The World Cup action on Friday marked the end of an exhilarating group stage that had already witnessed several shock results, VAR controversy and giants like Belgium and Germany dumped out. However, there was always time for more drama, with Uruguay finding out the hard way despite beating Ghana in their final Group H contest at the Al Janoub Stadium.
Two goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta helped Uruguay to secure a much-needed victory over Ghana, although they still crashed out of the World Cup thanks to South Korea's late winner against Portugal. Hwang Hee-chan struck in stoppage time to send Uruguay packing and spark wild scenes at the full-time whistle after their win against Ghana, with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Fernando Muslera swarming the referee after they were denied a number of penalty shouts as the clock ticked down.
Brazil, meanwhile, fell to a humiliating defeat at the hands of Cameroon thanks to a late winner from Vincent Aboubakar, who was shown a second yellow card for taking his shirt off as he wheeled away to celebrate his stoppage-time goal. It was not enough for the Indomitable Lions to get themselves into the knockout stages, though, with Switzerland taking second place in Group G as a result of their win over Serbia in a pulsating five-goal thriller.
Express Sport brings you all the latest updates, team news and reaction from Qatar throughout the day.
Follow below for LIVE updates...
Express Sport is on hand to keep you updated with all of today's World Cup action (Image: FIFA/GETTY)
Thanks for joining us to follow another exciting day of World Cup action, with the group stages now wrapped up in Qatar.
We'll be back in the morning to guide you through the first day of the knockout stages, which will begin with the Netherlands facing the USA at 3pm before Australia take on Argentina at 7pm.
Luis Suarez, who was left in floods of tears after Uruguay's early World Cup exit this afternoon, has launched a furious rant against FIFA after he and his team-mates were left incensed by the referee's performance in their win over Ghana.
"I see a penalty for Cavani because he is cut off by the defender and he puts his body in front of him," Suarez told TeleDoce.
"Darwin's is very clear too. They are not excuses, but incredible penalties are being awarded in this World Cup. And there is the committee of referees and FIFA, and they have to try to explain themselves better, at least."
Suarez also said that he was prevented from meeting his family in the stadium after the final whistle, adding: "I saw a France player with his children on the substitute's bench, so why always [is it a problem] against Uruguay?
"It seems that we have to have another power at the media level to have access to have my children to allow them to come down for a second to greet me, but hey, that's FIFA."
Luis Suarez cried after Uruguay were knocked out of the World Cup (Image: GETTY)
It's full-time in both of tonight's matches, which means that Switzerland will be joining Brazil in the knockout stages of the World Cup!
They managed to hold on to their slender advantage to beat Serbia at the end of a topsy-turvy match, with tensions threatening to boil over during the last few minutes at Stadium 974.
Cameroon, meanwhile, secured a famous one-goal win over Brazil thanks to Vincent Aboubakar's last-gasp winner but it's not enough to prevent them from leaving the World Cup in the group stages.
Serbia have also been eliminated from the tournament in last place as a result of their defeat at the hands of the Swiss.
There are just under 10 minutes left in tonight's Group G matches, with Switzerland set to join Brazil in the World Cup knockout stages if the scores stay the same.
It's getting slightly desperate for Cameroon, who need a goal against Brazil AND for Serbia to either beat or draw with Switzerland.
Brazil are starting to turn the screw against Cameroon, who have also had a few half-chances of their own without scoring as of yet.
Gabriel Martinelli and Antony are among the Brazil players to have tested goalkeeper Devis Epassy over the last few moments. Could an opening goal finally be on the horizon?
It's half-time in both of tonight's Group G matches, with Brazil and Cameroon still goalless at the break.
The underdogs came close to breaking the deadlock through Bryan Mbeumo moments before the whistle but the Brentford man was denied by a magnificent save from Ederson, who was at full-stretch to parry the ball away from danger.
Meanwhile, it's been a goalfest in the game between Switzerland and Serbia, who remain level at 2-2.
There's been yet another goal in the game between Serbia and Switzerland, with the latter team having equalised through Breel Embolo as half-time approaches.
It's now 2-2 at Stadium 974 in a pulsating contest, while neither Brazil nor Cameroon have managed to break the deadlock as of yet at Lusail Stadium.
Breel Embolo scores Switzerland's second goal of the match (Image: GETTY)
Serbia have taken the lead against Switzerland in what is turning out to be yet another thrilling match at this World Cup!
