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Head coach Thomas Tuchel claimed England's thrilling opening World Cup win against Croatia would have excited "fans in pubs". The dismal follow-up against Ghana would have sobered them up instantly. 24 Jun 2026
The manner in which England dismantled Croatia raised expectation and excitement levels, but this was a brutal reality check as Ghana's resilience, physicality and organisation built an insurmountable barrier. England are leading Group L and set to qualify for the last 32 - and Declan Rice echoed the post-match mood of "no panic" in the camp when he told BBC Sport: "We still have a great chance to top the group against Panama, so positivity all round." Not quite all round given the Three Lions' lack of creativity in the face of Ghana's durability - but Tuchel's side still remain in a healthy position. If the victory against Croatia made watching England fun, this was back to the grindstone where they were forced to do the dirty work, but could not break through.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six World Cups as his double helped Portugal thrash Uzbekistan. 24 Jun 2026
The 41-year-old made history when he opened the scoring in the sixth minute, sweeping in a low half-volley at the near post from Joao Cancelo's cross from the right. Ronaldo's strike also meant he became the second oldest man to score at a World Cup, behind Cameroon's Roger Milla, who was 42 when he found the net against Russia in 1994. Portugal were criticised following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening game of the tournament, but they stepped up in style against the World Cup debutants. They doubled their lead in the 17th minute in Houston with Nuno Mendes scoring directly with a low free-kick from 20 yards out. Uzbekistan thought they had a wonderful reply as Aziz G'aniev spectacularly shot into the net, but the effort was ruled out because Abbosbek Fayzullaev had fouled Cancelo. Ronaldo got his second and his side's third in the 39th minute when Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes gained possession in the centre circle and slid a pass through to him, with the Portugal captain slipping a precise finish into the bottom corner. Goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov's own goal made it 4-0, with the ball bouncing off him last when Uzbekistan failed to deal with a corner, before substitute Rafael Leao smashed in a late fifth to seal the rout. The three points took Portugal top of Group K, although Colombia will move above them if they beat DR Congo later on Wednesday (03:00 BST), while Uzbekistan remain pointless after two games. On Monday, Argentina's Lionel Messi became the top scorer in World Cup history, with a double against Austria taking his total to 18. However, Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has only scored at five of the six tournaments he has played in, failing to register in 2010. Ronaldo has now struck 10 times, having scored once at the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022 finals and four times in 2018, including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Spain.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice to move joint-second in the all-time World Cup goalscoring list as France cruised past Iraq in a weather-delayed game in Philadelphia. 23 Jun 2026
Mbappe netted early in both halves to take his World Cup goals tally to 16 in 16 games, two shy of Lionel Messi who broke Miroslav Klose's record hours earlier. France v Iraq became the first match at this World Cup to be interrupted by severe weather, with the second half beginning more than two hours after the first period ended because of lightning strikes in the area. Heavy rainfall earlier in the day had delayed supporters' entry to Philadelphia Stadium, although the match kicked off on time. France began strongly and their early dominance was rewarded in the 14th minute when Mbappe arrowed a left-footed strike into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. But the 2018 champions struggled to create any clear chances after the first-half hydration break, with Iraq able to enjoy longer spells of possession despite losing striker and captain Aymen Hussein to injury. France emerged from the extended break with renewed conviction but were gifted a second goal - Iraq keeper Ahmed Basil failed to control a short goal-kick taken by defender Zaid Tahseen and Ousmane Dembele teed up Mbappe for a simple finish. Les Bleus had further chances to extend their lead - Adrien Rabiot missed a clear header and Michael Olise hit the crossbar with an audacious dink - before Dembele scored their third with a strike into the bottom corner. The goal - set up by a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass from Olise - was Dembele's first for France at a major tournament in his 20th appearance. Iraq created two decent chances in the final 20 minutes, but defender Rebin Sulaka volleyed over from Zidane Iqbal's corner before Ali Al Hamadi couldn't get on the end of a teasing Marko Farji cross. Mbappe then raced clear late on and looked set to complete his hat-trick, but he lashed a left-footed effort high and wide. France, who are bidding to reach a third successive World Cup final, are top of Group I with six points while Iraq are bottom with zero.
Algeria fought back to eliminate debutants Jordan from the World Cup and keep their own knockout hopes alive in San Francisco. 23 Jun 2026
Jordan were organised in defence against an Algeria side who dominated possession - and the underdogs took a first-half lead when Nizar Al Rashdan curled home. But Algeria piled on the pressure after the break and Nadhir Benbouali headed home an equaliser from Riyad Mahrez's 69th-minute corner. Amine Gouiri then netted an 82nd-minute winner for Algeria to deny Jordan their first World Cup point. Al Rashdan flashed a header wide of the near post inside 60 seconds but Algeria then took charge and Gouiri dragged a low shot wide while Fares Chaibi had a low shot blocked from Ibrahim Maza's cut-back. Mahrez, making his first World Cup start since 2014, nearly broke the deadlock after being released by a long ball over the top, but he was denied by Yazeed Abulaila. And it was Jordan who took a 36th-minute lead through Al Rashdan's tidy finish with the outside of his right foot, after Algeria's Ramiz Zerrouki had given the ball away cheaply. After the break Abulaila parried a fierce 25-yard shot from Maza and saved a header from Benbouali, while Jordan's Noor Al Rawabdeh curled inches wide from the edge of the box at the other end. But Algeria finally equalised when Benbouali glanced a downward header into the corner - and then Gouiri clinched the win when he hooked home a bouncing ball after another inswinging corner broke to him.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup with victory over Senegal in New Jersey. 23 Jun 2026
After just two games in the competition, the Manchester City striker has now scored twice as many goals (four) as any other Norway player in World Cup history. Full-back Marcus Pederson, on as an early substitute, capitalised on a poor clearance from Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly to put Norway 1-0 up late in the first half - before Haaland took over in the second. He raced on to Martin Odegaard's incisive through ball to double the lead in the 48th minute - becoming Norway's all-time top scorer at World Cups in the process - before Ismaila Sarr pulled a goal back to give Senegal hope. But Haaland restored his team's two-goal cushion five minutes later with a calmly taken side-foot volley which went in off the bar. Haaland has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway, registering at least two goals in each of the past six. Sarr struck again in injury time to set up a nervy finale and the Crystal Palace winger could have equalised in the final seconds but put his header over the bar. However, Stale Solbakken's Norway had been much the better side, even in a somewhat scrappy first half, and held on for a second straight win that means they have qualified from Group I alongside France. Senegal must beat Iraq in their last group game to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.