We now have a team confirmed through in the knockout rounds of the Draft World Cup, and that side is the holders, Germany:
Meanwhile, Algeria and Bolivia's hopes are already over. Today we're likely to see more teams through or out, as we continue through the group stage.
It's the second round of games in Groups C & D today, and we happen to start with the most interesting of the lot:
Group C: Mexico vs Spain
After a miserable performance in defeat to Belgium, Spain are now one defeat away from elimination, and both remaining games are potential banana skins (or, in the case of their next game, a Bafana Bafana skin. No I won't apologise). Mexico couldn't find a way through against South Africa, they will need their defence to perform better than their attack did last time.
Antoine Griezmann is cut from the starting line-up after missing several golden chances last time, with Luis Suárez preferred. Sergi Roberto also comes in, for Dani Carvajal. Mexico replace Dorlan Pabón with Carlos Rodríguez as they opt for a 4-3-3 formation this time. This means all four teams in the group are now using the same formation.
It's the second round of games in Groups C & D today, and we happen to start with the most interesting of the lot:
Group C: Mexico vs Spain
After a miserable performance in defeat to Belgium, Spain are now one defeat away from elimination, and both remaining games are potential banana skins (or, in the case of their next game, a Bafana Bafana skin. No I won't apologise). Mexico couldn't find a way through against South Africa, they will need their defence to perform better than their attack did last time.
Antoine Griezmann is cut from the starting line-up after missing several golden chances last time, with Luis Suárez preferred. Sergi Roberto also comes in, for Dani Carvajal. Mexico replace Dorlan Pabón with Carlos Rodríguez as they opt for a 4-3-3 formation this time. This means all four teams in the group are now using the same formation.
It's a slow start. In the 13th minute Eden Hazard picks up a knock, and whilst he's off the pitch Gerard Piqué gives away a free kick in a dangerous area. The cross leads to a goalmouth scramble, ultimately falling to Rafael Carioca but Jan Oblak holds his close-range volley. Hazard is okay to continue, but as a precaution he is replaced, Gareth Bale coming on.
In the 29th minute, Rodríguez lets fly from 25 yards. Oblak can only just get a glove to it, forcing it onto the woodwork. The deflection comes to Elías Hernández 5 yards out, but he completely mishits his volley and it flies across the goal and a mile wide! That was a huge chance! Spain respond with a good passing move from back to front, that results in Bale cutting it back to Suárez, but his shot is straight as Nahuel Guzmán.
Spain have a big chance of their own just before half time, when Lionel Messi's free kick finds Piqué at the far post, but his header is over the bar. At the break and there's not much to raise Spanish spirits yet.
In the 29th minute, Rodríguez lets fly from 25 yards. Oblak can only just get a glove to it, forcing it onto the woodwork. The deflection comes to Elías Hernández 5 yards out, but he completely mishits his volley and it flies across the goal and a mile wide! That was a huge chance! Spain respond with a good passing move from back to front, that results in Bale cutting it back to Suárez, but his shot is straight as Nahuel Guzmán.
Spain have a big chance of their own just before half time, when Lionel Messi's free kick finds Piqué at the far post, but his header is over the bar. At the break and there's not much to raise Spanish spirits yet.
We go beyond the hour mark with no new chances. Will either of these teams score this tournament?
In the 64th minute Spanish substitute Jordi Alba gets himself in an acre of space on the left flank. He has all the time to place his cross, and Messi rises highest to head it in! Finally, Spain score and suddenly things look a lot rosier!
They are more confident now, and a surging run from Bale nearly brings a quick second, but Guzmán is able to block the Welshman's shot. From the resulting corner the Mexican keeper has to save from Sergio Ramos, and from the next corner Messi's header is saved with a little help from the post! Mexico can't clear it and Bale is given the space to run into the box, but again Guzmán is there to make the save.
