SPORTS

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and 2010 winners Spain progressed to the World Cup knockout rounds on a Monday night of high drama dominated by VAR decisions after host nation Russia and Uruguay also qualified. Spain ended up topping Group B by virtue of goals scored after an injury-time strike by Iago Aspas — confirmed by the video assistant referee — rescued ...

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and 2010 winners Spain can lock down spots in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, as hosts Russia ride a wave of national euphoria into their clash with Uruguay. Spain crashed out in spectacular fashion in the group stage four years ago in Brazil but are on course to reach the knockout phase in Russia despite ...

Portugal boss Fernando Santos predicts a “tough battle” in Monday’s decisive World Cup group game against Iran as both countries chase a place in the last 16. European champions Portugal are level with Spain on four points at the top of group B and need a draw to guarantee qualification. Iran, who beat Morocco in their opening game before losing ...

England’s young and free-flowing team banished the ghost of past national failures with a record 6-1 thrashing of feeble Panama on Sunday that included a hat-trick by Harry Kane and eased them into the last 16. England’s biggest-ever World Cup win, featuring two penalties by Kane then a fortuitous deflection off his heel, also guaranteed Belgium’s berth in the next ...

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his sensational start to the World Cup with the winner as Portugal knocked Morocco out of the tournament. All eyes at the Luzhniki Stadium were on the Real Madrid star after his hat-trick in Portugal’s opening game with Spain and, typically, he did not disappoint. It took the captain only four minutes to make his mark in ...

018 Fifa World Cup: Argentina v Croatia Venue: Nizhny Novgorod Date: Thursday, 21 June Time: 19:00 BST Live: Watch live on BBC One from 18:30 BST; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; text commentary on the BBC Sport website Argentina forward Lionel Messi does not need to win the World Cup to be considered an all-time great, says former striker ...

Senegal deservedly defeated Poland in a game of few chances to claim the first win by an African team at the World Cup – although there was a hint of controversy about their second goal. M’Baye Niang sprinted back on to the field of play after injury and immediately intercepted a backpass from midfield, beating former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny ...

Japan profited from Colombia’s nightmare start to the World Cup as they secured a victory against 10 men in their Group H opener in Saransk, despite James Rodriguez’s late introduction. Colombia conceded a penalty and had a man sent off inside three minutes, with Carlos Sanchez dismissed for handling Shinji Kagawa’s shot at a goal left exposed by terrible defending. ...

Harry Kane’s stoppage-time winner ensured England started their World Cup campaign with victory after Tunisia threatened to snatch a point in Volgograd. Kane scored his second goal of the game with a clever header as Gareth Southgate’s side recorded England’s first win in the opening game of a major tournament since they beat Paraguay in the 2006 World Cup. England’s ...

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku will “remember to have fun” at the World Cup, despite claiming “some people in my own country want to see me fail”. The 25-year-old Manchester United forward is expected to start against Panama in Sochi on Monday (16:00 BST). But he feels many Belgium supporters do not appreciate him and are unaware of his poverty-hit childhood. ...