Is the seven-time world champion back in peak form? It might be too soon to tell, but don't count him out, either.

They carried the weight of an entire city.

Kai Havertz scored a brace as Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a dominant 7-1 victory over debutants Curacao in Houston.

Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa's corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener on Sunday.While the Dutch extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games in group play, the orange-clad Oranje supporters were stunned by the late goal that left them at 21-2-11 in group play at the World Cup.Virgil Van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored off each post for the Netherlands early in the second half, while Keito Nakamura had a goal between those as part of a three-goal flurry in just 14 minutes.An uneventful first half changed quickly after the break for a crowd evenly split at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys with the retractable roof that offered relief from the muggy Texas heat, and the giant video board that fans had a hard time keeping their eyes off.Summerville gave the eighth-ranked Dutch the lead in the 64th minute, and Japan was running out of hope when Ogawa sent the corner that Kamada timed perfectly. The ball deflected slightly again on its way toward Bart Verbruggen, who got his hands on it with a sprawling dive but couldn't keep it from going in.Van Dijk sent a header toward the far post on the right in the 50th minute, bending forward from inside the penalty area as he stared at the ball before it caromed in for the Dutch captains 13th international goal.Nakamura answered seven minutes later for 18th-ranked Japan, turning and rifling a shot past Verbruggen from the left side of the arc after taking a pass from Takefusa Kubo.Another seven minutes later, Summerville took a pass from Ryan Gravenberch and sent a left-footed shot to the far left post past Zion Suzuki, where it caromed in again.The Dutchs most recent loss before the elimination round came the last time the World Cup was in the United States in 1994, when a group play defeat was followed by a quarterfinal loss to Brazil at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.In Group F, the Netherlands plays Sweden on Saturday in Houston, while Japan goes to Monterrey, Mexico, to face Tunisia on Saturday.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa's corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener on Sunday.While the Dutch extended their unbeaten streak to 16 games in group play, the orange-clad Oranje supporters were stunned by the late goal that left them at 21-2-11 in group play at the World Cup.Virgil Van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored off each post for the Netherlands early in the second half, while Keito Nakamura had a goal between those as part of a three-goal flurry in just 14 minutes.An uneventful first half changed quickly after the break for a crowd evenly split at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys with the retractable roof that offered relief from the muggy Texas heat, and the giant video board that fans had a hard time keeping their eyes off.Summerville gave the eighth-ranked Dutch the lead in the 64th minute, and Japan was running out of hope when Ogawa sent the corner that Kamada timed perfectly. The ball deflected slightly again on its way toward Bart Verbruggen, who got his hands on it with a sprawling dive but couldn't keep it from going in.Van Dijk sent a header toward the far post on the right in the 50th minute, bending forward from inside the penalty area as he stared at the ball before it caromed in for the Dutch captains 13th international goal.Nakamura answered seven minutes later for 18th-ranked Japan, turning and rifling a shot past Verbruggen from the left side of the arc after taking a pass from Takefusa Kubo.Another seven minutes later, Summerville took a pass from Ryan Gravenberch and sent a left-footed shot to the far left post past Zion Suzuki, where it caromed in again.The Dutchs most recent loss before the elimination round came the last time the World Cup was in the United States in 1994, when a group play defeat was followed by a quarterfinal loss to Brazil at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.In Group F, the Netherlands plays Sweden on Saturday in Houston, while Japan goes to Monterrey, Mexico, to face Tunisia on Saturday.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Watch as Japan's Daichi Kamada brings his side level to the Netherlands in their Group F fixture in the 2026 World Cup.

Ein kleiner DFB-Fan hat den richtigen Riecher. Joker Deniz Undav liefert ohne groe Anlaufzeit. Und die Fans feiern. Alle Nachrichten rund um das DFB-Team im Liveblog.[mehr]

CRESTWOOD, IL - The ThunderBolts rode a five-run second inning to their third straight win, beating the Lake Erie Crushers 7-3 at Ozinga Field Sunday ... - FL Windy City ThunderBolts

Aprs avoir dcroch son billet via les barrages europens, la Sude dbute sa campagne face la Tunisie au Stade de Monterrey. Les Aigles de Carthage sont dtermins russir leur entame, quatre ans aprs avoir chut lors de la phase de groupes en 2022. De leur ct, les Scandinaves renouent avec la comptition pour la premire fois depuis 2018.

Lamine Yamal is in "ideal condition" to play in Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday, coach Luis de la Fuente said. Yamal is not expected to start the game in Atlanta, but has been cleared to play in his return from a hamstring injury that forced the teenaged superstar to miss the final weeks of the season for Barcelona. "We are following the indications of medical staff from Barcelona, his club, and also from the Spanish national team, with the fitness coaches. Everything says that Lamine Yamal is ready to play tomorrow," de la Fuente said at a news conference. "We dont know how much. It is a matter of how the game is evolving, the game situation, that gives you a hint of when he might jump on the pitch, but he is in ideal condition to play tomorrow." Yamal has established himself as arguably the brightest emerging talent in Europe after helping Spain win the European Championship in 2024, despite only turning 17 on the eve of the final. Now 18, he is widely regarded as the player most likely to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest star. His popularity in the United States has been evident during the opening days of the World Cup. An advertisement with his image towers over Mercedes-Benz Stadium branded as Atlanta Stadium for this World Cup where Spain kicks off its campaign. On Sunday, fans congregated outside Kennesaw State University where Spain was training, with several children copying his trademark blonde curly hair. Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of him tomorrow may not be disappointed. "Lamine Yamal is ready to play for a few minutes and our medical team agree on that decision. Otherwise, he wouldnt be even on the bench," de la Fuente said. Spain's one World Cup title came in 2010, when, like now, it entered the tournament as European champion. It is the co-favorite with France to win the title. "This is just recognition for everything we have done to come this far," said de la Fuente. "We are humble. We know how difficult it is to win any match and to win the World Cup." Cape Verde is playing in its first World Cup and is not expected to pull off a historic upset against the mighty Spain. De la Fuente, however, said there was no danger of his players underestimating their opponent. "They might be one of the teams springing a surprise in this World Cup," he said. Reporting by The Associated Press.