Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 15 at the tournament – your one-stop shop for everything you’ve missed overnight in North America.
For all the latest news, viral moments and what to look out for, stay right here.
OVERNIGHT ACTION
Brazil 3-0 Scotland (Group C)
Ian Wright has accused Scottish football chiefs of ‘letting the country down’ after an error-strewn defeat against Brazil left their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.
‘Laurent asked me the other day what Scotland can do next, and I think it goes a lot deeper than that,’ Wright said after Steve Clarke’s men finished third in Group C on three points with a -3 goal difference.
‘When you look at Norway, a country the same size as Scotland, they’re averaging six or seven thousand in attendances on a weekly basis. Scotland are averaging 16 thousand. But Norway have managed to secure a broadcast deal worth £25 million more a year than Scotland’s. Obviously, they’ve got a better commercial operation than Scotland.
‘But at the same time you look at Scotland and their raw materials. You look at amazing attendances, talent, storylines, grassroots participation. Someone in Scotland is letting down this country on a massive scale. People are very proud of them all over the world, but they’ve got to do more. There’s got to be a bolder, braver vision for Scottish football.’
Scotland are left in limbo until potentially the early hours of Sunday as they wait to see whether they have done enough to sneak through as one of the best eight third-placed teams. It is an awkward position to be in, particularly for fans planning their trips.
Vinicius Junior struck twice to bring his tournament tally to four goals – the first after a woeful error from Scott McKenna seven minutes in – while Matheus Cunha added a third. The game also saw Neymar come off the bench to much fanfare, making his first appearance for Brazil in 981 days.
Steve Clarke walked out of his first post-match interview with BBC Sport before returning later to offer some more measured, but equally gutted, thoughts.
‘There’s got to be a bolder, braver vision for Scottish football,’ Wright said
Scotland’s World Cup party was muted by a horrific defeat by Brazil, which leaves their hopes of progression hanging in the balance
Scotland never looked like winning while Brazil were buoyed by Neymar’s return off the bench
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Morocco 4-2 Haiti (Group C)
Morocco came from behind twice to win a thriller against Haiti and finish second in Group C, level on points with Brazil.
Haiti had their first World Cup goal in 52 years when Lenny Joseph’s strike bounced off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into his own net.
Achraf Hakimi levelled before Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor scored the pick of the bunch to re-establish Haiti’s lead.
But Ismael Saibari pegged Haiti back again before late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassime sealed victory for the Africans. They will face the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the last 32.
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Switzerland 2-1 Canada (Group B)
For the European elite that are frantically chasing the signature of Johan Manzambi, watching him emerge as the breakout star of this World Cup brings both joy and despair.
Joy at witnessing the scale of his talent – underlined in Vancouver with a goal and assist in a 2-1 win to seal top spot in Group B – and despair at the fact his price tag is escalating alongside his soaring reputation.
Manzambi, who came off the bench to bag a brace in the 4-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, counts Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United among his admirers.
Canada will have their regrets having come into this Group B finale knowing anything other than a Switzerland win would see them top the group and, as a result, remain in Vancouver for the last-32 and the last-16, should they make it.
Nathan Salt
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Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar
Kerim Alajbegovic is so confident about his future that he does not mind which club he joins next – as long as it is Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The teenager knows exactly how good he is and after his brilliant first-half strike against Qatar that helped Bosnia & Herzegovina to the brink of the knockout stages, so does every other team at the World Cup.
Bosnia finish the group with four points, surely enough to book a last-32 spot, while Qatar head home. After Alajbegovic’s opener, an own-goal from Sultan Abrake put Bosnia two up only for Hassan Alhaydos to restore hope for Qatar. That was extinguished in the closing stages by substitute Ermin Mahmic.
Tom Collomosse
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Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico (Group A)
The party atmosphere continued at the Azteca Stadium as Mexico maintained their perfect start, securing maximum points without conceding a single goal in their group-stage games.
With top spot already secured after victory in the second game, boss Javier Aguirre took the opportunity to rotate his squad and opted to start teenager Gilberto Mora, who, at 17 years and 253 days, became the sixth-youngest player in history to start a men’s World Cup match and the youngest ever to do so for Mexico.
The youngster provided the assist for Mexico’s second goal and was given a standing ovation upon his second-half departure.
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, went out with a whimper, finishing bottom of Group A with one point from their three games.
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South Africa 1-0 South Korea (Group A)
South Africa have reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their history after securing second spot in Group A, in a match which was far from easy on the eye, thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal. They will face Canada on Sunday in Los Angeles in the Last 32.
