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World Cup news: Germany earn crucial late draw vs Spain as Group E thrown wide open
Week one of the 2022 World Cup comes to an end with some heavyweights in action a day after Lionel Messi's brilliance kept Argentina's hopes alive.
Argentina fans celebrate victory over Mexico at World Cup
It was another entertaining day at the 2022 World Cup, with plenty of thrills and spills in four intriguing matches. Costa Rica caused a shock to kick the day off by beating Japan 1-0, with Keysher Fuller's late goal causing scenes of wild celebrations among their fans.
There was a further surprise next as Morocco stunned Belgium with a well-deserved 2-0 victory, with Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhlal goals doing the damage and heaping the pressure on a dreadful Belgian side.
Canada's World Cup dream came to an end after their 4-1 defeat to Croatia saw them knocked out of the tournament. Alphonso Davies had opened the scoring within just 70 seconds to give them the perfect start. But an Andrej Kramaric double and further strikes from Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer gave an impressive Croatia all three points.
Finally, in the heavyweight clash of the day, Spain and Germany played out an entertaining 1-1 draw. Alvaro Morata had given La Roja the lead, but Niclas Fullkrug replied for the Germans, who still have a good chance of qualification despite not picking up a win yet.
Sunday's World Cup results:
Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Belgium 0-2 Morocco
Croatia 4-1 Canada
Spain 1-1 Germany
Here is a look back at all the action as it happened...
KEY EVENTS
- Full time: Spain 1-1 Germany20:54
- Goal! Spain 1-1 Germany20:42
- Goal! Spain 1-0 Germany20:20
- PEEP20:02
- Half time: Spain 0-0 Germany19:47
- PEEP!18:59
- Full time: Croatia 4-1 Canada17:58
- Goal! Croatia 4-1 Canada17:56
- Goal! Croatia 3-1 Canada17:31
- Half time: Croatia 2-1 Canada16:50
- Goal! Croatia 2-1 Canada16:44
- Goal! Croatia 1-1 Canada16:36
- GOAL! Croatia 0-1 Canada16:02
- PEEP!15:58
- FULL TIME: Belgium 0-2 Morocco14:55
- GOAL! Belgium 0-2 Morocco14:52
- GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Morocco14:34
- HALF-TIME: Belgium 0-0 Morocco13:52
- GOAL DISALLOWED!13:49
- GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Morocco13:47
- KICK-OFF: Belgium 0-0 Morocco13:00
- FULL-TIME: Japan 0-1 Costa Rica11:53
- GOAL! Japan 0-1 Costa Rica11:37
- HALF-TIME: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica10:46
- KICK-OFF: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica10:00
That's that
Many thanks for joining us today in what was another superb day of football.
We'll be back for more action tomorrow. See you then.
What does tomorrow hold in store?
Still enjoying four matches per day? Good, because so are we, and tomorrow promises to be another humdinger.
At 10am Cameroon and Serbia face off in Group E, with both sides looking for their first points after tasting defeat last week.
Then at 1pm attention switches to Group H, with South Korea taking on Ghana.
At 4pm hot favourites Brazil are back in action against Switzerland, before the day finishes with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal facing Uruguay in an intriguing-looking encounter.
Strap yourselves in... it should be a cracker.
How the table looks
So, while you're getting your breath back...
Spain remain top of Group E with four points, and only need a point against Japan to secure qualification.
The Japanese and Costa Rica are on three points each, with Germany currently bottom on the solitary point.
It's certainly all still to play for... and the final match-day should be a classic next Thursday.
Full time: Spain 1-1 Germany
Relief for the Germans, who must now beat Costa Rica in their final Group E game and hope Spain can do them a favour vs Japan.
It was a match which didn't always live up to its expectations, but in the end you sense both teams would take a point.
Any late drama?
Six minutes is the figure shown by the fourth official for injury time.
Will we see any more twists and turns in this game, or will both sides now be willing to settle for a point?
