The World Cup group stage ended Saturday with Groups J, K and L back on the pitch, and the stars were out in force.
England broke through with a 2-0 win over Panama to top Group L as Harry Kane went ahead of Gary Lineker with his 11th World Cup goal. In the other matchup, Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to finish as runner-up (the Black Stars will move on as a third-place team).
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In the early evening window, Portugal couldn’t do much of anything against Colombia in a tepid 0-0 Group K battle. The Colombians secured first place with the result, and DR Congo locked up a spot in the Round of 32 win a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
World Cup schedule | Group schedule, results | Standings
In the nightcap, Argentina stayed undefeated in Group J with a 3-1 win over Jordan that featured a late Lionel Messi goal. Simultaneously, Austria and Algeria battled to a raucous 3-3 draw that will send both teams through and leave Iran out of the knockout round.
Saturday’s World Cup schedule
Group J
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Group K
Group L
Follow all of Saturday’s action including live updates, highlights, results and analysis below.
Jack Baer
Both teams only needed a tie. They still played one of the wildest games of the tournament. Algeria and Austria both advance to the Round of 32, while Iran’s World Cup ruin is over.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Lionel Messi has 6 on the tournament and leads the Golden Boot race. And Argentina may be the best team in this thing.
Jack Baer
Good lord. Seconds from elimination, Austria ties the match. Both teams are above the line again. Poor Iran.
Jack Baer
Both teams seemed content to run out the clock, but Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez catches Austria sleeping for a stoppage time goal. Austria now faces elimination, to the relief of Iran.
Jack Baer
Or not!
Jack Baer
Yeah, Algeria and Austria know what they’re doing at this point. Condolences to Iran.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Who else, really? Messi earned a kick just outside of the box and he drilled it low, left and hard for his 19th World Cup goal.
It’s also the seventh straight game he’s scored, which is another World Cup record.
Yahoo Sports Staff
We’ve got about 30 minutes left in these two games and the headlines could certainly change with Messi on the field and the Algeria-Austria match still in flux.
Jack Baer
We’re tied again, as Houssem Aouar sets up captain Riyad Mahrez for Algeria’s second goal.
Yahoo Sports Staff
The legend is coming on in the 60th minute to try to add to his tally in the Golden Boot race.
Lautaro Martinez heads off to make way for him.
Yahoo Sports Staff
It’s 2-1 for Argentina after Jordan’s Mousa Tamari beats the goalkeeper with a low accurate shot into the bottom left corner.
Jack Baer
Marcel Sabitzer kicks a screamer from the top of the penalty area and Austria has the lead again.
Jack Baer
We’re back underway in Austria-Algeria.
Yahoo Sports Staff
We’re not sure why Messi would come into this game that’s being so thoroughly dominated by Argentina.
He is not being subbed on at the halftime break though.
Jack Baer
A tie might be fine for both teams, but they are definitely trying after an eventful first half. Iran needs someone to score a goal in the second half.
Jack Baer
What a goal by Rafik Belghali, who wills the ball past three Austrian defenders to put his country back in position to advance.
Jack Baer
Algeria hits the right post on a would-be game-tying goal from Fares Chaibi. That really had the look.
Yahoo Sports Staff
A VAR decision gives Argentina a penalty after a questionable tackle in the box.
With Messi on the bench, Lautaro Martinez steps up and cooly slots in a penalty to give Argentina a 2-0 lead. The Argentines don’t need their legend tonight.
Jack Baer
Marko Arnautović gets the long pass and opens the scoring. It’s a bigger goal for Iran than Austria.
Jack Baer
The hydration break hits with Algeria-Austria scoreless. There has not been a shot on target yet, in a match where both teams wouldn’t mind a tie.
Margarett Noren
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