Key events
âAfternoon,â emails Simon McMahon, which seems fair enough, if youâre in Europe.
âThereâs still a 5.26% chance that Scotland will qualify? Iâll take it.â
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âHello Football!!,â writes Latha from Chennai, India.
To which I can only respond: âSOCCER!â
But back to Lathaâs email:
âFirst, I think all those who criticised a 48-nation tournament should think again. So many of the so called minnows (Cape Verde as an example) have done so well. Kudos to each of them!
âSecond, given thereâs always cricket being telecast in my part of the world, the way football has embraced the world and the way cricket if anything appears to be shrinking (in terms of teams playing each other on a consistent regular basis) is stark.
Wish the âcricket gurusâ in India (who appear to influence world cricket inordinately) would take note!â
Cricket, that reminds me âŠ
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âTo continue the philosophy: I would respond that the Scottish football team exist because God is observing them, which was the opinion of Berkeley,â emails Thomas Wilson. âOnly it is quite clear that He abandoned the SFA some time ago.â
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Sweden's Isak 'scolds' Elanga for qualification confusion
Anthony Elangaâs equaliser helped Sweden qualify for the World Cupâs round of â 32 after a 1-1 draw with Japan, but while his teammates were celebrating the result, â the striker collapsed â on âthe ground in frustration thinking they had been eliminated. Sweden finished a point below second-placed â Japan in Group F, but progressed as one of the higher-ranked third-placed teams.
Elanga, believing they needed â a win, was pushing his teammates to find a second goal âand even pulled up âwith cramp, earning âhis some harsh words from his teammate Alexander Isak.
âHe got a âlittle scolding from me there. He was a little frustrated at the end of the match and you can understand that now,â Isak said.
Elanga said his teammates were trying to shout at him, but he âdid not know they only needed one point to qualify until after the match.
âI just âshouted, come on, we can go for more... I got cramp at the end but didnât want to stop running,â he said.
Elanga was not the only one unaware that they had â qualified.
âI was just as clueless,â said the Sweden goalkeeper Jacob âWidell Zetterström, who âmade his World Cup âdebut against Japan.
The Sweden coach, Graham Potter, could not âhelp but smile âabout Elangaâs âconfusion.
âIt couldnât âhave been any clearer for him. Heâs obviously thinking about something else, bless him. I love him at the moment, but dear me,â he said. Reuters
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Updated at 13.53 CEST
Rob Draper
It isnât just that Zohran Mamdani is everywhere and emotionally engaged in all aspects of the World Cup: at the games, posting weather warnings, commenting knowledgeably on outcomes. It is his adeptness at using the event to underline political messages, without seeming awkward. It is a reminder of former British prime minister Harold Wilsonâs line about 1966: âHave you ever noticed how England only ever win the World Cup under Labour governments?â All politicians make hay when the World Cup sun shines but Mamdani is so much more skilled than most.
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Hereâs the lowdown on todayâs schedule, including where to watch on the telly, courtesy of Graham Ruthven:
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A mouthwatering duel between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland will take centre stage on Friday when France face Norway in a Group I decider.
The Real Madrid star Mbappé and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in blistering form, neck-and-neck on four goals each, behind Lionel Messi on five.
On Friday the two forwards will meet in a heavyweight collision at Foxborough, outside Boston, at 3pm local time (8pm GMT).
France, who looked majestic in swatting aside Senegal and Iraq, hold a slight advantage, with a superior goal difference meaning Les Bleus would clinch first place in the group with a draw.
The Norwegians have been equally impressive, routing Iraq 4-1 before beating Senegal 3-2 on Monday.
Haaland, at his first World Cup, is playing with a gusto that may ask hard questions of Franceâs experienced defence.
The 25-year-old has also embraced the tournament off the pitch, delighting in his ability to go sightseeing in New York City in relative anonymity.
After clinching a place in the last 32 with the win over Senegal, Haaland said he was not fussed at the prospect of facing France, and laughed off the suggestion that Norway were title contenders.
âTo win the World Cup, absolutely not,â he told Fox television. âWeâve won 12 competitive games in a row now. Iâm part of something special, making history, and Iâm extremely proud to be Norwegian,â adding that he âcouldnât careâ about playing France.
âTheyâre probably going to win against us, theyâre probably going to win the whole tournament,â he said.
