Netherlands Crush Sweden 5-1 as Curaçao Earns Draw Behind 15 Saves

Q: After Eloy Room's record-breaking 15 saves, can tiny Curaçao complete the ultimate Cinderella story by advancing from the group stage?

Yes—but only as a long shot. Eloy Room’s 15-save performance kept Curaçao alive and gave the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup its first point, but the math remains difficult. After two matches in Group E, Germany are already through on six points, Ivory Coast have three, and both Ecuador and Curaçao have one. Curaçao’s goal difference is badly damaged after the heavy loss to Germany, leaving them needing more than just another heroic defensive display. The clearest route is simple in theory and hard in practice: Curaçao likely must beat Ivory Coast in their final group match. If they do, they would reach four points, which could keep them in contention either for second place or, more realistically, for one of the tournament’s best third-place spots in the expanded 48-team format. A draw would almost certainly not be enough, and a loss would end the run. Even with a win, Curaçao may still need help from Germany against Ecuador if they want to finish in the top two, because they trail Ivory Coast significantly on goal difference. That means advancing directly would probably require both an upset victory and favorable results elsewhere. So the Cinderella story is still possible, but expert assessments remain skeptical. Models and previews have generally rated Curaçao among the weakest teams in the field and put their advancement chances in the single digits. Room has already delivered one historic moment; reaching the knockouts would require another.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 22

A 5-1 Netherlands rout of Sweden and Curaçao’s upset draw led the latest World Cup debate, with the Dutch emerging as possible tournament favorites and Curaçao keeping alive a surprise knockout-round push.
Eloy Room made 15 saves in 90 minutes—the most ever recorded in a World Cup match—to secure Curaçao’s result, while Ivory Coast’s remaining match still shapes the Caribbean side’s path.
The discussion also turned to the United States, already through to the knockout rounds, after Mauricio Pochettino’s "Why not us?" challenge raised the question of whether the USMNT can make a historic run.
Spain’s win over Saudi Arabia, Germany’s late victory over Ivory Coast, and Miguel Almirón’s controversial red card in Uruguay’s match with Cape Verde added to a tightening group-stage picture.