The final games of the group stages are here and it’s all to play for with spots in the round of 16 up for grabs.
In Group A Ecuador and Sengal will fight it out for the right to advance alongside Netherlands with the final standings in the group still to be determined.
Having already been eliminated, Qatar are simply playing to save some respect against the Dutch who can lock up top spot with a win.
In Group B action anything can happen. Wales need to win by seven goals against England if they’re to jump from fourth into the top two in the group. For England the equation is much easier, a draw will get them through.
Iran can burst the USA’s bubble, only requiring a draw to advance into the knockout stages and sent the Yanks packing. America simply have to win.
Ecuador vs Senegal & Netherlands vs Qatar at 2am (AEDT)
Iran vs URA & Wales vs England at 6am (AEDT)
9.45pm — Sporting legend slams stars as ‘clowns’
Sporting legend Kelly Slater has unloaded on football players after watching one too many of them rolling around on the turf acting like they’d been shot.
Football players exaggerating the slightest touch in the hopes of drawing the referee’s whistle is nothing knew, but Slater simply can’t believe they can behave in such a way.
In a post to his Instagram story, Slater shared a video of a player who is seen rolling around grabbing his leg like his days are numbered, only to get up and join his teammates after they score the goal.
Slater wrote under the video: “Soccer/football players might be some of the fittest guys on earth with some of the best endurance of any athletes on earth but are they also the softest? Do they clown each other and laugh about it after the games? Interested to see the replies I get for this comment.”
Cristiano Ronaldo drew the ire of fans during Portugal’s 2-0 victory against Uruguay when he stayed on the turf like his achilles had snapped only for the replay to show the tackle was clean and the contact was minimal at best.