The Game

From now on it's knockout football. Who goes through, who goes home?

Tom, Gregor and Tony attempt to predict all of the remaining round of 32 ties...and work out who makes it to the final. Spoiler alert is isn't Australia.

We take a more detailed look at England and their next opponents DR Congo, take some listeners questions "What is Thomas Tuchel's beef with Trent Alexander Arnold?" 

And a quick look back at Argentina, Portugal and Canada beating South Africa.

Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join 

Tom Clarke back in the studio - find us on YouTube @thetimessport

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England top their group and progress to the round of 32. It was better than Ghana, there were some reasons to be cheerful, but let's be honest...it was a bit laboured. How far can England go playing like that? Is there more to come or is this the limit of England's ability?

Immediate reaction from Matt Lawton at the ground before Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd take a closer look at the performance.

Just as we pressed stop, Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland coach. So Gregor and Tom put the headphones back on to assess Steve Clarke's reign and where next for the Scottish national team....

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They did it! Cape Verde are into the knockouts after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia and will face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the next round. 

Ian Whittell joins Tom Clarke to discuss their heroic World Cup story and Tom also hears from James Gheerbrant who watched Spain beat an angry Uruguay and Tom Allnutt who saw a thrilling draw between Iran and Egypt. 

There are six more games to go including England's final group game with Panama - Matt Lawton joined Tom to preview this one and discuss why a statement win is vital for Thomas Tuchel's side. 

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Ecuador stunned Germany in an eventful round of final group stage games, as they qualified for the knockout stage. 

Tom Clarke hears from Times journalists across America as Paul Hirst reports on Netherlands 3-1 win against Tunisia, James Gheerbrant watches Sweden rescue a draw with Japan and Peter Rutzler see Turkey salvage some pride by beating co-hosts USA 3-2. 

In part two Tom chats to reporter Ian Whittell who offers his view on Brazil and Spain and previews Cape Verde's huge clash with Saudi Arabia as they attempt to keep their remarkable World Cup story going. 

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They are not out, yet. That is about as good as it gets for Scotland after a 3-0 defeat against Brazil. Michael Grant and Gregor Robertson dissect another dismal display with Tom Clarke and ponder whether Steve Clarke's side deserve to go through? 

In part two Jonathan Northcroft joins from the England camp with the latest on injury fears for Reece James. He and Tom wonder whether Thomas Tuchel has overdone it on 'vibes men' in his squad and discuss the need for Kobbie Mainoo to get some game time against Panama. 

And despite Scotland's misery Tom has still seen two of his goals of the tournament for Canada and Haiti. 

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After brilliance in game one there was boredom in game two for England their fans as Ghana battled for a 0-0 draw. 

Tom Clarke is joined by Matt Lawton, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson to dissect a frustrating game and ask what more Thomas Tuchel could have done to get the win. 

Elsewhere there was a big win for Portugal and two goals for Cristiano Ronaldo - Tom Allnutt checks in from the ground to offer his thoughts. 

And we look ahead to the final round of group stage matches as Scotland prepare to face Brazil - how are the nerves Gregor!?

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Lionel Messi is the all-time record goalscorer at World Cups and he is leading the Golden Boot race for this tournament with five goals but Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are hot on his tail. 

Can Harry Kane keep pace? Jonathan Northcroft joins Tom Clarke to preview England's second match with Ghana and discuss the impact Jude Bellingham is having on this World Cup as his partnership with Kane improves. 

Paul Hirst reports from another Messi masterclass and James Gheerbrant survived the rain and storms to watch France, Mbappe and Michael Olise reach the knockout stages before Haaland got Norway a 3-2 win against Senegal. 

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They've done it again! Cape Verde have shocked the world once more, getting a brilliant and deserved 2-2 draw with Uruguay and become the story of the tournament so far. Can they qualify for the knockout stages?

Tom Clarke is joined by Cape Verde super fan Gregor Robertson to discuss that match and Iran's spirited draw with a struggling Belgium.

Ian Whittell checks in after watching Spain and Lamine Yamal comfortably beat Saudi Arabia and in part two Tom chats to Matt Lawton with the latest news from the England camp as preparations continue for the second game against Ghana. Will Marcus Rashford get a start?

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A stunning win for Netherlands against Sweden has turned Group F on its head. Graham Potter's side were thrashed 5-1 and Tom Allnutt was in Houston to watch it - he joins Tom Clarke to discuss that game and preview Portugal's massive clash with Uzbekistan. Can Roberto Martinez afford to drop Cristiano Ronaldo?

In part two, Tom chats to Martin Samuel about England's impressive start, the big-game players who are delivering and how this World Cup compares to previous editions of the tournament.

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Defeated but not downhearted. Scotland lost to Morocco but showed fight in the second half which offers hope for reaching the knockout stages. 

Gregor Robertson and Michael Grant join Tom Clarke to dissect Scotland's second match and debate those controversial penalty calls. 

Elsewhere Peter Rutzler reports from a jubilant USA camp as they qualify in style - are they Dark Horses for the trophy? And James Gheerbrant watches Brazil get back to winning ways against Haiti before Turkey are dumped out by 10-man Paraguay. 

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