After further chances for Bale and Suárez, Mexico eventually get through the storm. As we enter the final 10 minutes Mexico cannot find a way through, and Spain - Bale in particularly - continue to look dangerous. As Mexico try and push players up - changing to a lopsided 4-2-3-1 with one DM - Spain have fun exploiting the gaps. In the 88th minute Bale gets in down the left, cuts it back to Koke who places it in the bottom corner to wrap up the win!
In the 64th minute Spanish substitute Jordi Alba gets himself in an acre of space on the left flank. He has all the time to place his cross, and Messi rises highest to head it in! Finally, Spain score and suddenly things look a lot rosier!
They are more confident now, and a surging run from Bale nearly brings a quick second, but Guzmán is able to block the Welshman's shot. From the resulting corner the Mexican keeper has to save from Sergio Ramos, and from the next corner Messi's header is saved with a little help from the post! Mexico can't clear it and Bale is given the space to run into the box, but again Guzmán is there to make the save.
After further chances for Bale and Suárez, Mexico eventually get through the storm. As we enter the final 10 minutes Mexico cannot find a way through, and Spain - Bale in particularly - continue to look dangerous. As Mexico try and push players up - changing to a lopsided 4-2-3-1 with one DM - Spain have fun exploiting the gaps. In the 88th minute Bale gets in down the left, cuts it back to Koke who places it in the bottom corner to wrap up the win!
Final score: Mexico 0-2 Spain
Player of the match: Koke
Group C: South Africa vs Belgium
These two sides actually met in the group stage of the first DWC, in 2017. South Africa won 2-1, as they got through to the knockout stage. But now, they seem low on confidence, and Belgium are favourites after the Spain win. A victory here sees Belgium qualify.
Themba Zwane's injury picked up against Mexico rules him out of the group stage, so Mauricio Affonso comes in to the South African XI, with Kermit Erasmus shifting to the left wing. Belgium unsurprisingly make no changes.
Player of the match: Koke
Group C: South Africa vs Belgium
These two sides actually met in the group stage of the first DWC, in 2017. South Africa won 2-1, as they got through to the knockout stage. But now, they seem low on confidence, and Belgium are favourites after the Spain win. A victory here sees Belgium qualify.
Themba Zwane's injury picked up against Mexico rules him out of the group stage, so Mauricio Affonso comes in to the South African XI, with Kermit Erasmus shifting to the left wing. Belgium unsurprisingly make no changes.
Erasmus does well in his new role, creating a bit of space and firing in a cross that Affonso flicks towards goal, but Simon Mignolet makes a solid save. It's a fairly uncertain start for Belgium, and Khama Billiat clips the outside of the post with a header in the 30th minute.
Belgium's first decent chance comes 10 minutes later when Ruud Vormer's free kick is headed at goal by Dieumerci Mbokani, but Itumeleng Khune holds the shot. He plays it upfield to Erasmus, who has pulled away into some space on the outside of Vincent Kompany. He cuts in and drifts a pass over to Billiat on the edge of the box. He shoots first time and finds the top corner! A wonderful piece of technique and South Africa lead!
Belgium have a corner as they look to reply immediately. It's cleared, but Belgium come forward again. Kevin Mirallas fires in a low cross from the right and Mbokani gets between South Africa's centre backs to turn it in! 136 seconds separated the two goals.
Rivaldo Coetzee shaves the top of the bar with a volley from a free kick, and we go into the break all square. A fun half of football, eventually.
Belgium's first decent chance comes 10 minutes later when Ruud Vormer's free kick is headed at goal by Dieumerci Mbokani, but Itumeleng Khune holds the shot. He plays it upfield to Erasmus, who has pulled away into some space on the outside of Vincent Kompany. He cuts in and drifts a pass over to Billiat on the edge of the box. He shoots first time and finds the top corner! A wonderful piece of technique and South Africa lead!
Belgium have a corner as they look to reply immediately. It's cleared, but Belgium come forward again. Kevin Mirallas fires in a low cross from the right and Mbokani gets between South Africa's centre backs to turn it in! 136 seconds separated the two goals.
