Two rounds of games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have come and gone, and there is a fair idea of which teams are playing well and which teams still have a long way to go.
Last night, Portugal set the stage alight following a poor first game against Congo, putting five past Uzbekistan without reply.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the latest star to join the party, scoring a brace following similar contributions from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
England played next against Ghana and faced opponents who chose to sit back and defend, take the point and move on to the next game.
The Three Lions tried their best to break down the African team’s defensive wall, but the game eventually ended 0-0.
Croatia then went on to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Panama, while Colombia followed suit with the same scoreline against Congo.
From a Barça perspective, both Joao Cancelo and Anthony Gordon featured for their nations, and let us see how they fared.
Joao Cancelo vs Uzbekistan
Cancelo had an assist in Portugal’s 5-0 win. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Joao Cancelo started for Portugal in their 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. He assisted Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener inside six minutes.
It was a very Cancelo moment: advanced on the right, bold enough to attack the byline and sharp enough to turn possession into a clear chance.
Cancelo was taken off at half-time, but Portugal went on to dominate, finishing with 66 percent possession.
This was the version of Cancelo that always feels tempting. He gives a team ideas from full-back, not just support.
Even when he is not perfect defensively, his ability to create from unusual angles can change the flow of a game.
Barça have still not wrapped up Cancelo’s signing, but performances like these only make the case for inclusion even stronger.
Anthony Gordon vs Ghana
Gordon’s evening was much harder. England had 78.8 percent possession against Ghana, but still failed to score in a match that became a lesson in how sterile dominance can look without sharpness in the final third.
Gordon did not have the desired impact. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The winger was replaced by Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute after a performance that had effort but not enough impact.
England’s wide supply faltered, with only one of 12 crosses completed before the break, despite Gordon and Noni Madueke producing brief flashes.
Barça fans will have questions in their minds about Gordon. His pace and directness are useful, but Barcelona demand more than movement.
Against a deep block, you need clean decisions, disguised passes and calm final actions.
Overall, Cancelo gave Barcelona supporters something encouraging to take from the day. Gordon, meanwhile, still has to show he can be more than energetic when the spaces disappear.
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