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The Netherlands have defeated Tunisia 3-1 on Thursday to advance to the World Cup knock-out stage as Group F winners, while Japan and Sweden are also through after a 1-1 draw.
The Netherlands will now face Morocco in the round of 32, while Japan will take on Brazil.
Sweden advanced as one of the best eight third-placed teams but must wait until the end of the group stage to find out their next opponent.
"I really wanted to win today, but I think a point was enough in the end. And listen, I'm really proud of the whole team," Sweden's goalscorer Anthony Elanga said.
The Dutch team were gifted an early lead after Ellys Skhiri turned the ball into his own goal in the third minute when trying to clear a low cross from Denzel Dumpfries.
Just four minutes later, they added a second. Captain Virgil van Dijk won a header inside the box from a free-kick and Brian Brobbey smashed the ball into the net.
Tunisia pulled one back in the 54th with Hazem Mastouri heading home from a corner, but Jan Paul Van Hecke's header also from a corner restored the Netherlands' two-goal lead and sealed the win in the 62nd.
In Dallas, Japan fired first and took the lead in the 56th through Daizen Maeda. Ayase Ueda sent a ball through the Swedish defence and found Maeda, who finished in style.
But Sweden scored the equalizer in the 62nd. Elanga picked up the ball on the right, cut inside and unleashed a unstoppable strike into the Japanese goal.
Alexander Isak almost grabbed a winner for Sweden in stoppage-time but his glancing header was deflected onto the crossbar.
"The first half was a tight match. On the other hand, in the second half we got the lead, but after conceding the equalizer, the momentum shifted to the opponent," Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki said.
"Despite that, I think we achieved what was important – conceding the minimum, not losing, and securing at least a point. Being able to carry this unbeaten momentum into the Brazil match next is definitely positive."
Continue reading...
The Netherlands will now face Morocco in the round of 32, while Japan will take on Brazil.
Sweden advanced as one of the best eight third-placed teams but must wait until the end of the group stage to find out their next opponent.
"I really wanted to win today, but I think a point was enough in the end. And listen, I'm really proud of the whole team," Sweden's goalscorer Anthony Elanga said.
The Dutch team were gifted an early lead after Ellys Skhiri turned the ball into his own goal in the third minute when trying to clear a low cross from Denzel Dumpfries.
Just four minutes later, they added a second. Captain Virgil van Dijk won a header inside the box from a free-kick and Brian Brobbey smashed the ball into the net.
Tunisia pulled one back in the 54th with Hazem Mastouri heading home from a corner, but Jan Paul Van Hecke's header also from a corner restored the Netherlands' two-goal lead and sealed the win in the 62nd.
In Dallas, Japan fired first and took the lead in the 56th through Daizen Maeda. Ayase Ueda sent a ball through the Swedish defence and found Maeda, who finished in style.
But Sweden scored the equalizer in the 62nd. Elanga picked up the ball on the right, cut inside and unleashed a unstoppable strike into the Japanese goal.
Alexander Isak almost grabbed a winner for Sweden in stoppage-time but his glancing header was deflected onto the crossbar.
"The first half was a tight match. On the other hand, in the second half we got the lead, but after conceding the equalizer, the momentum shifted to the opponent," Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki said.
"Despite that, I think we achieved what was important – conceding the minimum, not losing, and securing at least a point. Being able to carry this unbeaten momentum into the Brazil match next is definitely positive."
Continue reading...
