England slipped up in the second round of World Cup Group L fixtures, being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Ghana on Tuesday. The match at the Al Janoub Stadium was marred by a heated confrontation between England midfielder Jude Bellingham and former Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz at half-time.
Bellingham Snubs Award, Tuchel Question Blocked
Bellingham, visibly disgruntled, was named the Superior Player of the Match but insisted he was undeserving, stating one of Ghana's players was more worthy. Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel was prevented from answering a question during his post-match press conference about Djed Spence's refusal to shake hands with Ghana's Thomas Partey.
In the same group, Panama were eliminated after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Croatia, with Luka Modric earning his 200th international cap in the process.
Ronaldo Makes History, Then Sparks Controversy
Thursday brought Cristiano Ronaldo's return to goalscoring form as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0. Ronaldo netted twice, becoming the first player ever to score at six different World Cup editions. However, after the final whistle, Ronaldo refused to answer a reporter's question regarding Lionel Messi, sparking controversy.
Colombia Advance, Deschamps Absent
Colombia secured their place in the knockout rounds with a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz scoring the only goal. France head coach Didier Deschamps will miss their clash against Norway after the death of his mother, returning home to France.
Infantino Defends Hydration Breaks, Trump to Present Trophy
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the use of hydration breaks, suggesting they could be introduced at future tournaments. Infantino also confirmed that United States President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winning side, stating: "We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course together."