France and MbappĂ©âs preparations for the game have been disrupted by the temporary departure of manager Didier Deschamps from the teamâs camp this week after the death of his mother. The assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the team until Deschamps returns.
âI am thinking a lot about Didier and his family,â Stephan said. âI am just trying to make a difficult situation as normal as possible.â
France will be eager to avoid a slip-up, knowing finishing second in the group gives them a potentially more hazardous path to the final.
A defeat would set up a last-32 clash with Ivory Coast, before a potential meeting with Brazil in the last 16. England could potentially lie in wait in the quarter-finals, with Argentina seeded to be their opponents in the semi-final. AFP
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Updated at 13.36 CEST
Maybe!
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As for non-favourites who can benefit from a higher bar for a physical foul, Iâm thinking maybe the famously niggly (AKA dirty) Uruguay?
Vamos!
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Updated at 13.22 CEST
An interesting email from Ben entitled: âUnpredictable refs - who benefits?â
âReferees letting things go is a surprise, ditto very high bar for VAR to intervene (other than microscopic offsides and - probably - âhandballâ).
âWhich of the favourites benefits from an environment where the bar for a physical foul is high and the dark arts can be used more freely? Perhaps France and Argentina. Definitely not Spain.
âWill the refs tighten up in the bigger games?â
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Updated at 13.37 CEST
Just in case you missed it earlier ⊠exactly 30 years on, a few of us on the sports desk summoned up our memories of that Euro 96 penalty shootout defeat by Germany.
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Emma Hayes
Englandâs goalless draw with Ghana reminded me of many games in my coaching career, when youâre facing a team who are extremely compact, positioned very low, and very well drilled. To break them down you need to play with more variety, better movement and â above all â urgency, and it took England too long to play with urgency.
They can expect the same stubborn defending from Panama on Saturday. Therefore, in the buildup to their final group match, they will have been working on the key details needed to score against a low block.
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Coming up next ⊠some excellent tactical analysis of how England can get past Panama.
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Regarding Anderson, ÂŁ116m is clearly an obscene sum of money for any footballer. Think of the hospital air-conditioning you could roll out with that kind of cash.
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Updated at 12.56 CEST
We all love a good #TalkingPoint, especially if it concerns England, right? Thomas Tuchelâs side meet Panama tomorrow after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana. Please take it away, the Press Association:
Work to do
The 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday means England have work to do against Panama, who are already eliminated. They will finish as group winners, and earn a last-32 tie against a third-placed team in Atlanta, if they equal Ghanaâs result against Croatia. If they donât win things get more complicated. If they lose and Croatia or Ghana win, England will finish second in Group L.
Rice on ice, James worry
England have injury concerns, with Reece James and Declan Rice being assessed after picking up problems against Ghana. James has a hamstring issue and it would be surprising to see him risked in New Jersey. Rice was limping after the game but said he was âall goodâ. Will Tuchel risk the Arsenal midfielder with a packed knockout schedule to come?
Andersonâs big move
Elliot Anderson had an unusual preparation, having a medical before a proposed move to Manchester City. Will it affect him? Anderson has been unflappable in recent weeks, playing a Europa League semi-final the night before his motherâs funeral, so it should be business as usual for the 23-year-old.
Beating the low block
England toiled in Boston as they were unable to beat Ghanaâs low block and they are expected to come up against a similar tactic from Panama. The Central American side will likely try to restrict England. Can Tuchelâs side deal with that better? The head coach will want his players to move the ball quicker. Panama have improved since England walloped them 6-1 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but they were overly aggressive that day, conceding two penalties, and could adopt a similar approach.
Tuchel winging it
Tuchel has decisions to make with his wingers. Bukayo Saka is building fitness and is desperate to start after a lively cameo against Ghana. His Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke would likely be the man to make way. Anthony Gordon has produced two limp displays on the left and his place could be in jeopardy. Marcus Rashford scored off the bench against Croatia and could start, or Tuchel may prefer to play Morgan Rogers or Eberechi Eze on the left. PA Media
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Updated at 12.51 CEST
Just for clarity, this is the correct email to send us your World Cup-related musings.
Thank you in advance. You can of course comment BTL, too.
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Chris has emailed to tell us where heâs going to watch Uruguay v Spain later:
âNear Hammerfest, on board a ship with many very happy Norwegians.â
Well, that sounds like fun. Enjoy.
