World Cup Day Four: Germany Hammer Curaçao as Sweden Dazzle and Japan Rescue Netherlands Draw

Germany produced the most emphatic performance of the tournament so far with a stunning 7–1 demolition of Curaçao, while Sweden announced their World Cup return in style with a 5–1 thrashing of Tunisia. The Netherlands were twice pegged back as Japan earned a thrilling 2–2 draw in a Group F blockbuster, and Ivory Coast snatched a dramatic late winner against Ecuador to round off a spectacular day of football.In Group E, Germany wasted no time making their intentions clear in front of 68,021 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston. Felix Nmecha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and Nico Schlotterbeck doubled the lead before half-time. Kai Havertz added a first-half penalty in stoppage time, and Jamal Musiala put the game well beyond reach just two minutes after the restart. Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav completed the rout, with Havertz adding a second penalty late on to seal a 7–1 final score. Curaçao, competing in their first-ever World Cup, pulled one back through Livano Comenencia midway through the first half, but it was a mere footnote. Germany's tally equalled their famous 7–1 humiliation of Brazil in the 2014 semi-finals — a chilling statement of intent from Julian Nagelsmann's side.Also in Group E, Ivory Coast survived a nervous 90 minutes to claim a 1–0 victory over Ecuador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The match was tight and attritional for much of the contest, with both sides creating limited clear-cut opportunities. It took a goal deep in added time to separate the teams — Amad Diallo rising to deliver the decisive moment in the 90th minute and spark jubilant scenes among the West African supporters. The result moves Ivory Coast to the top of Group E.In Group F, the Netherlands and Japan produced the evening's most breathless contest at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Virgil van Dijk gave the Dutch the lead five minutes into the second half, only for Keito Nakamura to equalise with a fine effort on 57 minutes. Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands' advantage on 64 minutes, but Japan refused to be beaten. Daichi Kamada delivered a stunning late equaliser two minutes from time to make it 2–2 — a result that leaves Group F wide open after the opening round of fixtures.Sweden, meanwhile, served notice of their ambitions with a dominant 5–1 victory over Tunisia at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and Alexander Isak doubled the lead midway through the first half. Tunisia pulled one back through Omar Rekik on the stroke of half-time to offer brief hope, but Viktor Gyökeres restored the two-goal advantage shortly after the hour mark. Mattias Svanberg added a fourth and Ayari completed the scoring deep into stoppage time to cap a commanding display. Sweden, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2018, top Group F after the first matchday.Upcoming Matches  for June 15 (all times local):12:00 PM, Atlanta Stadium - Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H) 3:00 PM, Seattle Stadium - Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G) 6:00 PM, Miami Stadium - Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Group H)9:00 PM, Los Angeles Stadium - Iran vs. New Zealand (Group G)