pulisic and McKennie will press Belgium from the first whistle.

Belgium’s H2H record is, however, emphatic. The 5-2 March 2026 friendly result is recent, directly relevant form. De Bruyne, Doku, Trossard and now Lukaku starting makes this a dangerous Belgian attack. Both sides have conceded just four goals in the tournament and both have consistently scored. A match with goals at both ends reflects the analytical middle ground between USA’s attacking home ambition and Belgium’s proven quality.

Our prediction: both teams to score.

Odds and market

Odds correct at 0200Hrs UTC on Tuesday,7^th July 2026.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the USA vs Belgium event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

What time does USA vs Belgium kick off?

Kick-off is at 02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Is Folarin Balogun playing for the USA?

Yes. Balogun received a red card in the Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but FIFA subsequently suspended his one-match ban, clearing him to play. He is expected to start against Belgium.

Is Romelu Lukaku starting for Belgium?

Yes. Lukaku has scored from the bench in two consecutive matches and has earned a starting place for this fixture. Charles De Ketelaere, who started the Senegal match, is expected to drop to the bench.

What is Belgium’s record against the USA?

Belgium have won six consecutive meetings against the USA, including a 5-2 friendly victory in March 2026. The USA’s only win in the history of the fixture came at the 1930 World Cup. Belgium also beat the USA 2-1 in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16 after extra time.

Have USA ever beaten Belgium?

Only once — a 3-0 win at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Belgium have won every meeting between the two nations since then, across six consecutive encounters spanning 1998 to 2026.

READ ALSO: Switzerland vs Colombia prediction.

Rassie Erasmus has emphasised the Springboks’ bigger picture after selecting an overhauled match 23 for the world champions’ next Nations Championship assignment.

Erasmus made 10 changes from the starting XV that beat England last week, with only Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortjé and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit retaining their spots to face Scotland at Loftus on Saturday.

Vodacom Bulls duo Handré Pollard and Embrose Papier take charge at halfback.

TEAM: Pollard, Papier take charge of new-look Boks

The reshuffle also sees Aphelele Fassi pair with Edwill van der Merwe and Canan Moodie in the back three, while Boan Venter, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw form a new-look front row, with Cobus Wiese joining Nortjé in the second row.

Several low-cap players in key positions, like last week’s debutant De Villiers and the returning Papier, will look to the double World Cup-winning experience of Kriel, Pollard, Willemse and Du Toit for guidance.

MORE: Rassie bullish about Papier’s role

Asked during Monday’s press conference if Scotland’s 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba had any bearing on his selections, the Bok coach took the opportunity to highlight the importance of building depth ahead of next year’s World Cup.

“No, Scotland’s win didn’t play a role at all. This team was not picked for specific reasons surrounding Scotland,” Erasmus said.

“It was for us to make sure that when we go into the World Cup next year, we know who can do what, when and how, and under pressure and not under pressure. Some combinations were picked more with that in mind.

“Scotland played really well, I thought. They’re obviously a good team. I mean, they beat England in the Six Nations. So if you just go on those results, then probably this match will be tougher than last weekend.”

PLUS: Eben in a race to face All Blacks

Erasmus pointed to Los Pumas’ lack of preparation as a factor in that result, while acknowledging his own troops face a similar challenge against Scotland given the scale of changes made.

“You could see Argentina, very few of their players play in Argentina and it’s very tough in the first game. They didn’t even have a warm-up game and their coach Felipe Contepomi was a week before that in Port Elizabeth with the Barbarians.

“The southern hemisphere teams normally take a game or two to get some good rhythm and cohesion and for us, if you look at the team, there’s a lot of changes,” he added.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post This Bok team ‘not picked’ to beat Scotland appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.