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  1. Lukaku plays key partpublished at 11:06 BST

    Belgium 1-1 Egypt

    In a complete contrast to Emam Ashour's opening goal for Egypt, Belgium's leveler was an own goal.

    The introduction of Romelu Lukaku in the second-half paid off, as just 22 seconds after coming off the bench the ball was in the back of the net.

    It won't be in the strikers top 10 goals of all-time, but his presence alone spooked Egypt right-back Mohamed Hany into an error.

    Media caption,

    Lukaku's instant impact lead's to Belgium's equaliser

  2. Feast your eyes on this!published at 11:02 BST

    Belgium 1-1 Egypt

    Egypt's Emam Ashour scored his first-ever World Cup goal in their Group G fixture against Belgium on Monday.

    It was a fantastic long-range strike ... feast your eyes on this!

    Media caption,

    Ashour scores his first-ever World Cup goal for Egypt

  3. Group H - standings & schedulepublished at 10:59 BST

    Uruguay's fightback against Saudi Arabia ensured that honours remained even in Group H after the opening round of matches, following on from Spain's shock draw with Cape Verde..

    Group H standings - Uruguay top followed by Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde all on 1 point

    Remaining matches in the group:

    Sunday, 21 June

    • Spain v Saudi Arabia (17:00 BST)
    • Uruguay v Cape Verde (23:00 BST)

    Saturday, 27 June

    • Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia (01:00 BST)
    • Uruguay v Spain (01:00 BST)
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:56 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Tunisia penchant for sacking Managers during tournaments is legendary. Youssef Zouaoui after the opening match loss to Mali at AFCON 1994 as host. Henryk Kasperczak in France 98 World Cup, and now Sabri Lamouchi. Atletico Madrid's Jesus' Gil was not this ruthless.

    Opeyemi, London

  5. Are billions flooding into Saudi Pro League helping national team?published at 10:45 BST

    Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport in New York

    Feras Albrikan of Saudi ArabiaImage source, Getty Images

    Cristiano Ronaldo. Karim Benzema. Neymar. Sadio Mane.

    The list of world-class talents who have chosen to play in the Saudi Pro League has risen over the years.

    But could the presence of these multiple Champions League and Ballon d'Or winners be finally benefiting the nation that has been selected to host the 2034 World Cup?

    Over the years the Saudi Arabia national team has struggled on the world stage.

    At the 2002 World Cup they suffered a humiliating 8-0 defeat against Germany in their first group game in Japan. They exited the tournament without a point - or a goal.

    However, the performance of the national team has steadily improved since the Saudi Pro League started throwing money at attracting big names.

    Are the days of 8-0 thumpings for Saudi Arabia on the world stage a thing of the past?

    Read more here

  6. What's going on with Nunez?published at 10:36 BST

    Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

    Chris McKenna
    BBC Sport

    Darwin Nunez of Uruguay battles for position with Abdullah Alkhaibari of Saudi ArabiaImage source, Getty Images

    Darwin Nunez can probably count himself lucky that he started this Wold Cup game given he has barely played football since February.

    The former Liverpool striker's move to the country he was playing against here has turned sour after he was omitted from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro-League squad following the arrival of Karim Benzema midway through the season.

    The 26-year-old had scored nine goals in 24 appearances but his future is now in doubt and the lack of game time saw him dropped to the bench for Uruguay's March friendlies against England and Algeria.

    Yet it should be a concern for the forward at how much better Uruguay looked after the break when he was withdrawn, although he would have liked more service having recorded just eight touches, his lowest tally in a start for his national team.

  7. Postpublished at 10:31 BST

    The England lads, meanwhile, didn't have too much trouble taking direction for their World Cup portraits.

    A handful of the best went viral as fans were entertained by Dan Burn's ponderous looks and Declan Rice's sunburn.

    Which one is your favourite?

    Graphic showing photos of Dan Burn, Anthony gordon and declan riceImage source, BBC Sp
  8. 'Not a model' - Bielsa refuses to engage with World Cup photoshootpublished at 10:26 BST

    Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

    Elizabeth Hudson
    BBC Sport journalist

    Marcelo BielsaImage source, Getty Images

    One thing about Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa is that he is definitely his own man.

    Whether it is his nickname of 'El Loco' (The Crazy One), his obsessive attention to detail or sitting on an ice box during matches, the former Leeds manager is well known as a maverick.

    And the 70-year-old seems to have kept up his reputation in his official Fifa portrait for the World Cup.

    Unlike most players and managers who play up to the camera and enjoy their moment in the spotlight, Bielsa stared stonily downwards rather than straight into the lens looking like he would rather be at the training ground or analysing yet another match.

    "I don't have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken," he said.

    "I'm not a model."

    Read more here

  9. Saudis gamble on Donispublished at 10:24 BST

    Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

    Saudi Arabia's Greek head coach Giorgos DonisImage source, Getty Images

    Saudi Arabia took a massive gamble by installing a new head coach just 59 days before their opening game of the World Cup against Uruguay.

    Herve Renard, the new Tunisia boss, who masterminded their famous win over Argentina four years ago in Qatar, was sacked and Greek coach Georgios Donis brought in as his replacement.

    Against Uruguay, they were closing in on a fine win until Maxi Araujo equalised in the 80th minute.

  10. Postpublished at 10:21 BST

    It's fair to say that every manager is under pressure at this World Cup...some more than others.

    Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa had come under criticism even before their opening draw with Saudi Arabia, who had themselves appointed a new head coach in the build-up to the tournament...

  11. How many managers have been sacked during a World Cup campaign?published at 10:17 BST

    Sabri Lamouchi's departure means he is the first manager in World Cup history to be sacked after just one game, but he's not the first to be dismissed during the tournament.

