2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Matches, Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
Mohamed Salah took Abdallah Said's long ball in his stride and then sent a deft lob over the onrushing Yasser Al-Mosailem with his second touch in the 22nd minute. Salah broke Saudi Arabia's offside trap and clipped an effort wide of the right-hand post. Five minutes before the interval Ahmed Fathy was adjudged to have deliberately handled Yasser Al-Shahrani's cross inside the area. Essam El Hadary produced a save to deny Fahad Al-Muwallad, but his celebrations were cut short when a second penalty was awarded for Ali Gabr's tug on Al-Muwallad's shirt. Salman Al-Faraj stepped up this time to fire past the goalkeeper and draw his side level. Egypt substitute Kahraba fired straight at Al-Mosailem late on. Salem Al-Dawsari finished a right-footed volley past El Hadary in the closing stages.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Matches, Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
This match was the first time Egypt have ever led in a World Cup match, in what was their seventh match in the competition. Al-Faraj's penalty goal for Saudi Arabia, scored after 50 minutes and 36 seconds, was the latest goal scored in the first half of a World Cup game since 1966. El Hadary, at the age of 45 years and 161 days, is the oldest player in the history of the World Cup, breaking the record set by Colombia's Faryd Mondragón in 2014 (43y 3d).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Matches, Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
Salah became the first African player to score in his first two appearances at the World Cup. Abdullah Otayf completed 110 passes in this match, the most by an Asian player in a World Cup match since 1966. Saudi Arabia remains undefeated when it comes against their Arab rivals in the World Cup, having beaten Morocco 2–1 in 1994 and drew 2–2 to Tunisia in 2006. It was Saudi Arabia's first World Cup win since 1994.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Matches, Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
Assistant referees:Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)Cristian de la Cruz (Colombia)Fourth official:Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)Reserve assistant referee:Hiroshi Yamauchi (Japan)Video assistant referee:Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)Assistant video assistant referees:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group A, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B
Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 15 to 25 June 2018. The group consisted of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Iran. The top two teams, Spain and Portugal, advanced to the round of 16.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Morocco vs Iran
Amine Harit fired wide with a volley from the edge of the penalty area after two minutes. Younès Belhanda and Medhi Benatia squandered close-range chances in a penalty box before Iran finally countered after 20 minutes, only for Karim Ansarifard to scuff his shot when clean through on goal. Sardar Azmoun then latched onto Omid Ebrahimi's through ball, but his shot was too low and Munir Mohamedi saved low with his feet. In the final 10 minutes Hakim Ziyech lashed the ball towards the bottom-left corner of the net from 20 yards but Alireza Beiranvand stopped the ball. In the last minutes, Ehsan Hajsafi's delivery from the left was met by a header from Aziz Bouhaddouz that flew into the left corner of his own net.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Morocco vs Iran
Iran won just their second match at the World Cup (D3 L8), with this is their first victory since beating the United States 2–1 in June 1998. Iran did not attempt a single shot in the second half and were the first team since 1966 to score a goal in a half of World Cup football without attempting a shot. Iran also maintained their unbeaten streak against CAF teams in the World Cup, having drawn Angola 1–1 in 2006 and Nigeria 0–0 in 2014; while this was also Iran's first ever victory against any Arab team in the World Cup.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Morocco vs Iran
Assistant referees:Bahattin Duran (Turkey)Tarık Ongun (Turkey)Fourth official:Sergei Karasev (Russia)Reserve assistant referee:Anton Averianov (Russia)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Mark Borsch (Germany)Jair Marrufo (United States)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Spain
The two teams had met in 35 previous matches, including in the round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, won by Spain 1–0. Their most recent meeting was in the UEFA Euro 2012 semi-finals, when Spain won 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw in normal time.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Spain
Cristiano Ronaldo scored with an early penalty, winning it after he was fouled by Nacho inside the box. Diego Costa then twisted and turned away from two Portugal defenders to score with a low shot to the left corner which brought the two sides level. But just before the break, David de Gea fumbled a Ronaldo shot from outside the penalty box through his gloves and over the line.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Spain
Costa scored his second equaliser of the night just after the restart from close range before Nacho scored with a right foot half-volley in off the post from the edge of the penalty box, his first goal for Spain. As the clock ticked down, however, Gerard Piqué brought down Ronaldo just outside the box, with the Portugal star completing the scoring and his hat-trick with a free-kick into the top right corner of the net.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Spain
Ronaldo became the fourth player to score in four different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) after Pelé, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose, and also the first to score in eight consecutive World Cups and European Championships. At age 33, Ronaldo also became the oldest hat-trick scorer in the World Cup, surpassing Rob Rensenbrink of the Netherlands, who scored three times against Iran in 1978, aged 30. With this result, Spain has not won any opening matches since 2006, having lost to Switzerland 0–1 in 2010 and the Netherlands 1–5 in 2014.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Spain
Assistant referees:Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Mauro Tonolini (Italy)Fourth official:Ryuji Sato (Japan)Reserve assistant referee:Toru Sagara (Japan)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Paolo Valeri (Italy)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Daniele Orsato (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Morocco
The two teams had met previously only once, a group stage game in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, won by Morocco 3–1.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Morocco
João Moutinho swung in a cross from the right after a short corner and Cristiano Ronaldo headed the ball powerfully past goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi from six yards out and into the middle of the goal to open the scoring in the 4th minute. Ronaldo played Gonçalo Guedes into the box but Munir made a one-handed save. Ronaldo shot over the crossbar when Bernardo Silva's mishit presented him with a shooting chance on the edge of the box early in the second half.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Morocco
Rui Patrício then made a save to preserve Portugal's lead when Hakim Ziyech's free-kick was headed towards goal by Younès Belhanda, the goalkeeper diving to palm the ball away from danger. Ziyech shot another set-piece just over the crossbar from 25 yards. Nordin Amrabat and Medhi Benatia fired over with better chances. With their second loss in a row, Morocco became the third team to be eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Morocco
85 international goals for Ronaldo is a new record for a European player, with Ronaldo passing Ferenc Puskás to hold the record outright. Ronaldo has become the first Portuguese player since José Torres in 1966 to score a goal with his right foot, left foot and head in a single World Cup tournament. Ronaldo is the first player to score five consecutive World Cup goals for his team since Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Portugal vs Morocco
Assistant referees:Joe Fletcher (Canada)Frank Anderson (United States)Fourth official:Sergei Karasev (Russia)Reserve assistant referee:Anton Averianov (Russia)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Jair Marrufo (United States)Simon Lount (New Zealand)Bastian Dankert (Germany)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Spain
Spain had their first attempt on goal in the 25th minute when David Silva's long-range free-kick was held by Alireza Beiranvand. Five minutes later, Silva's volley sailed narrowly over the crossbar from six yards out. At the start of the 2nd half, Gerard Piqué's close-range effort was blocked and then Beiranvand palmed away Sergio Busquets' curled effort from the edge of the penalty area. Karim Ansarifard's effort from a corner flashed into David de Gea's side netting.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Spain
In the 54th minute, Diego Costa picked up Andrés Iniesta's pass inside the area and saw Ramin Rezaeian's attempted clearance ricochet off his leg and past Beiranvand low into the left corner of the net. Saeid Ezatolahi pulled Iran level shortly after the hour but his close-range finish after a scramble was ruled out courtesy of VAR after Rezaeian was found in an offside position. Mehdi Taremi's back-post header fizzed over De Gea's crossbar seven minutes from time as Iran pushed for an equaliser, but Spain held on for a 1–0 win.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Spain
Iran did not manage a shot on target for the first time in 14 World Cup games.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Spain
Assistant referees:Nicolás Taran (Uruguay)Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay)Fourth official:Julio Bascuñán (Chile)Reserve assistant referee:Christian Schiemann (Chile)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Portugal
The two teams had met twice, most recently in a group stage game in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, won by Portugal 2–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Portugal
In the 45 minute, Ricardo Quaresma cut in from the right before scoring with a curling shot off the outside of his right foot that looped over Alireza Beiranvand into the top-left corner. Saeid Ezatolahi's foul on Cristiano Ronaldo won Portugal a penalty, which Ronaldo shot low into the right, enabling Beiranvand to get down and make a stop. Iran then managed to get a penalty in stoppage time after referee used VAR to determine that Cédric's handball from Sardar Azmoun's header had been intentional, which Karim Ansarifard converted high to his right. The game ended in a 1−1 draw, with Portugal advancing and Iran eliminated.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Portugal
Quaresma (34 years, 272 days old) is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start since Yahya Golmohammadi (35 years, 84 days old), who did so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico. Iran's goal - scored after 92 minutes and 48 seconds - was the latest goal Portugal have ever conceded at the World Cup. This was Iran's best performance ever in the FIFA World Cup, winning four points and having earned their first ever draw against any European opponents since 1978, when Iran drew 1–1 to Scotland.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Iran vs Portugal
Assistant referees:Eduardo Cardozo (Paraguay)Juan Zorrilla (Paraguay)Fourth official:Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)Reserve assistant referee:Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Hernán Maidana (Argentina)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Spain vs Morocco
Despite their geographical proximity, the two teams had faced each other only in two opportunities, both were in the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification and won by Spain.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Spain vs Morocco
In the 14th minute, a mix-up between Sergio Ramos and Andrés Iniesta allowed Khalid Boutaïb to steal possession on the halfway line, burst through on goal and finish through the legs of David de Gea. Iniesta and Diego Costa combined to set up Isco for a close-range finish that tied the scores five minutes later. Boutaïb was clear again in the 25th minute when Morocco took a quick throw-in, but De Gea stopped the ball. Nordin Amrabat, Manuel da Costa and Mbark Boussoufa were all booked in three-minute period before Sergio Busquets headed over the crossbar from Isco's corner.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Spain vs Morocco
Amrabat's strike from at least 25 yards out bounced off the woodwork in the 55th minute. Isco's looping header dipped under the crossbar, but Romain Saïss made a clearance, Gerard Piqué heading wide from the resulting Isco corner. Youssef En-Nesyri scored home a header to give Morocco the lead. And when Iago Aspas turned home Dani Carvajal's cross from the right after a short corner – the goal given by VAR after a long delay – Spain was tied in the first minute of added time.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Spain vs Morocco
Boutaïb's goal for Morocco was their first goal at the finals since 1998, when Salaheddine Bassir scored in a 3–0 win over Scotland. Ramos made his 16th appearance for Spain at the World Cup, overtaking Xavi as their most capped outfield player in the competition. Spain have failed to win their final group game at a World Cup for the first time since 1982, having won the previous eight such games.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Matches, Spain vs Morocco
Assistant referees:Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan)Fourth official:Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)Reserve assistant referee:Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Mark Borsch (Germany)Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group B, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C
Group C of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 16 to 26 June 2018. The group consisted of France, Australia, Peru and Denmark. The top two teams, France and Denmark, advanced to the round of 16. France would go on to win the tournament.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Australia
The two teams had met in four previous matches, most recently in a 2013 friendly, a 6–0 France victory.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Australia
After a disjointed first half, the game sparked into life shortly after the interval as referee Andrés Cunha initially disallowed a French penalty, but after a call from the VAR, changed his decision and awarded the penalty to France,  deciding that Josh Risdon had clipped Antoine Griezmann just inside the area. Griezmann would convert the penalty, which was the first World Cup penalty awarded by VAR.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Australia
The opener was soon cancelled out just four minutes later by another penalty, Australian midfielder and captain, Mile Jedinak, slotting home after Samuel Umtiti handled the ball in the box, and they looked on course to hold one of the pre-tournament favourites until Paul Pogba's lobbed effort confirmed by goal line technology deflected off Australia full-back Aziz Behich and the crossbar to fall inches over the goal-line.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Australia
The two penalties were scored in the game between France and Australia were only four minutes, seven seconds apart - the shortest period of time between two penalties being scored by different sides in a World Cup match. Both countries also featured their youngest ever World Cup players in Daniel Arzani at 19 years and 163 days and Kylian Mbappé at 19 years and 178 days.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Australia
Assistant referees:Nicolás Taran (Uruguay)Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay)Fourth official:Julio Bascuñán (Chile)Reserve assistant referee:Christian Schiemann (Chile)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Hernán Maidana (Argentina)Jair Marrufo (United States)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Peru vs Denmark
The two teams had never met before in a FIFA-sanctioned match, but both teams previously faced each other in an exhibition match at the 1997 U.S. Cup (a 2–1 Denmark victory).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Peru vs Denmark
Yoshimar Yotún lashed the ball into Kasper Schmeichel's midriff from 25 yards as Peru began the game and Edison Flores lifted a shot over the crossbar from just outside the box. André Carrillo surged towards the Denmark box in the 13th minute and cut inside to curl a low drive towards the bottom-left corner, only for Schmeichel to pull off a diving save. Denmark began to dominate possession but it was not until the 27th minute that they attempted a shot on goal, Thomas Delaney launching the ball over.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Peru vs Denmark
Denmark midfielder William Kvist was taken off on a stretcher after a sustaining a blow to the ribs in a challenge with Jefferson Farfán, and then Christian Cueva was brought down in the penalty area by Yussuf Poulsen. The referee pointed to the spot upon reviewing video footage and Cueva blazed over, much to the dismay of Peru's sizable travelling support. Adopting a more adventurous approach after the restart, Denmark were rewarded when Christian Eriksen's precise through-ball allowed Poulsen to open the scoring with a low left foot shot. Peru were denied an immediate equaliser when Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel produced a one-handed save to deny Flores. Substitute Paolo Guerrero, who was only able to play after a Swiss tribunal lifted a 14-month drugs ban, backheeled a chance wide as Denmark held on.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Peru vs Denmark
Denmark have won three of their four World Cup matches against South American opponents, with the only exception being a 3–2 defeat against Brazil in the 1998 quarter-final.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Peru vs Denmark
Assistant referees:Jean Claude Birumushahu (Burundi)Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)Fourth official:Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)Reserve assistant referee:Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Mark Borsch (Germany)Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs Australia
The two teams had met in three previous matches, most recently in a friendly in 2012, with Denmark prevailing 2–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs Australia
Thomas Delaney headed wide from Pione Sisto's cross after just two minutes against Australia. At the other end, Mathew Leckie rose above the Danish defence to head a corner over the bar but Denmark countered and Nicolai Jørgensen's lay-off afforded Christian Eriksen the chance to hit a half-volley past Mathew Ryan and into the top left corner of the net. Sisto shot a 20-yard drive and Jørgensen flashed a close-range header just wide.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs Australia
In the 35th minute, referee consulted VAR and decided that Yussuf Poulsen used his arm to block Leckie's headed shot and awarded the penalty, which Mile Jedinak shot into the bottom right corner of the net. Poulsen had a penalty claim of his own waved away early in the second half after he tumbled to the ground on his way into the Australia box. Kasper Schmeichel failed to collect a looping long ball before Leckie flashed the ball across the face of goal. Daniel Arzani teed up Aaron Mooy for a shot that flew just over the top right corner of Schmeichel's goal from outside the box. Andrew Nabbout left the field with a dislocated shoulder and was replaced by Tomi Juric.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs Australia
After Ghana, Australia are the second team in World Cup history to score three consecutive goals from the penalty spot. Poulsen is the first player to concede two penalties in a single World Cup since Milan Dudić for Serbia in 2006. Mark Milligan completed 85 passes in this match - a record for an Australian player in a single game at a World Cup tournament. As Poulsen had a yellow card in the previous match, he did not play for Denmark in the next match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs Australia
Assistant referees:Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain)Fourth official:Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)Reserve assistant referee:Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)Video assistant referee:Mark Geiger (United States)Assistant video assistant referees:Jair Marrufo (United States)Joe Fletcher (Canada)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Peru
The two teams had met only once, a friendly game in 1982, won by Peru 1–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Peru
Yoshimar Yotún's shot from the halfway line drifted wide. Raphaël Varane missed with a header before Pedro Gallese saved with his legs to deny Antoine Griezmann after Olivier Giroud found him with a headed pass. Paolo Guerrero shot straight at Hugo Lloris on the turn after Christian Cueva found him in the box. Paul Pogba slid Giroud into the area and when his shot looped over Gallese via a deflection off Christian Ramos, Kylian Mbappé tapped into the empty net from inside the six-yard box. Pedro Aquino clipped the outside of the post with a drive from 25 yards. André Carrillo fired over the crossbar and Jefferson Farfán hit the side-netting. Guerrero missed a late free-kick, and France secured their place in the knockout stages, while Peru were knocked out.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Peru
Mbappe became France's youngest ever goalscorer at the World Cup, aged 19 years and 183 days. Mbappe became the first player born after France's 1998 World Cup triumph to score a goal at the finals. Peru are just the second South American side to fail to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages in the last three tournaments - the other being Ecuador in 2014.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, France vs Peru
Assistant referees:Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)Hasan Al Mahri (United Arab Emirates)Fourth official:Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)Reserve assistant referee:Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)Video assistant referee:Daniele Orsato (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)Taleb Al Maari (Qatar)Szymon Marciniak (Poland)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs France
The two teams had faced each other in 15 matches, including two World Cup group stage matches, in 1998, won by France 2–1, and in 2002, won by Denmark 2–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs France
Olivier Giroud and Raphaël Varane sent early efforts off target. In the 38th minute a strike from Antoine Griezmann was straight at Kasper Schmeichel. Steve Mandanda spilled a long-range Christian Eriksen free-kick before recovering to claim the loose ball ahead of lurking striker Andreas Cornelius. Eriksen shot wide in the 59th minute, although France substitute Nabil Fekir shot at the side-netting with a drive shortly after his introduction for Griezmann. Fekir forced a stop from Schmeichel in the 82nd minute, while Giroud had a late penalty appeal rejected by the referee.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs France
This was the only goalless draw of the 2018 World Cup; there were 36 matches played prior to this one, beating the previous record number of matches without a goalless draw to start a World Cup finals, set in 1954, when all 26 matches saw at least one goal.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Denmark vs France
Assistant referees:Emerson de Carvalho (Brazil)Marcelo Van Gasse (Brazil)Fourth official:Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)Reserve assistant referee:Mauro Tonolini (Italy)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Tiago Martins (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Australia vs Peru
Mile Jedinak was booked for a high boot on Christian Cueva after nine minutes of the first half. At the 18th minute, Paolo Guerrero broke into the penalty area, cut back onto his right foot and swung a deep cross for André Carrillo to lash a volley through Jedinak's legs and into the bottom right corner of the net. Tom Rogic beat three defenders on a run into the penalty area after 26 minutes and saw his shot saved by Pedro Gallese, before Mathew Leckie was denied by an Anderson Santamaría tackle as he slid in on goal.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Australia vs Peru
Five minutes into the second half, Guerrero hooked the ball into the far corner of the net beyond Mathew Ryan's left hand. Jedinak's far-post header was saved by Gallese and Trent Sainsbury shot wide from close range, while substitute Tim Cahill had a volley blocked inside the penalty area. Edison Flores crashed a low drive onto the post from the edge of the box in the closing minutes, but the offside flag was raised.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Australia vs Peru