As for South Korea, Son Heung-min was left on the bench for the first time in 13 World Cup games, with the former Tottenham midfielder’s tournament woes epitomised by his tepid second-half performance after replacing Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan at the break.
They now face an anxious wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
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VIEW FROM THE GROUND – IAN HERBERT
The assassination of John F Kennedy is commemorated, among other ways, by two crosses, marked on Elm Street, Dallas, where the two bullets hit him, on November 22, 1963.
It seems so austere – those crosses in the road somehow capturing the violence of his death; the specific points at which Lee Harvey Oswald trained his gun. The World Cup has presented an opportunity for thousands of us to visit the spot, as well as the memorial to Kennedy a few blocks away.
Most poignant of all is a commemorative stone on the grass bank overlooking the crosses, on part of which the words he was due to deliver that November day are engraved.
‘We in this country, in this generation, are – by destiny rather than choice – the watchmen on the walls of world freedom,’ Kennedy would have said.
‘We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” That must always be our goal.’
The words carry greater resonance than ever, amid the chaos of the second presidential term of Donald Trump.
TEAM OF THE DAY
CELEBRITY WATCH
David Beckham sipped a glass of red wine – indistinguishable from the colour of his face in the sweltering Miami heat – as he settled in to watch Scotland against Brazil.
The Inter Miami owner was accompanied by his son Cruz, former Manchester United and England team-mate Phil Neville, and singer Jackie Apostel, Cruz’s girlfriend.
Despite the 31C temperature at kick-off, Beckham donned a designer suit, and he duly paid the price as a layer of sweat congealed on his forehead.
Gerard Butler, the actor from Paisley, was also in the stands, though he opted for a full Scotland kit.
David Beckham tucked into a glass of red wine as he watched Scotland’s defeat by Brazil
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
Lionel Messi was ‘woken up’ by his Argentina team-mates for impromptu celebrations on his 39th birthday.
The legendary forward, who had apparently been snoozing in a full Argentina kit, looked rather sprightly and not at all ill-tempered despite the sudden wake-up.
His pals entered his room singing and clapping and gave him a selection of gifts. Most of them were quite hard to make out from the footage, but he looked pretty happy with a cap he received.
Messi then posed for a photograph alongside his team-mates and a delicious-looking cake.
With Argentina already through and only playing Jordan in their final group game on Sunday, he didn’t appear miffed with the intrusion on his sleep schedule. A man of gratitude.
Lionel Messi called it a ‘nice surprise’ after being woken up with cake for his 39th birthday
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Elite footballers can afford any car. Many opt for Land Rovers or Mercedes G-Classes. If you want to be more exotic, go for a Lamborghini Aventador. Cristiano Ronaldo is known to have a garage of over 40 luxury cars but admits he has lost count.
What money can’t buy is the sheer coolness of this young Mexican fan, seen cruising around the streets in his toy car ahead of his nation’s clash with Czechia at the Estadio Azteca. We wouldn’t dare race him.
A presumably young Mexican fan steers his toy car around the streets of Mexico City
STAT OF THE DAY
Brazil have finished top of their group for 12 consecutive World Cups. Talk about consistency.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
1) Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland face off
France and Norway clash in Foxborough at 8pm with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both hoping to steal a march in the race for the Golden Boot.
Lionel Messi leads the way with five goals, but they’re in the chasing bracket alongside Vinicius Junior on four.
If it counts for anything, Mbappe and Haaland have played each other four times. The Frenchman has only scored one in those encounters, but Haaland has five.
Both teams are through, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are at least given a partial rest, but securing top spot is valuable so don’t expect either team to rest on their laurels.
2) Curacao bid to make history
We all know by now that Curacao are the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup – but imagine the scenes if they advance to the knockout stages.
The fun-loving, beach-training band of brothers play against Ivory Coast knowing that a win will give them a good shot of going through. Anything less and they can kiss goodbye.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room made a record-breaking 15 saves to earn them a point against Ecuador, so you can expect another backs-against-the-wall performance when they play the potent African side.
Liverpool target Yan Diomande, who plays on the left wing for Ivory Coast, will be hoping to notch his first World Cup goal.
3) Christian Pulisic to return?
Christian Pulisic, the USA’s leading star, is hoping to play a part for them against Turkey after returning to training.
The attacking midfielder came off at half-time in their first match against Paraguay with an injured calf and missed their 2-0 win against Australia.
There are always question marks when a player returns, even from a minor setback. How confident are they to commit to a sprint? Will they go into a tackle full-blooded or stretch to reach the ball? Do their team-mates completely trust them?