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What is the point of the Scotland teamâs existence in its current form, wonders Valdarez in the comments, getting all philosophical.
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De la Fuente wants 'best version' of Spain against Uruguay
Sticking with the Uruguay v Spain vibe:
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has told his players they must take another step forward as they aim for top spot in Group H against Uruguay.
After a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opener, Spain delivered a convincing 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, but Uruguay will provide a tougher test.
âWe need to be the best version of ourselves with every passing game,â De la Fuente said. âEvery time our opponents become harder to defeat. Our purpose is to get to the final on 19 July and to do that we need to continue improving with each passing game.
âWe had a very good match the last time but that is not enough. We need better performances, better concentration and more assurance because our opponent will be harder to defeat.â
Spain top the group with four points and do not necessarily need to win â a draw would be enough for top spot if Cape Verde do not beat Saudi Arabia by five or more goals.
Lamine Yamal is expected to start again as the Barcelona youngster, who scored the opener against Saudi Arabia, continues to build fitness.
âThe performance we delivered in the last match does not call for us to make changes, but I am very pleased with what the players who came on as substitutes produced and with what I see in training,â De la Fuente added.
âWhoever plays will put in a good performance. We will carry out a final review but I already know who will play.â
Uruguay are under pressure after two underwhelming draws have left them at risk elimination.
While a win would see them go through, a draw would only be enough to get a top-two finish if the other group fixture also ends all square. Their path to advance as a third-placed side is narrow.
âWe are approaching tomorrowâs match as a final,â coach Marcelo Bielsa said. âOne of the best ways to defend is to make sure the opponent has â the ball for less time.â
Uruguay will be without the Barcelona defender Ronald AraĂșjo, sidelined with a calf injury, as is Giorgian de Arrascaeta. PA Media
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Updated at 13.41 CEST
âTrue story,â emails Tom Kenny.
âAfter Scotlandâs heroic draw with world champions in 1974, Rivellino approached Billy Bremner in the tunnel full of admiration exclaiming âBremner Primo!! Bremner Primo!!â In reply, Bremner grabbed him by the shirt and in the spirit of these great occasions screamed: âWho the #### are you to call me a Primo?!! Happy days.â
Hereâs Ewan Murray on the contrast between Scotlandâs disappointing on-pitch efforts and their superb fans:
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Updated at 12.18 CEST
As Sarah mentioned, Sid Lowe on Uruguay is a fascinating read, on Marcelo Bielaâs mentality â and the well-documented problems that have existed within the national team camp.
âThe first thing Bielsa did when he turned up in the press room in Guadalajara was position the mic and say good afternoon, which was a start. After the 2024 Copa AmĂ©rica Luis SuĂĄrez left the national team and one of the many things he revealed was that the players had asked for a meeting to request that Bielsa at least say buen dia when he saw them. He painted a bleak portrait from inside the national team, a cold, dysfunctional place where the manager barely talked to his players and they â and the staff â didnât want to be there.â
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Updated at 12.16 CEST
Uruguay v Spain is a mouthwatering clash indeed, but what are the chances of me being awake here in London? Very slim indeed â but letâs see how it goes.
Where are you watching Uruguay v Spain? Mail us.
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Thank you Sarah, hello everyone.
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With that I am going to hand over to Luke McLaughlin for the next few hours, over to you.
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A good read here:
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A stat that no Scotland fan will enjoy now. The team still have a chance of going through to the knockout stages but after yesterdayâs results it has fallen from a 42% chance to just 5.26%.
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Some non-World Cup news but it could be big for the Premier League season next campaign:
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These are the teams who have qualified for the last 32:
Argentina
France
Germany
Mexico
Norway
USA
Colombia
Canada
Switzerland
Brazil
Morocco
South Africa
Bosnia and Herzegovina
CĂŽte dâIvoire
Ecuador
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Australia
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Updated at 12.13 CEST
The US team may have topped the group but they lost their final group match 3-2 against Turkey. Mauricio Pochettino pushed back against criticism levelled at him in the press conference:
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Updated at 12.13 CEST
A new edition of the Football Daily is here and ready for you to consume the reaction to the latest twists and turns at the tournament:
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'We could call it racist', Fae on Schweinsteiger's comments
CĂŽte dâIvoire qualified for the World Cup knockout stage for the first time yesterday after a brilliant 2-0 performance against Curaçao. In the press conference after the achievement though, manager Emerse Fae was asked about comments made by former German player Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger spoke about CĂŽte dâIvoire before Germanyâs win over them in the group stage and said on their style of play:
double quotation markâA bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We must be prepared for it to be unpredictable.
