With both games set to start in the next couple of minutes, I am going to head off and focus on that.
If you want the Netherlands steam-rollering Qatar, then Barry Glendenning has got you covered …
If, on the other hand, you would like what is effectively a knockout match between Senegal and Ecuador for second place in Group A, then John Brewin is the man …
Why not have both open in different tabs?
I will see you here tomorrow. Keep safe and enjoy the football today.
Iranian authorities said Tuesday that two former members of the national soccer team arrested this month in connection with nationwide protests have been released on bail.
AP reports that Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, was arrested nearly two weeks ago on charges of participating in protests in the capital, Tehran, and was accused of damaging property. Voria Ghafouri was arrested last week for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government,” according to state-linked media. The judiciary announced their release Tuesday without elaborating.
Ghafouri, who is still playing for a local club, has been an outspoken critic of Iranian authorities throughout his career.
The protester who ran onto the field during a World Cup match carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a blue Superman T-shirt with messages in support of Ukraine and Iranian women was banned Tuesday from attending any more matches during the tournament in Qatar.
AP reports the World Cup organising committee said in a statement that “the individual involved was released shortly after being removed from the pitch” and that his embassy had been informed.
“As a consequence of his actions, and as is standard practice, his (entry permit) has been canceled and he has been banned from attending future matches at this tournament,” the statement said.
The protester identified himself on social media as Mario Ferri, an Italian who has carried out similar protests at soccer matches before.
Ferri ran onto the field in the second half of Monday’s match between Portugal and Uruguay carrying the rainbow flag. Security officials chased him down and Ferri dropped the flag on the field before he was escorted away.
“I’ll call it, THE LAST DANCE,’ my last field invasion, I wanted to send IMPORTANT messages, which I’ve felt experienced first-hand in recent months,” Ferri wrote in an Instagram post.
Ferri wrote that he has friends in Ukraine who are suffering and that he spent a month in the country as a volunteer after Russia invaded the nation in February.
Foden to start for England against Wales – Rashford, Henderson, Walker also in first XI
Phil Foden is set to make his first start of the World Cup when England face Wales later today. The Manchester City midfielder was an unused substitute during England’s draw with the USA and Gareth Southgate has been under a lot pressure to make more use of him. Well, here we go: Foden will come in this evening and Bukayo Saka will get a rest.
Foden will be part of a rejigged England attack. Harry Kane will start up front, despite calls for Southgate to rest his captain, but Marcus Rashford is expected to replace Raheem Sterling on the left. Sterling wasn’t great against the US; it’s a big chance for Rashford to show he deserves more starts following his return to the squad.
In midfield, Jordan Henderson will make his first start of the tournament - but despite indications to the contrary yesterday it will actually be Mason Mount who drops out for the Liverpool captain. Jude Bellingham, who was replaced by Henderson against the US, is expected to keep his place. Declan Rice will start.
The fourth and final change will see Kyle Walker come in for his first start since having groin surgery in October. But it won’t be in a back three. Walker will play at right-back, replacing Kieran Trippier, with Luke Shaw on the left.
James Maddison should be on the bench for the first time after shaking of a knee injury.
An England win would see them top Group B. They’ll be at risk of going out if they lose by four goals, which seems unlikely. Wales are on the brink of elimination but are bound to be hugely motivated. Southgate expects a tough test, which is why he isn’t rotating too heavily.
Netherlands v Qatar team news
We’ve also got team news from the Netherlands’ impending victory over Qatar. Memphis Depay starts for the first time. He will line up alongside Cody Gakpo in attack while coach Louis van Gaal also tinkered with his midfield, bringing in Marten de Roon. De Roon replaced Teun Koopmeiners while Depay comes in for Steven Bergwijn.
The hosts, who are already eliminated, make a single change with midfielder Abdelaziz Hastem replacing Karim Boudiaf, whose place he took with 20 minutes left of their last match against Senegal.
Netherlands – Andries Noppert, Daley Blind, Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk (c), Jurrien Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Marten de Roon, Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay
Qatar – Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Abdelaziz Hatim, Hassan Al-Haydos (c), Akram Afif, Ismail Mohamad, Homam Ahmed, Assim Madibo, Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali
Barry Glendenning is the MBM circus master for that one …
Updated
Ecuador v Senegal team news
We’ve got team news! Ecuador’s veteran striker Enner Valencia has recovered sufficiently from knee-knock to make it into Gustavo Alfaro’s starting lineup.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has bolstered his midfield with the inclusion of Pathe Ciss in place of striker Famara Diedhiou, leaving Boulaye Dia as the lone centre forward at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Ecuador – Hernan Galindez, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan, Michael Estrada, Angelo Preciado, Carlos Gruezo, Gonzalo Plata, Moises Caicedo, Alan Franco, Enner Valencia (c)
Senegal – Edouard Mendy, Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly (c), Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs, Pathe Ciss, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia
John Brewin is your man for the MBM on that …
Updated
Cameroon’s ousted keeper Andre Onana has responded to his suspension from the national team.
