Key events<\/p>\n
If these results hold, Netherlands<\/a> will face Morocco in the last 32. Japan will meet Brazil and Sweden will go against France.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands<\/p>\n A fairly straightforward opening half. Two early goals for the Netherlands, who pretty much had their way of things with possession from there. Japan and Sweden are drawing 0-0<\/a> in Arlington, meaning the Dutch will go through as Group F winners if the present results hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min The pace has slowed significantly here. The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time.<\/p>\n Anis Slimane is tugged back by Nathan Ake and Jan-Paul van Hecke. Photograph: Richard Pelham\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.53 EDT<\/p>\n 42 min Reijnders eludes a couple of defenders inside the area before finding Gakpo, whose attempt to center is busted up by Dahmen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.43 EDT<\/p>\n 38 min More good defending from Koeman\u2019s side, who disrupt a Ben Slimane attempt at the crucial moment after Abdi found him for a tap-in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 35 min Gharbi carries down the right flank before sending in a cross for Mastouri, but Verbruggen snuffs it out easily (again).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 min Another corner for the Netherlands<\/a>, who are really laying it on thick. A couple of half-chances for the Dutch before Tunisia can finally clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min The corner is played outside the box for Malen, whose shot from about 22 yards curls well over and wide of the target.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28 min Gravenberch slips past a defender and has a go on goal, but it deflects off a Tunisia player for a corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min We\u2019re back under way in Kansas City, which seems to have entirely dodged what could have been a rather dire weather situation.<\/p>\n Virgil van Dijk in action with Tunisia\u2019s Anis Slimane. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.33 EDT<\/p>\n 22 min A lengthy sequence of uninterrupted possession here by the Dutch in the final third. It ends when a Gakpo pass is intercepted, but Tunisia are dispossessed almost immediately \u2026 and promptly saved by the hydration break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min The Netherlands<\/a> win their first corner of the afternoon. Reijnders sends it into the center of the area, but it\u2019s cleared from danger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 min The Dutch win a free kick from a dangerous area on the right side of the box. Reijnders\u2019 effort finds Van Hecke, but he sends it clear over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15 min A surprisingly quick counter by Tunisia ends with another cross into the middle, but Mastouri can\u2019t get a head on it and it curls out for a goal kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12 min A second decent chance for Tunisia as Valery swings one in from about 30 yards on to the head of Ben Slimane, but his header lands directly in the gloves of Verbruggen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min It\u2019s been a walk in the park so far for the Dutch, who have almost completely dominated possession aside from that early Tunisia chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands (Brobbey, 7)<\/p>\n Brian Brobbey with an easy tap-in off the assist from Virgil van Dijk for his third goal of the tournament and the Dutch have doubled their lead. The lack of marking from Tunisia there was stunning.<\/p>\n This could get very messy for Tunisia as Brian Brobbey makes it 2-0 Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Bernadett Szab\u00f3\/Reuters Photograph: Michael Steele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.11 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Tunisia 0-1 Netherlands (Skhiri og, 3)<\/p>\n An unfortunate own goal as the hits just keep on coming for Herv\u00e9 Renard\u2019s Eagles of Carthage. It\u2019s the quickest goal for the Netherlands<\/a> in a World Cup match since Johan Neeskens\u2019 penalty against West Germany in the 1974 final.<\/p>\n Tunisia\u2019s Ellyes Skhiri scores an own goal as Netherland lead. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Bernadett Szab\u00f3\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.10 EDT<\/p>\n 2 min Mastouri finds space down the left flank and swings a pass into the middle. But Gharbi, one of Tunisia\u2019s four changes, sends it over the crossbar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min And off we go! The Netherlands<\/a> kick off and they will attack from right to left in orange shirts and black shorts, while Tunisia are attacking from left to right in their all-white strips.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.02 EDT<\/p>\n The Dutch fans have taken their positions inside Arrowhead \u2026 er, Kansas City Stadium. The players should be making their way through the tunnel for the national anthem any minute now.<\/p>\n Netherlands fans look on before Thursday\u2019s match. Photograph: Richard Pelham\/Getty ImagesA Dutch fan smiles for the camera. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/ReutersHup Holland Hup! Photograph: Fran\u00e7ois Nel\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Some pre-match recommended reading: if you\u2019ve got a few minutes before kick-off, enjoy Jonathan O\u2019Brien\u2019s celebration of six forgotten World Cup<\/a> classics. There are solo runs, thunderbolts, audacious lobs and one exquisite Quagliarella chip. Guaranteed to improve your day (or night).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve had this from Peter Rehwaldt in Kansas City:<\/p>\n double quotation markToday the Oranje took over Kansas City with their bus-led march through downtown Kansas City, and \u201ctook over\u201d is not hyperbole. At least one local television station cut into its regular programming to show the Dutch parade, with their orange double-decker bus leading thousands through the streets, and liveblogged it on its website<\/a>. Clearing the path ahead of the bus, the city Public Works Department even wrapped three of the city\u2019s snowplows in orange to encourage people to get off the streets and onto the sidewalks.