Rivaldo Coetzee shaves the top of the bar with a volley from a free kick, and we go into the break all square. A fun half of football, eventually.
South Africa start on the front foot and Thato Mokeke fires in a cross. It's cleared, but it falls to Sibusio Vilakazi on the edge of the box, he tries to copy Billiat with a first-time volley, and succeeds as it flies in! What a start to the half!
Belgium have had a lot of the ball but haven't created many chances. They nearly level in the 57th minute as Mbokani forces a header at goal, but Mokeke heads it off the line! They follow it up with an uncharacteristic bit of direct football, Éder Álvarez Balanta's long pass playing in Mbokani, but he can't beat Khune.
The game goes into its final stages with South Africa looking comfortable. Belgium bring on Mbaye Diagne for Steven Defour and go to a 4-4-2, whilst South Africa have to replace Erasmus after a knock, with Gastón Sirino coming on.
Diagne goes close in the 80th minute with a powerful shot that Khune parries towards Mbokane, but Coetzee gets in first to clear it. South Africa do a good job of playing around Belgium's press and getting the ball into the corner to waste time. And it works, as they see out the remaining 10 minutes plus added time, and claim a victory that propels them into top spot in the group!
Belgium have had a lot of the ball but haven't created many chances. They nearly level in the 57th minute as Mbokani forces a header at goal, but Mokeke heads it off the line! They follow it up with an uncharacteristic bit of direct football, Éder Álvarez Balanta's long pass playing in Mbokani, but he can't beat Khune.
The game goes into its final stages with South Africa looking comfortable. Belgium bring on Mbaye Diagne for Steven Defour and go to a 4-4-2, whilst South Africa have to replace Erasmus after a knock, with Gastón Sirino coming on.
Diagne goes close in the 80th minute with a powerful shot that Khune parries towards Mbokane, but Coetzee gets in first to clear it. South Africa do a good job of playing around Belgium's press and getting the ball into the corner to waste time. And it works, as they see out the remaining 10 minutes plus added time, and claim a victory that propels them into top spot in the group!
Final score: South Africa 2-1 Belgium
Player of the match: Khama Billiat
Player of the match: Khama Billiat
Group D: Nigeria vs Italy
After a tame defeat against China, Nigeria will need to significantly improve if they are to get anything against Italy. A defeat here would be certain to eliminate them and see Italy through unless Hungary win later.
Neither team makes a change from their opening match, a decision more surprising in Nigeria's case than Italy's.
After a tame defeat against China, Nigeria will need to significantly improve if they are to get anything against Italy. A defeat here would be certain to eliminate them and see Italy through unless Hungary win later.
Neither team makes a change from their opening match, a decision more surprising in Nigeria's case than Italy's.
It's an ominous start by Italy, with Miralem Pjanic and Marcelo Brozovic testing Sunday Rotimi from range, before Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar with a looping header, all in the game's 4th minute.
Nigeria instruct their wingers to closely mark Italy's wing backs, and it works as Italy no longer are able to create clear sights at goal. And the rest of the half goes by with no further highlights. Despite a colossal 71% possession, and arguably the world's best attacking header of the ball, Italy find themselves nullified.
Nigeria instruct their wingers to closely mark Italy's wing backs, and it works as Italy no longer are able to create clear sights at goal. And the rest of the half goes by with no further highlights. Despite a colossal 71% possession, and arguably the world's best attacking header of the ball, Italy find themselves nullified.
Italy instruct their wide midfielders to play wider and further up, to give more options to the wing backs. It doesn't have an initial impact, with Italy resorting to long-range shots. One nearly goes in, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's effort beats Rotimi but clears the crossbar.
In the 54th minute Italy have a central free kick 30 yards from goal. Pjanic curls it in, and it looks to be going towards Giorgio Chiellini. But it swings away from him and towards the near post. It seems to catch Rotimi off his guard as he can only watch the ball sail in! That's the breakthrough, and it's hard to see how Nigeria can get back into this after a completely toothless display so far.
