Germany, Netherlands and Japan secure wins as Curaçao holds Ecuador to draw

Monday, 22 June 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Deniz Undav was, not too long ago, starting shifts at 4am in a factory and playing for TSV Havelse. Today planet football’s new star was in another galaxy from minimum wage and the German fourth tier. The 29-year-old, indeed, rose from the bench to rocket his nation into the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Curaçao, the smallest country to ever compete at the global finals, also scripted an otherworldly story. Goalkeeper Eloy Room was the 16-save hero as they drew 0-0 with Ecuador. Goals nevertheless rained down in ‘Space City’, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo helping the Netherlands strike five of six against Sweden.

Netherlands 5-1 Sweden

Graham Potter fielded a front two that cost €200 million. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo cost less than a third of that, but 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.

Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire

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 and a touch, swivel and strike transformed an L into a W. Germany were in the knockout phase as section victors. Undav leads the immortal Lionel Messi in the adidas Golden Boot race.

Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao

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

Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Dominance for Japan, devastation for Tunisia. Herve Renard had it all to do to try to keep the North Africans in the World Cup but they can have no complaints about their exit after shipping four goals in Monterrey and nine in two matches.

After drawing their opener against the Netherlands, meanwhile, Japan look very impressive as they registered a record victory at the global showpiece. In 151 previous matches featuring AFC teams at the FIFA World Cup, no nation has ever scored four goals in a match. Japan have become the first to do so.

The 1,000th game in World Cup history certainly lived up to expectations.