The first of the four-game days on Sunday was sprinkled with some shocks: Australia beating Turkey and Brazil looking out of sorts in their draw against Morocco, and one Scottish player affectionately known as “Meatball” sending the Tartan Army barmy.Oh, and Qatar snatched a draw with Switzerland.If all that action whetted your appetite, then the next 360 minutes of football should feel like more than a satisfying main course.Curacao, one of the so-called minnow nations, are competing in their first World Cup on Monday and their reward is an opening game against Germany. This is followed by the enticing the Netherlands v Japan match, then Ivory Coast v Ecuador and finally Sweden play Tunisia.Here are five things you should know heading into day four of the World Cup.‘Break the shells off’Japan, who have been tipped to go far, are competing in their eighth straight World Cup and confidence is high after pre-World Cup friendly wins over Brazil and England.
5 things to know: Japan unfazed by injuries, Curacao make debut against Germany
Hajime Moriyasu confident despite latest bad news, this time over his captain, while tournament’s smallest country out to cause major upset.













