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Key events
72 min A couple of subs for the Netherlands on the other side of the water break. Summerville, Kluivert and Koopmeiners are in. Malen, Reijnders and De Jong are out.
69 min There’s a pause in play for another hydration break.
68 min Moments after Reijinders’ latest effort caroms off the crossbar, it’s a trio of substitutions for Tunisia. Ben Ouanes, Achouri and Mahmoud are coming on for Ben Hmida, Ben Slimane and Khedira.
64 min And Sweden have tied Japan on an Anthony Elanga goal.
GOAL! Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands (Van Hecke, 62)
A lovely header by Jan-Paul van Hecke off Reijnders’ left-wing corner to the near post. This one might be changed to an own goal as it appeared to graze the head of Ben Slimane on its way into the top-right corner.
61 min The Netherlands win a corner and the rain is really coming down now.
57 min An just as play restarts, the news comes through from Arlington: Japan have gone 1-0 up against Sweden. There’s a loud reaction around the stadium as the score flashes up on the big screens.
GOAL! Tunisia 1-2 Netherlands (Mastouri, 54)
A gorgeous header into the bottom-left corner by Hazem Mastouri off a corner from Hannibal Mejbri, who earned that set piece himself by carrying the ball a long way rom the halfway line. Very poor marking by Reijnders, who lost his assignment.
51 min The rain is coming down a bit harder now. Dumfries chance from the center of the area is blocked by a Tunisia defense and subsequently cleared.
49 min Gakpo finds space on the edge of the area and clips a cross to the back post. Brobbey does well to keep it alive, but his return ball across goal is hacked clear by the Tunisia defense.
46 min And we’re off in the second half.
A couple of emails from readers while we wait for kick-off.
James, a Kansas City native, writes in with a lovely bit of local context:
What makes the accounts of the Dutch takeover of KC so remarkable is how much the Hunt family, owners of the NFL’s Chiefs, and Lamar Hunt in particular, were instrumental in promoting the 1994 World Cup and eventually bringing professional soccer to KC. It is awesome to see that image of the Dutch filling the KC streets I think of as home.
And Kári Tulinius is already looking ahead to the knockout-stage possibilities:
If Norway beat France, which isn’t unthinkable, Sweden could meet Norway. That would be quite the grudge match. If Sweden won that Potter would probably be placed into the Swedish royal line of succession.
Another own goal, another unwanted piece of World Cup history. Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri turned a low cross into his own net after just four minutes against the Netherlands, taking the tally of own goals at this year’s World Cup to 12.
That equals the record for a men’s World Cup tournament, matching the total from 2018 – and this edition has reached the mark before the group stage has even concluded. Eight of those 12 own goals have come against Arab national teams.
To make matters worse for Tunisia, Brian Brobbey doubled the Netherlands’ lead moments later, leaving their World Cup campaign on the brink of a miserable conclusion.
If these results hold, Netherlands will face Morocco in the last 32. Japan will meet Brazil and Sweden will go against France.
Half-time: Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands
A fairly straightforward opening half. Two early goals for the Netherlands, who pretty much had their way of things with possession from there. Japan and Sweden are drawing 0-0 in Arlington, meaning the Dutch will go through as Group F winners if the present results hold.
45 min The pace has slowed significantly here. The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time.
42 min Reijnders eludes a couple of defenders inside the area before finding Gakpo, whose attempt to center is busted up by Dahmen.
38 min More good defending from Koeman’s side, who disrupt a Ben Slimane attempt at the crucial moment after Abdi found him for a tap-in.
35 min Gharbi carries down the right flank before sending in a cross for Mastouri, but Verbruggen snuffs it out easily (again).
32 min Another corner for the Netherlands, who are really laying it on thick. A couple of half-chances for the Dutch before Tunisia can finally clear.
29 min The corner is played outside the box for Malen, whose shot from about 22 yards curls well over and wide of the target.
