صدى البلد البلد سبورت قناة صدى البلد صدى البلد جامعات صدى البلد عقارات
Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie
ads

Late Drama, Statement Wins & European Power Surge on 2026 FWC Day 4


Mon 15 Jun 2026 | 08:42 PM
Germany & Curaçao Players Support Each Other
Germany & Curaçao Players Support Each Other
Rana Atef

Matchday 4 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered a night of relentless attacking football, late drama, and dominant performances across multiple continents, as Japan held the Netherlands in a thriller, Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador late on, Sweden dismantled Tunisia, and Germany produced a seven-goal statement win over debutants Curaçao.

In one of the most dramatic finishes of the day, Ivory Coast edged Ecuador 1-0 thanks to a last-minute strike from Amad. 

The match had been tightly contested from the start, with both sides creating chances in an end-to-end battle that repeatedly tested both goalkeepers. Ecuador struck the woodwork more than once, while Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomande constantly threatened with his pace and movement. 

Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Amad made his impact from outside the box, cutting inside and curling a stunning effort beyond Hernán Galíndez to secure a vital opening victory and a major statement for the African side.

Earlier in the day, Sweden delivered one of the most commanding performances of the tournament so far, sweeping aside Tunisia 5-1 in a ruthless display of attacking efficiency. 

Sweden struck early through Yasin Ayari, who opened the scoring with a long-range effort but chose not to celebrate against his father’s country of origin. Alexander Isak doubled the lead after a rapid counterattack before Tunisia briefly responded through Omar Rekik to keep the contest alive. 

However, the second half belonged entirely to Sweden. Viktor Gyökeres finished clinically after relentless pressing, Mattias Svanberg added a quick fourth shortly after coming on, and Ayari capped off the night with a powerful second goal in stoppage time to seal a comprehensive victory and send Sweden to the top of Group F.

In another Group F encounter, Japan and the Netherlands produced a high-quality 2-2 draw that showcased technical precision and late resilience. 

Virgil van Dijk gave the Dutch the lead with a towering header early in the second half, but Japan responded almost immediately through a brilliant long-range strike from Keito Nakamura. 

The Netherlands regained control when Crysencio Summerville finished a rapid attacking move to restore their advantage. With the Dutch appearing to manage the game in its closing stages, Japan refused to back down. 

A late set-piece scramble saw Koki Ogawa rise above Van Dijk to flick the ball goalward, with Daichi Kamada getting the final touch as the ball crossed the line in the 88th minute, ensuring a deserved share of the points for both sides.

Germany underlined their title ambitions with a devastating 7-1 win over Curaçao in a match that quickly turned into a showcase of attacking depth and intensity. 

Felix Nmecha opened the scoring early, but Curaçao briefly shocked the European giants when Livano Comenencia finished a sharp counterattack to level the match. That moment, however, proved to be a turning point. 

Nico Schlotterbeck restored Germany’s lead from a set piece, Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot, and Jamal Musiala added a quick second-half goal to break the match wide open. 

From there, Germany never eased off, with Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav, and another Havertz finish completing a commanding rout that sent a strong warning to the rest of the tournament.

With goals flowing freely and late moments defining the headlines, Matchday 4 reinforced the unpredictability and intensity of the 2026 World Cup. 

Sweden’s dominance, Japan’s resilience, Germany’s firepower, and Amad’s decisive brilliance ensured a day packed with narrative shifts and unforgettable moments as the tournament continues to build momentum. 

read more
Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16
World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider
Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico
Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify
Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup
Read also
World Cup
Sports
Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup
Ahly Win Super Cup after beating Zamalek
Sports
Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title
Bencharki
Sports
Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek
Arsenal
Sports
Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest