81 mins: Back to the red wave lapping against the golden shore. Back to a Turkish forward – Guler this time – shooting harmlessly from long range. Turkey are now starting to look a little forlorn.

80 mins: Ozcan and Muldur are now on for Turkey.

79 mins: Metcalfe’s delivery to the near post is headed clear. Still work to be done on set-pieces.

78 mins: Turkey are camped in Australia’s half. Calhanoglu tries to scheme but there are gold jerseys everywhere flinging themselves in harm’s way. Then when they finally clear Yengi does brilliantly to battle his way through a couple of challenges and the Socceroos get a releiving corner.

77 mins: Akturkoglu volleys straight at Beach on the six yard line! That was the clearest chance of the night for Turkey. The long ball over the top was headed across goal and the striker got a yard of space to hook an effort on goal. Either side of Beach and that was in.

76 mins: For bravery, discipline, industry, and the quality of strikes, this is on tracj to be Australia’s greatest ever World Cup performance. Absolutely unbelievable scenes in Vancouver.

Out of nothing, Australia double their lead. The Socceroos clear to midfield and benefit from some poor Turkish control. Metcalfe picks the ball up with nothing on, drives a few metres forward and infield, approaches the D, then lets fly with a low left-footed effort that scuds along the BC Place turf, beyond Cakir’s despairing dive, and inside the post. Australia are in dreamland.

74 mins: Yengi and Geria do come on. The former for the injured Toure, the latter for the overworked Italiano. Geria will have the dangerous Yildiz to deal with.

73 mins: The corner isn’t great, the second ball is slow, and Guler eventually shoots over from distance.

72 mins: Yildiz shows his dancing feet on the left to get a yard free of Italiano but Circati defends the cross at stretch superbly. Turkey keep coming and Celik finds himself in space on the right, he can get into the box and do something decisive – he shoots at the tiny space between Beach and his left-hand post and the ball goes behind for a corner. A very very rare look at open space in Australia’s box there.

70 mins: The crowd sing Mr Brightside as the drinks break ends. A tune I think would have been a belting terrace anthem at Old Trafford in the 80s when Norman Whiteside was running around.

69 mins: Geria and Yengi look like they are being readied to come on.

“We are getting too deep,” warns James Paraskevas. “The counter attacking threat is disappearing. Great chance to get fresh legs on. Mabil, Volpato, Hrustic, could be used.” Agreed.

The teams regroup at the three quarter time break. Can Australia cling on? Can Montella find a moment of magic from someone?

66 mins: Toure wastes a rare counterattacking opportunity and looks hurt in the process. Turkey try to exploiut the opportunity but Burgess – who has been magnificent (along with Souttar and Circati) – settles any nerves by shielding the ball out for a goal kick.

65 mins: Yildiz has two further efforts from outside the box charged down. The game is now being played in about a fifth of the surface area of the BC Place pitch.

64 mins: Pressure is building now from Turkey. Calhanoglu looks set to shoot in the D but Okon-Engstler gets a toe in – atoning for his earlier concession of possession after good work from Bos. Australia are now trapped in their defensive third and look incapable of forcing their way out at the moment.

63 mins: Just like his teammates in the opening half Yildiz resorts to just putting his laces through the ball outside the box, but his hopeful effort is closed down. Turkey regather possession and try to work it in front of the Australian defence but there is no way though the massed ranks of gold jerseys.

62 mins: Yildiz again looks threatening down the left but as he reaches the byline he’s crowded out and isolated and Australia smuggle clear.

Turkey make their second change with Kokcu replaced by Akgun.

61 mins: Nishan Velupilay is on to give goalscorer Nestory Irankuna a breather.

60 mins: Guler picks up a clearing header but his cute pass inside can’t find a teammate. Then it’s over to the other young superstar Yildiz who dances past Italiano one-on-one and into the box, but the Australian wingback doesn’t give up and gets a toe to a challenge that does just enough to disrupt the shooting opportunity. The Juve flyer could have gone down under that challenge but kept his feet.

59 mins: Lovely interplay from Australia through midfield and down the right buys them some time and territory. Turkey clear but that only allows more composed possession across the Socceroos defence.

57 mins: Great save from Beach! Guler curled it low with his left foot around the wall, but to the keeper’s side and the youngster got down low to parry the shot away. It leads to a corner that Turkey do well to keep alive but Kokcu can’t capitalise on the crumbs, hooking an effort high and wide.

