South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams, who featured in all three of his country’s group matches at the World Cup, has died, a government minister has confirmed. Adams, who played his club football for Pretoria side Mamelodi Sundowns, was an unused substitute as South Africa exited the tournament in a last-32 defeat to co-hosts Canada on 28 June.
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South Africa reached the knockout phase at a World Cup for the first time when Thapelo Maseko’s second-half strike gave them victory against South Korea, who can still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Maseko fired the ball into the bottom corner in the 63rd minute to put South Africa, who will face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Saturday, on four points behind Group A winners Mexico who beat the Czech Republic 3-0.
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Mexico booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage as Group A winners and secured home advantage for the Round of 32 after Luis Romo’s second-half strike earned the tournament co-hosts a 1-0 win over South Korea.
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Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu gave South Korea a winning start to the World Cup as they came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1. Oh struck 11 minutes from time after Hwang In-beom’s moment of magic had cancelled out Czech captain Ladislav Krejci’s header in Guadalajara. South Korea made the brighter start, Son Heung-min firing over with Lee Han-Beom heading over the bar before Paris St Germain’s Lee Kang-in forced a save from Matej Kovar with an effort from outside the box.
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Jurgen Klinsmann has been dismissed from his role as South Korea manager following his side’s Asian Cup semi-final exit on February 6. The 59-year-old has faced criticism for continuing to base himself in Los Angeles and reports of in-fighting among the squad also chipped away at his authority. Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korean Football Association, delivered a withering assessment of the outgoing boss.
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