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England's potential path through the World Cup knockout stages is now known - and Gareth Southgate's impressive young team will face Japan in the last-16 if they pip Belgium tonight. Should England lose their Group G decider in Kaliningrad, they will face Colombia, who finished top of Group H after beating Senegal, who were eliminated only because of the number of yellow cards they received in the tournament.

The atmosphere in Kaliningrad is building ahead of tonight's crucial final group game between England and Belgium as fans of both countries arrive in the Russian city. Gareth Southgate's men will finish top with a draw providing they end the game with a better disciplinary record than their rivals, who have scored and conceded the same amount of goals as the Three Lions. But with both teams already assured of their places in the last 16, supporters were in good spirits as they settled in and mixed in the fan zone ahead of kick-off.  

Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and their Belgium team-mates all set out on an enjoyable stroll in the sun but their trip was cut very short on Thursday afternoon. In fact, they ended up only walking 75 yards before turning back to their base after being trapped by selfie-hunters.

Deontay Wilder has ripped into 'p****' Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn after talks over a huge world title unification fight broke down. Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that Joshua is set to take on Alexander Povektkin in September after Wilder failed to sign an agreement for a heavyweight showdown. But in a lengthy Twitter post on Thursday, Wilder denied claims he was at fault and accused the undefeated Brit of being 'terrified of him'

Germany arrived back home to an army of baying reporters and photographers on Thursday after they were sent packing from the World Cup by South Korea. The holders became the third successive champions to be eliminated at the group stage after a shambolic performance in Russia culminated in a 2-0 defeat in Kazan. And as they landed at Frankfurt International Airport, coach Joachim Low and captain Manuel Neuer were left to face the music as the Germans came to terms with their worst World Cup performance in 80 years.  

It didn't start off smoothly, but Brazil appear to be in jovial mood as they returned to their World Cup base in Sochi having breezed into the knockout rounds with a 2-0 win over Serbia. The five-time world champions flew back from Moscow on Wednesday, returning to Sochi 1,000 miles away in time to see the sun rise on the tarmac of the city's international airport. Neymar shared the moment with his Instagram followers in the form of a snap of his team-mates on their private jet before taking a selfie with Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro after they had landed.

Portugal may be facing a nightmare run if they are to win their first World Cup but you wouldn't know it by the mood in the camp, which paints a relaxed picture not befitting the pressure cooker they find themselves in. Cristiano Ronaldo looked in high spirits as he joined his team-mates for a routine training session at their World Cup training base in Moscow on Thursday morning. The captain was joined by the likes of Ricardo Quaresma and Pepe as Europe's reigning champions prepared for Saturday evening's knockout tie against South American outfit Uruguay.

Serena Williams has been spotted on the grass at Wimbledon for the first time since she won the women's singles title there two years ago. The seven-time champion has returned to competitive action following the birth of her first child, and is preparing for the start of Wimbledon next week. She headed out on the practice courts on Thursday afternoon for a hit with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, and there were plenty of smiles on show as she returned to a place that holds a special place in her heart.

Naby Keita has not wasted any time as he looks to get up to speed before joining up with his new Liverpool team-mates in pre-season. The midfielder's Anfield move is set to be completed on July 1, but he was officially unveiled on Wednesday after joining from Leipzig for £52m. And he has already trained at Melwood as he looks to get a head start before pre-season training begins next week.

While many Premier League stars are spending their summer at the World Cup, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been making the most of his time off. Gabon failed to make the festival of football in Russia but the Arsenal star has been enjoying himself before the rigours of pre-season get underway. In an Instagram video the former Borussia Dortmund striker filmed himself getting ready to board a flight.

Remarkable designs for Leicester City's new training facilities have been revealed, with the planned complex set to cost an estimated £80million. The KSS Design Group have released a series of concept images which show off the Foxes' plans to build one of the leading training facilities in Britain. Impressive images come after City filed a planning application to Charnwood Borough Council to begin development on the 180-acre site at Park Hill Golf Club in Seagrave.

It promises to be another big spending summer among the Premier League clubs, especially those wishing to haul in champions Manchester City over the course of the campaign. But of course there are bargains to be had too and also the opportunity to grab a star from the World Cup in Russia. Keep track of all the major transfers involving senior players in the Premier League (those making at least one club appearance), as Sportsmail brings you all the summer deals right the way through to transfer deadline day.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT EDGBASTON: You could probably have written the script in advance. A record-breaking innings from Jos Buttler, and an Australian defeat, their sixth out of six on a dismal tour. Mercifully for them, it is over. England, on the other hand, are now eyeing India – and what a series that could be. The Indians, who warmed up by winning the first of two Twenty20 games in Ireland, will not be such supine guests. Just as they did at Trent Bridge last week, Australia invited England to bat on a perfect strip. On that occasion, Eoin Morgan’s team responded with a 50-over world-record 481 for six. Here, they smashed 221 for five – their highest T20 score against Australia, and their second-highest against anyone. Right now, the sky’s the limit.

In his brilliant, sparse novel The Noise Of Time about the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, Julian Barnes writes the following: ‘Art belongs to everybody and nobody. Art belongs to all time and no time. Art belongs to those who create it and those who savour it... art is the whisper of history, heard above the noise of time.’ It makes you pause, think, and on Tuesday night, as on so many occasions before, it made you think of the feat that is Lionel Messi. What Messi did in the 14th minute of Argentina’s engulfing, stirring — and potentially last — World Cup match against Nigeria in Shostakovich’s home city of St Petersburg was take us to a faraway place where lyrical reflection of this sort does not seem overblown.