Mission accomplished for Argentina, England and Colombia. Portugal have also qualified

An intense, tense match full of emotional twists and turns is taking place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Croatia got off to a better start and took the lead in the 31st minute through Petar Sucic, who did well to get into position and finish off a neat move.

Ghana, however, did not lose their composure; they stayed in the game and grew in confidence as the minutes ticked by. In the second half, the African side stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser and were rewarded in the 73rd minute: Derrick Luckassen capitalised on a defensive lapse to make it 1–1.

Just when it seemed as though everything was up in the air, Croatia showed the value of its experience. In the 83rd minute, Nikola Vlasic rose to meet a pinpoint cross with a header and put his side back in front.

The final minutes are a period of controlled suffering: Croatia hold firm, whilst Ghana attack but lack clarity. The score remains unchanged. However, both teams qualify. Ghana, in fact, go through as one of the eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups.

England – 7 points

Croatia – 6

Ghana – 4

Panama – 0

A match that’s played more in the mind than with the feet. In Miami, at Hard Rock Stadium. Colombia got off to a strong start, playing with aggression and pace: as early as the 2nd minute, they came close to scoring through Córdoba, who tried his luck again in the 17th minute, only to be denied by an alert Diogo Costa.

Portugal offered little in response, relying almost exclusively on counter-attacks. One of their rare chances came in the 40th minute, through Bruno Fernandes, but it did nothing to alter the course of the match.

In the second half, the pattern remained the same: Colombia slowed the pace, controlled possession and, above all, managed the scoreline. The 0–0 scoreline gradually became the most favourable outcome for both sides. Neither side really pushed for the decisive goal.

It was a completely different game in Atlanta, however. Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan side got off to a better start and struck immediately: in the 10th minute, Shomurodov caught the defence off guard and made it 1–0.

Congo struggled to respond, but stayed in the game and regrouped after the break. In the 68th minute, Yoane Wissa equalised from the penalty spot, reigniting the match. From that point on, the momentum shifted: in the 78th minute, Mayele completed the comeback with a quick tap-in. And in stoppage time, the final seal was put on the match: Wissa again, in the 91st minute, sealed the victory with a precise right-footed strike from the edge of the box. It was the victory that secured qualification.

Colombia – 7 points

Portugal – 5

DR Congo – 4

Uzbekistan – 0

A match that seems to go on forever. At Kansas City Stadium, Austria took the lead in the 28th minute through Arnautovic, who capitalised on a defensive error by the opposition. Algeria fought back and equalised in the 41st minute through Belghali.

The second half saw a back-and-forth affair: in the 55th minute, Sabitzer put Austria back in front; in the 60th, Mahrez levelled the score. Deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, Mahrez scored again and seemed to have secured qualification for Algeria. But the match wasn’t over yet: two minutes later, Kalajdzic made it 3–3. A draw, but not a complete disappointment for the Algerians. The play-off system for the third-placed teams ultimately saw both sides progress to the round of 16.

Argentina had it all their own way in Dallas and, despite making numerous changes to the line-up, immediately imposed their rhythm and quality on the game. In the 19th minute, Lo Celso broke the deadlock with a precise free-kick, and in the 31st minute, Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead by converting a penalty.

Jordan had a scare in the 50th minute through Al Tamari, but it remained an isolated incident.

Messi sealed the victory in the 80th minute with a perfect free-kick.

Argentina – 9 points

Austria – 4

Algeria – 4

Jordan – 0