They were a goal behind just a few minutes ago but now find themselves in the ascendancy thanks to Dusan Vlahovic, who was picked out inside the area before rolling the ball into the far corner of the net.
It puts Serbia up to second place behind Brazil in Group G as it stands.
Dusan Vlahovic sweeps the ball home to put Serbia ahead (Image: GETTY)
Patrice Evra has thrilled fans on social media by poking fun at Luis Suarez after the Uruguay striker cried in despair following his side's World Cup exit this afternoon.
The Frenchman made his feelings perfectly clear by 'liking' a picture on Twitter of Suarez sobbing on the bench in his Uruguay strip.
Suarez was accused of using racist language towards Evra in a match between Liverpool and Manchester United during the 2011/12 season.
The following year, Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand leading up to kick-off in another tense battle in the north west.
Switzerland have just opened the scoring against Serbia thanks to a fine goal from Xherdan Shaqiri, who wrapped his foot around the ball to ripple the back of the net with a a first-time finish from close range.
It means that Switzerland will go through as things stand, which is bad news for Cameroon as well as Serbia...
Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates after his early goal for Switzerland (Image: GETTY)
Otto Addo has resigned from his position as Ghana manager following their World Cup group stage exit earlier today.
The 47-year-old took on the job on an interim basis in February before the role was made permanent shortly afterwards with a deal until the end of December.
Addo explained his decision to step down by insisting: "I always said if we qualified for the World Cup I'd resign afterwards, even if we were world champions. My family see our future in Germany."
Brazil are already confirmed for the knockout stages after taking six points from two games in Group G, although they will progress as group winners by earning at least a draw against Cameroon this evening.
Switzerland, meanwhile, will get into the round of 16 by beating Serbia but a draw will be enough if Brazil manage to win.
Serbia may be bottom of the group but can still go through if they beat Switzerland, while things are looking difficult for Cameroon, who can ONLY progress with victory over Brazil.
They would also go through on goal difference if they win by more than one goal and Switzerland draw with Serbia.
Dani Alves will become Brazil's oldest World Cup captain against Cameroon this evening, with the full team below...
Equipe definida! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83e\udd29
Os 11 jogadores que iniciar\u00e3o a partida entre \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf7 e \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf2 foram definidos pelo t\u00e9cnico Tite e sua comiss\u00e3o.
Classificada para as oitavas de final, a Sele\u00e7\u00e3o Brasileira busca garantir o primeiro lugar do Grupo G.
Senegal coach El-Hadji Diouf believes that England will be knocked out of the World Cup by his team on Sunday if the match goes to penalties, with the Three Lions having gained an unwanted reputation for struggling from the spot over the last few decades.
"Talking to the boys it’s about big games, big players, they have to show how good they are," said Diouf. "And definitely, this game is going to be very exciting because England have a good team, good players.
"I know we are not the favourites, but we are going to do everything to beat them and the players can do it.
"We are always going to win on penalties. If we get to penalties we’re going to win it, easy. I know the goalkeeper we’ve got and I know we can stop some of their penalties."
It's full-time in both Group H matches, which means that Uruguay are OUT of the World Cup in the group stages!
South Korea managed to hold on to beat group winners Portugal, sending themselves through to the last-16 on goals scored in the process.
It's jubilation for them and pure heartbreak for Uruguay, who did all they could against Ghana but ultimately came up just short in spite of their best efforts.
Their players swarmed the referee after the full-time whistle to argue over a few penalty decisions that didn't go their way, but it certainly won't change the result.
Even more drama in Qatar!
Uruguay are OUT of the World Cup in the group stages (Image: GETTY)
Uruguay thought they had a golden chance to extend their lead over Ghana when Darwin Nunez was felled inside the area by Daniel Amartey, but the referee failed to point to the spot in spite of the protests from those in sky blue.
He was then called over the review the incident at the pitchside VAR monitor but ultimately chose to stick with his original decision of no penalty.
Ghana remain two goals behind against Uruguay with just under 25 minutes remaining, while South Korea are still holding Portugal in the other game in Group H.
Daniel Amartey narrowly avoided giving a penalty away to Uruguay (Image: GETTY)
We're at the break in both of today's final Group H matches, with Uruguay cruising into the next round of the World Cup alongside Portugal as things stand.
They find themselves 2-0 up against Ghana, with Andre Ayew seeing an early penalty saved by Sergio Rochet before Giorgian de Arrascaeta's quick-fire double.
Portugal, meanwhile, are still being held by South Korea after Ricardo Horta's opener was cancelled out by an equaliser from Kim Young-gwon.
And just like that, Uruguay lead by two goals to nil against Ghana!
Giorgian de Arrascaeta managed to find the back of the net shortly after Andre Ayew's missed penalty before doubling his and Uruguay's tally with a fine volley that arrowed underneath the goalkeeper.
Ghana have missed a spot-kick against Uruguay in today's other Group H game after goalkeepr Sergio Rochet chopped down Mohammed Kudus as the latter raced through on goal.
Andre Ayew stepped up for the Black Stars but his tame effort from 12 years was easily saved by Rochet before the ball was hacked away.
It's still goalless at the Al Janoub Stadium for now.
Andre Ayew's early spot-kick is parried away by Sergio Rochet (Image: GETTY)
It's been a fast start for Portugal, who already find themselves a goal to the good against South Korea thanks to Ricardo Horta's early opener.
A great bit of skill from Diogo Dalot allowed him to get past his opposite number before cutting the ball back for Horta to fire home from close range.
It will be a difficult task for South Korea to come back and qualify for the knockout stages now...
Ricardo Horta's early goal sees Portugal take the lead against South Korea (Image: GETTY)
South Korea coach to sing opposition's national anthem
South Korea's Portuguese coach Paulo Bento has confirmed he plans to sign Portugal's national anthem ahead of their World Cup clash.
South Korea and Portugal are about to take to the pitch in their final Group H game, in which the former have to win to progress.
But Bento, serving a touchline suspension after his post-match red card last time out, will align with his home nation ahead of kick-off, signing both anthems.
He said: "I do have feelings, of course, in relation to the Korean national anthem but I think I will sing the Portuguese national anthem as well."
World Cup: South Korea boss Paulo Bento will sing Portugal's national anthem. (Image: GETTY)
The Germany team bus has been spotted leaving the Qatar hotel for the final team after Thursday's surprise World Cup exit.
Hansi Flick and his squad are heading home early after Japan's 2-1 win against Spain condemned them to back-to-back group-stage exits.
\ud83c\udfa5 \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddea Germany squad are leaving their team hotel and heading home following their World Cup exit #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/ggi1C6CFBg
Germany fans clashed with other supporters in the stands at the Al Bayt Stadium after their World Cup exit on Thursday night.
Qataris and other fans again protested against the treatment of Mesut Ozil, who hasn't featured for the German national team after denouncing the persecution of Muslim Uighurs in China in 2019.
But with tensions high after their second successive group-stage elimination, some Germany supporters bit back.
England midfielder Declan Rice has insisted Gareth Southgate's squad are ready for penalty shoot-out retribution if the opportunity arises at the 2022 World Cup.
The Three Lions progressed past the last 16 in 2018 on penalties, beating Colombia after a 1-1 draw. But they faced heartbreak at last summer's European Championship, losing the Wembley final against Italy on spot-kicks.
Ahead of Sunday's clash with Senegal, Rice is confident England will be ready to keep their cool.
He said: "We know now we're at the stage where we can get penalties and we'll be well prepared for it. If it does come to penalties, I'll back us 100 per cent all the way."
England icon Alan Shearer has mocked Germany for their group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup.
Shearer is over in Qatar working as a pundit for the BBC and made sure to react to Hansi Flick's disastrous campaign.
After Japan's 2-1 over Spain condemned Germany to back-to-back failures at the first World Cup hurdle, Shearer posted a video of him, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards hysterically laughing onto Twitter.
Germany have been blasted by local press after being dumped out of the group stage again.
Japan's 2-1 win over Spain sealed Hansi Flick's side's fate in Group E, and they have been on the receiving end of criticism this morning.
A Bild headline read: "How embarrassing! We’re out!"
Football magazine Kicker stated: "Only a 10-2 win would have helped. Germany crash out in the World Cup group stage again."
Meanwhile, a snippet from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung lamented: "German football is at rock bottom again, four years after a historic first-round exit."
Before Spain vs Japan last night, German outlet Bild reported the two nations had recently partnered up in youth football, women's football and referee training.
In a heavily suggestive article, they suggested that a Japan win would benefit Spain by sending them into a more favourable side of the World Cup knockout stage draw.
Lo and behold, Japan claimed their latest shock result, fighting back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Plenty of German fans have taken to social media to accuse Japan and Spain of conspiring against Hansi Flick's side.
But Germany simply didn't do enough to progress for the second successive World Cup.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy