78 min: Iraq are hanging on. They manage to win the ball back in their own third but their attempt to break upfield comes to nothing. They just don’t have the legs and they’re easily picked off by men in white who are now moving like a pack of wolves with the scent of blood on the wind.

77 min: Jackson can’t get a shot away from inside the box as he controls and pivots. He got the ball from Mane who first tried to shift onto his right foot from the left, but then went down to the byline before crossing.

75 min: Mane hits the post! I’m not sure he meant to dink it like that. If he did then fair play because that was lovely to see. As he tumbles he gets enough boot on the shot from the left and watches it loop over the keeper and hit the woodwork, but of post, bit of upright. I’m struggling to keep up here. At this rate Senegal will score 10.

74 min: P Gueye is chasing a hat-trick! He has a shot blocked from inside the box. The ball bounces to Diatta who meets it with interest but fires over the bar.

72 min: It’s not a better goal than his first. This one was simply leathered from a swinging boot. But oh my goodness! He smoked that! The cameras cut to Iraqi fans who look utterly dejected. Their team is taking a pasting.

The goal came about from some neat work down the left from Mane and the sub Jackson who found some room before putting in the cross. The ball was partially cleared before Gueye arrived with venom.

67 min: That third goal seems to have taken the zip out of this game. Iraq’s players look like they’re running in porridge.

Just as well we’re having a hydration break (said no one ever, etc)

65 min: Jakobs down the right loses his man and is picked out. He then swivels and crosses the bouncing ball first time. It’s put in a pretty handy area but he can’t find a mate. Iraq are starting to look a little ragged. I think Senegal have more than enough, but a few more could make things absolutely safe.

62 min: Almost another. P Gueye is left unmarked on the edge of the area and scuffs a side-footer with his left which takes the ball away from goal. But it takes a deflection so Senegal get a corner. They’ll get another one. And another one. The fourth is taken short and is arrowed towards the far corner where four players in white leap for it but none of them can get a head on it.

60 min: He was on the field for 89 seconds and produced the best moment of the game. Take a bow Gueye.

58 min: I feel for Iqbal. He’s been so good this afternoon but he dallied and he dillied and was punished. First his hacked clearance was blocked and then he was tackled…

55 min: This has been a much better half. Both teams showing a bit more vim.

54 min: Sarr shoots on target and forces a good low save from Hassan. That came from a galloping run from deep from Diarra who collected a loose ball inside his own half and set off. The pass to his right was well weighted but perhaps narrowed the angle a touch too much for Sarr. He got it on target but it was within reach of the keeper. They’re getting closer.

53 min: A rare shot on target for Iraq as Jasim drops a shoulder, shifts the ball onto his right foot from the left wing and fires straight at Diaw.

53 min: Senegal knocking on the door now. Mbaye gets to the byline on the right and dinks a cross towards the penalty spot. Diarra leaps but can’t keep his header down. Better from Senegal.

52 min: A great ball in from the right almost picks out Mane on a blind run at the back post. He’s all set to cushion a volley with the side foot but he can’t steer it on target. Perhaps he was was put off by the presenve of Hashim, but you feel Mane should have done better there from so close.

50 min: Mbaye has clear space in front of him and drives off the right wing. He’s one on one with Hashim who goes to ground but makes a great tackle inside his own box.

49 min: Mane is very, very wide. He’s hugging the left touch. Maybe that’s a plan to stretch things. The ball is on the opposite flank but the ball is tame and cleared.

47 min: Much of the same in these opening few minutes of the second. Senegal a little ponderous in possession.

Luca Humanhas dropped by.

And apart from having an epic name, they’re also a fellow Saffa! So of course I’m going to reply.

Hi Daniel,

As the subject line suggests, I’m a fellow Saffa (that backs our fellow Africans), and I appreciate your continous coverage. Two questions:

1) How likely are Senegal to find a second gear?

2) Do we have any chance against Canada?

1) They need to be more direct. They’ve found joy when they’ve got their wide players driving infield on the angle, attracting the attention of centre-back and full-back. Also Mane needs to see more of the ball.

2) Absolutely! I think of all the teams South Africa could have got, they’ve got the ones they’d have wanted. Though to be fair, I’m sure Canada feel the same way.

Here’s some half-time reading for ya’ll:

‘Masonsato’ – I’m assuming that’s not their real name – has backed the right horse.

“We spoke about it and then decided. My wife and I will be watching this because it means quite a lot rather than the “exhibition match” on the other channel. Good to hear the respect to Venezuela. A reminder that there are more important things than football. Strap up and enjoy the game.”

Although that exhibition game certainly looks more appealing if its goals you’re after.

This one, the one that has actual jeopardy, needs a little more oomph. I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if Iraq hold on before nicking a sweaty equaliser.

