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BBC SportHavertz scores twice as Germany thrash Curacao
Four-time winners Germany overcome a brief scare from World Cup debutants Curacao before turning on the style to win their Group E opener in Houston.
The Guardian FootballCuraçao enjoy their moment but Havertz and ruthless Germany show no mercy
The net rippled and Curaçao’s bench exploded in every conceivable direction, their giddiness underpinned by a firm awareness of the goal’s place in history. Livano Comenencia had just equalised against Germany and an island of about 158,000 inhabitants, represented here by an accomplished group born almost entirely in the Netherlands, could revel disbelievingly in the moment it had dreamed of. Reality eventually bit, Julian Nagelsmann’s side declaring on seven goals and easily avoiding an embarrassment that would have far outdone their group-stage exits in the previous two World Cups. Germany will surely reach the knockouts this time and could have made absolutely certain by adding several more. Nagelsmann will be pleased that threats emanated from all around the pitch, half a dozen scorers bearing testament to that, but it should go without saying that more accurate tests of strength will have to be navigated over the next month. Kai Havertz, rounding things off neatly with his second goal, will hope to be similarly efficient later on. Continue reading...
The Guardian Football‘We’re the same as we were then’: bullish Spain confident of repeating Euros success
Squad has evolved since 2024 but the European champions are happy to embrace the tag of tournament favourites Spain knew, now everyone else does too. It was almost 1.30am on 15 July 2024 when Álvaro Morata, the captain who had lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup, headed down the slope and towards the team bus parked beneath the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. A European champion now, he came with a big black boombox, a small blue Euro 2024 wash bag, a mischievous look and a knowing grin. “Seems I have an eye for a player,” he said. Seems he did. A month earlier, when the mood was not so optimistic, Morata had been asked if Spain really had any world-class footballers, the kind that could win the Ballon d’Or and thus a major trophy. “Yes,” he replied and he had started naming them: Rodri, Pedri, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal. Now, medal in his pocket, he left the naming to them. “You choose one,” he said. “Any one.” There were candidates everywhere. They were there in Berlin and, although Morata is no longer around, they are there in Chattanooga too. Continue reading...
BBC SportComenencia scores Curacao's first-ever World Cup goal
Livano Comenencia makes national history scoring Curacao's first-ever World Cup goal against Germany in their Group E match in Houston.
The Guardian FootballScotland march on towards history but improvement is needed against Morocco
Precious win gives Steve Clarke’s team a platform but nervy display against Haiti could prove a missed opportunity It felt so typically Scottish that even rare success on the World Cup stage delivered such paradoxes of emotion and analysis. In Ireland, sporting glory is routinely cherished without contradiction. Scots have far more of a tendency to apply “ah, but” as an addendum. So it proved from Boston to Brora, where dissection of the 1-0 win over Haiti was far from straightforward. Rightly so. Record books will show John McGinn’s scruffy goal earned the Scots just a fifth win at a World Cup finals. The claiming of a point against Morocco on Friday will, barring an extraordinary set of results elsewhere, seal Scotland a knockout berth for the first time. They haven’t even featured at this level since 1998. Any team within touching distance of heady times, rewarding a fantastic supporter base in the process, can hardly be castigated. Continue reading...
The Guardian FootballYoung Socceroos offer something new and tantalising: the hope of an adventure like in 2006
Irankunda and co have not yet earned golden generation status but they can revive Australia’s World Cup aspirations There always was a familiar feeling to this youthful squad of Socceroos. That sense of deja vu. That you had seen something like this before. But it took Nestory Irankunda running to the corner flag to remember what it was. By reviving Tim Cahill’s famous goal celebration, the new face of Australian football instantly connected this fearless crop of young footballers finding their way on the world stage to the greats wearing yellow that have gone before. Continue reading...
BBC SportThe 20-year-old who stole the show on Scotland's World Cup return
Ben Gannon-Doak wasn't born when Scotland last played at the men's World Cup. But the 20-year-old was at the heart of their long-awaited return and their first win at the tournament in 36 years as he stole the show against Haiti.
BBC SportCould Japan be the World Cup's dark horses?
Japan could be one of the surprise packages of the 2026 World Cup, with growing belief they are ready to go further than ever before.
BBC SportSmaller than Isle of Man & huge Dutch influence: Curacao making history
Curacao has possibly been most famous for its alcoholic drink of the same name - but now the nation is ready to announce itself at the World Cup.
BBC SportRefugee who quit Bayern to create Aussie World Cup dream
Nestory Irankunda was born as a refugee in Tanzania before becoming Australian record breaker with goal in victory over Turkey.
The Guardian FootballSocceroos hero Patrick Beach revels in World Cup win: ‘It was absolute limbs’
Goalkeeper repays faith shown in him with resolute display Socceroos open campaign with win against Turkey – in pictures Before he became an instant national hero, Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach had a perfect view of Nestory Irankunda’s opening goal during the 2-0 win against Turkey in Vancouver. “We know one of our threats is our pace up front,” he said. “I just saw an opportunity to get it out wide, and then within two or three passes, Nes was in the 18-yard box and having a crack on goal. And then it was absolute limbs, wasn’t it?” Continue reading...
The Guardian FootballWedding parties, the Hand of God and Lineker – The Big One invades summer like nothing else | Matthew Engel
Forget the Olympic and the rest. People across the planet remember where they were for their biggest World Cup matches The connection between King Lear and the 1966 World Cup is little known, mainly because it affected very few people at a now defunct boarding school. I had been a surprise selection to act in the school’s production of Lear (yes, I played the Fool; yes, I was typecast). The day before one of the performances I fell and twisted something and was a doubtful starter for a part that required a lot of dashing about. Matron prescribed sleeping pills. That night England were playing Mexico in that now-sanctified tournament – almost a must-win after a goalless start against Uruguay. I went to bed early, tucked my transistor under the pillow to hear the commentary, went spark out and only heard the result next morning: England 2 Mexico 0. The rest is national history. Continue reading...