Congratulations to Scotland on a first World Cup win in 36 years but a game with 44 fouls and four shots on target (from 24 attempts) was never going to rank too highly here.<\/p>\n
Desperation simply did not equate to risks and quality in these teams\u2019 second group game. South Africa dominated possession after the Czech Republic\u2019s early goal but struggled for cohesion at either end, while the Czechs sat deep but did not have much juice on the break.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere in Mexico City was incredible, Julian Quinones was superb and Raul Jimenez\u2019s goal was a reminder of the emotional weight the World Cup carries. But South Africa conceded through an error, attempted three shots worth 0.07 expected goals (xG) and offered little before and after their two red cards.<\/p>\n
A first half of ponderous football that yielded no shots on target, followed by a slightly better 25 minutes after the break, interrupted by four hydration breaks. We at least had an eventful final period where England hit the post and Harry Kane blazed a good chance over, while Jordan Pickford and Ezri Konsa somehow got away with bad tackles.\u00a0In a tournament of goals, Ghana\u2019s excellent defensive organisation has stood out.<\/p>\n
Both teams knew a draw would take them through and, apart from an Australian burst at the start and towards the end, this game suggested as much.<\/p>\n
Eleven total shots made this the most shot-shy game to date, with a third Fernando Muslera error in this tournament resulting in Spain\u2019s winner. It was a shock it had only 28 fouls, with a number of off-the-ball discretions going unpunished.<\/p>\n
Many had this match circled in their calendar when the fixture list came out but it was a hard watch, and Uruguay have some difficult questions to answer after elimination.<\/p>\n
The Sead Kolasinac game! The Bosnia captain got himself an assist, made a goal-line clearance, and was partly responsible for Cyle Larin\u2019s 78th-minute equaliser, which ensured Canada\u2019s wastefulness didn\u2019t stop them from earning a first World Cup point.<\/p>\n
Ghana recorded zero shots in the first half and Panama, with 64 per cent possession, managed three. The second half, though, was a much better watch with a few big saves, a late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi, and an even later Panama chance created by goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.<\/p>\n
If one-way traffic had a definition\u2026<\/p>\n
Qatar offered nothing in attack or defence with\u00a0 11 men and made multiple ridiculous tackles. Two of those brought red cards, with one seriously injuring Ismael Kone to cast a dark cloud over a dominant win.<\/p>\n
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The only blot on an otherwise solid opening week for the World Cup expansion loyalists. Livano Comenencia\u2019s equalizer and Dick Advocaat\u2019s emotional reaction were great but this was a muscle flex if there ever was one. Germany\u2019s xG of 4.2 was still only the fourth-most by a team in the last three World Cups and the second-most of this edition (behind Canada\u2019s 4.5 against Qatar).<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s more expansive style was always going to put them at risk in this fixture. Belgium finally found some fluency to out-shoot them by 35 efforts to six, and only goalkeeper Max Crocombe stopped it becoming an even bigger rout.<\/p>\n
Habib Diarra\u2019s early goal for Senegal and Rebin Sulaka\u2019s 13th-minute dismissal for Iraq did not open the floodgates at first. Pape Gueye, whose six shots in 33 minutes equalled Iraq\u2019s 90-minute tally, and Iliman Ndiaye, changed that up with some spectacular striking.<\/p>\n
Incredibly, they did not get to celebrate any of their goals for long, being forced to sprint back to the restart instead, with Senegal needing as many as they could get to boost their hopes of qualification.<\/p>\n
Egypt did not look overly reliant on Mohamed Salah, even though he assisted Emam Ashour. They posed a constant threat on the break against Rudi Garcia\u2019s side, whose defensive organisation was suspect and they needed Romelu Lukaku \u2014 who played 64 minutes for Napoli in all of 2025-26 \u2014 to force an own goal for a point.<\/p>\n
Panama dropped into a back six at times in the first half, keeping Croatian chances to a minimum while posing a threat on the break. Zlatko Dalic\u2019s side took the lead in the 54th minute through Ante Budimir tapping home a perfect Josip Stanisic cross. Panama had more possession after the goal but got just one shot on target in that time.<\/p>\n
Another slice of Kylian Mbappe history as he converted two of his eight shots, twice Iraq\u2019s total, and ran riot with Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise before and after a frustrating 131-minute delay due to thunderstorms.<\/p>\n
Neither team was keen to move out of first gear in a first half with six shots and just 374 completed passes. Daizen Maeda\u2019s well-constructed goal \u2014 and multiple Sweden players not knowing a draw would be enough to progress \u2014 made for an entertaining second half, with a beauty from Anthony Elanga levelling things up.<\/p>\n
Uruguay scored from one of 27 shots, with their conversion rate of 3.7 per cent the second worst by a team in World Cups since 2018 (minimum one goal scored).<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia were well worthy of their point. They defended with numbers and a high line that caught their opponents offside six times. Only two teams have done better in the same timeframe: Spain against Costa Rica in 2022 (seven) and Saudi Arabia themselves in that famous win over Argentina one day earlier (10).<\/p>\n
Switzerland had two-thirds of the ball and Dan Ndoye alone matched Qatar\u2019s shot attempt tally of six. Yet, they only had Breel Embolo\u2019s penalty to show for it and let the game wander, with Miro Muheim\u2019s 94th-minute own goal securing Qatar\u2019s first World Cup point.<\/p>\n
Ismael Saibari\u2019s finish after 67 seconds \u2014 the earliest goal in this tournament \u2014 was brilliant before, as with their first game, Morocco\u2019s energy dropped in the second half. Scotland were better after the break but quality chances were hard to come by.<\/p>\n
In an interview from a decade ago, Ousmane Dembele, then playing for Rennes, sounded confused about which was his preferred foot. Now it\u2019s his opponents who can\u2019t make out which way the Ballon d\u2019Or holder will go, while the 29-year-old\u2019s absolute clarity resulted in a first World Cup hat-trick.<\/p>\n
Conceding from a restart would have annoyed France, and Jorgen Strand Larsen converting his penalty could have made this more fun. Instead, Mike Maignan got a confidence boost, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue combined for France\u2019s fourth, and the favourites look more ominous than ever.<\/p>\n
Jordan scored one of the best constructed goals of the group phase but a much-changed Argentina still had too much for them in a game with limited intensity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Giovani Lo Celso\u2019s free kick was excellent (albeit the foul leading up to it was suspect) before Lionel Messi scored from a dead ball too after coming off the bench. That made it six goals in the group stage \u2014 as many as he scored in four World Cups from 2006 to 2018.<\/p>\n
A historic result manufactured by an aggressive defensive strategy and the counter-attacking threat of Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu. DR Congo completed just 96 passes compared to Portugal\u2019s 724 but still managed more shots (eight to seven) \u2014 talk about efficiency.<\/p>\n
Expectations were higher from a game between the two highest-ranked teams in Group J, but Austria did little to trouble a physical Argentina side. Lionel Messi missed a penalty but scored twice, including a vintage left-footed low curler from the edge of the box, to become the World Cup\u2019s all-time top scorer with 18 goals.<\/p>\n
Brazil racked up 4.46 xG, the fourth most in the past three World Cups, and feasted on Scotland\u2019s errors to secure a convincing win. Steve Clarke\u2019s side were better after half-time and Scott McTominay had three great chances, but this was yet another sobering major tournament defeat for the Scots.<\/p>\n
The Yan Diomande game! The RB Leipzig winger was electric on both flanks, almost single-handedly making up for both teams leaving their shooting boots at home. Ivory Coast\u2019s depth ultimately won out, with Manchester United\u2019s Amad coming off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner.<\/p>\n
Scoring early feels like Spain\u2019s best route to success and Lamine Yamal, in his first World Cup start, provided it. Saudi Arabia offered little resistance, but this was the Spain people expected to see.<\/p>\n
Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the World Cup with a double in a game where Portugal\u2019s high-risk approach paid off handsomely. They unleashed plenty of set-piece trickery too, none bigger than Nuno Mendes\u2019 fine first-half free-kick goal to make it 2-0.<\/p>\n
Two Dutch goals in the first seven minutes made for a one-sided first half. Hazem Mastouri\u2019s goal prompted a bit more adventure but Ronald Koeman\u2019s side were simply better and scored a third as Tunisia suffered a third straight defeat.<\/p>\n
Emotional celebrations followed Jordan\u2019s first goal at a World Cup scored by Nizar Al Rashdan with a clean strike against the run of play. Algeria had 71 per cent possession and completed over thrice as many passes (561 to 181), ultimately scoring from two of their 10 corners to eliminate Jordan.<\/p>\n
Nicolas Pepe\u2019s double booked Ivory Coast\u2019s first World Cup knockout appearance in a largely comfortable victory. Curacao gave it their all despite going behind after seven minutes, but they just lacked a cutting edge in the final third.<\/p>\n
