24/06/2026

SPORTS

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JUNE 24, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP ‘A long night’ Mbappe comes through storm to keep up World Cup scoring run, France through to last 32 K YLIAN MBAPPE said he was not paying too much attention to World Cup scoring records after getting two more goals on what he ing with the players. This is a security mat ter so I don’t blame anyone for it. “As soon as there is a risk, we adapt to local laws. These are unusual circum

From Kota Belud to Morocco 2030

FROM THE BENCH █ BY COACH CHRIS ARIEF

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE has finally made its debut at the Fifa World Cup. No, we are not talking about how football’s most famous predictor, Paul the Octopus, was unceremoniously replaced by an algorithm and is now reportedly updating his resume somewhere in the deep sea. While AI may be less dramatic than the latest South Korean Netflix blockbuster “Teach You a Lesson”, it is already playing a significant role at this World Cup. Behind the scenes, it is helping to run matches, assist referees, improve broadcast ing, strengthen security, and even enhance player performance. The most visible example is the dreaded offside decision. AI now works alongside multiple stadium cameras, player-tracking systems, and, for the first time, sensors embedded inside the match ball itself. Broadcasters have also embraced AI. International television networks now use it to gen erate instant tactical graphics, create 3D replays, automate highlight packages, provide alternative camera angles, and enhance footage for viewers around the world. All 48 teams at this tournament have access to Fifa’s AI Pro Coach platform. The system can ana lyse thousands of matches, process millions of data points, and provide tactical insights, animated replays, and realistic 3D player simulations. That said, Paraguay may wish to inquire about the money-back guarantee after the system somehow failed to warn them about the relatively unknown Folarin Balogun, who scored twice for the United States in their opening match. Back here in Malaysia, one of our biggest chal lenges has always been identifying talent. We are a uniquely multicultural country with young foot ballers spread across kampungs, Felda settle ments, fishing villages, Orang Asli communities, and schools throughout Sabah and Sarawak. AI could help us scan performance data, school competitions, and grassroots programmes nationwide far more efficiently than traditional scouting methods. It could reduce the disadvan tage faced by children whose families cannot afford academy fees, whose schools lack expo sure, or who simply live too far away from major cities. A child in Tawau, Baling, Kota Belud, or Kuala Lipis should have the same chance of being dis covered as a child in Kuala Lumpur. And when these players eventually arrive for trials, coaches like me can finally stop losing what little hair we have left trying to explain “defending in the final third” in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Tamil, and Iban. But technology alone is not enough. One area where Malaysia can learn from Asian football powerhouses such as Japan and South Korea is character development. In Japan, school football is closely linked to the culture of bukatsu , or school club activities. These are not casual after-school kickabouts. They are structured environments that cultivate discipline, respect for seniors, punctuality, teamwork, responsibility, and humility. An AI-powered coaching assistant could help grassroots coaches design training sessions, review performances, identify weaknesses, sug gest improvements, and prepare tactical plans against upcoming opponents. Our national team’s Chinese coach in Kelantan should have access to the same football knowl edge as a coach in Manchester or Lisbon. Our Kadazan defenders could study Brazilian wingers before facing them or our Malay midfielders could learn how to disrupt Spain’s tiki-taka . Now, before anyone accuses me of believing AI is some magical solution to all our football prob lems, let me be clear. Artificial intelligence cannot replace hard work, discipline, good coaching, supportive parents, proper facilities, or a genuine football culture. If AI can help the world’s best teams gain an edge, perhaps it can also help turn a child from Tanjung Malim into a World Cup star. Coach Chris Arief is an Asian-level certified football coach, youth development junkie, and collector of colourful training markers and cones. He can be reached at coachchrisarief@gmail.com

Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, establish ing a new record of 18. “Leo always scores goals and always will. So I am not looking at what he is doing, I’m just focusing on helping my team,” said Mbappe. He now has 60 goals for his country, having overtaken Olivier Giroud’s previous French record of 57 against Senegal. It was put to him that he could chase down the record for most goals scored in one World Cup – that is held by France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13 in 1958 in Sweden. “I’m not thinking about that just now. I think it is important to focus on the collec tive at the moment,” said the Real Madrid superstar. “I have always scored goals at the World Cup, but the priority is to be at our best as a team. You need to beat the best teams to win a World Cup so it’s going to be very dif ficult.” – AFP

