World Cup LIVE: Ghana facing Panama after England soar past Croatia

[h2]Today's matches:[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/portugal-WvJrjFVN/?mid=4zTHJLbM"]Portugal 1-1 D.R. Congo[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=b5qGuKMs"]England 4-2 Croatia[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-nNBjHale/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=jD1Nwbif"]Ghana vs Panama - 01:00 CET[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/uzbekistan-EZYKKRMc/?mid=jaMlPbx1"]Uzbekistan vs Colombia - 04:00 CET[/a][/b][/p][h2]Live updates: [/h2][p][b]00:35 CET - [/b]And this is how [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] will line up to commence the match. An experienced side who have woked quite well under head coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/christiansen-thomas/AuojCcV5/"]Thomas Christensen[/a].[/p][image alt="Panama Starting Line-Up" id="0253b063-c0f6-46e9-b19b-30a4b318b956" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="3fbb7f1f-1189-428c-bd45-4b35fa2f0453" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]00:25 CET - [/b]Here is the starting line-up for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a], as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/queiroz-carlos/jPnZyPCr/"]Carlos Queiroz[/a] names a strong XI ahead of this match. With [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thomas/pMErKGnf/"]Thomas Partey[/a] denied entry into Canada, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yirenkyi-caleb/INmgLCSF/"]Caleb Yirenki[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/owusu-elisha/2TDOiuxH/"]Elisha Owusu[/a] will have to do the heavy lifting for The Black Stars in the midfield.[/p][image alt="Ghana Starting Line-Up" id="c6958639-dacf-48f1-ac5c-a49efa470b81" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="3699dd1e-ffc6-4f63-8c85-3b030995d570" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]00:20 CET[/b] - The third game of the day will start at the top of the clock as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] get their World Cup journeys underway. [/p][p][b]00:00 CET -[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] have got their World Cup campaign up and running with an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=b5qGuKMs"]emphatic 4-2 win[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a]. The Three Lions didn't look convincing in the first 45 minutes, but the second-half performance was exceptional, swarming all over Croatia. They could have scored six or seven.[/p][p]Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford all got on the scoresheet, and it is a bit of a statement result![/p][p]Croatia won't be too concerned, however, knowing that a win elsewhere should be enough to see them through the group.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="9f3266b5-e2d4-44df-9bcf-d86e3c4913e6" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="a4122e2d-09a1-4e4a-a620-f210e8f2c1d1" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]23:50 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] has surely wrapped this game up now for England, finishing excellently after an excellent team move. The substitutes have linked up to perfection, with Bukayo Saka instrumental in the goal.[/p][image alt="Rashford slots home for England" id="493bc92b-2b80-42ca-84e5-987f63b3cca5" credit-line="REUTERS / Kai Pfaffenbach" guid="a85f7472-7b02-499b-a155-0dc158be5656" original-width="3729" original-height="2264" /][p][b]23:33 CET - [/b]20 minutes left of the match, and England have been excellent this half. They could have scored a few more if it weren't for some great saves from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/livakovic-dominik/OOasPX9j/"]Dominik Livakovic[/a]. Can Croatia regroup during this hydration break?[/p][p][b]23:11 CET - [/b]What a start to the second half for England, courtesy of a brilliant finish from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] from a tight angle to give his nation the lead again! This is some match.[/p][p][b]23:09 CET - [/b]And we are back underway for the second half![/p][p][b]22:51 CET - [/b]What an end to a brilliant 45 minutes of football, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musa-petar/2JMpq78N/"]Petar Musa[/a] slotting home for Croatia with the last kick of the half to make it 2-2. The second half is going to be very interesting.[/p][image alt="Musa goal sequence" id="776f4751-2402-4696-8e06-59893445849a" credit-line="REUTERS / Kai Pfaffenbach / Opta by StatsPerform" guid="4db55b1f-a28f-403a-ab62-d54df67369ee" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]22:42 CET - [/b]England have struck straight back, and it is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a], yet again! Captain Fantastic with a brilliant header from a wonderful Declan Rice corner - something Arsenal fans are certainly used to seeing. 