Nigeria bring on Victor Anichebe for namesake Obinna. He makes an immediate impression, wrestling Paulo Dybala off the ball and quickly firing the ball upfield. Ikechukwu Uche has got into the space behind Leonardo Bonucci and hares through on goal. It's Nigeria's first good chance, and it's all they need as Uche drills a low shot in for a rapid equaliser!
This piece of quality might be Uche's last influence on the tournament, as he is forced off injured soon after, with Chinedu Obasi coming on. Nigeria continue to frustrate Italy, as the game enters the final 15 minutes.
In the 77th minute Nigeria get the ball into the box, but Anichebe's cross is charged down. Italy quickly get on the attack and Milinkovic-Savic's early high pass finds Ronaldo. Rotimi is out quickly and is just able to muffle the shot, and it dribbles wide. Italy bring on Lorenzo Insigne and Douglas Costa to give them some width, and in the 80th minute Milinkovic-Savic slips in Douglas Costa, who fires a low ball in to Ronaldo. He connect well but straight at Rotimi - but the ball comes out and Insigne taps it in to restore Italy's lead!
Italy try to kill the game off, as Douglas Costa's powerful shot is pushed over by Rotimi. The corner comes to nothing and Nigeria build an attack. Anichebe finds a pocket of space on the edge of the box but Kalidou Koulibaly closes him down. But he can't win it cleanly, and it bobbles back to Anichebe, who takes a touch and strokes it into the bottom corner! Once again, Nigeria have levelled straight away!
This seems to knock Italy's confidence, as they can't restore their grip on the game. The rest of the match is more even, and more dull, as Nigeria successfully see it out to claim their first DWC point, and stay alive in the tournament! Italy will have to just chalk that up to experience, they out-shot their opponents 24-4 but the luck just wasn't with them.
In the 54th minute Italy have a central free kick 30 yards from goal. Pjanic curls it in, and it looks to be going towards Giorgio Chiellini. But it swings away from him and towards the near post. It seems to catch Rotimi off his guard as he can only watch the ball sail in! That's the breakthrough, and it's hard to see how Nigeria can get back into this after a completely toothless display so far.
Nigeria bring on Victor Anichebe for namesake Obinna. He makes an immediate impression, wrestling Paulo Dybala off the ball and quickly firing the ball upfield. Ikechukwu Uche has got into the space behind Leonardo Bonucci and hares through on goal. It's Nigeria's first good chance, and it's all they need as Uche drills a low shot in for a rapid equaliser!
This piece of quality might be Uche's last influence on the tournament, as he is forced off injured soon after, with Chinedu Obasi coming on. Nigeria continue to frustrate Italy, as the game enters the final 15 minutes.
In the 77th minute Nigeria get the ball into the box, but Anichebe's cross is charged down. Italy quickly get on the attack and Milinkovic-Savic's early high pass finds Ronaldo. Rotimi is out quickly and is just able to muffle the shot, and it dribbles wide. Italy bring on Lorenzo Insigne and Douglas Costa to give them some width, and in the 80th minute Milinkovic-Savic slips in Douglas Costa, who fires a low ball in to Ronaldo. He connect well but straight at Rotimi - but the ball comes out and Insigne taps it in to restore Italy's lead!
Italy try to kill the game off, as Douglas Costa's powerful shot is pushed over by Rotimi. The corner comes to nothing and Nigeria build an attack. Anichebe finds a pocket of space on the edge of the box but Kalidou Koulibaly closes him down. But he can't win it cleanly, and it bobbles back to Anichebe, who takes a touch and strokes it into the bottom corner! Once again, Nigeria have levelled straight away!
This seems to knock Italy's confidence, as they can't restore their grip on the game. The rest of the match is more even, and more dull, as Nigeria successfully see it out to claim their first DWC point, and stay alive in the tournament! Italy will have to just chalk that up to experience, they out-shot their opponents 24-4 but the luck just wasn't with them.
