Yesterday's results & headlines

It was a chastening night for the home nations at the World Cup. Scotland were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in their Group C decider, the Selecao easing to top spot and leaving Steve Clarke's side third on three points with a goal difference of minus-three. Scotland are now reliant on results elsewhere to sneak through as one of the eight best third-placed teams — a familiar nervy wait for the Tartan Army.

There was frustration too for England, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana. Thomas Tuchel's men were profligate in front of goal — Harry Kane the chief culprit, spurning a gilt-edged chance — but the point keeps England top of Group L on four points after their opening 4-2 win over Croatia. Paul Merson branded it "a reality check," though Tuchel's side can still seal first place with victory in their finale.

Elsewhere on a goal-laden day, Portugal hammered Uzbekistan 5-0 with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a brace alongside strikes from Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao, while Croatia edged Panama 1-0 through Ante Budimir and Morocco beat Haiti 4-2. In Group B, Switzerland came from behind to beat Canada 2-1, condemning the co-hosts to the runners-up berth.

Racing battles the heat

On the domestic front, the big talking point remains the heatwave gripping England and Wales. The British Horseracing Authority has been forced to cancel several fixtures and bring others forward to protect horses and racegoers, with watering and revised going reports dominating the build-up to a busy Thursday of summer Flat action.

Today's fixtures & previews

Football — World Cup 2026 group finales

Thursday delivers the closing round of three groups, with simultaneous kick-offs to keep everyone honest. Groups E and F headline the British evening: Japan v Sweden and Tunisia v Netherlands both get under way at 12:00am BST, while Ecuador v Germany and Curacao v Ivory Coast open the slate at 9:00pm BST.

The night caps off in the early hours with Turkiye v USA and Paraguay v Australia at 3:00am BST from California. The United States have already secured top spot in Group D after seeing off Australia, while Turkiye are out following defeats to Australia and Paraguay — setting up a low-stakes affair at SoFi Stadium. The Netherlands, meanwhile, need only avoid disaster against an eliminated Tunisia to progress in style.

Horse racing — heatwave-adjusted cards

It is a five-meeting card, with several tracks shifting times to dodge the worst of the heat. Nottingham races early, off from 10:30am, the opener pulled forward from its original afternoon slot. The Newmarket July course is the feature venue, with the bet365 Bunbury Cup the highlight of a card that begins at 11:45am.

Evening punters are well served too: Hamilton stages a seven-race Flat card from 6:00pm, while Newcastle offers all-weather action on the Tatersalls floodlit straight, with Leicester completing the roster. Ground and declarations should be checked late given the conditions.

Betting tips & odds analysis

Player news & injury updates

England's fitness watch

Bukayo Saka continues to manage an ongoing achilles issue, while Declan Rice has been quietly playing through nerve pain since December. Full-backs Reece James (hamstring) and Djed Spence (jaw) are only recently back in action, leaving Tuchel with selection headaches as he plots the route through the knockouts.

Livramento blow before kick-off

England's squad was disrupted on the eve of the tournament when Tino Livramento withdrew with a calf injury, with Trevoh Chalobah drafted in as his replacement — adding to the strain on Tuchel's full-back options.

Tuchel's tactical message

Despite the Ghana stalemate, Thomas Tuchel has spoken of giving his attackers "freedom" and likened his role to that of a conductor. The German remains bullish that England's physical dominance in midfield and Kane's goal threat can carry them deep into the bracket, a view echoed by pundit Jack Wilshere.

Scotland's anxious wait

For Steve Clarke, attention now turns to scoreboard-watching. Scotland's minus-three goal difference leaves them vulnerable among the third-placed contenders, and the focus shifts to keeping his squad fresh and focused while the remaining groups conclude over the coming days.