Group G and H World Cup Live Updates: Spain and Cabo Verde Advance

Group G live updates

H By Henry Hanson

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Egypt vs Iran

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New Zealand vs Belgium

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Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia

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The players enter the arenas in Seattle and Vancouver

H By Henry Hanson

Okay, we have two massive matches ahead of us.

Not often begin a final round of matches with all four sides having a chance to progress, but that's the situation in Group G.

Egypt is already through, leaving Iran, New Zealand and Belgium to fight out it for second and third.

The Socceroos will play the team who finishes second.

Pride flags wave in Seattle despite Iran-Egypt pushback

H By Henry Hanson

Iran-Egypt starting XIs

H By Henry Hanson

Egypt

Four changes for the Pharaohs, who currently lead Group G. The big news sees forward Omar Marmoush drop to the bench, while Mohamed Salah is one goal away from equalling his nation's all-time goal-scoring record.

Iran

Two changes for Iran.

Belgium-New Zealand starting lineups

H By Henry Hanson

New Zealand

Two changes for the All Whites, with Tyler Bindon coming into the heart of defence for veteran Michael Boxall and Callum McCowatt dropping out for Ryan Thomas further forward.

Belgium

With group-stage progression on the line, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has made a host of changes.

The misfiring Romelu Lukaku has been dropped to the bench, with all of Thomas Meunier, Nicolas Raskin and Alexis Saelemaekers also dropping to the bench.

In a big plus for the Red Devils, exciting winger Jeremy Doku returns to the starting XI after recovering from illness and a brief absence following the birth of his son.

Socceroos to learn their Round of 32 opponent

H By Henry Hanson

So, all eyes now turn to Group G.

All four teams begin the day with group-stage progression still on the table.

The Socceroos will face the team that finishes second in their Round of 32 clash next Saturday morning.

This is how the table looks with New Zealand taking on Belgium in Vancouver and Iran facing Egypt in Seattle.

How Group H finishes

H By Henry Hanson

Spain progress as group winners, while Cabo Verde pick up three points to advance in second.

The tiny island nation will play Argentina in the Round of 32.

Uruguay finish third, but with two points, are out of contention to finish as one of the best third-placed teams.

Bielsa says GK asked to be substituted at half-time

H By Henry Hanson

Uruguayan manager Marcelo Bielsa has fronted the media after his side's chaotic group-stage exit and has said that veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera had asked to be taken off after gifting Spain its goal in Guadalajara.

Absolute shambles in the Uruguayan camp.

Emotional scenes after Cabo Verde qualifies

D By David Hirst

FT: Uruguay crash out with 1-0 loss to Spain

H By Henry Hanson

For the second successive World Cup, Uruguay crashes out in the group stage.

It's a chaotic end to a disappointing campaign for the Uruguayans, with Agustín Canobbio seeing red deep into stoppage time and his teammates getting caught up in a mele that wasted precious seconds in Guadalajara.

In the end, Alex Baena's first-half strike is the difference between the sides and enough to send Spain into the knockout rounds as group winners.

It was a night to forget for veteran Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was unquestionably at fault for that goal and was taken off at half-time by Marcelo Bielsa.

For Bielsa, this is surely the end of the road as Uruguay boss, after being the target of a reported "rebellion" prior to the game.

El Loco becomes the first manager to lead the nation to a second-successive group stage exit.

FT: Cabo Verde creates history in World Cup

D By David Hirst

Cabo Verde has reached the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time after holding Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw in Houston.

Uruguay's 1-0 defeat to Spain means Cabo Verde goes through in second place where they will face Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Both sides struggled to create chances in the first half.

Mohamed Kanno's header went straight to the Cabo Verde keeper late in one of the first half's few chances.

Saudi Arabia lost Hassan Al-Tambakti, who was carried off on a stretcher after 30 minutes.

Mohammed Al Owais made a remarkable save to deny Laros Duarte in a one-on-one in the second half.

Saudi Arabia needed to win to stay in the tournament, but the draw means their World Cup campaign is over.

90+5' Uruguay down to ten! Red card!

H By Henry Hanson

It had certainly been coming.

Uruguay is down to ten, with Agustín Canobbio given his marching orders for a late challenge on his Spanish opponent.

It's not the worst challenge I've ever seen, but it's reckless and won't be overturned.

There's a break in play as the players come together for a brief mele, and as Canobbio pleads his case on the touchline.

90+3' Tensions boiling over in Guadalajara

H By Henry Hanson

With Spain's Nico Williams breaking down the right, Nicolas de la Cruz performs a very cynical, late challenge on halfway.

It's a clear foul and a deserved yellow card for the Uruguayan substitute and there's a little argy bargy in the aftermath.

90+2' Big chance for Saudi Arabia

D By David Hirst

Finally they create a chance.

But the shot goes straight to the Cabo Verde keeper

90' Chaos in the Spanish penalty area!

H By Henry Hanson

Agustín Canobbio has the ball at his feet in the penalty area and the Uruguayan forward weasels a ball through to Darwin Nunez.

Nunez can't collect it cleanly and there's a few moments of chaos, involving a half-cooked Nunez backheel, a penalty shout and an eventual Spanish clearance.

Nothing doing on the penalty front and Spain survives.

We're into five minutes of second-half stoppage time.

Five minutes of stoppage time as Cape Verde closes in on history

D By David Hirst

87' Spain hits the crossbar!

H By Henry Hanson

A lovely little turn from Ferran Torres has the Spanish forward eyeballing Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet on the edge of the penalty area.

Torres sends Rochet the wrong way, but his shot has just a little too much on it, hitting the top of the crossbar on its way out for a goal kick.

A reprieve for Uruguay, who still require a goal if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the Round of 32.

86' Long range effort has Simon scrambling

H By Henry Hanson

Nicolas de la Cruz has time and space about 30m out from goal and the substitute lets fly.

It's a good effort, but struck at a very saveable height, and Unai Simon scrambles to his right and collects.

A rare shot on target for Uruguay.

86' Massive scramble in Saudi penalty area

D By David Hirst

Cabo Verde almost in front.

A game of pinball in the area but the ball is cleared.

Chaos in the Saudi defence.