Key events
Right, the countdown to kick-off in Panama v England and Croatia v Ghana is on – our minute-by-minute coverage has begun!
Let’s close things off here and I’ll leave you in the expert hands of Scott Murray and Will Unwin – thanks for your contributions and enjoy the footy.
Jonathan Wilson has written about two captivating last-32 games that pit a traditional powerhouse against a team from the new world order. Please do delve in.
The World Cup exists in a state of perpetual flux. It goes to new territories. It gets bigger. It experiments with second group phases and replaces playoffs for sides level on points with goal difference then head-to-head. And still one of the same eight countries from western Europe or South America wins it.
Since Argentina in 1978, there have been two new winners, and those were France and Spain, from the heart of Uefa, their success based on maximising the advantages of being European and wealthy; no countries have been so successful at industrialising youth production, so much so that they now provide the models for every country seeking to invest in academy programmes.
Yet it feels that the old world has never been so at odds with the game’s leadership.
Intriguing England team news there from Jacob Steinberg on the ground in the US.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in midfield? Thomas Tuchel is saying: handbrake? Where we’re going we don’t need no handbrake. Or something. Not sure Jarell Quansah was on too many predicted lineups either.
We’ll see very soon if it comes to pass and how it plays out, of course!
Quansah and Rogers set to start for England
Jacob Steinberg
Hello from New Jersey. Word is filtering through that Marcus Rashford is to replace Anthony Gordon on the left when England face Panama later. Jarell Quansah is also expected to make his World Cup debut, replacing the injured Reece James at right-back.
Bukayo Saka is in line to replace Noni Madueke and in an attacking move it seems Morgan Rogers will come in for the rested Declan Rice and link with Jude Bellingham as Tuchel tries to find a way to break down Panama’s low block.
“Whether or not Cape Verde over Argentina would be the biggest World Cup upset ever, I think it would certainly be the most consequential,” emails Gregory Phillips re. my query about the last-32 tie.
“So many big upsets have happened in the group stages and the surprise losers (Argentina against Cameroon in ’90 and Saudi Arabia last time) went on to get to the final.”
A fine point Gregory. There was defending champs France going out in the group stage in 2002 of course – and Italy and Spain losing to South Korea in that same tournament. But for a one-off World Cup knockout tie, Cape Verde knocking out Argentina would be stratospheric. Not that I’m tipping it mind you (sorry, Vozinha and family).
Harry Kane is likely to start against Panama again of course – unless Thomas Tuchel goes all “Ståle Solbakken” and rests his star striker with qualification secured.
The Panama defender likely to marshal Kane is José Córdoba, who’s had a solid season in the Championship with Norwich – a club where Kane had a loan spell to forget. Does that make it a grudge match? Who can say?!
So it’s less than two and 20 minutes until Panama v England begins. The two sides have met only once before – you may recall it as it was at the World Cup eight years ago, when a bright young buck called Gareth Southgate oversaw a freewheeling 6-1 victory, Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick.
Repeat tonight? Or revenge?
ITellYou who is at a lot of these World Cup matches – IShowSpeed. Which doesn’t exactly quicken my heart with joy.
Apparently the streamer got the “first official Fifa fan ID”, whatever that is, from Gianni Infantino pre-tournament. And all the crying just because Cristiano Ronaldo scored against Uzbekistan feels a bit performative for me (though I suppose that’s the game he’s in).
However there is a more positive and likable side to YouTubers and content creators at the World Cup! No, really. I read this article and it revealed all:
Speaking of the last 32, which starts tomorrow, the first match as we have detailed is South Africa v Canada. Which is fun because it’s a co-host, it’s Bafana Bafana, and it’s between two teams who are playing their first World Cup knockout tie – meaning one team will win their first ever WC knockout tie, too.
However I have to say the last-32 game that catches my eye is the second one: Brazil v Japan. Not particularly rich reward for Brazil after winning Group C, you’d say.
