>> It was raining goals in Otkritie Arena in Moscow as Belgium met Tunisia . Belgium won 5- 2 with Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard scoring two goals each and Michy Batshuayi one, as Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri scored one each for Tunisia. This is the highest scoring game of the tournament so far. It is also the first time that Belgium has scored 5 goals in a World Cup match.
>> Belgium and Tunisia had met thrice previously, winning one apiece and drawing the other, which came in their only other World Cup encounter in 2002.
>> Lukaku, with four goals from two games, joins Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot. Others in the run include Russia’s Denis Cheryshev, Spain’s Diego Costa, Belgium’s Eden Hazard and England’s Harry Kane
>> Possession of ball: Belgium 50% Tunisia 50%
>> Mexico and South Korea had met only once previously in the World cup. In the 1998 clash, Mexico won 3-1 over the Asians.
>> Saturday’s game was Mexican coach Juan Carlos Osori’s 50th game as the head of the national team.
>> That was not the only 50th for the Mexican side. The 66’ minute goal by Javier Hernandez made him the first player to score 50 international goals for the country.
>> And the records didn’t stop there. This was the first time that Mexico has won more than two consecutive matches since winning their first two matches at the 2002 Japan-South Korea tournament .
>> South Korea’s loss and impending exit from the World Cup is especially grim for striker Son Heung-min, who turns 26 next month. According to Football London, the Tottenham Hotspur star’s career might take a hit since the exit from the World Cup means that the potential two years of military service (compulsory in South Korea) will hinge on how well the side performs in the Asian games.
>> Possession of ball: Korea Republic 42% Mexico 58%
>> Germany has never failed to make it past the first round of the World Cup since 1938, when they were kicked out after losing to Switzerland.
>> The defending champions took some tough decisions — they were playing without Mats Hummels (who is recovering from an injury) and Mesut Ozil. Ozil has been an integral part of the team for the past two World Cups and dropping him from a must-win game was a huge gamble. Meanwhile Sebastian Rudy kept his spot in the team even after criticism from multiple directions, including former captain Phillip Lahm.
>> The night was know for the penalty that was given and the one that wasn’t. In the 14’, Jerome Boateng shoved Sweden’s Marcus Berg whose shot is then blocked by Nuer, but the referee refuses VAR check and penalty. However, the German was sent packing in the 83’ after he picked up his second yellow card of the night, leaving the team down to 10 men.
>> Sebastian Rudy went down in the 25’ with blood dripping from his nose after he was accidentally hit in the face by Sweden's Ola Toivonen’s boot. He was led off the pitch in his blood-soaked shirt. Moments later, Toivonen scored Sweden’s first goal of the game.
>> Just when it looked as if Germany was out of the World Cup for good after a goalless first half, forward Marco Reus scored, giving Germany a lifeline.
>> Germany’s Toni Kroos owned the game with what still appears to be an impossible goal. According to statisticians Opta Joe , the four-time Champions League winner’s sensation curler is the closest ever World Cup goal that Germany has scored during regulation time (excluding extra time).
>> The 97’ minutes of drama spilled to the sidelines with Sweden’s coach Janne Andersson and substitutes clashing with the German bench. He later said that he was “very annoyed” with the way that the Germans ran in their direction and rubbed it in their faces “by making gestures.”
Sweden coach Janne Andersson clashes with Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff after the match
>> As of now, no one has qualified in Group F. Had Germany lost, they would have been knocked out in the Group stage like defending champions Spain in 2014. Now, Germany will face South Korea, who has never won a game in this World Cup, in the next game. Meanwhile, Sweden’s chances look dim as they face mighty Mexico on June 27.
>> Possession of ball: Germany 76% Sweden 24%
