Group B: Canada–Bosnia and Herzegovina, Friday, 9:00 p.m.
Toronto Stadium, Canada
SVT/P4 Radio Sport
+ Canada's Golden Generation
Jonathan David (Juventus), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal) are the stars of the interesting football generation that Canada has produced. A better national team than ever combined with Canada now having eight consecutive international matches without a loss means that for the first time there are actually expectations for the national team to go far in the World Cup. The question is, however, whether team captain Alphonso Davies will play in the opening match. He is racing against the clock with a thigh injury that has kept him out during the warm-up.
+ Pinning their hopes on a 40-year-old
That Bosnia and Herzegovina even made it to the World Cup, by knocking out Italy and Wales in the playoff, was a minor sensation. Once there, they put their offensive hopes in 40-year-old Edin Dzeko. With clubs such as Manchester City, Roma and Inter on his CV, he stands out in an otherwise anonymous squad. If there is to be a Bosnian party on the opening day, a lot lies on Dzeko's shoulders.
Group D: USA–Paraguay, Saturday, 3:00 AM
Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, USA
TV4
+ Star stretchered off in tears
Julio Enciso was stretchered off in the 25th minute of Paraguay's 4-0 World Cup qualifier against Nicaragua in Asunción last week. The 22-year-old Strasbourg player was in tears as he was taken off the pitch, according to The Athletic. Scans have revealed two minor injuries, one to the back of his thigh and the other around his waist. It is therefore uncertain whether the attacking midfielder will be able to start in the World Cup opener.
+ The '94 legend slams the American team
With his goatee, Alexi Lalas became one of the big names the last time the World Cup was played in the United States in 1994. In this year's championship, he is an analyst on Fox Sports and he has already criticized the US players after some of them talked about feeling pressure before the World Cup tournament.
A bunch of whiners complaining about the press, he said a few weeks ago.
He then went on to go hard on US forward Christian Pulisic.
He is a fascinating player when it comes to talent but a frustrating player when it comes to personality, said Lalas and continued:
He's never going to be the leader people hope he'll be. That's okay because I think there are others who can do that. But he needs to be the star the team needs.
+ Trump disses the World Cup premiere
Donald Trump will not attend the United States' opening World Cup match. The president will be represented by Senator Marco Rubio instead. According to Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, this is the first time ever that the host country's leader will not attend the opening match.
