Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport‘s World Cup Breakfast from day 17 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 

This is what happened while you were asleep…

Egypt 1-1 Iran (Group G) 

Following protests against the Iranian regime outside the stadium before kick-off, their national anthem was again booed in Seattle for a Group G clash that coincidentally fell on the scheduled date for FIFA’s Pride match.

Egypt and Iran are two of the most repressive places in the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and the timing of the game was awkwardly positioned by organisers. 

On the pitch, Iran thought they’d snatched a late winner but Shoja Khalilzadeh’s effort was ruled out by VAR for offside. Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead inside five minutes before Ramin Rezaeian equalised and put Iran into the knockouts as it stands, dealing a blow to Scotland who fell to 10th and need other results and scores to go their way – full details of their permutations in our ‘Things to look out for’ section below! 

READ DAN MATTHEWS’ REPORT HERE 

Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he’d scored this goal late on but it was ruled out for offside

New Zealand 1-5 Belgium (Group G)

The Red Devils hammered New Zealand to top Group G on goal difference. 

It was a complete onslaught as they had 35 shots in total, peppering the goal as Leandro Trossard scored twice, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku then chipped in before Alexis Saelemaekers netted the fifth late on. 

Belgium’s win and Egypt’s draw means Rudi Garcia’s side finished top of the pile by two goals and will play their first knockout game on Wednesday at 9pm UK time in Seattle, with the opponent yet to be determined. 

Leandro Trossard scored a brace for Belgium in their demolition of New Zealand 

Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia (Group H) 

The smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup is now celebrating as they’ve made it through to the knockout stages.

Cape Verde, the African island nation with a population of fewer than 600,000, held on for a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia to finish second in a tightly contested Group H.

After full-time was blown and Uruguay had lost 1-0 against Spain, the Cape Verde players celebrated on the pitch as fans in the stands jumped for joy. Back at home, videos of delirious supporters dancing went viral as the whole country cheered.

Their manager, Bubista, was lifted into the sky by his staff as players raced over to a section of their fans in Houston Stadium to share in the glory. Next up… Argentina.

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Uruguay 0-1 Spain (Group H) 

It was just about the ultimate nightmare evening for Uruguay, with the two-time champions suffering a humiliating early elimination. 

The decisive blow was landed by Spain on the cusp of half-time when Alex Baena received a cross in the box and was able to guide it towards the bottom right corner. 

Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was unable to take control and it dribbled into the back of the net. Muslera was then brought off at the interval. 

Man United midfielder Manuel Ugarte was brought off on a stretcher in another bitter blow and Uruguay were unable to haul themselves back into an increasingly bad tempered game, meaning Cape Verde are the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout stage.  

READ BOBBY MANZI’S REPORT HERE 

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Norway 1-4 France (Group I)

Erling Haaland may have predicted that tournament favourites France were likely to get the better of his Norway side, Les Bleus were given a helping hand by Stale Solbakken, who benched a raft of top stars including the Manchester City supernova and Martin Odegaard. 

The difference told fast, with Kylian Mbappe almost opening the scoring within the first few seconds after kick-off. Instead, they had to wait until the seventh minute, when Ousmane Dembele scored a sumptuous, tone-setting goal that would prove the first of his 32-minute hat-trick. 

Thelo Aasgaard grabbed a wacky consolation goal just moments after Dembele scored his second, but Norway fluffed their chance of clawing their way back into the match when Jorgen Strand Larsen saw his penalty saved by Mike Maignan in the second-half. Desire Doue then went on to make it four for France in injury time. 

READ OLIVER HOLT’S REPORT HERE 

Ousmane Dembele was the man of the half-hour as France overturned Norway with ease

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Senegal 5-0 Iraq (Group I)

No more Scotland? No party? It’s not looking good for the Tartan Army after events in Toronto drove another nail into their World Cup coffin.

South Korea, Sweden, Ecuador and Paraguay had all moved ahead of the Scots in the battle to decide the eight best third-placed teams since Steve Clarke’s side lost to Brazil in midweek, and it took Senegal less than four minutes to nudge them out of the list of possible qualifiers with the opening goal against Iraq in Group I.

Other teams could overtake them in the remaining group games over this weekend as the odds on Scotland remaining in North America for the round of 32 narrow all the time.

Their only lifeline is that results go their way, and Algeria and Croatia – the teams on course to qualify from third place who have only played two games – lose their final fixtures and drop behind Scotland on goal difference.

Senegal look to have made it after comprehensively beating an Iraq side who were a goal down and a man down inside quarter of an hour.

Habib Diarra got the last touch on Abdoulaye Seck’s header in the fourth minute, and Rebin Sulaka was sent off for pulling back Sadio Mane by his shorts.