28 min Gravenberch slips past a defender and has a go on goal, but it deflects off a Tunisia player for a corner.
26 min We’re back under way in Kansas City, which seems to have entirely dodged what could have been a rather dire weather situation.
22 min A lengthy sequence of uninterrupted possession here by the Dutch in the final third. It ends when a Gakpo pass is intercepted, but Tunisia are dispossessed almost immediately … and promptly saved by the hydration break.
20 min The Netherlands win their first corner of the afternoon. Reijnders sends it into the center of the area, but it’s cleared from danger.
18 min The Dutch win a free kick from a dangerous area on the right side of the box. Reijnders’ effort finds Van Hecke, but he sends it clear over the bar.
15 min A surprisingly quick counter by Tunisia ends with another cross into the middle, but Mastouri can’t get a head on it and it curls out for a goal kick.
12 min A second decent chance for Tunisia as Valery swings one in from about 30 yards on to the head of Ben Slimane, but his header lands directly in the gloves of Verbruggen.
10 min It’s been a walk in the park so far for the Dutch, who have almost completely dominated possession aside from that early Tunisia chance.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands (Brobbey, 7)
Brian Brobbey with an easy tap-in off the assist from Virgil van Dijk for his third goal of the tournament and the Dutch have doubled their lead. The lack of marking from Tunisia there was stunning.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-1 Netherlands (Skhiri og, 3)
An unfortunate own goal as the hits just keep on coming for Hervé Renard’s Eagles of Carthage. It’s the quickest goal for the Netherlands in a World Cup match since Johan Neeskens’ penalty against West Germany in the 1974 final.
2 min Mastouri finds space down the left flank and swings a pass into the middle. But Gharbi, one of Tunisia’s four changes, sends it over the crossbar.
1 min And off we go! The Netherlands kick off and they will attack from right to left in orange shirts and black shorts, while Tunisia are attacking from left to right in their all-white strips.
The Dutch fans have taken their positions inside Arrowhead … er, Kansas City Stadium. The players should be making their way through the tunnel for the national anthem any minute now.
Some pre-match recommended reading: if you’ve got a few minutes before kick-off, enjoy Jonathan O’Brien’s celebration of six forgotten World Cup classics. There are solo runs, thunderbolts, audacious lobs and one exquisite Quagliarella chip. Guaranteed to improve your day (or night).
We’ve had this from Peter Rehwaldt in Kansas City:
Today the Oranje took over Kansas City with their bus-led march through downtown Kansas City, and “took over” is not hyperbole. At least one local television station cut into its regular programming to show the Dutch parade, with their orange double-decker bus leading thousands through the streets, and liveblogged it on its website. Clearing the path ahead of the bus, the city Public Works Department even wrapped three of the city’s snowplows in orange to encourage people to get off the streets and onto the sidewalks.
What makes this truly amazing is that orange is the colour of one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ main rivals, the Denver Broncos. Local television presenters repeatedly told viewers: “These are not Broncos fans – they’re supporters of the Oranje from the Netherlands.” One local resident who joined the parade told a reporter: “I’m a lifelong Chiefs fan and have never worn orange in my life. That’s Denver’s color. But today, for the Dutch, for the joy they have brought our city, I had to go out and get some orange, non-Broncos clothes so I could take part properly.”
For tonight’s match, we’ve got rainstorms moving through, but the latest forecast says the threat of lightning has almost entirely disappeared, so it looks as if we won’t have to worry about a two-hour delay like the one for France v Iraq. Tonight’s game may be wet, perhaps with heavy rain at times, but it probably will not be delayed.
Thanks, Peter. We always love these dispatches from readers on the ground. If you’re at the game in Kansas City, or watching from somewhere around the world, drop us a line and let us know what you’re seeing.
Weather update
The shelter-in-place order at Kansas City Stadium has now been lifted after the threat of nearby lightning passed.