Carrillo became the first Peru player to score at a World Cup in 36 years. He ended a barren run of 205 minutes since Guillermo La Rosa struck in a 5–1 loss to Poland during Spain 1982. Peru won their first match at the World Cup since a 4–1 win over Iran in 1978. Guerrero - aged 34 years and 176 days - became the third oldest South American scorer at the World Cup, behind only Argentina's Martín Palermo (36 years, 227 days) and Obdulio Varela of Uruguay (36 years 279 days).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Australia vs Peru
Cahill became the first Australian to appear at four different World Cup finals. For Australia, they had not won any World Cup matches since their last major victory in 2010 FIFA World Cup, beating Serbia 2–1; and also Australia had not defeated any South American team in the FIFA World Cup, having been beaten by Brazil 0–2 in 2006, drew 0–0 and lost 1–3 to Chile in 1974 and 2014.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Matches, Australia vs Peru
Assistant referees:Anton Averianov (Russia)Tikhon Kalugin (Russia)Fourth official:Ryuji Sato (Japan)Reserve assistant referee:Toru Sagara (Japan)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Jair Marrufo (United States)Mark Borsch (Germany)Bastian Dankert (Germany)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group C, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D
Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 16 to 26 June 2018. The group consisted of Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, and Nigeria. The top two teams, Croatia and Argentina, advanced to the round of 16.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Iceland
Despite stamping their authority on the game's opening stages, Argentina struggled to find space against the Icelandic defence. Argentina then scored in the 19th minute, Sergio Agüero scoring with a powerful left foot shot to the top left corner of the net giving them a 1–0 lead. Alfreð Finnbogason made history by scoring his country's first World Cup goal just four minutes later when he slotted to the net from six yards out after the ball broke to him from six yards out.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Iceland
Argentina then had the chance to go ahead again when Hörður Björgvin Magnússon pushed Maximiliano Meza inside the box after 64 minutes. Hannes Þór Halldórsson dove to his right to deny Lionel Messi a goal. Although Argentina continued to press for a goal, but they were repeatedly denied by the Nordics' defense.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Iceland
Argentina failed to win their opening match at a World Cup tournament for the first time since losing to Cameroon in 1990, and it was the first time that they drew their opener in the competition. Argentina have missed their last two penalties taken at a World Cup finals (excluding shootouts), with Ariel Ortega failing to convert against Sweden in 2002 before Messi's effort against Iceland in 2018. The Iceland forward's goal after 23 minutes was the earliest scored for a nation playing in their first World Cup match since Rashidi Yekini netted after 21 minutes for Nigeria against Bulgaria on 21 June 1994.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Iceland
Assistant referees:Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)Fourth official:Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)Reserve assistant referee:Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)Video assistant referee:Mark Geiger (United States)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Joe Fletcher (Canada)Gery Vargas (Bolivia)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Croatia vs Nigeria
Ivan Perišić went closest to hitting the target with an effort from 20 metres after a quarter of an hour, but in the end it was Nigeria's Oghenekaro Etebo who brought joy to the huge Croatian contingent in Kaliningrad, beating his own goalkeeper with the ball going into the left corner of the net following a Luka Modrić corner from the right which had been deflected off Perišić and Mario Mandžukić. Alex Iwobi, after wriggling into space on the left side of the box, he hit a shot directly into a Croatia defender.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Croatia vs Nigeria
Ante Rebić fired over from Perišić's left-wing centre, with Odion Ighalo's header recording the match's first shot on target in the 59th minute. William Troost-Ekong was penalised for holding Mandžukić in the penalty area, and Modrić sent Francis Uzoho the wrong way from 12 yards for his first World Cup goal, shooting low to the left corner.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Croatia vs Nigeria
Croatia have won their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since their debut in the competition in 1998 (3–1 vs Jamaica). Nigeria became the first team in World Cup history to concede two consecutive own goals in the competition, with their last goal shipped in 2014, against France in the last 16, also coming in this manner.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Croatia vs Nigeria
Assistant referees:Emerson de Carvalho (Brazil)Marcelo Van Gasse (Brazil)Fourth official:Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)Reserve assistant referee:Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)Video assistant referee:Daniele Orsato (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
The two teams had met in four matches, including one game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, an Argentina 1–0 victory.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
Ivan Perišić surged into space down the left and shot towards the bottom-right corner, which was tipped around the post by Willy Caballero. A Dejan Lovren block prevented Maximiliano Meza's low strike finding the net and then Marcos Acuña's cross clipped the top of Danijel Subašić's crossbar. Enzo Pérez struck wide from 15 yards. Three minutes later, Mario Mandžukić flashed a header wide of Caballero's right-hand post from six yards. Eight minutes into the second half, Ante Rebić shot a right foot volley past Caballero after the goalkeeper's mishit an attempted chip over his head.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
Subašić kept out Meza's close-range effort from substitute Gonzalo Higuaín's cutback. With ten minutes remaining Luka Modrić curled in from 20 yards with his right foot to the right corner of the net to score Croatia's second. Ivan Rakitić was fouled by Javier Mascherano – Nicolás Otamendi receiving a booking for appearing to kick the ball towards Rakitić's head as tempers flared – and crashed the resulting free-kick against the crossbar.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
Rakitić in the 91st minute, though, slotted home from the centre of the box after his initial shot deflected off Caballero and found Mateo Kovačić who passed it back to Rakitić from the left. With their second win in a row, Croatia advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1998, having been eliminated in 2002, 2006 and 2014 editions.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
This was Croatia's first victory in five attempts against a South American team at the World Cup, having lost the previous four. This was Argentina's heaviest defeat in the first-round group stage of a World Cup since losing 6–1 to Czechoslovakia in 1958. Argentina have failed to win either of their opening two group stage matches for the first time since 1974.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Argentina vs Croatia
Assistant referees:Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan)Fourth official:Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)Reserve assistant referee:Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Corey Rockwell (United States)Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Iceland
The two teams had met only once, in a friendly game in 1981, won by Iceland 3–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Iceland
Gylfi Sigurðsson shot a sixth-minute chance straight at Francis Uzoho. In the last minute of the first half, Alfreð Finnbogason was unable to get a decisive touch on Sigurðsson's free-kick delivered from the right wing. In the 49th minute, Victor Moses' cross was collected by Ahmed Musa, who first controlled it in the air with his right foot before scoring on the half-volley powerfully to the net. Hannes Þór Halldórsson tipped over a deflected drive from Wilfred Ndidi. In the 75th minute, fed by Kenneth Omeruo, Musa burst clear in the left channel, cut inside and rounded Halldórsson before scoring with his right foot. A late VAR review spotted that substitute Tyronne Ebuehi had tripped Finnbogason, with Sigurðsson's spot-kick effort clearing the crossbar.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Iceland
Iceland are the third World Cup debutants from Europe to have faced Nigeria at the tournament, and on every occasion Nigeria have emerged victorious, following victories against Greece (2–0) in 1994 and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1–0) in 2014. Uzoho is the second youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match (19 years, 237 days), behind only Lee Chang-myung in North Korea's 1–0 win over Italy in July 1966 (19 years, 198 days). This is Nigeria's first victory in a World Cup game by a margin of more than one goal since they beat Greece 2–0 in 1994 at their first World Cup tournament. This was Iceland's first group stage's defeat in any big tournament.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Iceland
Assistant referees:Simon Lount (New Zealand)Tevita Makasini (Tonga)Fourth official:Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)Reserve assistant referee:Hiroshi Yamauchi (Japan)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
The two teams had met in eight matches, including four games at FIFA World Cup group stages, in 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014, all won by Argentina.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
Ahmed Musa narrowly cleared the crossbar in the early minutes of the game. In the 14th minute, Lionel Messi controlled the ball from a pass over the top from Éver Banega on his thigh and his left boot before shooting a right-footed drive past Francis Uzoho from the right. Leon Balogun brought Ángel Di María down 25 yards from goal, but Uzoho tipped Messi's free kick to his left-hand post.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
In the second half, Leon Balogun was held in the penalty area by Javier Mascherano after a corner form the left, and Victor Moses scored from the resulting penalty to equalize for Nigeria, shooting low to the right with the goalkeeper diving the other way.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
After Oghenekaro Etebo narrowly missed from a long-range free kick, Gabriel Mercado raided down the right and bent a cross into the penalty area, with Marcos Rojo, who scored the decisive goal against Nigeria four years ago in Brazil, once again converting, as he tucked home a low right-footed volley to give Argentina the win and see them advance to the knockout stage.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
Messi's strike brought up the century for goals at Russia 2018. He also joined Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta in becoming the third Argentina player to score in three World Cups.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Nigeria vs Argentina
Assistant referees:Bahattin Duran (Turkey)Tarık Ongun (Turkey)Fourth official:Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)Reserve assistant referee:Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)Video assistant referee:Daniele Orsato (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Iceland vs Croatia
The two teams had met in six matches, most recently in 2017 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, which ended in a 1–0 Iceland victory.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Iceland vs Croatia
Hörður Magnússon headed wide from Jóhann Guðmundsson's outswinging corner. Alfreð Finnbogason shot wide from the edge of the area. Birkir Bjarnason pounced from a corner, but Lovre Kalinić made a save from Aron Gunnarsson's curling effort. At the restart, Milan Badelj's strike clattered off the crossbar. Badelj got his goal when he reacted to a loose ball in the Iceland box and hammered home from close range. Sverrir Ingason's header rebounded back off the bar. Dejan Lovren's handball though enabled Gylfi Sigurðsson to score from the spot in the 76th minute. Badelj provided a throughball and, having outpaced his marker, Ivan Perišić lashed home to score the winner.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Iceland vs Croatia
Croatia have topped a world finals group for the first time in their history, and because of Croatia's victory, Argentina also qualified. With the defeat, Iceland stood bottom in the group with a single point and were eliminated.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Matches, Iceland vs Croatia
Assistant referees:Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain)Fourth official:John Pitti (Panama)Reserve assistant referee:Gabriel Victoria (Panama)Video assistant referee:Paolo Valeri (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Felix Zwayer (Germany)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group D, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E
Group E of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 17 to 27 June 2018. The group consisted of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia. The top two teams, Brazil and Switzerland, advanced to the round of 16.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Costa Rica vs Serbia
Both defences were tested in the opening moments -  Aleksandar Mitrović seeing an effort hooked off the line before Giancarlo González headed straight at Vladimir Stojković at the other end. The Serbian team was almost punished for their lack of penetration when Francisco Calvo dragged a strike wide as Costa Rica enjoyed a short spell of possession just before the break. Aleksandar Kolarov’s left-footed free-kick from the right flew into the top-right corner. Serbia's Nemanja Matić, meanwhile, was involved in a confrontation with a member of the Costa Rica coaching staff in injury time as he tried to retrieve the ball after it went out of play.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Costa Rica vs Serbia
Serbia have won their opening game at a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1998, when they did so as Yugoslavia against Iran (1–0). Costa Rica suffered their first defeat at the World Cup since 2006 (1–2 v Poland), ending a run of five games unbeaten in the competition (W2 D3). Kolarov's strike was the first direct free-kick scored by a Serbia/Yugoslavia player at a World Cup tournament since 1998, when Siniša Mihajlović netted against Iran. Kolarov's goal for Serbia was the third direct free-kick scored at this year's World Cup (after Russia's Aleksandr Golovin and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo), which is already as many as there were in the entire 2014 tournament in Brazil.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Costa Rica vs Serbia
Assistant referees:Djibril Camara (Senegal)El Hadji Samba (Senegal)Fourth official:Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)Reserve assistant referee:Tikhon Kalugin (Russia)Video assistant referee:Clément Turpin (France)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Cyril Gringore (France)Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Switzerland
The two teams had met in eight matches, including one game at the 1950 FIFA World Cup group stage, a 2–2 draw.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Switzerland
Paulinho's close-range effort forced Yann Sommer into a save. The first goal was scored shortly after when Philippe Coutinho scored from outside the penalty area with a right foot shot. Brazil also came close before the break as Thiago Silva headed inches over the crossbar. Five minutes into the second half, Steven Zuber equalised with a controversial header after a corner from the right decided by VAR review when he appeared to push Miranda in the back. More controversy was caused in the 73rd minute, after Gabriel Jesus was denied a penalty after being hacked down by Manuel Akanji in the penalty area. Brazil came close several times during the closing minutes, but Neymar, Roberto Firmino, and Miranda were unable to garner goals.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Switzerland
Brazil have failed to win any of their last three World Cup matches (D1 L2), their worst winless run since June 1978, when they went four games without a win. Valon Behrami is the first Switzerland player in history to appear at four World Cups. Brazil failed to win their opening match at the World Cup for the first time since 1978, when they drew 1–1 with Sweden.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Switzerland
Assistant referees:Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)Miguel Hernández (Mexico)Fourth official:John Pitti (Panama)Reserve assistant referee:Gabriel Victoria (Panama)Video assistant referee:Paolo Valeri (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Costa Rica
The two teams had met in ten matches, including two games at the FIFA World Cup's group stages, in 1990 and 2002, with both ending in a victory for Brazil's (1–0 and 5–2, respectively).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Costa Rica
Celso Borges shot an effort wide of the target from a Cristian Gamboa cutback after 13 minutes. Gabriel Jesus shot into the back of the net from an offside position in the 25th minute. Marcelo shot a low drive five minutes from the break, which Keylor Navas stopped. After the break, Jesus headed against the crossbar before Navas diverted Philippe Coutinho's follow-up wide. Neymar curled around the right-hand post from 18 yards in the 72nd minute, before the officials arrived at the correct decision via VAR to deny him a penalty.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Costa Rica
Coutinho gave Brazil the lead in the 91st minute, when he burst into the box to get on the end of a Roberto Firmino nod down and a touch from Jesus before poking the ball low to the net. Neymar then tapped home Douglas Costa's chipped cross from the right from close range deeper into the stoppage time.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Costa Rica
Neymar's strike seven minutes into stoppage time was the latest ever at a World Cup in regular time. This was Brazil's first World Cup victory thanks to a goal scored in the 90th minute. Costa Rica were knocked out of the tournament after this game for the first time since 2006, with a game to play.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Brazil vs Costa Rica
Assistant referees:Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands)Fourth official:Damir Skomina (Slovenia)Reserve assistant referee:Jure Praprotnik (Slovenia)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)Joe Fletcher (Canada)Mark Geiger (United States)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Switzerland
The two teams had never met. Playing as Yugoslavia, the two teams met 13 times, including one game at the 1950 FIFA World Cup group stage, a 3–0 victory for Yugoslavia.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Switzerland
Dušan Tadić checked back onto his left foot to send in a cross from the right that Aleksandar Mitrović met with a header into the left side of the net. Blerim Džemaili shot wide from inside the penalty area. Serbia pressed and Sergej Milinković-Savić shot narrowly wide with a rising 20-yard drive. With almost half an hour played Steven Zuber passed the ball to Džemaili who drew a one-handed save from Vladimir Stojković down to the goalkeeper's right.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Switzerland
After 52 minutes, Xherdan Shaqiri's shot rebounded back to Granit Xhaka and the midfielder let fly with a curling right foot shot from 25 yards, into the far corner of the net. Shaqiri hit the frame of the goal with a bending effort from the right. Switzerland substitute Mario Gavranović was flagged offside as he hit the side-netting. And, in the final minute of normal time, Gavranović played a throughball to Shaqiri, who outpaced Duško Tošić and ran from near the half-way line into the box before nutmegging Stojković with a low finish from the left.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Switzerland
Stephan Lichtsteiner made his ninth World Cup appearance for Switzerland in this game - breaking the national record held by Charles Antenen since Chile 1962.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Switzerland
Assistant referees:Mark Borsch (Germany)Stefan Lupp (Germany)Fourth official:Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)Reserve assistant referee:Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Clément Turpin (France)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Brazil
The two teams had met once, a 2014 friendly won by Brazil 1–0. Playing as Yugoslavia, the two teams met 18 times, including four times at FIFA World Cup's group stages in 1930, 1950, 1954 and 1974, with one victory each and two draws.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Brazil
Marcelo was replaced with Filipe Luís in the 10th minute, due to a back spasm. Gabriel Jesus created a chance for Neymar, whose cross-goal strike was pushed away by Vladimir Stojković. Jesus cut inside of Miloš Veljković and saw his shot blocked behind by Nikola Milenković. In the 36th minute, Paulinho raced between two defenders and poked Philippe Coutinho's delivery beyond the onrushing Stojković. Neymar had a low drive kept out by Stojković at the near post five minutes into the second period. Aleksandar Mitrović headed a cross from Antonio Rukavina straight at the feet of the keeper in the 65th minute. Thiago Silva headed home at the near post from Neymar's left-wing corner in the 68th minute.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Brazil
Brazil have qualified from the group stage of the World Cup for the 13th consecutive tournament, a run stretching back to 1970. Brazil have now won back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time since 2010, when they won their opening two group matches. For Serbia, this was the second consecutive elimination from the group stage in their World Cup history as an independent nation.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Serbia vs Brazil
Assistant referees:Reza Sokhandan (Iran)Mohammadreza Mansouri (Iran)Fourth official:Jair Marrufo (United States)Reserve assistant referee:Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Switzerland vs Costa Rica
The two teams had faced each other twice, most recently in a 2010 friendly won by Costa Rica 1–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Stephan Lichtsteiner's right-wing cross was headed back across goal by Breel Embolo, and the unmarked Blerim Džemaili lashed home from eight yards. Keylor Navas blocked Embolo's effort at his near post, before Kendall Waston headed Joel Campbell's outswinging corner from six yards after 56 minutes. Josip Drmić slotted into the bottom corner from Denis Zakaria's low cross. Referee awarded a spot-kick after Bryan Ruiz had been bundled over in the area, only for the decision to be reversed after replays showed that he had strayed into an offside position when he received the ball. Ruiz did get a chance from the spot in the third minute of stoppage time when Campbell was felled in the box, his penalty hit the bar and then bounced in off Yann Sommer's head for an own goal.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Waston's goal for Costa Rica was their first in 424 minutes of play in World Cup matches (not including penalty shootouts), with their previous goal scored by Ruiz in the last 16 of the 2014 tournament against Greece. Switzerland have avoided defeat in each of their three group stage matches at the World Cup for the first time since 2006. Costa Rica became the last side to score a goal at Russia 2018. Sommer is just the third goalkeeper to score an own goal at the World Cup, after Honduras' Noel Valladares against France in 2014 and Spain's Andoni Zubizarreta against Nigeria in 1998.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Matches, Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Assistant referees:Nicolas Danos (France)Cyril Gringore (France)Fourth official:Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)Reserve assistant referee:Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)Video assistant referee:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Mark Borsch (Germany)Szymon Marciniak (Poland)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group E, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F
Group F of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 17 to 27 June 2018. The group consisted of Germany, Mexico, Sweden, and South Korea. Sweden and Mexico were the top two teams that advanced to the round of 16. The incumbent World Cup champions, Germany, placed last, making it the first time since 1938 that Germany did not advance beyond the first round, and the first time ever, the group stage. The early German exit was "greeted with shock in newspapers around the world".


