BELGIUM ADVANCE TO KNOCK-OUT STAGE AS GROUP WINNER

Belgium denied England from claiming the top spot in Group G with a deserving 1-0 win last night. Adnan Januzaj became the hero for his team as they snatched first place and set up a last 16 meeting with Japan.

Both teams made big changes in their starting line-ups probably to save some good legs for upcoming matches. Gareth Southgate had nine different players from the previous match, while Belgium rested their top striker, Romelu Lukaku.

The first half of the match saw both team playing with extra cautious, trying to avoid bookings which may affect their group's rankings. However, six minutes into the second half Januzaj broke the deadlock. The 23-year-old beat Danny Rose before launching a left-footed strike that curled past Pickford.

The Three Lions were stunned and pushed forward in search of goals. But Belgium's back line were rock solid and unbreakable. They held on with the one goal advantage to secure three points and topped the group. Belgium will face Japan in the round of 16, while England will meet Colombia.

Photo: FIFA

PAULINHO AND SILVA PUT BRAZIL ON TOP OF THE GROUP

Brazil clinched top spot in World Cup Group E and eliminated Serbia after a comfortable 2-0 victory in Moscow. Paulinho and Thiago Silva set-up the Selecao's meeting with Mexico in the round of 16.

The five-time World Champs had a good start but have to replace Marcelo with Filipe Luis after just 10 minutes due to injury. But they did not wait too long like in the previous match against Costa Rica. Paulinho cleverly beat Serbia's keeper, Vladimir Stojkovic in the 36th minute after receiving a brilliant pass from Philippe Coutinho.

Serbia had their moments, but the South Americans had too much creativity and firepower to seal the game. Brazil doubled their advantage when Silva headed Neymar's corner in at the near post.

The result buried the ghost of 2014 when they failed to lift the World Cup on home soil, and kept hopes of an unprecedented sixth title alive.

Photo: FIFA

THE MATCH

SOUTH KOREA HUMILIATE DEFENDING CHAMPS IN HISTORIC WORLD CUP MATCH

Reigning World Cup champions, Germany have been eliminated from the tournament at group stage following defeat by South Korea, in one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history.

The South Korean humiliated the four-time winners twice in injury time as they struggled to find the goal which could have sent them through to the next round.

After a tiring 90 minutes, Kim Young-gwon's goal came after 2 minutes into the stoppage time. The goal was initially ruled out for offside before being awarded after a video assistant referee decision, and Germany were on the brink of elimination.

Just a few minutes later, it turned worse for the Germans. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lost possession in the opponents' half, Ju Se-jong launched it forward where Son Heung-min tapped into an empty net to score the second.

For the first time since 1938, Germany failed to advance beyond the first stage of the tournament. And it is just four years after they lifted the trophy at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

For the South Koreans, it was an amazing game as they defeated a world number one in FIFA rankings, at a World Cup held outside their continent. They were simply brilliant with their fitness and the counter-attacks.

Photo: FIFA

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ARGENTINA BEAT NIGERIA TO SECURE PLACE IN LAST 16

Argentina is back from the dead after securing a late 2-1 win over Nigeria. When it looked like there was no chance for them to qualify into the next stage of the World Cup, Lionel Messi and his team mates produced the quality to keep Argentina in the tournament.  It wasn't the best show, but they overcame Nigeria with Marcos Rojo's winner toward the end of the 90 minutes.

Both teams were equally good at the start. But then, Messi silenced the critics with a great finish in the 14th minute. However, a silly tackle by Javier Mascherano inside the penalty box gave Nigeria a penalty kick. Victor Moses made no mistakes from the spot to equalize.

Argentina sent in Cristian Pavon, Maxi Meza and Sergio Aguero to strenghten their attacks. After continuous pressures inside the Nigerian area, Rojo got the winner with a classy finish in the 87th minute.

Finally there was an entertaining display by the two time World Champions. And Argentina got a place in the last 16.

Photo: FIFA

DONADONI SPORTS

CONVINCING VICTORY FOR ENGLAND AS KANE FIRES HATTRICK

Harry Kane bagged a hat-trick as England banished the ghost of past failures with a record 6-1 thrashing of Panama on Sunday that eased them into the last 16. In England's biggest-ever World Cup win, Kane scored two penalties before a deflection off his heel put him on top of the goal scoring list.

Despite having many young names in the squad, Gareth Southgate's team romped into a remarkable 5-0 lead at halftime. John Stones put England in front with a header in the eighth minute Captain Kane doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from the spot after Jesse Lingard was brought down the box by Fidel Escobar.

Lingard got the third goal in the 36th minute from a fine shot right outside the area. Then Stones headed in his second for England from a free kick. And Kane converted another penalty just before the break to give his team a comfortable 5-0 cushion.

Six minute into the second half, Kane got his third after a Ruben Loftus-Cheek's attempt hit his foot and bounced in. Felipe Baloy scored a consolation goal for his team in the 78th minute, which is also Panama's first goal in their debut World Cup.