Reuters reports that in his statement he says he “always behaved in a way to lead the team to success in a good manner”.
“Yesterday I was not allowed to be on the ground to help Cameroon, as always do, to achieve the team’s goals,” said Onana, who plays for Inter and has been capped 34 times for his country.
“I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side. Some moments are difficult to assimilate.
“However, I always respect and support the decisions of the people in charge of pursuing the success of our team and country.”
Cameroon need to beat Brazil on Friday and hope for other results to go their way to progress from Group G
Hello, it is Martin Belam back here again, the dog has been safely walked and all is well. We are less than 90 minutes away from Netherlands v Qatar and Ecuador v Senegal kicking off to determine who emerges into the round of 16 to face one of England, Iran, the United States or Wales on Saturday and Sunday.
A bit of good news, here:
The pitch invader during the Portugal-Uruguay match, Italian guy Mario Ferri, has just announced that he has been released with no consequences. #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/W1OFmlHnbS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 29, 2022
Fifa has confirmed that its whizzy matchball technology proved conclusively that Cristiano Ronaldo did not touch Bruno Fernandes’ cross – and eventual goal – when Portugal took a 1-0 lead over Uruguay. Had it been awarded to Ronaldo it would have been another landmark moment for the striker, putting him level with Eusebio on nine Portugal goals at World Cups. But, nope. Here’s what Fifa told ESPN:
In the match between Portugal and Uruguay, using the Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas’s Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game. No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of ‘heartbeat’ in our measurements. The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows us to be highly accurate in our analysis.
Perhaps if it hadn’t been a “flyaway”, Ronaldo would be level with Eusebio.
Qatar official: ‘400-500’ migrant workers died on projects
The Qatari official responsible for delivery of the 2022 World Cup has said the number of migrant workers who have died on World Cup-related projects is “between 400 and 500”.
Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary general of the Supreme Committee for delivery and legacy, made the admission in an interview but said a precise figure for the number of fatalities was still “being discussed”.
“The estimate is around 400,” Thawadi told the TV show Piers Morgan Uncensored. “Between 400 and 500. I don’t have the precise number, that is something that is being discussed.”
Read the full story here:
Updated
One of the more intriguing storylines in the run-up to today’s USA-Iran game has been a claim by former US striker (and part-time Guardian columnist) Eric Wynalda around Gio Reyna’s lack of action at the tournament. Berhalter says the Dortmund player is carrying an injury while Wynalda says he has spoken to Reyna’s father and that is not the case – and the situation is causing “internal strife” in the US camp.
Berhalter addressed the issue on Monday.
“What I’d say is: I’ll leave it to you to decide if I asked Gio to lie about it,” Berhalter told reporters. “That’s just not who I am. That’s not what I represent. So if you have to take Eric’s word or my word or whatever, feel free, but I know what happened and that’s not what I represent. Like every other person, Gio is a member of this team that we care deeply for and we know can help the team. It’s a matter of when he can help us and how he can help us.”
The US have impressed many observers with their approach play in this World Cup - they just lack someone to finish the chances they create, a problem that cost them against Wales and England. Berhalter has not yet said who will play up front against Iran.
“I think [the US strikers have] been OK,” Berhalter said. “When we’re evaluating the performance in the first game, Josh had a good chance at the near post and, looking at the second game, Haji was very effective on the defensive end of the game, had some good runs into the channel, very lively. Perhaps there were a couple of times when we could have been more effective with the movement in the penalty box.”
Right, I’m going to take a break for a bit, and drag a somewhat unwilling dog out into the cold for a walk. In the meantime, this caught my eye on the picture wires from Qatar earlier. I’ve absolutely no context for this at all*, but apparently this fine specimen won a camel beauty contest in Ash-Shahaniyah, Qatar this morning, with all the World Cup flags fluttering in the background.
[*I do have context, because I once spent a month in Doha. Everyone loves camels. They are just like having less-thirsty horses, so of course there are camel shows and camel races. If you have camels it is just like having an extended family.]