2-1![/p][p]Kane has now scored 10 goals for England at World Cups, going level with Gary Lineker's record.[/p][image alt="Harry Kane heads home" id="ce81d902-66b7-4808-8a2c-dc5d9f6a2346" credit-line="REUTERS / Issei Kato" guid="94ca7829-8bfb-4bf0-83e8-ddc2727c1502" original-width="5006" original-height="3113" /][p][b]22:37 CET - [/b]Croatia are level, and it is a wonderful strike from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baturina-martin/0WWy1lhR/"]Martin Baturina[/a]! The Como midfielder found a little bit of space on the edge of the box and powered it past Jordan Pickford in goal. There haven't been a lot of chances so far, but Croatia have found their equaliser.[/p][p][b]22:11 CET - [/b]Dream start for England! Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a] has scored from the spot, following a foul on Noni Madueke by Luka Modric. Incredibly, Kane missed initially, but he was allowed a second chance after a Croatian player had entered the box too early.[/p][p]He has now scored 80 goals for his country, as well as netting in five-straight major tournaments.[/p][image alt="Kane scores from the spot" id="a6b13cf8-5e2e-4591-abdd-e263e8a63555" credit-line="REUTERS / Hannah Mckay" guid="afbcb4e0-2f81-4087-86bb-633810cea98e" original-width="4573" original-height="3246" /][p][b]22:00 CET - [/b]We are off and running in the second game of the day! Will [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] make an early statement at the World Cup?[/p][p][b]21:00 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a] have just produced their greatest result as a nation after holding football giants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] for their first point at a World Cup. Disaster for Portugal, however, who failed to kick on at any point after their early goal.[/p][p]A really underwhelming performance from Roberto Martinez's side.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="02982017-b6af-440a-9b8c-21bdc0636054" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="f0bc8baf-cd6b-40f4-85b8-27a8dd09f1e5" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]20:47 CET - [/b]Team news is in from the second game of the evening as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a]. Thomas Tuchel has named a relatively predictable lineup with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] over Marcus Rashford and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] over Morgan Rogers.[/p][p]The one surprise comes from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stones-john/SlLxn4xl/"]John Stones[/a] starting ahead of Marc Guehi at the back, despite Guehi looking very much like the number one centre-back not so long ago. [/p][p]As for Croatia, it is a familiar-looking team captained by the legendary [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/modric-luka/bZWyoJnA/"]Luka Modric[/a].[/p][image alt="Starting lineups" id="6a12f969-744f-4d7c-82a3-241db65e2f62" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="53d51a04-bc82-4767-adca-a1e1678fed72" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]20:32 CET - [/b]Portugal had a big chance to retake the lead just before the second hydration break, and it came to the main man - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a] but he scuffed the effort from close range. Portugal are running out of time...[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="4f409e24-a5c4-4e9c-8dd5-08caa52a8b03" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="f9d4e645-ac3f-4817-8efa-6c8d6b11f846" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]20:20 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cancelo-joao/dAyeWYpm/"]Joao Cancelo[/a] thought he had scored a wonder goal for a brief moment after an acrobatic strike found the back of the net but Joao Neves was offside in the build-up and the goal was instantly disallowed. [/p][p][b]19:52 CET - [/b]A huge moment for D.R. Congo in their long-awaited return to the World Cup as Newcastle United star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wissa-yoane/b35gWzB2/"]Yoane Wissa[/a] equalises with a bullet header in the final action of the second half! Portugal have been stunned.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="1b297e2c-dbb3-49e4-9633-961c67461054" credit-line="StatsPerform" guid="2c8797a1-4a7a-4b83-9f48-fb42f8a69b6b" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]19:40 CET - [/b]Since scoring, Portugal have huffed and puffed without any real conviction, and D.R. Congo will be happy enough if they can go into the break just one goal down. It gives them hope and after the early goal, it wouldn't have been a surprise if the floodgates opened.