André eyes ‘powerhouse’ Baa-Baas centre pairing

Springbok centre André Esterhuizen is excited for the challenge provided by an experienced Barbarians midfield in Gqeberha on Saturday.

The Baa-Baas have paired Munster’s Alex Nankivell with former France international Virimi Vakatawa. catcrossgame.com

New Zealander Nankivell made 20 appearances for Munster this past season and was a key figure in the Irish club’s run to the Vodacom URC playoffs.

Vakatawa, meanwhile, featured in 10 matches for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific and brings a wealth of experience, having earned 32 Test caps for France.

“It’s a powerhouse centre pairing,” said Esterhuizen, who will start alongside Jesse Kriel in the Bok midfield.

“Alex Nankivell is a strong, abrasive runner with good offloading skills and good distribution.

“And we’ve all seen Virimi Vakatawa play for France. He’s a very experienced centre who’s been around for a long time. He’s also a strong ball-carrier.

“So it’s going to be a good battle in the centres. I’m excited for the challenge. It’s going to be a good one.”

TEAM: Saffas bolster Baa-Baas for Bok clash

While the Barbarians are renowned for their attacking approach, Esterhuizen insists the Springboks will treat the non-cap clash like a Test.

“We just want to go out there and play our game,” he said. “I know it’s a Barbarians game and everyone looks at it and thinks it can be loose. They might want to make it loose, but we’re just going to stick to our processes as we do in every other game.

“For us, it’s a normal Test. That’s how we’re going to handle it and go into the game. Hopefully we’ll be successful in doing that.”

MORE: Mallett likes ‘left-field’ Horn selection

One of the most intriguing Springbok selections is the decision to start Lions fullback Quan Horn at flyhalf.

The 24-year-old will make just his second appearance in the green and gold after earning a Test cap off the bench against Portugal in Bloemfontein in 2024.

“I think we can all agree he’s a very good player, with a lot of skill and a good reading of the game,” said Esterhuizen.

“I think he’s slotted into the No 10 position very well in training. He’s been working hard and learning on the go.

“But with support inside and outside him, players who can help him and guide him, I think he’ll be very good in that position.

“And it’s a great option to have as a utility back.”

RASSIE: Boks see something in Quan at 10

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post André eyes ‘powerhouse’ Baa-Baas centre pairing appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Victor Matfield expects the Vodacom Bulls to face a hostile atmosphere at Croke Park when they take on Leinster in Friday night’s URC final.

The former Bulls and Springbok lock only played at the iconic Dublin venue once – against Ireland in 2009 – but the memories remain vivid.

“It just feels to me like Croke Park brings that tribalism out of the locals,” he said. “It feels like you go into the den there.”

Matfield recalled a difficult encounter 17 years ago.

“We went over after a very successful year with the Springboks, where we beat the British & Irish Lions and beat New Zealand three times.

“Then we went to Croke Park and got absolutely smashed [15-10].

“I remember we arrived there, the mist was hanging, you couldn’t see the ball when it was kicked up in the air. It was really cold and the fans felt louder than ever before.”

Despite the result, Matfield remembers the occasion fondly.

“It was a great experience to go there and I think it’s going to be an amazing Friday night – two teams going at each other.

“It’s going to feel very tribal and the Bulls will need to go into the lion’s den and try to slay the lion. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be a great experience.”

ALSO: Big Vic urges Bulls to embrace pressure game

Matfield said it was a pity he only got to play at Croke Park once.

“It would have been nice to get a victory there as well at some stage.”

Former Leinster captain Isa Nacewa, meanwhile, experienced Croke Park from the home change room.

“It’s a phenomenal stadium and a very special place in Irish sport,” he said.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Five battles that will decide URC final

Nacewa recalled a memorable derby against Munster.

“During the warm-up all you could see was a sea of red. Then the Leinster supporters arrived and the place turned into a cauldron.

“The noise, the history and the occasion all combine to create something special.”

MORE: Big Vic, Isa predict URC final winner

Photo: Seb Daly/Gallo Images

The post Matfield: Bulls going back into lion’s den appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Quelle soirée pour Lionel Messi ! Opposé à l’Algérie pour son entrée en lice dans cette Coupe du monde 2026, l’Argentin s’est offert un retentissant triplé lors de la victoire de l’Albiceleste, un match déjà historique.

À bientôt 39 ans, Lionel Messi continue de défier le temps. Une nouvelle fois étincelant, le capitaine argentin a porté son équipe vers un succès précieux en phase de groupes, confirmant qu’il reste un joueur capable de faire basculer les plus grands rendez-vous.

