Group C Morocco 6-0 Solomon Islands Thailand 1-4 Portugal Group D Panama 1-5 Czech Republic Vietnam 1-9 Brazil

Double joy “Improve on what we did in 2012 and 2016, earn our first-ever point at this tournament – we’ve played six matches in the competition and we’ve lost them all – and qualify for the next round.” Those were the three objectives Morocco coach Hicham Dguig set out for his side before Lithuania 2021. The Atlas Lions achieved the first in their tournament opener against Solomon Islands, with impressive showings up front and in defence; and the second, thanks to a 6-0 win courtesy of six different scorers. A victory against Thailand or Portugal in their remaining matches should be enough for them to attain the third.

On target The Czech fans who travelled to Klaipeda had their demands met in full during the first period of their side’s game against Panama. Chanting “Go Czechs!” and “The Czechs shoot and score”, they saw their heroes find the back of the net with half of their shots on target to surge into a 4-0 lead. No one was in deadlier form than Michal Seidler, who staked his claim for the Golden Shoe with a hat-trick as the Europeans ran out 5-1 winners.

Fantastic Ferrao Two minutes and 30 seconds: that was all the time it took Ferrao to show his skills and help put Brazil on course for a comfortable win. Having played his part in a neat one-two with his captain Rodrigo to allow him to score the opening goal, Ferrao took just a couple more minutes to open his account. Two minutes later he added a second, spinning his marker as he received a pass and shooting low past the Vietnam keeper. A third came his way just 20 seconds into the second period, and he capped his day with a fourth just three minutes later.

Thai test Portugal’s Ricardinho was another magician making his first outing in the tournament, though he found it harder to conjure up his usual trickery. A Selecçao das Quinas came up against an inspired Katawut Hankampa in the Thailand goal, with the keeper pulling off a string of spectacular stops to make the game far closer than it looked on paper. The Asian side even went ahead through Jirawat Sornwichian before Bruno Coelho pulled the Portuguese level just before the break. Erick’s individual class then gave Portugal the lead, one they would not relinquish.

“The Brazil team knew they might be in for a test. We knew we had to play as a team, but you’ll always get players trying to do their own thing. We need to think as a team first.” - Brazil captain Rodrigo