Argentina snatched a dramatic win over valiant Cape Verde as a Diney own goal from Cristian Romero’s header deep into extra time handed the reigning champions a 3-2 win in an instant World Cup classic.
Lionel Messi had extended his fine form by scoring in an eighth successive World Cup game to break the deadlock in the first half but the minnows refused to accept defeat.
Deroy Duarte’s driven effort brought the African side level to force extra time before Lisandro Martinez’s delightful, curled finish at the near post looked to move the world champions into the last 16.
A thunderous strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral replied for Cape Verde to make it 2-2 and spark wild scenes of celebrations but Romero rose highest to flick home Messi’s 111th-minute corner off the arm of Diney to put the world champions through after the hugest of scares
Relive all the action in our live blog below:
Argentina vs Cape Verde LIVE
- Minnows Cape Verde lose 3-2 in extra time to Argentina in a World Cup classic
- Argentina snatch thrilling win and will face Egypt in the round of 16 but Cape Verde the real heroes
- 111' GOAL! Romero heads home Messi corner to restore relieved world champions' lead [ARG 3-2 CPV]
- 103' GOAL! Lopes Cabral hammers in wondergoal to bring minnows level [ARG 2-2 CPV]
- 93' GOAL! Lisandro Martinez smashes home vital goal at start of extra time [ARG 2-1 CPV]
- 59' GOAL! Duarte stuns world champions with shock equaliser [ARG 1-1 CPV]
- 29' GOAL! Stunning touch and finish from Messi puts world champions ahead [ARG 1-0 CPV]
Cabral's stunner - and amazing celebration
02:00 , Will Castle
Sidny Cabral scored arguably the goal of the tournament and celebrated by jumping into the crowd as tiny Cape Verde threatened to produce one of biggest ever World Cup upsets against Argentina.
With his side trailing 2-1 in extra time, Cabral cut past Alexis Mac Allister into the box before bending spectacularly into the top-right corner, curling around the body of Nahuel Molina as Cape Verde pegged back the holders for the second time of their last-32 clash.
Wild celebrations erupted inside the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with 23-year-old Cabral leaping into the stands to celebrate amongst the Cape Verde fans.
Cape Verde’s Cabral celebrates in crowd after scoring screamer against Argentina
01:48 , Alan Smith
The biggest justification imaginable for a 48-team World Cup.
Cape Verde did not sit back and look to frustrate. They gave it such a go, scoring two fantastic goals and almost humbling the reigning champions.
01:46 , Alan Smith
Everyone appears exhausted. Argentina are barely able to celebrate. Cape Verde’s players are displaying both pride and sadness that their run has ended.
FULL-TIME! Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (aet)
01:45 , Alan Smith
The reigning champions are through.
But Cape Verde are the heroes from this match; the minnows who almost achieved the greatest upset of all.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:43 , Alan Smith
122’ - Varela shoots wide from 25 yards. Emi Martinez pumps his fists. There is still a minute to go.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:42 , Alan Smith
120’ - Varela’s shot from range is blocked for a corner. Yannick Semedo picks out Montero and he has a tasty shot but it’s blocked.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:41 , Alan Smith
120 - There will be three added minutes.
Romero’s goal is now going down as a Borges OG.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:40 , Alan Smith
119’ - Benchimol within a whisker! The Cape Verde sub is so so close to scoring but Martinez gets in his way, conceding a corner. From it Livramento thinks he has a glorious chance - only to sky it and also be flagged offside.
Time is running out...
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:39 , Alan Smith
118’ - After a delay for Tagliafico to have a blooded nose stemmed, Yannick Semedo’s corner is cleared. Tagliafico did not spend the mandated minute off the pitch.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:37 , Alan Smith
117’ - Lopes Cabral tries his luck from a difficult angle and he makes Emi Martinez work hard to save, the goalkeeper turning the ball over his bar for a corner.