With respect to Haiti/Scotland, it’s the first big test for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after they did not look particularly comfortable in drawing with Morocco. Japan are unbeaten as well. It’s a fascinating match (I say, thus ensuring two scoreless hours + hydration breaks).
Cape Verde – the story of the World Cup so far – have said “why not?” when it comes to pulling off a huge upset and knocking out the defending champions Argentina in the last 32.
“Our first objective was to go to the World Cup, our second was to pass the group stage, and this is what we did,” trumpets the midfield anchor Deroy Duarte, according to AFP.
“Everything is an honour and a reward, and we see Argentina as a game like this – another chance to make history.
“So why not? We will give everything and then at the end of the game we will see.”
Would it be the biggest shock in World Cup history if Duarte and co sent Lionel Messi et al packing? Answers on a postcard.
“There’s more chance of Trump inviting the Iranian team to watch the final with him than there is of Scotland making the last 32,” posits Simon McMahon via email.
“And we have only ourselves to blame. But at least we can now focus on supporting our English neighbours for the rest of the tournament, starting with Panama tonight.”
Are you being entirely truthful there Simon? Meanwhile, James Carpenter emails to point out that I brought forward the kick-off time of the Group L games by two hours earlier (I’ve corrected to avoid confusion). Thank you James, I meant of course that our super, soaraway minute-by-minute live blogs for both matches start at 8pm BST (with kick-offs at 10pm BST). There! The save of tournament so far from me!
Uruguay, oh Uruguay – I feel for La Celeste after a miserable World Cup to forget but I also feel for the ever self-critical Marcelo Bielsa. It’s fair to understate that this has job has not gone well for the one-time hipster’s favourite coach.
“He’s a legend and anyone who says otherwise is not worth listening to,” says my colleague Dick Wetherell, who is definitely not a hipster but is definitely a Leeds fans and therefore can recall happier times for Marcelo.
“Someone said he’s lost the dressing room. I pointed out that there aren’t many good players in that dressing room.”
Ouch, take that Fede Valverde.
Apparently Iran have left a note in the changing room thanking Seattle for its hospitality, despite the agony of drawing a game with Egypt they came so close to winning in added time in Group G. Nice. Here’s the full tale:
Iran left a note in their locker room following a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Friday, thanking Seattle for its hospitality during the World Cup, and appeared to express disappointment over the result that left their place in the knockout stage in limbo.
“Perhaps a team can advance from a group, but only through fair[n]ess and honour can one stand tall before history,” the handwritten message by the side and released by Iran’s FA read. “Fair play is not just a line in football’s rules, it is the soul of the game.
“Thank you, Seattle for your hospitality and thank you to all Iranians … who gave their hearts, their voices and their whole being for Iran.”
The team left a similar note in LA following their draw with Belgium in their second game. With three points in Group G, Iran have to wait until the end of group-stage games to see if they are one of the eight third-best-placed teams to advance. Reuters
This, of course, is the other perspective on Scotland – and a point well made.
Scotland fans need a bit of perspective don’t they? Yes it’s disappointing but Morocco and Brazil are two very good teams and an aggregate loss of 4-0 is hardly an embarrassment to a team with Scott McKenna and Grant Hanley at centre back. No disrespect to consummate pros but Brazil have Vinicius, Raphinha, Cunha, Neymar etc. It’s hardly a fair fight
To be fair, I know a lot of Scotland fans (lucky me!) who were utterly unfussed by the qualification permutation conundrum after the 3-0 defeat by Brazil.
The thinking being that for all the brilliance of the Tartan Army, a team that contributes one (deflected) goal and struggled in all three matches doesn’t really deserve the prize of Scotland’s first World Cup knockout tie. Still, maybe that mood changes fast if Ghana power into an early 3-0 lead …
Croatia v Ghana is of course the game where Scotland need the Black Stars to win by three goals or more to keep their Mission: Impossible World Cup qualification hopes live.
So a 3-0 romp for a Carlos Queiroz side … when all Ghana need is a draw to guarantee second place … and a point also qualifies Croatia in third. Yeah, I’m not sensing that scoreline if I’m honest.