David Brooks has visited the Wales squad just hours before the make or break World Cup clash with England today, PA reports.
Brooks has not played since 29 September 2021 after being diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma the following month. The 25-year-old Bournemouth forward announced in May that he had been given the all clear after completing his treatment and has slowly been working his way back to fitness since.
Brooks missed out on World Cup selection but has now joined Robert Page’s squad in Qatar as they prepared for their final group game.
Football Association of Wales chief medical officer Jonathan Houghton wrote on his Instagram account: “Seeing Brooks fit and smiling made my day. It’s been a long road back from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but I think I can safely say that we all can’t wait until he pulls on a Wales shirt again. Hoping that he will run out for Bournemouth in the next 4-6 weeks.”
Brooks’ return to action before the Premier League took a break for the World Cup was delayed by a hamstring problem.
I asked earlier what people were doing to fill in the time, now that there is a huge 1pm GMT hole in ten minutes where a Fifa World Cup match should be. I got a mixed bunch of answers.
Philip Rebbeck says the end of the early kick-offs is a disaster for him in Malaysia, adding “Malaysia which is 5 hours ahead of Qatar so the early starts were at 6pm and 9pm. Very handy, but now we are faced with a less appealing 11pm and a frankly brutal 3am for England v Wales.”
I’ve had several replies along the lines of “I’m not missing the early kick-off slots because I’ve got work to do.”
Ian Barker is in Munich, and speaks for many I suspect in saying that “I would normally take time off work myself for World Cup and Euros because for me it’s as much about beer gardens and barbecues as it is about the entertainment”. He says instead in Munich it is cold and wet, students are working, and a best you might have the football on in the background over dinner.
Andrew Read says he has passed the time not watching the football by working out which confederation is most under-performing. He has Concacaf firmly in his sights with Canada out and Costa Rica, Mexico and the US all facing uphill tasks.
For his part, William North says he did not foresee a day when he would be looking back on the addition of 12 minutes of first half stoppage time with rose tinted glasses.
I am telling you this stoppage time scenario is going to cause havoc with these simultaneous group match kick offs.
Downing Street has said that the UK’s prime minister Rishi Sunak would be supporting England in tonight’s World Cup match against Wales, while also hoping that both teams can advance “as far as possible” in the competition.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Obviously we want both teams to progress as far as possible. I think the prime minister personally is an England supporter. He’s talked about that before, but certainly we want both teams to progress as far as possible.”
A pedant – i.e. me – notes that the only way Wales can advance any further at all in the tournament is to win tonight, so surely Sunak needs to get his Welsh bucket hat on for the evening?
Our political editor Pippa Crerar tells me that Sunak will be watching the game accompanied by schoolchildren from both England and Wales who have been picked by their respective FAs.
New David Squires has dropped …
Those of us long in the tooth enough to have watched the 1982 World Cup unfold live will know that the reason the final two group stage matches are played simultaneously these days is to avoid a “Disgrace of Gijón” type of situation.
In that 1982 match in northern Spain, the West German and Austria teams took the field knowing that the two of them would progress from Group 2 at the expense of Algeria – who had played their final group game the day before – if West Germany won by 1-0 or 2-0, but that any other score would knock one of them out.
Lo and behold, after West Germany scored in the tenth minute, the match gradually ground to a standstill as both teams knew they’d done enough to progress. Fans were literally waving money at the players from the stands to indicate they believed the match was being fixed.
I do wonder if we might end up seeing some scenes reminiscent of this during this week. Surely at some point we will end up with one match still going on with 12 minutes of World Cup bonus stoppage time, the other having finished, and teams knowing that as it stands they are both through?
Incidentally, Rob Smyth picked that West Germany v Austria game as one of our “World Cup stunning moments” in the run-up to the last World Cup, and his piece is well worth a read: West Germany 1-0 Austria in 1982
I can’t be the only person twiddling my thumbs a bit thinking that I should have spent the last hour-and-a-half or so since 10am GMT watching some World Cup football, and struggling to adjust to the end of the two early kick off slots. Do let me know how you are filling the time – you can email me at martin.belam@theguardian.com. If you put “WORLD CUP BLOG” in the subject line I’ll be able to pick them out more easily from the people in my inbox constantly complaining about the answers in my quizzes.