Fae said in response to the comments:
double quotation markI think itâs sad. Schweinsteiger was a very good player; I have always loved him as a midfielder and the way he understood football. When I heard his comments, I was disappointed in the man.
It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade. I donât agree with him, but I have no other solution other than to work with things as they are. All I can show is that on the pitch African teams are not just physical, we are technical and tactical.
I can only hope it is a clumsy statement, rather than something going on in his mind. If thatâs what he thinks, he is free to do so.
Schweinsteiger has not addressed the backlash over his comments publicly, according to reports.
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Updated at 11.09 CEST
Senegal need a big win over Iraq to ensure they are through to the knockout stage with their tournament not going quite to plan yet. The two will play later on with a kick-off of 8pm BST/3pm ET/7pm GMT.
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Goal celebrations are also individual to the player so if you were to be in a World Cup squad and scored for your country, what celebration would you do? Email me and let me know.
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Australia are also through to the last 32 and here is how some of their fans have been supporting them:
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Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland will go head-to-head later on as France take on Norway and they have both scored the same amount of goals so far this tournament with four. They could go top of the Golden Boot standings this evening but who is currently there? Have a look:
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Updated at 10.23 CEST
Ecuador fansâ nerves will be eased for now but that is not the case for all the nations yet as all of the knockout spots have not been allocated. Here is how the third-place spots are shaking out:
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Ecuador's national holiday for reaching last 32
Ecuador fans were celebrating their teamâs emphatic win over Germany to secure a spot in the last 32 anyway but they have been given an added sweetner of a national holiday.
The countryâs president Daniel Noboa said on X: âThanks to the players and the â coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough moments they â went through, managed to recover and give âthis immense joy âto the entire âcountry. Tomorrow, a holiday!â
Ecuador âhave qualified as âone of the âbest eight third-placed teams, reaching the âWorld Cup âknockout stages âfor âonly the second time. They last reached the stage at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
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Updated at 10.10 CEST
England fans, this may bring back some painful memories. Thirty years ago England were knocked out of Euros 96, relive it if you dare:
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Ben Fisher
Iran and Egypt attempted to sidestep questions about their reluctance to take part in the designated âPride Matchâ celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle, as Fifa confirmed it will permit rainbow flags to be displayed inside the stadium.
Fifaâs president, Gianni Infantino, has been at pains to make clear planned festivities are being arranged by Seattleâs organising committee to coincide with the annual Pride weekend and that they have ânothing to do with the match itselfâ.
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Barney Ronay
Thank goodness this is Dallas and not Gijon. There was ultimately no disgrace in a draw that served everyone, even if one might have forgiven Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu for shaking hands at half-time. At that point most onlookers may have fancied calling it all off too but a much sparkier second half served up two moments to cherish and left Sweden, who had risked throwing such a promising campaign away, certain of a spot in the last 32.
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Sweden secured their place in the last 32 but Anthony Elanga, who scored against Japan, forgot a draw would see them through. Cameras caught him looking sad after the final whistle and manager Graham Potter explained:
double quotation markIt couldnât have been any clearer for him, so heâs obviously thinking about something else. Bless him.
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So yesterdayâs results saw five more teams qualify for the knockout stage and you can catch up on all of the action across the reports:
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Here is that piece for you now:
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to todayâs World Cup news blog where we will recap yesterdayâs action, as well as teeing up todayâs games and any news that drops in between.
Several teams qualified for the knockout stage yesterday including Sweden and CĂŽte dâIvoire. The implications of those has seen teams like Scotland are hanging on by a thread to remain in the competition.
CĂŽte dâIvoire will play either Norway or France as they finished runner-up in their group and their opponent will be decided later on as the two teams go head-to-head. The match up all eyes will be on though is between Erling Haaland and Kylian MbappĂ©.
The two strikers will want to make the difference for their squads and there is a great piece on that which I will share with you soon. Letâs go.
