From The Sports Desk: Mexico’s first knockout win in four decades

Mexico broke a four-decade drought in the knockout stages of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador yesterday.

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Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within nine minutes in the first half to send the co-host through to the round of 16, the country’s first knockout win at the tournament since 1986.

The result sparked massive celebrations in Mexico City, with thousands of fans taking to the streets.

The team will play another home match on Sunday against the winner of today’s match between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Also in action yesterday, Norway won a close-fought contest against the Ivory Coast, thanks to Erling Haaland ’s winner in the 86th minute to seal a 2-1 victory. The Vikings will meet five-time champion Brazil on Sunday.

Tournament favorite France swept Sweden aside 3-0. The French will play Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday.

Preview

The U.S., brimming with confidence after topping its group, enters the knockout round against Bosnia-Herzegovina as the favorite.

But history is against the Americans, having never beaten a European side in the World Cup knockouts before.

While the U.S. made it to the semifinals at the inaugural tournament in 1930 by winning its group, its only win in a knockout round came in 2002, when it beat rival Mexico 2-0 before losing to Germany in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. is 1-13-7 against European teams since 1990, with the only win coming in 2002 in the group stage opener against Portugal. The Americans are winless in their last 13 matches against European squads at the tournament since then.

Ranked 61st, Bosnia lacks the pedigree of many of those past European opponents and only managed a solitary win in the group stage against soccer minnow Qatar.

“Every team brings different challenges,” U.S. defender Chris Richards said. “Ultimately the Bosnia team, they were good defensively and good going forward. It’s making sure that we take care of business on both ends. They have a very experienced attack, so it’s making sure we do our best in the back to take that away from them.”

Christian Pulisic — who confirmed he is healthy and ready to start after a calf injury — said the mood around the team remains positive even with the high stakes of the knockouts approaching.

“You just want to extend it as long as you can, because some of the best memories I have in my life was last World Cup in Qatar,” Pulisic said. “Now being here, it’s just special to be here. You just don’t want it to end. So there’s definitely a lot of enthusiasm within the team.”

In the other games today, England will take on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Belgium faces Senegal.

If the U.S. wins, it will face the winner of Belgium and Senegal in the round of 16.

Men in Blazers

Kylian Mbappé ’s masterpiece was painted against Sweden yesterday, as he became the highest-scoring player in World Cup knockout-round history–and he now trails Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 19 by just one, while both sit level on six goals this summer . Les Bleus schooled the Blågult, and there are few superlatives left for the French captain and his attacking rogue’s gallery . An evening of attacking football, Norway’s hammer-wielding Thor-of-a-striker Erling Haaland also got in on the fun, scoring a late winner against the Ivory Coast, and he’s now behind only Messi and Mbappé with five goals in this tournament, while having 60 in 53 for Norway . The night was wrapped in fireworks in Mexico City after the famed Estadio Azteca, football’s equivalent of Helm’s Deep, served its purpose as the 80,000+ in attendance helped Mexico to their fourth straight victory and shutout to begin the tournament.

Today, England continues their World Cup journey against DR Congo in Atlanta at 12 p.m. ET as Thomas Tuchel ’s side looks to “bring football home.” Then, Belgium clashes with Senegal at 4 p.m. ET in Seattle–and like the 2 a.m. last call of a bartender, football has signaled that this World Cup might be the grand finale for Kevin de Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku and Belgium’s “golden generation.” The night ends with USA taking center stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET. Like Paul Revere on horseback, this is our call to all USA fans: put on your blue jeans, rep your kit of choice and prepare for an evening of intense emotions and lots of screaming at a television screen. Tonight, there is no alternative to winning for this squad — this is their chance to prove to the footballing world they belong amongst the greats.

For more World Cup coverage sent straight to your inbox every morning, subscribe to the Men in Blazers newsletter . We’ll be covering every match, every goal, and every joyous moment that soccer’s biggest spectacle is sure to bring.

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