I was impressed by Nico O’Reilly when he came on against Ghana – thought he livened England up a bit (it was a low bar). He’s a danger in the air too, isn’t he? I don’t know why this was a surprise to me: he’s a strapping 6ft 4in.
Thanks John and hello fellow World Cup fanatics – just under four hours to go before kick-off in our Group L matches: Panama v England, Croatia v Ghana.
I suppose the question is how accurate are the sources that England are likely to replace Reece James (who is definitely out) with Ezri Konsa switching to right-back and John Stones back in the centre. Plus Nico O’Reilly returning at left-back.
Then also Kobbie Mainoo starting to give Declan Rice a rest in midfield and, in attack, Marcus Rashford replacing Anthony Gordon – and possibly Bukayo Saka in for Noni Madueke (TBC).
Thoughts? Likely to produce a livelier display than the stodge seen against Ghana?
That Spain news is a significant place to hand the blog to my esteemed colleague, Mr Alex Reid.
Spain injuries: Pino out of finals, Williams struggling
Yéremy Pino is likely to miss the rest of the World Cup with a broken collar bone and there are concerns Spain could also lose Nico Williams to a groin injury, as their qualification for the last 32 came at a heavy price.
Spain landed back in Chattanooga from Guadalajara just before 5am on Saturday. Tests will be carried out on both wingers to assess the extent of their injuries, with the selección due to train again at 6pm local time.
Belgium finished above Egypt on goal difference after they both ended with five points from three matches, followed by Iran on three points and New Zealand on one. In the other match in the group, Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran. Belgium will next face one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Lukaku is the ultimate impact sub
Brought on twice and both times Belgium scored within a minute
Played more minutes at this world cup than he did through all of last season
The German team director, Rudi Völler, has speaking ahead of his team’s meeting with Paraguay: “To reach the very big goals we know the players, who have developed into world-class players in the past couple of years, they have to deliver. That’s clear. The players know there is room for improvement. We have to go to the limit.
“You have the feeling that this moment is near. Not much is missing for them to spark.“
Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz have so far failed to live up to expectations.
Transfer news: Ligue 1 club Troyes have sold forward Mathys Detourbet to Premier League giant Manchester City on Saturday.
L’Equipe say City signed the 19-year-old Frenchman for around €25m and he would be loaned to Monaco next season. Troyes is one of 12 clubs totally or partially owned by the City Football Group, which has City as its flagship club.
Under five hours until England play Panama.
There will be changes this evening on Saturday, some of them enforced. Declan Rice is a booking from a ban and had strapping on his left calf after facing Ghana. The loss of the hamstrung Reece James at right-back for at least two games is a bigger blow, though, and adds another obstacle to Tuchel’s issues against low blocks.
Takumi Minamino, the injured Japanese forward serving in a no-playing capacity, said his teammates can beat Brazil.
“If we play with the underdog mentality, as we always have, I believe we have the ability to make something happen in these one-off games.”
Minamino said attacker Takefusa Kubo could play a part after a knee injury.
The Real Sociedad winger came off in the 2-2 draw with the Netherlands that launched Japan’s World Cup campaign. “He is especially spirited, so he needs no encouragement from me. Everyone believes we will welcome him back in the knockout stage, and he is rehabbing with that same belief.”
Stats via our friends at WhoScored:
No players have been dispossessed more often at this World Cup than:
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9 – Jamal Musiala
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9 – Leandro Trossard
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9 – Brahim Díaz
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8 – Viktor Gyökeres
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8 – Kenan Yıldız
Here’s today’s Football Daily, penned by me, actually.
Simon McMahon gets in touch: “Afternoon John. Regarding Scotland’s chances, 0.5% isn’t zero, is it? So there’s still a chance. Alternatively we could have scored one more against Haiti, and not conceded schoolboy goals against Morocco and Brazil. Steve
“Clarke seemed to implicitly criticise supporters who said as much after the Brazil game, which I think is a dangerous game given how much some of them spent to go to America, only to witness the same old story again. Nine games now under Clarke in major finals, one win, six defeats, four goals scored, sixteen conceded. Still, I’m sure the SFA knew what they were doing when giving him a new year four year deal before the summer.”