<\/p>\n Photograph: KSHB<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat makes this truly amazing is that orange is the colour of one of the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 main rivals, the Denver Broncos. Local television presenters repeatedly told viewers: \u201cThese are not Broncos fans \u2013 they\u2019re supporters of the Oranje from the Netherlands.\u201d One local resident who joined the parade told a reporter: \u201cI\u2019m a lifelong Chiefs fan and have never worn orange in my life. That\u2019s Denver\u2019s color. But today, for the Dutch, for the joy they have brought our city, I had to go out and get some orange, non-Broncos clothes so I could take part properly.\u201d<\/p>\n For tonight\u2019s match, we\u2019ve got rainstorms moving through, but the latest forecast says the threat of lightning has almost entirely disappeared, so it looks as if we won\u2019t have to worry about a two-hour delay like the one for France v Iraq. Tonight\u2019s game may be wet, perhaps with heavy rain at times, but it probably will not be delayed.<\/p>\n Thanks, Peter. We always love these dispatches from readers on the ground. If you\u2019re at the game in Kansas City, or watching from somewhere around the world, drop us a line and let us know what you\u2019re seeing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Weather update<\/p>\n The shelter-in-place order at Kansas City Stadium has now been lifted<\/a> after the threat of nearby lightning passed.<\/p>\n Fans had earlier been instructed to move indoors and seek shelter in concourses and other covered areas because of severe weather. Officials say lightning is no longer being detected within eight miles of the stadium, although steady rain continues.<\/p>\n The Fifa Fan Festival has been closed for the rest of the day<\/a>, although shuttle bus services are continuing to operate for now.<\/p>\n A Netherlands fan puts on rain gear before Thursday\u2019s match. Photograph: Charlie Riedel\/APShare<\/a>Group E results<\/p>\n There are the final whistles!<\/p>\n Ecuador have qualified as one of the best third-place teams and will face either Mexico, Portugal or Colombia in the last 32.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news<\/p>\n Ronald Koeman sticks with a strong side despite the Dutch already having one foot in the knockout stages, while Herv\u00e9 Renard makes several changes for Tunisia\u2019s final game of the tournament.<\/p>\n Tunisia<\/p>\n XI Dahmen; Valery, Talbi, Abdi, Ben Hmida; Skhiri (c), Khedira; Slimane, Mejbri, Gharbi; Mastouri<\/p>\n Subs Chamakh, Ben Hessen, Rekik, Bronn, Achouri, Saad, Ben Ouanes, Ayari, Hadj Mahmoud, Elloumi, Chaouat, Chikhaoui, Tounekti, Arous, Neffati<\/p>\n Netherlands <\/p>\n XI Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk (c), Ak\u00e9; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo<\/p>\n Subs Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, De Roon, Kluivert, Weghorst, Depay, Wieffer, Van de Ven, Til, Lang, Koopmeiners, Summerville, Hato, Timber<\/p>\n Referee Katia Garc\u00eda (Mexico)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A quick glance across to Group E, where the knock-on effects are starting to get interesting. Ecuador are closing in on a 2-1 win over Germany, a result that will not be greeted warmly in Scotland, while C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire are heading for a 2-0 victory over Cura\u00e7ao.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n The Netherlands<\/a> know the equation. Beat Tunisia and they will have done everything they can to secure top spot in Group F. Whether that proves enough depends on events hundreds of miles away in Arlington, where Japan face Sweden in the group\u2019s other decisive fixture.<\/p>\n Both the Dutch and Japan begin the final round level on four points with identical goal differences after drawing 2-2 in their meeting, leaving Group F tightly wound at the top. Ronald Koeman\u2019s side are favorites to finish the job against a Tunisia team already eliminated after heavy defeats to Sweden and Japan, but the Netherlands coach has insisted there will be no distraction from the concurrent match.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to focus on making sure you win the match,\u201d Koeman said. \u201cWe would love to be first in the group and of course the result will have an impact on that, but that\u2019s not the most important thing. Playing this game is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n For Tunisia, the objective is rather different. After conceding nine goals in two losses and changing coaches midway through the tournament, pride is all that\u2019s left to play for.<\/p>\n Herv\u00e9 Renard was brought in following Sabri Lamouchi\u2019s dismissal after the 5-1 loss to Sweden, but he could not prevent a 4-0 defeat against Japan that confirmed Tunisia\u2019s exit. Now the veteran Frenchman wants his side to restore some respectability.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to finish this competition as cleanly as possible,\u201d Renard said. \u201cFootball requires pride, even when the situation is difficult, and you need to face these situations with dignity all the way to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n The Netherlands arrive with the longest unbeaten run in World Cup<\/a> history at 14 matches and the chance to extend it. Tunisia arrive seeking a performance that offers their supporters something to remember from an otherwise forgettable campaign.<\/p>\n Kick-off is forthcoming in Kansas City. We\u2019ll be back shortly with the lineups.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s the briefing from Graham Ruthven\u2019s daily guide on what to know about this Group F matchup:<\/p>\n What to watch for<\/p>\n Tunisia won\u2019t have fond memories of the 2026 World Cup<\/a>. Already out of the tournament after defeats to Sweden and Japan, the first of which prompted the firing of Sabri Lamouchi and Herve Renard\u2019s hiring in his place, the African outfit have arguably been the worst team in the entire tournament.<\/p>\n