Key events<\/p>\n
VAR: England penalty overturned<\/p>\n
45 min +4: The referee changes her mind. Correct decision. Gordon has the good grace to look slightly sheepish.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min +3: \u2026 but VAR gets involved, sending the referee over to the screen. Gordon went over very easily. In fact, there was no contact between feet or legs. Just an arm in the back, and that arm\u2019s surely not enough for Gordon to go over like he did.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Penalty for England!<\/p>\n 45 min +2: Kane drops deep and wedges a shot down the inside-left channel. Gordon tries to latch onto it inside the box, but can\u2019t control to shoot. Instead he turns \u2026 and is clipped from behind by Johnson. The referee points to the spot.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min: Mora is booked for high-kicking Anderson upside the head. There are four additional minutes to get through before something spectacular breaks out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min: \u2026 and to complete a triptych of pugnaciousness, Konsa clatters Ugalde, who isn\u2019t particularly pleased. The referee then wanders over to book someone from the Costa Rica<\/a> bench. It\u2019s now a question of what comes first: the half-time whistle or a bench-emptying brawl.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 min: Now it\u2019s Soto versus O\u2019Reilly, as the pair tangle on the left flank. There\u2019s an edge developing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min: Araya comes through the back of Madueke in enthusiastic fashion. It should be a booking, but it\u2019s just a free kick. Madueke isn\u2019t happy with his aggressor, and Bellingham comes over to join in with the bellicose hi-jinx, but things eventually calm down \u2026 and nothing comes of the resulting set piece.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min: Anderson and Galo butt heads accidentally. Ooyah, that looked painful. The trainers come on to run some checks. Thankfully there\u2019s no blood, no glazed expressions, and both men are rubber-stamped as fit to continue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min: More embarrassed smiles, as Madueke is released down the middle by Bellingham\u2019s defence-splitter. Madueke rounds Sequeira to the right, but he\u2019s running at high speed, and his feet aren\u2019t under full control. He flips a shot towards an empty net, only for it to clank off the base of the right-hand post, back towards Madueke, then off his tangled feet and out for a goal kick. That\u2019s a bit farcical, and once again, the smile-joke reaction might not fly when the real action starts. But hey, if you\u2019re going to miss open goals, better get them out of your system now.<\/p>\n Noni Madueke somehow doesn\u2019t score this. Photograph: Richard Pelham\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.43 EDT<\/p>\n 34 min: Rice goes directly for goal, blootering the ball wastefully over the bar. A few of his team-mates wonder why he didn\u2019t try to tee them up instead. They all share a laugh and a joke, though Rice shouldn\u2019t expect a similar response if he tries that under tournament conditions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min: Gordon again makes a nuisance of himself down the left, and is barged over by Mitchell, just before he enters the box. A free kick and a chance for England<\/a> to cause a lot of trouble.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min: \u2026 which is wasted. Mora slams it back up the left flank, towards Araya, who was looking the other way. Oh dear. England<\/a> \u2013 well, Pickford \u2013 get away with getting a bit sloppy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min: Pickford shanks a dismal clearance straight to Mora, who should take a speculative whack from 30 yards, with the goalkeeper out of position, but doesn\u2019t back himself. He lays off to Galo, whose poor shot is deflected out for a corner \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min: The game restarts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28 min: The players enjoy their bevvies. You deserve one too. Here, take a look at the menu.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min: \u2026 Kane blazes over the bar. And that\u2019s drinks!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25 min: James and Anderson combine well down the right. The latter\u2019s fierce low cross is only half cleared, and drops to Madueke, whose shot bagatelles its way through the box and nearly squeaks into the bottom right. Sequeira manages to turn it away at the expense of a corner, from which \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 min: Rice surprises everyone by firing a low corner into the box. No England<\/a> player reacts. Alcocer clears.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 min: Rice\u2019s delivery is better this time. Kane meets it, and flicks it on towards the right-hand portion of the net. Sequeira extends fully to fingertip the ball around the post. That was necessary, because it was heading in. Rice trots across to take the corner from the right.