Groups D, E and F embarked on their final round robin matches at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Here’s a look at the group tables, the schedule and scores as well as recaps and from all six matches.<\/p>\n
Ivory Coast 2, Cura\u00e7ao 0<\/p>\n
Ivory Coast is through to the knockout round after Nicolas P\u00e9p\u00e9’s brace guided them to a 2-0 victory over Cura\u00e7ao.<\/p>\n
P\u00e9p\u00e9 didn’t waste much time, scoring in the seventh minute goal off an assist from Yan Diomande.<\/p>\n
Pepe struck again in the 64th minute with a left-footed strike after an assist from Ibrahim Sangar\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Ivory Coast finished second in the group and moves onto the knockout round. Cura\u00e7ao’s World Cup is over, but they put forth a spirited effort in its first-ever appearance on the sport’s biggest stage.<\/p>\n
Gonzalo Plata’s 77th-minute goal propelled Ecuador to a 2-1 upset victory over Germany that put the country into the knockout round.<\/p>\n
Leroy San\u00e9 got Germany off to a great start in the second minute off an assist from Florian Wirtz.<\/p>\n
The goal occurred after a potential foul, but referees let play go on.<\/p>\n
Nilson Angulo leveled the score quickly, however, after a fantastic strike from just outside the box. Pedro Vite made the play happen after a steal and an assist.<\/p>\n
Ecuador needed a win to move on, however, and Plata delivered the crucial goal after Kevin Rodr\u00edguez’s sensational header following Mois\u00e9s Caicedo’s corner.<\/p>\n
It’s a great win for Ecuador, which moved to the knockout stage for the second time in history and first time since 2006.<\/p>\n
Off the power of its two earlier World Cup wins, Germany still finished first in group play.<\/p>\n
This competitive match resulted in a 1-1 draw, but both teams are happy that they’re moving onto the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n
Daizen Maeda gave Japan a 1-0 lead after a fantastic through ball from Ritsu D\u014dan in the 56th minute.<\/p>\n
Sweden quickly responded in the 62nd minute, though, as Anthony Elanga fired one of the best shots of the tournament with a curling left-footed strike that somehow got through the defense and into the net.<\/p>\n
Japan will now play Brazil in the Round of 32. Sweden will play the Group I winner, which will be France or Norway, who play each other on Friday.<\/p>\n
Netherlands got up 2-0 early en route to a 3-1 victory that led to them clinching first place in Group F.<\/p>\n
Netherlands benefitted from an own goal in the third minute after Denzel Dumfries’ cross went off Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri and into the net.<\/p>\n
Four minutes later, Brian Brobbey made it 2-0. Tijjani Reijnders fired a free kick into the box, and Virgil van Dijk fired it across the net to Brobbey, who took care of the rest.<\/p>\n
Tunisia fought back and scored one in the 54th minute off Hazem Mastouri’s header off Hannibal Mejbri’s corner.<\/p>\n
However, Netherlands made it a two-goal deficit shortly thereafter in the 62nd minute when Jan Paul van Hecke\u00a0headed in a corner from Reijnders for a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Netherlands will now play Morocco in the Round of 32. Tunisia’s difficult World Cup is over after three defeats and a minus-10 goal differential.<\/p>\n
Turkey 3, United States 2<\/p>\n
The United States entered this match already knowing that they won Group D, and Turkey began play knowing its World Cup would end after this contest.<\/p>\n
However, this ended up being a thrilling contest with plenty of drama and action.<\/p>\n