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FIFA World Cup 2026: Surprises start unpacking as Group matches reach the last leg
Turkey beat the USA 3-2 for its first victory before rurning home. Ecuador beat Germany 2-1. Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 while France beat Norway 4-1.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sat, 27, Jun 2026
- 01:44 EDT
- 43
FIFA / FIFA
Surprises have started overtaking expectations as the group matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 are drawing to a close. Turkey, first team to be eliminated, served a surprising punch on the group leader and a co-host USA with a dying moments goal victory. Ecuador packed too many surprises to topple Germany while Senegal had its hopes of making the knockout round with a flattering 5-0 win over Iraq.
Turkey beat the USA 3-2 for its first victory before returning home. Ecuador beat Germany 2-1. Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 while France beat Norway 4-1.
With no points on the board after two games, Senegal had a thumping start to the tournament in its last game against Iraq to turn its deficit goal difference to a positive to stay within a chance of making the knockout round. By scoring five against Iraq, Senegal wiped out the deficit to put behind its morale shattering performance in earlier games. Continuing with a good first-half showing against France, Senegal took forward its march as a contender for a place in the knockout round with some superb goals against a depleted Iraq that had to play more than 75 minutes of the game with 10 players.
While the group leaders France continued its winning spree by blanking Norway 4-1 for its third consecutive win, the match between two winless teams of the group – Senegal and Iraq – assumed tremendous significance. Senegal was required to record a big flattering win to change its deficit goal difference to a positive one for a chance to be among the best losers. It did.
Also Read: My FIFA World Cup Diary – 5
In the 4-1 win for France over Norway, the silver lining was provided by Ismaila Sarr whose double against Norway. In the same game Ibrahim Mbaye’s goal against France, reflected it was capable of breaching top teams.
Playing against Norway, France made defensive errors and could have conceded more. Edouard Mendy produced top saves, but came off injured after an hour.
In the other group match played simultaneously, Senegal, requiring a comprehensive win against Iraq is needed on Friday to have a chance of sneaking through as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Iraq haven’t got near their opponents, who in fairness have boasted two of the best forwards in the world in Haaland and Mbappe. Senegal’s captain, Aymen Hussein, who scored against Norway, had to be replaced with an injury after 26 minutes in its loss to France.
Luck eluded Iraq as it quickly lost a player – Rebin Suleka - to a red card in the 13th minute and had to play the rest of the game with 10 players. The task was all the more agonising as Senegal was out to score as many as possible sniffing a possible place among best losers.
Habib Diarra set the scoring in motion with a brilliant goal in the 4th minute. Some long distance shooting late in the second half, first by Pape Gueye in the 59th and 71st minute, and then by Ismaila Sarr (56th) and L. Nidaya (82nd minute).
Senegal domination was so complete that it seldom allowed a clear view of its citadel to its opponents.
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