Yesterday's results & headlines

France hit top gear, Senegal run riot

The World Cup group stage roared towards its conclusion on Friday with France producing the night's standout performance, sweeping aside a heavily-rotated Norway side 4-1 in Group I. Ousmane Dembélé was the architect, helping himself to the second-fastest hat-trick in World Cup history as Les Bleus confirmed top spot in the group. Norway boss had made ten changes and rested Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard, with the Scandinavians on the back foot from the first whistle — though they had already done enough to progress.

In the same group, Senegal kept their qualification hopes firmly alive with a thumping 5-0 win over a 10-man Iraq. Habib Diarra opened the scoring inside four minutes and Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye struck within three minutes of each other in the second half to complete a comfortable evening for the Africans.

England left waiting after Ghana stalemate

Earlier in the week England were held to a frustrating 0-0 by Ghana, a result that delayed Thomas Tuchel's side's automatic passage into the knockout rounds. The Three Lions sit on four points and remain in pole position to win Group L, but the lack of a cutting edge against a stubborn Ghanaian defence has dominated the back pages ahead of tonight's decider.

Racing: Plate plunge at Newcastle

On the racing front, the build-up to Newcastle's showpiece has been all about the money. Circus Of Rome has been the subject of a sustained gamble ahead of the Northumberland Plate, tumbling from a general 20/1 earlier in the week into 3/1 favouritism — one of the more eye-catching market moves of the British summer so far.

Today's fixtures & previews

Football: World Cup final group day

Saturday marks the last day of the group stage before the expanded Round of 32 begins on Sunday. All eyes are on England v Panama, kicking off at 22:00 BST live on ITV1 and ITVX from the New York/New Jersey venue. Victory guarantees Tuchel's men top spot in Group L; even a draw is enough to send them through, while the simultaneous Croatia v Ghana clash will settle the other qualification place.

With Panama already eliminated, England are heavy favourites and will be desperate to find the fluency that deserted them against Ghana. A confidence-boosting win, ideally with goals shared around the squad, is exactly what the manager wants before the knockout phase.

Horse racing: Northumberland Plate Day & York

It is a cracking Saturday of domestic racing headlined by Northumberland Plate Day at Newcastle. The richest all-weather race in Britain, the two-mile JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Handicap, goes off at 15:15 with a full field of 20 runners. The supporting Northumberland Vase, a consolation handicap, is at 14:40.

York provides the ITV-televised action, with a seven-race card running from 13:20 through to 16:58. Francesca Cumani fronts the main ITV Racing coverage from 13:25, with analysis from Hayley Turner and Adele Mulrennan. There is also evening racing under floodlights at Lingfield Park.

Tennis: Wimbledon on the horizon

The grass-court showpiece is nearly upon us. With qualifying completed earlier in the week, the main draw at Wimbledon begins on Monday 29 June. Centre Court play starts at 13:30 with outside courts under way from 11:00, giving British fans a final weekend to study the draw before the action commences at SW19.

Betting tips & odds analysis

Player news & injury updates

Reece James ruled out for England

Reece James will play no part against Panama after the Chelsea defender suffered a hamstring injury. James started against Croatia and Ghana but did not travel with the squad for the final group fixture, a blow for Tuchel with Djed Spence in line to deputise at right-back.

Rice walking the tightrope

Declan Rice is carrying a minor calf complaint and, just as significantly, sits one booking away from a suspension that would rule him out of the Round of 32. Expect England's midfield anchor to tread carefully — or be managed cautiously — in tonight's dead-rubber-tinged contest.

Norway rest their stars

Norway's decision to bench Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard for the France defeat underlined that, with qualification secured, their focus has already shifted to the knockout stage. Both talismen are expected to return refreshed for the last 32.

Transfer window heats up

Away from the tournament, the summer window remains busy. Tottenham are reportedly pressing to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, while Leeds United are weighing an intriguing move for Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt. Liverpool, meanwhile, are hunting a new central defender following the exit of Ibrahima Konaté, with strengthening at the back the priority. The window closes on 1 September.