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Padraig Whelan · 29 June 2026

It is impossible to ignore this Morocco side, who stepped up impressively against a Netherlands team that Ronald Koeman set up with uncharacteristic caution, going against traditional Dutch attacking philosophy.

As Thierry Henry famously asked, did "football win" tonight? That’s for you to decide.

The Koeman curse continues...

FULL TIME: NETHERLANDS 1 (2) - (3) 1 MOROCCO

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

Saibari seals the victory!!!!!

Summerville denied!

Hakimi fails to convert!

Quinten Timber misses.

Talbi keeps Morocco level.

Weghorst confidently smashes it in.

Rahimi scores.

Kluivert strikes the post.

El Aynaoui hits the woodwork.

Koopmeiners converts.

✅❌✅❌❌ Netherlands - Morocco ❌✅✅❌✅

We’re heading to penalties!

We’re back in it! Can Koeman finally break the curse?

Extra time ends level at 1-1, thanks to a phenomenal save by Bart Verbruggen.

WHAT A SAVE!!!!

Verbruggen pulls off one of the best saves of the tournament, denying Soufiane Rahimi and keeping the score tied.

What a moment!

EXTRA TIME KICK-OFF

Buckle up, everyone!

END OF NORMAL TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 MOROCCO

We’re set for another spell of extra-time drama after Issa Diop’s late equaliser cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s second-half strike.

GOAL!!!! NETHERLANDS 1-1 MOROCCO

And it’s no more than Morocco deserve!

Issa Diop heads home right on 90 minutes to level the score!

That’s his first international goal!

Morocco make two more substitutions in search of the equaliser.

Gessime Yassine and Samir El Mourabet replace Brahim Díaz and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Earlier, Chadi Riad was forced off through injury and replaced by Anass Salah-Eddine.

🧡

GOAL!!! NETHERLANDS 1-0 MOROCCO

And we have liftoff!

Cody Gakpo poetically delivers the breakthrough!

We’re through the final hydration break, and the first substitutions are made.

Teun Koopmeiners and Wout Weghorst come on for Nathan Aké and Brian Brobbey, signaling a tactical shift from Koeman.

Micky van de Ven makes a sensational last-ditch tackle — one of the fastest defenders at the World Cup shows his pace once again, familiar to Tottenham and Premier League fans.

OFF THE BAR!

Morocco come agonisingly close again! Hakimi’s fierce shot rattles the crossbar after beating Verbruggen at his near post.

Moments later, Ayyoub Bouaddi tries his luck from range but skies it over.

Second half underway in Monterrey, no changes for either side.

HALFTIME: NETHERLANDS 0-0 MOROCCO

All square at the break after a fiercely competitive, physical first half in Monterrey.

CHANCE!

Morocco continue to threaten! Saibari can’t convert another promising opportunity — they’ve been the sharper side going forward.

CHANCE!

Late in added time, Ismael Saibari blasts over from close range after a quick Moroccan counter.

Saibari nearly controlled one in the box moments earlier, but Verbruggen held firm. This has been one of the most physical games of the tournament.

Jan Paul van Hecke, who’s been in the thick of it all night, now sports visible battle scars.

First hydration break — Morocco in the ascendancy.

AND AGAIN!

Verbruggen makes a strong one-handed stop to deny Achraf Hakimi’s swerving long-range attempt. Morocco smell blood.

CHANCE!!

Verbruggen again! Brilliant reaction save at the near post to keep out Neil El Aynaoui’s header.

Tensions are high — both teams playing with intensity. Not even ten minutes in, and it’s already a bruising contest.

Kick-off in Monterrey! Two nations deeply connected — this is a massive encounter.

Walk-outs, anthems, and we’re underway for Netherlands vs Morocco!

Up next for Paraguay? A clash against the winner of France vs Sweden.

Here’s how they reached this stage, courtesy of Opta.

Pre-match talk surrounds Germany’s early exit and the fallout for Julian Nagelsmann and the DFB.

Thirty minutes to go before kick-off in Monterrey, a glorious venue for this knockout battle.

Are Germany the biggest disappointment of the summer? Hard to argue otherwise.

FULL TIME (PEN): GERMANY 1 (3) - (4) 1 PARAGUAY

He’s done it!!!!!!

José Canale...

It’s over the bar!!!!!

Tah steps up now...

Neuer denies him!!!!!

Fabián Balbuena for the win...

Amiri delivers!

Amiri...

Sanabria missed!!!!

He’s missed!!!! Germany on the brink of disaster!

Woltemade...

Cool, calm, collected!

Now Matías Galarza...

Converted! Germany remain alive!

Musiala next...

Gómez delivers!

Gustavo Gómez steps up...

Germany pull level!

Kimmich next...

Mauricio converts!

He’s missed!!!

Gill with a superb stop!!!

