The Game

A stunning win for Netherlands against Sweden has turned Group F on its head. Graham Potter's side were thrashed 5-1 and Tom Allnutt was in Houston to watch it - he joins Tom Clarke to discuss that game and preview Portugal's massive clash with Uzbekistan. Can Roberto Martinez afford to drop Cristiano Ronaldo?

In part two, Tom chats to Martin Samuel about England's impressive start, the big-game players who are delivering and how this World Cup compares to previous editions of the tournament.
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Defeated but not downhearted. Scotland lost to Morocco but showed fight in the second half which offers hope for reaching the knockout stages.

Gregor Robertson and Michael Grant join Tom Clarke to dissect Scotland's second match and debate those controversial penalty calls.

Elsewhere Peter Rutzler reports from a jubilant USA camp as they qualify in style - are they Dark Horses for the trophy? And James Gheerbrant watches Brazil get back to winning ways against Haiti before Turkey are dumped out by 10-man Paraguay.
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Cometh the hour, cometh the man? Scotland are in need of a performance from their talisman against Morocco, can Scott McTominay deliver on the World Cup stage?

Tom Clarke previews that big game with Michael Grant and also chats to Peter Rutzler about USA v Australia, as well as catching you up on all the overnight action as Canada thrash Qatar and Mexico become the first side to qualify for the knockout stage.

In part two Jonathan Northcroft offers further reflections from the England camp and reveals more about Thomas Tuchel's assistant, Anthony Barry, and explains why he thinks the new brave, no-nonsense approach to coaching, is proving so effective.
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England finally got their World Cup underway and it was worth the wait as they beat Croatia 4-2 in an entertaining game.
Two goals for captain and talisman Harry Kane, one for Bellingham and Rashford and a performance that at times resembled the high intensity Premier League type game that manager Thomas Tuchel has so often talked about. There were issues defensively and Tuchel wasn't happy at half time, but it was a win, an impressive one, and England had a cutting edge.

Tom Clarke gets immediate reaction from Matt Lawton who was at the game in Dallas, and is then joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd

In the second half Tom Allnutt reports from an underwhelming performance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
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What. A. Night.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland showed their star quality with two goals each as France and Norway impressed but then along came Lionel Messi.

A hat-trick for Argentina's captain as he kicked off his sixth World Cup in style - Tom Clarke spoke to Paul Hirst, James Gheerbrant and Martin Samuel who were at the grounds to witness some big performances from three of the games biggest stars.

And now, it's England's turn. They kick off their tournament against Croatia, Jonathan Northcroft joined Tom to preview that match and wondered if Harry Kane is ready to show he deserves to be regarded in the same group as those modern greats.
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