Goal! Spain 1-1 Germany
How big could that goal prove for Germany!
It's Niclas Fullkrug who finds the ball with his feet in the box and slams home past the helpless Simon.
Massive moment for the Germans in this tournament!
If it stays like this...
This result doesn't kill Germany completely, but it would leave them with a lot to do on the last match day.
Hansi Flick's side would need to beat Costa Rica, pray that Spain beat Japan and ensure their goal difference is better than both Costa Rica's and Japan's.
Got that? Good.
15 minutes to go, and Musiala can only blast straight at Simon.
Goal! Spain 1-0 Germany
It didn't take long for Morata to make an impact!
So often vilified, so often criticised, he has stepped up when it mattered, turning home from a cross after a clever darting run across the box.
Credit to Luis Enrique for throwing him on and Germany are in trouble here.
Spain make first change
Spain have been the first to roll the dice, with Alvaro Morata coming on in place on Torres.
Can the ex-Chelsea flop have an impact on this match?
PEEP
No changes from either side at the break as we get back underway.
Will we see a change in the scoreline? You sense neither side would be devastated with a draw given the circumstances of the group.
Half time: Spain 0-0 Germany
There goes the half-time whistle.
Germany goal disallowed
Torres misses sitter
Ferran Torres has just missed an absolute sitter for Spain as he blazes over from around eight yards out.
He'll be relieved to see the offside flag was up, though.
Still 0-0 with ten minutes until half-time.
Rudiger mocked
Encouragement for Germany
That's better from the Germans.
A poor clearance from Spain keeper Unai Simon finds Serge Gnabry, but he can only bend his effort wide of the post.
Good pressing on the Spanish back-line.
Musiala threatening
Spain hit the bar!
Ohhh so unlucky!
Dani Olmo picks the ball up in a dangerous area for Spain and unleashes a powerful strike, which Manuel Neuer does well to tip onto the bar.
All La Roja possession in these opening few minutes. Germany can't get out of their own half.
Makings of a classic
PEEP!
Here we go. Spain in their traditional all-red strip, and Germany with their (somewhat controversial) white with a black stripe (not a fan, personally).
Who will take charge of this one?
Players are out
Here come the national anthems, with two stirring performances from both sets of players.
We're almost ready to get underway amid a wonderful atmosphere.
How are your nerves, Germany fans?
15 minutes until kick-off
This match needs no bigging up, really. Two of world football's biggest and most exciting teams are ready to do battle.
The pressure is certainly all on Germany ahead of kick-off. Can they bounce back from that woeful Japan defeat?
We'll soon find out.
Spain vs Germany team news
It's perhaps the most highly anticipated match of the tournament so far. And here are the full starting 11s for both Spain and Germany ahead of their mouthwatering encounter.
SPAIN XI: Simon, Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Jordi Alba, Gavi, Busquets, Gonzalez, Ferran Torres, Asensio, Olmo
GERMANY XI: Neuer, Sule, Rudiger, Kehrer, Raum, Kimmich, Gundogan, Goretzka, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala
Full time: Croatia 4-1 Canada
That's full-time, and it ends up being a very impressive win for Croatia, who have put themselves in a very strong position to qualify.
It's the end of the road for Canada, but they can be proud of their efforts, and can look forward to being in a better position when they join-host the tournament in four years.
On to the big one next... Germany vs Spain.
Goal! Croatia 4-1 Canada
This is becoming a bit of a footballing lesson in the second half from Croatia.
Lovro Majer puts the icing on top of the cake as he smashed home from a counter attack.
Game very much over, as if it wasn't already.
Goal! Croatia 3-1 Canada
That could be curtains for Canada.
Kramaric has run riot for Croatia tonight, and he has grabbed his second with a superb finish from inside the box after selling his defender with a dummy.
Canada look set to join Qatar as one of the two teams eliminated.
Back underway
We're back underway. Will we see more thrills and spills this half?
