By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Clear your schedule, Belize, because the next two days of World Cup football are stacked. Three quarter-finals will decide who joins France in the semi-finals, and the storylines could hardly be juicier.
First up, today at 1:00 p.m. Belize time, it is Spain against Belgium. The European champions have looked every bit the contender, squeezing past neighbours Portugal 1-0 in a tense Iberian battle. Belgium, meanwhile, arrive full of confidence after crushing the United States 4-1, a result made all the more striking given the circus that preceded it, with USA star Folarin Balogun cleared to play after his red card was sensationally overturned following a call from President Trump. It made no difference in the end. Today’s winner advances to face France, who dispatched Morocco 2-0 in a match refereed, without major incident, by the much-debated all-Argentine crew.
Saturday brings the double-header. At 3:00 p.m. Belize time, Norway and England collide in Miami, with the tournament’s most feared striker at centre stage. Erling Haaland, fresh off sinking mighty Brazil with two late goals, shares the golden boot lead on seven, and England are so wary of him that a UK travel company jokingly offered him a lifetime of free holidays to skip the game. England, narrow favourites after their dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, will hope captain Harry Kane, one goal behind on six, has the final say.
Then, at 7:00 p.m. Belize time, comes the match the Jewel has been waiting for. Argentina, the defending champions adored across Belize, take on Switzerland with a semi-final berth at stake. Messi and company needed a miracle to get here, storming back from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in stoppage time, a victory Egypt insists was tainted by the officiating. Switzerland bring a different kind of test, a disciplined side that shut out Colombia and prevailed on penalties, and they will happily drag Argentina into another war of nerves.
By Saturday night, the final four will be set. Until then, Belize has some serious football watching to do.
Who advances, Belize? Spain or Belgium? Norway or England? And are Messi and Argentina going all the way? Drop your predictions in the comments.
The post Your World Cup weekend guide: Spain, Haaland and Messi appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Clear your schedule, Belize, because the next two days of World Cup football are stacked. Three quarter-finals will decide who joins France in the semi-finals, and the storylines could hardly be juicier. First up, today at 1:00 p.m. Belize time, it is Spain against Belgium. The European champions have
The post Your World Cup weekend guide: Spain, Haaland and Messi appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