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
The two teams had faced each other 11 times, including three FIFA World Cup games all of which were German victories: 6–0 in 1978 (first group stage), 2–1 in 1998 (round of 16), but a 1986 quarter-final game being the most significant, which ended with a German penalty shoot-out victory.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
Timo Werner fired a warning shot across the face of Guillermo Ochoa's goal during the first minutes of the match. Héctor Moreno headed straight at Manuel Neuer from their clearest opening. Javier Hernández's one-two with Andrés Guardado allowed him to spin away from Mats Hummels just inside the Germany half and feed Hirving Lozano down the left. Lozano then cut inside the resistance offered by the back-tracking Mesut Özil to crash a low right foot shot inside Neuer's right post. However, two minutes later, Toni Kroos's free-kick arrowed towards the top corner. Ochoa denied the midfielder's shot, pushing the ball against the crossbar. Near the end Joshua Kimmich and Werner came close to scoring, but their attempts were unsuccessful.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
This defeat represented the first time that Germany had lost the opening game in defence of their trophy. They beat Argentina 3–1 in 1958, drew 0–0 with Poland in 1978, and defeated Bolivia 1–0 in 1994. Germany lost their opening match at a World Cup for only the second time, having done so in 1982, against Algeria.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
This is the third consecutive World Cup in which the reigning champion has failed to win their opening match – Italy drew 1–1 with Paraguay in 2010, while Spain lost 5–1 against the Netherlands in 2014; and also the fourth champions failed to win their opening match, as France lost 0–1 to Senegal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup (all of whom, coincidentally, had been knocked out at the group stage). Germany had 26 shots, the most by a side without scoring in a World Cup fixture since 2006 (Portugal v England, 29 shots in a 0–0 draw).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
Conversely, Mexico beat Germany for only the second time – their last win against them came in a friendly in June 1985. However, Mexico's victory over Germany marked the first time a team from the CONCACAF region defeated Germany in the World Cup. Additionally, Mexico became the first team from the Americas to defeat Germany at a World Cup in over 16 years- the last time Germany lost to either a North- or South-American team was at the 2002 final against Brazil. Rafael Márquez featured in his fifth World Cup finals, becoming just the third player to achieve this feat – along with Mexico's Antonio Carbajal and Germany's Lothar Matthäus. Coincidentally, Mexico have avenged their 1986 defeat by beating Germany.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Mexico
Assistant referees:Reza Sokhandan (Iran)Mohammadreza Mansouri (Iran)Fourth official:Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)Reserve assistant referee:Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Mark Geiger (United States)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Sweden vs South Korea
The two teams had faced each other four times, most recently in 2005, a 2–2 draw in a friendly game.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Sweden vs South Korea
Sweden's defence was tested by a South Korean attack in the early stages. Andreas Granqvist was denied a shot at goal by a last-ditch interception by Kim Young-gwon. Marcus Berg was close to score midway through the first half but his close range shot was beaten away by Jo Hyeon-woo, while South Korea did not manage a single shot on target. Jo also saved from Ola Toivonen's header following a free-kick. In the start to the second half, both sides exchanged chances within the first six minutes.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Sweden vs South Korea
There was a short delay for Kim Min-woo's foul on Viktor Claesson to be analysed on video and for the referee to point to the spot but it did not affect Granqvist, who sent Jo the wrong way. Hwang Hee-chan spurned a glorious opportunity late on, heading wide from 10 yards out, as Sweden ultimately held on for a precious three points.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Sweden vs South Korea
This was Sweden's first win in their opening match at a World Cup since beating Mexico 3–0 as hosts in 1958. South Korea lost their opening match at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 when they lost 3–1 against Mexico. Sweden's goal was the first they had scored in 402 minutes of international football.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Sweden vs South Korea
Assistant referees:Juan Zumba (El Salvador)Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)Fourth official:Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)Reserve assistant referee:Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)Taleb Al Maari (Qatar)Daniele Orsato (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Mexico
The two teams had met in 12 matches, including one game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Mexico 3–1. The match was attended by the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Mexico
In the 12th minute, Hirving Lozano made a block to deny Lee Yong. Nine minutes later, Son Heung-min shot a low drive which Héctor Moreno helped to keep out. Jang Hyun-soo handled Andrés Guardado's cross and the referee awarded a penalty, Carlos Vela stepped up and sent Jo Hyeon-woo the wrong way. Two minutes later, Miguel Layún lashed his effort over from close range. South Korea wanted a penalty of their own after the restart when Moon Seon-min's strike clipped Carlos Salcedo's arm, but the referee waved away their appeals.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Mexico
Jo lunged to his right to tip Javier Hernández's shot wide. Lozano drove into space, Vela drew away to the right as the ball went left to Hernández, who checked back and clipped low past Jo. In the third minute of stoppage time, Son struck from 20-yards into the top-left corner.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Mexico
Before Son's goal, South Korea had gone 288 minutes without scoring at the World Cup, their longest ever such drought. Hernández scored his 50th goal for Mexico, becoming the inaugural player of the Mexico national team to reach that milestone. Mexico has won consecutive matches at the World Cup starting with their inaugural achievement at the 2002 World Cup. Hernández is the third player to score at three World Cups, preceded by Mexico's Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Rafael Márquez.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Mexico
Assistant referees:Milovan Ristić (Serbia)Dalibor Đurđević (Serbia)Fourth official:John Pitti (Panama)Reserve assistant referee:Gabriel Victoria (Panama)Video assistant referee:Daniele Orsato (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Tiago Martins (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Sweden
The two teams had met in 36 previous matches, including four FIFA World Cup games, the latest of these being a 2–0 Germany win in the 2006 World Cup round of 16.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Sweden
Julian Draxler had a shot blocked from close range before he toe-poked a left-footed effort narrowly wide from a tight angle soon after. Sebastian Rudy left the field with a bloody nose after a collision with Ola Toivonen moments before he burst into the box to control a Viktor Claesson cross on his chest and lift his shot over Manuel Neuer into the far corner of the net.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Sweden
Three minutes into the second half, Germany drew level when Timo Werner's cross found Marco Reus, who met it with his knee and turned the ball into the bottom corner of the net. With just under 10 minutes left, Jérôme Boateng was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card for a tackle on Marcus Berg, and Neuer then made a one-handed save to deny substitute John Guidetti from a downward header. Toni Kroos tapped a free-kick short to Reus before sweeping the return pass into the top right corner from left of the penalty area with his right foot.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Sweden
Kroos' goal in (94.39) is the latest winner ever scored on the World Cup stage. The previous record belonged to Francesco Totti, who found the net late on (94.26) against Australia in 2006. Germany came from behind at half-time to win a World Cup match for the first time since 1974 – which was also against Sweden (0–1 at HT, won 4–2). Sweden have lost a World Cup group-stage match for the first time since June 1990, when they lost to Costa Rica – this defeat ends a run of 10 group games unbeaten. Boateng is the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for Germany since Miroslav Klose in 2010 against Serbia.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Germany vs Sweden
Assistant referees:Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)Fourth official:Ryuji Sato (Japan)Reserve assistant referee:Toru Sagara (Japan)Video assistant referee:Clément Turpin (France)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Cyril Gringore (France)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
The two teams had faced each other three times, including two FIFA World Cup games, one at the 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, which ended with a 1–0 victory for Germany, and one at the 1994 FIFA World Cup group stage, a Germany 3–2 victory. Despite South Korea's two previous losses, they were not eliminated just yet.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
For South Korea to have any chance of advancing, Mexico would have to defeat Sweden in their match that same day, and South Korea would then have to defeat Germany by at least two goals, a feat predicted to be highly improbable going in, with the South Korean coach before the game predicting that it had a "one percent" chance of happening.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
Son Heung-min shot wide from the edge of the penalty area before Marco Reus shot one towards goal at the other end only to see it blocked. Leon Goretzka drew a one-handed save from Jo Hyeon-woo with a header from the middle of the penalty area, the South Korean goalkeeper diving to his right and pushing the ball away at full stretch.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
Two minutes into the second-half's stoppage time, Son's corner from the left reached Kim Young-gwon at the far post who scored into the right corner from six yards out with his left foot, the offside decision that followed was overruled by a VAR decision. Ju Se-jong won the ball off Manuel Neuer who had been at the other end of the pitch in order to join the German attack, thus leaving the goal undefended, and hit a long ball to Son, who ran onto the ball and tapped into an empty net from close range to score the second.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