56 mins: Poor turnover coming out of the back from Irankunda. It puts Okon-Engstler under pressure and he is compelled to haul down Guler 25m from goal in a central area. Big chance for Turkey.

55 mins: A few passages of broken play and transitional football suit Australia but when Toure thinks he has a corner it’s called as a goal kick. Nonetheless, any impetus Turkey began the half with has dissipated.

54 mins: Souttar wins the corner with a free header, about 14 yards from goal and Toure almost gets a toe to divert it past Cakir but the Turkey keeper gets down low to make a strong save. The giant Leicester man is undefendable in the air if the delivery is good enough.

53 mins: Bos has a cross deflected behind on the left after another unselfish channel run from Toure.

52 mins: O’Neill does well to break up play in midfield but he has nobody to go to as Montella marches around his technical area waving and urging his players to press.

51 mins: A dangerous set piece is glanced behind for another corner by Souttar. Turkey try to work the second around the edge of the box but Souttar is there again when it’s finally thrown into the mixer.

50 mins: Yildiz is much more dangerous on the left that Yilmaz. his close control brings Turkey’s possession play into the penalty area. Kadioglu gets involved, then the drive is deflected wide for a corner.

49 mins: It’s another poor corner, after which Italiano needlessly larrups a second effort miles wide. In the age of mega-data analysis, which do fullbacks still insist on thumping clearing headers from corners instead of recycling play?

48 mins: Australia’s first counter of the half is full of menace. The Socceroos win the ball in dispute in midfield and the threat of Irankunda’s pace has Turkey’s defence retreating instead of trying to win back possession. The ball is fed left to Bos who cuts in and curls a deflected right-footed effort wide.

47 mins: Turkey immediately on the front foot, trying to get Yildiz involved down the left. The ball comes back to Calhanoglu, who lets fly from the corner of the box, but straight at Beach.

46 mins: One change for Turkey at the break with Yilmaz making way for … Kenan Yildiz. Turkey now at full strength with all their big guns on.

The teams are out for the second half. Only just noticed Tony Popovic has gone full Simeone with his outfit today. Lovely stuff.

Turkey lead possession 70-30. Australia lead xG 0.59-0.44. Styles make fights.

Half-time mailbag II

Onder Susam shares the frustrations of Turkish supporters. “We are having the same problem we’ve had the last two years. Our strikerless formation serves us well against balanced opposition but when opponents defend and give us possession, it’s tough for us to get anyone in the box. Uzun or Gül might work out for us. We’ve had no luck on the right wing.”

“Great half from Australia,” writes James Paraskevas. “We are looking good for a win! Irakunda should have had a double. We look more dangerous on the counter than Turkey do in possession. But we need one more to be safe. Keep pumping it up to Irakunda and Toure on the break, and don’t ball watch in defence. Could play Mabil or Volpato here off the bench for Metcalfe.”

“Hrjustic would definitely improve the scandalous set piece deliveries, which have cost us another goal,” offers Chris Paraskevas. “Irankunda and Toure are encouraging and frustrating in equal measure - they both have picked up the ball in great positions and too often don’t do anything with it. Okon ver.2 has grown into it well and the midfield are working extremely hard, but will need Irvine’s calming presence later on (his legs are gone but there is a role for him). Cam Burgess my player of the first half - reading the game superbly and in full colossus mode.”

Half-time mailbag I

“With the vile hatred being stirred up by Pauline Hanson at the moment, how truly wonderful that our first goal of this world cup was scored by a superb man, born in a refugee camp in Tanzania and who came to Australia as a baby,” emails Karris Evans. “A true Australian hero we can all be proud of. Plus he’s a Perth lad so I may be biased.”

“Is it just me,” asks Paul Cockburn, “or has the quality of crosses been larhely really poor so far in this World Cup. Turkiye seem determined to make a mess of theirs.” It’s not just you Paul, and Australia (Metcalfe especially) are also guilty.

I’m off for a sponsor’s beverage. Here’s some half-time reading to keep you going.

That could hardly have gone better for Australia. All of Tony Popovic’s big calls have paid off so far. The Socceroos are 45 minutes away from a result that will guarantee them knockout football.

Turkey have looked tidy and the more technical of the two sides but they need much more ambition in attack. If Australia remain disciplined in defence it’s hard to see how Turkey, set up in this way, will fashion clear goalscoring opportunities.

45+4 mins: Yilmaz remains the outlet for Turkey on the left. He works the ball inside to Çalhanoğlu but his cross is poor. Turkey come again and this time Guler does almost unpick the Australian defence but Akturkoglu can’t get the ball out of his feet under pressure from swarming golden defenders.

