World Cup while you were sleeping: England, Ronaldo v Messi, Scotland boss quits

For a time on Saturday in New Jersey, England were on the road to a last 32 meeting with Portugal and a potential last 16 clash with Spain, at which point you would have expected their interest in this year’s World Cup to have come to a crashing halt. As it was, two goals in the space of five minutes against Panama averted that particular disaster, and now either the Senegal or the Democratic Republic of Congo are their likely opponents. Croatia and Ghana also progressed from the group, ending Scotland’s slim hopes of making it into the last 32, and soon after Steve Clarke ended his seven years in charge. Portugal’s final game in Group K holds a multitude of possibilities, one of which means that if they beat Colombia in an encounter that starts at 7.30am on Sunday, Hong Kong Time, they end up on the same side of the draw as Argentina. Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarter-finals anyone? Discussion on that topic is for another day, right now, here’s what happened overnight. Keep right on There were some tense faces in MetLife Stadium at half-time of England’s game against Panama. Goalless and carrying all the qualities of another England draw, the route to the final looked as though it might need to go through Portugal and Spain. Fortunately, with little more than an hour gone, Jude Bellingham got on the end of a Bukayo Saka corner, and then turned provider for Harry Kane to head in his 11th World Cup goal for England, becoming his country’s leading scorer at the tournament in the process. In the other game in the group, Croatia secured the runners-up spot with a 2-1 win over Ghana. The 2018 finalists took the lead in the 31st minute through Petar Sucic’s long-range strike. Ghana equalised in the second half as Derrick Luckassen volleyed into the net, but Croatia won it with a header from Nikola Vlasic. Ghana progress in third place, but it means Scotland’s tournament is over as they cannot finish as one of the top eight third-placed sides. Clarke quits Moments after their fate was announced, Scotland’s football bosses released a statement saying Steve Clarke had quit. In an open letter to supporters, Clarke, who guided the team back the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, said the “most emotional part of this goodbye” was for this players. “Without them we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now,” Clarke said. “They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their Gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.” Who needs what Colombia have secured a top two spot and will win Group K if they avoid defeat against Portugal. Ronaldo’s side must win to finish first, they are guaranteed to go through whatever happens, although the group winners will get a third-placed team in the round of 32. DR Congo could overhaul them, but they would need to thrash Uzbekistan by six goals or more. Any type of victory would likely get them into the knockout stages, and would send South Korea crashing out. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, must win but can only finish third, and with a goal difference of -7 the chances of taking a place in the next round on three points are slim. Why not us? It’s a David v Goliath clash worthy of any football underdog story. Except this isn’t the movies, and Argentina’s warrior is a 5ft 7in magician. Still, that’s no reason Cabo Verde can’t dream of pulling off the greatest upset the game has ever seen, and that includes Wimbledon beating Liverpool to win the FA Cup. Their Netherlands-born midfielder Deroy Duarte certainly isn’t ruling out a remarkable upset in their last-32 meeting. “Our first objective was to go to the World Cup, our second was to pass the group stage, and this is what we did. “Everything is an honour and a reward, and we see Argentina as a game like this – another chance to make history. “So why not? We will give everything and then at the end of the game we will see.” The two sides meet in Miami, where Messi plays his club football these days, on July 3.

World Cup while you were sleeping: England, Ronaldo v Messi, Scotland boss quits

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}England top Group L with victory over Panama, while Croatia finish second. Later, Portugal take on Colombia and DR Congo face Uzbekistan

Keep right on

England top Group L with victory over Panama, while Croatia finish second. Later, Portugal take on Colombia and DR Congo face Uzbekistan