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âAfternoon,â emails Simon McMahon, which seems fair enough, if youâre in Europe.
âThereâs still a 5.26% chance that Scotland will qualify? Iâll take it.â
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âHello Football!!,â writes Latha from Chennai, India.
To which I can only respond: âSOCCER!â
But back to Lathaâs email:
âFirst, I think all those who criticised a 48-nation tournament should think again. So many of the so called minnows (Cape Verde as an example) have done so well. Kudos to each of them!
âSecond, given thereâs always cricket being telecast in my part of the world, the way football has embraced the world and the way cricket if anything appears to be shrinking (in terms of teams playing each other on a consistent regular basis) is stark.
Wish the âcricket gurusâ in India (who appear to influence world cricket inordinately) would take note!â
Cricket, that reminds me âŠ
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âTo continue the philosophy: I would respond that the Scottish football team exist because God is observing them, which was the opinion of Berkeley,â emails Thomas Wilson. âOnly it is quite clear that He abandoned the SFA some time ago.â
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Sweden's Isak 'scolds' Elanga for qualification confusion
Anthony Elangaâs equaliser helped Sweden qualify for the World Cupâs round of â 32 after a 1-1 draw with Japan, but while his teammates were celebrating the result, â the striker collapsed â on âthe ground in frustration thinking they had been eliminated. Sweden finished a point below second-placed â Japan in Group F, but progressed as one of the higher-ranked third-placed teams.
Elanga, believing they needed â a win, was pushing his teammates to find a second goal âand even pulled up âwith cramp, earning âhis some harsh words from his teammate Alexander Isak.
âHe got a âlittle scolding from me there. He was a little frustrated at the end of the match and you can understand that now,â Isak said.
Elanga said his teammates were trying to shout at him, but he âdid not know they only needed one point to qualify until after the match.
âI just âshouted, come on, we can go for more... I got cramp at the end but didnât want to stop running,â he said.
Elanga was not the only one unaware that they had â qualified.
âI was just as clueless,â said the Sweden goalkeeper Jacob âWidell Zetterström, who âmade his World Cup âdebut against Japan.
The Sweden coach, Graham Potter, could not âhelp but smile âabout Elangaâs âconfusion.
âIt couldnât âhave been any clearer for him. Heâs obviously thinking about something else, bless him. I love him at the moment, but dear me,â he said. Reuters
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Updated at 13.53 CEST
Rob Draper
It isnât just that Zohran Mamdani is everywhere and emotionally engaged in all aspects of the World Cup: at the games, posting weather warnings, commenting knowledgeably on outcomes. It is his adeptness at using the event to underline political messages, without seeming awkward. It is a reminder of former British prime minister Harold Wilsonâs line about 1966: âHave you ever noticed how England only ever win the World Cup under Labour governments?â All politicians make hay when the World Cup sun shines but Mamdani is so much more skilled than most.
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Hereâs the lowdown on todayâs schedule, including where to watch on the telly, courtesy of Graham Ruthven:
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A mouthwatering duel between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland will take centre stage on Friday when France face Norway in a Group I decider.
The Real Madrid star Mbappé and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in blistering form, neck-and-neck on four goals each, behind Lionel Messi on five.
On Friday the two forwards will meet in a heavyweight collision at Foxborough, outside Boston, at 3pm local time (8pm GMT).
France, who looked majestic in swatting aside Senegal and Iraq, hold a slight advantage, with a superior goal difference meaning Les Bleus would clinch first place in the group with a draw.
The Norwegians have been equally impressive, routing Iraq 4-1 before beating Senegal 3-2 on Monday.
Haaland, at his first World Cup, is playing with a gusto that may ask hard questions of Franceâs experienced defence.
The 25-year-old has also embraced the tournament off the pitch, delighting in his ability to go sightseeing in New York City in relative anonymity.
After clinching a place in the last 32 with the win over Senegal, Haaland said he was not fussed at the prospect of facing France, and laughed off the suggestion that Norway were title contenders.
âTo win the World Cup, absolutely not,â he told Fox television. âWeâve won 12 competitive games in a row now. Iâm part of something special, making history, and Iâm extremely proud to be Norwegian,â adding that he âcouldnât careâ about playing France.
âTheyâre probably going to win against us, theyâre probably going to win the whole tournament,â he said.
