Yesterday was a day of clarity. Two groups sharpened into focus, one host nation punched its ticket to the knockout round, and a South American underdog sent a European contender home early.
Yesterday's Results
USA 2-0 Australia [Group D] — The Americans were without Christian Pulisic and didn't need him. Folarin Balogun forced an own goal in the 11th minute, and Alex Freeman headed home a deflected Sergino Dest shot in the 43rd to put the game away before halftime. The second half was a formality. Per the U.S. Soccer match recap, the USMNT has now qualified for the Round of 32 with one group game still to play — the first time they've done that in the modern era after just two matches. Six points from six available. This team is for real.
Brazil 3-0 Haiti [Group C] — Carlo Ancelotti's side was relentless in the first half, with Matheus Cunha bagging a brace and Vinicius Junior adding a third. Haiti never really threatened. As AP reports, Cunha's performance rewarded Ancelotti's faith in him, and Brazil now sit atop Group C. Haiti are eliminated.
Scotland 0-1 Morocco [Group C] — Ismael Saibari scored after just 71 seconds — the fastest goal of the tournament so far — and Morocco never really let Scotland breathe after that. Reuters describes it as Morocco "bullying Scotland into submission," completing 601 passes, the most by an African team in a World Cup match on record since 1966. Scotland stay alive with three points but now face Brazil in their final group game. Good luck with that.
Turkey 0-1 Paraguay [Group D] — Paraguay held on for a tense win despite Miguel Almiron being sent off late, eliminating Turkey from the tournament after just two games. Reuters confirms the result sealed Turkey's exit and, combined with the US win over Australia, clinched the group for the Americans. Paraguay advance; Turkey go home having scored zero goals across two matches.
Today's Fixtures
Group E and Group F open their second matchdays today, and there's genuine quality on the schedule.
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Germany vs Côte d'Ivoire [Group E] — 4:00 p.m. ET — Germany's young squad gets its first real test against an Ivorian side with pace and attacking talent; watch whether Nagelsmann's high-press system can handle the counter-threat Côte d'Ivoire will pose on the break.
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Netherlands vs Sweden [Group F] — 1:00 p.m. ET — The Dutch will be looking to assert themselves as the group's top side, but Sweden are organized and hard to break down; the key question is whether the Netherlands can find space through a compact Swedish defensive block.
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Ecuador vs Curaçao [Group E] — Curaçao have been one of the tournament's feel-good stories, but Ecuador will be looking to put points on the board early and establish themselves in the group; watch whether Ecuador's physicality up front can overwhelm a Curaçao side making the most of their unlikely World Cup journey.
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Japan vs Tunisia [Group F] — Japan have been one of the more tactically interesting sides in the tournament so far; Tunisia will need to be sharp defensively to avoid being picked apart by Japan's quick combination play in tight spaces.
Around the Tournament
Almiron makes history, badly. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player at this World Cup to be sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent — a rule introduced to prevent players from hiding communications from lip-readers and officials. BBC Sport has the story. Paraguay held on despite going down to ten men, which says something about their defensive resolve, but Almiron will miss their next group game.
Ancelotti expects Neymar back. After Brazil's comfortable win over Haiti, Carlo Ancelotti told reporters he expects Neymar to be available for Brazil's final group stage match against Scotland. Reuters reports the news — which, if it holds, would give Brazil a significant boost heading into the knockout rounds. We've been tracking Neymar's comeback bid since before the tournament began; this is the most optimistic update yet.
Morocco's Hakimi faces serious off-field trouble. Amid the celebrations of Morocco's strong start in Group C, The Guardian reports that defender Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial for rape — a significant story that will shadow Morocco's tournament regardless of results on the pitch.
Germany and the Netherlands kick off their second group games today, and both have something to prove. If you're watching one match, make it Germany vs Côte d'Ivoire — Nagelsmann's youth project meets its first genuine test, and the answer will tell us a lot about how far this German side can actually go.