South Korea had eight shots in the first half, with plenty of free-flowing football, but they got just one of those on target. The two teams then had nine of 12 combined shots on target in the second half.<\/p>\n
The Czech Republic channelled their inner Premier League influence to score from a throw-in, while Korea\u2019s equaliser by Hwang In-beom came at the end of a 25-pass move.<\/p>\n
As with their game against Ghana, this wasn\u2019t easy going for England, who initially had their struggles breaking Panama down. Thomas Christiansen\u2019s side even tested Jordan Pickford twice before Jude Bellingham scored and then assisted Harry Kane to see England top their group. <\/p>\n
A headline World Cup debut for Erling Haaland, who scored his signature back-post goal and then pressed Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan into gifting him a second. For Iraq, Aymen Hussein scored at either end in a forgettable showing.<\/p>\n
A standout example of what many envisioned when Brazil hired Carlo Ancelotti. They utilised their pace in behind to perfection, creating 0.86 xG from fast breaks and scoring twice from those situations, the joint-most by a team in the last three World Cups. <\/p>\n
South Korea did not have a shot on target for 86 minutes and could have equalised with their first effort on goal. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu kept them in the game after, gifting Mexico \u2014 who were booed for a flat first half \u2014 the winner. Football\u2019s just like that sometimes.<\/p>\n
Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield. It felt fitting that Luka Modric had the final say, assisting Nikola Vlasic from a corner, but Ghana will feel a little hard done.<\/p>\n
A potentially defining match for football in Canada after Stephen Eustaquio\u2019s stoppage-time winner sent them through to the last 16. Jesse Marsch\u2019s side deserved it after a second-half surge led by Alphonso Davies\u2019 first appearance at this 2026 tournament.<\/p>\n
Credit to South Africa though. In possession, they looked a totally different team to that which suffered a poor opening-night defeat by Mexico, conjuring some sweeping moves from back to front. Their defenders also made two goal-line clearances while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams came up with big saves.<\/p>\n
Ecuador finally came to the party after struggling to put away their chances in their first two games. Nilson Angulo\u2019s strike was excellent and Gonzalo Plata\u2019s winner, which will live long in the Ecuadorian memory, ensured Germany\u2019s shortcomings were punished.<\/p>\n
The first half of this match was entertaining. Brazil struggled to cope with Morocco\u2019s flair, movement and purpose in the first half and Saibari\u2019s goal was just reward. A moment of genius from Vinicius Junior drew them level but has been somewhat forgotten given some of the tournament\u2019s other star players\u2019 exploits since.<\/p>\n
The second half, however, included both teams combining for eight shots and 117 possessions lost.<\/p>\n
A game of inconsistent football and great saves. Iran\u2019s Alireza Beiranvand was crucial to keeping Belgium at bay with seven stops, including an extraordinary block from point-blank range by left-back Maxim De Cuyper, who attempted a game-high five shots.<\/p>\n
Thibaut Courtois bailed out his defence when needed with a couple of reflex saves, too.<\/p>\n
At 39, Lionel Messi might not be the best player in the world any more but this was evidence that mileage can be made up for with intelligence. His performance had all the classic elements \u2014 passes from deep, quick one-touch plays and three left-footed goals \u2014 and a foul for which he should have been booked and could have been worthy of a red card.<\/p>\n
The first signs of vulnerability in the Canadian back line? Switzerland worked around them with ease to open the scoring and their second goal was a case of judgement and goalkeeping both being poor. Promise David\u2019s goal for the co-hosts was delightfully executed but this game raised some questions for Jesse Marsch ahead of the knockouts.<\/p>\n
Sweden scored their five goals from just 1.3xG, the second-highest overperformance (+3.7) across the past three tournaments behind England\u2019s 6-1 win over Panama (+3.9) in 2018. Yasin Ayari had his own goal-of-the-tournament competition, and Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored from each other\u2019s assists.<\/p>\n