France and MbappĂ©âs preparations for the game have been disrupted by the temporary departure of manager Didier Deschamps from the teamâs camp this week after the death of his mother. The assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the team until Deschamps returns.
âI am thinking a lot about Didier and his family,â Stephan said. âI am just trying to make a difficult situation as normal as possible.â
France will be eager to avoid a slip-up, knowing finishing second in the group gives them a potentially more hazardous path to the final.
A defeat would set up a last-32 clash with Ivory Coast, before a potential meeting with Brazil in the last 16. England could potentially lie in wait in the quarter-finals, with Argentina seeded to be their opponents in the semi-final. AFP
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Updated at 13.36 CEST
Maybe!
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As for non-favourites who can benefit from a higher bar for a physical foul, Iâm thinking maybe the famously niggly (AKA dirty) Uruguay?
Vamos!
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Updated at 13.22 CEST
An interesting email from Ben entitled: âUnpredictable refs - who benefits?â
âReferees letting things go is a surprise, ditto very high bar for VAR to intervene (other than microscopic offsides and - probably - âhandballâ).
âWhich of the favourites benefits from an environment where the bar for a physical foul is high and the dark arts can be used more freely? Perhaps France and Argentina. Definitely not Spain.
âWill the refs tighten up in the bigger games?â
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Updated at 13.37 CEST
Just in case you missed it earlier ⊠exactly 30 years on, a few of us on the sports desk summoned up our memories of that Euro 96 penalty shootout defeat by Germany.
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Emma Hayes
Englandâs goalless draw with Ghana reminded me of many games in my coaching career, when youâre facing a team who are extremely compact, positioned very low, and very well drilled. To break them down you need to play with more variety, better movement and â above all â urgency, and it took England too long to play with urgency.
They can expect the same stubborn defending from Panama on Saturday. Therefore, in the buildup to their final group match, they will have been working on the key details needed to score against a low block.
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Coming up next ⊠some excellent tactical analysis of how England can get past Panama.
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Regarding Anderson, ÂŁ116m is clearly an obscene sum of money for any footballer. Think of the hospital air-conditioning you could roll out with that kind of cash.
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Updated at 12.56 CEST
We all love a good #TalkingPoint, especially if it concerns England, right? Thomas Tuchelâs side meet Panama tomorrow after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana. Please take it away, the Press Association:
Work to do
The 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday means England have work to do against Panama, who are already eliminated. They will finish as group winners, and earn a last-32 tie against a third-placed team in Atlanta, if they equal Ghanaâs result against Croatia. If they donât win things get more complicated. If they lose and Croatia or Ghana win, England will finish second in Group L.
Rice on ice, James worry
England have injury concerns, with Reece James and Declan Rice being assessed after picking up problems against Ghana. James has a hamstring issue and it would be surprising to see him risked in New Jersey. Rice was limping after the game but said he was âall goodâ. Will Tuchel risk the Arsenal midfielder with a packed knockout schedule to come?
Andersonâs big move
Elliot Anderson had an unusual preparation, having a medical before a proposed move to Manchester City. Will it affect him? Anderson has been unflappable in recent weeks, playing a Europa League semi-final the night before his motherâs funeral, so it should be business as usual for the 23-year-old.
Beating the low block
England toiled in Boston as they were unable to beat Ghanaâs low block and they are expected to come up against a similar tactic from Panama. The Central American side will likely try to restrict England. Can Tuchelâs side deal with that better? The head coach will want his players to move the ball quicker. Panama have improved since England walloped them 6-1 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but they were overly aggressive that day, conceding two penalties, and could adopt a similar approach.
Tuchel winging it
Tuchel has decisions to make with his wingers. Bukayo Saka is building fitness and is desperate to start after a lively cameo against Ghana. His Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke would likely be the man to make way. Anthony Gordon has produced two limp displays on the left and his place could be in jeopardy. Marcus Rashford scored off the bench against Croatia and could start, or Tuchel may prefer to play Morgan Rogers or Eberechi Eze on the left. PA Media
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Updated at 12.51 CEST
Just for clarity, this is the correct email to send us your World Cup-related musings.
Thank you in advance. You can of course comment BTL, too.
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Chris has emailed to tell us where heâs going to watch Uruguay v Spain later:
âNear Hammerfest, on board a ship with many very happy Norwegians.â
Well, that sounds like fun. Enjoy.
