World Cup highlights: England make statement start as Ronaldo struggles for Portugal

[p]Flashscore brings you the best of the tournament in our daily World Cup highlights throughout the competition, so you don’t miss anything important.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/football-world-championship-world-cup-highlights-old-and-new-take-centre-stage-as-messi-answers-mbappe/tduuwKwn/"]Catch up on the highlights from day six here.[/a][/b][/p][embed guid="f699a63a-84f7-4445-bf61-74fc2a3e7b1b" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2067466021355520004" social-type="twitter" /][h2]The highlights[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a] made their return to the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years, getting their campaign underway by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/portugal-WvJrjFVN/?mid=4zTHJLbM"]coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Portugal.[/a][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neves-joao/hCbYVsXQ/"]Joao Neves[/a] gave Roberto Martinez's side an early lead in the sixth minute before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wissa-yoane/b35gWzB2/"]Yoane Wissa[/a] equalised deep into first-half added time.[/p][p]Supporters might have expected a barrage from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] as they searched for an important three points - but that wasn't the case. Despite 75 per cent possession, Neves' opener was their only shot on target (from seven attempted) throughout the match.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a] was the clear focus, with crosses targeting him in the box, which ultimately proved unsuccessful - the star man managed just 25 touches all game, in a history-making fixture as he featured at his sixth World Cup.[/p][image alt="Ronaldo heat map v DR Congo" id="a221d6ec-53b3-475d-91ea-b5e8e7ce32c9" credit-line="REUTERS/Phil Noble/Opta by Stats Perform" guid="ad817697-d5a5-4a90-b436-eb8a2473b0d4" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]'s clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] followed shortly after, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=b5qGuKMs"]in a match the Three Lions won 4-2[/a] after a brace from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a]. The striker's double saw him move level with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lineker-gary/tb3p0saj/"]Gary Lineker[/a] for the most World Cup goals in an England shirt (10). [/p][p]Manager Thomas Tuchel also saw his team selection vindicated after top performances from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/madueke-chukwunonso/Ac57P9Pt/"]Noni Madueke[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a].[/p][p]Perhaps the highlight of the day came in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-nNBjHale/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=jD1Nwbif"]Ghana's narrow 1-0 win over Panama[/a], where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yirenkyi-caleb/INmgLCSF/"]Caleb Yirenkyi[/a] netted a 95th-minute winner. His goal sparked wild celebrations in the stadium and gave the Black Stars a great chance at getting out of the group.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/uzbekistan-EZYKKRMc/?mid=jaMlPbx1"]Colombia's 3-1 thrashing of debutants Uzbekistan[/a] rounded off the day's action, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-luis/SKjMUHVm/"]Luis Diaz[/a] playing a starring role to see his country go top of Group K.[/p][embed guid="87a020b0-dfa1-4e01-838b-bc8b0a6b3f68" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2067471309160747289" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EqrBqf7QqOTeg2bEgxZ8l?si=YFr6VVSLShGvj9eJMSn7LQ" target="_blank"][b]Listen to the audio version of this article on Spotify[/b][/a][/p][h2]Goal of the day[/h2][p]Croatia were on the end of a losing effort against England, but gave their Group L challengers a good game and scored two excellent goals.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musa-petar/2JMpq78N/"]Petar Musa[/a] finished off a great move for the second, but the best strike came from midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baturina-martin/0WWy1lhR/"]Martin Baturina[/a]. The move started when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vuskovic-luka/QLMh9ouh/"]Luka Vuskovic[/a] won the ball off Bellingham in midfield, and the Vatreni worked it up the pitch quickly. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sucic-petar/dMS6iFY2/"]Petar Sucic[/a] sat down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stones-john/SlLxn4xl/"]John Stones[/a] with a nice bit of skill and laid the ball off for Baturina to fire an effort into the top corner.[/p][p]Goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pickford-jordan/SKTJdUtH/"]Jordan Pickford[/a] got his fingertips on the strike, but the power was too much for him as England conceded their first goal of the tournament.[/p][embed guid="bf9613ad-742f-4293-ad22-3e6062dee982" url="https://x.com/itvfootball/status/2067346397263770018" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Player of the day[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] winger Diaz was on top form in their 3-1 win against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]Uzbekistan[/a], grabbing a goal and an assist in a comprehensive victory for his nation.[/p][p]The 29-year-old's influence stretched beyond his direct goal contributions, with Diaz enjoying himself as Colombia dominated the match with 61 per cent possession.[/p][p]Alongside his goal and assist, the winger made two key passes, two dribbles, 11 passes into the final third and completed six progressive carries to earn an 8.9 Flashscore rating - the highest of anyone across the World Cup fixtures on day seven.[/p][image alt="Diaz stats v Uzbekistan" id="75dedcf3-8f10-4223-8f3c-1ae1a0c7d0a2" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez" guid="b10d53c8-9c3b-416b-b645-c8ed64a13fd0" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]Fans of the day[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] supporters lined the streets of Toronto ahead of their clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] and celebrated long into the night after a dramatic 95th-minute winner.[/p][p]The Black Stars endured a tough time last year after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations - but are making the most of the good times in North America for the 2026 World Cup.[/p][embed guid="517b4b13-7210-4e77-b5c1-118a8982b6b0" url="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2067456570536141051" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Best of social media[/h2][p]On the pitch, the World Cup has delivered several fine displays of fair play, but outside the stadiums, we have also witnessed some remarkable scenes. Some of them have even taken place far away from North America. [/p][p]With that in mind, we travel to Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, more specifically to Terreiro do Paco, which hosts thousands of Portuguese fans during every major tournament as they gather to watch the national team.[/p][p]2026 has been no exception, although this time a small percentage of Congolese supporters were also among the fans backing the Portugal team.[/p][p]The images capture the most beautiful side of football and the very reason the World Cup was created. Among thousands of Portuguese supporters, the celebrations following DR Congo's goal will go down as one of the tournament's most memorable moments and serve as yet another example of unity between peoples.[/p][embed guid="466f86c7-ef51-4095-b3c4-e70746dcd4ea" url="https://x.com/MundialMag/status/2067350938910691564" social-type="twitter" /][p]Over in North America, England fans were in full voice after their win over Croatia, singing along to Oasis's 'Wonderwall' as the players watched on from the pitch.[/p][embed guid="af1a67cf-54bb-4570-9965-d3580032705c" url="https://x.com/BBCMOTD/status/2067376582625300913" social-type="twitter" /][p]Elsewhere, TNT Sports Brazil published an interview with DR Congo midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mukau-ngal-ayel/2Nyle1h2/"]Ngal’ayel Mukau[/a], who had some interesting things to say about dealing with Portugal superstar Ronaldo.[/p][embed guid="1e2b4db0-89ba-4a82-8fe1-18f58745de80" url="https://x.com/TNTSportsBR/status/2067363821078053146" social-type="twitter" /][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]