Harry Kane makes history as England seal first place
England bounced back from their drab goalless draw against Ghana by turning on the style in the second half against Panama to win 2-0 and finish top of Group L.
The deadly Harry Kane netted the second in the 67th minute with a composed header after latching onto Jude Bellingham’s floated cross to become England’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, surpassing former striker turned punditry legend Gary Lineker (11 goals).
Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled for attacking invention in the first half until Bellingham’s instinctive close-range volley from Bukayo Saka’s corner opened the scoring just after the hour. It means that the Real Madrid midfielder is now the youngest England player on record to score and assist in a World Cup match (22 years 363 days).
The Three Lions will play DR Congo in their Round of 32 outing on July 1, having avoided Portugal and Colombia by topping the group.
In the other fixture, Croatia earned a narrow 2-1 victory over Ghana thanks to Nikola Vlašić’s late winner to stay unbeaten at this year’s World Cup. Nevertheless, both countries advanced thanks to second and third-place finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal have to settle for second
Portugal have paid the price for dropping points again after a 0-0 draw with Colombia saw them finish as runners-up in Group K, while the South Americans battled impressively to secure top spot.
Fresh from a clinical double against Uzbekistan in his previous outing, Ronaldo was once again trusted to lead the line for Portugal, but he couldn’t inspire his side to find a breakthrough.
In a game with plenty of chances, it was a captivating fight for first place, and Colombia thought they had won it in second-half stoppage time, when Davinson Sánchez headed in Juan Fernando Quintero’s searching delivery, only to be denied by one of those dreaded marginal VAR calls, with replays showing his toe was probably in an offside position.
Meanwhile, DR Congo registered a hard-fought 3-1 comeback victory over the Uzbeks, thanks to a double from Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa to set up that Round of 32 clash with England and their first-ever World Cup knockout appearance. Colombia are handed a tie against Ghana and Portugal will face Croatia.
Algeria and Austria both through thanks to extraordinary draw, record-breaking Messi remains unstoppable
Riyad Mahrez’s brace, with the second arriving in the 93rd minute, had propelled Algeria into an incredible 3-2 lead, before Saša Kalajdžić’s last-gasp equaliser rescued a 3-3 draw for Austria and sent both sides into the World Cup knockouts at the expense of Iran.
Austria looked set to exit the competition, with Iran poised to progress as one of the best third-paced teams, until Kalajdžić stepped up as his country's hero, planting a 96th-minute header into the bottom corner to prompt euphoric celebrations.
Austria’s substitutes and coaching staff sprinted down the touchline to embrace the towering striker as Ralf Rangnick’s men sealed a Round of 32 date with Spain via a second-place finish in their first World Cup campaign since 1998, while Algeria will face Switzerland.
Despite starting on the bench and not entering the fray until the hour mark, Lionel Messi was at it again, scoring in his seventh consecutive World Cup appearance to help Argentina beat Jordan 3-1.
Having overtaken Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the competition with his brace against Austria last time out, the 39-year-old added a 19th World Cup goal courtesy of an expertly taken low free kick. Now on six goals at this tournament, Messi will look to add more to his tally against Cape Verde in Argentina's next outing.
Canada and South Africa both flipped the script by advancing into the tournament’s knockouts stages for the first time in their respective histories.
Alongside their progression into uncharted territory, today’s meeting between the two is historic for another reason: It’s the first ever Round of 32 match in the World Cup, given the expanded nature of this year’s 48-team extravaganza.
These two have never played each other in a competitive fixture, and the winner will go on to face either Netherlands or Morocco in the next round.
Canada target an unprecedented World Cup run
The 2-1 defeat to Switzerland may have taken the wind slightly out of Canada's sails, and meant they will be without home advantage for their remaining time as one of the tournament’s three host nations, but there is plenty of cause for optimism for Jesse Marsch’s side.
It’s already been a record-breaking tournament for the co-hosts as Canada’s group stage campaign also saw their first victory in this competition as they thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 on matchday two.
Given the goal-scoring exploits of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, as well as how Nathan Saliba stepped in effortlessly for the injured Ismaël Koné in the loss to the Swiss, they possess more than enough resources to overcome South Africa.
Canada captain Alphonso Davies finally fit for Canada
Canada have advanced to the knockout rounds despite the absence of their best and most influential player, Alphonso Davies.
The left back suffered a hamstring injury during the second leg of Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 6, and has cut a frustrated figure, forced to watch all three group matches from the sidelines.
But now, it’s been confirmed that the 25-year-old will finally take to the field at this World Cup. Davies started every game and even managed a goal at the previous tournament in Qatar, but it was a miserable World Cup for Canada, who crashed out at the group stage following three successive defeats.
Davies’ involvement will undoubtedly lift the expectations and spirits of everyone associated with the men in red and white.
South Africa aiming to prove any remaining doubters wrong
Against the odds, South Africa defiantly fought their way out of Group A to reach the knockouts. Following their 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in the opening World Cup game, where Bafana Bafana had two players sent off, a group-stage exit looked a foregone conclusion.
In South Africa’s next outing against Czechia, Teboho Mokoena’s 83rd-minute penalty rescued a 1-1 draw and breathed new life into Hugo Broos’ men, before they then earned an unlikely 1-0 win over South Korea thanks to a strike from Thapelo Maseko, advancing from the group as runners-up.
On the full-time whistle, Broos sank to his knees in celebration, and post-match, he said his team “gave an answer to all those big mouths” who didn’t believe that South Africa could do it.
Basking in redemption and revelling in criticism, Broos and his side aren’t done yet.