We have a piece by Chris Evans today looking at the last time that the US and Iran met each other at the World Cup, including the memories of the then-US coach Steve Sampson:
“If I was to do it all over again, I’d make it more political,” says Steve Sampson. “I would use history as motivation for my players – that they [Iran] held American citizens captive for the longest period of time and are one of the greatest enemies ever faced by the United States. I wanted to make it all about the football and depoliticise the whole event because, for me, our football was on display. Whereas for the Iranians, it was their politics on display.”
It’s a pretty explosive statement to make considering the atmosphere around the match, which the president of the US Soccer federation, Alan Rothenberg, called “the mother of all games”. Sampson believes that, while his attempt to anaesthetise any possible security issues may have been wise, it also left his side ill-prepared for a contest that was about much more than three points.
Sampson went along with the plan to play things down while preparing his team, but that was not the case in the opposite dressing room. Iran’s players were all too aware of the importance of the match and they started ferociously, taking the lead towards the end of the first half. “I later found out that at half-time, a top politician from the Iranian government came down to the locker room and collected all the passports of the Iranians and said: ‘You lose this, you’ll never return home,’” says Sampson, who was later informed of what had happened by the Iran head coach Jalal Talebi.
“I achieved what I wanted to do – which was to make it a football event – not a political event, but the Iranians did exactly what they wanted to do. They made it a political event.”
Read more here: Chris Evans – ‘I’d make it more political’: when USA lost to Iran at the World Cup in 1998
Fifa have opened a disciplinary case against Croatia because of its fans’ taunts aimed at the Canada goalkeeper who has Serbian family ties during the teams’ World Cup game, Reuters reports.
Fifa said the charge against the Croatian soccer federation was “due to the behaviour of its fans” and cited rules relating to discrimination and security at games.
Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan was born in an ethnic Serb region of Croatia that was part of the conflict that split the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Borjan’s family left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces amid stories that ethnic Serbs fled on tractors. During Canada’s 4-1 loss on Sunday, one banner displayed by Croatia fans used a flag of tractor manufacturer John Deere and changed the marketing slogan to target Borjan.
Borjan moved as a child with his family to Canada and chose to represent that country at soccer, though he plays for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.
Fifa gave no timetable for a verdict in the case which would typically produce a fine.
The people being hauled out for media duties in Qatar today are those who will be bringing us the conclusions of Group C and Group D tomorrow. At 3pm GMT on Wednesday France face Tunisia, knowing that the defending champions have already secured a berth in the last 16. Didier Deschamps is expected to make changes, including possible resting Kylian Mbappé.
Deschamps told the media “Physically he is very well. Does he want to play? You guys don’t know but I know. He’s part of a collective project and of course he has this capacity to be in the limelight because he’s decisive but he’s not 18 anymore. Generally speaking, all the players want to play but they cannot all start.”
The French coach, who is bidding to lead his nation to the first back-to-back World Cup victories since 1962, said he was not taking the Tunisia game lightly, despite France sitting on top of the group.
“The momentum comes with results. The fact that we’re already through like Brazil and Portugal gives us a bit of leeway but we are not going to be relaxed. The team who will play tomorrow will do everything to get the best possible result, even if I have this possibility to shuffle things around.”
Jonathan Liew is in Doha for the Guardian, and writes for us on the conundrum that is the gulf between Harry Maguire for Manchester United, and Harry Maguire for England at tournaments:
In many ways, the bomb threat [aimed at Maguire’s home and family] was perhaps the logical culmination of what we might describe as English football’s Maguire-industrial complex: an industry that grew up around his towering performances in the 2018 World Cup before juddering violently in the other direction. Just as Maguire became the face and the forehead of a new, humbler and more relatable England side, so he would become the face and flailing limbs of their regression, the emblem of a United team struggling to define their identity under four successive managers.
Why Maguire? There were other flatlining players around him, and yet nobody – as far as we know – ever sent a bomb threat to Paul Pogba or threatened to kill the family of John Stones. Perhaps, on some level, the same qualities that fleetingly made Maguire a cult hero also made him a target: his visibility and thinly veiled eagerness, his willingness to put himself out there, to keep trying things, to keep volunteering for post-match interview duties. If you’re angry enough to swing a punch, you’re probably just going to punch the first face you see.
Read more here: Jonathan Liew – Familiar faces and vibes: tournament life is a better fit for Harry Maguire
Our community team are interested in your experiences if you are out in Qatar at the moment. Are you enjoying the tournament? Is it different to what you expected? Has it confounded or reinforced any of your ideas about Qatar or the World Cup?
