We now have two completed groups, as last time Groups A & B concluded. Whilst B saw Switzerland and Portugal progress with little fuss, Turkey qualified in the most ridiculous manner imaginable.
Will there be as much drama today? Well, we have two groups where all four teams could go through or go out. Both of the big teams involved are a long way from safe.
Group C
Group C
An opening defeat to Belgium immediately put 2018 DWC champions Spain on the brink, but they came back with a solid win over Mexico. Belgium could have qualified but slipped to defeat against South Africa. Whilst South Africa thus top the group, they have to face Spain - a side which beat them 5-0 two years ago - whilst Mexico can still rescue their campaign as they take on Belgium. Each of these games is effectively winner-takes-all.
Team news: Spain vs South Africa
Eden Hazard's injury sustained against Mexico rules him out until the quarter-final stage, so Gareth Bale comes in. Spain are also without the suspended Sergio Ramos, so Raphael Varane starts. Like Hazard, South Africa's Kermit Erasmus is out for two games, so Gastón Sirino comes in. Themba Zwane, previously ruled out of this game, is fit enough for the bench.
Team news: Spain vs South Africa
Eden Hazard's injury sustained against Mexico rules him out until the quarter-final stage, so Gareth Bale comes in. Spain are also without the suspended Sergio Ramos, so Raphael Varane starts. Like Hazard, South Africa's Kermit Erasmus is out for two games, so Gastón Sirino comes in. Themba Zwane, previously ruled out of this game, is fit enough for the bench.
Team news: Belgium vs Mexico
Belgium keep the same XI, whilst Mexico change their wingers, with Dorlan Pabón and Javier Aquino replacing Elías Hernández and Edwin Cardona.
Belgium keep the same XI, whilst Mexico change their wingers, with Dorlan Pabón and Javier Aquino replacing Elías Hernández and Edwin Cardona.
ESPvRSA (2 mins): Lionel Messi floats a free kick into the South Africa box. It evades Koke but since Luis Suárez at the far post. It's a great chance, but Itumeleng Khune gets a hand to the shot and pushes it over!
BELvMEX (9 mins): Both teams look patient in possession, but it's Belgium who do a better job with the ball. They nearly go ahead when Kevin Mirallas' early pass puts Dieumerci Mbokani through one-on-one, but Nahuel Guzmán blocks the shot. Mbokani goes close again soon after when he heads a free kick into the side netting.
ESPvRSA (13 mins): As per, Spain are strongly dominating possession and territory. Messi plays Sergi Roberto in down the right with a nice flick, and he plays it in to Luka Modric. Modric's first shot is blocked, as is his follow-up, but the rebound comes to Messi and he drills a shot into the far bottom corner! A great finish and Spain lead!
BELvMEX (16 mins): Belgium keep up the pressure, and it results in a string of corners. Mbokani goes close from another one, but Mexico fail to learn their lesson, and at the third time of asking he succeeds, nodding Ruud Vormer's centre past Guzmán and in!
ESPvRSA (28 mins): It already looks very difficult for South Africa to get a way back into this game. Bale forces Khune into a save with a header, before Messi fires in another lovely free kick. Again, it's towards Koke, and his pull-back across goal finds Suárez who makes it 2-0! Spain go level on goal difference and goals scored with Belgium, and now trail on head-to-head.
ESPvRSA (32 mins): Sergio Busquets sprays the ball out to Bale on the left. He hares away from two South African defenders, bringing him close to goal. It would have been a sensational solo goal, but Khune makes the block from a tight angle, but it falls to Suárez who has an easy finish for 3-0! That's this game done-and-dusted.
BELvMEX (37 mins): Mirallas and Jesús Gallardo both limp away from a challenge, but both are fine to continue. This match remains very one-sided, and Belgium double their lead, and it's from another Vormer set piece. This time he fires in a free kick from deep, and finds Kompany who authoritively heads it in! The lead in the group goes back to Belgium, for now.
