Lionel Messi shares snippets after Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in Worl…

Alabama [US], June 10 (ANI): Argentina captain Lionel Messi shared a series of pictures on his Instagram handle after the defending champions’ 3-0 win over Iceland in their FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up friendly at the Jordan-Hare Stadium on Wednesday. truewildslot.com

The legendary footballer wrote, “Come on, let’s be closer than ever."

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Coming to the Warm-up fixture, La Albiceleste endured an early scare after Iceland squandered a clear scoring opportunity in the opening minutes, but the world champions soon asserted control over the contest.

Valentin Barco broke the deadlock in the eighth minute with a brilliant strike from outside the box, giving Argentina an early advantage.

In the second half, Lionel Messi made an instant impact after being introduced from the bench, with his incisive pass leading to Lautaro Martinez winning a penalty. Messi then calmly converted from the spot in the 72nd minute to double Argentina’s lead.

Thiago Almada later completed the scoring in the 86th minute, finishing off a well-worked move involving Messi and Martinez that dismantled Iceland’s defence.

Argentina remained dominant throughout the match, heading into the World Cup on a high after a convincing final preparatory performance.

For those unversed, Messi missed Argentina’s 2-0 friendly victory over Honduras on June 6 despite taking part in the pre-match warm-up, as he was recovering from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.

The Inter Miami forward had joined the national team camp after experiencing discomfort during his club’s MLS fixture against the Philadelphia Union before the league paused for the World Cup.

Argentina open their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Group J. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

The emergence of Manav Suthar as a potentially bankable spinner was the biggest takeaway from the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, where India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs on Day Three of the one-off Test on Monday.

The retirement of R Ashwin nearly 18 months ago has left a gaping, 537 wickets-sized hole in the Test ranks. Ravindra Jadeja, the off-spinner’s long-standing partner-in-crime, is 37 and even though the left-arm spinner is among the fittest, it’s safe to say that he doesn’t have more than a couple of years, at best, left in him.

Suthar’s barnstorming debut has triggered the hope that, in due course, he will establish himself as the spearhead of the spin attack. He is only 23, but already has an impressive volume of work — 30 first-class games, 136 wickets, seven fifers.

That he transitioned seamlessly into Test cricket, with 6-33 in his first bowl, is testament to his skill and temperament. As India resume their World Test Championship commitments in August in Sri Lanka, Suthar will fancy his chances of being the third cog in the spinning wheel alongside Jadeja and the understated and underrated Washington Sundar.

Halfway through their WTC campaign, India have left themselves with much to do. They have just four wins from nine Tests, and with as many Tests lined up in the second half, including four overseas (two in New Zealand, followed by five at home against Australia), must pull up their socks pronto. Finalists in the first two editions, India are a modest sixth in the qualification race and have to embark on a winning spree if they are to prove that the 2023-25 cycle, when they failed to make the title round, was an aberration.

Their task is anything but straightforward. India haven’t lost a series in Sri Lanka since 2008, but their vulnerabilities against spin, which is bound to be a huge factor in the teardrop island, have been exposed by Mitchell Santner and Simon Harmer in the last 20 months. India need a minimum of seven wins to guarantee a place in the final, so far out of reach right now that they can only look at the immediate, which is a fourth straight series triumph in Sri Lanka. If nothing else, it will be a start, at the very least.

Six
India’s current position in the World Test Championship standings

IND vs AFG 2026 1st ODI Predicted 11: Shubman Gill’s Team India will begin the road to ODI World Cup 2027 with a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan beginning at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Saturday. Indians will be coming into this clash full of confidence after their record-breaking innings and 300 runs win over Afghans in the one-off Test in Mullanpur on Monday.

The team will, however, miss the services of former India captain Virat Kohli – who has been in sublime form recently as well as all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Kohli top-scored for Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 75 not out to guide them to the IPL 2026 title – their second-successive title win.

Pandya, who was given clearance to take part in the ODI series by BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Tuesday after recovering sufficiently from back spasms, has now been ruled out due to a leg sprain. According to a TOI report, the Mumbai Indians captain has suffered a leg sprain recently which will rule him out of all three ODI games against Afghanistan.

“There has been a very late setback. He (Hardik Pandya) sustained a low-grade, mild leg sprain causing some tenderness. It’s nothing long-term, but medical staff advised him to avoid any strain or weight-bearing for the next few days. Hardik will continue to stay in Bengaluru, consulting with CoE physios and trainers during his recovery phase,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by TOI website.

Hardik Pandya arrived at a hospital in Bengaluru yesterday in his Ferrari for a routine checkup.

A huge crowd gathered out side to see him. pic.twitter.com/QvGspx7cVD

— Instinct (@Clutchxgod33) June 10, 2026

Hardik’s injury comes come close on the heels of back spasms that he suffered in the middle of IPL 2026 season which forced him to miss 4 matches for MI. Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indian lost 10 out of 14 matches in IPL 2026.

The last time that Baroda and MI all-rounder played ODI cricket for Team India was more than a year back in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai. Hardik could be replaced by all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing 11 for the first ODI in Dharamshala, which means Sunrisers Hyderabad and Vidarbha all-rounder and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey could also make his international debut in the game.

