In a competitive Group F, it’s the Netherlands who ends up on top, securing the group after a dominant 3-1 win over Tunisia. Meanwhile, a 1-1 draw between Japan and Sweden leaves the group standings intact with Japan finishing second and Sweden ending in third place. Both are set to advance to the knockout round.
The Netherlands took the lead over Tunisia thanks to a very hot start. In the third minute, Oranje defender Denzel Dumfries‘ cross forced an own goal from Tunisian captain Ellyes Skhiri. Just four minutes later, Brian Brobbey made it 2-0 off a free kick, scoring a beautiful header with an assist from captain Virgil Van Dijk.
Tunisia ended up adding to the score sheet early in the second half, as Hazem Mastouri hit a perfect header off a corner kick to give the Eagles of Carthage their second goal of the tournament. But the Netherlands added another with a corner kick of their own less than 10 minutes later, this time with defender Jan Paul van Hecke getting the header.
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Japan and Sweden, meanwhile, played out to a draw. Following a first half that saw few scoring chances, Japan and Sweden picked up the intensity in the second half.
Daizen Maeda caught a pinpoint pass from Ritsu Doan and fired a shot past Jacob Widell Zetterström in the left corner of the net for the game’s first goal.
Japan’s lead didn’t last long, however. After another three minutes, Anthony Elanga‘s shot from the right of the box found the far left corner of the net past Zion Suzuki to tie the match for Sweden at 1-1.
Blågult appeared ready to take the lead, lifted by Elanga’s goal: The team had multiple chances in the final minutes that were saved by Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. In the end, that final push wasn’t enough for either team to get the win and move up in the standings.
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Group F table, results
|
W |
D |
L |
GD |
GF |
TCS |
Pts |
||
|
1 |
Netherlands |
2 |
1 |
6 |
10 |
-3 |
7 |
|
|
2 |
Japan |
1 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
-1 |
5 |
|
|
3 |
Sweden |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
-5 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
Tunisia |
3 |
-10 |
2 |
-1 |
Sunday, June 14: Netherlands 2, Japan 2
Sunday, June 14: Sweden 5, Tunisia 1
Saturday, June 20: Netherlands 5, Sweden 1
Saturday, June 20: Japan 4, Tunisia 0
Thursday, June 25: Japan 1, Sweden 1
Thursday, June 25: Netherlands 3, Tunisia 1
Who will group winner, runner-up play in knockout round?
Group F winner: The Netherlands
Matchup: Netherlands vs. Morocco (Group C runner-up)
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, June 29
Location: Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico
Group F runner-up: Japan
Matchup: Japan vs. Brazil (Group C winner)
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, June 29
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
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Will third-place team make knockout round?
With four points, Sweden is all but guaranteed to make the knockout round, currently sitting at the top of the third-place standings after Friday’s matches. Blågult’s goal differential (0) and goals scored (7) will both also help the team in the final seeding.
Can this group produce a World Cup winner?
The Netherlands and Japan were seen as two of the best teams in the field heading into the tournament, with the Oranje entering as one of the top European teams and Japan a defensive dark horse.
One of the big questions will be whether the dedicated Oranje Army will make their way to Mexico in the same kind of numbers they’ve shown in the U.S. — that fan base, beyond filling the streets with orange, has been a supportive force in the stands during the team’s run. But neither of the countries has an easy path ahead: Both Morocco and Brazil are formidable opponents, with Morocco just a World Cup cycle removed from a semifinals finish and Brazil entering the knockout round with some renewed vigor.
