Image source, Getty Images

Wales midfielder Joe Allen "is fit and raring to go" after his hamstring injury as they prepare to face Iran in the World Cup on Friday, manager Robert Page says.

The injury has kept the Swansea City player out since September.

Having trained alone since Wales arrived in Qatar, Allen joined the rest of the squad for Wednesday's session.

On Thursday, boss Page said: "We've got a decision to make on that - what's best for the team."

"The medical team have been exceptional and they're the reason he's now fit.

"We were all concerned about him, the way he kept breaking down. He's had to meet targets along the way, he's met every one. If we'd played him in game one and he'd broken down he would have been completely out.

"We could have pushed him for USA, but due to the confidence we have to get out of the group I want him for the long-term."

Read more.

Loved this from Switzerland's 1-0 win over Cameroon on Wednesday.

Almost deserved a minute being added for that!

Image source, Metro

The Metro published a piece on Thursday saying that fans will drink 30 million pints of beer watching England take on the USA later. That's one hefty bar bill!

Think the plan in our house is to grab pizza beforehand but feel free to let us know what your plan for the game is.

And for those tuning in for Wales this morning, where are you watching it? Presumably a touch early for the pub? Obviously if you are there even better.

Everyone set for another four games then. It's pretty easily done if you've got a day off or when you're working at home, ahem.

But what if you were out in Qatar?

BBC Sport's Nesta McGregor attempts to travel to as many matches as possible in one day at the Fifa World Cup.

As I mentioned earlier, four more matches on the menu today. Wales are up first this morning in a match shown live on BBC One as they take on Iran in Group B.

This evening Gareth Southgate's England team play the USA, looking for a victory which could potentially secure their place in the knockout stages.

Group A

• Qatar v Senegal (13:00) - BBC
• Netherlands v Ecuador (16:00) - ITV

Group B

• Wales v Iran (10:00) - BBC & S4C
• England v USA (19:00) - ITV

Remember you can listen to live commentary of all Friday's matches on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Cameroon coach Rigobert Song says he is is proud of "little brother" Breel Embolo despite the Switzerland striker scoring the winning goal against his side in their World Cup Group G opener at the Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.

Yaounde-born Embolo netted the winner against the country of his birth after 48 minutes but refused to celebrate as the Swiss claimed victory in a game in which they were second best in the first half, but much improved after the break.

Song was seen speaking to Embolo after the game and said he offered his congratulations:

"We know each other, he is my little brother," Song said. We often speak to each other on the phone and I wanted to congratulate him. It is fair play to do so. Just because we are on different teams, it does not mean we are not still brothers."

Song added that he was proud that Embolo had scored a goal at the World Cup. "He did not celebrate his goal, but this is all part of football," Song added.

"I'm happy for him and proud of him. He is with the Swiss national team and I would have liked him to be on my side, but that is the way of life."

The Guardian

The Guardian have splashed a lovely picture of Richarlison's acrobatics at the front of their sports coverage.

Image source, The Guardian

The Daily Telegraph

Ronaldo makes the front of the Telegraph's sport section.

There is also a story about England manager Gareth Southgate saying he "doesn't think they should feel any pressure" after the Germany players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan.

Image source, Telegraph

England's match against the USA gets plenty of space on the back page of the Star.

Image source, Daily Star

Metro

Ronaldo, Brazil, England and Manchester United feature on the back page of the Metro.

Image source, Metro

Daily Mirror

Lots of England-related news in the Mirror, while Wales and Manchester United also get a mention on the back page.

Image source, Mirror

Talking of headlines, let's have a peek at what's in the national newspapers...

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Stadium 974, Doha

Image source, Reuters

The focus before this game was on just one man - Cristiano Ronaldo.

The veteran forward came into the tournament with a cloud over his head following the explosive TalkTV interview where he said he felt "betrayed" by Manchester United.

Unhappy with what he had to say, the Premier League club initiated a process to terminate his contract, which was confirmed on Tuesday.

But the player will be in the headlines for all the right reasons this time, as he surpassed the great Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose to stand on his own by scoring at five different editions of the tournament.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Education City Stadium

Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw in their World Cup opener in Group H in a match that failed to produce a shot on target.

In front of a vibrant crowd at the Education City Stadium, the South Koreans frustrated Uruguay but did not create many clear-cut opportunities.

Their best fell to Hwang Ui-jo, who fired over the bar in the first half, while Uruguay captain Diego Godin headed a corner against the post.

Hwang stood with his head in hands afterwards, while team-mates fell to their knees in disbelief, all in front of a group of South Korean fans behind the goal, who were in fine voice throughout.

South Korea had controlled most of the first half but Uruguay began to dominate as the game wore on and they almost won it in the final minute when Federico Valverde's long-range effort crashed off the post.

There was one last chance for Tottenham striker Son Heung-min - South Korea's star man - but he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the Uruguayan supporters.

Switzerland's Breel Embolo scored the only goal against Cameroon - the country of his birth - in a hard-fought World Cup Group G opener.

Embolo refused to celebrate when he finished off a slick Swiss attack shortly after half-time.

The Indomitable Lions were unfortunate to lose after an enterprising display at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.

Victory was vital for Switzerland, as both sides still have to face Brazil in the group.

I'm sure Richarlison's strike will end up on the shortlist come the end of the tournament.

Serious technique from the Spurs man.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at the Lusail Iconic Stadium

Image source, Reuters

Richarlison lit up the World Cup with a moment of Brazilian magic as the tournament favourites overcame Serbia's stubborn resistance to open their campaign with an impressive victory.

Brazil had to play a patient game to break down an organised Serbia rearguard but forced the breakthrough after 62 minutes when Tottenham striker Richarlison turned home a close-range finish after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Vinicius Junior's effort.

Richarlison's crowning moment came 11 minutes later, at first mis-controlling a pass from Vinicius but readjusting brilliantly to take the aerial route and fire home an acrobatic right-foot finish.

It was no more than Brazil - backed by the massed ranks of their yellow-clad fans - deserved as they dominated throughout, with Alex Sandro and Casemiro hitting the woodwork and Milinkovic-Savic also saving superbly from Fred.

Read Phil McNulty's full match report.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Stadium 974, Doha

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score at five Fifa World Cups as Portugal began their campaign with a thrilling victory over Ghana.

Ronaldo was playing for the first time since his controversial television interview last week and his subsequent release by Manchester United following the comments.

And the 37-year-old scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, hammering in after being tripped in the box by Ghana's Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.

The Africans improved after falling behind and got their reward when Andre Ayew equalised from close range.

But Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points - Joao Felix converting a delightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.

Osman Bukhari headed in a late consolation for Ghana.

Read the full match report here.

Before we get ahead of ourselves here are all of Thursday's results:

Group G

• Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon
• Brazil 2-0 Serbia

Group H

• Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
• Portugal 3-2 Ghana