There was the first sighting of a football \u2018Snicko\u2019 and this game led to Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi being axed, too. That led to Herve Renard\u2019s return to the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n An enjoyable end-to-end affair where the first half felt like a rout, with Australia having as many shots as yellow cards \u2014 two, the same number of goals the United States had scored. The second half was more even but the damage was done.<\/p>\n For 74 minutes, this game was goalless, but part of the joy of World Cups comes from substitutes actually making their mark. They did, making this the first game in World Cup history to feature five goals scored after the 70th minute.<\/p>\n Enter 20-year-old Johan Manzambi and 62-cap veteran Ruben Vargas, with Switzerland struggling to pick the lock. The duo scored a goal apiece, Vargas set up Manzambi for Switzerland\u2019s third, and there was still time for a Bosnian thunderbolt from another substitute, Ermin Mahmic, and a Granit Xhaka penalty.<\/p>\n A clinical performance that oozed technical quality and produced excellent goals. Japan scored twice in each half and kept a hapless Tunisia down to a shot apiece either side of the break.<\/p>\n Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, play fluid, relentless football but Jordan made a decent fist of their first World Cup match, creating nine chances despite having just 37 per cent possession and matching Austria\u2019s 11 shot attempts. They reacted well to going behind and equalised, and it took Austria an own goal from a set piece and a 102nd-minute penalty to win.<\/p>\n An action-packed first half with a brilliant Kerim Alajbegovic strike, an own goal, a vintage Hassan Al-Haydos goal from a cutback and two shots cannoning off the post. Things got more tense in the second half, with the two teams\u2019 desperation to win and qualify for the knockout phase before Bosnia sealed it with a late third.<\/p>\n Two goals, including an excellent acute-angle finish from Iran\u2019s Ramin Rezaeian, as well as a missed penalty in the opening 15 minutes set the tone for a physical, entertaining contest that ended with 27 fouls and 26 shots.<\/p>\n Iran had a late goal disallowed for offside that confused some viewers (though it was the right decision), but they still could have won it if not for the crossbar and some heroic last-ditch Egyptian defending in stoppage time.<\/p>\n Another great goalkeeping performance, this time from DR Congo\u2019s Lionel Mpasi, to savour in an entertaining contest. Colombia peppered him with shots from all parts of the attacking third, as seen below, and had three goals disallowed before Daniel Munoz\u2019s deflected strike \u2014 cruelly \u2014 finally beat Mpasi on 76 minutes.<\/p>\n DR Congo\u2019s aggressive defending was easily worked around by Nestor Lorenzo\u2019s rampaging side, the only rogue dark horses at this tournament to live up to that billing.<\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s first World Cup win was a memorable comeback, propelled by a second half in which they kept New Zealand down to four shots while racking up 13 and scoring three goals. Set pieces were expected to be a theme<\/a> and both teams (literally) delivered.<\/p>\n Colombia were one of the most entertaining teams across World Cup qualifying but were made to work hard by a disciplined Uzbekistan in the first half. Daniel Munoz\u2019s goal was cancelled out in the second half, but Luis Diaz added to his assist with the go-ahead goal.<\/p>\n Uzbekistan went close to an equaliser before Jaminton Campaz scored in stoppage time, immediately followed by a shot at the other end that thundered back off the crossbar. Entertaining stuff.<\/p>\n There is joy in watching less-fancied teams battle adversity and succeed.<\/p>\n Paraguay scored early, then lost Miguel Almiron to a red card for covering his mouth \u2014 a first \u2014 but remained resilient enough to bounce back. Turkey attempted 32 shots, raising their tournament tally to 62 \u2014 the most over two World Cup games without a goal scored since records began in 1966.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eldor Shomurudov scored one of the goals of the tournament with a deft lob from an acute angle and Nathanael Mbuku saw a well-taken equalizer disallowed to make the task harder for DR Congo, who needed a win.\u00a0<\/p>\n Up stepped Yoane Wissa, fresh off a difficult debut season for Newcastle United, to score his second and third goals of the tournament to turn the tide for Sebastien Desabre\u2019s resilient side.<\/p>\n Ecuador had 27 shots worth 2.8xG and 15 efforts on target worth 2.3xGOT (expected goals on target, a measure of shot quality after the shot is taken). Eloy Room stood tall in the face of it all<\/a> to make the most saves in a 90-minute World Cup match to secure a historic point for Curacao.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t all one-sided, though \u2014 Dick Advocaat\u2019s team had 10 shots and forced Hernan Galindez into a couple of great saves too.<\/p>\n This would have evoked annoying memories of the 0-0 draw against Morocco in 2022 and 1-1 draw with Russia in 2018 for Spain. They struggled to up the ante without Lamine Yamal and could not break down a disciplined, shapeshifting defence.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6-19-United-States-vs.-Australia-match-dashboard-wide.png\")
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