World Cup news LIVE – Reaction to Brazil’s win over Scotland and build up to tonight’s fixtures

If you’ve been watching the World Cup on TV, a common sight at games is FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

He has been attending on average two games every day, and has so far clocked up 24,135 miles travelled in the first two weeks of the tournament…

Eight of these 12 teams will qualify for the next round

Currently representing Ecuador at the World Cup, but also making moves elsewhere, Piero Hincapie has signed for Arsenal on a permanent deal after a strong loan spell with the club last season.

Read here: https://hayters.com/arsenal-sign-key-defender-on-permanent-deal/

The Netherlands could top their group with a win over Tunisia, but Japan are also vying for seven points if they beat Sweden.

The first games today are in Group E, featuring Germany, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire and Curaçao.

Germany face Ecuador while Curacao face Côte d’Ivoire.

Germany have already won the group – Côte d’Ivoire just need a point to finish second and reach the knockouts for the first time.

Former South Korea midfielder Park Ji-sung criticised the team’s performance in Wednesday’s 1-0 ⁠defeat by South Africa at the World Cup, and drew comparisons with their disappointing 2014 ⁠campaign that saw them ⁠exit ​in the group phase.

“We need to ​reflect on whether this was ‌overall a game we ‌tried to win,” Park said during TV commentary.

“There was no ‌visible plan for how to attack. This problem has been the same throughout this World Cup. It seems there were clearly some areas that were neglected during the preparation process.

“We had plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong at the 2014 World Cup. But this time again, ​the preparation process and the results look like a ​repeat of that ‌time.”

Mexico extended their 100% record.

40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa came on as a late substitute in his now sixth World Cup with Mexico to cap an outstanding 3-0 win over Czechia.

Mexico are looking like a forced to be reckoned with on home soil.

“I always say I am not that bothered about numbers,” Vinicius said. “I am not used to scoring so many goals, but the coach has moved me into a position to which I have adapted well, and now I am scoring and helping the team.”

Vinicius, who came second in the Ballon d’Or in 2024, netted 22 goals in 53 games in all competitions for Real Madrid last season.

“Hopefully I can keep going to the final,” he said. “I am very happy with the work being done by the team. If everyone is playing well, the ball will arrive in attacking areas and we will have chances to score goals.”

Scotland’s fate now falls to waiting for everyone else….

Eight of the 12 teams that finish third in their group will make it through to the knockout stages.

Steve Clarke’s side must wait and see how their record matches up to the other 11 third-place finishers.

Progression will be decided on the number of points, then goal difference, then goals scored.

Scotland have three points, a -3 goal difference and have scored one goal.

Two teams have already completed their three games with a better record – Bosnia-Herzegovinia and South Korea.

There are nine groups still to be play their final round of matches.

Vinicius scored twice, including a header, in the first half in Miami against Scotland to set Brazil on the way to a victory which allowed them to progress to the round of 32 as winner of Group C.

“I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup,” Ancelotti said of the 25-year-old, who has four goals in three games at this year’s tournament.

“For him it is an honor to play for the national team. He is playing well, and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.

“I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world,” added Ancelotti, who managed the forward for four years at Real Madrid.

“You see their quality in the final third of the pitch, we didn’t have that tonight,” he said.

“We created chances but it wasn’t enough. Let’s be honest the best team won.

“It was unbelievable the shift the players put in, the ones who played 90 minutes in that heat and humidity were outstanding but we have to be better if we want to compete at this level.

“In the first four or five minutes we passed the ball well and then made a mistake. You cannot do that at this level because it puts you on the back foot and it becomes a long night

“For sure I think we’re going home.”