Netherlands discover secret weapon to secure World Cup lift-off in Houston
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The Netherlands have lift-off at this World Cup after a devastating performance in Houston to ease past Sweden 5-1 and it was led by a surprise protagonist. Brian Brobbey outshone everyone, as Lawrence Ostlere gathered inside the air-conditioned NRG Stadium, with the Sunderland man emerging as a secret weapon for Ronald Koeman. Solid at the back and midfield, with Cody Gakpo grabbing a brace, too, and Crysencio Summerville banishing bad memories from the past season with West Ham, the Oranje are finally dancing to the trance tunes of their army of supporters and threaten to go far.
Germany weathered a storm as the Ivory Coast gave them a fright before another unlikely star striker delivered the firepower to secure a knockout place for the first time since 2014. Julian Nagelsmann was thrilled to see super-sub, and former Brighton forward, Deniz Undav provide the spark needed to rally from behind against the Elephants. Is Kai Havertz's place at risk? Well, it could prove a fascinating issue for Germany as they prepare for the last 32 with a final group stage game against Ecuador. "Maybe he can start next time," said the Germany boss.
And a heroic performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room created history for Curacao: 15 massive saves were required to blunt Ecuador and take a first World Cup point in a goalless stalemate in Kansas City. Room's 15 stops – the most by any goalkeeper in 90 minutes of a World Cup match since records began in 1966 – ensured Curacao demonstrated a resilience after a harrowing 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany. A tiny nation with just 158,000 people, Dick Advocaat's side may yet emerge from Group E, with guaranteed progress should they defeat Ivory Coast in their final match.
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, one of the happier tourists in the England camp is Dan Burn. The Newcastle man is enjoying what promises to be his first and only World Cup at 34 years of age. And he told Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly just what it's like to be a squad player for Thomas Tuchel at a major tournament. Beyond the training, to ensure he is fit and ready to feature against Ghana or Panama, Burn has taken in a Kansas City Royals baseball match, an Ella Langley concert and even dressed up as a cowboy. Burn's impact on the pitch may be minimal, but it's all part of Tuchel's masterplan to blend different personalities and ensure harmony in the champ.
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Jack Rathborn| Sports Editor
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Win a copy of Miguel Delaney’s States of Play
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To celebrate the World Cup, The Independent is giving away 10 copies of Miguel Delaney’s States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football.
The competition is open exclusively to members of the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter. To enter, simply join HERE before 12pm on 1 July.
Miguel’s weekly newsletter includes:
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- An agenda-setting column, diving into the real story behind a big football theme
- Behind-the-scenes updates from reporting trips, including the World Cup
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New Inside Football members can enjoy their first month FREE – plus a chance to win a copy of this definitive account of modern football
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- 5pm BST – Spain 🇪🇸 v Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (Group H) – BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
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The Tuchel team-talk that fired England to beat Croatia |
Football writers Miguel Delaney, Richard Jolly and Lawrence Ostlere are in North America to discuss England’s statement 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. Did Thomas Tuchel’s team-talk change the game? Was England’s display the performance of the tournament so far? Are Croatia really any good?
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The Tuchel team-talk that fired England to beat Croatia |
Football writers Miguel Delaney, Richard Jolly and Lawrence Ostlere are in North America to discuss England’s statement 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. Did Thomas Tuchel’s team-talk change the game? Was England’s display the performance of the tournament so far? Are Croatia really any good?
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Miguel Almiron becomes first player sent off for covering mouth at World Cup
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One of the rule changes brought in ahead of the World Cup enables referees to give a red card to any player covering his mouth during a confrontational situation with an opponent.
The rule change came in light of the controversy surrounding Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in a Champions League game in February. And Paraguay's ex-Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron became the first man to fall foul of the new rule, when he was sent off in first-half stoppage time during his country's hard-fought 1-0 win over Turkey.
Almiron had obscured his mouth while speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur and was dismissed following a VAR review. Here’s what you had to say about the incident:
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There are a lot of things wrong with this World Cup; hydration breaks, ticket prices etc but they have got a couple of things right and this is one of them. There also seems to be a lot less wrestling before a corner is taken and less rolling around on the floor at the slightest of touches. Now if they can just sort out the persistent diving...
Margou
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