You can get in touch here: Football fans in Qatar – what is your experience of this World Cup?
In non-World Cup football news, Kolo Touré has been appointed as the new manager of Championship club Wigan in England.
Group B: What do England, Iran, the US and Wales need to do to qualify?
Here is how each of the four teams in Group B can still reach the last 16 of the World Cup:
England: A win against Wales will see England top the group. A draw will qualify them. In fact, England will progress with any result except for a heavy defeat to Wales by more than three goals.
Iran: Currently second in the group, a win against the US will put Iran through to the World Cup second round for the first time in their history. A draw against the US will also be enough for them, provided Wales fail to beat England.
US: The US must beat Iran to qualify. That’s it.
Wales: Wales must beat England and hope that Iran and the US draw. If the US v Iran match ends with a winner, then Wales must beat England by four goals or more.
Group A: What do the Netherlands, Ecuador and Senegal need to do to qualify?
Here is how each of the three teams in contention in Group A can reach the last 16 of the World Cup:
The Netherlands: A draw will be enough against Qatar for qualification.
Ecuador: Ecuador need just a draw against Senegal to progress.
Senegal: Senegal must beat Ecuador to overhaul them. There is a mathematical possibility that Senegal could qualify with a draw if the Netherlands suffer a heavy defeat against Qatar, but this isn’t 1978, and that isn’t going to happen.
If both Ecuador and the Netherlands win, then the margin of victory and number of goals scored will determine who tops the group. If they both win by the same score today, they will end up with identical records, and who finishes first will be determined by their disciplinary records. The Netherlands’ is currently better, with just one yellow card to Ecuador’s three. If those end up level, Fifa draw lots to see who plays in which second round match.
One of the subplots in that high energy 3-3 draw between Cameroon and Serbia on Monday was the non-appearance of Cameroon’s first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana. Onana was marked as “absent” on the team sheet, with head coach Rigobert Song saying he had to “put the team first ahead of an individual” amid reports of a falling out over tactics.
The Cameroon football association has now, according to Reuters reports, formally suspended Onana. It quotes a statement from Fecafoot saying:
The Cameroon football federation hereby informs the public that following Rigobert Song Bahanag’s decision, head coach of the Indomitable Lions, the player Andre Onana has been temporarily suspended from the group for disciplinary reasons.
The Cameroon football federation reiterates its full support to the head coach and his entire staff as they implement the federation’s policy aimed at preserving discipline, solidarity, complementarity and cohesion within the national team.
Fecafoot further reaffirms its commitment to create a peaceful atmosphere for the team and to provide them with adequate facilities for an outstanding performance.
The last time that the US and Iran played each other at a World Cup was in Lyon at France 98. The two teams posed together for a group photograph before the match, which Iran went on to win 2-1.
With the tone of pre-match comments out of Carlos Queiroz ahead of today’s clash, at the moment it is difficult to imagine such scenes being repeated.
It became clear towards the end of that Portugal and Uruguay match yesterday that I don’t really understand the handball rule any more, and I probably am not alone. Chief VAR nerd Dale Johnson at ESPN was 100% convinced it should not have been a penalty against Jose Maria Gimenez in the 89th minute on Monday. He writes:
The IFAB stripped back the handball last year, removing much of the wording to make it less complicated. But with it came a long presentation to set out when a player should not be penalised for handball – even if their arm is away from the body.
One of those specific examples covers when “arm position is for support when falling or when getting up from the ground.” It doesn’t matter if the ball hits the hand before it touches the ground.
Gimenez is very clearly using his left arm for support as he falls to challenge Fernandes, and this has to be covered by the exception. It is almost identical to the example the IFAB issued.
My old school view is that, sure I get all that, but Bruno Fernandes had clearly got himself through on goal if it doesn’t hit the hand, so surely it has to be a penalty, whether Gimenez meant it or not, was in a natural position or not?
But one thing I do know is that there would have been a lot of people enjoying watching Uruguay protesting about a last minute handball penalty at a World Cup, that is for sure.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has put in an early bid for quote of the day, branding social media as “all that shite”.
He told the press in Qatar “If there’s one thing I learned at the Olympics, it was after a big win against Argentina, there was too much celebration. And that celebration, I’m sorry, is social media.
“They get on that until four or five in the morning, watch all the great comments and enjoy all that shite, if I can say that.
“It affects players, it affects their sleep patterns … it’s killing us. Just get rid of it and don’t look at it.”