Canada's Osorio goes close as a long shot flies a whisker wide of the post.
Half time: Croatia 2-1 Canada
Well that was a lot of fun.
It was lift-off for Canada in this World Cup after just 70 seconds, but Croatia dug deep to turn things around, and go into the break in the lead.
More of the same in the second half, please.
Goal! Croatia 2-1 Canada
Wow! They've turned it around!
It's a wonderful long strike from Marko Livaja, who fires past the helpless Canada goalkeeper to give his side the lead just before half-time.
If it stays at it is, Canda are heading OUT
Goal! Croatia 1-1 Canada
But Kramaric won't be denied this time!
Croatia have dominated the last ten minutes or so, and deservedly equalise as Kramaric runs onto a cute through ball and tucks a beautiful finish into the far corner.
Game on!
Croatia goal ruled out
It's a lovely finish by Croatia's Kramaric, but the goal is correctly ruled out due to an offside earlier in the move.
A fast, free-flowing match so far, with both teams playing some good stuff.
Ugly scenes in Belgium
Belgium fans have been filmed ripping up the streets of Brussels in anger after the dismal defeat to Morocco.
The violent riots led to a car being smashed and flipped over and fireworks going off after Roberto Martinez's side slipped down Group F with another poor performance.
GOAL! Croatia 0-1 Canada
Well that didn't take long!
With just 70 seconds on the clock Canada score their first goal at a World Cup ever, with Alphonso Davies meeting a cross with a towering header.
The Canada end erupts. What a start!
PEEP!
We are underway, with Canada all in black kicking from right to left and Croatia in their familiar red and white checks.
The ground looks pretty much full, which is a promising sign.
Now let's have a belter!
This could be a good one
We've had a few, let's say, less entertaining games of late. But I've got high hopes for this one.
Both sides know there is all to play for following that surprise Morocco win, and may even fancy going on and winning the group.
Here's hoping for some exciting, free-flowing football and goals.
Kick-off is ten minutes away.
Croatia vs Canada - The XIs
Croatia and Canada will be smelling blood after watching Belgium drop points earlier this afternoon. Here are the teams for their 4pm clash...
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic.
Canada XI: Borjan; Laryea, Johnston, Vitoria, Miller, Davies; Buchanan, Hutchinson, Eustaquio, Larin; David.
FULL TIME: Belgium 0-2 Morocco
Morocco move top of Group F with a sensational 2-0 win.
Belgium, for the most part, were below-par again, but this time were punished by the Africans.
Abdelhamid Sabiri with the first, Zakaria Aboukhlal with the second. I'd like to say it's the latest World Cup shock, but it really wasn't.
Morocco face Canada next and will be confident of topping their group now.
\ud83d\udea8 Group F:
\u2014 Football Tweet \u26bd\uea00 (@Football__Tweet) November 27, 2022
1\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 Morocco 4pts
2\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea Belgium 3pts
3\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf7 Croatia 1pt
4\ufe0f\u20e3 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Canada 0pts#FIFAWorldCup
GOAL! Belgium 0-2 Morocco
GAME OVER!
Zakaria Aboukhlal makes it two!
Morocco are going to seal a well-deserved victory - just their third in World Cup history!
Everyone in Morocco just stood up simultaneously!! \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6
\u2014 ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 27, 2022
What a strike from @ZAboukhlal! \ud83d\ude80#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/cS3OBAoRSA
Romelu Lukaku is on
With 10 minutes to go, plus stoppage times, Romelu Lukaku is ON!
Can the Inter Milan striker - Belgium's all-time top goalscorer - save the day?
FROM THE PRESS BOX
Jack Otway:
Wow. This one counts. Unreal as Morocco open the scoring to rock Belgium, with Abdelhamid Sabiri producing the goods. The stadium just got significantly louder...
GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Morocco
GOALLLLLLLLL!!!!