Photo: FIFA

RUGGER DISTRICT

BELGIUM FLYING HIGH AFTER WIN OVER TUNISIA

Belgium showed their class with a 5-2 win over Tunisia. The Red Devils were in high confidence as Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard scored two goals each, and booked a place in the knock-out stage. 

After an impressive 3-0 win over Panama, Belgium got off to a strong start, scoring three times in the first half. Belgium took the lead after six minutes. Hazard was fouled inside the danger area, and he converted the penalty to put his team ahead.

Ten minutes later Lukaku finished-off a pass from Hazard to give Belgium two goals up. Dylan Bronn found the net in the 18th minute to give Tunisia a chance to fight back.

But Lukaku scored Belgium's third right before the half-time whistle. The goal made him joint leader with Cristiano Ronaldo in the top scorer leaderboard.

Belgium maintained their superb form after the break. Hazard beat Tunisia's goal keeper again in the 51st minute. Michy Batshuayi scored the fifth goal for Belgium before Tunisia scored another goal in the stoppage time.

The Red Devils have collected six points from two games and are looking good for their last group match against England. They made 12 shots on target from 22 attempts, with just 50% of possession. Tunisia will be eliminated from the tournament if England draw with Panama on Sunday.

Photo: FIFA

The Match

NEYMAR & COUTINHO LEAVE IT LATE TO GIVE BRAZIL VICTORY

Brazil almost ended their second match at 2018 World Cup with another frustrating draw until its biggest stars came alive late. The five-time World Champions were held scoreless by Costa Rica until the 90th minute before Philippe Coutinho broke the deadlock in the stoppage time.

Coutinho found the net in the 91st minute, and Neymar added another five minutes later as the South Americans move to four points in Group F with one match left to play.

Brazil had bigger share of posession throughout the match, 9 out of 23 shots on target. Despite having many stars in the line-up, Brazil could not find a way through Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas. However, the six added minutes proved to be too much to handle. 

The result sent Brazil to the top of group, and  boosts their chances of moving on to the next stage.

Photo: FIFA

CROATIA IN SECOND ROUND AFTER DESTROYING ARGENTINA

Argentina are on the brink of an early World Cup exit after 0-3 loss to Croatia. A dreadful error from goalkeeper Willy Caballero paved the way for Croatia to join the last 16.

In a match where everyone was expecting to see the magic of Lionel Messi, Caballero made the biggest mistake that allows Ante Rebic to volley into an exposed net in the 53rd minute.

After the horror moment, Argentina rallied inside the opponent's half but Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala failed to find a way through.

Croatia turned defensive after the break. But then, there was a moment of magic by their own number 10. Luka Modric curled a shot from range drifted beautifully beyond Caballero's gloves to put his side two ahead

And in the injury time, Rakitic tapped-in for the third goal that moves the Europeans through to the knockout stage.

Argentina are no longer in control of their own destiny. This defeat follows their opening 1-1 draw with Iceland, in which Messi missed a penalty, and now even a heavy win over Nigeria in their final game on Tuesday may not be enough to send them through to the next round.

Should Iceland beat Nigeria in their second Group D game on Friday, Iceland would need only a draw against Croatia in their final match.

Photo: FIFA

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RONALDO STRIKES AGAIN AS PORTUGAL WIN

Cristiano Ronaldo netted his fourth goal of the 2018 World Cup to become the second-highest goalscorer at international level and earned Portugal a nervy 1-0 win over Morocco.

The Real Madrid star continued his goal scoring form after the hattrick against Spain last week, with a fourth-minute header which was his 85th goal for his country in 152 games.

When João Moutinho dispatch a short corner in the 4th minute, Ronaldo bravely plunged into a header while Karim El Ahmadi's boot was just next to his face. From there on, both teams failed to find the net again until the final whistle.

No other European player has scored as many as the Portuguese and only Ali Daei, with 109 goals for Iran, is above him in the scoring charts.

The result gave Portugal four points from two games, in a strong position to progress from Group B while Morocco become the first team to be eliminated from the tournament after a second defeat in as many games.

Photo: FIFA

TIGERS SUPER SPORTS

JAPAN SINK 10-MAN COLOMBIA IN HISTORIC WIN FOR ASIA

Colombia had a nightmare start to the World Cup as Japan secured a victory against 10 men in their Group H opener in Saransk.

Carlos Sanchez was sent off inside the first three minutes for handling Shinji Kagawa's shot at a goal. It is the first red card given at this World Cup, and Kagawa calmly scored the penalty.

Then Japan wasted two goal scoring opportunities to increase their advantage. Six minutes before the break Juan Quintero punished them with a clever free-kick. The Colombian fired low under the jumping wall, brought his team back on level terms.

James Rodriguez was brought on in the second half despite his fitness concerns, but the records show Colombia had never win a World Cup match after conceding the opening goal. In the 73rd minute, Yuya Osako regained the lead for Japan with a fine header from Keisuke Honda's corner.