Final score: Nigeria 2-2 Italy
Player of the match: Miralem Pjanic
Group D: China vs Hungary
That result means that a Chinese win here would see them through and Hungary out. Any other result and all four teams will have an uncertain fate going into the final round of games.
China are unchanged, whilst Hungary change their two wingers; Somália and Ivan Petryak are out, Davide Lanzafame and Tokmac Nguen are in.
Player of the match: Miralem Pjanic
Group D: China vs Hungary
That result means that a Chinese win here would see them through and Hungary out. Any other result and all four teams will have an uncertain fate going into the final round of games.
China are unchanged, whilst Hungary change their two wingers; Somália and Ivan Petryak are out, Davide Lanzafame and Tokmac Nguen are in.
Stephan El Shaarawy signals his intent with a purposeful cut inside and shot against the Hungarian crossbar. China dominate possession early on, and have a better chance to take the lead when Hulk smartly nods the ball into the path of Marko Arnautovic, but he shoots straight at Dénes Dibusz.
Hungary eventually get on the ball and make the game more even. In the 29th minute Nguen speeds past Tyias Browning and hangs up a high cross. His fellow winger Lanzafame meets it, and his header evades the despairing dive of Yan Junling and finds the top corner!
In the final seconds of the half China clear a free kick. Oscar races onto the ball and runs into space. He smartly switches play to find Hulk in space. He takes a touch and lets fly, but the ball goes wide and Hungary keep their lead to the break.
Hungary eventually get on the ball and make the game more even. In the 29th minute Nguen speeds past Tyias Browning and hangs up a high cross. His fellow winger Lanzafame meets it, and his header evades the despairing dive of Yan Junling and finds the top corner!
In the final seconds of the half China clear a free kick. Oscar races onto the ball and runs into space. He smartly switches play to find Hulk in space. He takes a touch and lets fly, but the ball goes wide and Hungary keep their lead to the break.
With Italy to face in the final game, a defeat for China could be fatal. But they've created virtually nothing since that promising start. The second half is no better and 25 minutes go by with just a few quarter-chances for Hungary.
This run of nothingness ends with a Hungarian attack, Stopira getting away from lacklustre tracking back from Hulk and firing in a cross that Boli heads wide. The best China can muster comes 10 minutes later, as Hulk beats Stopira and feeds it to substitute Eran Zahavi, but his shot is immediately charged down by a couple of defenders.
Another 10 minutes go by with nothing happening, taking us to added time. Lanzafame draws a save from Yan with a header from a corner. China build an attack, and they finally show a bit of cohesion - Hulk to Paulinho to Oscar, who slips in Zahavi, but Dibusz makes the save! The flag was up anyway, and three minutes later so was China's hopes in the match as the game ends.
This run of nothingness ends with a Hungarian attack, Stopira getting away from lacklustre tracking back from Hulk and firing in a cross that Boli heads wide. The best China can muster comes 10 minutes later, as Hulk beats Stopira and feeds it to substitute Eran Zahavi, but his shot is immediately charged down by a couple of defenders.
Another 10 minutes go by with nothing happening, taking us to added time. Lanzafame draws a save from Yan with a header from a corner. China build an attack, and they finally show a bit of cohesion - Hulk to Paulinho to Oscar, who slips in Zahavi, but Dibusz makes the save! The flag was up anyway, and three minutes later so was China's hopes in the match as the game ends.
Final score: China 0-1 Hungary
Player of the match: Marek Hamsik
Player of the match: Marek Hamsik
Well well well. Three teams had the chance to go through in today's group, but none managed it and we have two groups that are going to go right down to the wire. Spain remain outside the qualification spots, whilst it seems certain that one of Italy or China will find themselves eliminated following the final matches.
Next time we go over to Groups E & F. France, England and Chile are in strong positions are initial wins, how will they get on in their second matches?
Next time we go over to Groups E & F. France, England and Chile are in strong positions are initial wins, how will they get on in their second matches?