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What is the point of the Scotland teamâs existence in its current form, wonders Valdarez in the comments, getting all philosophical.
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De la Fuente wants 'best version' of Spain against Uruguay
Sticking with the Uruguay v Spain vibe:
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has told his players they must take another step forward as they aim for top spot in Group H against Uruguay.
After a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opener, Spain delivered a convincing 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, but Uruguay will provide a tougher test.
âWe need to be the best version of ourselves with every passing game,â De la Fuente said. âEvery time our opponents become harder to defeat. Our purpose is to get to the final on 19 July and to do that we need to continue improving with each passing game.
âWe had a very good match the last time but that is not enough. We need better performances, better concentration and more assurance because our opponent will be harder to defeat.â
Spain top the group with four points and do not necessarily need to win â a draw would be enough for top spot if Cape Verde do not beat Saudi Arabia by five or more goals.
Lamine Yamal is expected to start again as the Barcelona youngster, who scored the opener against Saudi Arabia, continues to build fitness.
âThe performance we delivered in the last match does not call for us to make changes, but I am very pleased with what the players who came on as substitutes produced and with what I see in training,â De la Fuente added.
âWhoever plays will put in a good performance. We will carry out a final review but I already know who will play.â
Uruguay are under pressure after two underwhelming draws have left them at risk elimination.
While a win would see them go through, a draw would only be enough to get a top-two finish if the other group fixture also ends all square. Their path to advance as a third-placed side is narrow.
âWe are approaching tomorrowâs match as a final,â coach Marcelo Bielsa said. âOne of the best ways to defend is to make sure the opponent has â the ball for less time.â
Uruguay will be without the Barcelona defender Ronald AraĂșjo, sidelined with a calf injury, as is Giorgian de Arrascaeta. PA Media
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Updated at 13.41 CEST
âTrue story,â emails Tom Kenny.
âAfter Scotlandâs heroic draw with world champions in 1974, Rivellino approached Billy Bremner in the tunnel full of admiration exclaiming âBremner Primo!! Bremner Primo!!â In reply, Bremner grabbed him by the shirt and in the spirit of these great occasions screamed: âWho the #### are you to call me a Primo?!! Happy days.â
Hereâs Ewan Murray on the contrast between Scotlandâs disappointing on-pitch efforts and their superb fans:
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Updated at 12.18 CEST
As Sarah mentioned, Sid Lowe on Uruguay is a fascinating read, on Marcelo Bielaâs mentality â and the well-documented problems that have existed within the national team camp.
âThe first thing Bielsa did when he turned up in the press room in Guadalajara was position the mic and say good afternoon, which was a start. After the 2024 Copa AmĂ©rica Luis SuĂĄrez left the national team and one of the many things he revealed was that the players had asked for a meeting to request that Bielsa at least say buen dia when he saw them. He painted a bleak portrait from inside the national team, a cold, dysfunctional place where the manager barely talked to his players and they â and the staff â didnât want to be there.â
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Updated at 12.16 CEST
Uruguay v Spain is a mouthwatering clash indeed, but what are the chances of me being awake here in London? Very slim indeed â but letâs see how it goes.
Where are you watching Uruguay v Spain? Mail us.
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Thank you Sarah, hello everyone.
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With that I am going to hand over to Luke McLaughlin for the next few hours, over to you.
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A good read here:
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A stat that no Scotland fan will enjoy now. The team still have a chance of going through to the knockout stages but after yesterdayâs results it has fallen from a 42% chance to just 5.26%.
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Some non-World Cup news but it could be big for the Premier League season next campaign:
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These are the teams who have qualified for the last 32:
Argentina
France
Germany
Mexico
Norway
USA
Colombia
Canada
Switzerland
Brazil
Morocco
South Africa
Bosnia and Herzegovina
CĂŽte dâIvoire
Ecuador
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Australia
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Updated at 12.13 CEST
The US team may have topped the group but they lost their final group match 3-2 against Turkey. Mauricio Pochettino pushed back against criticism levelled at him in the press conference:
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Updated at 12.13 CEST
A new edition of the Football Daily is here and ready for you to consume the reaction to the latest twists and turns at the tournament:
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'We could call it racist', Fae on Schweinsteiger's comments
CĂŽte dâIvoire qualified for the World Cup knockout stage for the first time yesterday after a brilliant 2-0 performance against Curaçao. In the press conference after the achievement though, manager Emerse Fae was asked about comments made by former German player Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger spoke about CĂŽte dâIvoire before Germanyâs win over them in the group stage and said on their style of play:
double quotation markâA bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We must be prepared for it to be unpredictable.
