World Cup Day 4 Results: Germany Routs Curacao 7-1, Sweden Thrashes Tunisia 5-0, and England Prepares for Croatia

Since the tournament kicked off with Iran's chaotic debut in Los Angeles on June 14, the 2026 World Cup moved quickly through its group stage schedule. Monday, June 15 brings a clearer picture of which teams are genuine contenders and which are already in trouble.

Germany 7-1 Curacao: Exactly What Was Expected, Eventually

Kai Havertz scored twice and Jamal Musiala added a goal as Germany overwhelmed Curacao 7-1 in Houston on Sunday, June 14, according to NPR's report sourced from the Associated Press. The four-time champions had consecutive group-stage exits heading in, and coach Julian Nagelsmann was direct about what the win meant: "We really needed this convincing win. We needed this self-confidence."

Curacao, the smallest country in World Cup history, tied the match 1-1 in the 21st minute when Livano Comenencia converted a left-footed shot through traffic. Curaçao forward Jearl Margaritha told reporters: "Even though it wasn't me, it felt like it was me, it was all of us, the whole island, everybody."

Germany regained control in the 38th minute on Nico Schlotterbeck's header from a corner, then Havertz converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-1. Musiala and Nathaniel Brown added goals in the second half to put the result out of reach.

For Liverpool supporters, the most interesting subplot may be Florian Wirtz. The German international cost Liverpool a then-British record £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen last summer and struggled in his first Anfield season. According to BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty, Wirtz logged 39 touches in the final third against Curacao and played on the left, where he created Germany's opening goal with the kind of quick, incisive passing that was largely absent at Liverpool. Former England striker Chris Sutton, covering the match for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "The Liverpool fans who watched the game, especially in the first half, would be wondering if it was the same Florian Wirtz who played for them last season."

New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot, is reportedly using the tournament as a scouting mission. Was Wirtz's Liverpool season a coaching and deployment failure, or does the player simply perform better in a German system? One match against the world's 82nd-ranked team isn't a verdict, but it's a data point.

Sweden vs. Tunisia: Gyokeres and Isak Primed to Deliver

Sweden are set to face Tunisia in Group F on June 15, with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak expected to lead a Swedish side with genuine knockout-round ambitions, per BBC Sport.

One of the more anticipated human-interest storylines involves Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari. According to BBC Sport, Ayari's father is Tunisian, meaning any goal he scores would carry complicated emotions regardless of which jersey he wore.

England vs. Croatia: Wednesday, Kansas City

England hasn't played yet. Their Group opener against Croatia is scheduled for Wednesday at 21:00 BST, with the match taking place in Arlington, Texas, according to BBC Sport.

The loudest pre-match debate is straightforward: does Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers start as the number 10 for Thomas Tuchel? Bellingham, 22, has 48 caps and is heading into his third major tournament. He previously told reporters he felt made a "scapegoat" in the England camp, and said the Euro 2024 environment was weighed down by external pressure: "We were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it."

Jordan Henderson, speaking from England's training base in Kansas City, defended Bellingham without reservation. "What he gives us is just something really special. He really gives us an X-factor in our team," Henderson told BBC Sport. Henderson, 35, said he finds it "hard to read" the criticism directed at Bellingham because the player's influence inside the squad is reportedly invisible to the media.

Henderson's assessment is that of a close friend and teammate, which makes it a useful character reference but not a neutral tactical evaluation. His England performances have genuinely been inconsistent, and the "scapegoat" framing sidesteps accountability for results. Tuchel will have to decide based on what he sees in training, not squad loyalty.

Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate, who resigned after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, declined punditry roles for this tournament. In an Instagram post, he said he "didn't think it would be helpful" to be commenting on the squad publicly. Southgate has the best managerial record for England since Sir Alf Ramsey and said he believes the squad is "ready to win" a World Cup.

The Unresolved Question Heading Into Wednesday

Tuchel's number 10 decision against Croatia matters beyond one match. If Rogers starts and England look flat, Bellingham becomes the narrative. If Bellingham starts and struggles, Tuchel faces pressure from the opening game. According to BBC Sport, Tuchel has already publicly described the assigned referee for the England-Croatia match as "Grade E" — an unusual pre-match comment that adds a layer of friction before a ball has been kicked.