Brazil might be fretting about the state of Neymar's ankle, but if a successful World Cup campaign is built on a solid defence then the foundations are there for Tite's side to win the title in Qatar.

Marcus Rashford is a player transformed for England, manager Gareth Southgate said after the forward's double strike against Wales on Tuesday propelled England into World Cup last 16.

Christian Pulisic could not even celebrate scoring against Iran after he injured himself as the United States beat Iran 1-0 on Tuesday in an entertaining Group B decider to storm into the last 16 of the World Cup.

Marcus Rashford's second-half double propelled England to a 3-0 win over neighbours Wales on Tuesday that sent them into the World Cup last 16 as Group B winners and ended Welsh hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Australia’s summer of cricket starts in earnest on Wednesday as the top-ranked Test side begin a two-match series against West Indies, albeit amid little fanfare after three months of continual white-ball matches across the country.

For tens of thousands of World Cup fans, home base in Qatar is a concrete complex on the edge of the desert, next to a slaughterhouse and a set of high-voltage electrical wires.

When the book is closed on the current generation of footballers, no individual player will have generated greater debate than Neymar. Very few who have a modicum of understanding about football would dispute his talent. Yet, in spite of scoring over a hundred goals for three separate clubs and being two goals shy of becoming Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, many feel that he doesn’t always apply himself fully to the sport.

Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes has long played second fiddle to team mate Cristiano Ronaldo but on Monday he stepped out of the superstar’s shadow by scoring two goals to steer his team past Uruguay and into the World Cup Round of 16.

Marcus Rashford believes the best is yet to come from England at the World Cup after cruising into the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday while Christian Pulisic fired the United States into the last 16 as the Americans downed Iran 1-0 in their politically charged grudge match.

In what has so far been a roller coaster World Cup, record five-time champions Brazil remain unscathed after victories against two feisty European sides.

Lionel Messi has already come to Argentina’s rescue at the World Cup when the star forward’s wonder strike helped the Albiceleste open their account against a rigid Mexico in their previous must-win Group C game last Sunday.

Brazil winger Antony has claimed the air conditioning inside stadiums has been making him and other members of the Brazil team ill. 

Every day crowds gather in huge numbers to take part in live World Cup match-screenings at Dhaka University. Current and former students of the University along with people from all walks of life from across the city make their way to the university’s campus to watch the games.

Captain Kalidou Koulibaly's second-half strike earned Senegal a 2-1 win against Ecuador that sent the African team into the knockout phase of the World Cup for the second time on Tuesday.

Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands booked their place in the World Cup last 16 as group winners with a straightforward 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday.

Argentina on Tuesday issued a warning to Poland ahead of their final World Cup Group C match on Wednesday, saying they may have slipped and stumbled through their first two group matches but have yet to hit peak form.

A "united" South Korea will be fired up by a burning sense of injustice when they face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal later this week as they fight to keep their World Cup alive.

Argentina star Lionel Messi is football's answer to skiing great Alberto Tomba, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said on Tuesday.

Qualification scenarios are shaping up as teams are eventfully poised after the completion of the second round of matches of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Diplomatic foes the United States and Iran face off on the pitch at the World Cup on Tuesday in a match that some Iranians fear may see further run-ins with stadium security or clashes with pro-government fans over raging protests back home.