ESPvRSA (half time): It's relentless here. Bale is denied by another super Khune save and Messi grazes the bar with a free kick. And just before the break Ricardo Nascimento is penalised for a trip on Suárez, and Spain have a penalty! Suárez is given the chance to complete the tournament's first hat trick... and he tucks it away! 4-0 at the interval. Ouch. South Africa replace their wingers with Zwane and Tiyani Mabunda as they drop into a 4-1-4-1 shape to limit the damage.
BELvMEX (half time): Yet another Vormer cross causes trouble. This time his free kick finds Hans Vanaken, but he heads wide. At half time Belgium also look certain to go through, with 16 shots to 1 for Mexico. Hernández comes on for Mexico in place of Rafael Carioca, whilst Belgium replace Nacer Chadli with Percy Tau.
ESPvRSA (57 mins): Spain can afford to think ahead, and they protect Gerard Piqué - a yellow away from suspention - as they bring on Samuel Umtiti. And they equal their scoreline from their 2018 clash with the same opponents, as Koke curls a delicious ball into the box for Suárez to fire home.
BELvMEX (61 mins): Mexico's more direct approach continues to flounder against a rock-solid Belgian defence. At the other end Mirallas goes on a mazy dribble, breaking into the box. He's clearly brought down by Emanuel Aguilera and it's a penalty! It's only a yellow for the defender, arguably a bit lucky. Steven Defour is the taker... and drills it into the bottom corner! That absolutely guarantees Belgium will be going through. Can they take top spot?
BELvMEX (75 mins): André-Pierre Gignac has a sight of goal, from Miguel Layún's cross, but he doesn't get much power into his volley and Simon Mignolet saves. 60 seconds later sub Cardona heads over, but Mexico can't sustain this belated spell of pressure. They are clearly going out, but they would want to at least score a goal in this tournament.
BELvMEX (90 mins): Belgium make substitutions to protect players for the next round, and don't look likely to get the goal they need to overtake Spain. Mexico, meanwhile, are at least trying to get on the scoresheet. As the game approaches the end Guido Pizarro launches a pass upfield, finding Gignac's replacement Eduardo Vargas. He's clean through, and he calmly rounds Mignolet to score! Mexico avoid the embarrassment of three scoreless games, maybe Vargas should have started ahead of Gignac?
ESPvRSA (90+3 mins): Spain could have pressed on to match or beat France's record for a win in the DWC (7-0), but they are happy to see the game through and secure the progression to the next round in style.
Final score: Spain 5-0 South Africa
Player of the match: Luis Suárez
Final score: Spain 5-0 South Africa
Player of the match: Luis Suárez
BELvMEX (90+4 mins): Needless to say, Vargas' goal didn't spark a dramatic revival. Belgium see out added time and get through to the DWC knockout stages for the first time, whilst Mexico's terrible campaign has ended.
Final score: Belgium 3-1 Mexico
Player of the match: Ruud Vormer
Final table:
Final score: Belgium 3-1 Mexico
Player of the match: Ruud Vormer
Final table:
Group D
This group looked to be a straightforward qualification for favourites Italy and China after opening wins. But Italy's unlikely draw with Nigeria and China's loss to Hungary changes everything. Italy and China meet, with both progressing fairly unlikely. Hungary and Nigeria take each other on, and each will be thinking that this is a good chance of qualification.
Team news: Italy vs China
Italy change to the 5-2-3 that they have switched to in the previous games, with Lorenzo Insigne and Douglas Costa replacing Marcelo Brozovic and Paulo Dybala. China, somewhat bravely, pick the same side that lost against Hungary (and beat Nigeria).
Team news: Italy vs China
Italy change to the 5-2-3 that they have switched to in the previous games, with Lorenzo Insigne and Douglas Costa replacing Marcelo Brozovic and Paulo Dybala. China, somewhat bravely, pick the same side that lost against Hungary (and beat Nigeria).
Team news: Hungary vs Nigeria
Hungary make no changes, but Nigeria are hit by the news that Ikechukwu Uche will be out for the rest of the tournament. Chinedu Obasi comes in, whilst Victor Anichebe, who was the hero against Italy, replaces Victor Obinna and Umar Zango comes in for Austin Festus.
Hungary make no changes, but Nigeria are hit by the news that Ikechukwu Uche will be out for the rest of the tournament. Chinedu Obasi comes in, whilst Victor Anichebe, who was the hero against Italy, replaces Victor Obinna and Umar Zango comes in for Austin Festus.
HUNvNGA (17 mins): It's a quiet start, with neither team managing a shot in the opening quarter of an hour. The game's first chance comes when Nigeria win a corner. Dennis Aogo whips it in, and John Ogu crashes a header off the underside of the crossbar and in!
ITAvCHN (20 mins): Italy start the stronger. They look particularly dangerous when their wing backs get forward, as Hulk and Stephan El Shaarawy aren't the best at tracking back. But the best they can manage in the early moments is a few half-chances that are missed or blocked. China suffer a blow when Miranda is forced off injured, with Stéphane Mbia coming on.
ITAvCHN (27 mins): Once again, Italy find success through the wing backs. Costa cuts inside and finds the overlapping Alex Sandro. He cuts it back to Insigne who shoots from out wide. Yan Junling gets a hand to it but he can only deflect it up into the roof of the net, Italy lead!
HUNvNGA (31 mins): That goal moves Nigeria up into the qualification slots. But they nearly lose it immediately as Davide Lanzafame's free kick is headed against the bar by Miha Blazic - but unlike Ogu's effort, it doesn't cross the line.
HUNvNGA (half time): Both teams are struggling to create in open play, and it was another set piece that lead to Hungary's best chance of the game so far, as Tokmac Nguen finds space at a corner, but his first-time shot is held by Sunday Rotimi. Nigeria maintain their lead until the break. It's been an even game.
ITAvCHN (half time): Other than the goal, there's been little in the way of good chances. China in particular look completely blunt in attack, with just one effort on goal.
HUNvNGA (55 mins): Set piece again. This time for Nigeria, and again headed at goal by Ogu. And again he hits the bar - via Dénes Dibusz's glove - but this time it goes over. From the corner Obasi's header is held by the Hungarian stopper. A minute later and Hungary get a free kick halfway into Nigeria's half. Lanzafame again seeks out Blazic, and this time his header is below the crossbar and in! Hungary level it, and move into the qualification spot!
ITAvCHN (78 mins): This game is... not good. That suits Italy, who take Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had a quiet game, off for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian nearly gets on the scoresheet when he catches Yan dawdling on the ball, but his challenge sees the ball squirt wide.
HUNvNGA (78 mins): Hungary are emboldened by the goal, and Nigeria begin to look second-best. Lanzafame hits the outside of the post with a good shot after Nigeria leave too much space out on the right.
ITAvCHN (90+4): China's hopes slowly fizzle away as they continue to bounce of Italy's sturdy defence. The best they can manage is a late shot from sub Eran Zahavi from a corner, that is blocked. It's only China's fourth shot of the game, and they deservedly lose to that single Insigne goal.
Final score: Italy 1-0 China
Player of the match: Lorenzo Insigne
Final score: Italy 1-0 China
Player of the match: Lorenzo Insigne
HUNvNGA (90+6 mins): Hungary expertly retain possession, as Nigeria's midfield seems to dissipate, meaning they just give the ball away any time they regain it. They put on some late pressure, but it comes to nothing and Hungary earn the point that sees them through!
Final score: Hungary 1-1 Nigeria
Player of the match: Igor Kharatin
Final table:
Final score: Hungary 1-1 Nigeria
Player of the match: Igor Kharatin
Final table:
I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed to see that the first four groups have returned 8 European teams. So much for a World Cup. At least Group D provided some drama, with all three non-Italy teams going through or going out at different times.
Next time it's Groups E & F. Excitingly, Group E only has one European team!
Next time it's Groups E & F. Excitingly, Group E only has one European team!