<\/p>\n Harry Kane is challenged by Aaron Salazar. Photograph: Rich Storry\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.32 EDT<\/p>\n 22 min: Gordon takes on Johnson down the left again. He\u2019s got him on toast. And now he\u2019s got him on a booking. He tears past him and Johnson presses the panic button, sliding in from behind. Another free kick for Rice to send in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min: Rice overhits the free kick and it\u2019s an easy pluck for Sequeira.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19 min: England<\/a> get patient. A long passing sequence. Eventually Mora gets fed up and clips Anderson out on the left touchline. Rice prepares to send the free kick into a crowded box.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min: Other than to block and clear, Costa Rica<\/a> have hardly touched the ball. England are in total control.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15 min: After the ref takes some time to lecture the Costa Rica<\/a> defence about holding, Rice sends the corner long. Kane, taking advantage of the new hands-off diktat, finds space at the far stick and heads back across goal. Konsa heads goalwards from six yards, but can\u2019t get any decent purchase on the ball. It\u2019s blocked and cleared. This is a very positive start by England.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min: Araya takes the best part of 15 seconds to take a throw. It\u2019s not turned over to England<\/a>, as per the new law that demands a five-second dispatch. When play eventually restarts, Gordon launches another sortie down the left, reaching the byline and flicking a cross-cum-shot to the near post, where Shequeira nearly fumbles into his own net. Just a corner, which Rice will take.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 min: That was a magnificent run by Gordon. He\u2019s had a decent couple of weeks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! England 1-0 Costa Rica (Rice 9)<\/p>\n Gordon, who has already made a couple of exciting runs down the left, embarks on a third. He turns on the jets to scoot past Johnson with absurd ease, cuts into the box and pulls back for Rice, who threads a first-time diagonal bobble across Sequeira and into the bottom right. That\u2019s a lovely goal.<\/p>\n Declan Rice opens the scoring. England gave started very well here in Orlando. Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.19 EDT<\/p>\n 8 min: Gordon and O\u2019Reilly combine nicely down the left. England<\/a> switch the play, and Anderson crosses from the right. Kane goes over at the far stick, not requiring much encouragement it has to be said. The referee shows no interest in awarding a penalty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min: Madueke whips the corner into the mixer. Bellingham falls as he attempts to meet it, six yards out. But there\u2019s no notable contact and Costa Rica<\/a> are able to clear their lines.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min: England<\/a> establish a modicum of control, probing down both flanks. Suddenly Bellingham bursts in from the left and has a shy from the edge of the box. It\u2019s deflected wide right, but only just. The keeper Sequeira was rooted to the spot and wasn\u2019t getting there. A corner, which Madueke will take.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min: \u2026and now Alcocer, fully recovered from that early blow, skittles Madueke. Everyone more than happy to put themselves about.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min: \u2026 and now Ugalde comes clattering into Anderson, so the whistle goes again. Thomas Tuchel wants a physical test tonight, and already it looks like both teams are going to put a show on for him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min: All a bit scrappy during the opening exchanges. James hauls down Alcocer, and then clumsily stands on his stricken opponent\u2019s wrist. The Costa Rica<\/a> winger felt that. No intent, though, and nothing comes of the resulting free kick.<\/p>\n Josimar Alcocer of Costa Rica goes after clashing with James. Photograph: Rich Storry\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.14 EDT<\/p>\n Well, one way or another that was interminable \u2026 but eventually the whistle goes, and Costa Rica<\/a> kick-off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, the teams are out! Both teams are in their first-choice kit: England in white, Costa Rica<\/a> in red shirts and blue shorts. Just enough time for some fireworks, anthems and pennant-swapping, and we\u2019ll be off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Forest reject Man City’s \u00a3122m Anderson bid<\/p>\n One of tonight\u2019s starters may or may not have something else on his mind. Here\u2019s some hot-off-the-press news courtesy of Jamie Jackson.