Rise of a Football God

After Spain's dominant win against New Zealand, claiming a clean sweep in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, the world took note… La Roja is back.

And as Spain marched on to the Round of 32, looking sharper than ever, Italy and Iran also concluded their bout at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico.

It was vintage Italy in display in Mexico.

Their defense was perfect for all 90 minutes, muting their opponents completely. Italy scored both their goals from set pieces, securing their place in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup.

That same night, Germany also took on Iraq at the Lumen Field in USA.

(GROUP G:)

(Germany vs Iraq)

(Venue: Lumen Field, USA)

(Date: June 25th, 2026)

(Time: 19:00)

It was a ruthless display of German efficiency.

It was billed as a mismatch, a European giant versus an underdog from Asia, but Germany didn't treat it like one.

They arrived on the pitch at Lumen Field with purpose, intensity, and a desire to make a statement. After two solid group performances, this final Group G match was about dominance, momentum, and silencing doubters.

Iraq, brave and spirited, had endured a difficult group stage campaign, and this was their last stand.

But the gap in class, pace, and composure was overwhelming.

The first half was a spectacle of no mercy.

Julian Nagelsmann fielded a rotated but still fearsome XI. Germany lined up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation with Ter Stegen in goal, Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, and Gosens in defense; Goretzka and Musiala pulling the strings from midfield.

And then there was Sane, Wirtz, and Havertz buzzing behind Fullkrug up top in attack.

Iraq, in their 4-4-2 setup, looked compact early on, but they were immediately pinned back as soon as the game started.

Like Spain, Germany started the rout early from a Jamal Musiala goal.

It was a sweeping passive move that involved every outfield German player. Sane burst down the wind, found Wirst in the pocket, who threaded a pass to Jamal Musiala.

One step, one shimmy, and then a bottom corner finish.

A work of art to make it 1-0.

Germany doubled their lead in the 21st minute from a Kai Havertz goal.

Moments after Iraq almost countered through Bashar Resan, Germany regained the ball and punished them. Gundogan delivered a lofted through ball, and Havertz, perfectly timed, chipped the goalkeeper in a moment of sublime composure.

Germany made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute from a Nico Schlotterbeck header.

It came from a corner, the big center back rising above everyone and thumping home a bullet header. Iraq's defenders could only look at each other, wondering. 'Who was marking him?'

They were played to the point of confusion.

Germany weren't just scoring. They were suffocating them. Iraq couldn't string three passes together.

The second half was not much different from the first. Germany was in cruise control of the game.

The second half saw substitutions, but the pressure didn't drop. Nagelsmann brought on Thomas Muller and Marius Wolf to keep the tempo high.

In the 59th minute, Leroy Sane scored, making it 4-0.

After teasing the Iraqi right back for several minutes, Sane finally cut inside and curled a rocket past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Electric. Unstoppable.

In the 71st minute, Florian Wirtz made it 5-nil.

This one was pure team play. 18 passes, from Ter Stegen to Wirtz. A give and go with Goretzka and a low finish to seal it. Germany were dancing.

Late in the game, Iraq got their one real chance; a long ball found Aymen Hussein behind the line. He struck it sweetly, but Ter Stegen, with a flash of brilliance palmed it away.

The FC Barcelona starter had no intentions of giving up his clean sheet.

The game eventually came to an end 5-nil to Germany.

Germany topped Group G with 9 points in 3 games, 11 goals scored, 1 conceded. An imperious group stage performance.

Iraq exited the World Cup winless, but proud.

Jamal Musiala won the man of the match award with his 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 key passes, 100% take-on success as he ran the Iraqi defense ragged. He was a constant creative threat.

He was Germany's new engine alongside Florian Wirtz. He was just 23, and yet, he was already playing like a legend.

Germany now marched into the Round of 32 as one of the tournament's most complete teams. And for Iraq, the journey ends, but not the pride.

Julian Nagelsmann, the Germany coach had a few words for the media at the end of the game.

"The scoreline was deserved. But it's not about the goals, it's about the statement. Germany are here to win this thing".

…

At the same time that Germany thrashed Iraq at the Lumen Field in USA, Colombia also took on Honduras in another exciting FIFA World Cup game.

Honduras were seemingly on their way to securing a FIFA World Cup classic underdog win, leading 0-2 by halftime when Colombia erupted in the 2nd half, running them ragged, and eventually claiming a 3-2 victory at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium in USA.

The next day, the world of football boiled with excitement as tens of thousands of football fans gathered at the Metlife Stadium to watch another blockbuster FIFA World Cup encounter between 2 prominent nations, England and USA.

It was the Group H Decider between the 2 most prominent footballing nations. It was a clash of Titans.

Two titans, one battlefield.

The attendance at the Metlife was over 81,000 fans.

The atmosphere was tension, pride, rivalry, and history all on the line.

It wasn't just a football match, it was a transatlantic clash between two nations with shared history and burning ambition.

England came in with swagger, having steamrolled Slovenia in their previous match. The USA, galvanized by their late win against Algeria entered this final group fixture ready to prove a point on home soil.

Qualification was already secured for both, but top spot was at stake. And neither side wanted second place.

This was a game of men.

A game of ego.