45+7 min: Doski has won his personal battle with Mbaye down Senegal’s right. The winger tries to go past his man, but the Iraqi right back makes a great challenge. I’ll repeat myself, Senegal need to show more here. Although they do say that playing against 10 men can often be a challenge.

45+5 min: Diaw comes off his line and launches a long throw that almost sparks a counter. But Mbaye can’t bring it under control before it’s swept away by the covering Iraq defence.

Seck is back in the action as he’s a target from a Senegal corner. He can’t repeat the trick this time as Hashim heads away. The returning shot from deep is launched into orbit.

45+3 min: A lovely ball from the right from Al Ammari compels Seck to prod his head at the ball that was destined for an awkward area. It bounces away for an Iraqi corner.

45+1 min: So close from Mane! From the right, he cuts infield and drives inside the box, brushing off a challenge and firing a rocket of a shot. It was always rising though and flies wide and high of the top corner.

45 min: My goodness. There’ll be nine added minutes. I guess that makes sense given the long VAR delay for the red card. Senegal on the ball with a chance to double their lead before the break.

43 min: Basil is down again as he landed on his back from a height after claiming a lofted ball into his box. Diarra was there causing chaos inside the area and the Iraqi keeper landed hard. He’s receiving medical attention again. Hassan is warming up. Basil is getting some of that magic spray. He actually landed on top of his mate, Hashim. He’ll carry on. Let it be known that bald men are made of tougher stuff!

41 min: Oooh, Diaw almost makes a proper mess of a back pass. His heavy touch allows Al Hamadi to close the space in a flash and an ugly hack from the Senegal keeper just about gets it away. Iraq win a corner but can’t do anything with it. Fair play to Iraq. They’ve not faded after the red card. They’re competing. Another lucky bounce or a mistake from Senegal could see them back in the game.

40 min: The ball breaks for Mane who feeds Sarr. Sarr then shifts down a gear as he waits for Mane to run past him on the left. Sarr makes the pass and Mane inside the Iraqi box. He hesitates and the defence covers in time to block the shot/cross. Once again a glimmer from Senegal but it’s not enough.

38 min: Basil makes another smart claim as he comes off his line to claim a long throw from Jakobs. He’s had a good game, the Iraq keeper.

37 min: Sarr goes down just outside the box. He has a case as he appeals for a free kick, but nothing doing.

35 min: Diarra can’t quite get his feet in order but he wins a corner after the covering tackle takes the ball away from him inside the box. Corner from Camara is well placed but Basil comes out and gets a stiff punch on it.

34 min: That was better from Senegal. They’re starting to find some joy down the left with Jakobs showing some sparkle.

33 min: Jakobs fires from just inside the box and snatches at it with his left foot from the left corner of the area. He drags it just wide of the far post. But that wasn’t far off.

Apparently we’re big in Norway!

“I’m streaming this match from NRK in Norway, and the stream just went down. I’m a bit surprised so many Norwegians are watching this match on a Friday night,” says Bob O’Hara.

Unless he’s messaged the wrong blog, that is remarkable. Or perhaps it’s because France are now 3-1 up.

30 min: Despite the score, Iraq have settled in a low block. I guess that makes sense given they’re a man down. Senegal not able to crack the wall just yet. But they’re very passive.

29 min: Mane can’t link up with Jakobs down the left. I’d like to see a bit more continuity from Senegal.

27 min: They’re back. Senegal need one more goal to all but secure their place as one of the best third-placed teams. They’re on the ball again with Mbaye down the right but Iraq swarm and win it back before clearing.

Stefan Martens thinks he knows the source of those boos earlier:

“So, was some of the booing for Rebin’s red card from secret members of the Tartan Army in Toronto? Senegal against 10 men for 80+ minutes is likely to put another sizable nail in Scotland’s coffin...”

23 min: Iraq have settled a bit since the red card. They’re knocking the ball about. Though as I type that a wild pass from centre back Hashim under pressure finds nothing but space down the right flank.

Hydration break time.

20 min: Jasim can’t beat the wall but he gets a second bite at it. His hacked shot takes a deflection and spins out for a corner that is easily headed away.

18 min: A yellow card for Seck as he bundles down Al Hamadi who was running through on goal after a long ball forward. The Iraqi players surround the referee calling for a red card, but on this occasion it was further back, a little off to the side and there were plenty of defenders around. It was clumsy by Seck, but yellow is the right call. Still, a handy spot for a free kick just to the left of the goal as Iraq are looking at it, just beyond the box.

17 min: Basil is back in action as he has to speed off his line to beat a Sarr to a loose ball outside his area. He gets there just in time to hack it away. Sarr has a shot at goal from the subsequent long throw, but that was a tough ball to catch in the box on the right. All he could do was slice it wide.

My colleague from across the pond, Beau Dure, says that Iraq, “now need a mere five goals to squeeze ahead of Scotland in the third-place table.”

Hey, it could happen. It won’t. But it could.