Also Read | Double blow for Team India after Virat Kohli ruled out of ODI series vs Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma set to…

Meanwhile, Kohli has been ruled out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. The RCB opener has reportedly torn his distal semimembranosus tendon and will need at least 2 to 3 weeks to recover from the injury.

The BCCI selectors led by Ajit Agarkar had named Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as replacement for Kohli. But Jaiswal might be sitting out the first ODI with Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan set to make an ODI comeback and bat at number three position in the line-up.

Shreyas Iyer, who was appointed captain of Indian T20I side, will be Shubman Gill’s deputy in this series. The bowling attack will be led by Arshdeep Singh with Prasidh Krishna set to partner him with the new ball after Mohammed Siraj was rested for this series.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma was also given a ‘green signal’ by CoE to take part in the ODI series on Tuesday. Rohit had also suffered a hamstring injury in the middle of IPL 2026 which forced him to be ruled out for almost a month in the T20 league.

Team India predicted playing 11 vs Afghanistan for 1st ODI

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey

When the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins, a lot of records are expected to be rewritten. Whether in terms of viewership or ticket sales or the number of teams participating, the upcoming edition will be something that fans have never seen before.

Football is expanding its borders and breaking all financial barriers as we prepare for a month of absolute chaos. From high ticket prices to major drama on the field, this tournament will surely break everything. North America is about to host a massive show that will change the face of sports entertainment forever but why will it be the biggest World Cup edition yet? Let’s find out.

1. Ticket Prices at all-time high: Getting a seat at a match has never been harder on the wallet. Because ticket prices change based on high demand, standard tickets are double or triple what they cost at the last World Cup.

Average group stage seats are selling for around 550 USD on resale websites, but the best seats quickly go over 1,000 USD. For massive games, like the USA opening match or the final, prices are reaching crazy levels, making a live match a true luxury.

2. 48 teams playing across 3 nations: The tournament is completely changing how it operates. For the first time, the tournament is expanding from 32 teams to a massive 48-team lineup, which means a record-breaking 104 matches will be played.

With three host nations, the USA, Mexico, and Canada, the scale is huge. Fans and teams will have to travel across different time zones and massive distances, from Vancouver all the way down to Mexico City.

3. Messi and Cristiano’s last World Cup: An incredible era of football history is coming to an end. Soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to play in their final World Cup. With Messi trying to defend Argentina’s trophy and Ronaldo chasing the one big title he has never won, the drama will be unmatched. Fans worldwide will tune in to watch the final chapter of a rivalry that has dominated the sport for twenty years.

4. Kylian Mbappe Vs Erling Haaland: As the older legends prepare to step away, the tournament will showcase football’s newest superstars. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are ready to take over the spotlight.

This battle represents the peak of modern football. Their race to see who can score the most goals and lead their country to victory will be the main on-field story of the tournament.

5. Social media coverage and viewership over the roof: The digital footprint of this tournament will completely crush all previous records. Total viewership across TV, streaming apps, and social media is expected to pass six billion people. Experts predict the final match alone could take up a massive chunk of global internet traffic, thanks to the platforms like Instagram, X and YouTube.

6. Hotel prices at an all-time high: With millions of fans traveling from all over the world, finding a place to stay has become incredibly expensive. Hotel rates in the 16 host cities have gone through the roof. Basic rooms near the stadiums are charging over 1,000 USD a night for the opening matches. This massive price jump has left regular fans scrambling to find a place to sleep, proving just how expensive this tournament has become.

Lisbon [Portugal], June 10 (ANI): Former Fulham manager Marco Silva has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Benfica, replacing Jose Mourinho, the club announced.

Benfica confirmed that Silva has signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year, marking his return to management in his home country after a long stint in England, as per ESPN.

Silva most recently managed Fulham for five years, guiding the club from the Championship to the Premier League in his debut season, before establishing them as a stable mid-table side in England’s top flight.

The English club had reportedly offered him a new contract in an attempt to retain his services, but the Portuguese coach opted to return home after a decade-long managerial career in England, where he also coached Hull City, Everton, Watford and Fulham.

Silva takes over a Benfica side that finished third in the Primeira Liga last season despite remaining unbeaten, ending the campaign eight points behind champions Porto and two points adrift of Sporting CP.

Meanwhile, Mourinho is set for a return to Real Madrid for a second stint at the club, where he previously coached until 2013 after a successful spell in charge.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos and coach Alvaro Arbeloa have mutually agreed to end his tenure as first-team coach. The Spanish giants expressed their gratitude to Arbeloa, highlighting his long-standing association with the club, which began during his time in the youth academy and continued through his playing and coaching career.

In an official statement, Real Madrid praised Arbeloa for consistently demonstrating “loyalty, commitment and professionalism" throughout his journey at the club, adding that he embodies the core values of the organisation.

“Real Madrid CF and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach. Real Madrid is deeply grateful to Alvaro Arbeloa, who, throughout his time at the club, from his time in our youth academy, has consistently demonstrated loyalty, commitment, and professionalism. He exemplifies the values of our club," the statement said.

“Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives," the statement concluded. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)