World Cup diary: Spain and Germany prepare for clash of giants in Qatar

All the latest news and action from Qatar 2022.

World Cup diary: Messi and Lewandowski score crucial goals, Spain and Germany clash in Qatar SNS Group

Everything you need to know if you’re following the World Cup from home. Here’s your daily round-up of results, fixtures and memorable moments.

Saturday’s results

Tunisia 0-1 Australia

Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia

France 2-1 Denmark

Argentina 2-0 Mexico

All yesterday’s action

Moment of the day

He may have scored over 500 career goals, starred for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, won countless trophies including the Champions League and generally been regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous strikers but.. Robert Lewandowski had never scored at the World Cup.

That changed on Saturday when he pounced on a defensive mistake to score a crucial goal against Saudi Arabia.

It’s fair to say the Polish forward got a bit emotional.

Today’s fixtures and how to watch

Japan v Costa Rica (10am, STV and STV Player)

Belgium v Morocco (1pm, BBC)

Croatia v Canada (4pm, BBC)

Spain v Germany (7pm, BBC)

One to watch

Daizen Maeda and Japan are in action early against Costa Rica, and there are two tasty clashes in F this afternoon but there’s no doubt about the game of the day.

Spain and Germany go toe to toe this evening in one of the big heavyweight clashes of the group stage.

Luis Enrique’s Spain side put in arguably the most impressive display of the competition so far when they comprehensively picked Costa Rica apart, winning their opening game 7-0.

That puts them in pole position in Group E but four-time-winners Germany are in a much trickier predicament. A shock defeat to Japan in their opening game means they are staring at an early exit if they fail to win tonight, but the opposition could hardly be tougher.

The match kicks off at 7pm in Al Bayt and by final whistle we’ll know if Hansi Flick and his players are back in business, or the first of the giants to fall.

Pre-match reading:

Germany great and now BBC pundit Jurgen Klinsmann was critical of Iran’s players and what he saw as gamesmanship in their win over Wales, blaming “their culture”. Iran boss Carlos Queiroz has invited him to vitis the club camp, but also expects him to resign from a FIFA role.

“Today our World Cup begins.” Argentina fans might have wished the team had started their World Cup against Saudi Arabia but Lionel Messi says the win over Mexico is a new beginning.

Defeat to Japan brought a national inquest but Germany’s players are hopeful they can get out of their predicament. Kai Havertz says it’s time to press on the accelerator.

Watch the World Cup live on STV and the STV Player. Click here for a full schedule and latest results.

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