English referee Anthony Taylor initially gave a yellow card but upgraded it to a red after being sent to the monitor by VAR.

Goalkeeper Ahmed Basil kept Senegal at bay, but he was forced off at the interval and his replacement Jalal Hassan was beaten FOUR times in the second half.

Former Manchester United player Zidane Iqbal lost the ball to Lamine Camara who set up Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr to claim his third goal in the last two games, substitute Pape Gueye scored with two emphatic left-foot finishes, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye got the fifth.

CHRIS WHEELER 

Iliman Ndiaye was explosive off the bench, both scoring and registering an assist for Senegal

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VIEW FROM THE GROUND – IAN HERBERT

I write this from a fanzone in Seattle where the commentator on the Norway/France match, which they’re screening, is saying pessimistic things about Scotland’s survival hopes.

In the name of journalistic research, I have been searching for clues about the Scots’ destiny. My road trip through West Texas and New Mexico took me to Roswell, New Mexico, the ‘UFO capital of the USA.’ Two ‘aliens’ stand in the visitor centre there and a notice on the door says ‘Open to Humans (and their furry friends.)’

A psychic had said before the Scotland Brazil game that aliens would invade the pitch and abduct the players. So did aliens have a particular interest in Scottish players? I wanted to know. I got close to the aliens. But I must report I am none the wiser. No players were abducted. The USA: excellent and, in some places, utterly mad.

Ian Herbert (centre) meets the locals in Roswell, New Mexico en route to the Seattle fanzone

CELEBRITY WATCH 

Is that you, Erling? Haaland wasn’t on the pitch as Norway started their second string against a mighty full-strength France, but was he in the stands? 

Of course not. Well, not really. Rub your eyes, and you’ll see the ‘Haaland’ complete with blonde wig attracting the attention of the world’s media was Hollywood superstar Channing Tatum. 

The connection? The Magic Mike star features alongside the striking Viking in a celebrity cameo-crammed Nike spot that saw Tatum cast as Haaland’s body double.  

Channing Tatum poses among a sea of Erling Haaland lookalikes as Norway played France in Boston Stadium 

King Felipe VI watched on as Spain faced Uruguay at the Guadalajara Stadium

VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY 

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa was captured exploding in rage, yelling at someone off camera shortly before an interview after his side were dumped out of the World Cup. 

The eccentric Argentine, 70, shouted: ‘Dale de una vez!’, which can effectively be translated as ‘get on with it’. 

Bielsa’s face contorted in rage before he regained his composure for the live interview, answering: ‘Well, I didn’t manage to fully harness the talent Uruguay had in its players—to get the team to show more presence in attack.’ 

In a separate interview, Bielsa insisted it was not him who brought goalkeeper Fernando Muslera off at half-time but the player himself. Bielsa said: ‘No, no, it was a decision made by Muslera himself.’ He added that his thinking behind bringing off their star man in Federico Valverde was ‘to go to a 2-9 formation and have more chances in attack’.  

Marcelo Bielsa exploded in rage, shouting ‘get on with it’ shortly before a live interview 

PICTURE OF THE DAY 

A poignant tribute in the French dugout was left in place by Norway for their opponents’ legendary manager Didier Deschamps, who flew back to France on Thursday following the death of his mother Ginette. 

The simple gesture spoke a thousand words as Kylian Mbappe and Co put in a performance against Norway to make their head coach proud from across the Atlantic. 

And a necessary one – FIFA opted not to allow the team to sport black armbands during the match in honour of Deschamps’ mother, nor honour their request for a minute’s silence before kick-off. Instead, the silence was dedicated to victims of the tragic earthquakes in Venezuela.  

A bouquet of flowers sat in the dugout in tribute to the passing of Ginette Deschamps

STAT OF THE DAY

France continue to look ferocious, after completing a note-perfect qualifying campaign barely breaking a sweat. By the by, this is the first time since their World Cup-winning run in 1998 that Les Bleus haven’t dropped points in the group stage. 

Thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s hat-trick and the final Desire Doue goal, France have also scored more than three times in their last four World Cup finals – the longest unbroken run since Spain between 1998 and 2002. 

With every match, their credentials to win back the World Cup only appear to be getting stronger.  

THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY 

1. How strong will Tuchel go?

England are looking to top the group but will there be any temptation to give the fringe players some game time? 

There won’t be any opportunity to do it after today when the tournament starts to get serious and every game becomes do-or-die. 

The likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Jordan Henderson and Dan Burn will no doubt be desperate to play a part  against Panama, who have already been eliminated and aren’t a happy camp, with two players having a scrap in training on the eve of their final game. 

2. Messi watch

Lionel Scaloni has confirmed: ‘I’ll hold off on the final starting line-up, but Leo Messi will come in later,’ when Argentina take on Jordan. 