Had Mexico defeated Sweden in their final group stage match that same day, a South Korean victory over Germany by at least two goals would have advanced South Korea to the Round of 16 based on goal differential, at the expense of Sweden. However, since Sweden defeated Mexico 3–0, the South Koreans were eliminated despite their 2–0 victory over Germany. This marked the second time that South Korea failed to make the Round of 16 in two consecutive FIFA World Cups, having been eliminated in the group stage at the previous tournament and in four consecutive World Cups from 1986 to 1998.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
Germany are the fourth defending champions to be eliminated from the group stage at the World Cup in the last five tournaments, following France in 2002, Italy in 2010, and Spain in 2014; and since the new millennium, all champions eliminated in the group stage have been UEFA members. This is only the second time that Germany have been eliminated from the first round at the World Cup, having done so in 1938, while also being the first time since then that Germany fails to finish among the best eight teams of the tournament.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
However, this is the first time it happened after the first round was converted back to a group stage format in 1950. This was Germany's first ever defeat against an Asian nation in a World Cup match in what was their sixth such match. This was South Korea's first victory (and clean sheet) at the World Cup since their 2–0 win over Greece in 2010. Son's goal for South Korea (95:52) was the latest goal Germany have ever conceded in a World Cup match (excluding extra-time).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
This was also the first time Germany finished bottom in the World Cup's group stage, one of the worst performances in their history; having been eliminated from the group stage of UEFA Euro 2000 and 2004. South Korea's win also meant that Australia was the only team from the Asian Football Confederation that failed to win a game in their 2018 World Cup campaign.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, South Korea vs Germany
Assistant referees:Joe Fletcher (Canada)Frank Anderson (United States)Fourth official:Julio Bascuñán (Chile)Reserve assistant referee:Christian Schiemann (Chile)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Corey Rockwell (United States)Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Mexico vs Sweden
The two teams had met in nine previous matches, including a 1958 FIFA World Cup group stage match won by Sweden 3–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Mexico vs Sweden
Sweden got the breakthrough five minutes into the second half, Ludwig Augustinsson volleyed past Guillermo Ochoa when Viktor Claesson's mishit sat him up. The referee pointed to the spot when Héctor Moreno slid in on Marcus Berg and Andreas Granqvist shot into the top-left corner. In the 74th minute, substitute Isaac Thelin flicked on a long throw-in and Edson Álvarez sent the ball into his own net with his arm.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Mexico vs Sweden
Mexico qualify for the knockout stages for the seventh consecutive World Cup despite this defeat, thanks to South Korea's 2–0 victory over Germany. This was Sweden's biggest win in a World Cup match since they defeated Bulgaria 4–0 in 1994 in the third-place play-off match. Granqvist became the first Swedish player to score two or more goals in a single World Cup tournament since Henrik Larsson in 2002. This was Mexico's worst defeat at the World Cup since they were beaten 6–0 by Germany in 1978. Jesús Gallardo was shown a yellow card after just 15 seconds in this game – the quickest anyone has ever been booked in the World Cup.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Matches, Mexico vs Sweden
Assistant referees:Hernán Maidana (Argentina)Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)Fourth official:Andrés Cunha (Uruguay)Reserve assistant referee:Mauricio Espinosa (Uruguay)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G
Group G of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 18 to 28 June 2018. The group consisted of Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, and England. The top two teams, Belgium and England, advanced to the round of 16, and went on to meet each other again in the third-place play-off.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Panama
The two teams had never met before this World Cup match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Panama
Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens forced early saves from goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. Eden Hazard hit the side-netting after pouncing on a loose backpass from Román Torres. Hazard fired wide in the 26th minute and was left hobbling by heavy challenges from Michael Amir Murillo and Torres. Hazard then shook off the blows and forced Penedo into a save with his legs. After a goalless first half, Mertens steered in a right-foot volley from the right of the penalty area to give Belgium the lead.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Panama
Kevin De Bruyne almost doubled the lead but narrowly missed the target with a 25-yard free-kick that curled away from Penedo's right-hand post. Belgium doubled their lead in the 69th minute after Romelu Lukaku scored with a diving header after a cross from the left by Kevin De Bruyne. Lukaku then added a third with a chipped finish from the left of the penalty area after a through ball from Hazard.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Panama
Belgium's last victory by two goals or more at the FIFA World Cup was a 3–1 defeat of Uruguay in 1990. It also matched their best win in World Cup history, along with a 3–0 victory over El Salvador in 1970.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Panama
Assistant referees:Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)Fourth official:Ryuji Sato (Japan)Reserve assistant referee:Toru Sagara (Japan)Video assistant referee:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Assistant video assistant referees:Felix Zwayer (Germany)Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Tunisia vs England
The two teams had met in two matches, including one game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup group stage, an England 2–0 victory.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Tunisia vs England
England scored in the 11th minute when Mouez Hassen stopped a John Stones' header from a corner from the left, but could not save a Harry Kane follow-up from close range. Hassen was substituted four minutes later for Farouk Ben Mustapha due to an injury earlier in the game, after he had a collision with Jesse Lingard. Lingard then mishit a volley from Ashley Young's cross to the far post. After 10 minutes, Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Tunisia vs England
Kane had an appeal for a penalty waved away within five minutes of the restart as he was seemingly impeded by a pair of Tunisia players at a corner. In the additional time, Harry Maguire flicked a Kieran Trippier corner from the right into the path of Kane, who headed it inside the goal after being left free at the back post.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Tunisia vs England
England scored more than once for the first time in 10 World Cup matches, since a 2–2 draw against Sweden in 2006. Kane became the first England player to score a brace in a World Cup match since Gary Lineker against Cameroon in 1990.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Tunisia vs England
Assistant referees:Alexander Guzmán (Colombia)Cristian de la Cruz (Colombia)Fourth official:Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)Reserve assistant referee:Hiroshi Yamauchi (Japan)Video assistant referee:Sandro Ricci (Brazil)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Emerson de Carvalho (Brazil)Tiago Martins (Portugal)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Tunisia
The two teams had faced each other in three matches, including one game at the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage, which ended in a 1–1 draw.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Tunisia
Just 6 minutes into the game, Syam Ben Youssef's late challenge on Eden Hazard was deemed, with the use of VAR, to have been just inside the area and he stepped up to score the penalty into the bottom-left corner. Ten minutes later, Dries Mertens won possession just inside the Tunisia half before driving forward and passing the ball to Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku then shot a low strike across Farouk Ben Mustapha into the bottom-right corner. Wahbi Khazri's free-kick from the left was met by Dylan Bronn, who flashed a header past Thibaut Courtois.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Tunisia
Thomas Meunier found Lukaku inside the area, which he clipped over the onrushing Mustapha. Toby Alderweireld's long pass from defence was taken on the chest by Hazard, who then rounded Mustapha to stroke into an empty net. Michy Batshuayi met Youri Tielemans' cross at the back post with a controlled half-volley to score Belgium's 5th. Khazri scored deep into stoppage time after a swivel in the box.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Tunisia
Lukaku became the first player since Diego Maradona to score back-to-back braces in consecutive world cup games. Hazard's penalty was Belgium's second quickest goal in a World Cup match (5:59), behind only Léopold Anoul's goal against England in 1954, in the fifth minute. For Tunisia, it has registered as their worst defeat ever in their World Cup history.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Belgium vs Tunisia
Assistant referees:Corey Rockwell (United States)Juan Zumba (El Salvador)Fourth official:Andrés Cunha (Uruguay)Reserve assistant referee:Nicolás Taran (Uruguay)Video assistant referee:Mark Geiger (United States)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Joe Fletcher (Canada)Felix Zwayer (Germany)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Panama
John Stones headed in from Kieran Trippier's corner to open the scoring. Harry Kane converted a penalty to make it 2–0 following a foul on Jesse Lingard, who was next to find the net with a curling finish with his right foot from the edge of the area. Stones nodded home the rebound after goalkeeper Jaime Penedo had kept out Raheem Sterling's close-range header. Kane scored his second penalty of the match in the stoppage time of first half, hammering the ball into Penedo's top right corner after referee had spotted a foul on the forward by Fidel Escobar.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Panama
Kane completed his hat-trick when a deflected shot by Ruben Loftus-Cheek flicked off from his ankle. Felipe Baloy scored Panama's first-ever World Cup goal, with a half-volley from a Ricardo Ávila free-kick. The result ensured that both England and Belgium would advance to the knockout stage, while Tunisia and Panama would be eliminated at the group stage.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Panama
Gary Lineker was the last England player before Kane to notch more than one goal in consecutive World Cup matches, 32 years ago. At Mexico 1986, Lineker followed up a hat-trick against Poland with a brace against Paraguay. This was England's biggest win at a major tournament. Stones became the first England defender to score two goals in a World Cup match. Kane is the first player to score at least twice in both of his first two World Cup appearances since Grzegorz Lato of Poland in 1974. Kane is the third England player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, after Geoff Hurst against Germany in the 1966 final and Gary Lineker against Poland in 1986.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Panama
