In the first tournament night of the FIFA World Cup, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0). The team around superstar Heung-Min Son turned a 1-0 deficit around. Hwang (68th minute) and Hyeon-gyu Oh (80th) scored for the South Koreans, while captain Ladislav Krejci had put the Czechs ahead with a header in the 59th minute.
Co-host Mexico had earlier won its opening match against South Africa 2-0. President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated the team and spoke of a “historic joy.” However, there were riots outside the stadium; the newspaper “ESTO” described the atmosphere in the city as “unusual” and marked by tension.
Two days before its World Cup opener against Morocco, Brazil received sad news: former defender Brito, a world champion from 1970, died at the age of 86. Samir Xaud honored him as one of the greatest defenders in Brazilian football history.
Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies will not be able to play in co-host Canada’s first match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The defender has not recovered in time from a thigh injury sustained in May. Coach Jesse Marsch hopes for a later entry of Davies into the tournament.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
