Just one match into the Qatar World Cup, Germany face what amounts to a must-win clash against Spain on Sunday, a team they have not beaten in a competitive fixture since 1988.

Shafeeq Saqafi paid three dollars for the Argentina shirt he proudly wore when sat with 15,000 other migrant workers in a hidden corner of Doha to watch Lionel Messi's side salvage their World Cup.

Germany face a fight for World Cup survival on Sunday in a must-win clash with Spain as Japan and Belgium look to seal their place in the last 16.

Lionel Messi drew level with Diego Maradona's number of World Cup goals and appearances on Saturday, but the current No. 10 knows that only winning the trophy at long last will earn him the same eternal love of his fellow Argentines.

Lionel Scaloni pleaded with Argentines to show calm after Lionel Messi helped keep their World Cup hopes alive with the first goal in a crucial 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.

Lionel Messi helped keep Argentina’s World Cup bid alive with the first goal in a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday.

Sublime strikes by Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez earned Argentina a 2-0 win over feisty Mexico in a pulsating atmosphere at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday and got the South American favourites' World Cup campaign up and running.

This World Cup was promised to be the ‘best-ever’ by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and that sentiment was echoed by different quarters, with the chief reason behind the assumption being all the innovation that this edition of the showpiece event in Qatar was set to offer.

Robert Lewandowski scored his first ever World Cup goal as Poland brought Saudi Arabia back down to earth with a bump on Saturday with an 2-0 Group C victory that rejuvenated their tournament campaign.

Switzerland centre-back Nico Elvedi said on Saturday his side would not be awed by the might of Brazil, saying they had enough quality to push the tournament favourites.

The United States shut out a European side at the World Cup for the first time since 1950 but left the tent-like Al Bayt Stadium without a win after Friday’s tense goalless stalemate against England, a contest where they were superior for long periods.

Coach Graham Arnold said “the old Aussie way” helped his side beat Tunisia 1-0 on Saturday to keep their World Cup alive but warned his players they had achieved nothing yet.

A World Cup draw with Ecuador was not a result the Netherlands was looking for, with the 1-1 outcome meaning Louis van Gaal’s team failed to nail down a last-16 place with a game to spare.

Before flying to Qatar, Australia’s Mitchell Duke had promised to dedicate a goal at the World Cup to his son, and the striker duly delivered when he scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in their second Group D match on Saturday.

Richarlison has always had a flair for the dramatic and the Brazil striker is relishing his chance to seize the World Cup spotlight after being reduced to a supporting role at Tottenham.

The Qatar World Cup is heating up as groups are starting to shape up with qualification in mind. Five-time champions Brazil got off to a scintillating start with a 2-0 drubbing over Serbia where Richarlison scored a brace, including a scissors kick.

Robert Lewandowski scored his first ever World Cup goal as Poland brought Saudi Arabia back down to earth with a bump on Saturday with an 2-0 Group C victory that rejuvenated their tournament campaign.

Having lost twice to Denmark recently, France will be taking nothing for granted when they look to secure their qualification for the knockout stages with a game to spare in Group D on Saturday.

Teammates who spend quality time together on and off the pitch and do not let their different backgrounds create any barriers between them, form some of the coolest bromances in football that make the beautiful game more wholesome. With sparks flying on and off the pitch, we look at these 5 ‘bromances’ that everyone has come to encourage and appreciate.

There is no doubt that the lifestyle of international footballers is one that never ceases to amaze. In addition to winning matches, popular athletes also land themselves various lucrative brand deals and endorsements that easily place them among the highest earners in the world. However, while some players may choose to spend lavishly, others prefer the simpler things in life.