There have also been four other 4-2 shootouts following 1-1 draws. Uruguay-Ghana in 2010 is perhaps the most memorable of them. Brazil-Netherlands in the 1998 semi-final is the highest profile example.

in tears at the guy throwing down the kangaroo after that PK

Sub goalie saves nowt.

we are one day away from the funniest VAR offsides graphic ever

Waiting for confirmation that Mexico v England has been moved forward six hours. Broadcasters are understood to have communicated that it’s done.

I finally sorted out ending the subscription part of my newsletter this week. It means the paywall has come off everything. So go wild. If you’re going to read anything today, maybe make it something about Diogo Jota Up the Reds. Thanks as ever for the support with the newsletter ❤️

Our mate Diogo. One year gone, but always with us. Forever 20. YNWA

Well done, England! #t20WorldCup

No midfielder has played as many matches with Cristiano as Luka Modric. On their two decades together and apart ahead of Portugal vs Croatia:

senegal are just a better football team than belgium. morocco were just better than netherlands. stop doing analysis from a map.

Enrique to Suarez vibes to that Senegal goal. Beautiful.

It looks like he’s trying to find holes in an incredible Bob Mortimer story on Would I Lie To You.

If you can't convert your big chances it helps to have a player like Harry Kane.

Cross to Kane. England’s World Cup cheat code.

If Tuchel rates Alexander Arnold less than Spence then you can only wonder what he’s done. Because he really doesn’t rate Spence

Half dive half penalty half man.

Forgive the picture of my TV but this is an absolutely wild World Cup fact

Yellow cards 1, shots 0 #england

DR Congo takes the lead, Brian Cipenga with the goal

This won't get any easier now.

Genuine Q, has there ever been a Golden Boot race like this? There's always a couple of random players who catch fire or international specialists like Klose but this is basically just the best players in the world

England failed to break down Ghana. They needed a set piece to open the scoring against Panama DR Congo's defence was harder to unlock in the group stage than either of them. New:

Bonus summer Gabriel vs. Haaland

[winger dribbles past 14 players who are all somehow holding swords, plays a perfect through ball] [midfielder runs through lava as multiple tigers (?) claw at his body, chips a perfect pass] [Erling Haaland mishits the ball and it trickles into an empty net] "You just can't stop Erling Haaland".

❤️

Panenka to Paraguay: Germany’s 50-year penalty shootout streak is over

So preoccupied with whether he could, he didn't stop to think if he should.

This match is unfolding exactly as I expect the England game will go (so far).

my son came down and gave me a hat

Bravo, Tidal. I'm glad I picked them when ditching Spotify.

Nobody other than Harry Kane has more than three goals for Tuchel’s England. Nobody played more passed to him in England’s win over Croatia than Jordan Pickford. That’s two issues to solve. Here’s Jude to take some sad stats and make them better. New from me:

A big goal from outside the box, ya say.

Jim never has a second hydration break at home...

Cody Gakpo: Liverpool and Netherlands striker announces unborn baby loss https://www.europesays.com/netherlands/26855/ Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has asked for “privacy and space” following the loss of his unborn…

Not sure that scheduling friendlies mid World Cup was the best choice tbh

Another cool work first today - helping with the data prep for this video that is based on one of my articles youtube.com/shorts/9dgG-...

Des Lynam ended the BBC’s coverage of England’s loss to Germany at Euro 96 by telling viewers to “remember where you were watching this because in 30 years’ time somebody will probably ask you” Today is 30 years’ time. So @sport.theguardian.com did just that. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Haaland vs Mbappé tonight, then. Their output in the big leagues? Spider-man meme identical. In the Champions League? Very similar until they reach the knock-out phase. In international football? It's a chasm. NEW:

My GCSE German not required

29

England will qualify for the next round this evening if Ecuador fail to beat Germany. Germany avoiding defeat would also see Netherlands, Japan, Egypt, Spain, Portugal and Ghana through to the next stage before playing their final match.

Historically, since the introduction of best third place, one of those sides tends to go deep in the tournament. In World Cups, Belgium made the semis in 86 while Argentina (90) and Italy (94) were losing finalists Portugal won Euro 2016 and Ivory Coast won AFCON 2023.

I was at Lords tonight. My melted remains can be found in a puddle in the Mound stand.

updated 3rd place cut line projection 3 points and non horrific gd still likely to be good www.expectinggoals.com/p/even-more-...

The World Cup hasn’t averaged as many goals per game as it is this year since 1970. Having some weaker teams is part of it but there are other factors at play. Here’s a look at some of them:

This is England’s 17th World Cup. They’ve now had a 0-0 draw in the group stage of 10 of them (or 11 if you include the second group stage in 1982). It’s just what they do.

A big exclusive here from Matt Hughes:

Shots in the first half that were not blocked: 14’ Rice 0.02 xG 37’ Rice 0.05 xG Both went over the bar.

England's pass map shows how they're being held at bay, with nobody particularly linking up with Kane. Ghana's pass map is abstract art.