Cape Verde’s second goalscorer then immediately does down with a bad cramp.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:36 , Alan Smith
115’ - Montiel is booked for hacking down Varela just outside the box on Argentina’s right. Can Cape Verde find one more quality set piece?
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:35 , Alan Smith
115’ - Three Argentina players are down with cramp: Gonzalez, Lisandro Martinez and Mac Allister.
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
01:34 , Alan Smith
114’ - Gonzalez is down injured and Argentina want the match to stop but Cape Verde, as is their right, continue to play. It’s not a head injury.
GOAL! Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (Romero 111)
01:33 , Alan Smith
Argentina are ahead again. Messi swings the corner in and Romero rises to head it goalwards. It takes a big deflection off the hand of Borges en route and Scaloni wipes his brow, still in a state of shock that his team have ended up in this position.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:32 , Alan Smith
111’ - Gonzalez weaves his way into the box. Borges does well to come across and intercept for a corner.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:28 , Alan Smith
108’ - Messi floats in a deep free kick. It’s nodded away.
IN PICTURES: Lopes Cabral's incredible equaliser
01:26 , Luke Baker
What a moment...
Restarted! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:26 , Alan Smith
Who blinks next?
Half-time in extra-time! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:23 , Alan Smith
Let’s watch that leveller back again. And again.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:22 , Alan Smith
108’ - Molina was replaced by Montiel just after the equaliser while Lopes Cabral was in the crowd finding his people.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:21 , Alan Smith
105’ - There will be three added minutes.
Now Messi has a shot stopped by Vozinha.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde
01:20 , Alan Smith
104’ - Lopes Cabral dances in from the right, past a limp Mac Allister challenge, and sees a small gap in the top right corner. He eyes his spot and whips an utterly remarkable shot past Emi Martinez and in for the leveller.
He then, perhaps in a daze, jumps into the stand and tries to find his loved ones, refusing to go back on the pitch until he embraces them.
GOAL! Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde (Lopes Cabral 103)
01:18 , Alan Smith
What a hit! What a moment! And what a bizarre celebration! We have just witnessed one of the great World Cup moments no matter what happens from here.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:15 , Alan Smith
100’ - Cape Verde’s final changes.
Deroy Duarte and Lenini are off. Benchimol and Yannick Semedo are on.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:13 , Alan Smith
98’ - Messi and Alvarez link up nicely in the box and both have shots blocked, the latter’s leading to a corner kick. If Alvarez was fully fit you get the sense that Argentina would be a far more fearsome prospect than this.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:11 , Alan Smith
96’ - Lopes Cabral wins a corner via Mac Allister and takes the set piece himself. An outswinger is headed away for another by Gonzalez. After some pinball that sees Borges go down clutching his face following an accidental collision Martinez gives away a third.
This one is finally cleared.
Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde
01:10 , Alan Smith
95’ - Now Cape Verde must simply go for it. Their journey to this point has been so improbable that you can’t rule out another minor miracle.
GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Cape Verde (Li Martinez, 92)
01:08 , Alan Smith
Messi’s corner is nodded on by Mac Allister. It floats above a cluster of players and Martinez meets it unmarked at the back stick. He then smashes high past Vozinha.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
01:07 , Alan Smith
92’ - Molina whips in a cross - a relative rarity for Argentina compared to many other teams we’ve seen over the past three weeks - and Lopes unconvincingly puts it out for a corner.
Extra-time underway! Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
01:05 , Alan Smith
91 ‘ - For a fifth time from 15 knockouts so far, we’re into extra time.
Extra-time! Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:59 , Alan Smith
98’ - We’re going to extra time.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:57 , Alan Smith
95’ - Messi beats the wall with a deflection off Lopes Cabral and it bounces awkwardly in front of Vozinha. The goalkeeper parries it but Cape Verde maintain parity as the seconds tick away.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:55 , Alan Smith
94’ - Messi tries to go it alone now, weaving inwards until Borges trips him about 22 yards out. The TV cameras switch to Beckham in the stands - this was his prime real estate.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:53 , Alan Smith
92’ - Vozinha makes an easy stop from Paredes and then plays keepy-uppy in the box for a little bit. A remarkable flex.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:52 , Alan Smith
91’ - Messi has now dropped deep to take up the quarter back role. They have sent a number of bodies into the box and the plan is for the star man to try and find them.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:51 , Alan Smith
90’ - VAR is not interested and it would have been brutally harsh.
