New Zealand were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup following defeat to Belgium on another busy day of action, which saw the Belgians progress alongside Egypt in Group G.

Cape Verde meanwhile made FIFA World Cup history by advancing into the knockout stages on their debut appearance at the competition by finishing second in Group H, while France made it three from three with serene progression from Group I.

Group I

Senegal 5 Iraq 0

Norway 1 France 4

Ousmane Dembélé struck a first-half hat-trick as France finished first in Group I securing top spot with a convincing 4-1 defeat of Norway in Boston. One of the pre-World Cup favourites underlined their credentials with a ruthless display against a much-changed Norway, manager Ståle Solbakken making ten changes from the team that ensured group progression for the Scandinavians in their second match.

Dembélé was irresistible in smashing in a 25-minute treble after giving France the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back for the Norwegians in between the French forward’s second and third goals, and Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen missed a second half penalty, before France added a fourth in stoppage time as Désiré Doué rounded off proceedings with a late header.

Senegal required a big win to turn around their World Cup fortunes and keep their hopes of progression alive ahead of the rest of the final round matches, and they did exactly that with a 5-0 hammering of ten-man Iraq in Toronto. The early dismissal of Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka did much to open the opportunity for the African giants, and they took full advantage.

Habib Diarra has already given Senegal the lead before the sending off, but it was the two goals within four minutes of each other in the second half that spurred Senegal on. Ismaila Sarr netted the first, with substitute Papa Gueye making in 3-0 before the hour mark. Gueye bagged his second with nineteen minutes remining and Iliman Ndiaye rounded off the huge win in the 82nd minute.

Group H
Cape Verde 0 Saudi Arabia 0

Uruguay 0 Spain 1

Spain moved into the Round of 32 with a narrow 1-0 win over Uruguay to take pole position in Group H and advance as group winners in a nervy encounter in Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. The goal was netted three minutes before half-time as Álex Baena swept home from the top of the area after Spain had stolen possession deep inside the Uruguayan half, his shot deceiving goalkeeper Fernando Muslera who was substituted at the interval.

The South Americans, two times FIFA World Cup Champions, were forced to come looking for a goal knowing that a return of two points from three matches would not be sufficient for qualification. As it was, it was Spain who should have put the game to bed, but Ferran Torres struck the top of the crossbar close to full-time when played through the Uruguayan defensive line. The late dismissal of Agustin Canobbio summed up Uruguay’s tournament.

The story of the day though was undoubtedly the historic progression of Cape Verde. The massive underdogs Group H secured qualification to the Round of 32 with their third successive draw, remaining unbeaten in the section, this time holding out against Saudi Arabia, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw in Houston.

Saudi Arabia was unable to lay a glove on Cape Verde, the Blue Sharks iconic goalkeeper Vozinha comfortably dealing with anything thrown his way. The draw was enough for Cape Verde, who looked the most likely to break the deadlock, to finish second in the group, eliminate Uruguay, and send them to Miami for a mouthwatering knockout clash against Argentina.

Group G

Egypt 1 Iran 1

New Zealand 1 Belgium 5

New Zealand was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup as Belgium finished top of Group G with a 5-1 victory over the All Whites in Vancouver. The European outfit proved too good for the OFC representatives with a dominant display that did enough to see the Les Diables Rouges pip Egypt to first in the group on goal difference, New Zealand putting in a gallant effort but outplayed in the end.

It took Belgium close to half-an-hour to open the scoring as Leandro Trossard bundled home from close range, and the livewire forward volleyed in his second five minutes into the second half. Kevin De Bruyne rifled in the third with a precision shot, before Elijah Just cracked home his third goal of the World Cup with six minutes left. Belgium needed another to finish first, and substitute Romelu Lukakau provided it with his first touch less than ninety seconds later. Alexis Saelemaekers added the gloss in stoppage time.

Egypt had put themselves top of the pile earlier in the afternoon after taking an early lead against Iran in Seattle but were forced to settle for a share of the spoils as Iran hit back to earn themselves a point in a 1-1 draw. Iran was disappointed not to claim the victory, Madhi Taremi missing a first half penalty, and Shojae Khalilzadeh seeing a late strike disallowed by VAR.

Mahmoud Saber got Egypt off to a flying start with a fifth minute opener, however Iran responded superbly and, after Taremi had missed from the spot, Ramin Rezaeian brought the team’s level. Egypt had more of the possession but in the main it was an even contest with a draw an outcome that suited the North Africans more than their Asian opposition.

RESULTS

Group I

Senegal 5 (Habib DIARRA 4’, Ismaila SARR 56’, Papa GUEYE 59’, 71’, Iliman NDIAYE 82’) Iraq 0

(Toronto Stadium)

Norway 1 (Thelo AASGAARD 21’) France 4 (Ousmane DEMBÉLÉ 7’, 20’, 32’, Désiré DOUÉ 90+4’)

(Boston Stadium)

Group H

Cape Verde 0 Saudi Arabia 0

(Houston Stadium)

Uruguay 0 Spain 1 (Álex BAENA 42’)

(Guadalajara Stadium)

Group G

Egypt 1 (Mahmoud SABER 5’) Iran 1 (Ramin REZAEIAN 14’)

(Seattle Stadium)

New Zealand 1 (Elijah JUST 84’) Belgium 5 (Leandro TROSSARD 28’, 50’, Kevin DE BRUYNE 66’, Romelu LUKAKU 86’, Alexis SAELEMAEKERS 90+4’)

(BC Place, Vancouver)

WHAT’S NEXT

Sunday 28 June

Group L: Croatia v Ghana (8am, Philadelphia)

Group L: Panama v England (8am, New York / New Jersey)

Group K: DR Congo v Uzbekistan (11am, Atlanta)

Group K: Colombia v Portugal (11am, Miami)

Group J: Jordan v Argentina (2pm, Dallas)

Group J: Algeria v Austria (2pm, Kansas City)

Photo credits: FIFA via Getty Images