World Cup: Germany thrash Croatia 7-1; Japan, Netherlands draw

Germany secured a resounding 7-1 victory over Croatia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, showcasing a dominant offensive performance. The German team controlled the game from early on, with Felix Nmecha finding the back of the net in the sixth minute to open the scoring.

Several other German players contributed to the lopsided scoreline, including Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, and Deniz Undav. Croatia managed to score a single goal through Livano Komnenšija in the 21st minute, but it was not enough to counter Germany's attacking prowess.

In another match from the ongoing World Cup qualifiers, Japan and the Netherlands shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. The Netherlands initially took a 2-0 lead with goals from their captain in the 51st minute and Crysencio Summerville in the 64th minute. However, Japan mounted a strong comeback, with Keito Nakamura scoring in the 85th minute and Daichi Kamada equalizing three minutes later to secure a valuable point for his team.