Messi is the World Cup’s top scorer and will no doubt fancy his chances of keeping his neck in front of Kylian Mbappe and Co against a side yet to pick up a point. 

Just how many minutes he will be given to make his mark remains to be seen and it would look incredibly foolish if the maestro was to suffer any kind of injury ahead of the knockouts. 

Lionel Messi will be among the substitutes for Argentina against Jordan 

3. Faint Scottish hopes

Most of the Tartan Army must surely have given up hope by now. 

Iran’s draw with Egypt overnight pushed the Scots further towards elimination, shunting them outside the top eight third-place qualifiers. 

Now Steve Clarke’s men are currently in 10th and would need Croatia to lose by three goals against Ghana, Algeria to lose by two goals against Austria, and Uzbekistan to prevent DR Congo winning. 

TODAY’S GAME 

Croatia vs Ghana (10pm, ITV, Philadelphia)

Ghana frustrated England to no end, and will look to do the same against Croatia when they meet in Philadelphia. 

Another draw for the Black Stars would only confirm their spot second in the group, whereas Croatia in third need nothing less than a win to make sure they progress into the knockout stages, with their negative goal difference a particular worry. 

Zlatko Dalic’s ageing side have struggled for attacking fluency however, and will be left crossing their fingers in the hope of a shock upset. 

Daily Mail Sport prediction: DRAW

Panama vs England (10pm, ITV, New Jersey)

England sit atop their Group L and will likely stay put when the dust settles in the early hours of Sunday morning – despite a spate of injuries robbing Thomas Tuchel of first-team starters. 

Chelsea’s Reece James is the latest casualty, with the defender out against Panama with a hamstring injury which could cause longer term concern. 

Despite depleted ranks however, England will be keen to make a statement after their limp and enervating draw against Ghana, with Panama, rock bottom of the groups, likely victims.   

Daily Mail Sport prediction: England WIN

Both Declan Rice and Reece James are injury doubts for England’s final group stage match

Colombia vs Portugal (12.30am, BBC, Miami) 

A win for Portugal would see Cristiano Ronaldo and Co knock Colombia off their perch at the top of their Group K, but that’s far from taken for granted after an uneven showing from the Portuguese Stateside. 

Roberto Martinez’s side might have thumped Uzbekistan 5-0, giving Ronaldo the opportunity to reply to his critics after Portugal’s shock draw with DR Congo. But they have a much greater challenge in Colombia, and Ronaldo’s goals may have kept him in a starting XI that he unknowingly weakens. 

With Colombia gunning for their strongest run at a World Cup finals since 2014, there will be extra motivation too for Nestor Lorenzo’s side to qualify in the top spot.  

Daily Mail Sport prediction: DRAW

DR Congo vs Uzbekistan (12.30am, BBC, Atlanta)

Third-placed DR Congo have kept their goal difference to just -1 and should they beat Uzbekistan, that should catapult them safely into the top eight third-place teams. 

But only a win will do so, with a draw putting qualification out of reach – and after a stirring draw with Portugal raised the team’s spirits in their opening match, their defeat to Colombia may have deflated the side somewhat. 

Their opponents however could fall victim to DR Congo’s ambitions. After two defeats, there’s nothing left for Uzbekistan to play for save for pride, and the Central Asian side lacks DR Congo’s quality regardless.  

Daily Mail Sport prediction: DR Congo WIN

Algeria vs Austria (3am, BBC, Kansas City)

You may have heard of the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ at the 1982 World Cup, now prepare yourself for an eminent ‘Disgrace of Kansas City’. In a bizarre twist, two of the three teams involved in the former meet now in the latter, with a draw suiting both third-placed Algeria and second-placed Austria. 

Certainly the latter have minimal motivation having already tightened their grip behind first-place Argentina, and Algeria would become one of the highest ranked third-placed sides with a solitary point. 

Both teams’ head coaches have stressed that they intend to be competitive on Saturday – but it could be that Algeria, fresh from beating Jordan rather than laid low by Argentina, has the edge in Missouri.  

Daily Mail Sport prediction: Algeria WIN

Argentina fans in Texas might be forced to forego a glimpse of national hero Lionel Messi

Jordan vs Argentina (3am, BBC, Arlington)

What a way to go out of a World Cup. Jordan already sit at the very bottom of Group J, and now have to play Lionel Messi and Co for their final dead rubber in Texas. 

At least the pressure will be off – but it might take more than playing freely to get Jordan firing well enough to overturn Argentina, who are in bombastic form. 

There is one small mercy for Jordan however; Messi who, having broken Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record against Austria, will have his eye on shoring up his Golden Boot chances, is set to be benched by Lionel Scaloni.  

Daily Mail Sport prediction: Argentina WIN 

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