World Cup LIVE: Scotland handed boost, FIFA deny France request, Man Utd injury blow

The second half of both games have started with some changes made.

The most notable one is in the Uruguay goal with Fernando Muslera replaced by Sergio Rochet following his error that led to Spain's goal.

There were more injuries than goals in those two first 45 minutes.

Hassan Al Tambakti was stretchered off for Saudi Arabia with Manchester United star Manuel Ugarte later following suit with what appeared to a knee injury.

What a howler from Fernando Muslera!

Uruguay are not happy as they wanted the game stopped but Spain carried on with Alex Baena converting a cross from Marcos Llorente.

Muslera looked to be gathering the ball comfortably but the effort has somehow escaped his grasp. That is a big goal for Scotland as well!

Unsurprisingly, the hydration breaks in both games have been heavily booed.

Those in attendance could also be jeering the rather poor 23 minutes of football they have watched. This has thus far not been the ideal games to put in this time slot.

It certainly looks as though Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia didn't get the memo for early goals in these final World Cup group-stage games.

None of the four teams have really had a threatening attempt at goal yet. There has however, been plenty of fouls in both games which has seen them become very stop-start with two bookings already dished out in the Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia clash.

No goals just yet, though.

The two very early morning games (depending on where you are in the world) are underway with all four teams able to qualify for the knockout stages!

The bottom two teams in Group H can also still qualify for the knockout stages with Saudi Arabia in need of a win while Cape Verde could advance with just a draw.

The latter have been a joy to watch while Saudi Arabia caused Uruguay real problems before being overwhelmed by Spain. Here is how their respective starting XI's look:

Group H is now the focus at the World Cup with Spain vs Uruguay the undoubtable highlight.

The European champions are favourites to finish first but Marcelo Bielsa's side are certainly capable of a surprise win.

This game also has a big impact on Scotland with the Tartan Army wanting Spain to win. Here is how the two teams line-up with Darwin Nunez recalled and Lamine Yamal retaining his starting spot...

England face a pitch battle against Panama after World Cup stars moaned the showdown stadium's grass is a tournament wrecker - writes Jerry Lawton at the World Cup.

The 78,576-capacity New York New Jersey stadium has had a temporary grass pitch installed for the World Cup. The Three Lions find themselves facing Panama in the crunch final group match on the surface repeatedly criticised by others who have already played on it.

Rabiot said: "The pitch... I don't even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface - quite hard and quite rigid."

French boss Didier Deschamps said it was a ‘special surface’, adding: "It's different. We need to get used to this. There might be some cement below the grass. You have very short shards of grass here."

Brazil forward Vinicius Junior blasted it after their 1-1 draw with Morocco. "In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly. The game becomes very sluggish and we can't get into our rhythm," he said,

It was also criticised in last summer's Club World Cup. Normally the stadium has an artificial surface when it hosts NFL games involving the New York Giants and Jets.

The World Cup surface is made up of 660 rolls of Tehoma 31 Bermuda grass grown at a turf farm in North Carolina which was ferried in by lorry. It sits on 24in of sand with an air-gap to help with drainage and a high-tech vacuum ventilation system which regulates temperatures and protects the roots.

FIFA said its turf management team had assessed ‘every pitch is healthy and performing as intended for elite competition.'

"Variations in the appearance of some surfaces, whether on television or in person, do not necessarily reflect the quality, health or playability of the pitch."

The United States have offered Mauricio Pochettino a four‑year contract extension to lead the team through to the 2030 World Cup.

According to The Athletic, the proposal was made before the tournament as a signal of their desire to keep Pochettino in charge. A final decision, however, is not expected until after the World Cup.

Messi is not expected to feature heavily in Argentina's final group game against Jordan - writes Jeremy Cross from Dallas.

The Argentine icon might not even feature at all. Argentina have won the group with a game to spare - and manager Lionel Scaloni is set to rotate his squad.

But the prospect of Messi being sat on the bench has done nothing to lower ticket prices for the game in the AT&T Stadium. Late ticket sellers on third party platforms are asking for more than $2,000 for an upper deck seat to watch the game.

For that price, people would be justified in getting to see Messi, not to mention Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo as well.

