New York, July 7 (IANS) Aymeric Laporte and Cristiano Ronaldo experienced contrasting emotions after Spain eliminated Portugal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday.While Ronaldo left the field in tears following Portugal’s exit in the Round of 16, Laporte was all smiles after helping Spain book a place in the quarterfinals while extending one of the tournament’s most remarkable defensive records.Laporte spent two years alongside Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr between 2023 and 2025 before r…
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Dallas, July 7 (IANS) For 23 years, one man has carried the hopes of an entire nation through six European Championships, six World Cups, and a captaincy that has spanned almost two decades. As Cristiano Ronaldo’s glittering World Cup career ends after Portugal’s defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, Portugal and football pause to salute a career built on relentless, record-breaking longevity.Ronaldo first represented Portugal as an 18-year-old against K…
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) After eliminating co-host USA from the FIFA World Cup, the victorious Belgian team clapped back at the Folarin Balogun red-card drama with a savage two-word social media post. Ahead of the round-of-16 tie against the USA, football’s global governing body suspended the one-match ban imposed on US striker Folarin Balogun, which he got after receiving a red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the round of 32 victory. The ruling drew strong cr…
Lisbon, July 7 (IANS) Following Portugal’s narrow exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a last-16 defeat against Spain, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has rallied behind the national team, expressing pride in their campaign and rallying support for the future. In front of a sellout crowd of 70,649 at Dallas Stadium, reigning European champions Spain was held to a goalless first half, with both teams creating clear chances but failing to find the breakthrough.It was near the end of e…
Lisbon, July 7 (IANS) The area burned in Portugal has nearly quadrupled compared with the same period last year, as extreme heat and elevated fire danger fueled a surge in rural fires across the country, according to official data. Data from Portugal’s Rural Fire Integrated Management System (SGIFR), obtained by Lusa news agency on Monday (local time), showed that 4,592 wildfires have been recorded nationwide so far this year, burning 30,155 hectares, more than half of the total burned area reco…
Seattle, July 7 (IANS) Charles De Ketelaere’s first-half brace, Hans Vanaken’s first World Cup goal and a late strike from substitute Romelu Lukaku send Belgiium through to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over co-hosts USA at Seattle Stadium. USA became the final co-hosts to exit the tournament after Canada and Mexico had already bowed out in the Round of 16.Belgium has not lost a match since March 20, 2025, a 3-1 defeat against Ukraine in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relega…
Arlington, July 7 (IANS) Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he has played his final FIFA World Cup and won’t be returning for a seventh global finals following Portugal’s Round of 16 elimination at the hands of Spain at Dallas Stadium. The 41-year-old’s World Cup career ends with 27 appearances, the second most behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi (30), but without the one major trophy missing from his collection.He hit 11 goals in 27 games and set multiple milestones, including becoming the first …
Arlington, July 7 (IANS) Roberto Martinez has confirmed he is leaving his role as Portugal coach after the team’s FIFA World Cup exit to Spain in the Round of 16 on Tuesday (IST). An injury-time strike from Mikel Merino secured a narrow 1-0 victory for Spain at Dallas Stadium. After Portugal were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026, Martinez announced at the press conference that the game against Spain was his last as Portugal’s national team coach.”I came to Portugal to win the World Cup an…
Arlington, July 7 (IANS) Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time strike earned Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal at Dallas Stadium and a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final place. Luis De La Fuente’s team will now head to Los Angeles Stadium to play the winners of USA-Belgium. The final whistle of the match marked the end of Christiano Ronaldo’s time on football’s biggest stage. “This will be my last World Cup,” he reiterated pre-match. The 41-year-old hit 11 goals in 27 games and set multiple mile…
Rome, July 6 (IANS) The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is changing its skin and focusing on an increasingly central role for Europe in defence, local media reported. On the eve of the Ankara summit, the Alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte explained that the model of recent years “was not sustainable”, reiterating the need to rebalance the weight between the United States and Europe. Rutte also acknowledged Donald Trump’s role in increasing military spending by allies, stating that…