26/06/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | JUNE 26, 2026

30

2026 WORLD CUP

Atlas Lions lay down marker Morocco have ‘ingredients’ of winners, says coach after comeback win over Haiti M OROCCO COACH Mohamed Ouahbi said his players have rounded off the scoring.

SCOTLAND COACH Steve Clarke accepted that his team may be heading home from the World Cup in a few days after completing the group stage with a comprehensive 3-0 loss to Brazil yesterday. “It was a disappointing perform ance, a poor result. If you give a team like Brazil the chances like we gave them, you expect to get puniushed,” Clarke said after defensive errors helped Vinicius Junior net twice in the first half and Matheus Cunha completed the scoring. “That is what happened and as for our chances at the moment, I think we are probably going home.” Scotland, who have been hoping to reach the knockout rounds at a World Cup for the first time after eight previous failed attempts, finish third in Group C with three points. Yesterday’s defeat followed a 1 0 win over Haiti in their opening game and a 1-0 loss to Morocco. They must now wait to see if their record is good enough to finish as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the 12 groups – it is likely to be a very close call. “The first thing we have to do is go away and compute that per formance and why we lost the game in the manner we did. We can worry about the rest later,” Clarke said. They will return to their tourna ment base in Charlotte, North Carolina and wait until all the group-stage games are com pleted to discover their fate. Scotland had been hoping to take something against Brazil but were let down by poor defending and didn’t do enough to trouble Alisson in the opposition goal, except for a couple of Scott McTominay headers in the second half. “We were playing a top-quality team, we know they are deadly in the attacking third of the pitch. “We gave them the first two goals, probably the third goal as well, and they also missed a few chances and Angus (Gunn) had to make a few good saves,” Clarke said. “When you look at Brazil’s attack ing play in the final third and ours, there was really no comparison.” Scotland’s record at major tour naments under Clarke now reads one win in nine matches, and it may end up being a familiar tale for them. As has often been the case over the years, their travelling fans have earned most of the plaudits, while the team has struggled on the pitch. “The fans have been absolutely brilliant, but don’t forget that this group of players brought these fans to America,” said Clarke. “This group of players qualified. Otherwise we are doing what we always do – sitting on the sofa watching a World Cup without Scotland. “The fans appreciate what this group of players have done. They have had a great time, been great ambassadors for the country, but they wouldn’t be here without that group of players and for me that is a very important point.” – AFP ‘Scotland probably going home’

the thousands of Haitian expats in the stands at Atlanta were unde terred as every attack was met with deafening cheers. “Today we scored two goals, we are really proud of it, the emotions were big, but it is still really frus trating because we didn’t get a point,” said Sunderland striker Isidor. “With the generation we have I am confident we are going to be here again to win Haiti’s first point in a World Cup.” Haiti’s long wait for a goal on the global stage was ended after just 10 minutes when Jean-Kevin Duverne got to the by-line and Lenny Joseph flicked his cross into the net via a deflection off Bounou. Hakimi has continued to cap tain Morocco despite learning mid-tournament that he is to face a trial on rape charges in France. But the reigning African foot baller of the year said he was still in a good place “personally and professionally” after helping Paris Saint-Germain to a second con secutive Champions League title and his country into the knockout stages of the World Cup. “I am in a very good moment, personally and professionally,” said Hakimi, who won man-of-the-match. “I feel very good, I have good people around me that help me concen trate on the most impor tant thing and the truth is it is one of the most important moments had a chance to progress with a win against Bosnia, though Lopetegui said that qualifying at all was an achievement. He added that Qatar had shown they belong at the tournament and set a plat form for a new generation to develop, with some members of the squad likely playing their last World Cup. “This last match… allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history. I think that they showed that at least we were able to com pete in these kinds of matches,” he said. “I don’t know if this will be or not the last match for some of them but the young play ers, they have to learn and take this example for the future, to be able to have other possibilities in history – I don’t know when it’s going to happen.” – Reuters of my career. I hope to continue like this for as long as possible.” – AFP

years as a Yassine Bounou own goal and Wilson Isidor’s stunning strike twice gave them the lead. Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, with his third goal in as many games at the World Cup, levelled before halftime. Soufiane Rahimi was nearly brought to tears when the 30-year old’s deflected effort found the

