Will Scotland have World Cup 2026 regrets as qualification hangs in the balance?
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room wrote his name into World Cup history by making 15 saves, the most in a 90-minute match since records began in 1966, as the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament finals held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw.
Six days after losing 7-1 to Germany, Room, 37, produced a stunning performance to keep Curacao’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.
“I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort,” he said. “We’ve been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great.”
Meanwhile, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dismissed talk of unrest involving talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting there were no issues within the squad as they prepare to face New Zealand. Later, Spain bid to get their first win against Saudi Arabia, while Belgium are in action against Iran.
Last night, Tunisia became the third team to exit the World Cup after a 4-0 defeat to impressive Japan. Tunisia sacked their coach Sabri Lamouchi after their 5-1 defeat to Sweden, but the arrival of Herve Renard could not prevent another defeat.
Today at the World Cup: Fixtures and where to watch
5pm BST – Spain 🇪🇸 v Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (Group H) – BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
8pm BST – Belgium 🇧🇪 v Iran 🇮🇷 (Group G ) – ITV 1, ITV X, STV, STV Player
11pm BST – Uruguay 🇺🇾 v Cape Verde 🇨🇻 (Group H) – BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
2am BST – New Zealand 🇳🇿 v Egypt 🇪🇬 (Group G) – ITV 1, ITV X, STV, STV Player
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 08:44
ITV upgrades Emma Hayes’ tactics corner after sexism storm over ‘kitchen’ set
ITV pundit Emma Hayes received an upgrade to the set used for her tactical analysis after the kitchen-esque design initially sparked something of a sexism row at World Cup 2026.
Hayes, who is the current US women’s team manager and whose seven Women’s Super League titles during her time at Chelsea made her one of the most highly-respected tacticians in world football, delivered tactical insights during England’s impressive opening 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday.
But viewers were left baffled and distracted by ITV’s decision to station her away from the main punditry in a part of the set that resembled a show kitchen, with a chalkboard affixed to a brick column, surrounded by cupboards and drawers that looked as if they should contain cutlery and crockery.
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 08:29
‘It’s different, the freedom I have’: Cody Gakpo leaves behind Liverpool struggles with World Cup show
Gakpo was criticised for his form at Liverpool this season but he comes alive in a Dutch shirt and delivered again on the World Cup stage as the Netherlands thrashed Sweden, reports Lawrence Ostlere from Houston
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:59
‘They fought like lions’: Advocaat proud after Curacao earn first World Cup point
Curacao coach Dick Advocaat saluted his players and the tiny Caribbean island after holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw to earn their first ever point at the World Cup.
Advocaat, 78, said the Curacao supporters deserved praise after the nation, which is home to just 156,000 people, were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in their opening game.
The people on Curacao have given us their support from the of outset,” Advocaat said. “Particularly last week, after the 7-1, people were still celebrating on the island and people were full of joy.
“It was a mad house tonight. So I think that for people whose life is not always that easy, I really wish them to celebrate `this success.
“Maybe Germany came too early,” he added. “That day they were simply out of our league, but today the team was standing as it should have been standing.
“They were fighting like lions and then you see what you can achieve against a team that’s playing on a very high level with very high individual levels of the players.”
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:44
‘Sorry, old habits!’ Gary Lineker jokes with Laura Woods during surprise ITV cameo at World Cup 2026
Gary Lineker was back in familiar territory on Saturday night as he returned to free-to-air TV and even kicked off his ITV stint with a brief cameo as a presenter.
Lineker, who presented BBC’s Match of the Day for 26 years until he departed the corporation last May, was announced on Friday as a pundit for ITV’s coverage of Germany against Ivory Coast in Group E of the World Cup.
However, Lineker started his appearance on ITV with a typically light-hearted moment after he started to present the show before presenter Laura Woods interjected in comical fashion.
“Thank you very much for joining us on ITV for this one. Another day, another game, another channel,” Lineker started before being cut off by Woods.
Woods added: “Gary, that’s my job!” Lineker replied: “Sorry, sorry. Old habits!”
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:29
Curacao’s Eloy Room emulates USA’s Tim Howard
The World Cup record for most saves in a match still belongs to the USA’s Tim Howard after the former Manchester United and Everton goalkeeper made 16 against Belgium in the last-16 of the 2014 World Cup.
However, that included a period of extra time, while Howard ended up conceding two goals as the USA were knocked out.
Curacao’s Eloy Room made 15 saves, all within the 90-minute match, and kept a clean sheet to secure the tiny nation their first ever World Cup point.
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:21
Japan thrash Tunisia to knock North Africa side out of World Cup
Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 to move to the brink of the World Cup knockout stages, while the North Africans were eliminated after a second successive defeat in Group F.
Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after four minutes, bundling home Keito Nakamura’s low cross from close range, before Ayase Ueda doubled Japan’s lead in the 30th minute with a fierce low drive into the far corner.
Japan stayed in control after the break and Ueda set up Junya Ito for their third with a`lofted pass before heading in his second of the night from a deep cross, making Japan the first Asian side to score four goals in a World Cup match.
Japan join the Netherlands on four points, with Tunisia, playing their first game under new coach Herve Renard after a 5-1 loss to Sweden, becoming the tournament’s third eliminated side, joining Haiti and Turkey.
Herve Renard was brought in by Tunisia after their opening defeat, with Sabri Lamouchi dismissed (Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:09
Coach Hassan denies Salah rift as Egypt eye historic World Cup win
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dismissed talk of unrest involving talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting there were no issues within the squad as they prepare to face New Zealand in their crucial World Cup Group G match at BC Place.
Salah, 34, scored nine goals in the qualifying campaign and provided an assist for Emam Ashour in their opener with Belgium. But he was substituted in the 76th minute of that 1-1 draw in Seattle, with highly-rated teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on.
“Salah is an important player for our squad, and the 26 players who are here with me are very important,” Hassan told reporters. “Every player who has worked with me knows I deal with them in a professional manner. I do not have favourites.
“Salah is a great player who helps his teammates. He has a lot of discipline and is a role model.
“If he starts … or if he gets substituted, it’s fine. It is his role as a player. Everyone knows that I am working for the benefit of the team and the national side.
“Rumours are being spread about stars, about players, about teams. But Salah is someone who is very disciplined,” he added.
“He trains with us. He’s the first player that would also say yes to my decisions as a technical director. So I think he will be very positive tomorrow.”
(AP)
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:07
Eloy Room denies Ecuador in stunning display
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia had a terrific chance in the third minute when he was one-on-one with Eloy Room, but the keeper, who plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship, dived to tip the ball wide of the post with a stunning one-handed save.
That set the stage for Room’s heroic display as he repeatedly denied Ecuador and gradually turned frustration into disbelief among the South American side and their supporters. “I still have to process myself,” Room said.
“The match is full of emotions. I knew it was going to be a tough match. The first save, the tone was put in place, also for the team.
“It gave me confidence and I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort. We’ve been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great.”
(PA)
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:03
Heroic Eloy Room breaks goalkeeper record to help Curacao create history in first World Cup point
A heroic performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room created history for Curacao as they earned a first World Cup point by holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in Kansas City.
Room made 15 saves – the most by any goalkeeper in 90 minutes of a World Cup match since records began in 1966 – as he acted as a one-man barrier, with Dick Advocaat’s brave side bouncing back from their 7-1 thrashing by Germany in their opening game.
The point, a historic result for a tiny nation with just 158,000 people, keeps their unlikely hopes of advancing through Group E alive and they will progress to the knockout stages if they can somehow beat Ivory Coast in their final match.
Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:01