Curaçao's Eloy Room made 15 saves in a historic 0-0 draw against Ecuador, securing his nation’s first-ever World Cup point.
Curaçao Earns First World Cup Point in Historic Draw
In a stunning defensive display, Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, earning his nation its first World Cup point. The save count is the second-highest in World Cup history according to FIFA, though statistics provider Opta notes that Tim Howard also recorded 15 saves in 2014 (which included extra time).
Netherlands Reach Century Mark
Cody Gakpo scored the 100th goal of the tournament in the Netherlands' 4-0 victory over Sweden. The milestone was reached in the 33rd match of the competition.
Venomous Visitors at Germany's Training Base
Germany's training base in North Carolina was found to have venomous copperhead snakes on site. Coach Julian Nagelsmann joked about the situation, adding a lighthearted note to the team's preparations.
Family Matters on and off the Pitch
- Belgium's Jérémy Doku stated that he would leave the tournament if his wife went into labor.
- Norway's Leo Østigård became a father via FaceTime while in camp.
Chaotic Match Features Referee's Missing Watch
In a chaotic match between Paraguay and Turkey, a referee's watch fell to the ground. Paraguay's Matías Galarza picked it up and put it on briefly before returning it to the official. Paraguay won the match 1-0, eliminating Turkey from the tournament.