England muddle on and Clarke checks out as World Cup moves up a gear

UP THE BRACKET

After much hesitant wallchart-filling, Geopolitics World Cup fans are finally able to feast their eyes on a complete knockout stage and plot their team’s route to a painful penalty shootout exit. Unlike in previous tournaments, there is no rest day for the wicked this time, with the first last-32 tie – a blockbuster tie between Canada and South Africa – taking place 15 hours after the final group reached its dramatic conclusion. Despite what their supporters sing, the GWC party will now continue without Scotland … who will continue without Steve Clarke. The GWC mixed zone’s least popular man has asked himself whether he is best placed to lead the nation into the next major tournament and has accepted the answer (‘no’) with good grace. “Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor,” Clarke sniffed as he backed away from the lectern and headed for the door marked Do One.

Thomas Tuchel might have been envious of Clarke’s sudden freedom as he watched his England team bluster their way to a third half of goalless football on the bounce. After a turgid first hour, Jude Bellingham decided that was enough faffing about and put Panama away with a goal and an assist for Harry Kane. Unlike against Ghana, Bellingham had to accept he probably was the best player on the pitch – and by quite some distance. England now have four days to get themselves down to Atlanta to play the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tuchel will probably spend the flight watching his right-backs like a hawk, for the knack curse that struck down Tino Livramento, Reece James and Jarell Quansah is surely coming for Djed Spence. Don’t be straining that jaw on some rock-hard aeroplane bread, Djed. Let’s get Trevoh Chalobah some extra leg room, too – just in case.

In the face of much harrumphing about England’s performance in New Jersey, Tuchel tooted: “These players are used to these moments. We will step up. The bigger the games get, the bigger we will get.” The nation can rest easy, then, knowing Ezri Konsa’s Bigger Vase experience will stop him jumping in two-footed on any more rampaging attackers on England’s route to the final – even if Ghana lurk in a possible semi-final reunion. After Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo found it tough going against somebody that isn’t Uzbekistan Colombia and were chucked on to the other side of the draw to be fed on by Spain, France, Germany and the USA USA USA, England’s side of the bracket has, as usual, opened up a touch.

Of the world’s top 10 teams in Fifa’s soft-drink-fuelled rankings, only Argentina (No 1) and Brazil (No 6) stand between England (No 4) and the final. That leaves the other seven to fight among themselves on the other side of the draw. But then again, England have hardly passed the tests of Ghana (world No 73) and Panama (No 34) with flying colours. Post-Panama, ITV’s floating question-poser Gabriel Clarke asked Bellingham if he expects a better England in the knockout stage. “We’ll see, hopefully,” he shrugged. And who can blame him for not being entirely convinced.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

John Brewin, Billy Munday and Yara El-Shaboury will be steering the GWC news blog before the round of 32 commences. South Africa 0-0 Canada (aet; 0-1 on pens) in Los Angeles is the curtain-raising fixture in the knockout rounds; Daniel Harris will bring you the action from 3pm EDT/8pm BST.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

28 May: “It’s very important to look ahead and plan for the future and, while my squad will be doing everything in their power to compete and make the country proud this summer, it also gives us certainty ahead of the tournament knowing that we can look to build on those foundations for the long-term, and it is a privilege to continue in this role” – Steve Clarke signs a four-year contract extension to stay in charge of Scotland through their 2030 World Cup campaign.

27 June: “The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now. They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor” – about that certainty: Clarke resigns.

double quotation markRe: Mike Towers’ request for potential walking football terms (yesterday’s letters). If two neighbouring Scottish teams play each other, is it known as the ‘infirm derby’?” – Roger Mart.

double quotation markIf Mike Towers wanted to sample walking football, he needn’t even have left his house. He could have just watched Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal” – Derek McGee.

double quotation markAs we enter the knockout stages of the GWC, I thought it time to put down a marker. On at least four occasions in the last couple of years, you have predicted penalty shootouts to finish 1-0. According to RSSSF, this has happened maybe twice ever in a normal shootout (including Silures’ 1-0 win on penalties against Hafia in the second round of the African Champions’ Cup 1979 are not known). So stop it – I’m on to you” – Neil Rose [never! – Football Daily Ed].

double quotation markKev the Poet’s suggestion that Odysseas Vlachodimos is a midfielder might explain why he was so bad whenever he played in goal” – Jim Hearson.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day is … Derek McGee. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

World Cup Daily continues, with the pod squad assembling to discuss England’s unconvincing win over Panama, and DR Congo’s surge into the last 32.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Iran and South Korea have followed Scotland through the door of disappointed third-place finishers after the final round of group games. Austria and Algeria resisted the urge to pass the ball round the back for 90 minutes and played out a thriller, while Ghana went through as lucky losers after defeat to Croatia.

