Tunisia vs Japan live

Tunisia vs Japan live

By Dean Bilton

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off Sort Sort posts Filter Posts All 119 Key Events 32 Tunisia vs Japan 9 Ecuador vs Curaçao 38 Match reports 1 Netherlands vs Sweden 30 Germany vs Côte d'Ivoire 24 Results 2 Goals 9 10' A wonderful Tunisian save!

H By Henry Hanson

Japan is all over Tunisia right now, and the Samurai Blue almost have a second.

A corner is worked into the area and Takehiro Tomiyasu is on hand to deflect a cross-come-shot towards goal.

It's a wonderful save from the Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, clawing the ball back just before the entirety of it crosses the line.

It is so, so close to 2-0 - and play stops as VAR combs over the footage to ensure the ball was prevented from making its full way over the line.

And it was - just!

Dahmen saves Tunisia by the finest of margins.

8' An impressive opening from Japan

H By Henry Hanson

The Samurai Blue are looking very, very slick during these opening exchanges in Monterey.

They're pressing high, dominating possession and wreaking havoc in the final third.

JAPAN TAKES AN EARLY LEAD!

H By Henry Hanson

Oh no.

Not the start Tunisia had been hoping for.

It's a lovely, lovely move from Japan, who work the ball into the penalty area and to the feet of Keito Nakamura, who makes his way to the byline and works a ball across goal.

Daichi Kamada is on hand to tap the ball into the net.

It's the fastest goal for Japan in the nation's World Cup history!

2' Challenges clattering in early on

H By Henry Hanson

It has been a physical start to proceedings in Monterey, with a couple Tunisian players clattering into challenges.

We have the first shot on target courtesy of Tunisia's Hannibal Mejbri. It's taken from outside the penalty area and flies wide and high.

We're underway in the 1000the World Cup match!

H By Henry Hanson

It is quite the atmosphere in Monterey as Tunisia, playing in white, kick us off.

Play not far off in Monterey

H By Henry Hanson

Alright, today's fourth and final game is upon us.

We travel to Monterey as Tunisia, after sensationally changing manager in the wake of that 5-1 loss to Sweden, looks to get its tournament up and running.

Japan is hoping to build on a promising showing in its 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

The players are lined up and the national anthems are being sung.

Tunisia vs Japan team news

H By Henry Hanson

Three changes for Tunisia as it looks to bounce back from that demoralising loss to Sweden.

New coach Hervé Renard makes a change in goal and also opts to bring in attacker Ben Slimane from the start.

Dylan Brown comes in at the back.

It's a strong starting XI for Japan, with Daichi Kamada looking to pull the strings in midfield after an exceptional performance in his side's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

Watch out for the flair and incision of Ritsu Doan in attacking areas.

Lively attacker Takefusa Kubo misses out through injury.

Tunisia's new boss

H By Henry Hanson

ICYMI, Tunisia became the first team since 1998 to sack a coach mid tournament when it let go of Sabri Lamouchi after the nation's 5-1 defeat to Sweden, appointing the suave and well-travelled Hervé Renard in his place.

This is Renard's third-straight World Cup, after leading Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Of course, he is best remembered for masterminding Saudi Arabia's sensational 2-1 victory over Argentina in Qatar, but he has also coached the French women's team, and led Zambia to an unlikely AFCON title in 2012.

Tunisia's new boss looking to Cape Verde (and Curaçao after today!) ahead of Japan clash

H By Henry Hanson

AP

Tunisia is looking to Cape Verde for inspiration ahead of the North African team's next World Cup game against Japan, newly appointed coach Hervé Renard said on Friday.

The charismatic Frenchman, who was hired to save Tunisia after its 5-1 loss to Sweden in its opening match, said his side must earn at least a point against Japan to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time in its seven World Cup appearances.

World Cup newcomer Cape Verde's 0-0 draw against European champions Spain, the tournament's biggest upset so far, "gives us hope", Renard said.

"When you are organised and together, you are able to compete. We have to follow this example and not be scared of defeat," said Renard, who is at his third World Cup as coach after leading Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Japan is ranked 17th in the world by FIFA, 37 spots higher than Tunisia. The Samurai Blue has not lost since falling 2-0 to the US in a friendly last September.

Renard, 57, was hired to replace Sabri Lamouchi after the loss to Sweden last Sunday. He has had only a few days to get to know the squad and prepare for the match in Monterrey.

"I've met with an open-minded group," Renard said. "They want their revenge. We know that we must go above and beyond against this Japanese team."

After previous successes throughout his career, such as winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, some began referring to Renard as the "wizard". But Renard wouldn't promise any magic.

"I am no wizard," he said. "The coach is not the key; the key is the players."

Japan tries to keep momentum vs Tunisia

D By David Hirst

- AP

Japan had high expectations coming into this World Cup and delivered a solid performance in its opener, rallying for a draw against the Netherlands.

Now the Japanese will try to keep that momentum against Tunisia, which lost to Sweden in its opener.

Tunisia fired coach Sabri Lamouchi after the 5-1 loss and appointed Hervé Renard.

The Frenchman is an experienced coach who specialises in leading national teams across Africa and the Arabic-speaking world.

He's won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and Côte d'Ivoire.

Irvine backs new mouth covering rule after Paraguay sending off

H By Henry Hanson

Australian veteran Jackson Irvine says players know what to expect when it comes to the new mouth covering rule, after Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became its first victim in his nation's 1-0 win over Türkiye yesterday.

Almiron was sent off on VAR review after obscuring his mouth while speaking during a confrontation in the first half.

The rule was brought in to counter racist or derogatory comments made by players in heated situations, and comes after several controversies in Europe, most notably one featuring Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid.