Fans had earlier been instructed to move indoors and seek shelter in concourses and other covered areas because of severe weather. Officials say lightning is no longer being detected within eight miles of the stadium, although steady rain continues.
The Fifa Fan Festival has been closed for the rest of the day, although shuttle bus services are continuing to operate for now.
Group E results
There are the final whistles!
Ecuador have qualified as one of the best third-place teams and will face either Mexico, Portugal or Colombia in the last 32.
Team news
Ronald Koeman sticks with a strong side despite the Dutch already having one foot in the knockout stages, while Hervé Renard makes several changes for Tunisia’s final game of the tournament.
Tunisia
XI Dahmen; Valery, Talbi, Abdi, Ben Hmida; Skhiri (c), Khedira; Slimane, Mejbri, Gharbi; Mastouri
Subs Chamakh, Ben Hessen, Rekik, Bronn, Achouri, Saad, Ben Ouanes, Ayari, Hadj Mahmoud, Elloumi, Chaouat, Chikhaoui, Tounekti, Arous, Neffati
Netherlands
XI Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk (c), Aké; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo
Subs Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, De Roon, Kluivert, Weghorst, Depay, Wieffer, Van de Ven, Til, Lang, Koopmeiners, Summerville, Hato, Timber
Referee Katia García (Mexico)
A quick glance across to Group E, where the knock-on effects are starting to get interesting. Ecuador are closing in on a 2-1 win over Germany, a result that will not be greeted warmly in Scotland, while Côte d’Ivoire are heading for a 2-0 victory over Curaçao.
Preamble
The Netherlands know the equation. Beat Tunisia and they will have done everything they can to secure top spot in Group F. Whether that proves enough depends on events hundreds of miles away in Arlington, where Japan face Sweden in the group’s other decisive fixture.
Both the Dutch and Japan begin the final round level on four points with identical goal differences after drawing 2-2 in their meeting, leaving Group F tightly wound at the top. Ronald Koeman’s side are favorites to finish the job against a Tunisia team already eliminated after heavy defeats to Sweden and Japan, but the Netherlands coach has insisted there will be no distraction from the concurrent match.
“You have to focus on making sure you win the match,” Koeman said. “We would love to be first in the group and of course the result will have an impact on that, but that’s not the most important thing. Playing this game is the most important thing.”
For Tunisia, the objective is rather different. After conceding nine goals in two losses and changing coaches midway through the tournament, pride is all that’s left to play for.
Hervé Renard was brought in following Sabri Lamouchi’s dismissal after the 5-1 loss to Sweden, but he could not prevent a 4-0 defeat against Japan that confirmed Tunisia’s exit. Now the veteran Frenchman wants his side to restore some respectability.
“We need to finish this competition as cleanly as possible,” Renard said. “Football requires pride, even when the situation is difficult, and you need to face these situations with dignity all the way to the end.”
The Netherlands arrive with the longest unbeaten run in World Cup history at 14 matches and the chance to extend it. Tunisia arrive seeking a performance that offers their supporters something to remember from an otherwise forgettable campaign.
Kick-off is forthcoming in Kansas City. We’ll be back shortly with the lineups.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s the briefing from Graham Ruthven’s daily guide on what to know about this Group F matchup:
What to watch for
Tunisia won’t have fond memories of the 2026 World Cup. Already out of the tournament after defeats to Sweden and Japan, the first of which prompted the firing of Sabri Lamouchi and Herve Renard’s hiring in his place, the African outfit have arguably been the worst team in the entire tournament.
Fresh from putting five past Sweden, the Netherlands could be set for another big win. Not always known for their attacking prowess under Ronald Koeman, the Dutch may have found the right balance in the forward line after introducing Brian Brobbey as a focal point in their last match.
Player to watch: Brian Brobbey, Netherlands – The Sunderland striker was too much for Sweden to handle and played an important role in bringing others into the game as well as scoring two goals of his own.
