FIFA live: "It was rigged" - Egypt star's furious attack after World Cup carnage

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• Argentina 3-2 Egypt FT
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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

IT WAS RIGGED

Egypt came agonisingly close to securing the upset of the tournament against Argentina and now Mostafa Zico has launched an astonishing attack on referees and FIFA saying the World Cup is rigged for the reigning champions.

Egypt took 2-0 lead over the defending champions but eventually fell 3-2 after a serious of questionable decisions by referee Francois Letexier.

Zico himself had a goal disallowed before Egypt were denied a penalty in the dying moments just before Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner in stoppage time.

He said: “The referee wasn’t good, he was unfair. His injustice was clear. He persecuted us from the start of the match. He doesn’t want us to win.

“It was a rigged game. It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it seems like this match was rigged.

“We were winning 2-0, and he kept coming at us.

“Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup, it seems.

"At no point did we think the match was already decided. We knew we were facing the reigning world champions.

“Even before the game started, we knew we would be facing a very strong team and one of the favourites for the title.

“But if they had won solely on their own merits it would have been very different for us.”

A furious fight broken out after the final goal with one Egypt staffer shown a red card.

Lionel Messi moved one ahead of Mbappe and Haaland in the golden boot after scoring the equaliser for Argentina but it wasn't all roses for the icon, he missed ANOTHER penalty in the first half which cements him as the player to miss the most spot kicks at the World Cup.

Victory means there is at least one more chapter for Messi who was in tears after the final whistle.

SWITZERLAND THROUGH

The Swiss are into the quarter finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1954.

They held off Colombia without Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas (who started on the bench), winning 4-3 on penalties after it ended 0-0 following extra-time.

Argentina awaits in Kansas City on Sunday from 11am AEST.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

COLOMBIA: ⚽️❌⚽️❌⚽️

SWITZERLAND: ⚽️⚽️❌⚽️⚽️

⚽️ (COL) Juan Quintero steps up and hammers it home.
⚽️ (SUI) Captain Granit Xhaka scores despite Camilo Vargas getting a glove to it.
❌ (COL) Skipper Davinson Sanchez smashes the crossbar and it bounces out!
⚽️ (SUI) Zeki Amdouni as cool as a cucumber and slots it home with consummate ease.
⚽️ (COL) Jaminto Campaz puts it underneath Kobel who was unable to keep it out.
❌ (SUI) Manuel Akanji has put it on the moon!
❌ (COL) Gregor Kobel with a massive save to his right to deny Cucho Hernandez.
⚽️ (SUI) Cedric Itten scores with a delightful pen. Swiss are looking good.
⚽️ (COL) Luis Diaz steps up and sends Kobel the wrong way. Pulse for Colombia.
⚽️ (SUI) Ruben Vargas bangs it home and sends Switzerland to the quarter finals!

WE'RE GOING TO PENS

And we've got another shootout on our hands.

It all comes down to this.

SECOND HALF OF ET

Still locked at 0-0.

The Swiss and the Colombians have another 15 minutes to attempt to break this deadlock, or we're headed to penalties.

EXTRA-TIME in VANCOUVER

It has remained 0-0 across the 90 minutes. Neither side managed to break the deadlock.

I can't decide if they've both been sub par or playing it too safe. Been a bit vanilla.

ENGLAND UPDATE

Jordan Henderson has undergone surgery on a broken wrist and is "in a better place than he was in the immediate aftermath of the victory over Mexico at the Azteca.

As England players celebrated their victory with fans, vision showed Henderson mis-time his jump over some advertising boards and fall awkwardly on his wrist.

He was stretchered off the field on a stretcher and was being given oxygen.

Reports suggest he remained in Mexico with an England medico while rest of the squad returned to Kansas.

"Hendo’s good, he’s in a better place than he was yesterday," Marc Guehi said.

“It was scary for him and his family and for everyone else, but we’re glad he’s on the road to a speedy recovery.”

SWITZERLAND - COLOMBIA?

Should probbaly say somthig about this match. It's been entertaining, end to end stuff but no one able to break the deadlock as yet.

Some wonderful attempts long from goal but both keepers on their game today. 0-0 at the half.

EGYPT COACH FURY

Zico was not the only member of the Egypt squad to hit out.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan echoed his forward’s sentiment.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play," he said post match. There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.

“Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports?

“I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match.

“The referee is unfair, God is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”

MAPPE HITS OUT

The French football Association has confirmed it will file a lawsuit against a Paraguayan senator who launched a disgraceful racist attack on superstar Kylian Mbappe.

After France ended Paraguay's World Cup campaign on Sunday in a 1-0 victory, Celeste Amarilla called Mbappe "newly rich, arrogant and ugly" and then called into question his heritage and nationality.

SEN will not repeat her comments in full due to their offensive nature.

Mbappe hit back saying her despicable words did not reflect her country.

“Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position," he said. "You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

"Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup ..."

The FFF said Amarilla's comments were "criminal and reprehensible".

"These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.

"They must be prosecuted here ​as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the ​public prosecutor’s office ‌with a ​view to legal ​proceedings.

An official complaint has been filed.