❌ Germany - Paraguay

Havertz to kick off the first shootout of this World Cup summer...

Germany had never lost a World Cup penalty shootout before (4-0). History changes today.

END OF EXTRA-TIME: GERMANY 1-1 PARAGUAY

Penalties in Boston!

Five minutes left in extra time, still level.

IT HAS!

VAR rules Anton interfered with Gill before Tah’s header. Nagelsmann left stunned.

VAR CHECK!!

Possible interference from Waldemar Anton being reviewed.

GOAL!!! GERMANY 2-1 PARAGUAY

Germany take the lead! Jonathan Tah’s towering header gives Die Mannschaft hope.

Germany press early in extra time, seeking another aerial breakthrough.

END OF NORMAL TIME: GERMANY 1-1 PARAGUAY

We head into extra time after a tense 90 minutes in Boston.

CHANCE!

Late scramble in Paraguay’s box, but they clear their lines!

CHANCE!

Havertz’s header denied by Orlando Gill!

Germany pushing hard in the final 15 minutes in Boston.

Another cooling break.

Havertz’s equaliser ties him with Lukas Podolski in World Cup goals.

GOAL!!! GERMANY 1-1 PARAGUAY

Kai Havertz equalises in the 54th minute! Germany back in it.

Can they complete the turnaround?

Second half underway — can Germany respond?

HALFTIME: GERMANY 0-1 PARAGUAY

Julio Enciso’s header gives Paraguay a shock lead in Boston.

Will we see another upset like Brazil-Japan?

GOAL!!!! GERMANY 0-1 PARAGUAY

Against the run of play! Julio Enciso heads Paraguay in front late in the first half.

Germany dominate possession but fail to capitalise.

CHANCE!

Deniz Undav, starting for the first time this summer, misses a lofted effort after combining with Havertz.

CHANCE!

Early scare for Germany — Júnior Alonso tests Manuel Neuer, but the veteran keeps it out.

Kick-off in Boston! Walk-outs, anthems, and we’re underway.

Paraguayan fans in full voice ahead of their clash with Germany.

A proud moment for Manuel Neuer as he takes the field once more.

FULL TIME! BRAZIL 2-1 JAPAN

Gabriel Martinelli becomes Brazil’s hero, scoring a dramatic late winner to send his team into the last 16.

Heartbreak for Japan, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men march on in pursuit of a sixth World Cup crown.

Marquinhos provided the assist for Martinelli’s decisive strike after Japan lost possession on the edge of their box.

GOOOOOAL! BRAZIL HAVE WON IT!

Gabriel Martinelli scores in the 96th minute, slotting past Suzuki! The Brazilian bench erupts as Japan’s players collapse in despair.

Surely that seals it!

Fabinho fires over — that may be the last action of regular time.

Casemiro, exhausted, comes off for Fabinho as Brazil push one last time.

Rayan’s free-kick deflects over; Danilo wins another dangerous set-piece.

Can Casemiro strike again?

The pace has slowed slightly after an intense second half — Neymar warms up on the touchline, ready for a potential cameo.

Brazil dominate possession, but Japan’s defence holds firm.

Both sides make substitutions: Cunha off for Martinelli; Nakamura and Doan off for Sugawara and Suzuki.

OFF THE POST!

Vini Jr. dazzles on the left and forces Suzuki into a fingertip save that pushes the ball onto the post. Brilliant football.

GOAL! CASEMIRO DOES IT!

Casemiro scores another towering header to equalise! The 34-year-old powers home past Suzuki. The Brazilian fans erupt.

OFF THE LINE!

Moments earlier, Casemiro’s shot was miraculously cleared by Tomiyasu and Suzuki.

BIG MISS!

Bruno Guimarães heads straight at Suzuki from close range. Either side and it was surely in.

Brazil’s urgency grows, with four forwards now on the pitch and Neymar warming up.

BACK UNDERWAY!

Lucas Paquetá limps off with a hamstring issue; Endrick comes on.

A huge half ahead for Brazil and Carlo Ancelotti — will Neymar feature? Can Casemiro stay composed on a yellow?

Half-time: Brazil 0-1 Japan — the Samurai Blue 45 minutes from history.

Kamada booked for a foul on Bruno Guimarães as he countered.

Sano’s first-half strike gave Japan the lead, his low drive finding the corner past Alisson.

Brazil pressed hard but went into the break trailing.

Hydration break taken; still 0-0 before Sano’s breakthrough.

Brazil’s kit again draws admiration — perhaps the best of the tournament.

Early yellow for Casemiro after a late challenge on Viní Jr.

A lively start but no goals early on as Neymar greeted a childhood idol before kick-off.

Kick-off! The Round of 32 is underway!

Brazil’s starting XI named early; Japan’s lineup confirmed too for the day’s opening fixture.

Welcome to coverage of Monday’s three World Cup Round of 32 matches.