Live coverage and text updates, with team news, from our commentary stream as Ronaldo's Portugal target the last 16.
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Will this be Cristiano Ronaldo's last game for 🇵🇹 Portugal as they face Croatia 🇭🇷 in the last 32 of #FIFAWorldCup? Vote Below 👇
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup
⚽ LIVE coverage: https://t.co/0Dl4h3J2C8
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) July 2, 2026
Germany have failed to progress to the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup for the third time in a row after losing to Paraguay this week.
And yet again, the four-time world champions have – instead of diagnosing and treating the root causes of their failure – turned to a now familiar response: finding a scapegoat.
Eight years ago, media figures and politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party honed in on two players – Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan – and blamed them after the team stumbled at the group stage and failed to defend their 2014 title.
The pair had accepted an invitation to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a state visit to the United Kingdom a month before the start of the World Cup in Russia. The pair, who are of Turkish origin, were pilloried for their decision. So vociferous was the criticism that there was speculation they would be dropped from the squad. When the team fell at the group stage, Ozil announced his international retirement aged just 29, citing the criticism in a letter explaining his decision.
“I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly,” Ozil wrote, referring to then-German Football Federation President Reinhard Grindel, who in 2019 resigned amid corruption allegations. Ozil accused Grindel of wanting him “out of the team” after Grindel criticised his meeting with Erdogan. Ozil, however, thanked the German national team coach Joachim Low and director Oliver Bierhoff for standing up for him and backing him.
Read more: Germany’s scapegoating trend continues
Croatia were runners-up in Group L with six points. Here’s a list of their results:
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European heavyweights 🇵🇹 Portugal and Croatia 🇭🇷 meet in the Round of 32 at the 2026 #FIFAWorldCup in Toronto. Who will head to the last 16? Vote below 👇
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup
⚽ LIVE coverage: https://t.co/0Dl4h3J2C8
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) July 2, 2026
Portugal were the runners-up in Group H with five points. Here’s a list of their results:
Catch the latest match highlights, reaction and previews from the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America:
The first game of the day, the 22nd at FIFA World Cup 2026, is under way between Spain and Austria.
Spain lead 1-0 at the break, and the second half begins soon – you can follow our live coverage by clicking here.
🇪🇸 Spain take on Austria 🇦🇹 in the #FIFAWorldCup Round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium.
Who will book their spot in the last 16 and who will be eliminated? Share your predictions below 👇
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup
⚽ LIVE coverage: https://t.co/dgYssvAuW7 pic.twitter.com/anl6NydFGd
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) July 2, 2026
Hello, welcome, and thanks for joining our live coverage of the last-32 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Portugal and Croatia.
The all-European fixture pits a former European champion, lead by the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo, against the defeated finalists in 2018.
All eyes have been on Ronaldo to see if, at 41 years of age, he can match the scoring levels of his rivals. So far, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward has two goals in three games.
Up against the Portuguese are a Croatian side, who similarly are perhaps past their prime, including their midfield maestro Luka Modric
I’m Kevin Hand, and I’ll bring you all the pre-match buildup, analyses, team news and photo coverage of the entire day.
Rohan Sharma will then take you through our comprehensive minute-by-minute live text commentary stream.
Two goals by Mikel Oyarzabal and one by Pedro Porro helps Spain defeat Austria in Los Angeles in their last-32 match.
Which host cities and matches face the biggest risks? What is FIFA doing to protect players and how can fans stay safe?
A record number of African nations are at the 2026 World Cup, but the continent no longer backs them all.
Anderson will become the most expensive British player in history when the transfer is finalised with Nottingham Forest.
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