World Cup 2026: Netherlands, Germany and Sweden in action on Saturday
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Japan earned a resilient 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, showcasing their potential as World Cup dark horses with a strong comeback twice in the match.
- Tunisia sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 loss to Sweden, appointing Herve Renard as the new manager in hopes of revitalizing their tournament performance.
- Ecuador struggled to score in their opener against Ivory Coast but will look to improve their clinical finishing against Curacao, who despite a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany, celebrated their first-ever World Cup goal.
- Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande is motivated by personal tragedy, dedicating his World Cup performances to his late sister, while teammate Amad is regaining form after a challenging club season.
- Germany aims to advance past the group stage for the first time since 2014 with a win over Ivory Coast, while the Netherlands seek their first victory to keep their predicted World Cup glory hopes alive under coach Graham Potter.