Assistant referees:Redouane Achik (Morocco)Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)Fourth official:Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)Reserve assistant referee:Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)Mark Geiger (United States)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Belgium
The two teams had met in 21 matches, including two matches at the World Cup, one round of 16 game at the 1990 FIFA World Cup which ended in a 1–0 victory for England, and one group stage game at the 1954 FIFA World Cup which ended in a 4–4 draw. Both teams had already guaranteed to advance to the last 16 before kick off, with the winner securing top spot in the group.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Belgium
Both teams fielded significantly altered line-ups before the game, with media outlets stating that a loss could potentially become beneficial, as the winner would be in the half of the draw with the 4 of the top 7 sides in the world.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Belgium
Jordan Pickford kept out a long-range drive from Youri Tielemans before the goalkeeper was rescued by Gary Cahill's goal-line clearance after the ball squirmed out of his grasp. In the 51st minute, Adnan Januzaj cut in from the right and hit a left foot shot into the top left corner of the net. Jamie Vardy sent Marcus Rashford through on goal in the 66th minute, but the striker's effort was turned wide of the post by a touch from Thibaut Courtois.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Belgium
This 1–0 victory ended Belgium's 82-year winless run against England which dates back to a friendly played in Brussels on 9 May 1936. The scoreline was 3–2 on that occasion. This is the first World Cup match (other than 0–0 draws) in which England failed to score since a 1–0 loss to Portugal in 1986.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, England vs Belgium
Assistant referees:Jure Praprotnik (Slovenia)Robert Vukan (Slovenia)Fourth official:Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)Reserve assistant referee:Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)Video assistant referee:Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain)Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Panama vs Tunisia
The two teams had never met before. Both teams had already been eliminated from the tournament before the match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Panama vs Tunisia
Panama took the lead in the 33rd minute, after a José Rodríguez shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection off Yassine Meriah and nestle in the back of the net. In the 51st minute, Naïm Sliti found Wahbi Khazri down the right and the latter's low cross was converted by Fakhreddine Ben Youssef just six yards out. At the 66 minute mark, Khazri finished off a cross from the left by Oussama Haddadi from close range at the back post.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Panama vs Tunisia
Tunisia won a World Cup match after 40 years, since their 3–1 victory over Mexico in 1978. Panama became the first nation since Serbia & Montenegro and Togo in 2006 to lose each of their first three World Cup games. Panama's goal means this is the first World Cup tournament in which every side has scored at least two goals in the competition. Meriah's own goal was the 50th in World Cup history.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Matches, Panama vs Tunisia
Assistant referees:Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)Taleb Al Maari (Qatar)Fourth official:Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)Reserve assistant referee:Hiroshi Yamauchi (Japan)Video assistant referee:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Assistant video assistant referees:Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)Sandro Ricci (Brazil)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Discipline
Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group G, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H
Group H of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 19 to 28 June 2018. The group consisted of Poland, Senegal, Colombia, and Japan. The top two teams, Colombia and Japan, advanced to the round of 16. For the first time in World Cup history, the "fair play" rule was invoked to break a tie. Japan and Senegal finished with identical scores and goal differences to tie for second behind Colombia. Japan were awarded the place in the final 16 based on receiving fewer yellow cards in their three matches.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Colombia vs Japan
The two teams had met in three previous matches, most recently in a 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage game, won by Colombia 4–1.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Colombia vs Japan
In the third minute, Carlos Sánchez blocked Shinji Kagawa's 20-yard shot with his arm and the referee pointed to the penalty spot before showing the midfielder a straight red card. After lengthy protests, Sánchez eventually left the field and Kagawa slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner of the net. José Pékerman then replaced Juan Cuadrado with Wílmar Barrios at the half-hour mark, and an equaliser arrived nine minutes later, from a Juan Fernando Quintero free kick, shot low under the jumping wall which the goalkeeper failed to keep out.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Colombia vs Japan
In the second half, David Ospina dived full length to his left to stop Takashi Inui's curling 20-yard shot. Yuya Osako then headed the ball into the far corner of the net from a Keisuke Honda corner from the left. With 13 minutes left, James Rodríguez's strike from inside the box was turned over the crossbar by the outstretched leg of Osako.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Colombia vs Japan
Quintero became the first Colombia player in history to score at two World Cups. Japan became the first Asian team to beat a side from South America in the competition's history. Honda became the first player from an Asian nation to provide an assist in three different World Cup tournaments since 1966. Eiji Kawashima (35 years, 91 days) became the oldest player to appear for Japan in a World Cup finals match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Colombia vs Japan
Assistant referees:Jure Praprotnik (Slovenia)Robert Vukan (Slovenia)Fourth official:Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)Reserve assistant referee:Anouar Hmila (Tunisia)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)Felix Zwayer (Germany)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Senegal
Senegal had the first clear chance in the 18th minute, M'Baye Niang dragging an effort wide after a break. Senegal took the lead when Idrissa Gueye's 20-yard shot took a huge deflection off Thiago Cionek to wrong-foot Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and give Senegal the lead. Robert Lewandowski stepped up to float a 25-yard free-kick over the wall, Khadim N'Diaye dived to turn the ball away.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Senegal
Grzegorz Krychowiak hooked a high ball back towards his own goal from inside the Senegal half and with Szczesny attempting to intercept by coming out of his penalty area, Niang knocked the ball past him before side footing into an unguarded goal. Arkadiusz Milik slotted a Łukasz Piszczek cross wide at the near post. Dawid Kownacki's headed attempt was saved late on by N'Diaye but the goalkeeper was beaten by Krychowiak's header with five minutes to go after a free kick from the right.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Senegal
Cionek became the first Polish player to score an own goal in a World Cup match. Cionek's own goal was only the second time an African nation has benefited from an own goal in a World Cup match, after Andoni Zubizarreta for Spain against Nigeria in 1998. Senegal continued their impressive undefeated run in an opening World Cup match, having beaten France 1–0 in 2002.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Senegal
Assistant referees:Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)Taleb Al Maari (Qatar)Fourth official:Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)Reserve assistant referee:Mohamed Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)Video assistant referee:Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)Assistant video assistant referees:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Hernán Maidana (Argentina)Wilton Sampaio (Brazil)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Senegal
The two teams had faced each other three times, most recently in a friendly in 2003, won by Senegal 1–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Senegal
Senegal took the lead in the 11th minute when Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima spilled a Youssouf Sabaly shot into the path of Sadio Mané, who hit the ball in from close range. Japan responded in the 34th minute when Yuto Nagatomo received a ball over the top and sent it to Takashi Inui, who curled a shot into the bottom corner past the Senegalese defenders.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Senegal
Yuya Osako missed a close chance in front of the Senegal net and Inui's shot struck the crossbar, before Senegal retook the lead in the 71st minute, when Moussa Wagué finished a low Sabaly cross into the top corner. Japan equalised again just seven minutes later, when Senegal goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye failed to collect an Osako cross, leading to Inui sending the ball to Japanese substitute Keisuke Honda, who finished at the near post.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Senegal
Wagué became the youngest African goalscorer at a World Cup, at the age of 19 years and 268 days. With his goal, Honda became the first Japanese player to score at three different World Cups, as well as the top scoring Asian player in World Cup history with four goals. Japan equalled their best points tally of four after two group games at a World Cup, just as they did as co-hosts in 2002.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Senegal
Assistant referees:Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Mauro Tonolini (Italy)Fourth official:Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)Reserve assistant referee:Taleb Al Maari (Qatar)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Tiago Martins (Portugal)Hernán Maidana (Argentina)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Colombia
The two teams had met in five matches, most recently in a 2006 friendly, won by Colombia 2–1.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Colombia
Abel Aguilar was taken from the field on a stretcher in the 32nd minute and was replaced by Mateus Uribe. Shortly after, a cross by James Rodríguez from the right was met by the head of Yerry Mina, who lost his marker to head over Wojciech Szczęsny's outstretched arms and into the net. Juan Fernando Quintero fired wide from 25 yards at the start of the second half. Juan Cuadrado then squared to Radamel Falcao on the edge of the box who lifted his shot well over the crossbar.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Colombia