    The 1998 World Cup saw not one, but three sackings.

    Saudi Arabia sacked Carlos Alberto Parreira after two matches, while Tunisia sacked Henryk Kasperczak following a poor start that left them winless in their opening two games.

    South Korea also dismissed Cha Bum‑Kun after defeats in their first two fixtures.

    Sabri LamouchiImage source, Getty
  12. Tunisia sack Lamouchi just one game into World Cuppublished at 10:15 BST

    Sweden 5-1 Tunisia

    Sabri Lamouchi,Image source, Getty Images

    Football managers obviously stand and fall by their results.

    Sometimes it takes a lot of patience from those above them, when results do not go their way.

    Sound the manager sacking klaxon...no we can't even escape it during a World Cup!

    Tunisia have sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi following the side's 5-1 defeat in their opening World Cup fixture against Sweden on Monday.

    Reports after that loss suggested Lamouchi had been immediately sacked but sources told BBC Sport that the 54-year-old took training later on Monday.

    However, the Tunisian Football Association has now confirmed that the Frenchman's contract has been terminated by "mutual agreement".

    Former Morocco and Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard has been appointed head coach of the side until the end of the tournament.

    Read more on Lamouchi's sacking here

  13. De la Fuente's pragmatic subs hampered nervy Spainpublished at 10:05 BST

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on Football Daily

    Head coach Luis de la Fuente of Spain talks with an assistant coach during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde on June 15th, 2026 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GA.Image source, Getty Images

    You've got a team that defends very deep on the edge of the box with nine men, what do you do?

    Width. You put on the wingers.

    We've got four wingers, great, three of them are injured or coming out of injury because the idea of the first two games against Cape Verde and Saudi is to get them ready for the bigger games, for the next stage.

    So we did not use one of our wingers, Yeremy Pino. The substitutions came quite late, based on the fact that he [Spain manager Luis de la Fuente] wanted Lamine Yamal for as much as he can play, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino for another 20.

    He was waiting and waiting and waiting - by which time, the nerves of the situation made playing football even harder. Cape Verde were getting bigger and bigger, taller and taller, faster and faster.

  14. Postpublished at 10:04 BST

    Well it's a point of view Peter, but maybe get your tin hat ready for the response from our readers.

    One thing that we would say, is that Cape Verde were potentially not the only team playing risk-averse football...

  15. get involved

    Get Involved - No fan of 'risk-averse counter-attacking football'published at 09:59 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    I'm no fan of the Cape Verde love-in when I've spent the last 12 months watching the Premier League turn into a similar borefest. The vast majority of teams playing risk-averse counter-attacking football whilst stringing nine across their own box waiting for a mistake, that's not football!

    Peter, Wigan

  16. get involved

    Get Involved - Cape Verde 'trusted the plan and each other'published at 09:58 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of the page

    Yes, kudos to the keeper, but also to the Cape Verde manager. He looked like he had done his homework and came up with a plan which the team followed to the letter. No rushes to the head, just discipline. Trusted the plan and each other.

    Tony, Birmingham

  17. Endless passes but no end productpublished at 09:55 BST

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

    Pau Cubarsi of Spain shoots and misses a chanceImage source, Getty Images

    Spain's victory in the 2024 Euros came on the back of a disappointing showing at the 2022 World Cup.

    They have not scored a goal at the World Cup since Alvaro Morata's 11th-minute header against Japan in their final group match in Qatar.

    Since then, Spain have had 49 shots and completed 2,500 passes without finding the net.

    That game against Japan was followed by a 0-0 draw in their last-16 match against Morocco - which they eventually lost on penalties - and another stalemate against Cape Verde to start their 2026 campaign.

  18. 'The solution is to stick with the same approach'published at 09:52 BST

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

    Luis de la FuenteImage source, Getty Images

    Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has pointed to the country's consistent recent record as a reason to be confident they can bounce back from their disappointing opening draw against Cape Verde.

    "A team that is on a more than 30-match unbeaten run can't have any doubts," De la Fuente told a news conference, pointing to the European champions' consistency over more than three years.

    "The solution is to stick with the same approach, to keep improving with more finesse, but there you go. We created plenty of chances, but lacked the freshness you need in these games.

    "They're [Cape Verde] very well organised; they ‌sat deep as a unit, and it was very difficult to create space."

    Spain finished the match with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the pitch after both were introduced late in the second half, with De la Fuente managing their return from hamstring injuries.

    "The aim is to gradually bring them into the team and give them playing time," he added.

    "I'm sure they'll improve, like they did against Saudi Arabia, in the next match and in the ones after that."

  19. 'A disaster'published at 09:45 BST

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on Football Daily

    Do you know how many teams we've beaten [in the World Cup finals] since winning the World Cup in 2010?

    Iran, Australia, and Costa Rica only.

    We get a little bit distracted by us having won the European championship but to be honest since we won the World Cup, we've been a disaster.

  20. No way through for risk-averse Spainpublished at 09:37 BST

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on Football Daily

    Graphic showing photo of Mikel Oyarzabal and stat that he did not touch the ball in the first 30 minutes against Cape VerdeImage source, BBC Sport

    There wasn't a lot of space and no one was finding [Mikel Oyarzabal].

    Imagine you make two or three runs and you're not found. He didn't give up, but he gave the message to 'be patient, don't make the pass for the sake of it, it will happen'.

    But that did the opposite, it was slowing things down - they didn't want to risk anything, or lose the ball and they thought 'if there is a counter, we're going to be killed here'.

    So Spain just did not find a way.