Here are the last 32 matches that are already decided and scheduled.
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South Africa vs. Canada, 28 June
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Brazil vs. Japan, 29 June
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Germany v Paraguay, 29 June
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Netherlands v Morocco, 29 June
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Brazil v Japan, 29 June
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France v Sweden, 30 June
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Norway v Ivory Coast, 30 June
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USA v Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1 July
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Australia v Egypt, 3 July
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Argentina v Cape Verde, 3 July
This has been an experience shared by others. The simple answer is kick-off times, though other factors of the expense of running pubs come to mind.
Twas talk about how the world cup was going to help out with pubs, a pub opposite me with world cup bunting – lots of big screeens – when england played there were about 5 cars outside, when scotland played they shut down at 10 pm even before kick off. Methinks this world cup has failed so far to get people going..maybe too many teams and far too many matches??
Venues can already apply for a “temporary events notice” to open late but the government has told councils to allow a blanket extension for pubs during games featuring the home nations. This will allow pub goers to stay until 1am for games starting between 5pm and 9pm, and as late as 2am for 10pm kick-offs.
In England, this will only apply from the knockout stages. In Scotland, most councils will allow pubs to open late from the national team’s first World Cup fixture in nearly 30 years, versus Haiti. That game kicks off in Boston in the US at 2am UK time on 14 June, mercifully followed by a bank holiday the next day.
In theory, late opening hours could apply to 13 of the tournament’s 104 games but in practice it’s likely to be significantly fewer.
Good afternoon, a reminder of those permutations for Scotland, a 0.5% chance.
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Ghana beat Croatia by at least three goals
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Draw between DR Congo and Uzbekistan
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Uzbekistan win by no more than three goals
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Austria to beat Algeria by two goals
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Algeria to win by four goals.
Right, time for John Brewin to take the reins.
Zachary Ruiz provides some colour from Texas:
I’m at my son’s swim competition right now (outdoors…I need my own “hydration” break) and World Cup fever has taken over.
It feels like every third person has a jersey of some sort on. Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and of course the US are the most represented. Never seen anything like this in small town South Texas.
Here’s what people from the host cities have had to say:
FC Twente have gone full 2023 Manchester United (well, not exactly): Wout Weghorst has joined the club from Ajax, reuniting with Erik Ten Hag, who is technical director at the Dutch side.
Weghorst is part of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad and spent two years at Ajax, scoring 20 goals in 65 games.
Always handy to have.
Deschamps rejoins France squad after death of his mother
France’s head coach, Didier Deschamps, has returned to the World Cup, Reuters reports. He missed his side’s 4-1 win against Norway to attend his mother’s funeral in France.
This is both the Geopolitics and Permutations World Cup. Here’s what the US side’s route to the final could look like. It would be fascinating to know who the neutral backs in a US-England showdown.
Over to Group J, where Argentina have already won it to set up their meeting with Cape Verde. Jordan are out, and Algeria and Austria will both advance with a point. Of course, there’s this to contend with, too: whoever finishes second will face Spain in the last 32.
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Algeria v Austria, Kansas City – 9pm local time, Sunday 3am BST
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Jordan v Argentina, Dallas – same time
Egypt are through to the World Cup knockouts for the first time, but Mo Salah’s fitness is under question, reports Jack Snape. They’ll take on Australia.
We haven’t given enough attention to France today: they thumped a reserve Norway side on Friday to finish top of their group, Ousmane Dembélé cutting in from the right to deliver a sublime and rapid hat-trick.
Remember him four years ago, when he conceded a penalty in the final and was hooked off before half-time? He finished that club season with five league goals for Barcelona before joining PSG. It’s been some revival.