14 min: The free-kick from Mane from just outside the box is on target and forces an excellent diving save by Basil who was full stretch to his right. He got a stiff hand to it and tipped it away. He landed awkwardly and needs some attention. He might not be able to continue

But what an opportunity for Senegal now to dramatically improve their goal difference and secure their place in the last 32.

He clearly tugged Mane’s shorts. I say clearly like there’s any ambiguity. He pretty much yanked him back! This HAS to be a red.

9 min: Oooh! A lucky bounce combined with a poor touch from an Iraqi defender has Mane running clear on goal. Sulaka pulls him down and is so so so lucky to get away with just a yellow card. VAR will look again. I think this is a clear red.

8 min: Diarra has been credited with the goal. At least according to the sources I’m seeing. It was Seck’s header, but it took a touch on the way.

6 min: Doski wriggles from his own half and sparks a move foward for Iraq. He gets the ball wide right but the attack fizzles out.

4 min: Corner for Senegal on their right. Will be Camara’s right boot to deliver the away swinger. It’s headed away but falls kindly for Gueye who thwacks it first time. it takes a wicked deflection that could have gone anywhere but bounces just wide of the post. Another corner.

2 min: Iraq have had all the ball so far. A long pass from the keeper almost breaks upfield, but it comes to nothing. Senegal win the ball back and now have a chance to build something.

Kick-off imminent.

But before I forget, mazel-tov and all the best to my mate Jim Robertson who got married today!

Anthems are done. The Senegalese players looked locked in. The Iraqis seemed to be more emotional.

Does that mean anything? We’ll find out shortly.

Senegal were so good in the first half against France.

And they played well in patches against Norway.

So why have they got nothing to show for it?

Well, as Osasu Obayiuwana explains, they’ve been pretty shambolic at the back.

The players are exiting the tunnel now. Can they sort themselves out and show what they’re about?

I really enjoyed this piece from Yara El-Shaboury.

It’s all about content creators. Yes, content creators. You might not like them, you might not even understand them, but they’re here and they’re not going away.

Norway have rested Haaland and have made 10 changes for the France game!

Clearly this match here is the one to watch tonight.

Justin Kavanagh – one of our regulars (hiya Justin!) has written in:

“I’ve been lucky to visit Toronto several times, but never for a football match. Which is a shame, as it strikes me as a perfect World Cup city, in a way that New York can never really could be, with the stadium out in the Jersey swamplands. Why FIFA chose that place for the final is, like their ticket prices, beyond me.”

I’m hearing this a lot. My vote would have been Mexico City for the final. But to be fair, all the stadiums in this World Cup have been quite something. Say what you want about the North Americans, but they know what they’re doing when it comes to arenas.

This is the first time these two teams have played each other.

In an increasingly homogenised world, where everything flattens and turns to beige, that’s pretty neat if you ask me.

Iraq are chasing their first ever point in the World Cup.

Their one and only involvement came in 1986 where they lost 1-0 to Paraguay, 21- to Belgium and 1-0 to Mexico.

OH!

Senegal will also be without first-choice goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who was injured against Norway.

Interesting to note that Kalidou Koulibaly starts on the bench for Senegal.

The former Napoli and Chelsea defender – now in Saudi with Al-Hilal – had a howler against Norway.

“Every ball I touched went wrong,” he said.

He’s got the hook for this one.

We’ve got our first email:

It’s from John Brennan and it’s titled ‘Pedant corner’. Uh, oh…

“Hi Daniel, Not to be too pedantic, and maybe this belong to a rival podcast of Football Weekly, but can we describe Senegal as being neighbors of either Morocco, Cote D’Ivoire or South Africa when they don’t share a border with any of them?

“I attended the Iraq v France game and despite the rain, it was a beautiful occasion. The Iraq fans provided plenty of noise and color despite clearly being outclassed (I missed the 2^nd goal as I had turned to the Iraqi sitting beside me to say there was a mistake in there keeper. We agreed the goal wasn’t entirely his fault as the pass from defender was terrible). The highlight for me was on the train to the game seeing an American/Iraqi with his son who was 7/8 years old dressed in their Iraqi shirts carrying Iraqi flags and thinking how rare it must be for them to be able to show their roots without fear in America. As an Irishman in suburban Long Island, I know I can fly an Irish flag outside my house without ant problem. An Iraqi flag? Going by the way some of the people talk here in my town, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Thanks John. As an African myself, I certainly feel an affinity with other African nations. I know that my fellow countrymen in South Africa are not showing much of the Ubuntu spirit right now, but I’d like to believe it still exists. And what is a border between nations anyway? Are we not all neighbours on this big rock floating in space?

Neither team has kept a clean sheet so far (though admittedly they have both faced Haaland and Mbappe).

So expect goals.

Senegal need at least two. A -1 goal difference should be enough to squeeze through to the last 32.