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="0c190a17-4159-46da-94a5-e5539ff8084d" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="dba9094a-492f-4002-be28-c10de82490e2" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]19:10 CET - [/b]Portugal have wasted no time getting their World Cup campaign off to a dream start! [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neves-joao/hCbYVsXQ/"]Joao Neves[/a] has scored a few headed goals for PSG and is a real threat inside the box and the defensive midfielder rose highest from a teasing Pedro Neto cross to put Portugal ahead in the sixth minute! Lift-off for Roberto Martinez's side in no time at all.[/p][image alt="Joao Neves goal sequence" id="cd8bf4e6-4fc9-4a31-be21-a7934af80cbd" credit-line="REUTERS / Pedro Nunes / StatsPerform" guid="5e91219c-e75b-4181-b05e-9914dccd9e34" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]18:00 CET - [/b]Ready for some team news from the first game of the day as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/portugal-WvJrjFVN/?mid=4zTHJLbM"]Portugal take on D.R. Congo[/a]?[/p][p]The lineups are in and it is no surprise to see Roberto Martinez has picked Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the line, but it is a very strong side around him, in fairness.[/p][image alt="Starting lineups" id="fa1717b6-f6b1-4a9c-8365-baced634401a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="71e9fc92-7513-4ad2-831b-148a4c8e9fbf" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]16:45 CET - [/b]As kick-off time for the first game of the evening closes in, let's take a look at a classic case of David vs Goliath. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] are the big favourites, but will all the talk about Cristiano Ronaldo be a hindrance and negative distraction for Roberto Martinez, or will the Spaniard find a way to get the best out of Ronaldo and the team around him? If Portugal get it right in that regard, then they have one of the most exciting squads in the tournament and their midfield on paper is the strongest at the World Cup. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a] had to come through the gruelling play-offs to even qualify, so expectations are understandably low.[/p][p]With that, however, comes the ability to play up to the underdog role without any pressure. That freedom could make all the difference against a side with so much expectation and pressure, and a captain with the weight of a country on his ageing shoulders. [/p][embed guid="8c74f7d1-3b99-494f-af19-8de7ba7599bd" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2067224741619126639" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]14:30 CET - [/b]There is still plenty of time until the first match of the day, so why don't you check some of our big features out before proceedings get underway?[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-how-lionel-messi-dismantled-algeria-as-argentina-begin-their-world-cup-defence/SQ8cWPTa/"]How Lionel Messi dismantled Algeria as Argentina begin their World Cup defence[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-how-england-can-continue-their-good-recent-form-over-an-ageing-croatia-at-the-world-cup/8YgoGsEr/"]How England can continue their good recent form over an ageing Croatia at the World Cup[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-exclusive-otabek-shukurov-on-uzbekistan-s-historic-qualification-and-a-clash-with-portugal/lbKBXXKk/"]EXCLUSIVE: Otabek Shukurov on Uzbekistan's World Cup debut and a clash with Portugal[/a][/b][/p][p][b]12:45 CET - [/b]Good afternoon and welcome to a fascinating day at the 2026 World Cup as the final eight teams play their opening games of the tournament. First up today, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] begin their campaign with what should be a relatively comfortable game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a] from [b]19:00 CET[/b].[/p][embed guid="193524ec-37b1-4597-9590-23ad66c7c783" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2067149847506145422" social-type="twitter" /][p]That is followed by Thomas Tuchel's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] getting their World Cup journey started against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. [/p][p][b]As always, check out our [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-world-cup-highlights-the-never-ageing-messi-responds-to-haaland-and-mbappe/AV7kQLxq/"]day six highlights piece[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2026-day-6-live-updates/W009biBU/"]relive all the action from yesterday's thrilling matches here[/a].[/b][/p]