The Netherlands defeated Tunisia and will face Morocco in the round of 32, while Japan will play Brazil.

After taking an early lead against Tunisia (3-1 in the end), the Netherlands secured first place in Group F and will play Morocco in the round of 32. Japan, who drew against Sweden (1-1), will face Brazil.

The Netherlands avoided Brazil. Thanks to their 3-1 victory against Tunisia on Thursday night in Kansas City, Ronald Koeman's men secured first place in Group F and will face Morocco in Monterrey on Monday night in a particularly enticing clash. Japan, having drawn 1-1 against Sweden, maintained second place and will therefore travel to Houston to take on Brazil. With four points and a goal difference of 0, Viktor Gyokeres and his teammates are guaranteed to be among the best third-placed teams. They are also a potential opponent for France in the round of 32.

THE TEAM

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The Dutch team's most formidable opponent was undoubtedly the weather, with a deluge that struck two and a half hours before kickoff, to the point that authorities urged spectators to take shelter in their vehicles. On the pitch, they quickly got the measure of a Tunisian side that had been struggling since the start of the tournament. After just seven minutes, they were already two goals up: a cross from Denzel Dumfries deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Ellyes Skhri (3rd minute), followed by a header from Brian Brobbey from a set piece (2-0, 7th minute).

Hervé Renard's men then formed a circle and talked amongst themselves, no doubt to tell each other they refused to suffer a thrashing. And it paid off, because apart from a one-on-one won by A. Dahmen against Tijjani Reijnders (19th minute), they didn't concede any further clear-cut chances before halftime. The match already seemed decided, and the Dutch fans, all wearing ponchos, were able to start a great Mexican wave as early as the 20th minute.

The downpour resumed at halftime, and although the kickoff had to be restarted twice because a Tunisian player hadn't yet returned to the pitch, it was the Oranje who had left their heads in the locker room. From a corner, Reijnders and Jean-Paul Van Hecke were asleep, and Hazem Mastouri pulled one back with a well-placed header (2-1, 54th minute). And with Japan having just opened the scoring against Sweden, they were one goal away from a change of league leaders with potentially far-reaching consequences.

But the Dutch regained their composure, and Van Hecke redeemed himself by heading home (3-1, 62nd minute). Reijnders hit the crossbar (66th minute), then Dahmen denied him (68th minute), before the momentum was halted by a water break that was predictably met with boos. Only a close-up of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes managed to quell the discontent. In the final quarter of an hour, Hannibal Mejbri forced Bart Verbruggen into a save with a long-range shot (76th minute). Defeated by the rain, many spectators left the stadium before the final whistle. They didn't miss much, apart from the winners' victory lap.