Day 12 Recaps: Uruguay Top Group A, Spain 1st, Portugal 2nd as Both Squads Draw

The final matches between the teams of Groups A and B were played. Group A had one match between two match battling for first, the other match for last place. Russia-Uruguay was the former, as Russia hoped to become one of a few hosts to finish both first and undefeated in the group stage. Uruguay took the lead in the 10th minute when Luis Suarez's low free kick from 20 yards out got past keeper Igor Akinfeev and into the far post. This came a minute after Rodrigo Bentancur was fouled just outside the box. Denis Cheryshev, Russia's leading scorer, had a chance soon after parried away by keeper Fernando Muslera, but he would contribute an own goal in the 23rd. A shot from Diego Laxalt redirected off Cheryshev's leg and went just inside the near post for the second goal. Bentancur nearly made it 3-0 when his close range shot was denied by Akinfeev, and things soon got worse when Igor Smolnikov got sent off in the 36th, a span of two yellows in 10 minutes. His second yellow was a harsh sliding tackle on Laxalt. In the second half, Cristian Rodriguez looked to make it 3-nil, however, his shot was blocked by Akinfeev. A 90th minute tally made the 3-0 score final, when Cavani tapped in the ball after Akinfeev made a diving stop on Diego Godin's header.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt faced off in the other Group A teams, both squads winless. After a long, over-the-top ball from Abdallah El Said, Mo Salah needed only two touches before chipping the ball over Saudi keeper Yasser Al-Mosailem in the 22nd minute for a 1-0 Egypt lead. Salah nearly had a second moments later from a similar play, only this chip went well wide. After Saudi Arabia forced a PK from a handball, Essam El-Hadary, Egypt's keeper, kept out the resulting penalty kick from Fahad Al-Muwallad by pushing it onto the bar in the 42nd minute. Saudi Arabia got another PK in the 45th, and Salman Al-Faraj converted, sending El-Hadary the wrong way. In the 4th minute of second half stoppage time, Salem Al-Daweri one-timed from the right side of six yard box, hitting far corner to give Saudi Arabia the full three points

Over in Group B, Spain played eliminated Morocco. Spain, hoping to claim first and only needing a win and nothing else to do so, fell behind in the 14th minute behind a terrible pass from Andres Iniesta led to Khalid Boutaib stealing the ball to be one-on-one with keeper David De Gea. Boutaib put the ball between De Gea's legs for the 1-0 lead. Spain equalized five minutes later when Isco struck home a close-range shot following a low end-line pass from Iniesta. Boutaib nearly got a second before half, but De Gea blocked it with his chest. A shot that caromed off the crossbar from Nordin Amrabat almost made it 2-1 for Morocco, but they got their goal in the 81st when Youssef En-Nesyri headed it home from a corner. This came minutes a shot from Isco was cleared off the line from Moroccon defender Romain Saiss. Spain got their equalizer, group clinching goal when Iago Aspas scored via flick in the 90th following a Dani Carvajal cross, originally ruled no goal for off-sides. The goal stood, and Spain won Group B.

During that game, Portugal played Iran. Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo had a eventful day, causing a PK, having his penalty kick stopped, getting a yellow, and putting shots on target, though all of his attempts were saved by keeper Alireza Beiranvard. On the other half of the field, Rui Patricio, Portugal's keeper, saved Saeid Ezatolahi's header. Ricardo Quaresma scored for Portugal in the 45th; his shot on the outside of his right foot curling into the far post. After the half, Ronaldo's penalty kick was saved, and Iran had a penalty shout when Cedric brought down Sardar Azmoun. In the 90th, Cedric handled a ball following an Iran header, forcing a PK. Karim Ansarifard buried the PK to give Iran chance of moving on. However, Mehdi Taremi's close range strike went just wide of the post, and the game ended 1-1.

Had Taremi's (white) shot gone in inside of wide left, Portugal would have been eliminated and Iran would have moved on.