45+3 mins: Four minutes of added time in total at the end of this half, by the way. It’s been pretty of stoppages, apart from the obvious massive sponsored one.

45+1 min: Yilmaz, Kadioglu, Guler, all get neat touches of the ball around the Australian box but there’s no room for them to find the required vertical pass to get in behind. Australia’s numbers smuggle the ball clear, then Beach double fists Yilmaz’s latest cross from the left. Eventually the defensive industry forces an error and Beach can settle the tempo with a goal kick.

45 mins: Irankunda close again! Lovely triangular passing on the left by Australia, unpicking the Turkey midfield and defence, freeing Irankunda in the channel. He cuts inside, just like his goal, but this time his shot is straight at Cakir.

43 mins: Okon-Engstler gets robbed in midfield and Turkey have a five on three! It’s so slow and lacking in urgency though that by the time Kokcu tries to square the ball the Socceroos have numbers to clear. That must be so frustrating for Vincenco Montella. That was a golden opportunity and didn’t even lead to a shot.

42 mins: Guler, desperate to insert himself in this contest, lashes a shot high and wide from outside the D, cutting in from the eight on his left. Again Australia had plenty of defenders around the action denying Turkey’s attackers any time and space.

41 mins: Çalhanoğlu and Kadioglu free Yilmaz on the left again but his cross fails to find a target and Australia have numbers near the ball to clear.

40 mins: Play is becoming a little more end-to-end, putting pressure on Australia’s defensive structure, but they do well to regroup after an initial raid, dealing with Yilmaz’s latest cross from the left.

38 mins: Waste for Australia! Irankunda gets the better of his duel on the left to run into space and bring teammates into play, but his pass is poor and the attack fizzles out. From the resulting throw-in the Socceroos work the ball from right to left to Bos in acres of space but his powerful shot is miles over the bar.

37 mins: Australia do well in midfield to link some passes together through Italiano, Metcalfe, and Bos, but Okon-Engstler overhits his cross and Turkey can walk the ball clear, towards the so-far unbreachable golden wall of Socceroos.

35 mins: Yilmaz looks the most likely to get in behind, down the left, and he manages to stab over a cross under duress that Kokcu slices well wide on the volley.

34 mins: The Socceroos enjoy a couple of minutes of respite with turnovers in midfield and some rare broken play. Irankunda is a little fortunate to escape a booking for tugging down Guler in one of those exchanges.

32 mins: Turkey continue to play at a higher tempo but there’s no magic to unlock the organised Australian defence.

31 mins: That was a fierce shot and a career-defining save. Tony Popovic must be chuckling to himself at his decisions so far.

30 mins: Beach tips a a rasping drive onto the post! Turkey try to up the tempo and Bardacki lets fly from range but the young keeper just gets his fingertips to the drive and tips it onto the post. Huge save.

28 mins: That goal is a huge feather in the cap of Popovic who backed Okon-Engstler over Irvine, and could easily not have risked Irankunda. It also came straight after his hydration break pep talk.

First proper effort of the night! Okon-Engstler picks up a second ball and shows good skill to recycle possession. But Australia continue to go backwards, tread water, then Metcalfe and Souttar tie themselves in knots. Eventually Turkey win the turnover then cross for Guler to clip a tasty first time volley at Beach.

The young keeper does well to make the save then feed Okon-Englstler who spots the run of Irankunda on the left channel in behind. He lofts an inch-perfect throughball for the Watford man to gather, cut inside, hold his balance, then pick his spot at the near post. Wonderful finish. Textbook counterattacking goal. Incredible from Australia!

24 mins: Australia will be delighted with their opening quarter (yuk). Out of possession they have been nearly flawless, compact and hard working. There is little attacking threat going the other way but Bos has shown glimpses and Toure has run intelligent channels, especially on the right.

Hydration break time. Over to Martin Burley. “The commonsense solution to the hydration break issue is for Fifa to set up a table on the centre spot, with cups of water on it. Players can grab one while running past when needed, like marathon runners. It would also bring innovation to the game as central midfielders will need to add hurdling and/or crawling quickly to their skillsets.

Obviously, the main (and indeed only) flaw with this plan is it would be risky for goalkeepers to rehydrate (given their personal drinks bottles would be banned), but as this game is showing, a bit of added excitement would often be welcome.

