World Cup Day 7 completed the first round of group stage fixtures with all 48 teams having played. It delivered two results that will define the tournament narrative for weeks:
England’s thrilling win over Croatia confirmed their credentials, while Portugal’s draw with DR Congo raised urgent questions about Ronaldo’s role.
Colombia’s Luis Díaz made his World Cup debut count, and Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi wrote his name into the record books in the dying seconds in Toronto.
1. Kane Equals Lineker — England Win But Tuchel Has Work To Do
England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas, with Harry Kane’s brace taking him to ten World Cup goals — equalling Gary Lineker’s all-time England record.
Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute, having missed his initial effort but been allowed to retake after an encroachment. It was his fifth World Cup penalty, the most in tournament history excluding shootouts.
Baturina levelled with a brilliant curled effort from the edge of the box after a Stones slip, but Kane restored the lead with an unmarked header from Declan Rice’s corner in the 42nd minute.
Croatia responded with a second equaliser in stunning fashion. Ivan Perišić cleverly nodded on a chipped pass and Petar Musa volleyed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to send the sides in level at half-time.
England were a different side after the break. Bellingham drove down the right and fired into the far corner just two minutes into the second half, before substitute Rashford — combining with Bukayo Saka — checked back onto his right foot and curled a composed finish into the corner to seal the win in the 85th minute.
Modrić was withdrawn in the 58th minute on his 199th appearance for Croatia after giving away the penalty and struggling in midfield — a painful image for a player who had captained his country to a final and a third place at the previous two tournaments.
Tuchel was honest in his assessment. England had 22 shots and won the match but were nervy and disorganised in defence.
Two clean-sheet concerns — Stones’ slip for the first goal and Konsa’s inability to prevent Perišić’s clever knockdown for the second — will not go unaddressed before the Ghana fixture.
2. Portugal’s Ronaldo Problem Is Real
Portugal’s World Cup began in the worst possible fashion as DR Congo earned a historic point in a 1-1 draw in Houston — their first World Cup match since 1974.
João Neves headed Portugal ahead inside five minutes from a corner.
Yoane Wissa, Brentford’s Congo-born forward, responded with a header of his own on the stroke of half-time to level.
Neither side could find a winner in a second half that Portugal dominated without creating clear chances.
Ronaldo was conspicuously ineffective. Swarmed throughout by DR Congo’s physical defensive structure, the 41-year-old could not impose himself on the match in any meaningful way.
He was denied the service his game requires, and when it arrived, he was unable to convert the opportunities that came his way.
DR Congo, who had not played a World Cup match in 52 years, celebrated their historic point. Portugal, whose squad quality demands considerably more, face Colombia’s group-leading side in their final fixture if they cannot correct course against Uzbekistan.
The debate Roberto Martínez has called “lift talk” is now the only conversation in Portuguese football.
3. Díaz Announces Himself — Colombia Comfortably Top Group K
Colombia opened their Group K campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca, with Luis Díaz delivering a goal and an assist to establish himself as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
Díaz clipped a defence-splitting pass for Daniel Muñoz to guide home in the 40th minute. Uzbekistan equalised on the hour with the country’s first-ever World Cup goal — Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodding in the rebound after Eldor Shomurodov’s shot was parried by Camilo Vargas.
Díaz responded immediately, finishing into the far corner five minutes later to restore Colombia’s lead. Substitute Jaminton Campaz headed home a ninth-minute stoppage-time cross to seal the result.
Díaz had registered 49 goal involvements in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season.
He arrived at the tournament without great fanfare. He left the Azteca having announced his World Cup credentials emphatically.
Colombia lead Group K with three points, ahead of Portugal and DR Congo on one each.
4. Yirenkyi Makes History in the 95th Minute
Ghana beat Panama 1-0 at BMO Field in Toronto thanks to a 95th-minute strike from 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi — the youngest player to score a stoppage-time goal in World Cup history.
Ghana played without Thomas Partey, who was denied entry into Canada while awaiting trial on rape charges in England.
Yirenkyi, the FC Nordsjælland midfielder who stepped in, produced a complete performance — completing 31 of 32 passes, registering three successful dribbles, making nine recoveries and adding three interceptions — before tapping in Brandon Thomas-Asante’s low cross at the far post.
Panama had 62 per cent possession and an 11-7 edge in shots but could not convert.
The goal also surpassed Asamoah Gyan’s record for the latest Ghana goal at a World Cup, previously set against the United States in 2010.
Carlos Queiroz, at his fifth consecutive World Cup as a manager, guided Ghana to three points they will need with England and Croatia to come.
5. Groups K and L — The Picture After Matchday One
Day 7 completed the first round of fixtures for both groups. Colombia lead Group K on three points ahead of Portugal and DR Congo on one each, with Uzbekistan bottom on zero.
Colombia are in command; Portugal’s meeting with Uzbekistan on June 23 is now a must-win in all but name.
In Group L, England and Ghana both sit on three points, with Croatia and Panama yet to score a point. England versus Ghana in Foxborough on June 23 is already the group’s defining fixture.
Croatia, who showed enough in Dallas to suggest they are not finished, face Panama in Toronto on the same night in what amounts to an elimination match for both sides.
The first round of fixtures is complete. All 48 teams have played. The picture is beginning to take shape — and several teams already cannot afford to lose again.
Day 7 Results: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo | Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan | England 4-2 Croatia | Ghana 1-0 Panama
Read more – Box-office Braces and a Historic Hattrick: Perfectly Delivered Promises
Also see – World Cup Day 6: Messi Hat-Trick Ties Klose Record as Mbappé and Haaland Also Deliver
Follow Footy Times on Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Discover more from Footy Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.