He’ll likely play a bit-part role – the USA have won their group so aren’t under pressure to rush him back – but he will be eager to make a convincing and painless return.
Christian Pulisic is set to return to action for the USA against Turkey… but is he ready for it?
TODAY’S GAMES
Curacao vs Ivory Coast (Group E, 9pm, Philadelphia, ITV)
Ivory Coast will expect to progress to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history against minnows Curacao.
Emerse Fae’s swashbuckling team beat Ecuador and were unlucky not to take anything away from their encounter against Germany, for whom Denis Undav netted a 94th-minute winner.
Curacao will hope to make a slice of history but, as they’re only on one point with a -6 goal difference, they’ll need a shock win to progress.
Ecuador vs Germany (Group E, 9pm, New Jersey, BBC)
Germany are already through the groups – a huge relief after their blunders in 2018 and 2022 – and as such have the opportunity to rest players.
Not so for Ecuador. After a draw and a loss, they need a win to make the knockouts for the second time in their history.
Manager Sebastian Beccacece has drilled his team well – they finished second in South American qualifying with eight 0-0 draws – and this campaign will be viewed as a failure back home if the dark horses don’t progress. No pressure.
Tunisia vs Netherlands (Group F, midnight, Kansas City, BBC)
The Netherlands are all-but through. Only a heavy defeat by Tunisia, plus a Sweden win over Japan, would consign them to the third-placed lottery… but four points should be enough in that event anyway.
They’ll be eager to keep up their momentum after thrashing Sweden 5-1 but will have to balance that ambition with their squad fatigue levels.
Tunisia are playing for pride and nothing else. They’re already out and on their second manager. Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after they lost 5-1 to Sweden, then Herve Renard came in and was battered 4-0 by Japan. Renard, a World Cup regular, will hope for a good showing if only to sustain his future job prospects.
Fun-loving Curacao are back in action and could make history by qualifying for the knockouts
Japan vs Sweden (Group F, midnight, Arlington, BBC)
This is one of the most intriguing clashes of the tournament so far as two of the dark horses look to certify their credentials.
That said, they may both play this conservatively and informally shake hands on a draw. Japan are on four points, Sweden on three, and neither will want any funny business. Another point is the aim.
What this game should teach us, then, is whether they can defend. Sweden took a lashing off the Dutch and will be desperate to shore things up, while Japan get to test themselves against Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga.
Turkey vs USA (Group D, 3am tomorrow, Los Angeles, ITV)
Nothing concrete rides on this result.
The United States have finished top of Group D and will face an unspecified third-placed finisher in the last-16. Turkey are already out after two disastrous losses.
Can Turkey score a goal? They had 62 shots combined against Australia and Paraguay and didn’t score any. That tells us that they are creative enough to take the wind out of the USA’s sails, if only they can punish them.
Mauricio Pochettino can become the first USA manager ever to win three World Cup games with them, and indeed mark the first time they have won three consecutive games in the competition.
Paraguay vs Australia (Group D, 3am tomorrow, Santa Clara, ITV)
Both teams come into this one on three points and so it could be one of those where neither overly exerts themselves. A point should be enough for progression.
Australia will learn how much they can trust their squad depth after injuries to Mat Leckie and Jacob Italiano, who both started in the 2-0 loss to the USA.
Paraguay will be more anxious than their counterparts from Down Under. They’ve got a goal difference of -2, which will be touch-and-go to go through, even on four points, so they may take the game to a dangerous counter-attacking team.
Erling Haaland (left) and Kylian Mbappe (right) clash as Norway face France in Group I
Norway vs France (Group I, 8pm tomorrow, Foxborough, ITV)
As aforementioned, welcome to the shoot-out between Haaland and Mbappe, both of whom are on four goals and long for the Golden Boot.
How much they’ll be involved is another question. Both teams are through, so there’s no need to risk their marquee names getting injured.
This is Norway’s chance to really road-test themselves against an elite team. Can Haaland and Martin Odegaard spring a surprise and top the group?
Senegal vs Iraq (Group I, 8pm tomorrow, Toronto, ITV)
It’s last-chance saloon for this duo. Win and you stick a chance of progressing. Lose and you’re packing your bags.
Senegal boss Pape Thiaw – who is steering his side amid a ‘civil war’ with the federation over non-payment – is under pressure to deliver with a talented group.
They’re desperate to recreate the heroics of 2022, when they reached the quarter-finals. Iraq, meanwhile, would probably pat themselves on the back if they can secure a first-ever World Cup point.
