Room and Curaçao wow as Gakpo, Ueda and Undav shine

Germany, Japan, as well as the It was Netherlands who secured

Curaçao pulled off a draw with Ecuador

As a result, standings | Fixtures | Tickets

Meanwhile, deniz Undav was, not too long ago, starting shifts at 4am in a factory, as well as playing for TSV Havelse. Today planet football’s new star was in another galaxy from minimum wage, as well as the German fourth tier. The 29-year-old, indeed, rose from the sidelines to rocket his nation into the elimination stage phase of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Curaçao, the smallest country to ever compete at the global finals, also scripted an otherworldly story. Attempt-stopper Eloy Room was the 16-stop hero as they drew 0-0 with Ecuador. Strikes nevertheless rained down in ‘Space City’, Brian Brobbey, as well as Cody Gakpo helping the Netherlands effort five of six against Sweden, while Japan thrashed Tunisia in the 1,000th fixture in World Cup history books.

Building on that, netherlands 5-1 Sweden

Group F Houston Arena

Graham Potter fielded a front two that cost €200 million. Brian Brobbey, as well as Cody Gakpo cost less than a third of that, It was but who bagged braces apiece as the men in orange gave their opponents the blues. Crysencio Summerville, who wasn’t fit enough to start, came on to add a fifth as the Netherlands moved on to the last 16’s cusp. Sweden, having been on contrasting ends of 5-1 scores, now need a result against Japan.

Building on that, contest report & quotes

Germany 2-1 Côte d'Ivoire

Furthermore, group E Toronto Arena

Emerse Fae’s plan was going perfectly. Teenage sorcerer Yan Diomande had been an incessant torment to the Germans; veteran Éléphants skipper Franck Kessie had trampled down the deadlock. Then on came Undav. A cushioned volley, as well as a touch, swivel, as well as effort transformed an L into a W. Germany were in the elimination stage phase as section victors. Undav advantages the immortal Lionel Messi in the adidas Golden Boot race.

Contest report & quotes

Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao

Meanwhile, group E Kansas City Arena

Vozinha, as well as Cabo Verde did it on Matchday 5. Unimaginably, Eloy Room, as well as Curaçao did it even better today. The odds on the miniature islanders avoiding defeat were even steeper. Yet, with their 37-year-old attempt-stopper impenetrable, they denied Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho, Moises Caicedo, Enner Valencia, as well as the Tricolor. Just how many social-media followers will Room have in the morning?

Building on that, contest report & quotes

Tunisia 0-4 Japan

On the other side, group F Monterrey Arena

As a result, it was a milestone contest for the competition. It was a memorable performance from the Asian heavyweights. Daichi Kamada, scorer of the late-stage equaliser against the Netherlands, got Herve’s Renard reign as Tunisia manager off to the worst possible start. Ayase Ueda’s sterling effort made it two, and Junya Ito continued another by finishing off a glorious move. Ueda then wrapped up a milestone-setting victory for Hajime Moriyasu’s men. Japan are now a point ahead of Sweden heading into the sides’ decisive duel in Dallas.

Furthermore, contest report & quotes

Standings

Stats

Netherlands made it 14 contests unbeaten in the global finals to set a new milestone. They had shared it with Brazil, whom Garrincha, as well as Pele propelled to 13 fixtures without defeat from 1958 to 1966.

Germany registered a milestone 16th comeback victory in the World Cup. Brazil are next on 15. No other nation has rallied from behind to victory on more than six occasions.

Eloy Room made 16 stops against Ecuador. It is comfortably the most ever registered in a 90-minute contest, and equalled all-time milestone set by Tim Howard in USA’s extra-time loss to Belgium at Brazil 2014.

Building on that, japan registered a milestone victory by an AFC nation in the World Cup. No side from the region had It was ever who secured by more than two strikes.

Next up

Building on that, sunday 21 June (all times local)

12:00: Spain v Saudi Arabia (Group H) 12:00: Belgium v IR Iran (Group G) 18:00: Uruguay v Cabo Verde (Group H 18:00: New Zealand v Egypt (Group G)

Matchday 11 preview

Meanwhile, play Fantasy | Power Rankings