World Cup 2022, Day 9: Americans start to dream and Paraguay see red for unseen words

The United States is making a strong statement at the World Cup 2026, continuing their impressive run with a comfortable 2-0 win against Australia. This victory secured their top spot in Group D with a game to spare, adding five and six goals to their tally across just two matches. Despite the absence of Christian Pulisic, the US team displayed a solid performance, leaving their opponents with few clear chances. Analyst Skip Bayless even declared the US a "legit World Cup contender," a sentiment that, while perhaps extreme, reflects the team's encouraging start.

Elsewhere, the Tartan Army's hopes were dampened as Scotland lost 1-0 to Morocco. After a subdued first half that saw them concede an early goal, Scotland improved in the second half but could not find an equalizer. Their frustration was compounded by two denied penalty appeals, much to the audible dismay of their traveling fans.

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legit World Cup contender

In Group C, Brazil secured a 3-0 win against Haiti, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinícius Júnior adding another. However, Brazil's performance was characterized by inefficiency in the second half. The loss confirmed Haiti's elimination from the tournament, making them the first team out. Morocco now looks poised to top the group, while Scotland faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.

The Group D match between Turkey and Paraguay was a fiery affair, ending 1-0 in favor of Paraguay. The game featured an early goal from Matías Galarza and intense play, which escalated into a brawl before halftime. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron received a red card for an incident during a confrontation, reportedly for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, highlighting a new and contentious rule.

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The German had to be revived through a mixture of impromptu physio from Australia’s Aiden O’Neill and some emergency pickle juice (which all fourth officials apparently carry).