Belgium vs Tunisia and after this win, Belgium are now eleven straight games unbeaten in the group stages of World Cups. They went 1-0 up inside six minutes against Tunisia as well after Hazard was brought down himself on the edge of the area, he stepped to covert the penalty himself. Lukaku made it 2-0 ten minutes later for his third goal of the tournament but just two minutes later, Bronn pulled one back for Tunisia when he nodded in a free-kick from close range. Belgium didn’t panic though and restored their two goal lead on the stoke of half-time when Lukaku got his second brace in two games with a delicate chip.
The second half was just as open and frantic as both sides tried to score on every break, but neither side were helped by some awful defending at times. Hazard then got his second of the game himself after a superb ball over the top from Toby Alderweireld found the Chelsea man, he skipped around the Tunisia keeper and rolled it in to the back of the net. Batshuayi finally made it five after missing two or three chances before that, but that wasn’t the end of the scoring as Khazri grabbed one back for the game to finish 5-2.
Belgium 5–2 Tunisia
E. Hazard Goal 6′ (pen.), 51′
Lukaku Goal 16′, 45+3′
Batshuayi Goal 90′
Bronn Goal 18′
Khazri Goal 90+3′
Next fixtures for Belgium & Tunisia:
Thursday June 28th: England v Belgium (Group G) – Kaliningrad, 7pm
Thursday June 28th: Panama v Tunisia (Group G) – Saransk, 7pm
South Korea vs Mexico from Rostov-on-Don and the South Koreans knew they had to win to keep their hopes of staying in the tournament alive. Both teams started the game well and it was an even game for the first twenty odd minutes but then an excellent break by the Mexican’s unhinged South Korean. They managed to clear the danger of the first attack but Mexico kept the ball alive and with the Korean defence out of shape, Mexico got around the back. A cross was put in but it was stopped by a hand, a penalty was given and Vela converted comfortably.
Into the second-half and the Mexican’s were pushing and pushing for that second goal and even though the game was stretched at times, you felt the Mexican’s were going to score next. We weren’t wrong, another end to end break and eventually the ball fell into Hernández’s path, he stepped inside his man and swept it passed the Korean keeper to make it 2-0. With the last kick, South Korea did manage to score through Tottenham’s forward Son Heung-min, but it’s the Mexican’s that go marching on in to the last sixteen.
South Korea 1–2 Mexico
Son Heung-min Goal 90+3′
Vela Goal 26′ (pen.)
Hernández Goal 66′
Next fixtures for South Korea & Mexico:
Wednesday June 27th: South Korea v Germany (Group F) – Kazan, 3pm
Wednesday June 27th: Mexico v Sweden (Group F) – Ekaterinburg, 3pm
Germany vs Sweden from the Fisht Stadium in Sochi and if Germany had lost it would have been the first time ever that they’d lost their opening two games. It would also have meant that Germany would have failed for qualify for the next round for the first time since 1938. With numerous changes for both sides it was Germany who started the brighter against a Swedish side that hadn’t won their opening two games since 1958, so something had to give and it did.
After some super last-ditch defending from Sweden to deny Germany, the Swedes then got their chance on the break but even though most Swedes thought they should have had a penalty, the referee didn’t. Toivonen then scored in the next attack after a brilliant chest down and finish and reigning champions were on the bring of going out of the World Cup. Never write off the Germans though and inside three minutes of the second-half they were level when Reus scored. Germany kept coming and coming, chances came and went but Sweden were holding on. Sweden could then have snatch it at the very end but instead it was the Germans than won it. Sweden gave away an absolutely stupid free-kick down the right-hand side and up-stepped Toni Kroos to curl in and superb finish to win it.
Germany 2–1 Sweden
Reus Goal 48′
Kroos Goal 90+5′
Toivonen Goal 32′
Next fixtures for Germany & Sweden:
Wednesday June 27th: South Korea v Germany (Group F) – Kazan, 3pm
Wednesday June 27th: Mexico v Sweden (Group F) – Ekaterinburg, 3pm