If Fifa are concerned about the loss of advertising revenue they could compensate by charging the players, say, $10,000 per cup.”

22 mins: The Australian defensive web is blocking almost all Turkish passing lanes. Turkey are not getting frustrated just yet, but they’re going to need to rethink Plan A if they want to get in behind this compact structure. They are dominating possession but it is slow and methodical. They would benefit from someone taking the game on with a little more dynamism.

21 mins: Better from Australia, drawing Turkey onto them then Bos beats his man on the left to allow Okon-Engstler room to manoeuvre, but he can’t find Irankunda.

19 mins: For every Turkey attack there is an equal and opposite Australian counter. Toure again threatens down the right but he trips over his quick feet and doesn’t win the corner he expected.

18 mins: Kadioglu sidefoots over from just outside the box after more good work from Calhanoglu. The Inter veteran is running the game.

17 mins: Long and floaty again from Metcalfe, but this time Cakir can’t get all of it and Souttar is in the vicinity, but he can only nod well wide. There was a block on the Turkish keeper anyway so any goal would not have counted. I’m a little surprised Popovic didn’t select Hrustic or a dedicated left-footed specialist because Metcalfe’s set-piece delivery was poor against Mexico in their recent warm up.

16 mins: Australia try to play out from the back but Turkey’s press is full court and they are forced into a series of nervy one-twos. They show great bravery though and eventually find room to unlock Toure in the right channel. Unlike Bos earlier, he does buy his team a corner.

14 mins: Incredible speed from Bos to turn an overhit channel runner from Metcalfe into something useful – but he can’t buy the corner he was looking for and Turkey resume their walking-pace grind.

12 mins: Turkey force the turnover in midfield but there is more desire in Australia’s retreating defence than the European attack and the opportunity to counter comes to nothing. Yilmaz then hits his cross behind from the left after getting outside Italiano.

11 mins: The crowd is very pro-Turkey. There are loud whistles whenever Australia take possession, like when Bos does well to break the press and allow his side to build in midfield through O’Neill, his ball in the channel enables Italiano to get in behind but the wingback’s dinked cross can’t find a teammate.

10 mins: Australia get a rare spell of possession across their back three but Turkey press high and prompt a long diagonal which is easily intercepted. As expected, this is attack v defence. So far Turkey’s ball movement has been slow and conservative, and Australia’s defence has been disciplined and well organised.

9 mins: Turkey get the ball down again and pad their already dominant possession stats.

8 mins: Metcalfe’s delivery is poor. Too high and floaty and Cakir bosses his penalty area to claim the overhead mark. Australia must do better in those situations.

7 mins: Toure’s industry wins Australia corner on the right. They have to make the most of these opportunities.

6 mins: Guler has his first major involvement in the match, working a lovely one-two on the edge of the box then curling a left-footed effort over the bar.

5 mins: Turkey get back on the ball with Calhanoglu dictating terms at walking pace, liking with Kokcu and Celik on the right. Australia are defending with 11 men in their defensive third.

4 mins: Australia head the first corner over the bar. The second is headed out of danger, with the second ball smuggled out for a corner. It’s hard for the Socceroos to clear their lines though with so many bodies in defensive positions. Toure does well to rob Guler and eventually Beach can thump the ball downfield, although not enormously convincingly.

3 mins: The Turkish fans are in full voice inside BC Place as their side get on the ball and work through the lines quickly. A short phase of lateral possession ends with Calhanoglu having his shot from the edge of the box deflected behind. Early test for Beach.

2 mins: Turkey immediately accept possession in defence and are happy just to share the ball around, drawing Australia out of their mid block. Australia bide their time then jump to press in midfield allowing Metcalfe to cross from the right but there are no gold jerseys in the box. Irankunda then has a couple of looks on the edge of the box but can’t fashion space.

Anthems sung, pennants exchanged, I’ve just spilled my drink on the carpet, kick-off is imminent.

How will this match play out? My guess, based on how these early World Cup matches have gone and the way the two XIs have been listed, is another demonstration of possession-based attack versus direct counterattack.

Turkey will look to dominate with their technical players in the final third, Australia will get men behind the ball, give nothing away, and look to exploit the pace of Irankunda, Toure, and Bos on the break, when they get the opportunity.

Also, do not ignore the value of Harry Souttar. The 6’6” centre-half has 11 international goals already, and he will be an enormous threat if the Socceroos can deliver from set pieces.

Out walk the two sides onto the Vancouver Stadium turf, as the host broadcaster cuts to a man raising a half-and-half scarf.