Une pluie de records

Grâce à ce triplé, Messi a encore enrichi une liste déjà impressionnante de records en Coupe du monde.

Il a notamment rejoint Miroslav Klose au sommet du classement des buteurs du tournoi, avec 16 réalisations, tout en égalant également le record de victoires en Coupe du monde détenu par l’Allemand (17).

L’Argentin est également devenu le joueur le plus âgé à inscrire un triplé en Coupe du monde, à 38 ans et 357 jours, dépassant ainsi Cristiano Ronaldo, auteur d’un triplé en 2018 à 33 ans et 130 jours face à l’Espagne.

Ce triplé lui permet aussi de devenir le meilleur buteur sud-américain de l’histoire du Mondial, devant la légende brésilienne Ronaldo.

Autre statistique marquante : Messi a inscrit plusieurs buts depuis l’extérieur de la surface dans ce tournoi, portant son total à six réalisations de ce type en Coupe du monde, dépassant ainsi le record de Rivellino (5).

Une longévité exceptionnelle

En entrant sur la pelouse de Kansas City, Messi est également devenu le premier joueur de l’histoire à disputer six éditions différentes de la Coupe du monde. Dans le même temps, il a disputé son 27e match dans la compétition, et se rapproche désormais du cap des 30 rencontres, un record inédit dans l’histoire du tournoi.

Enfin, avec 20 matchs joués en tant que capitaine en Coupe du monde, il dépasse désormais Rafael Márquez (17) et Diego Maradona (16).

Une nouvelle performance XXL qui confirme un peu plus son statut unique dans l’histoire du football mondial. Champion du monde en titre, la Pulga a donc réalisé une entrée sensationnelle dans cette Coupe du monde, et semble être déterminé à aller décrocher une seconde étoile.

The post Argentine – Algérie : Messi, un triplé et des records appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Uzbekistan vs Colombia Preview & Prediction. Uzbekistan makes their first ever FIFA World Cup appearance against Colombia in Group K at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, on Thursday, 18 June 2026 (04:00 SAST). Colombia finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying with a record goal-scoring return. Our prediction: Colombia to win. Full analysis, team news, line-ups, and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Group K opener
Date & kick-off	Thursday, 18 June 2026, at 04:00 SAST
Venue	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Group K	Uzbekistan, Colombia, Portugal, Congo
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut vs Colombia’s South American pedigree

Uzbekistan’s appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a genuine milestone for Central Asian football. The White Wolves qualified for their first ever World Cup after years of near misses in AFC qualifying, losing just one of 16 matches in a campaign that demonstrated discipline and consistency. Under Fabio Cannavaro — the former Italy World Cup-winning captain who took charge ahead of this tournament — the team has adopted a more cautious, structured approach built around a compact 3-4-2-1 defensive shape.

Their pre-tournament results have been sobering. Defeats against Canada and the Netherlands exposed a significant gap in quality when facing established football nations. Eldor Shomurodov, their all-time leading scorer, remains the primary attacking threat, and Abdukodir Khusanov provides defensive leadership at the back. Abbosbek Fayzullaev offers creativity in the final third and is expected to be influential on the counter. Jaloliddin Masharipov is a doubt due to a back injury, which could limit Uzbekistan’s midfield options.

Colombia arrive with considerably more World Cup experience and a squad full of European-based talent. Under Néstor Lorenzo, Los Cafeteros finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying and recorded one of the highest goal-scoring returns in the zone, second only to Argentina. Their attacking unit, featuring Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, combines pace, creativity, and final-third quality at a level Uzbekistan’s defence has rarely been tested against.

Colombia’s form coming in is mixed but settled. Defeats to Croatia and France in March were followed by wins over Costa Rica and Jordan. Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos provide the midfield balance that allows Díaz and Rodríguez to operate with freedom. Colombia has consistently progressed beyond the group stage in 2014 and 2018 and will be targeting a similar run here.

Group K also includes Portugal and Congo. With Portugal expected to dominate the group, this fixture is effectively the contest for second place between two sides with very different profiles.

Team news and expected line-ups

Uzbekistan: Jaloliddin Masharipov is a doubt (back injury). Cannavaro expected to maintain the 3-4-2-1 system. Shomurodov leads the line. Fayzullaev and Urunov in the advanced midfield roles behind him.