<\/p>\n Elliot Anderson<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel speaks to ITV, having taken positives from the weather delay \u2026 \u201cIt gives us a little bit of taste of what can happen in the tournament \u2026 we were aware of that before \u2026 now we experience it, it\u2019s no problem \u2026 should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or hunger to play the game \u2026 no problem at all.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the state of the pitch \u2026 \u201cThe pitch seemed surprisingly dry for the amount of water that came down \u2026 they know what they are doing \u2026 it seems good to play.\u201d<\/p>\n On fitness and acclimatisation \u2026 \u201cWe can see we have made progress when we checked the blood and sweat of the players \u2026 acclimatisation is there \u2026 we are getting fitter and fitter \u2026 now it is on the team to put a good performance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026 and finally about tonight\u2019s team \u2026 \u201cIt\u2019s a very strong line-up \u2026 we have very strong players on the bench \u2026 we are taking the next step \u2026 pushing the boundaries \u2026 stepping up intensity \u2026 off the ball and with the ball \u2026 see what we are able to produce \u2026 it is the first time [Jude Bellingham] has played with Harry [Kane], Declan [Rice] and Elliot [Anderson] together, so it\u2019s a good test of concept.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pre-match postbag II. \u201cFlorida weather unpredictable? You can set your watch by the storms this time of year\u201d \u2013 Jon Collins<\/p>\n \u201cI recall leaving my exposed seat at Mexico v Ireland in 1994 and finding scores of sun-stricken Irish fans being treated in the inner concourse of the stadium. That match was played in Orlando at midday for European TV schedules. Fifa continues to be a Mickey Mouse organisation that can barely run a bath, but still want to bottle and sell the water when they do\u201d \u2013 Justin Kavanagh<\/p>\n \u201cThat thunder delay took almost as long as a VAR review\u201d \u2013 Peter Oh<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Orlando, where the sprinklers have been turned on at the Inter&Co Stadium. At England\u2019s request. I can\u2019t in all honesty explain why. Perhaps it\u2019s satire. Americans love a bit of English satire.<\/p>\n A futile gesture. Photograph: Terry Disney\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n You can also fill those empty moments back up to the brim with our comprehensive Player Guide. This priceless resource features every single player going to North America this summer, with potted bios written by experts from all around the world. Its homepage is linked below, plus some details of the guy who scored the last-minute winner that sent England<\/a> home in that aforementioned Bracketology fever dream. Anyway, give it a whirl, and we\u2019ll see you again just before full-time.<\/p>\n \u00c9dgar Yoel B\u00e1rcenas<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n There will most likely be a lot of this sort of hanging about during this World Cup<\/a>. Just as well, then, that the Guardian has created this marvellous monument to time-wasting: Bracketology, in which you can curate your very own World Cup story. Or you can simply hit \u201cshuffle\u201d and see whose name pops up as champion. I\u2019ve just done that, and can exclusively report that DR Congo beat Germany in the final. England didn\u2019t get out of their group, meanwhile. I\u2019d love to know what happened against Panama. Anyway, give it a go, and I\u2019ll see you back here in three hours. We\u2019ll wait for you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kick-off now 10pm BST, 5pm EDT<\/p>\n Kick-off has been confirmed for 5pm local time, subject to no further delays, reports David Hytner. That\u2019s 10pm BST.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.40 EDT<\/p>\n OBO MBM Postbag. \u201cThis MBM is taking on a reassuringly familiar \u2018we all know there\u2019ll be no play at Headingley today, just a matter of time before they call it\u2019 vibe. Is it uncouth to observe that it is, in the end, just a pre tournament kick about, not worth taking risks with a soggy pitch?\u201d \u2013 Tom Hopkins<\/p>\n \u201cSince the last match against New Zealand had worries about the pitch, and this one has a rain delay, perhaps Thomas Tuchel should ask for the English cricket captain to join the squad to pass on his experience. It\u2019s not as if he\u2019s got anything planned for the next week or two\u201d \u2013 Bob O\u2019Hara<\/p>\n \u201cWith the amount of surface water, having Rice on the pitch seems appropriate\u201d \u2013 Andy Gordon<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jude Bellingham gets the nod over Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role. Declan Rice is back in the midfield, having joined up with the squad late due to Arsenal\u2019s participation in the Champions League final. His club team-mate Noni Madueke gets the nod over fellow Gunner Bukayo Saka on the right.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n England: Pickford, Konsa, O\u2019Reilly, Stones, James, Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Gordon, Madueke, Kane. Costa Rica: Sequeira, Johnson, Mitchell, Faerron, Araya, Salazar, Carlos Mora, Galo, Soto, Alcocer, Ugalde. Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.25 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s still raining in Orlando, though no longer a torrent, and it\u2019s also brightening up. However there\u2019s still that threat of thunder and lightning. Also to be taken into consideration is the state of the pitch: it should clear of standing water in time for kick-off, providing the rain doesn\u2019t get heavier again, but would Thomas Tuchel be happy to risk his players on it? Well, if it answers the latter question any, the team news has just dropped \u2026<\/p>\n Everything is going to be ok. Probably. Photograph: Eddie Keogh\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.39 EDT<\/p>\n David Hytner reports that more lightning has been predicted by stadium staff long used to such delays. But Florida weather being what it is, all is not yet lost.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt seems that the safety protocols involve a 30-minute delay after the last lightning strike rather than 45 minutes. We are looking at a delay one way or another \u2013 and it looks like it will be more than 20 minutes; possibly one hour. We\u2019ve just been told by some of the organisers at the stadium that they are expecting more lightning. Disclaimer \u2013 the Florida weather is very unpredictable. At a little after 3pm local time, a small number of fans were allowed into the stands from the shelter of the concourses.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jacob Steinberg is also in situ. Presumably he and all of his electronic equipment are in better nick than the poor chap pictured below, because he\u2019s just managed to ping a message to tell you all that \u201cwe are hearing an hour delay\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.12 EDT<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a picture which further illustrates how damp it is in Orlando. Florida wasn\u2019t like this in the brochure.<\/p>\n Poor chap. A dictionary definition of bedraggled. Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/a>Kick-off now 9.20pm BST, 4.20pm EDT<\/p>\n David Hytner reports from Orlando that the delay has just been announced as 20 minutes. The new kick-off time will be 4.20pm local, 9.20pm BST.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.58 EDT<\/p>\n Kick-off delayed<\/p>\n No big surprise here. The kick-off has been officially delayed due to the heavy thunderstorm in Orlando that has left the pitch at Inter&Co Stadium waterlogged. It\u2019s not yet been announced how long the delay will be \u2013 or indeed if the match will start at all. Expect more of this over the next month.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More from David Hytner.<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019ve seen some rain storms in my time \u2013 one in Jakarta during an Arsenal pre-season tour springs to mind \u2013 but this one in Orlando is right up there. A colleague has just dashed 50 yards into our hotel from the car park and has had to get changed because he was utterly drenched. The game\u2019s announcers have just said that the ticket collection point for fans has been temporarily closed. They \u201chope to resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n The scene at the Inter&Co Stadium does not look promising. Photograph: Eddie Keogh\/The FA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 so yes, we hope kick-off will be as scheduled. But there\u2019s been some torrential rain in Orlando today, which might end up causing a delay. Here\u2019s an update from our man at the scene, David Hytner.<\/p>\n double quotation markAbsolutely torrential downpour here in Orlando \u2013 with a flash of lightning seen at 1.38pm local time, with the England game against Costa Rica due to kick-off at 4pm local time (9pm BST). According to the stadium\u2019s safety protocols, if \u201clightning is detected within eight miles, the referee can suspend the match with play resuming no earlier than 45 minutes after the last strike.\u201d It is due to clear up before kick-off so hopefully all will be fine \u2026 it\u2019s worth noting that if there is further lightning, the 45-minute clock would reset.<\/p>\n Chelsea fans may remember a similar situation unfolding at the Club World Cup<\/a> in North Carolina last year. Heavy-eyelidded MBM hacks certainly do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n England have concluded their World Cup warm-up business against Costa Rica<\/a> before. That was in 2018, and after this \u2026<\/p>\n \u2026 they made it all the way to the semi-finals in Russia. Say what you like about omens and vibes: they might not materially help, but neither do they hinder. Let\u2019s just not talk about the other time the two countries met. Oh Mr Roy!<\/a> Kick-off in Orlando, Florida is at 9pm BST. It\u2019s on!<\/p>\n
Subs: D Henderson, Guehi, Saka, Rashford, Livramento, J Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Spence, Quansah, Trafford.<\/p>\n
Subs: Bayron Mora, Madriz, Peraza, Ruiz, Nunez, Flores, Sinclair, Quiros, Rodriguez.<\/p>\n