Indian sports wrap June 30: Records fall in TG20; Gukesh, Pragg lead Indian challenge at Zagreb Rapid and Blitz - Sportstar

• Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on July 1, marking their first victory in a World Cup knockout match in 40 years. • The tournament co-hosts have maintained a perfect record so far, winning four consecutive matches without conceding a single goal.

• Brazil successfully advanced to the World Cup round of 16 following a day of high-intensity match action. • In a major upset, football powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands were both eliminated from the tournament.

• Morocco eliminated the Netherlands from the tournament after a 91st-minute goal by Issa Diop forced the match into extra time and a subsequent penalty shootout. • The victory marks a significant achievement for the AFCON champions, who held firm during the shootout to secure their progression.

• The Netherlands, led by manager Ronald Koeman, are preparing to face Morocco in a World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match. • The high-stakes knockout game is scheduled to take place at the Estadio BBVA in Mexico City.

• The 2026 World Cup knockout stages are underway in North America, featuring an expanded format of 104 total matches, 40 more than the 2022 tournament. • Top contenders including Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, England, and Germany have advanced by topping their groups, while 16 nations, including Uruguay and Scotland, were eliminated.

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. • This expanded tournament will feature a record 48 participating national teams competing in a total of 104 matches.

• France advanced in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Sweden on June 30, 2026. • Star forward Kylian Mbappé led the victory, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament with a solo run through the Swedish defense.

• South Korea suffered a dismal first-round exit from the World Cup after failing to qualify as one of the top eight third-place finishers. • President Lee Jae Myung publicly rebuked the team, apologizing to the nation and blaming "incompetent people" for the poor performance.

• South Korea captain Son Heung-min issued a public apology on Instagram following the national team's disappointing group-stage exit from the World Cup. • Son expressed being "indescribably hurt" by the result and vowed to work toward winning back the hearts of South Korean fans.

• South Korea has been eliminated from the World Cup after a "dismal" performance that saw the team exit during the group phase. • The tournament was marred by internal conflict between the squad and local media, as well as a security breach involving a drone during a training session prior to their loss against Mexico.

• The Daily Catch-Up highlights a unique Kargil-era ceasefire where opposing soldiers paused fighting to exchange cigarettes and chocolate. • The report covers Germany's World Cup exit, attributed to the unexpected performance of an obscure goalkeeper.