World Cup Nights: Kane fires England, Ronaldo's Portugal held by DR Congo

A Cup night of two faces. In Dallas, Harry Kane nets a brace, equals Gary Lineker's record and drives England to a 4-2 win over a stubborn Croatia; in the same Group L, Ghana edge Panama with a 94th-minute goal. In Houston, by contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo draws a blank and his Portugal are pegged back by DR Congo, who claim a 1-1 draw and the first World Cup point in their history. Luis Diaz's Colombia start strongly. Tonight it is the turn of Groups A and B, with the big one: Mexico vs South Korea.

At Dallas's AT&T Stadium, England made the right start but had to sweat for it. Harry Kane opened from the spot on 12' — Modric fouling Madueke — before Martin Baturina levelled. It was the Three Lions captain again, heading home Declan Rice's corner on 42', before Petar Musa made it 2-2 at the end of the first half. After the break, though, England shifted up a gear: Jude Bellingham finished moments after the restart (47') and on 85' Marcus Rashford, set up by Saka, sealed the 4-2. That takes Kane to ten World Cup goals, equalling Gary Lineker's England record. Later, in the same Group L, Ghana won at Toronto against Panama thanks to a Caleb Yirenkyi strike on 94' — the latest goal the Black Stars have ever scored at a World Cup.

Group K served up Portuguese disappointment. In Houston, Portugal began brilliantly and went ahead through a Joao Neves header on 6', but then faded: DR Congo grew into the game and equalised through Yoane Wissa right at the end of the first half. It finished 1-1, and for the Leopards it was historic — their first-ever World Cup point, in their first finals match since a 3-0 loss to Brazil back in 1974. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 and almost certainly at his last World Cup, drew a blank and missed two good chances: his goalless run at major tournaments now stretches to ten matches. Colombia, on the other hand, were all smiles: at the Estadio Azteca the Cafeteros beat Uzbekistan 3-1 through Daniel Munoz (40'), Luis Diaz (65') and Jaminton Campaz in stoppage time (90'+9'); the Uzbek debutants were left with the joy of the first World Cup goal in their history, from Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Colombia top Group K, while England and Ghana lead Group L on maximum points.

The figure of the day, paradoxically, was a coach. After the game, Roberto Martinez backed his Portugal while not hiding his disappointment: 'We don't need to win the World Cup; we need to play well and do what is required of us,' he explained, recalling that 'it's a tournament where these things happen: Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and then lifted the Cup, Spain lost to Switzerland in 2010 and ended up winning it.' The manager also warned his squad: after the Congo draw, no starter is guaranteed his place next time out. On the other side of the ocean, England savoured a Kane ever deeper in the record books, while Ronaldo's drought dominated every front page.

Tonight the stage shifts to Groups A and B, out for their second round of matches. It starts early, at 6pm Italian time, in Atlanta with Czechia-South Africa, a genuine shootout: both lost their openers and cannot afford another slip. At 9pm, in Los Angeles, Switzerland face Bosnia in Group B, where all four teams sit on a single point. At midnight it is co-hosts Canada, away to Qatar in Vancouver, still chasing a first World Cup win. The grand finale comes at 5am: in Guadalajara, Mexico — also hosts and on maximum points — meet South Korea in what is already a Group A summit, with both having won their openers.

On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.

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