It's Abdelhamid Sabiri, and this time it will count!
Thibaut Courtois won't want to watch that ever again. It's another inswinging cross that he really should deal with.
Morocco are closing in on one of their biggest ever wins!
GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Morocco (Sabiri) \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 pic.twitter.com/vlWKzQSHSO
\u2014 World Cup Updates (@wc22updates) November 27, 2022
Another game lacking quality
The 2022 World Cup has hosted plenty of games in which goal-mouth action has been limited. This has been one of those.
Morocco have been the better team for the majority since Belgium started brightly and haven't let Ziyech's disallowed goal thwart their momentum.
Cue 1-0 Belgium...
HALF-TIME: Belgium 0-0 Morocco
Talking points were far and few in that first half... until the closing seconds.
Morocco will feel very hard done by. Belgium are riding their luck again.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
Jack Otway:
The noise. The noiiiiiiiseeee. It's defeaning in here as Morocco think they strike, with Hakim Ziyech's free kick sailing all the way in. However, it's now been chalked off due to VAR. Booooo
GOAL DISALLOWED!
Oh nooooo! The goal is ruled out.
Roman Saiss is in an offside position as Ziyech's inswinging delivery arrives. He doesn't touch the ball but is adjudged to be in Courtois' line of sight.
It'll be level at the break.
\ud83d\udcf8 - NO GOAL! OFFSIDE! pic.twitter.com/XrceXPJHsW
\u2014 \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc05\ud835\udc02 \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc09\ud835\udc00\ud835\udc17 \ud83d\udc8e (@TheEuropeanLad) November 27, 2022
GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Morocco
THE STADIUM ERUPTS!!!
Hakim Ziyech scores with Morocco's first shot on target!
His free-kick from the right swings in and somehow beats Courtois.
Belgium look better
Belgium have been the better side so far and look much more sharp than they did against Canada last time out.
No goals, or notable chances, so far, though.
The Moroccan fans have been excellent.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
Express Sport's Jack Otway is in position at Belgium vs Morocco:
Belgium vs Morocco - The XIs
Next up, we're heading to Group F, where Belgium are looking to secure passage into the last 16 against Morocco.
Belgium XI - Courtois; Meunier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Castagne; Witsel, Onana; T. Hazard, De Bruyne, E. Hazard; Batshuayi.
Morocco XI - Bono; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah; Boufal, En-Nesyri, Ziyech.
Luke Shaw eyeing Wales revenge
England face Wales on Tuesday, and Luke Shaw has admitted the clip of Wales players celebrating the Three Lions' embarrassing Euro 2016 exit to Iceland is still fresh in the mind.
Shaw and co can knock Wales out of the World Cup in their clash, and he has claimed England can use the video as motivation.
He said: "Does it give us any more motivation [the Wales video]? I think you could say that. But our motivation in itself has to be at its highest level. We are at the World Cup. We have great aims for what we want to achieve.
“We have to have the maximum motivation at every game. I don’t think there’s any more motivation than what we have already. Of course, [the video] wasn’t nice. But I don’t want to dwell too much on it.
"I want to focus on what we do on the pitch. We can say things in interviews, but I’d rather do our talking on the pitch rather than off it.”
Group E just got interesting
That result is a significant boost for Germany, who would've been eliminated with a defeat against Spain if Japan had at least drawn.
Spain, Japan and Costa Rica are all on three points in Group E, with Germany on zero ahead of tonight's match.
FULL-TIME: Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Costa Rica beat Japan!
With their only shot on target in both of World Cup games so far, Keysher Fuller has ensured Costa Rica have bounced back from their Spain mauling.
They go level on three points with Japan.
Fuller opens the scoring
Wowww. Keysher Fuller, who still plays his club football in Costa Rica, has fired his nation ahead with a curling effort.
With what has been Costa Rica's first attack of the whole tournament, Fuller bends an effort past Shuichi Gonda.
