Japan scored a dramatic late winner to beat Senegal 2-1 in their World Cup group stage match, while Germany produced a stunning 7-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. The day's action also saw Brazil's Neymar suffer an ankle injury that could threaten his participation in the tournament.
Japan's Late Show
Japan left it late against Senegal, with substitute Takumi Minamino scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute. The Samurai Blue had taken an early lead through Junya Ito, but Senegal equalised through Ismaila Sarr's penalty. Just as it seemed the match would end in a draw, Minamino pounced on a loose ball in the box to secure three crucial points for Japan.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu praised his team's resilience: "We never gave up, and the players showed great character to keep pushing until the end. This victory is a testament to their fighting spirit." Japan now sits top of Group H with four points, while Senegal have one point from two matches.
Germany's Magnificent Seven
Germany produced a dominant display against Saudi Arabia, with seven different scorers finding the net. Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabry, Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, and substitute Niclas Fullkrug all got on the scoresheet. The win was Germany's biggest in a World Cup match since their 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in 2002.
Coach Hansi Flick was delighted with the performance: "We were clinical in front of goal and showed our quality. This is the standard we need to maintain if we want to go far in the tournament." Germany now have four points in Group E, level with Spain, who they face in their final group match.
Neymar Injury Concern
Brazil's hopes of winning a sixth World Cup suffered a blow when star forward Neymar limped off with an ankle injury during their 2-0 win over Costa Rica. The Paris Saint-Germain player was seen in tears as he left the pitch, and early reports suggest he could miss the remainder of the group stage.
Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said: "Neymar has suffered a lateral ligament injury to his right ankle. We will assess him further, but it is likely he will be sidelined for at least the next two matches." Brazil have already qualified for the knockout stages, but Neymar's absence would be a significant setback for the tournament favourites.
Other Results
- Poland defeated Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski.
- Australia held Denmark to a 1-1 draw, keeping their hopes of advancing alive.
- France secured a 3-1 win over Peru, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
The World Cup continues with four matches scheduled for Tuesday, including England's clash with Belgium and Argentina's must-win game against Nigeria.