In individual achievement news, Lionel Messi scored for Argentina (his sixth of the GWC) and Cristiano Ronaldo did not for Portugal on the final night of group games. Oh, and Yoane Wissa was at the double for England’s next opponents, DR Congo.

Spain’s Nico Williams has criticised the “completely unnecessary” challenge by a Uruguay player that has left him injured. Yéremy Pino was also hurt in the game in Guadalajara as Marcelo Bielsa’s boys lost their heads entirely.

And Jordan Henderson is cock-a-hoop after coming off the bench against Panama, making an appearance at his fourth World Cup for England. “Time goes very quickly,” Henderson trilled. “It’s still as special now as it was when I made my debut.”

KOREA CHANGE

South Korea won their first GWC game, beating Czechia 2-1, way back on 12 June but that was as good as it got for Hong Myung-bo’s side – and results on Saturday ensured their elimination as one of the four least successful third-placed sides. The country’s president, Lee Jae-myung, didn’t take long to give his verdict on Social Media Disgrace X. “I am not ⁠just taken ​aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled,” Lee posted – and he wasn’t finished there. “When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable,” Lee continued, thumbs whirring frantically. “I offer my deepest apologies to the public for the profound disappointment caused.” It’s hard to imagine even a demob-happy Keir Starmer going off on Thomas Tuchel like that, should England crash out earlier than expected.

RECOMMENDED BUYING

We have some Football Weekly Live events coming, folks. If you want to see Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and other top, top pod squad members in the flesh, you can do so in Dublin on 1 September or in that there London on 9 September. And on 16 July, Football Weekly: Live in NYC is sold out, but livestream tickets are still available.

STILL WANT MORE?

Joyless England serve up another display of dead ends and wardrobe-assembly levels of excitement, writes Barney Ronay. The eventual win over Panama failed to disguise deficiencies at the back for Thomas Tuchel, adds Jacob Steinberg.

With the 72-game group stage behind us, it’s time for a review of the World Cup power rankings. One team has jumped 26 places – and France are still top.

Japan and Morocco have a real chance to upset big guns Brazil and the Netherlands in the GWC last 32, writes Jonathan Wilson.

Julian Nagelsmann is struggling to bridge two eras as Germany manager – and Jürgen Klopp’s constant presence at GWC isn’t helping, writes Jonathan Liew.

What does the data tell us about World Cup penalty shootouts? Nick Evershed crunches the numbers, with the help of some fancy graphics.

Feast your eyes on this GWC colour chart, featuring fans from all 48 teams.

Alphonso Davies will finally get to play some football, just as Canada leave their home turf for the first GWC knockout tie. Joe Callaghan is in Los Angeles.

And who is the coach behind South Africa’s particularly slow-burn success? Meet Belgium’s Hugo Broos.

ON THE BALL

Big Website’s app now features a special edition of On the Ball for the GWC. On the Ball: World Stage invites you to guess the World Cup player in five attempts – and it’s pretty tricky. You can have a go right now – and there are loads of other good puzzles to take up your time, too.

MEMORY LANE

Before GWC, we had a round of 16 and we were grateful for it. Thirty-six years ago at Italia 90, England faced Belgium in Bologna for a place in the quarter-finals. David Platt’s spectacular, twisting extra-time volley dramatically sealed progress into the last eight for Bobby Robson’s side, thanks to a delicate delivery by Paul Gascoigne. Although Robson was the part-architect of it, at least according to the BBC co-commentator Trevor Brooking. “Gascoigne was going to have a shot,” Brooking said. “But Bobby Robson shouted from the bench: ‘Don’t shoot, chip it up.’ I think he might take a bit of credit afterwards.” England went on to defeat Cameroon before that shootout loss against West Germany in the semi-finals.

BEYOND THE GWC

The incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is interested in reuniting with Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka, so influential during their time at Leverkusen.

Former Manchester United employees Wout Weghorst and Erik ten Hag are already back together again, after the Dutch forward left Ajax to join FC Twente. “This transfer is a fantastic opportunity for us,” tooted Ten Hag. “​He is the consummate professional and the perfect example of what you can achieve as a footballer.”

Manchester City have snaffled French tyro Mathys Detourbet from fellow CFG outfit Troyes for around €25m … and loaned him straight to Monaco.

Dani Ceballos will leave Real Madrid a year earlier than expected after a trophy-laden nine-year spell at the Bernabéu. “Real Madrid is and will always be his home,” sobbed a club statement.

And Fuchs off: Newport are looking for a new manager, having ushered Christian Fuchs through the door marked Do One after just seven months in the job.

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