Lightning delay: what time will France v Iraq restart?
As the second round of group games reaches its penultimate day, two poster boys of the tournament take to the pitch: Lionel Messi’s Argentina face Austria, and Kylian Mbappe’s France take on Iraq, with both nations looking to secure qualification to the knockout stage before the final round of fixtures.
Today’s matches:
Latest updates:
01:20 CET – No official update on a resumption time in Philadelphia, but spectators are being allowed back into their soaking wet seats, which is encouraging. Not many are choosing to take up that offer just yet and we can’t blame them.
Many are taking shelter in the (dis)comfort of the inner bowels of the seating bowl.
We’re now hearing that match officials are aiming for a 1:50am CET (7:50pm local time) restart. Players will be heading out onto the pitch at 1:30am for a warm-up.
01:10 CET – Many are understandably wondering just how long match officials are allowed to wait before calling off the game for today. The regulations have no maximum wait time. We’re reminded of last year’s Club World Cup game between Chelsea and Benfica in Charlotte, where players came back out onto the pitch nearly two hours after walking off. Reece James and Angel Di Maria scored second-half goals two and a half hours apart and that game went deep into the evening. Fortunately it’s still early evening in Philadelphia.
01:00 CET – The rain has eased at Lincoln Field, but the lightning strikes have not. We are hearing there is another 30-minute delay that would push the resumption back to 1:30am CET (7:30pm local time). The concerning thing is that the local weather bureau has a ‘Thunderstorm Watch’ in act until 9:00pm local.
00:50 CET – We are expecting an official update from FIFA in ten minutes, but one thing is for certain – this game is not getting back underway in ten minutes.
00:40 CET – Whilst we wait for the second half to begin between France and Iraq, the lineups are in for the third game of the day.
Norway and Senegal are both unchanged from their openers.
00:12 CET – Having checked the radar and assessed the breadth of this weather front, match officials are now looking to resume play in 50 minutes at 7pm local time – 01:00 CET. Weather pending, of course. Either way, we have a lengthy wait ahead of us.
The official rule is that any flash of lightning ‘sparks’ a weather interruption of 30 minutes, but officials can also take into account other conditions such as rain and wind. The winds are especially heavy around Lincoln Field, and the players also need some time to warm up prior to the resumption.
00:06 CET – Weather delay! The second half will resume at least 15 minutes after schedule due to the lightning around Lincoln Field. Those spectators not already undercover at the venue are being ordered to evacuate the stands by stadium staff and head for the safety of the concourse.
23:48 CET – It is half-time, with France still leading Iraq 1-0. In fact, Iraq have actually done pretty well since conceding, and have been solid at the back.
The rain started to come down mighty hard towards the end of that half, and France will be looking to return out after the break with a bit more intensity, just as they started the first half.
23:25 CET – The first hydration break is here, and as you can imagine, it has been one-way traffic for France. They will be looking to fill their bag today.
23:14 CET- France have taken an early lead against Iraq after waves of pressure, and you will never guess who scored it… Kylian Mbappe, again! A thunderous left-footed shot from outside the box beats the Iraqi goalkeeper, and it is 1-0 to the French.
It is Mbappe’s third goal of the tournament so far, and his 15th World Cup goal overall. Hunting down Lionel Messi?
23:00 CET – We are now underway in Philadelphia, with France looking to seal their qualification with victory over Iraq!
22:15 CET – The team news is in ahead of the second match today, with one of the tournament favourites, France, taking on Iraq, in what many expect to be a heavily one-sided contest.
The French make three changes, with Bradley Barcola – who scored in their opener – Lucas Digne and Manu Kone coming in for Desire Doue, Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni.
21:00 CET – It is Lionel Messi again as Argentina extend their lead in the final moments! Right at the end of the game, the goal was started by the magician after threading an eye of the needle pass for Julian Alvarez. Alvarez missed the first chance, and Messi missed on the rebound before finding the back of the net on the third attempt.
That proves to be the final major action of the game as Argentina win 2-0 to back up their opening game win, and Messi is on five goals already! He is having some World Cup… How many goals can he end this tournament with?
Anything is possible for the greatest of all time, and now officially in a league of his own in terms of World Cup goals.
20:33 CET – The ‘third quarter’ has finished as we reach the second hydration break and Argentina remain very comfortable.
They aren’t looking that dangerous themselves but Austria have created all but nothing. However, their all-time top scorer, Marko Arnautovic, is now on for the end of this encounter.
Can the 37-year-old find something special late on to rescue a result?
20:11 CET – It is second-half time in Dallas! Will we see more Messi magic in the second period?
19:54 CET – It has been the Messi show in Dallas for good and bad reasons! After a horrendous penalty miss, he more than makes up for it with a brilliant finish after a smart pull-back by Facundo Medina and then an even more intelligent dummy by Thiago Almada. And at the break, the holders lead and look in control of this one.
Can Ralf Ragnick’s side find a creative spark and get something going in the final third in the second half? That is Austria’s only hope of getting a result.
19:40 CET – History made! Lionel Messi finishes off a precise Argentina move inside the box with a side-footed sweeping finish in a fashion we have seen so many times before over his career. And that more than amends for his penalty miss.
A special moment as he becomes the all-time top scorer in World Cup history and what a way to do it.
Vintage Messi.
19:24 CET – It is time for the first hydration break and it remains 0-0 between Argentina vs Austria. It would be fair to say Messi hasn’t had anything go his way so far and that is the story for Argentina in general so far.
Austria’s press has been really effective so far and it is making life difficult for the holders.
19:10 CET – Well, well, well… Argentina were awarded a controversial penalty, but Lionel Messi, with an opportunity to become the all-time top scorer at the World Cup, horribly missed the resulting penalty after a stutter run-up. There was no power, no placement – far too casual.
Maybe he is human after all?
19:01 CET – It is go time in Dallas as Argentina vs Austria gets underway!
18:50 CET – It is just 10 minutes until Lionel Messi graces the pitch as Argentina look to secure their place in the second round against Austria.
17:45 CET – Team news is in for the first game today as Argentina face Austria, and the big news is that Lionel Scaloni is starting Lautaro Martinez over Julian Alvarez once again in attack to lead the line alongside Lionel Messi.
17:00 CET – As we near kick-off between Argentina and Austria, let’s take a closer look at the second game of the day as a red-hot France side take on Iraq. The big worry for Iraq is that they made life way too easy for dangerman Erling Haaland as they lost 4-1 in their opening game, and France’s front line is even more threatening.
It would take a defensive masterclass from Iraq and for their entire backline and keeper to have the games of their lives to prevent France from winning in convincing fashion.
On his 100th French appearance, though, Kylian Mbappe will see this as a perfect chance to score a hat-trick and therefore become the outright top goal scorer in World Cup history in what is just his third tournament.
14:45 CET – To get you prepared for the day ahead, check out some of our latest features and exclusives!
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Kylian Mbappe’s five standout games for France as he prepares for 100th cap
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13:00 CET – Good afternoon and welcome back to the World Cup! There is an exciting game to start today, as holders Argentina take on Austria from 19:00 CET, offering another opportunity to watch the great Lionel Messi in his final World Cup.
Fresh from a hat-trick in his first match, Messi will fancy his chances of doing the same again today against an Austria side who were far from convincing in their opening game win against Jordan.
As always, check out yesterday’s World Cup highlights here and relive all the drama from a thrilling day 11 here.