Abdoulaye Seck starts for Senegal in must-win clash with Iraq

Senegal and Iraq met in Toronto on the final day of Group G in a survival game, with both teams still on zero points and needing a big win, plus help from results elsewhere, to keep alive any chance of reaching the round of 32 from third place. For Iraq, who returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, it was also a chance to finish with historic points.

Senegal came in after a 3-1 loss to France and a painful 3-2 defeat to Norway, and had to do without injured goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Mory Diaw started in goal, while former Maccabi Haifa defender Abdoulaye Seck was named in the first XI for his first minutes of the tournament. Senegal were hoping for a response from Sadio Mane, after Ismaila Sarr stood out with a brace in the previous match, and Ibrahim Mbaye replaced disappointing Nico Jackson.

Iraq also arrived on the back of defeats, 4-1 to Norway and 3-0 to France, and they too were missing a major attacking player. Aymen Hussein, who scored Iraq's only goal in the tournament, was injured against France and did not start. Ali Al-Hamadi led the attack, with Zidane Iqbal and Ibrahim Bayesh supporting him. The match was set for BMO Field in Toronto, refereed by England's Anthony Taylor, with kickoff still pending at the time of publication.

The standings showed France and Norway on six points each, while Senegal and Iraq had none. The round of 32 was scheduled for June 28 to July 3, followed by the rest of the knockout stages through the final on July 19.