The Paris Saint‑Germain star scored a hat‑trick in France’s 4-1 win over Norway on Friday evening.

He said: "Hat-trick? It’s so special, I’m happy and proud… but personally I preferred my performances against Senegal and Ireland."

Speaking in his press-conference, Tuchel delivered an update on James.

"Reece has a minor hamstring issue," he said. "We will take it game by game but we strongly believe he will be available for us in the tournament."No-one could see that coming, Reece felt good and was in good shape. We would love to have Reece, he's a good player and we will look for solutions. That's what we do."

Our reporter Andy Lines has caught up with England fans in Times Square ahead of Saturday's final group match against Panama.

Lee Finch, 59, originally, from Preston, now lives in Adelaide, Australia. He's flown all the way to the US and he doesn’t even have a ticket for the Panama game.

The Nottingham Forest fan, who works in comms, said: "I’d go up to 650 dollars but no more than that. If I don’t get a ticket - it will be the fanzone for me!"

His friend Preston North End fan electrician Alan Brown, 58, from Preston, Lancs said: "We’re both really looking forward to the game. Let’s hope England can do it - they will need to play better than they did against Ghana though."

Sheffield Wednesday fan Paul Cain, 65, a site manager from Sheffield said: "I’m looking forward to it. I’m hoping for a better performance. Let’s top the group and take things from there."

The Athletic report that Anderson could miss England's match against Panama due to muscle tightness.

England face Panama in the final game of Group L, with Anderson having started both of their opening World Cup matches in midfield.

Elsewhere, Reece James is expected to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Longtime assistant Guy Stephan, 69, has served as Deschamps's assistant coach during the team's triumphant run at Euro 2000.

He worked under Deschamps as an assistant at Marseille for three years before linking up with the national team in 2012. Together, the pair won the 2018 World Cup and reached finals at the 2022 tournament and the 2016 Euros.

Speaking with the Athletic earlier this week, Stephan shared that he and Deschamps have a near telepathic connection. "We understand each other," Stephan said.

"We don’t even need to speak anymore. A glance is enough when we’re out on the pitch or at a training session; if something needs changing or tweaking, we just look at each other and - boom - it’s as if we'd actually spoken.

"That’s the strength of the time we’ve spent together - 17 years. We don’t always agree - not always… we talk things through, but once a decision is made, it’s made."

Stephan has stepped in for Deschamps once before when he led Les Blues against Denmark in June 2022 following the death of the France coach's father. Friday marks the 69-year-old's major tournament debut.

France beat Norway 4-1 in Boston.

Our reporter Jeremy Goldstein writes: "Chants of 'We want Haaland' rang out in the second half at Boston Stadium as match-paying fans grew more temperamental that Norwegian star Erling Haaland was only named to the bench for Friday's marquee France-Norway World Cup clash.

"Haaland entered Friday just a goal off Lionel Messi, having scored four for Norway against Iraq and Senegal to get his nation's World Cup started. With Kylian Mbappe, also on four goals, named in the French lineup, fans' frustrations of missing their first-ever clash grew greater.

"However, Norway coach Stole Solbakken's move to bring on Jens Petter Hauge and Antonio Nusa in the 83rd minute — his third and final substitution window — confirmed that Haaland wouldn't play. Norway fans, loud and proud, still cheered their two new inclusions as their side lost 4-1. Haaland was perhaps undeterred by the news of his initial benching: he was seen fraternizing with Manchester City teammate Rayan Cherki of France before the match.

"When Solbakken brought Sondre Langas on as a 66th-minute substitute over Haaland, even French fans seemed to groan. The chants of "Erling Haaland, Erling Haaland," grew louder, but the manager was undeterred. Tickets for Friday's match closed at around $850 on most resellers after sitting at over $2,000 for most of 2026.

"Norway could have used its talisman — Haaland is already his nation's all-time leading scorer at the age of 25 — from the outset: bipedal French winger Ousmane Dembele bagged a first-half hat-trick all on his left foot. Liverpool-born Norwegian midfielder Thelo Aasgard got one back for his nation and played a part in helping the Scandinavian outfit win a penalty at the outset of the second half.

