Matchday 7 of the FIFA World Cup completed the first round of the group stage.
We saw England triumph on the back of their leader, Harry Kane, but Portugal falter with the silence of their main man, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal 1 – 1 Democratic Republic of Congo
Portugal came out of the gate with intensity. DR Congo could hardly get a touch on the ball, let alone any passing sequence.
That dominance on the ball led to an early goal in the 6th minute. Pedro Neto’s high cross from the left was pinpoint on the head of João Neves. The midfielder connected with strength, laying it past DR Congo’s keeper, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.
Yet, for all of Portugal’s first-half possession (80 per cent), they did not test Mpasi-Nzau after their goal. In fact, it was DR Congo that had the bulk of chances towards the end of the first half.
And they made it count. A corner in the dying moments of the first half was headed in by Yoane Wissa, tying the game as the players headed down the tunnel. It was a well-deserved goal given how DR Congo had handled the pressure in the final part of the first half.
Portugal came out strong again after the start and thought they had the go-ahead in the 55th minute. But an extra touch put the eventual shot offside.
They did start opening up DR Congo after the hydration break. Portugal found success in getting the ball wide and looking for the talisman, Ronaldo.
However, they were half-chances at best, and Ronaldo was unable to get his shots on target.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock. It was yet another draw at the World Cup, the ninth in 17 matches so far.
England 4 – 2 Croatia
England turned early dominant possession into an opportunity. Luka Modric brought down Noni Madueke in the 18-yard box in the 8th minute, giving England the early penalty chance.
Kane’s initial take was saved by Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic, by VAR deemed hi to have stepped off his line early.
And you cannot give Kane a second chance. He buried it, giving England the lead in the 12th minute.
Croatia tied it up in the 36th minute. Martin Baturina started the play, sending the pass to the right for Petar Sucic.
Baturina continued his run, received the ball back and smashed it beyond the outstretched Jordan Pickford, who was able to get fingers to it, but not enough to parry it away.
But that was not good enough for Kane. He headed in his brace in the 42nd minute off a corner. Oddly, Croatia left the England striker unmarked, giving Kane time to run into space and head it without pressure.
The yoyo pace of the match continued with Croatia tying it again in first-half stoppage time. Ivan Perisic ran in between English defenders and received the ball high as he entered the box.
But rather than bringing it down to his feet, he turned and found Petar Musa, heading it to him. The striker hit the ball with power, sending both teams to the dressing rooms for halftime tied 2-2.
England hit immediately as the second half began. Jude Bellingham got his first of the tournament, receiving the ball near the halfway line on the right.
His pace kept him ahead of his Croatian opponent as he entered the box and converted in the 47th minute.
England continued to apply pressure on Croatia, hellbent on not letting the Balkan nation back into the match. But Livakovic kept Croatia alive with excellent shot-stopping.
The hydration break brought a change in momentum as Croatia mounted a fightback. However, it ws England that struck again, this time Marcus Rashford in the 85th minute.
The attacker was picked by Bukayo Saka with an excellent switch. Rashford entered the box and showed his patience, getting the chance and scoring his first of the tournament.
And that would be how it ended, England with a decisive 4-2 win in what was the first match of the tournament between two heavyweights.
Ghana 1 – 0 Panama
Panama started the match as the more positive of the two nations. Defensively, they were strong in keeping Ghana to zero touches inside the box during the opening 15 minutes and showed signs of attack through José Luis Rodríguez and Cecilio Waterman.
And while Panama had minimal chances (a hardhearted penalty shout and another with a keeper collision), Ghana had no opportunities at all.
In fact, the Ghanians did not register a shot at all in the first 45 minutes. They did manage a poor attempt in stoppage time, but it was never threatening to Panama’s keeper, Orlando Mosquera.
Jordan Ayew had the best opportunity for Ghana in the 66th minute. The ball came across to the far post for him to slide into. However, he was well-marked by his defender, and the ball continued past.
Both sides grew into the second, exchanging chances. And just when it looked as though this match would fizzle towards a nil-nil draw, Ghana found a way.
Caleb Yirenkyi raced into the six-yard box as Ismael Díaz laid in the cross from the left. All Yirenkyi had to do was tap it in to put Ghana up with the necessary goal deep into stoppage time.
There was a brief moment where it looked as though Panama may have tied it, but it was too little, too late. Ghana came out as the deserved winners of a very welcome three points.
Uzbekistan 1 – 3 Colombia
Colombia understandably had the bulk of possession throughout the first half, but they saw few chances. Uzbekistan held their own with their low block and refused to be pulled out of shape.
Luis Díaz hit the post in the 31st minute, getting the ball under and past the Uzbek keeper, Utkir Yusupov. It travelled across the face of the goal and bounced harmlessly away on the far side.
The South American nation would find the net late in the half in the 41st minute. Díaz was involved again, this time as provider; his floating cross from the left found Daniel Muñoz as the right-back cut through Uzbekistan’s defensive line.
Muñoz got a toe on the ball, which was enough to get it behind Yusupov for the 1-0 lead heading into the half.
The second half started positively for Uzbekistan. Their directness in their counter paid off in the 61st minute as Abbosbek Fayzullayev popped up to head in a rebound.
Eldor Shomurodov’s initial shot was spilled by Colombian keeper, Camilo Vargas. It bounced past hit and up as Fayzullayev raced in and headed it, to the absolute shock of Colombian players and fans.
But Colombian confusion turned to elation within minutes as Díaz reestablished the lead in the 66th minute.
Gustavo Puerta won the ball in the midfield and played it up to Díaz on the left. The attacker shot across the keeper, and Yusupov got a hand on it, but it was not enough to keep the ball out.
Jaminton Campaz added a third in stoppage time for Colombia, in the 99th minute. Juan Hernández’s cross was excellent after his fight to maintain control of the ball.
And that’s how this one would end, with Colombia winning 3-1 in a match that Uzbekistan gave a positive showing of themselves.
Up next
Round Two of the group stage begins tomorrow. It begins with Czechia playing South Africa, followed by Switzerland taking on Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Canada plays the third match of the day against Qatar. The day wraps up with Mexico and South Korea.
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