Things have happened on the other side of the Atlantic.
France ran over Norway – and now Sweden awaits in the round of 16. World Cup debutant Cape Verde caused a huge shock and is through to the playoffs. Isak Hien leaves the WC after the injury he sustained against Japan.
These are tonight’s headlines from the World Cup.
Norway–France 1–4
Norway rotated almost the entire starting eleven and suffered a big loss against France.
The French won 4–1 after, among other things, a hat-trick by Ousmane Dembélé. Sweden awaits in the round of 16. It became 100 percent clear with Cape Verde’s thrashing in Group H.
► Read more about the match here!
Senegal–Iraq 5–0
Senegal and Iraq both needed a big win to have the chance to be one of the top eight group threes and advance to the round of 16.
It was also a dream result – for Senegal.
The 5-0 victory came after Sweden’s Rebin Sulaka’s nightmare. The 34-year-old received a red card after 13 minutes in his first WC start.
Read more here!
Spain Uruguay 1–0
Uruguay’s veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, 40, was on the scoresheet against Spain when he conceded Alex Baena’s 1-0 goal.
It was also the only one of the match. Uruguay completed their World Cup fiasco and in the final stages of the match Agustín Canobbio was red carded for a completely crazy bet on Pau Cubarsí
Read more here!
Dunderskräll – the island nation further
In the same group, Cape Verde drew (0–0) against Saudi Arabia. It was enough for a second place in the group and a sensational advancement to the round of 16.
Perhaps the toughest possible opposition awaits there.
Read more about the thunderclap here!
Isak Hien leaves the WC
Last night, the Swedish Football Association announced that centre-back Isak Hien is leaving the WC. Hien was injured in the final group stage match against Japan and after investigations it is clear that there will be no more World Cup games.
Read more about the announcement here!
Bad atmosphere in Panama
Panama is already out of the World Cup before the final group stage match against England is even played.
And the mood doesn’t seem to be at its best in the squad. During a training session before the next match, Cecilio Waterman and Jose Luis Rodriguez got into a fight with each other.
In a video from the training, you can see how they put each other before the teammates go in between. Waterman also pointed the finger at Rodriguez while trying to approach him. However, he was pushed away by his teammates and the fight could be averted.
But coach Thomas Christiansen doesn’t seem worried. He wants to see more trouble in training.
– It is a normal situation. I would like to see it happen more often, he says according to The Sun.
– It means that the team is alive, that the players are fighting to be in the starting eleven and it is a good sign that they are on their toes.
Panama has lost its two World Cup matches against Ghana and Croatia by the same numbers (0–1).
Panama–England kicks off at 11 p.m. on Saturday.