Fae said in response to the comments:
double quotation markI think itâs sad. Schweinsteiger was a very good player; I have always loved him as a midfielder and the way he understood football. When I heard his comments, I was disappointed in the man.
It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade. I donât agree with him, but I have no other solution other than to work with things as they are. All I can show is that on the pitch African teams are not just physical, we are technical and tactical.
I can only hope it is a clumsy statement, rather than something going on in his mind. If thatâs what he thinks, he is free to do so.
Schweinsteiger has not addressed the backlash over his comments publicly, according to reports.
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Updated at 11.09 CEST
Senegal need a big win over Iraq to ensure they are through to the knockout stage with their tournament not going quite to plan yet. The two will play later on with a kick-off of 8pm BST/3pm ET/7pm GMT.
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Goal celebrations are also individual to the player so if you were to be in a World Cup squad and scored for your country, what celebration would you do? Email me and let me know.
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Australia are also through to the last 32 and here is how some of their fans have been supporting them:
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Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland will go head-to-head later on as France take on Norway and they have both scored the same amount of goals so far this tournament with four. They could go top of the Golden Boot standings this evening but who is currently there? Have a look:
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Updated at 10.23 CEST
Ecuador fansâ nerves will be eased for now but that is not the case for all the nations yet as all of the knockout spots have not been allocated. Here is how the third-place spots are shaking out:
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Ecuador's national holiday for reaching last 32
Ecuador fans were celebrating their teamâs emphatic win over Germany to secure a spot in the last 32 anyway but they have been given an added sweetner of a national holiday.
The countryâs president Daniel Noboa said on X: âThanks to the players and the â coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough moments they â went through, managed to recover and give âthis immense joy âto the entire âcountry. Tomorrow, a holiday!â
Ecuador âhave qualified as âone of the âbest eight third-placed teams, reaching the âWorld Cup âknockout stages âfor âonly the second time. They last reached the stage at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
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Updated at 10.10 CEST
England fans, this may bring back some painful memories. Thirty years ago England were knocked out of Euros 96, relive it if you dare:
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Ben Fisher
Iran and Egypt attempted to sidestep questions about their reluctance to take part in the designated âPride Matchâ celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle, as Fifa confirmed it will permit rainbow flags to be displayed inside the stadium.
Fifaâs president, Gianni Infantino, has been at pains to make clear planned festivities are being arranged by Seattleâs organising committee to coincide with the annual Pride weekend and that they have ânothing to do with the match itselfâ.
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Barney Ronay
Thank goodness this is Dallas and not Gijon. There was ultimately no disgrace in a draw that served everyone, even if one might have forgiven Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu for shaking hands at half-time. At that point most onlookers may have fancied calling it all off too but a much sparkier second half served up two moments to cherish and left Sweden, who had risked throwing such a promising campaign away, certain of a spot in the last 32.
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Sweden secured their place in the last 32 but Anthony Elanga, who scored against Japan, forgot a draw would see them through. Cameras caught him looking sad after the final whistle and manager Graham Potter explained:
double quotation markIt couldnât have been any clearer for him, so heâs obviously thinking about something else. Bless him.
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So yesterdayâs results saw five more teams qualify for the knockout stage and you can catch up on all of the action across the reports:
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Here is that piece for you now:
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to todayâs World Cup news blog where we will recap yesterdayâs action, as well as teeing up todayâs games and any news that drops in between.
Several teams qualified for the knockout stage yesterday including Sweden and CĂŽte dâIvoire. The implications of those has seen teams like Scotland are hanging on by a thread to remain in the competition.
CĂŽte dâIvoire will play either Norway or France as they finished runner-up in their group and their opponent will be decided later on as the two teams go head-to-head. The match up all eyes will be on though is between Erling Haaland and Kylian MbappĂ©.
The two strikers will want to make the difference for their squads and there is a great piece on that which I will share with you soon. Letâs go.
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