There will be eight added minutes.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:51 , Alan Smith
89’ - Argentina want a penalty and the VAR is checking. It’s because of an alleged handball from Pico Lopes after Messi’s long pass was nodded on by Mac Allister. It hits the Irishman’s head and then falls on to his hand.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:48 , Alan Smith
88’ - But it is cleared.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:48 , Alan Smith
87’ - At last some urgency from Argentina. Mac Allister takes a shot that is deflected over for a corner. Messi will swing it in from the right.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:46 , Alan Smith
86’ - Medina’s evening is over. He has done a muscle. Tagliafico is on for him. On the touchline Scaloni is growing more and more pensive.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:45 , Alan Smith
84’ - Now Lenini does similar, cutting out a low cross from Gonzalez for a corner.
Paredes replaces De Paul.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:43 , Alan Smith
81’ - Pico Lopes has almost put the ball in his own net having made a fantastic interception to cut out a deeply dangerous low cross from the right that Fernandez was destined to tap in. Instead it’s about a foot or so wide of his post and Argentina’s subsequent corner is cleared.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:41 , Alan Smith
80’ - Two more change for Cape Verde, leaving them with one remaining.
Jovane Cabral and Mendes are coming off. Varela and Semedo are coming on.
IN PICTURES: Vozinha repeatedly denies Messi
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:39 , Luke Baker
One World Cup icon making multiple saves from another!
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:39 , Alan Smith
78’ - Cape Verde have a free kick 40 yards out, won via foul committed by Mac Allister. Lenini scuffs it well wide.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:37 , Alan Smith
76’ - We’re playing again. This can’t last. Can it?
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:34 , Alan Smith
73’ - Another Vozinha save! Messi lofts this one towards the top right corner but Cape Verde’s goalkeeper reacts well and turns it around for a corner, which is then taken too deep.
And, finally, we’ll have the advertising break.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:33 , Alan Smith
72’ - Messi wins another free kick. This one off Deroy Duarte and just outside the box. We’re yet to have the hydration break because Argentina spend so much time passing it about with such little impetus that nothing happens for long spells.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:30 , Alan Smith
69’ - The wall is because Messi fails to get it up.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:29 , Alan Smith
68’ - Lenini is booked for hauling Messi down from about 30 yards. Everyone thinks they know what is about to happen. Is any one able to stop it?
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:28 , Alan Smith
68’ - Now for two Cape Verde changes. Jamiro Monteiro and Dailon Livramento have come on for Leroy Duarte and Da Costa.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:27 , Alan Smith
66’ - Argentina are struggling along the fine line between patient and passive. Again, without Messi there is very, very little there and it is hard to imagine them competing with France should they meet again.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:24 , Alan Smith
63’ - Vozinha denies Messi! The great man gets beyond the Cape Verde defence but he needs to shoot off his weaker right foot, chooses to go for the nutmeg but the goalkeeper saves. It’s a corner, but not until some substitutions.
Alvarez and Gonzalez are on for Almada and Lautaro Martinez.
Messi then takes the corner. Vozinha makes a comfortable collection.
Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:22 , Alan Smith
60’ - It’s a double nutmeg goal. Mendes plays it between Medina’s legs with a low pass from the right for Duarte to control. And from a tight angle he then shoots through Lisandro Martinez and past Emi Martinez, who does not see it until late, for the leveller.
GOAL! Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde (D Duarte, 59)
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:20 , Alan Smith
Wow. Here they go again....