In a comment that I would rate a seven out of 10, Arnold said “I am really glad I played in the days when there was no mobile telephones and no journos giving you ratings out of 10 and things like that.
“It’s a big thing … I think players these days are so mentally strong because of that.
“But at the end of the day, I have to get my wife off social media, I have to get my kids off social media, because it nearly kills them in this time and environment. But that’s the way it is now.”
Also having his say this morning is former England international John Barnes, who has written in the Times that everybody should lay off knocking Qatar and respect the progress they’ve made. The former Liverpool and Watford man, who has previously worked for Qatari broadcasters, writes:
The vitriol and disdain towards Qatar as the tournament approached has been laughable. You would have thought the tournament had been awarded to the country a few months ago. It’s the same debate that was had ten years ago. Since Qatar was awarded the tournament, things have changed, and progress has been made on the human rights of migrant workers. While there is still a long way to go, the situation is streets ahead of where they were ten years ago – with improvements in housing, facilities and wages.
Striking a note somewhat similar to the “Yet you participate in society! Curious!” man in that “We should improve society somewhat” meme, he also says:
It’s interesting to observe that some of those who are making a lot of noise now have had little to say about the development of Qatar over the previous 20 years.
However, he does make this point in the opening of his column, which will have confused “anti-woke” readers about just whose side he is on:
How would we like it if African TV stations, pundits and journalists came to a World Cup in England and highlighted injustices towards black people, the lack of black managers, abuse of black players, and worse, the treatment of black people in the inner cities by the authorities? How would we like it if they demanded change and made calls to boycott matches, and for the World Cup to be taken off England, while residing at our top hotels and eating at our finest restaurants? How dare they?!
So while discrimination is enshrined in Qatari law, discrimination is also enshrined in British society and culture. Lots of black people are stopped, searched and detained just because they are black. Let’s sort ourselves out before we start to lecture and preach to the rest of the world.
We have some words today from Elis James, who is writing on how Wales must play with the handbrake off to earn an overdue win against old foes England:
After the 1-1 draw with the USA in the opening game, fans hoped for a repeat of Euro 2020: a nervy stalemate in the first match against Switzerland followed by Bale and Ramsey rolling back the years to outclass Turkey and see us reach the last 16; Gareth and Aaron adding to the evidence that there are in fact two real Princes of Wales. We were all to be disappointed. A deserved win for Iran as a lacklustre Wales cracked in the final two minutes of stoppage time. Even a victory in the final group game may not be enough.
And so, on to England. Many, if not most, of our fans were disappointed when we were drawn in the same group as our nextdoor neighbours. If the European Championship is about big international derbies and the continent’s heavyweights being pitted against each other, part of the World Cup’s allure is new teams, strange fixtures, different experiences, something that can’t be provided by the familiarity of Luke Shaw and Mason Mount. Before last Monday night the only competitive games Wales had played against non‑European opposition were against Mexico and Brazil in 1958. Declan Rice was not part of the plan in this global festival of football.
Read more here: Elis James – Wales must play with handbrake off to earn overdue win against old foes England
If you missed it overnight, Max and the gang were hard at work to produce another daily World Cup episode of Football Weekly, in which they discuss the extraordinary clashes between South Korea and Ghana, and then between Serbia and Cameroon, as well as the qualification of Portugal and Brazil, and preview today’s matches as well. You can get that in your ears here: Aboubakar scoop and Kudus strike add to World Cup goalfest – Football Daily
Preamble
It is positively whizzing past, isn’t it? It is only day ten of this World Cup like no other, and already we are at the sharp end of the group stages. By close of play tonight, eight teams will have “played three” next to their names, and four of them will be going home. Well, let us be honest, three of them will be going home, and Qatar will just be sat glumly in the corner of their own party.
There are four matches ahead. At 3pm GMT it is Netherlands v Qatar, and Ecuador v Senegal in Group A. Get your second screens ready. Draws will suffice for the Netherlands and Ecuador, a win is a must for Senegal.
Group B concludes at 7pm GMT. England must avoid a four goal defeat to Wales to progress. Wales must beat England by any score, and hope that the highly charged meeting between the US and Iran ends up in a highly charged draw. A win for either of the US or Iran will see them through.
I’m Martin Belam, and I’ll be bringing you all the buildup during the day, plus the media quotes from the teams in Group C and Group D who will be playing tomorrow, and all the other World Cup news, on and off the field, as it happens. You can reach me on martin.belam@theguardian.com.
