News Focus
- Germany hit seven goals in dominant friendly win over Curaçao
- Netherlands secure narrow victory against Japan in Dallas thriller
- Japan score late goal but fall short against European opposition
- Football Weekly experts analyse World Cup 2026 preparations
The Germany national team sent a powerful warning to their World Cup rivals with a magnificent 7-0 destruction of Curaçao. The European side showed ruthless efficiency in front of goal throughout the friendly match.
Across the Atlantic in Dallas, the Netherlands and Japan produced a cracking contest that went down to the wire. The Dutch side eventually sealed victory after a hard-fought battle against the Samurai Blue.
Japan left it late to find the back of the net, scoring near the end of the match. However, the goal only served as consolation as the Netherlands held on for the win.
These international friendlies form a key part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Top pundits broke down the action on the Football Weekly World Cup Daily podcast. Host Max Rushden led the discussion with Barry Glendenning, Alex Abnos and Ben Fisher.
The German performance highlighted their attacking strength and tactical discipline on the pitch. Their ability to convert chances will worry other nations aiming for glory in North America.
Japan can take heart from their competitive display against strong European opposition. The Asian side proved they possess the quality to challenge top teams despite the defeat.