France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is out of manager Didier Deschamps’s starting XI for Saturday’s round of 16 clash with Paraguay with a reported groin issue.

Meanwhile, Paraguay will see center back Omar Alderete return to manager Gustavo Alfaro’s back five after missing the round of 32 with a knee injury.

Tchouameni has played in three of France’s four matches, going the full 90 minutes in all three of his appearances. According to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, he left Friday’s training session early.

In the Real Madrid midfielder’s absence, Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot were manning the double-pivot for Deschamps. Rabiot has played 270 minutes and Kone logged 180. Deschamps has rotated most of his squad during the tournament.

Alderete suffered his injury in Paraguay’s group stage finale against Australia. He missed the dramatic win over Germany on penalties last Monday and had not participated in full team training most of the week, Alfaro said Friday.

–Field Level Media

A plethora of challenges face England as they battle host Mexico on Sunday night in what will surely be a raucous atmosphere at Mexico City.

The World Cup group of 16 match will be played at 7,200-foot altitude in possible treacherous weather that nearly led to the match being pushed up six hours.

There also is fear of not getting a good night’s sleep as Mexico fans staged a crazy noisy scene complete with fireworks outside Ecuador’s hotel the night before Mexico’s 2-0 victory on Tuesday.

Then there’s this: Mexico’s national squad is 70-2-17 all-time at Estadio Azteca since it opened in 1966.

“It is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, the most exciting fixtures that you can have, to play against Mexico in the Azteca,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “And there will be a lot of obstacles waiting for us, not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It’s just impossible.”

England is coming off a tightly-contested 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions are taking aim at reaching at least the quarterfinals for the third straight World Cup.

Mexico have their sights on reaching the quarterfinals for just the third time. They also advanced that far in 1970 and 1986.

But after outscoring opponents 8-0 over four World Cup matches, El Tri are optimistic the familiar surroundings can be the deciding asset.

“It’s a match everyone dreamed of — facing England in the Round of 16 in this stadium,” Mexico midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo said. “It’s probably one of the biggest games we are ever going to experience as players. We know they have good players; we know how they play. Their midfield is highly physical, above all. They have great players in every position. They are going to be great opponents.”

The Mexico defense will have to be keenly aware of Harry Kane’s whereabouts at all times.

The English star forward has scored five goals in this World Cup, tied for third with Norway star Erling Haaland entering play on Saturday. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the way with seven and France’s Kylian Mbappe is second with six.

Kane is aware the pursuit of victories only gets tougher the deeper you advance in the World Cup. He said it’s time for the club to dig down deep.

“There are still things to work on for sure and these rounds are just about getting through,” Kane said. “We are in the part of the tournament when you have to grind wins out, and that’s what we have done.”

Midfielder Jude Bellingham (two goals, one assist) is also enjoying a strong tournament.

Mexico doesn’t have a megastar like Kane but forwards Julian Quinones (three goals, one assist), Raul Jimenez (two goals) and Roberto Alvarado (three assists) are leading El Tri’s strong run.

“Our team is complete and competitive,” Quinones said. “We know what our goal is and we believe we can do it.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre sharply criticized officials on Friday for considering moving up the time so he’s surely happy that the night-time kickoff stayed put.

But Tuchel and his club still need to worry about getting some sleep on Saturday night amid a possible loud congregation.

“We will expect that but what can we do?” said Tuchel, indicating earplugs will be part of the sleeping regimen.

The winner faces either Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals.

–Field Level Media

Kody Clemens lifted a three-run homer with nobody out in the first inning for the Minnesota Twins, who raced out to a six-run lead and hit six homers in their 11-4 victory over the host New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon.

On a 95-degree day, the Twins hit three of their homers off New York rookie spot starter Brendan Beck.

Clemens homered for the fifth time in eight games when he followed a walk by Trevor Larnach and a double by Byron Buxton with a drive to right-center off Beck’s full-count slider.

Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the second. Keaschall slugged a 2-2 fastball to right-center and Jackson ripped a 2-2 slider into the left field seats.

Larnach hit a 2-1 sinker into the right field seats off Tim Hill in the fourth. Josh Bell homered in consecutive at-bats to left off Ryan Yarbrough and Camilo Doval in the seventh and eighth.

Minnesota won for the eighth time in its past 11 road games and hit six homers for the first time since Sept 4, 2023. The Twins also slugged six homers against the Yankees for the second time in franchise history and first instance since June 26, 2016.

Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews exited with two outs in the fifth because of a lacerated right foot. He exited following a walk to Ben Rice and allowed four runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Taylor Rogers (4-3) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and was awarded the win.

Jasson Dominguez hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Max Schuemann hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Cody Bellinger added an RBI double in the fifth but the Yankees lost for the eighth time in nine games and allowed six homers for the first time since Aug. 15, 2019 against Cleveland.

Beck was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to fill in for Carlos Rodon (left elbow inflammation) and allowed five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media