World Cup Talking Points: Scotland in Their First Tournament for 28 Years, Senegal Hit Five, Belgium Back

[AlexaBliss]

The Friday World Cup session produced several significant talking points beyond France's demolition of Norway and Cape Verde's historic qualification. Senegal hammered Iraq 5-0 to keep their knockout hopes alive, with the victory coming against a ten-man Iraq side after a red card. Senegal now wait to see if their tally is enough to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams. The margin of victory, and the goal difference it created, was clearly calculated with that possibility in mind. It was a comprehensive performance from a Senegal side that had been beaten by both France and Norway.

Belgium finally arrived at the tournament they were expected to dominate. After a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a 0-0 against Iran, they thrashed New Zealand 5-1 with Leandro Trossard scoring twice and Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers adding further goals. Belgium top Group G with five points and will now face a third-placed team from another group in the round of 32. The performance was a reminder of what Belgium's ageing golden generation can still do when they are motivated, though three games in it remains unclear whether they can sustain it into the knockouts.

Scotland made their first World Cup appearance for 28 years, ending a drought that stretched back to France 1998. Their results against Brazil and Paraguay confirmed the gulf between making a tournament and competing at the highest level, but the significance to Scottish football and Scottish culture of simply being there after nearly three decades away should not be underestimated. Their fans have arrived in enormous numbers and with the good humour the Tartan Army is famous for.

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[Fan22]

Scotland at a World Cup for the first time since 1998. I know some people find the tartan army enthusiasm excessive but 28 years is a long time to wait and the scenes of Scottish fans in North America this week have been genuinely lovely

[Dean95]

Senegal hitting five specifically to maximise goal difference for the third-place calculation shows the tactical football intelligence of their management. They did not just win, they won as comprehensively as possible for a reason

[Solo Buffer]

Belgium's 5-1 against New Zealand does not tell you much about how they will do in the knockouts. They played a team ranked well outside the top 50 after two uninspiring draws. The question of whether this Belgium can actually go deep remains unanswered

[Cobra]

De Bruyne at a World Cup is something the football world never quite got to see at its best because Belgium have repeatedly gone out before he could dominate on the biggest stage. This is likely his last chance and he clearly knows it

[Southern Jay]

The Scotland fans at Brazil versus Paraguay and other group games they are not involved in, cleaning up litter and making friends with every local they encounter, is the antidote to everything terrible about international football culture

[Andy99]

Trossard scoring twice for Belgium reminds you how bizarre it is that he spent his entire peak years at Brighton before moving to Arsenal. He has been one of the Premier League's most consistently excellent players and still gets overlooked globally

[RightAbout24]

Iran's situation in Group G where they drew 1-1 with Egypt but had a 93rd-minute winner overturned by VAR for offside means their World Cup future depends on being among the best third-placed teams. That calculation goes to goal difference and they may fall just short