Everything you missed from last night at the World Cup
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The World Cup moves into its seventh day as England get their campaign started and three other fixtures take place this evening and early tomorrow morning.
This page is here to keep you informed on what happened overnight, the day’s upcoming fixtures and to provide predictions, news and a bit of gossip from the tournament.
AdvertisementAdvertisement🌃 What happened overnight
Argentina 3 Algeria 0
Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals with a hat-trick as Argentina began their title defence with victory over Algeria in Kansas City.
Argentina had started their ultimately successful 2022 campaign with defeat to Saudi Arabia, but avoided any such upset on this occasion thanks to Messi’s first World Cup treble.
Messi’s second took him level with Brazil great Ronaldo on 15 goals across his six World Cup appearances.
Iraq 1 Norway 4
Erling Haaland scored his first World Cup goals with a brace as Norway started their campaign with a comprehensive win over Iraq in Boston.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAustria 3 Jordan 1
Austria claimed their first World Cup victory since 1990 with a 3-1 win against debutants Jordan.
Two late goals at the home of the San Francisco 49ers helped Ralf Rangnick’s side make the perfect start in Group J after Ali Olwan had equalised with Jordan’s first World Cup goal.
Snake hits Germany camp
Germany’s camp in Winston-Salem welcomed an unwanted guest this week when a venomous copperhead snake was found.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said: “We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital. I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“That’s why we’re trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren’t so many dangerous animals.”
Results from the last 12 hours
France 3 Senegal 1
Iraq 1 Norway 4
Argentina 3 Algeria 0
Austria 3 Jordan 1
📅 Today’s matches
(All times BST)
Group K
Portugal vs Congo, 6pm
NRG Stadium
BBC One
Group L
England vs Croatia, 9pm
AT&T Stadium
ITV1
Group L
Ghana vs Panama, midnight (Thursday)
BMO Field
ITV1
Group K
Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 3am (Thursday)
Mexico City Stadium
BBC One
🌟 Player to watch
Reece James
The England defender will make his World Cup debut and just his second start at a major tournament, which is a surprise for a 26-year-old of his quality. With Croatia expected to defend in a back five, England’s full-backs could well be the spare men and James’s delivery is first-rate. After the news of Tino Livramento’s injury, James’s form and fitness take on renewed importance.
🔮 Prediction
England 2 Croatia 0
Croatia are resolute and canny but cannot exert the midfield control that defined their best teams when Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic were at their peak. Out-of-possession intensity is going to be the foundation of England’s game at this tournament, and they can smother a team not blessed with pace. From there, the goals should follow even if they are made to wait.
📷 Picture of the day
👋 And finally
Norway fans are leaning into their country’s history by performing a synchronized “Viking row” in the stands.
At the Gillette Stadium, supporters, some wearing Viking helmets, rowed in unison, back and forth, to the sound of one man’s beat of a drum before rising together.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIt looks like this will be the new “thunder clap”, which was performed by Iceland fans at Euro 2016.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