In the 58th minute, Robert Lewandowski controlled a long pass only to shoot straight into David Ospina's midriff as Poland attempted their first shot on target of the game. Quintero's slide-rule pass presented Falcao with a one-on-one situation and he guided the ball past Szczęsny with the outside of his right foot to double his side's lead. With 15 minutes left on the clock, James' pass from the left found Cuadrado in space through the middle and he took a touch before finishing it into the bottom-right corner of the net.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Colombia
Poland were the first European nation to be eliminated from the 2018 World Cup. Including Colombia's victory against Poland, there were 14 World Cup goals scored on 24 June 2018 - the most on a single day of action in the competition (maximum 3 games) since 10 June 1990 (also 14).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Poland vs Colombia
Assistant referees:Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)Miguel Hernández (Mexico)Fourth official:Julio Bascuñán (Chile)Reserve assistant referee:Christian Schiemann (Chile)Video assistant referee:Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Roberto Díaz Pérez (Spain)Daniele Orsato (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Poland
The two teams had met twice, most recently in a friendly game in 2002, won by Japan 2–0.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Poland
Yoshinori Muto's drive forced Łukasz Fabiański to parry, before the goalkeeper smothered a Gōtoku Sakai effort. Eiji Kawashima scooped Kamil Grosicki's header clear. With just over half an hour remaining, Rafał Kurzawa's free-kick from the left picked out Jan Bednarek, who volleyed it into the net from six yards out. Maya Yoshida headed well wide from a left-wing corner. Robert Lewandowski steered Grosicki's pin-point pass over the top.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Poland
Poland beat Japan for the first time in an official match, having defeated Japan in four unofficial matches. Poland won each of their 14 games in which they scored first in World Cup finals. Poland  kept a clean sheet at the World Cup for the first time since winning 1–0 against Portugal in 1986. On another side, since the new millennia, Poland had repeated their poor performances in 2002 and 2006 World Cups, eliminated after losing two opening matches before grabbing a late victory in the final match.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Poland
There was some criticism of the final minutes in the game, as both sides appeared to settle for the 1–0 scoreline.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Japan vs Poland
Assistant referees:Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)Fourth official:Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)Reserve assistant referee:Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)Video assistant referee:Daniele Orsato (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Gery Vargas (Bolivia)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Senegal vs Colombia
The two teams had met only once, a 2014 friendly game which ended in a 2–2 draw.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Senegal vs Colombia
The referee awarded Senegal a penalty in the 17th minute. After consulting VAR, he judged that defender Davinson Sánchez had won the ball before making any contact with Sadio Mané. After half an hour, James Rodríguez was substituted with what appeared to be a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of Colombia's 2–1 loss to Japan. Mané took a free-kick in the 64th minute which he shot off-target. Kalidou Koulibaly got a touch on a Luis Muriel drive to deflect the ball narrowly wide. And in the 74th minute Colombia scored the decisive goal of the game, Juan Quintero's corner from the right found Yerry Mina who rose and crashed home a header that went through goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Senegal vs Colombia
With Senegal being the last African team to be knocked out of Russia 2018, there were no teams from Africa in the Round of 16 for the first time since the stage was introduced in 1986. Colombia were the only team to reach the knockout stages of Russia 2018 despite losing their opening match of the tournament.


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Senegal vs Colombia
Senegal became the third team to be eliminated from Russia 2018 despite winning their opening game of the tournament (also Iran and Serbia); and even moreover, this was the first time Senegal got eliminated from the group stage, despite owning a huge advantage prior to the match against Colombia. The last time as many as three teams failed to get through the group stages despite winning their opener was in 2002 (Argentina, Costa Rica and Russia).


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Matches, Senegal vs Colombia
Assistant referees:Milovan Ristić (Serbia)Dalibor Đurđević (Serbia)Fourth official:Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)Reserve assistant referee:Hasan Al Mahri (United Arab Emirates)Video assistant referee:Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Discipline
Fair play points were used as tiebreakers because the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:


2018 FIFA World Cup Group H, Discipline
Only one of the above deductions were applied to a player in a single match.


2018 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights
FIFA, through several companies, sold the broadcasting rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to the following broadcasters.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage
The knockout stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 30 June with the round of 16 and ended on 15 July with the final match, held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The top two teams from each group (16 in total) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. A third place play-off was also played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage
France won the final 4–2 against Croatia for their second title.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Format
In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each), where each team was allowed to make a fourth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
The teams had faced each other in 11 previous matches, including two World Cup group stage matches, both won by Argentina (1–0 in 1930, and 2–1 in 1978).


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
After nine minutes, Antoine Griezmann's 25-yard free-kick crashed back off Franco Armani's crossbar. After picking the ball up deep inside his own half, Kylian Mbappé set off on a run that was halted when Marcos Rojo hauled him down just inside the area. Griezmann stepped up and converted from the spot, sending the ball low to Armani's right. Four minutes before the interval, Ángel Di María shot from distance with his left foot to beat Hugo Lloris into the top right corner of the net.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
Three minutes after the restart, Éver Banega's free-kick was headed out towards Lionel Messi whose effort towards goal from the right was diverted past Lloris by Gabriel Mercado with his left leg. Nine minutes later, Lucas Hernandez's cross from the left found Benjamin Pavard, who shot a half-volley from outside the area, sending it into Armani's top-right corner. Mbappé put France ahead again in the 64th minute when he picked up a loose ball in the left of the area, found a yard of space and fired in low with his left foot under Armani.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
His second – a first-time low finish from the right of the penalty area with his right foot – followed just four minutes later. Sergio Agüero nodded home in the third minute of stoppage time from a Messi cross from the right. Argentina had a final chance to score, but the ball was deflected, dumping them out of the World Cup. This game was hailed as "one of the greatest World Cup games of all time" by The Independent.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
With this match, Didier Deschamps became the longest-serving coach in the history of the French national team with his 80th game in charge of France, moving ahead of his predecessor Raymond Domenech. Mbappé became the first teenager to score at least twice in a World Cup tournament since Michael Owen in 1998, and the first teenager to score at least twice in a single World Cup match since Pelé netted twice for Brazil against Sweden in the 1958 final. Argentina became the first team to score at least three goals but still lose a World Cup match since the Soviet Union vs Belgium in 1986. Pavard's strike was later voted as goal of the tournament.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, France vs Argentina
Assistant referees:Reza Sokhandan (Iran)Mohammadreza Mansouri (Iran)Fourth official:Julio Bascuñán (Chile)Reserve assistant referee:Christian Schiemann (Chile)Video assistant referee:Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)Assistant video assistant referees:Paweł Gil (Poland)Carlos Astroza (Chile)Paolo Valeri (Italy)


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Uruguay vs Portugal
The teams had met in two previous matches, most recently in Brazil Independence Cup in 1972, the match ending in a 1–1 draw.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Uruguay vs Portugal
In the seventh minute, Edinson Cavani switched play from right to left with a sweeping pass out to Luis Suárez, who delivered a cross which the former crashed home at the back post from six yards out. In the 55th minute, Raphaël Guerreiro delivered a cross from a short corner on the left, which Pepe finished with a downward header.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Uruguay vs Portugal
Just seven minutes later, Rodrigo Bentancur collected the ball around 30 yards out and slipped a pass out to Cavani on the left side of the penalty area, Cavani then shot a curling right-foot strike into the right corner of the net to reclaim the lead for Uruguay. Bernardo Silva shot off-target with the goal gaping after Fernando Muslera's mistake, with Cavani seeming to pick up an injury in the scramble.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Uruguay vs Portugal
Pepe, aged 35 years and 124 days, became Portugal's oldest goal-scorer at a FIFA World Cup. This was the first time Uruguay won their opening four games at a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4–2 victory over Argentina in the final.


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Uruguay vs Portugal
Assistant referees:Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)Miguel Hernández (Mexico)Fourth official:Jair Marrufo (United States)Reserve assistant referee:Corey Rockwell (United States)Video assistant referee:Mark Geiger (United States)Assistant video assistant referees:Bastian Dankert (Germany)Joe Fletcher (Canada)Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)


2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Round of 16, Spain vs Russia
The teams had met in six previous games, most recently in a friendly in 2017, which ended in a 3–3 draw. Playing as the Soviet Union, the teams had faced each other five times. Russia only had one victory over Spain.