Daijiworld Media Network - Toronto

Toronto, Jun 21: Four-time champions Germany secured a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup after defeating Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto, Canada.

Deniz Undav was the star for Germany, scoring both goals to help his team advance in the tournament. Germany, who suffered disappointing group-stage exits in the 2018 and 2022 editions, have made a strong comeback this time. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are still searching for their first-ever knockout stage appearance and remain in contention for qualification.

In another Group F encounter, the Netherlands registered a commanding 5-1 victory over Sweden at the NRG Stadium in Houston, United States. The Dutch side produced a dominant performance to strengthen their position in the group.

Brazil also opened their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Haiti at the Philadelphia Stadium. Matheus Cunha played a key role for the five-time champions, scoring twice in the first half, while Vinicius Junior added the third goal to seal a comfortable victory.