England and Argentina reach World Cup semis as local food vendors press on

England and Argentina advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after quarter-final victories, while CVM’s Small Biz Big Dreams segment also highlighted two Jamaican food entrepreneurs expanding from modest starts.

England defeated Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring both English goals after Norway had taken the lead. Former Trinidad and Tobago international and sports minister Brent Sancho said Norway would feel they deserved more, citing disputed moments that included a ball striking overhead wiring before England’s equaliser and a disallowed Erling Haaland goal. Sancho argued VAR and match officials should have caught the wiring incident, noting roughly 10 people help adjudicate a modern game. Haaland left the pitch before full time; host Orville Higgins said reports suggested many Norwegian players had been ill in the days before the match. Match figures cited on air showed England with 14 shots to Norway’s 13, eight shots on target to five, and 53 per cent possession.

Defending champions Argentina beat Switzerland to reach the last four. Local Premier League coach German Thomas said Switzerland often doubled and tripled Lionel Messi and largely limited him, until a more central shot led to a rebound goal and substitute Almada stretched the Swiss defence. Sancho said a second yellow for Switzerland’s Embolo, after a simulation review, left the Swiss with 10 men when they had been pressing. Stats aired for the game showed Argentina with 23 shots, seven on target, 59 per cent possession and eight corners to two. Messi did not score, and Thomas said other Argentines finding the net was a boost for the champions.

The semi-finals pair Argentina with England and France with Spain — the four sides ranked one to four before the tournament, described on air as a World Cup first. Mbappé and Messi were both on eight goals in the Golden Boot race, with Mbappé holding more assists.

Separately, Peter Gay Denson said she has run Love Life Families — seafood, pastries and more — for six years, starting from her home kitchen in 2020. After her husband died in 2021, she taught herself cake-making from YouTube and used the work to heal. The business now also includes meals and other custom offerings. She urged aspiring owners to put God first.

Charnet Anderson opened Chin’s Kitchen in January along Whitehall Avenue in St. Andrew, selling jerk chicken, soup, fritters, festival and porridge after deciding with her sister that the stretch needed that fare. She works as a hairdresser during the week and trades on weekends, starting with borrowed gear and a bought pan. She said community support and weekly consistency keep the stall going, and that her soup is rich with peanut, peas, corn dumpling, cow skin, chicken foot, beef and other ingredients. She is based at 34 Whitehall Avenue.