Austria's last-gasp drama, Congo's historic win, and another Messi goal: World Cup night recap
Austria snatched a late qualification spot, DR Congo secured their first-ever World Cup victory, and Lionel Messi added to his tournament tally.
The final night of the group stage provided intense suspense and major storylines. While England and Croatia took care of business with victories over Panama (2-0) and Ghana (2-1) respectively, the action elsewhere was even more dramatic.
DR Congo made history by securing their first-ever World Cup win in their 52-year participation. A brace from Yoane Wissa against Uzbekistan (3-1) propelled the Leopards to the round of 32, where they are set to face England.
The most dramatic finish occurred in Kansas City, where Austria needed a result against Algeria. Trailing 2-3, they managed a stunning equalizer through a Sasa Kalajdzic header in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The result sent Austria through and eliminated Iran from the competition.
Lionel Messi continues his stellar form, scoring his sixth goal of the group stage after coming off the bench in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan. This mark makes him the first player since Oleg Salenko in 1994 to net six times during a single group stage.
Meanwhile, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz expressed frustration with the expanded tournament format. Following his side's qualification despite a defeat to Croatia, the manager argued that the increased number of teams dilutes the competition's prestige, suggesting the focus has shifted toward financial gain.