stances, and I hope it won’t happen again.” A match which began at 5pm local time (5am Malaysian time) didn’t finish until close to 9pm (9am), but Mbappe’s per formance made it memorable for other reasons for the capacity crowd of over 68,000. His brace came after a double in France’s opening 3-1 win over Senegal, and he has seven goals in his last three World Cup matches, including his hattrick in the 2022 final against Argentina. Mbappe now has 16 World Cup goals, equalling the pre-tournament overall scor ing record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Lionel Messi, Mbappe’s old teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, shot past that mark earlier yesterday with two goals in

described as a draining night in Philadelphia, as France beat Iraq 3-0 in a game interrupted by a two-hour storm delay. Mbappe’s strikes came either side of halftime on his 100th appearance for France, and Ousmane Dembele the other goal in a game which was held up at halftime as torrential rain lashed the city. “It was a very long evening. In terms of staying switched on emotionally it was very difficult because we had to remain focused in the dressing room for almost two hours. That is very difficult and very demanding,” said Mbappe. “We stayed calm, I was joking with the players,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “We stayed calm and relaxed. I was jok Mbappe will eventually claim the all-time World Cup goals record after the 27-year-old striker scored his second double of the tourna ment in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Iraq. “Well, records are there to be broken,” Deschamps said in the post-match press conference. “And now he has a symbolic figure. He has 100 caps. He’s always scored goals. He will score more goals. “Take (Lionel) Messi, take (Cristiano) Ronaldo. I’m not sure that Kylian will play up to their age, but as long as he’s on the pitch and as he feels right, he will score a lot of goals. “Every time he beats his own record, he does have the capac ity to up his ante.” Mbappe’s latest double was perhaps his most unusual, the goals coming nearly three hours apart in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy weather delay. What did France do during the delay? “We played cards,” Deschamps quipped. “No, well, we were wait masterclass, but manager Graham Arnold insists his team’s tournament dreams remain intact despite yes terday’s 3-0 defeat by France. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a Group I clash that was delayed more than two hours by severe weather, marking the second con secutive game where Iraq have conceded two goals to one of foot ball’s elite forwards. In their opener, Norway’s Erling Haaland found the net twice in a 4-1 victory. But the Australian coach is keep ing his eyes firmly fixed on Friday’s crucial final group match against Senegal, where Iraq’s hopes of

Deschamps backs Mbappe’s next World Cup milestone FRANCE MANAGER Didier Deschamps suggested Kylian

reigning Ballon d’Or winner was just getting started after his first of the tournament. “Be easy on Ousmane,” he said. “There’s no issue with Ousmane. He also needs to re-adapt to a system in which he doesn’t play throughout the year. “As long as Ousmane is well physically, and this is the case, then it’s

ing. We had slots that kept being pushed for ward again. And what is most important with my… colleague (Iraq man ager) Graham (Arnold) is to have the 20 minutes to do another warm-up, to not take any risks. “There was a lot of rain that made the pitch very heavy. It was the first time that it

just fine-tun ing. I trust in Ousmane. He knows that. And he’s not

happened to me. Same for my play ers.”

somebody who doubts and doing what he did today, it’s impor tant because he’s a decisive player.” – Reuters

As for the other goalscorer, Ousmane Dembele, Deschamps hoped the

France manager Didier Deschamps. – REUTERSPIC

Iraq eye redemption, Arnold keeps the faith IRAQ may have been on the wrong end of another superstar striker reaching the knockout phase hang in the balance. “For me now, it’s all about

obviously ready when we went back out there.” The Iraq boss had nothing but admiration for Mbappe’s devastat ing display. “He’s an incredible player,” Arnold said. “His speed is unstoppa ble. And that’s why we defended a little bit deeper than I always do because if you leave space in behind and Mbappe’s that quick, then he’ll destroy you.” Iraq now have to beat Senegal in Toronto on Saturday (3am) to stand a chance of advancing as a best third-placed team. The Lions of Mesopotamia have now played five World Cup matches across two tournaments, and lost them all. – Reuters

Senegal,” Arnold said. “With… eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we’ve still got a chance.” Arnold praised his team’s first half performance despite Mbappe’s opener from distance, but lamented how the lengthy weather delay seemed to disrupt their rhythm. “Well, you know, there’s nothing I could do except I showed probably a little bit longer footage of the first half at halftime to show them where France was obviously hurting us a little bit,” Arnold explained. “But it was more the players just had to sit and relax and keep relaxed and then get themselves