Monday presented a couple of endurance tests for fans. First, the France-Iraq match set a record for longest-ever start-to-finish World Cup match thanks to a 131-minute weather delay that led Fox to show the first half of the U.S.'s match against Australia once Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović glowering at Alexi Lalas grew stale.
Then, for the truly hardy (or West Coasters), Algeria outlasted (and eliminated Jordan) 2-1 in a match starting at 10 pm CT. Jordan still has to play Argentina, who beat Austria 2-0 to start the day, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty — not as unusual development as some would have it — and then setting the men's World Cup scoring record and surpassing Marta's 17 on the women's side with two very Messi goals.
Here on Tuesday, speaking of goals, Harry Kane will try to reinsert himself into the Golden Boot conversation, and Portugal will continue to explore whether starting Cristiano Ronaldo brings wins. (It did not against DR Congo.)
Group K
Predictions
- Projected winner: Portugal (9)
- Projected runner-up: Colombia (12)
- Projected 3rd-place team: DR Congo (43)
- Projected 4th-place team: Uzbekistan (54)
Past matches
- Portugal 1, DR Congo 1 (June 17, Houston)
- Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1 (June 17, Mexico City)
Today's matches
- Portugal vs. Uzbekistan: Tuesday, June 23, noon (Houston)
- Colombia vs. DR Congo: Tuesday, June 23, 9 pm (Guadalajara)
Future matches
- Colombia vs. Portugal: Saturday, June 27, 6:30 pm (Miami)
- DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan: Saturday, June 27, 6:30 pm (Atlanta)
Most compelling narrative
Cristiano Ronaldo started against DR Congo and did not look like he should have started against DR Congo. Will Portugal manager Roberto Martínez stick with the player vying to score in his sixth World Cup, or take it in a different direction?
Player to watch
Whether you like to watch him or like to hate-watch him, it's pretty clear that eyes will be on C-Ron for the noon match.
Group L
Predictions
- Projected winner: England (4)
- Projected runner-up: Croatia (15)
- Projected 3rd-place team: Panamá (40)
- Projected 4th-place team: Ghana (65)
Past matches
- England 4, Croatia 2 (June 17, Jerryworld)
- Ghana 1, Panamá 0 (June 17, Toronto)
Today's matches
- England vs. Ghana: Tuesday, June 23, 3 pm (Foxborough, Mass.)
- Panamá vs. Croatia: Tuesday, June 23, 6 pm (Toronto)
Future matches
- Panamá vs. England: Saturday, June 27, 4 pm (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 4 pm (Philadelphia)
Most compelling narrative
Aside from England, this has become one of the most challenging groups to predict. Talent-wise, it should be Croatia, today facing a Panamá team that liverd by the Concacaf and ultimately died by the Concacaf against Ghana. Ghana vaulted eight places in the world rankings with that win but is still the lowest-ranked of the four teams, and that's fixin' to go down facing the Three Lions.
Player to watch
Kane made it impossible to not watch him in the match against Croatia with his performance, starting with a penalty kick that he had to take twice to ultimately convert.
Where to watch
Do512 informs us that not only is the ABGB doing a watch party for England-Ghana, but they have four soccer-themed boilermaker combos to help you (checks notes) get toasty at 3 pm on a Tuesday.
What to read
The Athletic has a bookmarkable forecast page that currently shows Uruguay, Iran, Ecuador, and Czechia more likely to be bounced after the group stages end, as opposed to moving on as previously forecast. You can also see who is definitively out and chances for teams to win their groups or finish second.
Monday presented a couple of endurance tests for fans. First, the France-Iraq match set a record for longest-ever start-to-finish World Cup match thanks to a 131-minute weather delay that led Fox to show the first half of the U.S.'s match against Australia once Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović glowering at Alexi Lalas grew stale.
Then, for the truly hardy (or West Coasters), Algeria outlasted (and eliminated Jordan) 2-1 in a match starting at 10 pm CT. Jordan still has to play Argentina, who beat Austria 2-0 to start the day, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty — not as unusual development as some would have it — and then setting the men's World Cup scoring record and surpassing Marta's 17 on the women's side with two very Messi goals.
Here on Tuesday, speaking of goals, Harry Kane will try to reinsert himself into the Golden Boot conversation, and Portugal will continue to explore whether starting Cristiano Ronaldo brings wins. (It did not against DR Congo.)
Group K
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
Cristiano Ronaldo started against DR Congo and did not look like he should have started against DR Congo. Will Portugal manager Roberto Martínez stick with the player vying to score in his sixth World Cup, or take it in a different direction?
Player to watch
Whether you like to watch him or like to hate-watch him, it's pretty clear that eyes will be on C-Ron for the noon match.
Group L
Predictions
Past matches
Today's matches
Future matches
Most compelling narrative
Aside from England, this has become one of the most challenging groups to predict. Talent-wise, it should be Croatia, today facing a Panamá team that liverd by the Concacaf and ultimately died by the Concacaf against Ghana. Ghana vaulted eight places in the world rankings with that win but is still the lowest-ranked of the four teams, and that's fixin' to go down facing the Three Lions.
Player to watch
Kane made it impossible to not watch him in the match against Croatia with his performance, starting with a penalty kick that he had to take twice to ultimately convert.
Where to watch
Do512 informs us that not only is the ABGB doing a watch party for England-Ghana, but they have four soccer-themed boilermaker combos to help you (checks notes) get toasty at 3 pm on a Tuesday.
What to read
The Athletic has a bookmarkable forecast page that currently shows Uruguay, Iran, Ecuador, and Czechia more likely to be bounced after the group stages end, as opposed to moving on as previously forecast. You can also see who is definitively out and chances for teams to win their groups or finish second.
Read Next
The ones that got away: Reimagining the West table without (some of) Austin FC's late dropped points
In the real world, Austin FC is tantalizingly close to entering the West's playoff places. But on Earth 2, if five matches against contenders didn't include late goals against, the team would be in much better shape.
'The guys grew into the game really well': Austin FC extends unbeaten streak to seven matches, nearing playoff line
Austin FC got closer to the top of the hill (to 9th place) with Saturday's draw against FC Dallas. The result extends the unbeaten streak to seven matches ... but will that recent good form result in playoffs?
At the Whistle: FC Dallas 0, Austin FC 0
Austin FC headed into Frisco unbeaten in six straight matches. They finished with a scoreless draw, extending the streak to seven matches, but barely.
Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Big D Soccer's Drew Epperley
Austin FC can't win Copa Tejas on Saturday night, but can certainly lose it facing FC Dallas in Frisco. We talk about outperforming one's xG, a new goalkeeper, and playoff hopes with a Toros expert.