The Gloves Take Center Stage in the Story

Bangla Press Desk:  Before the strikers and the midfielders settle into their rhythms, the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered something unexpected in its opening group stage round: the goalkeepers were the most compelling figures on the pitch.

None more so than Vozinha.

He was born in Mindelo, Cape Verde, a town of 70,000 people. He turned professional at 25, in the same year Spain star Lamine Yamal was born. On Monday in Atlanta, Josimar Jose Evora Dias, known simply as Vozinha, made his World Cup debut at 40. Spain threw everything at him — 27 shots — and Yamal and Nico Williams came off the bench and still couldn't find a way past him. Vozinha made seven official saves and helped Cape Verde earn a point in their first-ever World Cup game. 

 

Then came Mohammed Al-Owais, who refused to let Vozinha have the tournament to himself. The Saudi Arabia goalkeeper made a tournament-high nine saves as the Green Falcons battled to a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in their Group H opener. Saudi Arabia had taken the lead from a corner, and Al-Owais spent the remaining hour throwing himself at everything Uruguay could muster — a second successive World Cup in which Saudi Arabia had taken points from a South American heavyweight.

 

In New Jersey, Alisson Becker produced the save that may ultimately prove the most important of the opening round. Brazil and Morocco had shared a frantic 1-1 draw, but deep into stoppage time, Alisson produced a superb double save to preserve the draw — first parrying a curling effort from distance before reacting quickly to deny the rebound from close range. When Neil El Aynaoui tested him with a low shot screaming toward his bottom-right corner, Alisson spilled the initial effort but recovered in a split second to poke the loose ball out from the feet of Ayoube Amaimouni. For a Brazil side still finding their feet under Carlo Ancelotti, it was priceless.

 

In Dallas, Croatia's Dominik Livakovic saved Harry Kane's first penalty attempt, only for the referee to order a retake after video replays showed he had come off his line too early. Kane scored at the second attempt — but Livakovic had made his presence felt early, and continued to make interventions as England eventually won 4-2 in a chaotic thriller. He gave England nothing for free.

 

France's Mike Maignan also contributed. In the first half against Senegal, Nicolas Jackson hit the post with a low shot that came back off Maignan's leg and out for a corner. The intervention was subtle, but in a game France won 3-1 with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice, Maignan's steadiness provided the platform. 

Five goalkeepers, five different stories such as a journeyman's fairytale, a national shield, a last-gasp rescue act, a penalty-box duel, and a quiet authority. In the opening round of this World Cup, the gloves held the pen. Source: daily Sun
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