Colombia: fully fit squad. Díaz and Rodríguez lead the attack. Lerma and Ríos anchor the midfield.

Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1)	Colombia (4-2-3-1)
Yusupov (GK)	Vargas (GK)
Khusanov (CB)	Muñoz (RB)
Abdullaev (CB)	Sánchez (CB)
Ashurmatov (CB)	Lucumí (CB)
Sayfiev (RM)	Mojica (LB)
Shukurov (CM)	Lerma (DM)
Mozgovoy (CM)	Ríos (DM)
Nazrullaev (LM)	Arias (RM)
Fayzullaev (RAM)	Rodríguez (AM)
Urunov (LAM)	Díaz (LM)
Shomurodov (ST)	Luis Suárez (ST)

Key stats

• Uzbekistan: FIFA World Cup debut. First AFC side from Central Asia to qualify for the modern World Cup.
• Uzbekistan: lost just 1 of 16 qualifying matches — strong record en route to qualification.
• Uzbekistan: pre-tournament defeats against Canada and the Netherlands exposed the quality gap vs established sides.
• Eldor Shomurodov: Uzbekistan’s all-time leading scorer. Primary attacking threat.
• Abdukodir Khusanov: defensive leader. Key to Uzbekistan’s compact 3-4-2-1 system.
• Fabio Cannavaro: former Italy World Cup winner, now Uzbekistan head coach. Cautious, structured approach.
• Jaloliddin Masharipov: doubt due to back injury.
• Colombia: finished 3rd in CONMEBOL qualifying. Second-highest scorers in the zone behind Argentina.
• Colombia: progressed from the group stage at both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.
• Luis Díaz (Liverpool) and James Rodríguez: Colombia’s primary attacking threats.
• Colombia form (last 5): L L W W — beat Costa Rica and Jordan after defeats to Croatia and France in March.
• H2H: first ever meeting between Uzbekistan and Colombia — no previous competitive or friendly fixture.
• Group K: Uzbekistan, Colombia, Portugal, Congo.

Head-to-head

Uzbekistan and Colombia have never previously met in any fixture — competitive or friendly. This World Cup Group K opener is the first ever encounter between the two nations. Colombia’s greater World Cup experience and consistent CONMEBOL record represent a significant psychological and statistical advantage, but there is no direct head-to-head data to draw on.

Current form

Team	Last 5
Uzbekistan	L L W W
Colombia	W W L L — beat Costa Rica, Jordan; lost to Croatia, France (March 2026)

Our prediction

Colombia are the clear favourites. Their attacking quality through Díaz and Rodríguez, combined with Uzbekistan’s limited experience against top-tier opposition and their cautious defensive setup, points to a Colombian victory.

Uzbekistan are unlikely to be passive. Cannavaro’s system is designed to frustrate, and Shomurodov’s ability to find space on the counter gives them a genuine outlet. A structured, disciplined defensive performance could limit the damage and keep the score tight. But Colombia’s experience and attacking depth should prove too much over 90 minutes.

This is unlikely to be a high-scoring affair given Uzbekistan’s defensive approach, but Colombia’s quality should find a way through.

Our prediction: Colombia to win.

Odds and markets

Odds correct at 0400 hrs UTC on 18/06/2026 and subject to change.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the Uzbekistan vs Colombia event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Uzbekistan vs Colombia kick off?

Kick-off is at 04:00 SAST, Thursday, 18 June 2026, at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico.

Is this Uzbekistan’s first World Cup?

Yes. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is Uzbekistan’s first ever appearance at a World Cup finals. The White Wolves qualified after losing just one of 16 matches in AFC qualifying, and their qualification represents a landmark moment for Central Asian football.

Have Uzbekistan and Colombia ever played before?

No. Uzbekistan and Colombia have never met in any fixture — competitive or friendly. This World Cup Group K match is the first ever encounter between the two nations.

What group are Uzbekistan and Colombia in at World Cup 2026?

Both sides are in Group K alongside Portugal and DR Congo. Portugal are the heavy favourites to top the group.

Who is Colombia’s key player at World Cup 2026?

Luis Díaz (Liverpool) is Colombia’s most dynamic wide attacker, offering pace and directness. James Rodríguez provides the creative link between midfield and attack. Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos provide the defensive midfield foundation.

Who is Uzbekistan’s key player at World Cup 2026?

Eldor Shomurodov is Uzbekistan’s all-time leading scorer and their most dangerous attacking outlet. Abbosbek Fayzullaev provides creativity behind him in the advanced midfield role.

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