FIFA World Cup : Belgium pip England to top Group G
Kaliningrad (Russia), June 29 : Belgium topped Group G after beating England 1-0 here on Thursday in a clash between teams who had already qualified for the FIFA World Cup pre-quarterfinals.
Adnan Januzaj's 51st minute strike proved to be the difference between the teams who were playing their third and final Group G game.
With this win, Belgium took their points tally to nine, while England have six points as they finished top-two in this group to enter the second round. In the next round, Belgium will meet Japan, while England will take on Colombia.
In Saransk, Tunisia defeated Panama 2-1 in the other game of the group to finish third with three points from three games. Tunisia and debutants Panama are eliminated from the tournament.
Against Tunisia and Panama, both England and Belgium had brilliant records in the two rounds of group matches, which ensured them early tickets to the round of 16.
Level on points, goal difference and goals scored, Thursday's game was decisive for the ranking.AA Both teams played a much changed starting XIs, with England resting eight of their players from the previous match and Belgium nine.
England started the game with more possession, but it was Belgium who appeared more menacing. The sixth minute saw Belgium's first threat, when Youri Tielemans received a pass from the right and slammed at the net from about 23 meters away. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an excellent save.
Four minutes later, Januzaj delivered a cross to Marouane Fellaini, who nodded on it. Pickford tried to save but the ball rolled through him towards the line. It was Chelsea defender Gary Cahill who managed a last-second clearance.
Belgium gradually shifted the balance thereafter. Michy Batshuayi, the Borussia Dortmund forward who had a stoppage-time goal against Tunisia, caused chaos for England before the half-hour mark, which was later joined by Fellaini and Januzaj. It took some efforts from John Stones, Loftus-Cheek and Rashford to save the team amid scramble.
Shortly after that Trent Alexander-Arnold won a free-kick. He found Loftus-Cheek, who flicked the header wide.
The deadlock was broken six minutes into the second half, as Januzaj cut in from the right, passed over Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose and thwacked a shot into the left corner of the net.
England almost equalized 15 minutes later, with the dribbling Marcus Rashford facing Belgium's goalkeeper one-to-one. It was the best chance for England but the Manchester United striker had his shot right wide.
They went close against 10 minutes before the full-time stroke with a free-kick 27 meters from the goal. Rashford aimed at the top-right corner but the ball flew over the bar.
Then Ruben Loftus-Cheek blazed down the right, before curling the shot again over the bar.
When it came to stoppage time, Belgium nearly doubled the lead. Substitute striker Dries Mertens lashed a dipping strike which was palmed out by Pickford.
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K'taka govt, Taiwan's Allegiance Group sign MoU to establish industrial technology innovation park
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government on Friday signed an MoU with Allegiance International Co Ltd of Taiwan to establish an Indo-Taiwan Industrial Technology Innovation Park (ITIP) in the state, with a proposed investment of around Rs 1,000 crore.
The MoU was signed by Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Director, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Lawrence Chen, VP, Allegiance Group in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister for Electronics, IT & BT Priyank Kharge, and senior officials.
The project will be undertaken by the Allegiance Group with a proposed investment of around Rs 1,000 crore, leading to the creation of about 800 direct jobs via the companies setting up operations in ITIP over a period of 5 years, the IT&BT Minister's office said in a statement.
The ITIP will serve as a dedicated hub for Taiwanese companies in electronics and semiconductors, fostering advanced manufacturing, R&D, and innovation. This collaboration aims to strengthen Karnataka's position as India's leading destination for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and accelerate the growth of the semiconductor ecosystem in the state.
Key highlights of the MoU include establishment of a world-class industrial park to house Taiwanese firms in electronics and semiconductor sectors; development of a robust supply chain ecosystem for components, PCBs, and chip design; creation of high-value jobs and skill development programmes in collaboration with academic institutions; and promotion of technology transfer and global best practices to enhance India's competitiveness in electronics manufacturing.
CM Siddaramaiah said this partnership marks a significant step towards realising Karnataka's vision of becoming a global hub for electronics and semiconductor innovation.
"The ITIP will attract cutting-edge technology and investments, creating opportunities for our youth and strengthening India's position in the global value chain," he said.
Minister Priyank Kharge said Karnataka has led India's technology revolution and continues to dominate in innovation, deep-tech talent, and semiconductor design.
"This partnership will accelerate our efforts to build a robust electronics and semiconductor ecosystem. We are committed to creating a level playing field and ensuring that Karnataka remains the preferred destination for global investors in advanced technologies," he said.
Lawrence Chen said, "We are excited to collaborate with Karnataka, a state known for its technology leadership. The ITIP will be a catalyst for Taiwanese companies to expand in India and contribute to the growth of the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem."
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