Curacao fell 7–1 to Germany in their opener, but fans of the Blue Wave weren't disheartend by the result.

Germany were stunned by a historic leveller from the smallest nation ever, by size and population, to take part in a World Cup.

With around 155,000 inhabitants, the Caribbean island of just 171 square miles is smaller than the Isle of Man with a population the same as Huddersfield.

Zurich midfielder Livano Comenencia wrote his name in Curacao folklore on 21 minutes with a left-footed drive to score his country's first goal at a World Cup.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

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When Ivory Coast's teenage sensation Yan Diomande lines up on the wing against Germany, he will be the subject of huge attention from millions around the world.

Just how good is he? Can he put on a show against one of the best teams in the competition? How would his speed and dribbling translate to the Premier League?

But Diomande's own focus will be on one thing - making his little sister Roxanne proud. She died a year ago, aged 15, after her drink was spiked.

"Everything I do on a football pitch, it's for you," the 19-year-old wrote in a heartfelt and searingly honest letter published by The Players' Tribune.

Diomande - who scored 12 goals for RB Leipzig in his debut season in the Bundesliga last year - outlined how much his sister's belief in his ability as a footballer has underpinned his career so far.

"I don't even look at it like a game," he wrote. "I look at it like a stage. This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me.

"Every time I score, I'll make sure everybody knows your name. I'll make sure they don't forget you."

Diomande continued: "Now, I don't feel anything. It's like I'm not even human. Since you died, I'm just blank.

"I don't try to forget, because I know I won't forget. All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed about."

Read more here

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It was a difficult second half of the season for Amad at Old Trafford but he has found form for his country on the biggest stage.

The Manchester United winger appeared to be suffering a hangover from the Africa Cup of Nations where he scored three goals in December and January for Ivory Coast.

But his last goal for his club came before that in December in a 4-4 Premier League draw with Bournemouth despite Michael Carrick's side rising up the table and finishing third to qualify for the Champions League.

Yet since joining up with his country again he is back to his goalscoring ways as this winner followed getting the decider in a 2-1 victory in their final warm-up game against back-to-back World Cup finalists France earlier this month.

With a lot of focus on the highly-coveted Diomande, it was Amad who broke the deadlock on a huge night for his country after coming off the bench in the 1-0 win over Ecuador.

"We came here to make history," said Amad. "We still have two more matches ahead of us, and we need to approach them with the same mentality and try to win them."

For Ivory Coast, another win will secure them a place in the knockout stages for the first time in their history, while a draw is almost certain to be enough to reach the last 32 too.

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Back at a World Cup for the first time in 12 years, an exciting-looking Ivory Coast squad are tipped to be dark horses, and started their campaign with a 1-0 win over Ecuador.

They possess some of the most coveted talents in Europe, headlined by thrilling winger Yan Diomande and Manchester United's Amad Diallo.

Their tally of 15 different scorers in qualifying was the highest of any African side, while 13 of the squad tasted glory at Afcon in 2023.

Could be an upset on the cards tonight?

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Despite Germany's emphatic 7-1 win over Curacao, it actually wasn't their biggest win at a World Cup.

You'll have to turn back the clocks 24 years to the 2002 World Cup when they cruised to an 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in their opening match.

Miroslav Klose scored three headers, and Michael Ballack also got his name on the scoresheet, setting the tone for their impressive individual campaigns and laying the foundations for the team’s run to the final.

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For Germany, 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 bring back incredible memories.

Germany have been crowned world champions four times - only the five of Brazil is better. It is safe to say they are real World Cup powerhouses.

But after failing to make it out of the groups in 2018 and 2022, the Germans may feel they have something to prove.

Thumping Curacao is great start, but the Germans will want to go up another gear to gain glory once again.

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Ultimately, it was a Japanese cross, kept in play by millimetres before being bundled into the Spanish net, that caused Germany's group-stage exit from Qatar 2022.

The thickness of a thermally-bonded polyurethane panel – the difference between going on, and going home.

But even the most die-hard fan of Die Mannschaft would accept there were more macro factors at play to explain Germany's second World Cup failure in a row.

Some commentators said their traditional values, centred around physicality, were outdated, and that the coaching system should instead promote freedom of expression.

In defence of tradition, Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger blamed former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola for importing "short-pass" football into the Bundesliga, which spread contagiously, wiping out those traditional values.

It's doubtful any of the old guard, who triumphed through mental fortitude and reliability, would ever have imagined a German World Cup campaign unravelling in chaos as the goalkeeper lost possession while dribbling around the edge of the opposition box, as Manuel Neuer did in 2018.

Germany's victory against Curacao matched their 7-1 semi-final success over Brazil in 2014 - the last time they lifted the trophy - and took them past the Selecao as the World Cup's leading scorers with 239 goals.

A win over Ivory Coast will gurantee a spot in the round of 32- so can they finally get past the group stage for the first time in 12 years?

Both sides made a winning start to their Group E campaign, in very different ways.

Germany overcame an early scare against Curacao to romp to a 7-1 win.

Ivory Coast eventually pipped Ecuador 1-0 with a last-gasp goal, after the South Americans had hit the woodwork three times.

Germany play Ivory Coast in the second of today's World Cup offerings.