I’m in Federation Square, Melbourne, waiting to watch match six of the 2026 World Cup. Australia v Turkey! The crowd is buzzing. It’s a sea of green and gold and the occasional red.

I’m chatting to Michael, a Socceroos fan sporting a gold and green scarf. He says there’s something special about The World Cup.

“It just brings everyone together. Doesn’t matter what nationality you are. You all come together as Australians.”

I see in the distance two legends on very tall stilt legs with very big muscles (real or not, I’m not sure). I go over to chat. Their view from high up there is great, apparently. They say there’s a “vibration in the air.”

We are 15 minutes off from the start of the match, I’m off to enjoy some drummers dancing in the crowd!

What have these early matches revealed? According to Rob Smyth, amongst other things, the greatest kit at the tournament.

Both teams will be in their traditional colours tonight. For Australia that means gold jerseys, green shorts, and white socks, and for Turkey one unified devilish slash of red.

Conditions tonight are perfect – because the fixture is taking place beneath the closed BC Place roof. No concerns regarding heat and altitude that will be guiding the preparations of other World cup contenders.

Popovic’s selection of the English Championship pair of Mo Toure and Nestory Irankunda up front is an enormous moment for Australia’s African diaspora.

And now James Paraskevas. “Look I think we can get something from the game today. Yes Turkey have some technically gifted players, but to be fair they have always had that. Their main problem has been their inconsistency over the years - which I believe we can exploit. If I was Popovic I would tell the players to press Turkey and don’t let their technicians get time on the ball. The last thing you want to do here is give Turkey all the time and space of The Black Sea because they will eventually put you away.”

With such a youthful energetic side selected there’ll be no excuses if Australia fail to deny Turkey time on the ball.

A pair of Paraskevas’s (Paraskevi?) have joined in. First up, here’s Chris, with the kind of tactical analysis that makes my job much easier.

“Have largely enjoyed the World Cup despite the anticipated dilution of quality: actually I think the games between the lower tier teams have had a weird festive atmosphere, wrapped up in a clear tension as nations debut or return after long periods away.

Australia are no longer in that category: this is our sixth big dance in a row. You could almost lump us in the Mexico category at this point as ever-presents who don’t create too much disruption.

I don’t mind a youthful lineup and I think Ryan hasn’t always been consistent for us at World Cups, though it’s odd that his excellent season in Spain isn’t being capitalised on - his mere presence in the squad is important enough.

Montella’s team will undoubtedly dominate and manipulate the ball, but they are right in their pre-game assertions about our set piece / long-ball threat: it has worked for us before against “better” teams at World Cups.

We will need to be so patient, because this iteration of the Turkish squad seems to be built as a unit, Montella perhaps trying to channel the collective spirit that Fatih Terim was so good at doing.

I think it’s going to be a fascinating tie. Toure and Iranuknda up top? At the very least it’ll give Demiral and co. something to think about while they recycle their 92% of possession.”

Today’s referee is the percussively sounding Jesús Valenzuela from Portuguesa Venezuela.

For my money, the Socceroo with the highest ceiling is 23 year old Jordy Bos. The Feyenoord left wingback has young Gareth Bale vibes and his speed carrying the ball from deep will be vital to how Australia attack in transition.

The son of Dutch backpacker Jacco who met mother Sandra while travelling in Australia, Bos grew up in Point Cook in the western suburbs of Melbourne. “I’m more of a guy that just plays and gets on with it,” he says.

His junior club, Hoppers Crossing, is best known as the place where Mad Max was filmed. That movie’s protagonist Max Rockatansky is fuelled by vengeance in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Bos appears less complicated. “Whatever everyone’s saying, it’s nice to hear,” he says. “But, you know, I don’t put any pressure on myself.”

Form Guide:

• 27th ranked Australia ended 2025 with a hat-trick of friendly defeats on US soil. They rebounded to begin 2026 with a pair of farewell friendly victories, with their World Cup preparations concluding in California with a 1-0 defeat to Mexico and a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

• Goals are the problem. In those five matches without a win across their past seven outings they scored just twice.

• 23rd ranked Turkey have been flying since the beginning of 2025, winning 11 of their 14 matches.

• They have won all four matches this year, conceding only once along the way.

“It’s a youthful line-up,” admits Tony Popovic, “a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm, and I have a lot of trust in them.” The Australia coach not fudging his decision to drop Mat Ryan and Jackson Irvine.