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:19 , Alan Smith
58’ - Romero brings down Deroy Duarte near halfway. It’s a free kick. It could easily have been a yellow card.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:18 , Alan Smith
57’ - The possession starts are not far off 50/50 so far in this second half and you’re increasingly left with the feeling that Argentina are not up to very much at all with the exception of having the greatest player of all time up front.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:16 , Alan Smith
56’ - Vozinha launches clear when being pressed by Messi. Yes, that is correct.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:15 , Alan Smith
53’ - And Martinez is called into action! Deroy Duarte arrives on the edge of the box to shoot but Aston Villa’s goalkeeper makes a routine save.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde.
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:10 , Alan Smith
48’ - Cabral wins a corner off Molina. This is Cape Verde’s only real route to levelling. Lopes Cabral takes it. Argentina half clear to Cabral and his shot is deflected out for another which Lopes Cabral delivers again. And this time Argentina clear properly with Cabral and Borges colliding when trying to meet the cross.
Restarted! Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Saturday 4 July 2026 00:06 , Alan Smith
46’ - We’re back underway.
First-half dominance
Friday 3 July 2026 23:55 , Alan Smith
5 - Argentina is the first team in FIFA World Cup history to hold a lead at half-time of five straight knockout round matches.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 3, 2026
Advantage. pic.twitter.com/V44fUPF1Qe
Half-time! Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:50 , Alan Smith
49’ - Four more minutes pass by without absolutely nothing happening.
One bit of Messi brilliance is the different at the interval.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:47 , Alan Smith
45’ - There will be four added minutes.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:45 , Alan Smith
45’ - Fernandez strikes firmly goalwards from the edge of the box. Vozinha parries it away.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:43 , Alan Smith
42’ - Just another bit of Messi magic while the game slithers along at a snail’s pace.
12 - With the opening goal against Cabo Verde, Lionel Messi has 12 goal contributions in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup (6 goals, 6 assists), surpassing Pelé and Kylian Mbappé (11 each) for the most since 1966.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 3, 2026
Vital. pic.twitter.com/mH2tTuaz1S
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:40 , Alan Smith
38’ - Cape Verde get forward down the right but Mendes’ cross is unable to find a teammate.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:36 , Alan Smith
35’ - Messi has signalled a degree of frustration towards his teammates just now. Their build-up play is all a bit that episode of Fr. Ted in terms of speed. But when he can just switch it on with two touches such as for the goal, who really cares?
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:32 , Alan Smith
32’ - Watching replays back, is that the goal of the tournament so far? It’s how he combined a first touch of silk followed by ruthless finishing.
Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:30 , Alan Smith
29’ - It’s classic Messi. Lisandro Martinez pings a ball over the top, just landing beyond the retreating Borges. Messi kills it dead with his left boot before then firing high past Vozinha. That’s goal number 20 in the World Cup on his 30th appearance and he has scored in eight matches on the trot.
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Cape Verde (Messi, 29)
Friday 3 July 2026 23:29 , Alan Smith
Within a minute of the restart, the main man has scored again.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:28 , Alan Smith
28’ - Back underway.
Diego Simeone is also in the posh seats, wearing the Argentina shirt.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:25 , Alan Smith
25’ - Hydration break.
Cape Verde will be very, very happy. This is yet to get going.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:24 , Alan Smith
25’ - Messi brings oohs and aahs with a slow dribble down the right. But he then gives the ball away with a pass forward.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:18 , Alan Smith
18’ - Messi beats the wall and it loops towards the bottom left corner but Vozinha makes a straightforward save.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:18 , Alan Smith
17’ - Sonny Cabral is harshly penalised for a challenge on Messi. He gets the ball first but the referee has awarded Argentina a soft free kick in a very dangerous position, 25 yards out.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:15 , Alan Smith
16’ - The Beckhams are in the posh seats.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:15 , Alan Smith
15’ - At last, some action! Almada cuts a ball back to Messi inside the box. He shimmies into some space but scuffs his shot across the face of goal and wide.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:14 , Alan Smith
14’ - Nothing at all is happening. Cape Verde are structured and stable. Argentina are going sideways. And we’re still waiting for someone to take a risk.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:11 , Alan Smith
10’ - This might be the most sedate start to a match all tournament. It’s even more prosaic than England 0-0 Ghana.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:08 , Alan Smith
8’ - Both teams are feeling each other out a bit here, playing at walking pace. Cape Verde are sitting back, Argentina appear in no rush to break them down.
Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:03 , Alan Smith
4’ - Cape Verde have had a reasonable amount of the ball early on. De Paul leaves on in on Lopes Cabral, giving away a free kick after the Cape Verdean had earlier collided with Molina but play was allowed to continue.
Kick-off! Argentina 0-0 Cape Verde
Friday 3 July 2026 23:00 , Alan Smith
1’ - We’re underway, the minnows get us going kicking from right to left as we watch in dark blue. Argentina are in their normal primary strip.
Storm watch
Friday 3 July 2026 22:56 , Alan Smith
A word of warning: storms have been forecast in the area. So far they have not broken but we can only hope for the best.
Almost time
Friday 3 July 2026 22:52 , Alan Smith
The teams are emerging from the tunnel, nerves are jangling and the most one-sided tie on paper is about to get going.
But, as always, a reminder that football is not played on paper.
Scaloni not surprised by Cape Verde's progress
Friday 3 July 2026 22:40 , Alan Smith
“They’re a good team,” Argentina’s head coach says on American TV. “We’ve already watched them, not just because we are playing against them, but because we were analysing potential opponents and then they qualified. We are not surprised, to be honest. They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them and that’s what we will do.”
More Messi history
Friday 3 July 2026 22:25 , Alan Smith
Lionel Messi starts for Argentina, and will make his 30th World Cup appearance, the first man to reach that landmark.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 3, 2026
With an average age of 31 years and 197 days, Cape Verde have named the oldest starting XI by any team in a FIFA World Cup knockout game on record (since 1950). pic.twitter.com/2CVXBmINwX
Mexico-England kick-off time set for change
Friday 3 July 2026 22:14 , Luke Baker
The kick-off time of England’s last-16 clash with Mexico at the World Cup 2026 looks set to be brought forward by six hours in order to avoid potential storms in Mexico City.
Media in Mexico, citing sources with knowledge of the matter, have suggested the game, which is scheduled to kick off at 1am BST on Monday morning (6pm local time on Sunday) will now start at 7pm BST (12pm local) instead. The BBC are also reporting that they understand the game has been brought forward.
That is because of a significant risk of storms in the area when the match is currently scheduled and Mexico already saw their last-32 match against Ecuador earlier this week delayed due to rain.
England v Mexico kick-off time at World Cup to be brought forward due to storm risk
The main man arrives
Friday 3 July 2026 22:06 , Alan Smith
Lionel Messi, and his Argentina teammates, have arrived to the stadium.
So too have Cape Verde, whose line-up includes the veteran goalkeeper Vozinha.
Egypt progress
Friday 3 July 2026 21:54 , Alan Smith
Egypt have beaten Australia in their shootout, meaning they await the winner of this match.
Tonight's referee
Friday 3 July 2026 21:52 , Alan Smith
Drew Fischer, from Canada, will be taking charge of this game.
He has already taken charge of the Group I encounter between France and Iraq and the Croatia vs Ghana Group L match.
His aissistants will be compatriots Micheal Barwegen and Lyes Arfa,
Katia Itzel Garcia from Mexico is fourth official and Sandra Ramirez is the reserve assistant.
Cape Verde XI confirmed
Friday 3 July 2026 21:43 , Alan Smith
Vozinha; Moreira, Lopes, Borges, Lopes Cabral; Lenini; Mendes, L Duarte, D Duarte, Cabral; Da Costa.
Argentina XI confirmed
Friday 3 July 2026 21:42 , Alan Smith
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martinez.
