Key posts
Only two minutes of stoppage time likely
Expect the half-time whistle pretty soon.
State of play: Group B
Half-time suddenly close
44 minutes have expired in this game in the blink of an eye. There’s an undeniable feeling that the second half in Qatar will be much more entertaining and nervous.
GOAL! Germany on the board. No …. wait
Disallowed after VAR. Goodness …
Germany’s Antonio Ruediger headed truly and impressively into the back of the net but, after a review, the 0-0 scoreline remains.
In hindsight and after a good look at the replay, it was distinctly off-side.
Video: overnight action
Group E permutations
This really is the group to watch. Accurately dubbed the ‘group of death’, group E features the current combatants – European heavyweights Germany and Spain – joined with Japan and Costa Rica.
Spain opened competition a few days ago with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica to put their stamp at the top of the group. Then Japan shocked Germany with a narrow win.
But, and I mean a significant but …. in the first match on Sunday in Qatar, Costa Rica threw a cat among the pigeons with a shock 1-0 win over Japan after converting one of their shots on goal in the tournament so far.
In barely a few hours, there’s a decent chance that all four teams will have three points. Alternatively, Germany could effectively be done.
State of play: Group A
20 minutes: 0-0 in Qatar
Just a genteel start to this match, only the second all-European match-up at the World Cup so far. There was a blistering shot at goal from Dani Olmo for Spain early on, but it’s slow and steady otherwise.
Spain’s Dani Olmo of Spain battles for possession with German Leon Goretzka.Credit:Getty Images
Overnight: Croatia 4, Canada 1
Croatia leaned heavily on striker Andrej Kramaric as they ended Canada’s chances of progressing with a 4-1 win in an enigmatic performance, and a showdown with a similarly stuttering Belgium now awaits with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Needing a draw to progress, Croatian fans will be wondering which side is going to turn up against the Belgians – the sloppy one of the first half hour at the Khalifa Stadium on Sunday, or the one that scored four goals over the last 60 minutes.
Reuters
An early chance for Spain ….
Oh my, that was close …
Dani Olmo lets fly with a shot and it crashes into the crossbar after taking a deflection from German ’keeper Manuel Neuer. We are seven minutes in. That will wake anyone up from their slumber.
