Lionel Messi’s World Cup campaign begins today; Ronaldo and England also in action

KANSAS CITY: The day begins with a “Good Morning” wish for Lionel Messi as he prepares to start his first World Cup campaign. Defending champions Argentina will face Algeria today at 6:30 AM Indian time. Later, at 10:30 PM, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will take on Congo. A high-voltage clash between England and Croatia will begin at 1:30 AM.

Gun celebration sparks controversy
Iran’s Mohammad Mohebi sparked controversy after celebrating his team's second goal against New Zealand by making a gun-pointing gesture with his hands. The celebration was reportedly aimed at fans who were protesting against the Iranian team in the stands while holding the old Iranian flag. There were also boos from the crowd during Iran’s national anthem.

Series of draws
Four consecutive draws were recorded in the World Cup matches last night. Cape Verde held Spain to a goalless draw, while Egypt and Belgium ended their match in a 1-1 draw. Saudi Arabia also held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw. Iran and New Zealand finished their match with a 2-2 scoreline.