Penalty watch
Friday 3 July 2026 21:40 , Alan Smith
We’re about to have a shootout in today’s earlier kick-off between Australia and Egypt.
And you can follow it below
Australia v Egypt LIVE: Score and updates as World Cup clash goes to extra time
Team news
Friday 3 July 2026 21:30 , Chris Wilson
The starting line-ups should be released any time from now, so here’s a reminder of the early team news...
Argentina rested much of their regular starting side for the win over Jordan, with Lionel Messi among those primed for a return. The No 10 registered off the bench in that game to take his tally for the tournament to six, and in World Cups overall to 19.
For Cape Verde, Telmo Arcanjo missed the last game against Saudi Arabia and is again a doubt.
How does ‘Snicko’ work at the World Cup? Why Croatia were denied equaliser against Portugal by VAR technology
Friday 3 July 2026 21:22 , Chris Wilson
Croatia were left to rue the involvement of “Snicko” technology at the World Cup after being denied a stoppage-time equaliser by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Josko Gvardiol had appeared to keep his side’s hopes of progressing alive when he turned home from close range in the 13th minute of additional time to level the match with Portugal football at 2-2.
Gvardiol’s goal appeared to take the round of 32 clash to extra time only for VAR Jarred Gillett to intervene with the official checking the incident for offside.
How does ‘Snicko’ work at World Cup? Why Croatia were denied equaliser by technology
World Cup results
Friday 3 July 2026 21:12 , Chris Wilson
Here’s the full list of results from the round of 32 so far then:
Germany 1-1 Paraguay (3-4 pens.)
Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (2-3 pens.)
Friday 3 July 2026 21:01 , Chris Wilson
Ronaldo’s tears, Martinez’s choice and Modric’s ending: Inside Portugal v Croatia, a World Cup epic
Friday 3 July 2026 20:52 , Chris Wilson
And the story of Portugal’s dramatic win over Croatia...
Belatedly, Roberto Martinez was stirred out of his slumber. A manager who can look smilingly passive was facing the end: of Portugal’s World Cup, perhaps of his reign, too. Portugal’s perplexing first half had brought 69 per cent of possession and a lone shot on target.
Then they trailed and Martinez showed a decisiveness he is often accused of lacking. A quadruple change altered the momentum, the World Cup. One of the arrivals, Goncalo Ramos, was to prove the man who did something many an opponent has failed to accomplish in the last two World Cups and finish off Croatia.
But Martinez’s later, and final, change was his most instructive, perhaps his most influential.
Ronaldo’s tears, Martinez’s choice and Modric’s ending: Inside a World Cup epic
Are you watching, France? Spain breeze past Austria – and this is why they’re peaking at just the right time
Friday 3 July 2026 20:41 , Chris Wilson
Some of the big news from yesterday as Spain laid down the gauntlet to other sides in the competition...
While all the big-hitters around them experience a glut of goals and drama, depending on which way you glance, Spain continue their methodical and altogether stress-free path to the latter stages of the World Cup. Sure, they are lacking France’s all-out firepower. Sure, they are lacking a leading talisman in Argentina’s Lionel Messi or England’s Harry Kane. But as a cohesive unit, ticking over possession and grounding their opposition into submission, there is still no collective, well-rounded team better at this World Cup 2026 than La Roja.
In Los Angeles on Thursday, they made a statement. Across the board, the Spanish had too much suave and poise for an Austrian outfit who, after their incredible stoppage-time equaliser against Algeria last Saturday, had run out of steam. For Mikel Oyarzabal, there was another World Cup brace to back up his tally against Saudi Arabia as he ruthlessly capitalised on two pinpoint crosses from Marc Cucurella. In between those goals came a first international goal for Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, who took advantage of his starting pick ahead of Marcos Llorente. A tougher test lies in wait in the last 16, mind: either Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal or Luka Modric’s Croatia in Dallas on Monday.
Are you watching, France? This is why Spain are peaking at just the right time
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