But by finishing second to Brazil on goal difference, Morocco will head to Monterrey for a likely meeting against the Netherlands or Japan in the last 32 on Tuesday. Despite bowing out without a point, Haiti’s performances at a first World Cup since 1974 have done a nation gripped by poverty proud. “I am disappointed with the result, but I didn’t feel that my players gave up,” said Haiti coach Sebastien Migne. “They embodied the Haitian people who do not give up. The team

to believe they can become the first African winners of the World Cup after storming into the last 32 unbeaten. The Atlas Lions twice came from behind to beat Haiti 4-2 yes terday and only finished second to Brazil in Group C on goal differ ence. A clash against the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden awaits in Monterrey on Tuesday. Morocco became the first African side to even reach the semifinals four years ago in Qatar. Ouahbi, who won the U-20 World Cup with Morocco last year, believes he can repeat that feat with the senior team. “Morocco have entered a whole new dimension. The players, the fans believe in their team and our opponents respect our team,”

top corner to give Morocco the lead before Gessime

Yassine

represented Haiti with great distinc tion.” Les Grenadiers were already elimi nated after losing to Scotland and

Brazil, but

he said of their progress on the international stage. “We need to believe in this objective, this tar get (to win the World Cup). We need to go all in, respect our oppo nents and be 100% committed to this ambition. “I believe a lot in my work and the work of my staff and we have all the ingredients to become the best nation.” Haiti bowed out with their first World Cup goals for 52

Gessime Yassine (right) celebrates with Achraf Hakimi after scoring Morocco’s fourth goal during the World Cup Group C match against Haiti at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia yesterday. – AFPPIC

Bosnia’s blend of youth, experience continues to surprise BOSNIA and Herzegovina,

World Cup will be their true World Cup,” he added. If Bosnia make it through as one of the eight best third placed teams, they will play the United States in Los Angeles. “I think we are confident enough to face anyone,” the coach said. Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui said his players should be proud of their pro gress, having won their first point at the finals. Qatar had only played at the World Cup once before, four years ago as hosts when they crashed out having lost all three of their games. Having reached the tour nament through qualifying for the first time, Qatar snatched a late equaliser in a surprise 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening game. They were then routed 6-0 by co-hosts Canada but still

Mahmic scored to seal the win. Ermin tore off his jersey in celebration to earn himself a yellow card but Barbarez was not concerned by that. “We knew the bookings will be erased after the group stage, so that’s fine to get a yellow card for such a momentous goal,” he said. Barbarez’s staid demean our did not reflect his excite ment. “When I am ecstatic, I keep calm. I don’t jump or sing, but it will come to me in a bit, later tonight or in the morn ing,” he said. “It’s incredible. There is no word to describe my happi ness right now.” Barbarez believes Bosnia have a bright future. “We have a lot of young players, and I truly do believe that this national team has just begun, and that the next

who surprised many people by qualifying for the World Cup by beating Wales and Italy, clinched a spot in the round of 32 by outclassing Qatar 3-1 yesterday. Bosnia’s mix of experi enced players, led by veteran striker Edin Dzeko, and rising talent, epitomised by 18-year old Kerim Alajbegovic, who scored the brilliant first goal against Qatar, is developing into an efficient team. “We came here as com plete underdogs,” Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez told reporters. “We’re trying to do something big and major, and this is now something that has come true.” The 40-year-old Dzeko’s cross deflected off a Qatar defender into the net to give Bosnia a 2-0 lead and although Qatar pulled one goal back, 21-year-old Ermin