Top News

Is there anyone who has managed to watch every single World Cup match so far? If so, hats off to you and your sleep-deprived, possibly unemployed dedication.

However, that impressive run is about to end this week as the third round of group-stage fixtures begins, bringing with it simultaneous kick-offs.

We’ve now entered the phase where you must pick and choose. Excluding England’s two matches and Scotland’s emphatic victory over Brazil, here are five games worth clearing your schedule for this week.

First up is tonight’s curtain-raiser for England: the Cristiano Ronaldo show.

At 6 pm in Houston, one of two things will unfold. Either Cristiano Ronaldo, as his most ardent supporters would say, silences his many critics (ourselves included) with a goal or two as Portugal comfortably defeat the world’s 54th-ranked team. Or, Portugal will edge past Uzbekistan in a less convincing manner, with Ronaldo desperately trying to relive past glory—taking speculative shots from every angle in an attempt to close the goal gap between him and Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.

Whatever the outcome, the narrative will be impossible to escape before Thomas Tuchel’s star-studded Germany take on Ghana at 9 pm.

For those who believe sleep is overrated, and with USA versus Turkey being a dead rubber, the early hours of Friday morning should be dedicated to Australia’s pursuit of a knockout berth.

The Socceroos face Paraguay in a decisive clash for second place, with both teams needing to abandon their defensive approach.

Both sides have beaten a weak Turkey outfit, each doing so with less than 30% possession, and both suffered heavy defeats to the USA, failing to remain competitive even until half-time.

From Australia’s standpoint, they must show some attacking intent. Tony Popovic’s overly cautious lineup against the USA backfired, leaving them without any counter-attacking threat. By the time he made adjustments, the game was already lost.

Even the winner here might have to wait anxiously for a few days to know their fate.

By Friday, the luxury of two evening kick-offs—both at reasonable hours for those on British Summer Time—will be gone, forcing us outdoors or into conversations with family until 8 pm.

Then come the Group I deciders, with France and Norway battling to determine who tops the group and potentially faces England in the next round.

This fixture is a must-watch for anyone following the Golden Boot race, marking the first time two of the tournament’s biggest goal threats meet head-to-head.

If that doesn’t pique your interest, Senegal versus Iraq is another option to rescue you from unwanted social plans.

Brace yourself for Friday night and Saturday morning, which promise a 10-hour, three-match marathon. Dinner and breakfast might just be the same set of cold cans.

After France versus Norway, there’s a short window for rest for the less hardy fans. But make sure to set your alarms for Cape Verde’s improbable push for a knockout spot.

Group H remains wide open. Spain versus Uruguay kicks off simultaneously, which would have been the obvious choice before Cape Verde shocked everyone by going unbeaten in their first two games against the group’s favourites.

In the early hours of Saturday, Cape Verde face the group’s weakest side, Saudi Arabia, who are themselves motivated by the chance to secure second place. With Spain expected to beat Uruguay, this could easily become a winner-takes-all encounter.

Could Belgium produce the biggest blunder of all by failing to qualify as top seeds from a group they were expected to dominate?

It’s certainly possible. The Red Devils have been thoroughly unconvincing in their two draws, with Rudi Garcia still struggling to find a functioning formula. Belgian fans have never been known for their patience with the national team, even when it was among the world’s elite—which this version clearly isn’t.

In contrast, New Zealand are confident that Belgium can be contained and exploited. If you skip this one, you might wake up regretting missing a Kiwi upset.