Good morning and welcome to our World Cup Breakfast from day 18 of the tournament — your quick guide to the biggest stories, standout moments and overnight action from North America.
For the latest headlines, social media talking points and key developments to follow, we have you covered.
OVERNIGHT ACTION
Here is everything that happened while you were asleep…
Jordan 1-3 Argentina (Group J)
Lionel Messi was introduced from the bench in the 59th minute and still found time to strengthen his grip on the Golden Boot race before the final whistle.
The Argentina captain is now on six goals, two clear of Kylian Mbappe, after scoring the 19th World Cup goal of his career. His latest came 10 minutes from full-time, as he bent a low free-kick around the wall and caught the goalkeeper out.
At 39, Messi also made history by becoming the first player to score in seven successive World Cup matches, adding the finishing touch to a controlled display from the defending champions.
Giovani Lo Celso had earlier put Argentina ahead with a superb free-kick, before Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty to make it 2-0. Jordan responded through Musa Al-Taamari, but Messi’s late strike ended any hopes of a comeback.
Algeria 3-3 Austria (Group J)
Fortunately this was not a re-run of the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’, the infamous 1982 World Cup clash between Austria and West Germany that was played without effort to see both sides through at Algeria’s expense.
This time around, while both Algeria and Austria progressed, they went hell for leather in a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw that was one of the tournament’s best games so far but cruelly knocked Iran out of the World Cup.
Iran thought Riyad Mahrez’s 93rd-minute goal to put Algeria 3-2 up had saved them but Sasa Kalajdzic’s header with the last real action of the match made it 3-3 and brought an end to their unhappy campaign.
Fears of a casual kickabout to suit both sides were thankfully misplaced but the result for the Iranians was unfortunately the same.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2. Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 3. Ghana | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4. Ecuador | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 5. Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| 6. Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| 7. Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 8. Senegal | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| 9. Iran | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10. Korea Republic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 11. Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| 12. Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan (Group K)
DR Congo needed to win this one to set up a knockout game against England and did just that, sealing a place in the top eight third-placed spots with ease.
It means Thomas Tuchel’s side avoid a slightly more unfavourable clash with Senegal and they have Newcastle striker Yoan Wissa to thank.
Wissa scored twice in the 3-1 win, his nation’s first ever at a World Cup, and spoke of his pride at bringing joy to a nation ravaged by war and currently fighting an Ebola outbreak.
He said: ‘We are a proud country. We are proud people. We love our country. We love our national team. We love what we represent!’
Colombia 0-0 Portugal (Group K)
Davinson Sanchez and Colombia were denied a deserved victory by a toe after the defender’s late goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co now face a tricky route to the World Cup final after finishing behind their Group K rivals in second spot.
And those uncomfortable questions about their 41-year-old striker are right back on the agenda just days after he declared: ‘I’m back’.
Roberto Martinez’s side now play Croatia in the next round and have a likely meeting with local rivals Spain if they make it to the last 16.
READ RIATH AL-SAMARRAI’S REPORT HERE
England 2-1 Panama (Group L)
It might not have been pretty all the way through, nor as smooth as the previous meeting between the two teams – which saw England beat Panama 6-1 in 2018 in Russia – but the Three Lions topped the group with a record-breaking performance.
After toiling against another challenging low block for the first-half, Jude Bellingham provided the magic and creativity necessary to break the deadlock as he scored from a corner to put England ahead.
Just five minutes later, Harry Kane doubled his side’s lead thanks to an assist from Bellingham that cemented his spot in the history books. England were able to keep a clean sheet too, after a wild Panama effort from distance which chipped Jordan Pickford was chalked off for offside.
READ OLIVER HOLT’S REPORT HERE, AND CRAIG HOPE’S FULL RATINGS HERE
Jude Bellingham was scorer and provider at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday
Croatia 2-1 Ghana (Group L)
Scotland’s exit from the World Cup was confirmed as Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Scotland needed Ghana to win by three goals to ensure Croatia finished outside of the top eight third-placed teams and keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the last 32.
Instead, Croatia finished second while Ghana went through in third place with a point more than Scotland. Petar Sucic put Croatia ahead on the half hour before Derrick Luckassen levelled in the 76th minute – the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR review – but Nikola Vlasic scored the winner for Croatia late on
BOBBY MANZI
Croatia cemented their spot as the Group L runners-up with a win against Ghana – and crushed Scotland’s faint hopes of qualifying
VIEWS FROM THE GROUNDS
IAN HEBERT IN SEATTLE
The image of a young woman on the front of many T-shirts around the perimeter of the Seattle Stadium, where Iran played Egypt on Friday, told you she was someone who’d seized life. The quietly determined smile and the folded arms were those of Setayesh Shafiei. She’d been brought up in an orphanage but put a difficult start to life behind her. She was 20 when she died, while trying to help a 12-year-old boy who’d been wounded when the Iranian military cracked down on protests against the nation’s despotic regime. One of 42,000 who lost their lives in a few days in January.
I spent a lot of Friday in the company of the American-Iranians diaspora in Seattle who were protesting against that regime, which has a vice-like grip on the Iran FA and the team. The diaspora think the team, as a symbol of a murderous state, should have been banned from this World Cup.
