Highlights

The Iran national team proved to the world the talent it possesses with an incredible 2-0 victory vs. Wales on Friday. Iran’s goals came in the 99th and 101st minutes after dominating the Dragons all game.

The Wales national team looked atrocious, disjointed and unlike themselves as they were completely outplayed against Iran. Iran hit both posts in the game, forced great saves out of Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (who was shown a red card in the 86th minute) and found the win at the end.

Richarlison, take a bow. There are few words that could possibly do this goal justice. After a difficult first half, Richarlison firmly stamped his name on the match with one of the all-time great World Cup goals. 

“Samba Soccer at its absolute best,” according to Stu Holden. “That is Joga Bonito. That is the Beautiful game,” added Jon Strong.

Richarlison, in his first World Cup appearance for Brazil, scored his second goal of the match with a beautiful overhead kick that will live forever, and deservedly so. 

Qatar’s World Cup has provided fans with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in just four matchdays. For African nations, it had been nothing but low until André Ayew scored the continent’s first goal of the tournament with Ghana’s opener against Portugal. 

World Cup history decrees that if the USMNT and Ghana qualify for the same tournament, they must play each other. It happened in 2006, 2010, 2014 and then both mutually agreed to miss 2018. In 2022, the two nations couldn't possibly meet until the semifinals, so that's what's going to happen.

Tiki-taka (the lethal variety) is back. Spain was greatly helped by Costa Rica's decision to grant mobile brain-in-a-jar Sergio Busquets freedom of the park Wednesday, but to downplay La Furia Roja's 7-0 World Cup victory over Los Ticos is like throwing mashed potatoes at a Van Gogh.

This was always the danger for Old Man Costa Rica: 35-year-old Keylor Navas, 34-year-old Celso Borges and 33-year-old Óscar Duarte getting torn apart by 22-year-old Ferran Torres and Barcelona teenage prodigies Pedri and Gavi.