World Cup 2026: Belgium's Textbook Comeback, Kane Saves England, Bosnia Leaves in Tears

Belgium's textbook comeback: two goals in the last five minutes and a 125th-minute winner against Senegal

Senegal led 2:0 and until the last five minutes looked set to send the favorites home. Then came the thing that makes us remember football precisely for nights like these - Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans pulled back two quick goals to level, and in extra time the same Tielemans converted a contested penalty in the 125th minute for a final 3:2. Belgium advance to the round of 16, Senegal leave with the feeling they held the win in their hands. The comeback has already been marked as one of the greatest in World Cup history, but the question remains: how many times can a national team save itself at the last moment before it realizes something fundamental isn't working?

Kane pulled England out of trouble and climbed above Pele in World Cup goals

DR Congo went ahead in the first half through Brian Cipenga and England struggled for a long time to break through. Salvation came from the captain - Harry Kane first equalized with a header off an Anthony Gordon cross, then in the 86th minute delivered the winner for 2:1. With those two goals Kane reached five at this tournament and climbed above Pele in total World Cup goals - a record that, as they note back home too, will probably last just a day until someone else breaks it. Next up in the knockout round are the hosts, Mexico. England advance, but the football under Thomas Tuchel still convinces no one.

Ronaldo vs Modric: old Real teammates collide for a place in the next round

Among the most anticipated duels of the tournament is Portugal against Croatia in Toronto. The story writes itself: Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, former Real Madrid teammates with over 200 games together, now facing each other in a knockout match. Modric has announced he's retiring from the national team after this tournament, so for Croatia this is also the last big chance with him on the pitch. The Balkan fan knows well what Modric means on a night like this - a man who plays his best precisely when everyone writes him off over his age.

Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated by the latest goal in history, Barbarez and Dzeko in tears

For the region, the hardest night was Bosnia and Herzegovina's. The side led by Sergej Barbarez made a historic World Cup appearance but went out in dramatic fashion - in the very match where one of the latest goals the tournament had seen was scored. After the elimination, Barbarez didn't hide his tears: "Thank you, homeland, for every emotion, for every sleepless night." The scene that traveled across the whole region was Edin Dzeko comforting his weeping daughter in the stands. A defeat, yes - but a performance after which an entire country sat up straighter. Sometimes pride isn't measured by the result.

Shock at DR Congo's press conference: the coach learned his father had died

The most harrowing scene of the whole knockout stage wasn't on the pitch. After the loss to England, DR Congo's coach learned at the press conference, in front of cameras and reporters, that his father had died. A man who minutes earlier was talking tactics and missed chances suddenly faced something far harder than any football result. The story reached the Balkan media too, a reminder that behind every national team, behind every coach in a suit, stands a person with their own burden that the cameras rarely catch.