World Cup Nights: Dembele makes history, Cape Verde's fairytale reaches the last 32

Groups I, H and G close out with spectacle and records. In Boston, Ousmane Dembele tore Norway apart with a first-half hat-trick (4-1), the second-fastest in World Cup history. Senegal put five past Iraq, Spain edged Uruguay 1-0 to knock them out, and World Cup debutants Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to reach the knockouts - a fairytale from a nation of barely half a million. Belgium and Egypt go through too. Tonight, Italian time, the group stage signs off with Groups L, K and J: England, Portugal and Messi's Argentina in action.

At Boston Stadium the night belonged to Ousmane Dembele. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner lit up France with a sensational hat-trick - on 7', 20' and 32', three goals in 32 minutes, the quickest treble in World Cup history bar Austria's Erich Probst (24 minutes in 1954). Norway, who had rested Erling Haaland amid ten changes, hit back instantly through Thelo Aasgaard on 21', but Desire Doue headed in a fourth in stoppage time: 4-1 and top of Group I. In Toronto, Senegal thrashed an Iraq side down to ten men from the 13th minute - Rebin Sulaka's yellow upgraded to red by VAR - running out 5-0 winners through Habib Diarra (4'), Ismaila Sarr (56'), a Pape Gueye double (59', 71') and Iliman Ndiaye (82'). It is the biggest win by an African nation in World Cup history, and the Lions of Teranga join France in the last 32.

Group H carried Spain's name, but Cape Verde wrote the story. In Guadalajara, La Roja beat Uruguay 1-0 thanks to Alex Baena on 42', helped by a Fernando Muslera blunder, sealing top spot and sending La Celeste home. In Houston the fairytale unfolded: the archipelago of just over half a million people, at their first-ever World Cup, drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to leapfrog Uruguay and grab a stunning place in the last 32. Bubista's Blue Sharks, built on resilience and counters, are among the smallest nations ever to come this far - and reigning world champions Argentina now await them.

In Group G, Belgium ran riot in Vancouver: 5-1 over New Zealand with a Leandro Trossard double (28', 50'), Kevin De Bruyne's strike on 66', a Romelu Lukaku header on 86' and Alexis Saelemaekers' late finish; Elijah Just had pulled one back for the already-eliminated Kiwis on 84'. The Red Devils finish top. In Seattle, Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran in a tense affair: ahead through Mahmoud Saber inside five minutes, pegged back by Ramin Rezaeian on 14', and let off the hook at the death when Shoja Khalilzadeh's would-be winner was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. A priceless point: Salah's Egypt - their captain rested after an hour - reach the knockouts for the first time in their history, while Iran must wait on the best third-placed standings.

Above all, though, stand France. Dembele's show of force has thrust Les Bleus back among the favourites, and the star man isn't hiding from it: 'We want to win every match and we'll keep our focus, because what comes next is even more important,' he told reporters. It was a special night lived from afar by coach Didier Deschamps, absent for his mother's funeral and replaced on the bench by assistant Guy Stephan. With the groups all but done, the last-32 bracket is taking shape: the knockout rounds begin on Sunday.

But there's one more group night to savour first. Tonight, Italian time, the group stage wraps up with the final block. It starts at 23:00 with Group L: England face Panama in New York-New Jersey, while Croatia-Ghana plays out in Philadelphia. At 01:30 it's Group K, with Portugal away to Colombia in Miami and DR Congo-Uzbekistan in Atlanta. The grand finale comes at 04:00 with Group J: Jordan take on world champions Argentina in Dallas, with Algeria-Austria in Kansas City. Final places and top spots are on the line, as England, Portugal and Argentina look to sign off the first phase in style.

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

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