Kaoru Mitoma Is Out For Japan, And Their Clash With Netherlands Will Tell Us EVERYTHING

Alright, Seattle, listen up! Day 3 of the World Cup was absolutely wild, and for once, being on the West Coast paid off big time with games starting at noon and rolling every three hours. We saw Morocco and Brazil battle to a 1-1 draw, and Australia delivered a highly entertaining 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver, BC. Group D is bringing the heat! And get this: Qatar grabbed their first ever World Cup point with a late equalizer against Switzerland. Plus, Scotland finally got their first tournament win since 1990, beating Haiti 1-0. Could this be the year Scotland finally makes it out of the group stage? Today, Day 4, is gonna be even bigger, with some serious matchups we gotta dive into.

Germany vs. Curaçao: Don't Sleep On The Underdogs

First up, we've got Germany, the four-time champs, squaring off against tiny island nation Curaçao. Now, you might think this is a total mismatch, but hold up. Germany famously didn't make it out of the group stage in both 2018 and 2022. Curaçao, on the other hand, might be small, but they're managed by the legendary Dutch boss Dick Advocaat, and a ton of their squad are based in the Netherlands. We're talking ex-Manchester United prospect Tahith Chong even has some Premier League experience! Plus, our old Chelsea friends Antonio Rüdiger and Kai Havertz are playing for Germany, and Jamal Musiala is back from injury. So yeah, the gap isn't as massive as you'd think. This game kicks off at 1pm EDT, 6pm BST from NRG Stadium in Houston. You can catch it on FOX or Peacock here in the States.

Netherlands vs. Japan: This Is The Matchup You CANNOT Miss

But let's be real, the headline act for today is the Netherlands facing off against Japan. This one is going to be electric! Japan has made it to the knockout rounds in four of the last six World Cups. That's no joke. The problem? They'll be without star Kaoru Mitoma, who's out after hamstring surgery. That's a huge blow! The Netherlands are no slouches either, with finishes of second, third, and fifth in their last three tournaments where they actually qualified. They only lost one game in regulation across those three tournaments, the 2010 final to Spain, getting knocked out on penalties in 2014 and 2022. This game is at 7pm EDT, so get ready to plant yourselves on the couch for some top-tier football. With Mitoma out, can Japan still shock the world, or will the Netherlands show why they're consistently a top contender? Every game in this World Cup means something, and the stakes just keep getting higher. Don't miss a second of the action!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.