The Blue Samurai finally made their extra man count and dominated as much as possible. It is the first time Japan had won a World Cup match on European soil, and the first time they beat a South American team at the tournament.

Photo: FIFA

CAPTAIN KANE RESCUES ENGLAND WITH STOPPAGE TIME WINNER

Harry Kane scored twice including a stoppage-time winner to give England a 2-1 win over Tunisia in their opening World Cup match. The Three Lions were made to sweat but got full points after the captain headed in just seconds before the match ended.

England took control of the match from start. Tunisia could barely breathe, much less compete. Kane knocked in the rebound of John Stones’s header from a corner kick to give England the lead after 11 minutes.

England had so much posession in the first sixty minutes. But then, Kyle Walker brought down Fakhreddine Ben Youssef inside the penalty area. Ferjani Sassi made no mistake from the spot to beat Jordan Pickford, and the score tied 1-1 until the break.

England were more dominant in the second half. Tunisia started to understand the English game and closed down their attacks.

As the match entered the stoppage time, England got a last corner kick in. Kane whipped the ball into the net after receiving a deflection from Harry Maguire. The crowd went wild as the Three Lions secured a good start in their World Cup campaign.

Photo: FIFA

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SWITZERLAND HOLD BRAZIL TO 1-1 DRAW

For the first time since 1978, World Cup favourites Brazil failed to win their opening game as Switzerland earned a valuable draw in Rostov-on-Don. The five-time world cup champs, well known for their flair, failed to shine despite Philippe Coutinho's superb opener in the 20th minute.

Brazil were less impressive than usual despite having Gabriel Jesus, Willian and Neymar in front. Steven Zuber's header from a corner earned the Swiss a deserved point.

On his 14th appearance, Zuber delivered the all important equaliser, powering home from four yards after fending off the attentions of his marker. Brazil claimed that Zuber pushed his marker to set him free but was not taken by the officials.

The draw ends Brazil's run of nine World Cup opening match wins. Both teams now trail Group E leaders Serbia, who beat Costa Rica earlier. Though, the fans may not be too worried from the result knowing Switzerland are in the world's top six on ranking.

Photo: FIFA

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LOZANO'S GOAL STUNS WORLD CUP CHAMPS IN BIGGEST UPSET

Mexico stunned defending champions Germany 1-0 in their World Cup 2018 opening game. The win gives Mexico three points and puts them in a golden spot to move on, while Germany now can't afford another slip up with South Korea and Sweden to come. Joachim Loew’s side now have a tougher task to qualify for the knockout stages.

Making his World Cup debut, Hirving Lozano scored Mexico’s winning goal in the 35th minute. From a counter attack, Lozano picked-up a pass from Javier Hernandez inside the penalty area, he dummied Mesut Ozil and fired past Manuel Neuer from 10 yards.

After the goal, Germany responded with continuous attacks inside Mexico's area. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was huge in goal for El Tri as well, making save after save to keep the mighty Germans out. He had to deny Toni Kroos’ effort onto the crossbar, before Julian Brandt failed to score from a good position. Mexico held-on bravely to record the biggest upset in Russia this year.

Photo: FIFA

ICELAND HOLD ARGENTINA AS MESSI MISS PENALTY

Iceland held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup 2018 Group D match. Lionel Messi was dangerous throughout the match, but his penalty was saved in the second half.

The South Americans started the match with continuous attacks. The breakthrough came after 13 minutes through Manchester City's Sergio Aguero left foot shot.

The lead was short-lived as Iceland responded four minutes later after Alfred Finnbogason scored from a rebound inside the danger area.

Then Maxi Meza was taken down in the box after the hour mark and a penalty kick was given. Messi took it but Halldorsson made a perfect save and the score remained until the final whistle.

Argentina dominated the match with 78 percent possession and outshot Iceland 27-8. However, they failed to find the net in the second half.

Both teams collected a point each in the group, but it felt like a win for Iceland. They fought hard defensively and held on to claim a draw.

Photo: FIFA

THE MATCH

FRANCE BEAT AUSTRALIA TO CLAIM OPENING WIN

France kicked-off their 2018 World Cup campaign in with a win. As one of the favorites, the 1998 Champions edged Australia 2-1 in their Group C opening match.

After a scoreless first half, both teams got going after the break.

Antoine Griezmann was taken down in the box, and the video assistant referee (VAR) was used to help the head official to call for a penalty. Griezmann converted the spot kick to give the French team the lead in the 58th minute.

A few minutes later, Australia was awarded a penalty after a handball by Samuel Umtiti. Mile Jedinak made no mistake from the spot to give Australia the equaliser.

As the match was heading for a draw, Paul Pogba sent the ball to the crossbar and crossed the line in the 81st minute.

A good fight by the Australians, but France had enough quality and luck to secure three valuable points from the match.

Photo: FIFA

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