Yet that very team have fought like heroes to get to the knock-out stages and were warriors against Egypt. It’s impossible not to admire them. The players might not have spoken the truth to power, but their presence here has allowed the stories of those who died to be heard. The image of Setayesh speaks for them.
JACK GAUGHAN IN NEW YORK
Such was the volume of England supporters at the MetLife on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel was asked whether the win over Panama felt like Wembley. Yes, he did. But really, no it cannot have been given the distinct lack of paper aeroplanes.
No need for them when Jude Bellingham is in that sort of mood.
‘The crazy white wall’ is how Tuchel described thousands behind one goal and that is exactly what this team will continue needing if they are to progress deeper into the tournament.
Predictably, the airlines had already doubled prices for flights to Atlanta for the last-32 game even before a ball had been kicked here. They’ll only go up more.
ALSO READ: Andy Burnham's Policies Poised to Benefit His Wife Financially
CELEBRITY WATCH
As one would imagine, the stars were out in full force on Saturday to take in England’s final group stage game, and while David Beckham has been a permanent fixture at this World Cup, the Three Lions welcomed a clutch of newer fans.
Lionesses star Chloe Kelly was joined in New Jersey by her team-mate Alessia Russo, who provided pre-match opinions from the centre circle, while darts supremo Luke Littler was joined Stateside by his family to take in the win.
Luke Littler was joined by his parents and girlfriend Faith at the New York New Jersey Stadium
Chloe Kelly posed up a storm as her England team-mate Alessia Russo briefly joined ITV’s punditry team before kick-off
David Beckham was also sighted in East Rutherford as he continued to follow England in the US
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
All eyes have been focused on Fox’s coverage and the increasingly combative dynamic between co-pundits Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexi Lalas in the studio, but things took an interesting twist on Saturday when the Sweden legend decided that he was going to take Rebecca Lowe’s slot as ‘the host’.
‘It’s not an act, I’m the host,’ Zlatan deadpanned when Lowe attempted to explain the scenario, before Ibrahimovic posed probing questions about the upcoming Colombia versus Portugal clash, before adding that he ‘doesn’t read prompts’ in an increasingly surreal segment.
‘Can you get me a cup of tea, please?’ he then asked Lowe as she applauded his brief role as host, before adding: ‘After one month, I’m going to be the President of America’.
Stranger things have happened!
PICTURE OF THE DAY
It may have taken some time to pick Panama’s lock, but when England did, there was no stopping them.
Most meaningful however was Harry Kane’s goal to double the Three Lions’ lead – in scoring his 11th at a finals in England’s colours, he became his country’s all-time highest goal-scorer at the World Cup.
Harry Kane netted England’s second goal against Panama in his nation’s final group stage tie
STAT OF THE DAY
In a World Cup burnished by ageing stars, few have such ‘fine wine’ bonafides as Croatia’s Luka Modric.
Beating Ghana to qualify second in Group L, the former Real Madrid midfielder provided an assist for his team-mate Nikola Vlasic’s winner – and in doing so, at 40 years and 291 days old, Modric became the oldest to do so since records began in 1966.
Onto the knock-out stages.
Luka Modric remains a force for his country at major tournaments despite his veteran status
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
1. Right-backs dropping like flies
England fans will have their eyes peeled for further news on the severity of Jarrell Quansah’s ankle injury.
With Reece James already out of action due to a hamstring problem, Quansah limped off in the second half against Panama and is also a major doubt for Wednesday.
‘It was a classic ankle twist and he is in pain,’ said Tuchel, who has already seen full-back Tino Livramento withdraw from the squad with a calf issue.
‘He said he had it before and it was a matter of days. He hopes that it stays like this but at the moment it’s just too painful, so he has his leg up high, and compression and ice.’
Jarrell Quansah is facing a race against time to be fit again for England
2. Iran to exit quietly?
Iran have been incredibly strong in their condemnation of FIFA and the USA for what they perceived to be unfair treatment at the World Cup.
The team’s World Cup campaign has been dogged by travel and visa restrictions as well as weeks of mudslinging between Iranian officials and US authorities.
Now their elimination has been cruelly confirmed by Austria’s draw with Algeria, it seems unlikely Iran will quietly exit stage left…
3. Studying the bracket
Now we finally have the final 32 teams confirmed and knockout fixtures locked in, everyone will be poring over the bracket to see how the next three weeks will unfold.
Argentina look as though they have a favourable run, starting with Cape Verde, then Australia or Egypt and then one of Colombia, Ghana, Algeria or Switzerland for a place in the semi-final (possibly against England).
Germany and France are on a collision course for the last 16, as are the Spanish and the Portuguese.
It will be fascinating to see how the odds have shifted now we know the routes to the final.
TODAY’S GAME
South Africa v Canada (8pm, Los Angeles)
In a quirk of scheduling, the powers that be have decided that, instead of a day of rest between a frantic end to the group stage and the round of 32, we have one solitary tie as our curtain-raiser. No, I’m not sure about that either.
But after avoiding the drop by the skin of their teeth, South Africa should be well up for their tie against the co-hosts who, in another quirk of scheduling, won’t have any more fixtures on home soil.
This is the first time that Bafana Bafana have qualified for the World Cup knockout stages, but their uneven form should see Canada continue their travails in the tournament as the slight favourites.
NB. BBC and ITV will decide who hosts which fixtures in the Round of 32 later today
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