Morocco beat – Cody Gakpo’s emotional strike helped the Netherlands take a lead over Morocco before Issa Diop’s stoppage-time header sent the game to penalties. Later, Kai Havertz’s equaliser wasn’t enough for Germany as Jonathan Tah’s miss and Jose Canale’s decisive kick ha
When the Netherlands finally found the breakthrough, Cody Gakpo’s moment carried more than just the scoreboard. He finished a slick counter-attack on 72 minutes to put the Netherlands ahead against Morocco. and it landed like relief for a player who announced on Saturday that he and his partner. model Noa van der Bij. had suffered a miscarriage for their second child.
Morocco had been pressing for most of the match and were denied repeatedly. with Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen producing brilliance and even managing to keep out what looked like a clear route through. But after Gakpo struck, the pressure only sharpened. Morocco pushed for an equaliser. and Fulham defender Issa Diop drove home a stoppage-time header to send the game to extra-time and then penalties.
The shootout swung on fine margins. For a moment. the Netherlands looked in control when Neil El Aynaoui hit the crossbar. then Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert struck the post for the Dutch. Quinten Timber, twin of Arsenal’s Jurrien, dragged a penalty wide. Achraf Hakimi then failed to capitalise, striking a post of his own.
The final twist came after West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville saw his spot-kick saved, allowing Ismael Saibari to send Verbruggen the wrong way and seal the win for Morocco.
In another World Cup night soaked in tension. Germany’s frustration didn’t just build—it snapped into a penalty shootout defeat for the first time in their tournament history. Germany led no one through 90 minutes and extra-time. with Brighton’s Julio Enciso giving Paraguay the lead. before Kai Havertz levelled in the second half.
Germany believed they had moved ahead again when Jonathan Tah headed in during extra time, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR—an extra layer of uncertainty as nerves finally turned into urgency.
Penalties proved decisive. Havertz missed first up, and Nick Woltemade had his spot kick saved by Paraguay’s giant goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Paraguay then squandered two chances to win through Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena, but the drama didn’t end there: Tah skied his penalty.
Jose Canale fired in the decisive kick to complete Paraguay’s first major upset of the tournament, inflicting Germany’s first-ever World Cup penalty shootout defeat.
The night’s biggest stories weren’t only about who took the win—it was about how close everything stayed until it wasn’t. With the Netherlands and Germany both feeling the weight of narrow margins across 90 minutes. extra-time decisions. and shootout nerves. the tournament offered a reminder that momentum can flip without warning.
France are back to action today, along with Norway and Mexico, but first there’s one last question hanging over the overnight results: how do players and teams regroup after those kinds of swings—especially when emotions, like Gakpo’s, reach beyond the pitch.
Today’s football brings three main watchpoints.
First, can Norway’s rotation policy pay off?. Stale Solbakken made 10 changes against France after qualification was already secured, and with an easier-looking draw seemingly available. The plan now could be tested again. with the suggestion that he might make 10 more changes here before reverting to the trusted side that got past Iraq and Senegal. Rest versus rhythm, and in this kind of knockout setting only a win will prove the decision was right.
Second, will Kylian Mbappe get back on the score sheet?. Mbappe turned provider against Norway with two assists as Ousmane Dembele stole the show with a fine hat-trick. Mbappe is second in the Golden Boot race at the tournament. behind only Lionel Messi. and while assists matter. he will want to ensure it isn’t two games in a row without a goal.
Third, what could England face if they progress?. If England make it past DR Congo tomorrow, they will play the winner of Mexico vs Ecuador in the last 16. Each of Mexico and Ecuador have played three matches so far. and the early picture suggests Mexico have been the more convincing side. Their home advantage could become even more significant because their last-16 match—if they get there—would also be in Mexico. England’s potential opponents wouldn’t be easy. but in a knockout game that kind of matchup is a useful marker for what Thomas Tuchel and his team may need to tackle.
The fixtures start with Ivory Coast vs Norway at 6pm in Dallas. with the tournament’s knockout pressure now fully on Norway after finishing second to France in Group I. Expect Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland to come back into the side. while Yan Diomande—linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain—and in-form Nicolas Pepe are highlighted for Ivory Coast. Prediction: Norway win.
At 10pm in New Jersey, France vs Sweden takes centre stage. France return to action after thrashing a rotated Norway in their final group stage match to make it five from five. Sweden. led by Graham Potter. are viewed as having been fortunate to progress from the groups. but they carry attacking threat in the form of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up front. with Anthony Elanga also in good form. Prediction: France win.
Finally, Mexico vs Ecuador at 2am in Mexico City could shape England’s pathway. Mexico’s record in the groups has been strong, winning all three games comfortably and carrying momentum. Ecuador were given a second life by beating Germany in their final group match after losing to the Ivory Coast and only drawing against Curacao. Prediction: Mexico win.
World Cup Netherlands vs Morocco Cody Gakpo Bart Verbruggen Issa Diop Ismael Saibari Germany vs Paraguay Kai Havertz Julio Enciso Jonathan Tah Jose Canale Orlando Gill France vs Sweden Norway vs Ivory Coast Mexico vs Ecuador Kylian Mbappe Ousmane Dembele