They are level on points going into the second round of the group stage, however, Germany are top of Group E on goal difference after thumping Curacao 7-1 last Sunday.

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When Paul the Octopus predicted all of Germany's results correctly at the 2010 World Cup, he was hailed by the world as an oracle.

But German economist Joachim Klement has trumped Paul with a complex forecast model which has kept a 100% record of predicting the World Cup winner since 2014.

The Netherlands would become the fourth of four predicted winners to fulfil Klement's statistical prophecy if they lift the trophy in July.

However, this prediction was made before the Netherlands lost their winning positions twice and drew 2-2 with Japan in Group E.

After his first prediction came true when his native Germany won the 2014 World Cup, Klement imagined running the numbers again in 2018 would expose it as a fluke.

But he predicted correctly with France in 2018 - then again with Argentina in 2022.

"50% is luck," he adds.

"Every match - especially when you have these high-quality teams playing against each other that are very similar in skills and quality - it really depends on the form of the day, a ref call, a piece of luck in the sense of hitting the post versus the ball going in.

"Things like that are completely unpredictable."

Do you think Klement's prediction will come true?

Speaking of Premier League goalscorers, we saw a first glimpse of the exciting partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres in Sweden's demolition of Tunisia.

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And Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari scored this absolute rocket ...

The Netherlands team boasts many household names with a good chunk of their players featuring in the Premier League.

And it was Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville who scored in the their opening game against Japan [that ended in 2-2 draw] last week.

Re-watch their goals below ...

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Mattias Svanberg scored just 18 seconds after coming on against Tunisia.

It was the second fastest goal by a substitute at a World Cup since 1966, behind only Richard Morales' 16 seconds for Uruguay, against Senegal, in 2002.

Chris McKenna
BBC Sport

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When Graham Potter strode out to Sweden training donning a Stetson, it was a bit of fun to get into the World Cup mood as they prepared for the tournament in Texas.

Some might have quipped that the cowboy hat was fitting for a manager who was maybe drinking in last-chance saloon following back-to-back sackings in his previous jobs lasting a combined 15 months.

But at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico, Potter's side showed they mean business in this competition as a ruthless Sweden side stuck five past Tunisia.

For a manager who was dismissed by West Ham in September after failing at Chelsea before that, few would have expected him to be steering a nation to a winning start in the World Cup this summer.

"You never know, that's the truth," said Potter after the 5-1 win. "You never know how things are going to go. We were optimistic because we felt confident in the work.

"But until the game is played you don't know for sure. That's the beauty of sport. We are delighted with how we performed tonight and it's a great start for us."

The five goals they scored against Tunisia was more than the four they scored in the entire group stage of their qualifying campaign - largely overseen by Potter's predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Can Sweden get another win and secure their spot in the round of 32?

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Potter excelled in roles at Swansea and Brighton, but his coaching career began in Sweden, where he took Ostersunds FK from the fourth tier to the top flight, winning the domestic cup and leading them into their first European campaign.

It was there he learned Swedish. On his recently launched Instagram account, Potter appears relaxed, sharing images of himself exploring the country's natural landscapes with his family, reading Nordic literature and taking part in cultural events.

"I feel very Swedish when I'm working," he said, explaining he even sings the national anthem before matches.

"I even look a bit Swedish. Two of my children were born in Sweden. I had seven unforgettable years at Ostersunds, with memories that will stay with me for life.

"I came from the fourth tier of Swedish football, which is quite low, and worked my way up through the system to the Allsvenskan. You almost become Swedish in a coaching sense because of the experiences you have. I think it has definitely helped.

"Now I'm working for the Swedish FA as head coach of the national team, so I feel very Swedish."

Potter extended his contract until 2030 before the March international break, prior to sealing qualification.

That ensured he will lead Sweden at this World Cup, as well as the 2028 European Championship and 2030 World Cup should they qualify.

Here's how Group F looks before tonight's games:

• Netherlands v Sweden
• Tunisia v Japan

BBC One

FYI: You can watch Netherlands v Sweden live on BBC One and iPlayer from 17:30 BST and BBC Radio 5 Live will have live commentary from kick-off.

You can also get live text commentary of all of today's matches on the BBC Sport website and app.

Alexander Isak marked his first World Cup appearance in style, grabbing a goal and two assists, while his Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk opened his own tournament account with a trademark header.

The Liverpool forward, who is still finding rhythm after injuries disrupted his start to life at Anfield following a £125m move in September, announced himself on the world stage with a thumping finish into the bottom corner after a powerful run from the left on the half‑hour mark.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, did exactly what Liverpool fans have seen for years.

He rose above everyone to head the Netherlands in front against Japan after 51 minutes, meeting a pinpoint cross from fellow Red Ryan Gravenberch.

The Dutch couldn’t hold on, eventually drawing 2–2, but their captain looked strong throughout.

Now they meet in a World Cup match that could feel like a Liverpool civil war.

They’ve battled hundreds of times in training together, but who will come out on top?

I think that's enough of what happened on matchday nine. Shall we look ahead to today's roster?

Action gets underway at 18:00 BST when the Netherlands face Sweden, before Germany play Ivory Coast at 21:00 BST.

Good Saturday night viewing, right?