Vinicius accused Prestianni of making racist remarks but nothing could be proven because the Benfica-player had covered his mouth while speaking to the Brazilian.

Irvine says Almiron, who will miss his nation's crunch-match with the Socceroos on Friday, should have no complaints and that the rule is there for a reason.

"I think [the rule] is clear ... when you look at what's happened in the past, especially around what happened in the incident with Vinicius Junior, I think it takes everything out of the equation," Irvine said.

"If you're saying something to someone that you don't want to be seen, then I think it's safe to say that if you can't be seen saying it, then it shouldn't be said.

"So listen, for me, it's a clear line on the rule and we were all told about it, so it is what it is."

What that means for Group E

H By Henry Hanson

So, Germany officially wins Group E, with Côte d'Ivoire, despite that last-gasp loss earlier today, also looking good for a berth in the knockout stages.

Ecuador will need to defeat Germany on Matchday 3 if it is to qualify in either second or as one of the competition's best third-placed teams.

Curaçao, meanwhile, remains well in the mix for the most unlikely of group-stage progressions.

Victory against Côte d'Ivoire on Friday would very likely be enough for the Caribbean nation.

Look what it means for Curaçao!

H By Henry Hanson

The smallest nation to feature at a World Cup is now the smallest nation to earn a point at a World Cup!

What a remarkable, joyous moment for the tiny Caribbean island.

Veteran Dutch manager Dick Advocaat is in tears as he watches his players and supporters soak it all in.

What now for Ecuador?

H By Henry Hanson

What a desperately disappointing evening for Ecuador.

La Tri now have one point from two games, and with Germany to come on Matchday 3, are staring down the barrel of a group stage exit.

The Ecuadorians began this tournament as South America's second-best team, finishing the gruelling CONMEBOL qualifying round ahead of Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, and only behind Argentina.

Their success on the road to the World Cup was built on defensive solidity, with the likes of PSG's Willian Pacho and Arsenal's Piero Hincapie combining to restrict their opponents to just five goals in 18 matches.

At this tournament, they've been solid enough at the back - but their lack of incision going forward has been plain to see.

There's too much weight on the shoulders of 36-year-old captain and forward Enner Valencia, and there is a distinct lack of creativity in midfield.

A massive improvement and a history-making performance is required against Germany on Friday morning, Australian time.

Eloy Room socials watch

H By Henry Hanson

According to Google, Curaçao 'keeper Eloy Room had less than 2,000 Instagram followers before today's remarkable performance.

He now has 611,000.

And rising.

Match report: Room creates World Cup folklore against Ecuador

H By Henry Hanson

AP

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves against a relentless Ecuador attack, allowing The Blue Wave to earn a 0-0 draw against the heavily favoured La Tri on Saturday night and gain the tiny island nation its first-ever World Cup point.

The outcome also allowed Germany, which beat Ivory Coast earlier in the day, to clinch Group E.

The 37-year-old Room, whose shutout of Jamaica last November sent Curacao to its first World Cup, bounced back from a 7-1 loss to Germany with one of the finest performances by a goalkeeper in World Cup history. His save total was one shy of the record — since saves became an official stat in 1966 — of 16 set by Tim Howard of the US against Belgium on July 1, 2014.

The draw doesn’t eliminate either team from knockout play, but it put Ecuador in dire shape going into its group finale. Those matches take place on Thursday with Curacao facing Ivory Coast in Philadelphia and Ecuador playing Germany in New York.

Ecuador certainly had a home-field advantage at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Its fanbase, dressed like its players in bright yellow shirts, filled the stadium to the brim, making it look like a convention of Minions. There was only a couple of small pockets of blue-clad Curacao fans in a stadium whose capacity could house half of its island citizenry.

The pressure mounted on Ecuador earlier Saturday, when Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time gave Germany a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. The outcome of that match in Toronto meant that La Tri faced World Cup elimination with a loss to The Blue Wave.

Curacao made sure the pressure continued once play began.

Throughout the first half, 78-year-old coach Dick Advocaat’s team kept finding seams through the middle of the Ecuadorean defence, creating open looks at the goal. But each time, Curacao would end the runs with a sloppy pass or a shot wide of net.

The relentless pressure of La Tri picked up in the second half — and each time, Room was standing in the way.

Moises Caicedo forced him into making a spectacular save early on, then Valencia did the same with a well-placed header that Room knocked wide. On the ensuing corner kick, Room made two more sensational saves before Curacao finally cleared it.

It was that kind of night for Room. And that kind of night for Ecuador.

A look at that Eloy Room masterclass

H By Henry Hanson

Eloy Room, you star.

The Curaçao shot stopper produces a showstopper in Kansas City.

Room, who plays in the US second-tier with Miami FC, produced 15 saves to come within one stop of equalling the all-time World Cup record.

It was a sensational 90-minute performance, but Room's finest moment came in the game's opening exchanges, when he got down to thwart Enner Valencia, who was clean through on goal.

FT: Ecuador 0 - 0 Curaçao

H By Henry Hanson

What an amazing 90 minutes of football.

Scarcely believable scenes in Kansas City.

The smallest nation to ever compete at a World Cup earns a point against South America's second-best team.

It was an inspired, full-team effort from Curaçao - but Eloy Room's heroics in goal will go down in World Cup history.

Truly, a remarkable display from the shot stopper, who finishes with 15 saves, one short of the all-time World Cup record.

Fight, heart, resilience - it was all there for Curaçao today.

For Ecuador, who came into the tournament as one of dark horses after an exceptional qualifying campaign, it is a desperately disappointing result and an extremely lacklustre 90 minutes of football.

La Tri, it seems, just don't have enough quality up front.

They head into the final round of group stage matches on the precipice of a limp early exit.