World Cup day three highlights - Vinicius Jr's statement to Brazil doubters, Scotland celebrations and new stars emerging

Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates his goal against Morocco
Vinicius Junior has been criticised for his performances for Brazil in the past (Image credit: Getty Images)

Saturday's World Cup action featured an injury time equaliser, the best half of football we've seen at the tournament so far, and the end of a long and torturous wait for Scotland.

Goals were in short supply across the four games, but there was still plenty for us all to digest.

Here's the big talking points from the third day of the World Cup.

Scotland's decades of torment finally come to an end

Scotland fans celebrate their side's 1-0 win over Haiti

Scotland edged to victory over Haiti (Image credit: Getty Images)

It wasn't exactly prime entertainment, unless you're a massive fan of watching loads of crosses get curled straight behind for goal kicks.

But Scotland's victory over Haiti will live long in the memory for the Tartan Army after John McGinn's deflected first-half effort was enough to earn them three points for the first time at a World Cup since 1990.

After a bright first 10 minutes, Scotland became visibly nervy against a hard-working but limited Haiti side, and there was as much relief as jubilation for the Scots by the time the final whistle blew.

Steve Clarke quite rightly pointed out after the game that claiming victory in this must-win game was the main thing, saying that anybody who expected anything but a tough encounter 'doesn't understand football'.

But privately he will know that there were too many times in this game when his side were needlessly sloppy in possession, and a better side than Haiti would have taken much fuller advantage of their unforced errors.

Scotland will need to play a lot better against Morocco and Brazil if they are to earn passage to the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in their history - but it would take a very hard-faced Englishman indeed to begrudge them their celebrations. Scotland has waited a very very long time for this.

Morocco show credentials to go deep once again as Vinicius Jr sticks it to doubters

Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead in style

Morocco and Brazil put on the most entertaining game of hte tournament so far (Image credit: Getty Images)

Brazil vs Morocco will have been metaphorically circled on plenty of neutrals' wallcharts coming into the tournament as being one of the standout games of the group phase.

The first half didn't disappoint, offering the best quality and entertainment we have seen so far.

Ismael Saibari showed why Bayern Munich are eyeing a big-money move to bring him in from PSV by scoring a brilliant lob after racing in behind the defence to get onto Brahim Diaz's perfectly-weighted pass.

But if that was the goal of the tournament to that point, it may well have been supplanted just 11 minutes later as Vinicius Jr - quiet until then - burst into life to brilliantly cut back from the byline and fire past Bono (not that one).

That could be a significant moment for the Real Madrid star, who has been criticised among some sections of the Selecao support for being a bit of a Phil Foden: does it for his club, not enough for his country.

The second half didn't live up to that, as is becoming a trend at this tournament in the earlier kick-offs. But with Scotland and Haiti still to play, both sides may be privately happy enough to share the spoils - but we're looking forward to seeing more of both sides in the coming weeks.

Draw for complacent Switzerland and last-ditch Qatar blows Group B wide open

Boualem Khoukhi celebrates Qatar's injury time equaliser

Switzerland were made to pay for missing a boatload of chances against Qatar (Image credit: Getty Images)

Let's be completely honest: Group B is far from the strongest of the 12 groups at this summer's tournament.

Canada had drawn with Bosnia and Herzegovina in a less-than-thrilling encounter in the opening game of that group, meaning that a victory for either Switzerland or Qatar would give them one foot in the knockout stage after just one game.

The Swiss were fancied to get the job done against Qatar, who lost all three games on home turf at the last World Cup and didn't look entirely convincing in qualifying: they lost more games than they won in the group stage that offered automatic qualification.

Sure enough, it looked like being a straightforward evening for Switzerland as they went ahead through Breel Embolo's penalty after just 17 minutes - contentiously awarded, with doubts around a potential offside - and continued to dominate proceedings.

But despite finishing the game with 27 shots, that remained Switzerland's only goal of the game thanks to persistent wasteful finishing in a very complacent-looking performance in front of goal.

Qatar made them pay for that in the fourth minute of injury time as Boualem Khoukhi put Miro Muheim under heavy pressure off a cross from the left, with the defender only able to steer a header into his own net.

That leaves Group B all square after one game - and leaves open the potential for a surprise unless the Swiss up their game next time.

Australian youngster Nestory Irankunda makes his presence known

Nestory Irankunda fires Australia ahead against Turkiye

Nestory Irankunda announced himself to the world (Image credit: Getty Images)

We had hoped that Australia vs Turkiye might make it worthwhile staying up until 7am.

As the half-hour mark approached, we were getting worried that was absolutely not going to be the case. Turkiye took the front foot and dominated possession, but Australia made their life made difficult in the final third with their deep, stubborn defensive approach.

And then we found out why they were playing like that. With the blistering pace of Nestory Irankunda on the left wing, all they needed was one counter-attacking opportunity to pay off.

And it did, in some style. The former Bayern Munich man, now at Watford, was absolutely ruthless as he cut inside, blazed past a defender, and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

We presume if he were doing that every week, he wouldn't be playing in the Championship - but more moments like that this summer could get scouts plotting to prise him out of Vicarage Road.

Australia kept that discipline going throughout, with Connor Metcalfe scoring another goal at the end of a fast break to secure a 2-0 victory.

Steven Chicken

Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.

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