The Japan goalkeeper may be disappointed after getting a hand on the strike.
The giant killers are at risk of being killed!
Against all odds, Costa Rica take the lead!!
\u2014 ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 27, 2022
It's taken 170 minutes of World Cup action but the South Americans have finally scored with their first shot on target! \ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf7
What a response following their last game against Spain... \ud83e\udd29#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/LEuP2CH2Nj
GOAL! Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
COSTA RICA LEAD!
COSTA RICA LEAD!
COSTA RICA LEAD!
HALF-TIME: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
After just one minute of stoppage time, the half-time whistle blows.
That was... a half of football alright...
35' - Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
Well, Costa Rica have had two shots. Japan have had one...
But zero shots on target so far. It's been a tough watch.
KICK-OFF: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica get us underway at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium...
Will they have a shot today? You'd imagine so. Japan are very much the favourites though.
Iran file complaint over BBC coverage
The BBC has received an official complaint from Iran over Jurgen Klinsmann's comments after their 2-0 win against Wales.
The Iran Football Federation has joined manager Carlos Quieroz in slamming Klinsmann for claiming the referee was 'worked' during the game.
Part of the explosive statement even brought up Germany's past World Cup controversies...
Japan vs Costa Rica - The XIs
The teams have been confirmed for today's 10am kick-off...
Japan XI: Gonda; Yamane, Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Endo, Morita; Doan, Kamada, Soma; Ueda.
Costa Rica XI: Navas; Watson, Duarte, Calvo, Oviedo; Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Torres; Contreras, Campbell.
First up: Japan vs Costa Rica
It's a huge day in Group F.
Japan are looking to make it two wins from two and put one foot into the last 16 against a side that lost 7-0 in their opener.
It won't be that one-sided this morning, but Costa Rica have cemented their reputation as the 2022 World Cup's potential punch bag...
A Japan win would mean Germany would have to defeat Spain tonight to keep their knockout hopes alive.
The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Japan v Costa Rica. Predictions? pic.twitter.com/JheG9Yg83X
\u2014 Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) November 27, 2022
Golden Boot race
Kylian Mbappe scored another two goals to guide France to a 2-1 victory against Denmark on Saturday. As a result, he now leads the Golden Boot race...
Current standings:
Kylian Mbappe (France) 3
Enner Valencia (Ecuador) 3
Lionel Messi (Argentina) 2
Bukayo Saka (England) 2
Cody Gakpo (Holland) 2
Medhi Taremi (Iran) 2
Olivier Giroud (France) 2
Ferran Torres (Spain) 2
Argentina 2-0 Mexico marred by violence
Argentina's 2-0 win against Mexico on Saturday night was one of the most memorable games of the 2022 World Cup yet.
Not just because of the high-stakes action on the pitch, but because of the wild support from both sets of fans around the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium.
But the occasion was slightly marred by violence among Argentines and Mexicans during the tense clash.
Chants of 'f**k Messi' from Mexico's fans reportedly led to scraps breaking out, and minor injuries suffered.
Iran boss slams BBC's Klinsmann
Iran manager Carlos Quieroz has attacked BBC pundit Jurgen Klinsmann on social media over his comments about their 2-0 win against Wales.
Klinsmann mentioned how Quieroz has 'failed' in other roles and accused Iran of working the referee and officials to help secure victory.
In response, the Iran boss has fired back with something of a letter...
It read: "Dear Jurgen. You took the initiative to call me Carlos, so I believe it is proper to call you Jurgen. Right? Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority.
"No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to Football. Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course.
"Even saying so, we would like to invite you as our guest, to come to our National Team Camp, socialize with Iran players and learn from them about the Country, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture… And also listen from our players how much they love and respect Football.
"As American/German, we understand your no support. No problem."
Morning!
Hello and welcome to another day of World Cup action, with plenty to be decided in Groups E and F at the end of week one!
Stay tuned for regular LIVE updates throughout your Sunday...