Dutch footballer, holding midfielder for Ajax and the Netherlands
The World Cup opener slate shows Morocco, Brazil, and Germany launching campaigns with competitive results. Messi leads Argentina to a commanding win in Group; Portugal, DR Congo draw; Ivory Coast beats Ecuador; Japan draws with the Netherlands; Germany crush Curacao; Brazil and Morocco draw in a tactically fraught encounter.
Liverpool’s pre-season tour has seen tensions flare after Dominik Szoboszlai handed the captain’s armband to Kostas Tsimikas rather than Curtis Jones, prompting a post-match exchange. Szoboszlai later says there is no conflict and the captaincy will be settled by the club’s captain and coach.