Ivory Coast: 2, Curacao: 0

Curacao needed to win against Ivory Coast to advance to the knockouts, but it was always going to be an uphill battle. Attacking midfielder Nicolas Pepe scored right away in the seventh minute, and Ivory Coast never looked back.

Pepe scored a second goal in the 64th minute to put the game out of reach, ensuring that Ivory Coast would finish second in Group E. Curacao definitely had their chances, and took 11 shots in the match, but none of them managed to find the back of the net.

It was certainly a World Cup to be proud of for the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, scoring their first goal against a giant of the game in Germany, and securing their first ever point against a good Ecuador team.

Player of the Match: Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal)

Ecuador: 2, Germany: 1

Ecuador were playing for their tournament lives, and were able to come from behind to head to the knockouts.

Germany already secured the group title, but still got started right away, with right winger Leroy Sane scoring in the second minute, although the goal came with lots of controversy, most Ecuadorian players thought defensive midfielder Alexsandar Pavlovic got away with a kick to the face.

If Ecuador lost or drew the game, their tournament would be over, and they had to win over the German giants in order to make the next phase of the tournament. 

The equalizer came just a few minutes after Sane’s goal, left midfielder Nilson Angulo giving Ecuador some light. Still needing a second, nothing came in the rest of the first half, or in the first part of the second half. It wasn’t until the 77th minute when Ecuador got their lifeline, striker Gonzalo Plata tapped in a loose ball in what would be the match winner.

Although they finished third, Ecuador are high enough among third placed teams that they are comfortably through to the knockouts.

Player of the Match: Nilson Angulo (Sunderland)

Japan: 1, Sweden: 1

Both teams will take the draw and move onto the knockouts. Japan finished second, and Sweden finished third, but being first among third placed teams, confirming their spot.

The goals came early into the second half, attacking midfielder Daizen Maeda got his first goal of the tournament on a pass from attacking midfielder Ritsu Doan in the 56th minute.

Six minutes later, right winger Anthony Elanga continued his strong tournament with his second goal of the tournament in just 126 total minutes. It was his first World Cup start after coming off the bench against the Netherlands and immediately scoring.

Both teams will continue their World Cup journey into the knockout round, but with both teams receiving tough draws. Japan will play Brazil, and as it stands, Sweden are set to take on France.

Player of the Match: Anthony Elanga (Newcastle)

Netherlands: 3, Tunisia: 1

The Netherlands clinch Group F with the win, another dominant performance in the group, the only other team to score 10 goals so far is Germany.

An own goal from centre back Ellyes Skhiri in the third minute of play opened the scoring for the Dutch, and striker Brian Brobbey scored a second goal for the Netherlands in the first 10 minutes, his third of the tournament.

Striker Hazem Mastouri gave Tunisia a goal back, more of just a consolation after already being knocked out of the tournament.

The two Dutch centre backs, Virgil van Dijk and Jan Paul van Hecke were both goal contributors. Brobbey’s goal was assisted by van Dijk, and van Hecke scored in the 62nd minute.

The Netherlands will have a tough draw against Morocco in the Round of 32.

Player of the Match: Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham)

Paraguay: 0, Australia: 0

Australia did exactly what they had to do against Paraguay. They made the game boring, and walked away with a goalless draw, ensuring second place in the group.

All the Australians needed was a draw, and they did exactly what they did against Turkiye in their upset win. The other game in Group D didn’t mean anything towards the final standings, and all eyes were on this match.

With that being said, Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill was still excellent, making 5 total saves.

As it stands, Paraguay will play Germany, while Australia matches up with Iran.

Player of the Match: (San Lorenzo)

Turkiye: 3, United States: 2

Not a meaningful game for the United States, but a falter nonetheless. The UNMNT didn’t start a lot of their strongest players, likely the reason they suffered the defeat.

The United States already clinched first, and Turkiye finished last, so it gave opportunities for left back Auston Trusty to score his first World Cup goal in the third minute of play.

It didn’t take long for Turkiye to finally find the back of the net, and it was their star, attacking midfielder Arda Guler, who did so in the 10th minute.

Striker Baris Alper Yilmaz gave Turkiye a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute, and that is where the score would be at halftime. Shortly after the second half began, central midfielder Sebastian Berhalter scored his first of the tournament to even things up again.

In the 98th minute of play, Turkiye won it on the foot of substitute Kaan Ayhan, who came on late in the 88th minute.

The United States will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, who have recently clinched a spot as one of the third placed teams.

Player of the Match: Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray)

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