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Casemiro Says Not Being Favorites at World Cup Will Keep Brazil on their Toes

Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
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Casemiro Says Not Being Favorites at World Cup Will Keep Brazil on their Toes

Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
Jun 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Brazil midfielder Casemiro speaks to media after arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Newark Liberty International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Brazil midfielder Casemiro believes being a "step behind" other World Cup favorites could actually work in the team's favor when the tournament kicks off next week.

Brazil, who are looking to win a record-extending sixth World Cup title, find themselves trailing European champions Spain, 2018 World Cup winners France and England in the bookmakers' odds for the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America.

"We aren’t the big favorites," Casemiro told FIFA's media channel ⁠after Brazil arrived ⁠in the US on Tuesday. "Of course, we’re in good shape; we’ve got a strong squad, with a mix of experience and young talent."

"Perhaps this time we’re a step behind, but we’re on our toes and that’s always ⁠a good thing. We want to go there in good shape and have a great World Cup.”

According to Reuters, the 34-year-old said Brazil had had a "difficult cycle" in the build-up to the World Cup, with the Brazilian Football Confederation appointing Carlo Ancelotti as coach and naming a new president last year.

“It has been a difficult cycle with a change of manager, a change of president and ⁠a ⁠lot of turmoil," he added.

"We have only had one year working with the manager, who has excellent experience in football, but in reality we have only worked together for 40 days. I think we will go into the tournament in strong form.

"We have quality players, experienced players, energetic players and young players. I think we have a good mix for this competition."

Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

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Netherlands Coach Koeman Defends Tactics After Frustration Against Japan

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 14, 2026 Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman reacts. (Reuters)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 14, 2026 Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman reacts. (Reuters)
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Netherlands Coach Koeman Defends Tactics After Frustration Against Japan

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 14, 2026 Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman reacts. (Reuters)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 14, 2026 Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman reacts. (Reuters)

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman defended his tactics and substitutions after Dutch hopes of victory in their World Cup opener were foiled by a late Japan goal in the 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Two well-taken goals by captain Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville either side of Keito Nakamura's conversion put the Netherlands in the lead twice, but a deflected Daichi Kamada strike two minutes from time saw the spoils shared.

Six minutes after Summerville's 64th-minute ‌goal, Koeman took ‌off the winger in a triple ‌substitution ⁠and later added ⁠a third center back in Nathan Ake.

The more defensive setup backfired, though, with Japan seizing the initiative and Ogawa firing a header goalward to set up Kamada's equalizing deflection.

Koeman, however, said he had no regrets about his tactics and that shoddy defending was to blame.

"There was also a problem ⁠with pressure on the flanks. So if ‌you look at the game, both ‌goals, well, we didn't defend well," he told reporters.

"Football is ‌a funny game because, after Japan scored the second goal, ‌they started defending as well.

"So we could have scored a third goal. So I don't regret my choices."

A day after declaring Memphis Depay as fit to start after recent thigh trouble, Koeman ‌had Netherlands' all-time top goal-scorer come off the bench in the second half, replacing ⁠the lively ⁠Donyell Malen.

Depay earned a yellow card for a rough challenge and was unable to make a difference.

The Netherlands, quarter-finalists at Qatar 2022, have nearly a week's break before they face Sweden in their second Group F match in Houston.

Koeman said the Netherlands played at a "minimal standard" against the Japanese and accused the media of under-rating their Asian opponents.

"Of course, we can perform better and we need to grow during the tournament," he said.

"This definitely was not our best performance.

"Of course, we would have preferred to win the first game. We expected to."

Sports

Sweden Smash Five Past Tunisia in World Cup Opener

Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
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Sweden Smash Five Past Tunisia in World Cup Opener

Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)
Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) scores his team's fifth goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP)

Sweden's Yasin Ayari scored ‌two sensational goals and Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres also got on the scoresheet as they cruised to a 5-1 World Cup Group F victory over Tunisia on Sunday.

After scraping through to the finals after a dismal qualifying campaign, they responded by scoring five goals in a World Cup match for the first time since 1938 when they defeated Cuba 8-0.

Ayari – the son of a Tunisian father and a Moroccan mother – put Sweden ahead in the seventh minute after goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh fluffed his lines trying to clear under pressure from Isak, and what ‌followed set the ‌tone for the evening.

The ball fell to Gyokeres, ‌whose ⁠shot was blocked, ⁠but Ayari picked up the loose ball and blasted home a rocket of a shot to send the yellow-clad fans in the stands into raptures, though the player's own celebrations were more muted.

Set up to defend and hit Sweden on the break, Tunisia then got a taste of their own medicine as they committed players forward and chased an ⁠equalizer on the half-hour mark, only to come undone ‌on the counterattack.

The Swedes won the ball ‌in their own box and played it to Gyokeres, who took it ‌on his chest and instantly released Isak down the left. The ‌striker ran at defender Montassar Talbi before cutting inside and slotting the ball past Chamakh, who should have done better.

The Tunisians did little in the opening half but still managed to pull a goal back before the break, defender ‌Omar Rekik scoring with a superb glancing header that was his side’s first effort on target.

After a ⁠number of miscues ⁠between Isak and Gyokeres, the two clicked again on the hour mark when Isak stole the ball from Ellyes Skhiri and teed up his strike partner to make it 3-1 with a simple finish.

Substitute Mattias Svanberg then scored straight after coming off the bench in the 84th minute. Though the goal was initially disallowed for offside, it was allowed to stand after a VAR review.

Ayari then closed the show in stoppage time with another wonder strike, firing a thunderous shot from outside the box that Chamakh was powerless to stop, and this time the midfielder celebrated with abandon.

The result means Sweden top Group F on three points ahead of Japan and the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 earlier.

Sports

Saudi Arabia Ready for World Cup Opener against Uruguay, Donis Says

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Ready for World Cup Opener against Uruguay, Donis Says

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)
Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026. (SPA)

Saudi national team coach Georgios Donis said the team is ready for its FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Uruguay, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference at Miami Stadium, which will host the match Tuesday, Donis said: “Everyone is ready. I know Saudi football well from my previous work with clubs. We have good memories, such as reaching the round of 16 at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. We are seeking good results in the game’s biggest tournament while staying balanced and realistic.”

Donis also addressed the difficulty of Saudi Arabia’s group, which includes Uruguay, Spain, and Cabo Verde, stressing that this edition of the FIFA World Cup features a large number of teams, which is positive and gives all teams an opportunity to improve and reach the second round.