Portugal hammer Uzbekistan 5-0 to top Group K as the final group round opens tonight

While you slept

In the early hours in Houston, Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 to move to four points and lead Group K on goal difference; Uzbekistan, with two defeats, are all but out. Before dawn in Boston, England and Ghana played out a goalless 0-0 that left both on four points at the top of Group L, and in the next game at the same stadium Croatia beat Panama 1-0 to climb to three points and stay in the race, while Panama's second loss leaves them on the brink. Earlier on the 23rd, Norway came through a 3-2 shoot-out with Senegal in Toronto.

Japan today

Japan have no match today. They sit second in Group F, level with the Netherlands on four points and on goal difference (+4), with the Netherlands just ahead on goals scored (7 to 6). Their group decider with Sweden is on Friday 26 June at 8am (JST) in Arlington, where even a draw would take Japan a long way toward the last 32. These two days are a recovery window: Takefusa Kubo, troubled by a left-knee problem, is likely to miss the Sweden game, so how the right side of Ito, Doan and Nakamura breaks Sweden down is the question to watch.

Tonight into tomorrow morning (JST)

First, at 11am today, Colombia face DR Congo in Guadalajara; a Colombia win would draw them level with Portugal and sharpen the fight for Group K's two places. Then the final group round opens overnight: at 4am on the 25th, Group B is decided with Switzerland vs Canada in Vancouver and Bosnia vs Qatar in Seattle, and at 7am Group C brings Scotland vs Brazil in Miami and Morocco vs Haiti in Atlanta. Brazil, chasing top spot, against a Scotland side needing a result to go through, is the pick of the night.