New to the Socceroos? Fear not.

After reaching the last 16 for the second time, in 2022, the hope is that the Socceroos can win a first knockout game. It will be easier said than done while starting in an evenly matched group but, as is his way, Popovic has insisted the side are up to the challenge. “We’re always deemed as the underdog or the team that will be fighting for the bottom spot and we have an opportunity through our actions and our performances and results to show that that can be different,” the Socceroos coach said in early May.

Need to know anything about Turkey? Emre Sarigul has the answers.

Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella has been building one of the nation’s strongest teams in living memory. A youth-driven squad with two genuine stars – Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz – several players were not even born when the Crescent Stars last qualified for a World Cup and finished third in 2002.

In past tournaments, Turkey were often labelled as “dark horses” – which turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. This time, Montella has constructed a squad that sits among those on the rung below heavyweights Spain, France and Argentina.

“I really thought Haiti Scotland would be the first really fun game with loads of goals, but it seems I was wrong. Turkey’s faith being in two players so young surely gives Australia a chance, no?” ponders Sid Hutchings.

While Yildiz and Guler are the standout names, Turkey have nine players in their squad at clubs in Europe’s top five leagues, including the highly credentialed Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan), experienced Zeki Çelik Roma), and Brighton regular Ferdi Kadıoğlu. Now that we know Australia’s XI, this will clearly be a clash of proven quality against the excitement of the unknown.

Jack Snape is our man in Vancouver today, and he sets the scene with Australia relishing their status as underdogs.

Though they have not reached a World Cup in 24 years, they are ranked higher than the Socceroos and are clear favourites ahead of the Saturday evening clash in Vancouver, the first fixture of the tournament in a city that – far more than the San Francisco Bay Area where Australia are based – has come alive for the World Cup.

Turkey’s supposed superiority became a key theme of the match eve. Captain Hakan Calhanoglu described his side as “more talented” than Australia in an afternoon press conference, and predicted his side would “dominate” the game.

Scotland have held on to claim a nerve-wracking 1-0 win over a spirited Haiti to take an early lead in Group B. The Scots can finally look forward to knockout football for the first time in their long history.

Vancouver has an Australian presence throughout the year, but the city will be green and gold this evening.

Roughly 25,000 people in Canada claimed Australia as their birthplace in the 2021 census. Almost half live in British Columbia. Many of them are only here because of the mountains that crisscross Canada’s westernmost province.

The ski town of Whistler 120 km away is colloquially known as “Whistralia”. Snow-obsessed Australians make up a significant part of the region’s alpine culture thanks to an uncapped visa scheme that allows working holiday stays for two years, longer than most countries. Many never leave.

There are Australian-owned hospitality businesses, like the bakery Peaked Pies and the downtown pub Moose’s Down Under, which has a kangaroo burger on the menu. Nearby wildlife retreat Great Bear Lodge is managed by an Australian, Marg Leehane, a software developer from Melbourne who pursued a life in the wilderness.

As Jack just mentioned, today’s fixture is at Vancouver Stadium, AKA BC Place. It is the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS and hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup final. It has a capacity of just over 50,000.

Australians are everywhere in downtown Vancouver, as the tune of Waltzing Matilda bounces between the skycrapers. With two hours until kick-off against Turkey, Socceroos fans are making their way into BC Place, including one large group marching through the city.

Australia is in the top 10 nations overall in terms of ticket purchases by country of residency. The others are USA, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and France - all footballing powers or hosts, underscoring the commitment of Australia’s fans to this tournament.

Many also appear to be committed drinkers, given the spirits already evident among Socceroos fans on this steamy afternoon. Three hours before kick-off, police outside the stadium told The Guardian there had not been any incidents.

The Socceroos have walked off their team bus decked out in dark suits and ties and white shirts, with Tony Popovic adopting an all-black ensemble. Inside BC Place, the air is muggy under the translucent roof at the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS, a team with an uncertain future.

Before we get stuck into the main event, let’s have a quick whip around the day’s action so far.

Brazil looked very ordinary against a Morocco side who might regret not capitalising on their early ascendancy.

Switzerland registered 3.24 xg to Qatar’s 0.76 but the spoils were shared to leave Group B perfectly even after the opening round of matches.

If you’re new to this page you might not know that The Guardian has an Australian edition. Consequently there is plenty of Socceroos related content to enjoy, and my coverage will naturally skew in that direction.

If you would like to contribute anything, please send it via email to jonathan.howcroft.casual@guardian.co.uk.