"Up stepped Crystal Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larson, who has six goals in 28 Norwegian appearances, against French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The AC Milan shotstopper guessed left and saved Larson's attempt with relative ease. Mbappe registered assists on two of Dembele's three goals and remained hungry in the second-half, even with France holding a comfortable 3-1 lead. Perhaps his efforts were pyrrhic: France seemed primed to win the group anyway.

"Norway entered Friday needing a victory to top Group I. A win would have seen them, in all likelihood, clinch an all-Scandinavian Round of 32 matchup in New York against Sweden, the third-place finishers in Group F.

"If Norway had won, the nation would likely have faced Germany in the Round of 16. Instead, Norway seems ticketed for a Round of 32 clash against the Ivory Coast, the second-place team in Group E. Should Haaland's team win that one, a Round of 16 clash against either Brazil or Japan would await."

Didier Deschamps' side secured their third win in as many games, beating Norway 4-1 in Boston.

They finished top of Group I.

Elsewhere, Senegal ran out 5-0 winners against Iraq.

The TV camera picked up what Anthony Taylor was saying to the VAR referee during the Senegal's win over Iraq.

Barcola reaches the byline and hangs a cross to the far post, where Doue rises to meet it, guiding a deft header over Selvik’s outstretched hand and into the top‑right corner.

Senegal now lead Iraq 4–0… but what does that mean for Scotland?

With Senegal set to finish third in Group I, they drop into the third‑place table, where the top eight teams progress to the round of 32.

As things stand, Scotland have slipped down to ninth in that ranking.

Current table:

1. Sweden

2. Ecuador

3. Bosnia

4. Paraguay

5. Senegal

6. Croatia

7. South Korea

8. Algeria

9. Scotland

10. Cape Verde

11. Belgium

12. DR Congo

Senegal are on course to secure their first three points, leading Iraq 3-0.

Sulaka's 16th‑minute red card has certainly shaped the game. Diarra, Sarr and Gueye have all found the net so far.

Reece James will miss 'at least' England's next two games with a hamstring injury, according to The Guardian.

The Chelsea right-back is said to have reported tightness after the goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday. The last time James hurt his hamstring, he was out of action for nearly two months.

Norway were awarded a penalty after Bobb was clipped by Tchouameni.

Strand Larsen stepped up but saw his spot‑kick saved by the France goalkeeper, who dived to his right.

The Crystal Palace striker then scuffed a side‑footed follow‑up that dribbled well wide of the bottom‑right corner.

Our reporter John Cross writes: "Panama boss Thomas Christiansen insists he liked his players having a bust-up - because it showed "they are alive."

"The Central Americans are already eliminated from the tournament after losing their first two games. They finish their Group L campaign against Thomas Tuchel's side at the MetLife Stadium, but their pre-match training session saw Cecilio Waterman and Jose Luis Rodriguez clash."Waterman was filmed pushing Rodriguez in the chest and he was then held back by team-mates as he looked to continue the argument. The confrontation quickly passed and the open training session continued.Christiansen, who could be taking charge of his last game as boss, said: “This is a normal situation. I would like to see this more often because it means the team is alive, trying to be in the first XI and it's a good sign that they are alive."

Norway are pushing to halve the deficit

A big 45 minutes ahead

It’s the interval in both of the 8pm kick‑offs.

France have produced another excellent display and lead Norway 3-1.

Senegal maintain their 1–0 advantage over ten‑man Iraq.

Our reporter Ryan Taylor in Boston writes: Per Opta, Norway are just the fourth side to make 10+ starting XI changes for a World Cup match (in the same round).

"Spain (2006 vs Saudi Arabia), Belgium (2018 vs Japan) and Brazil (2022 vs South Korea) were the other countries to do the same. It's a big shame for the neutral that there is no Erling Haaland and there is still something riding on this game because top spot has less travel moving forward.

"They will stay on the East Coast, though may face Germany in the last 16 while second will head down to Dallas for the Round of 32."

In 32 minutes!

Dembele once again cuts inside his left foot and bends the ball past Selvik in similar fashion to his second goal.

It was poor defending from Norway to allow Dembele to shift onto his stronger foot.

France 3-1 Norway.

Straight from kick-off, Norway worked the ball down the left before it was played to Aasgaard, who sold Upamecano with a shimmy inside the box before firing past Maignan.

Game on!

France 2-1 Norway