World Cup round of 32: Is it Vinicius Juniors time to shine for Brazil? Germany's Joshua Kimmich dilemma
With all due respect to Canada and South Africa -- which is not a lot after the cure for insomnia they served up in Inglewood -- Monday feels like the day when the knockout stages of the World Cup really begin. Three games and in those a host of heavy hitters. In the headline slot, the Netherlands look to avoid the fate meted out on Spain and Portugal in 2022, defeat to Morocco, and build on what has proven to be a rather impressive group stage campaign.
Before that, Germany should be looking at their game against Paraguay as an opportunity to flex their muscles, Julian Nagelsmann's men surely big favorites against a side who finished third in an underpowered Group D. It is with the opening game of the day that we begin however. Brazil against Japan has the makings of a real cracker, a tricky test for the five-time champions but one that a team with serious aspirations to win this tournament should negotiate well. And those aspirations only grow stronger when their No.7 is in his current form.
Vinicius Junior's moment
Prior to this tournament, Brazil had not really seen the best of Vinicius Junior in their colors. Nine goals in 49 games was a meagre return for a player who operates at two in five, at least, for Real Madrid. If there was a justification for the curious intensity with which so many clamored for the return of an aged Neymar, it was that this was a player who had lit up the biggest stages for the Selecao.
At the 2022 World Cup, Vinicius only scored in a drubbing of South Korea. At the subsequent Copa America too, it was a brace of goals against Paraguay that someone else probably would have gotten anyway. For those of us who primarily saw Vinicius with Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid, it was hard to fathom. He was as clutch as anyone in the world for a time, the talisman for the only club side where expectations match Brazil.
Perhaps having the coach who brought him to prominence at Madrid in the dugout has brought the best out of Vinicius at club level. Undoubtedly they click on a personal level, and Ancelotti now finds himself obliged to furnish his No.7 with a gift after losing a bet over whether Vinicius could score a header as he did against Scotland. More than just mind games and good vibes, the Brazil head coach has delivered a system in the last two games that (against the limited opposition of Haiti and Scotland) gives his star forward a platform to excel. Matheus Cunha operates as more of a false nine, dropping into midfield and drawing defenders out of position, creating space for Vinicius to isolate his defenders.
He is using that to devastating effect, typified when he darted in behind the Haitian defense to meet Lucas Paqueta's ball over the top and score his side's third. That performance was a mere amuse-bouche for what happened against Scotland, where he scored twice from a tally of 3.07 expected goals.
In that match alone, Vinicius put up more xG than anyone else has across the whole tournament. That a great deal of that came from punishing Scottish sloppiness at the back is not a problem either. It was notable how bought into the pack hunting Vinicius was at Hard Rock Stadium. He may never be a winger to drop back and help his fullback, but if he can be a threat when opponents are trying to build up, that is more than enough.
And so Vinicius stands on the cusp of history. If Brazil's tournament were to end today, as it might against a very dangerous Japan outfit, then we would be talking about him in four years' time as we did four paragraphs ago, a player who has only scored the sort of big tournament goals that someone else would probably have got anyway. His form suggests that this is the moment where the story changes, where he matches Neymar in Brazilian hearts. He must still bend the big international games to his will to be one of his country's greats. Never has he looked more ready for that mission.
Time to move Kimmich?
Though defeat to Ecuador can probably be written off as one of those games where their opponents just wanted it more, there was a flash of concern in the difficulties Nilson Angulo gave Joshua Kimmich, the once-and-again right back who has long since been fully converted into a central midfielder by Bayern Munich. As Ecuador's winger drove infield Kimmich dealt with danger rather as you'd expect a midfielder might, backing off and waiting for the moment to step in as Aleksandar Pavlovic covered on the blindside. It rather backfired.
FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FOR ECUADOR 🇪🇨
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2026
Nilson Angulo equalizer from outside the box! pic.twitter.com/iTnSrgc9jy
Julian Nagelsmann certainly hasn't been making it easy for Kimmich. Whether it is David Raum or Nathaniel Brown in the position, Germany's left backs have been operating in more advanced areas, opening up space for Florian Wirtz inside. That means Kimmich operates almost like a third center back, the spot he found himself in for Angulo's goal.
Now, of course, there are benefits to fitting Kimmich in at right back. Germany have a right back who is completing nearly 14 passes into the attacking third and a similar number of progressive passes per 90 minutes. In a team that includes Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane, Kimmich is the leading chance creator on eight. Against teams where Germany might expect to win -- or where losing is not terminal -- there is a case to be made for getting Kimmich in with two midfielders. In knockout matches, one Angulo-shaped mistake can carry a great deal more negative value than the positives Kimmich brings on the ball.
Perhaps this is the time to change. The slight problem? Germany didn't really bring a natural right back as an alternative option. Can Malick Thiaw do a job for longer than the half hour he played against Ecuador? One suspects we may not get an answer.
Add CBS Sports on GoogleBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