Paul MacInnes
Times Square has been the setting for viral fan activity during this World Cup, from the Norwegian mass elliptical rowing session to Germans jumping up and down while wearing culturally insensitive headgear. On Friday, the day before the Three Lions face Panama in their decisive Group L fixture, it was surely England’s turn to seize centre stage. As various news crews waited at the junction of Broadway and 42nd Street to capture the moment, however, the only visible presence was two blokes holding up a flag of St George with “Seaham Harbour” written on it.
Taha is back to guide you through the next couple of hours.
Remember you can watch the World Cup Daily podcast on YouTube … There are still eight hours until the first action of today, after all.
The knockout stage starts tomorrow with Canada v South Africa and some of the confirmed fixtures are attracting attention …
Paraguay v Germany on Monday : proof that football occasionally throws up some unintentionally awkward fixtures. Some Germans found Paraguay so welcoming after 1945 that they never bothered with a return ticket. Today’s visitors, at least, are expected to head home after 90 minutes. Theirs a connection neither side is likely to mention in the pre-match programme.
Best to let the football do the talking.
For Dutch and Moroccon fans its going to be a terrible kick off time, at 3 resp 2 am on a ‘school’ night. Why is this not coordinated better, esp this match was expected in every bracket. This is the one the young fans want to see here.
We all want to see it. Has the potential to be a classic.
On a bad day for Marcelo Bielsa, he’s getting some love BTL …
Leeds fan. Bielsa fan. It’s been awful seeing him being so brutally honest with himself, to the point that I don’t want to watch the interviews with him. He acknowledges his mistakes & always takes full responsibility. He is a complete one-off. He’s had a huge influence on football but importantly, he’s had a huge influence on the players he’s managed. Ask the Leeds players. Ask the fans. Always polite, kind & interested in people. We were so, so lucky at Leeds to have in him in our midst.
Talking about Panama’s survivors from the 2018 game – England have four players still around from their starting XI in Nizhny Novgorod: Pickford, Stones, Henderson, Kane.
Their XI that day? Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Loftus-Cheek, Henderson, Lingard, Young; Sterling, Kane. Goals: Kane (3), Stones (2), Lingard
From the archive …
Ewan Murray
Roberto Martínez’s pre-match press conference ahead of Portugal against Colombia was briefly interrupted by Dua Lipa music being piped into the room at Miami Stadium. While this caused some red faces among Fifa officials, Martínez clearly found the incident very amusing.
Tickets for this fixture have been changing hands at close to 10 times their original value, with Colombian representation in this part of Florida particularly high. Martínez revealed he secured tickets for family members last November through knowledge they would become scarce. “In a difficult moment for the world, football still brings unity,” said Martínez. “I hope that tomorrow, football wins.
“We are very well prepared but we respect, a lot, the idea of facing Colombia. There is confidence and focus in what we want to do.”
When asked a question by a journalist from Venezuela, Martínez endearingly and immediately referenced the earthquake scenario there. “My feelings are with your country in this moment of hardship,” said Martínez. “Our hearts are with you.”
Panama’s tournament may be over but they’re still after their first World Cup point(s) – Thomas Christiansen’s side have given a good account of themselves in narrow defeats to Ghana and Croatia.
There are a few survivors from their 6-1 defeat to England at the 2018 World Cup, with Michael Murillo, Yoel Bárcenas and José Luis Rodríguez, but this is a stronger side overall. Norwich centre-back José Córdoba is the only player in the squad who plays his club football in England.
England fans have made it to the Big Apple – and they’ll hope to return in July – for the game against Panama this evening (10pm BST, 5pm EST).
Thomas Tuchel has a decision to make at right-back, with Reece James out with a hamstring injury and Tino Livramento already back home. Djed Spence, mostly used at left-back for club and country in recent months, and Trevoh Chalobah are in the running for a start.
And who will start at centre-back? Konsa and Guéhi, like against Ghana? Konsa and Stones, like against Croatia? Or Stones and Guéhi, like at Euro 2024?
Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke are under pressure, with Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka pushing for their starting places. Could there be some rotation elsewhere? Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers aren’t bad, you know.
