Group F: Japan rescue dramatic point against Netherlands, Sweden put five past Tunisia.

Late Kamada blow denies Oranje opening win

A dramatic 88th-minute equaliser from Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada saw Japan rescue a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in a pulsating Group F opener in Texas.

After a tense, goalless first half dominated by Dutch possession, Ronald Koeman’s side finally unlocked the stubborn Japanese defence six minutes after the interval. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch turned provider, delivering a precise ball for his club teammate and Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk to clinically fire home from close range.

The Samurai Blue responded almost immediately. Just six minutes later, Takefusa Kubo cleverly slid a pass through to Keito Nakamura, who beat goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen at his near post to level the scores.

The Netherlands restored their advantage in the 64th minute when winger Crysencio Summerville marked his sensational World Cup debut in style. Fed by Gravenberch once again, the West Ham United star cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom-left corner.

However, Hajime Moriyasu’s late tactical substitutions paid off handsomely. With just two minutes of normal time remaining, a late wave of Japanese pressure culminated in Koki Ogawa turning a corner into the path of Kamada, who calmly slotted past Verbruggen to spoil the Dutch party and ensure both nations shared the spoils.

Clinical Sweden hit five to storm atop Group F

Yasin Ayari struck twice as Graham Potter’s ruthless Sweden side announced their return to the World Cup stage with an emphatic 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium to top Group F.

Playing their first tournament match since 2018, the Swedes took just seven minutes to open the scoring. Midfielder Ayari seized upon a poor clearance from scrambling Tunisian goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh and fired a superb, respectful long-range effort into an unguarded net.

Sweden’s rampant attacking trio doubled the lead on the half-hour mark. Viktor Gyökeres led a lightning-fast counterattack before teeing up Alexander Isak, who cut inside and drilled a low, clinical shot into the far corner for his 18th international goal.

Tunisia pulled one back just before the break when Omar Rekik rose highest to head home a floated delivery from Hannibal Mejbri, giving the Eagles of Carthage a lifeline.

Any thoughts of a second-half Tunisian comeback were swiftly extinguished on the hour. Isak turned provider after capitalising on an error by Ellyes Skhiri, squaring the ball for Gyökeres to rifle a close-range finish past Chamakh.

Sweden remained relentless in the closing stages. Mattias Svanberg added a composed fourth in the 84th minute after a lengthy VAR review overturned an initial offside call, before Ayari bookended a spectacular individual performance deep into stoppage time with another powerful drive from outside the area.

Cover Photo: FIFA World Cup 2014 by Mariya Butd used under license by CC BY 2.0.