Both Germany and Ivory Coast could wrap up Group E with a match to spare if they win Saturday’s clash in Toronto.

While victory by itself cannot guarantee the group title, it would move the winner at worst a point away. The right result in the other group match between Ecuador and Curacao later Saturday could seal the top spot.

Germany eased into the tournament with a 7-1 victory over debutante Curacao on Sunday in Houston.

Kai Havertz scored his third and fourth World Cup goals and five teammates also found the net for the four-time world champions.

After uncharacteristically failing to reach the knockout stage in 2018 and 2022, another positive result would all but assure the Germans a return to the knockout phase.

For German center back Jonathan Tah, it’s also an opportunity to play for the first time against his father’s birth country.

“This is going to be something special, that is true, to play against the (Ivory Coast) team,” Tah said. “Of course I’m excited about the (opportunity), and it’s definitely going to be more extraordinary than against any other team.”

Ivory Coast should pose a far more formidable test for Germany after their impressive 1-0 win over Ecuador in Les Elephants’ first World Cup match since 2014.

The 19-year-old Yan Diomande was exceptional on both flanks in a Man of the Match performance, while substitute Amad Diallo scored a clinical 90th-minute winner.

Manager Emerse Fae embraces the rising expectations for his squad, the youngest of 48 at this tournament.

“We’re not coming to watch the Germans play. We’re coming to beat them, we’re coming to get that qualification for the second round,” Fae said. “But above all, we want to go home after the game tomorrow to our base camp in Philadelphia not only with our six points, but also the certainty that we’ll finish top of the pack.”

A draw would make the matter of topping the group go to the final game on June 25, when Ivory Coast faces Curacao in Philadelphia and Germany plays Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J.

Group F, Netherlands vs. Sweden in Houston: The Netherlands will be trying to shake the disappointment of a 2-2 draw against Japan in their opener after leading twice. Meanwhile, Sweden will try to build on the second-highest scoring performance of the group-stage openers in their 5-1 win over Tunisia.

Group E, Ecuador vs. Curacao in Kansas City: La Tri will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat in 20 fixtures across all competitions. Curacao will try to follow their first World Cup goal in history against Germany with the country’s first point.

Group F, Tunisia vs. Japan in Guadalupe, Mexico: Herve Renard takes charge of his first game for Tunisia after their embarrassing defeat to Sweden led to Sabri Lamouchi’s firing. Japan will look to take another step toward advancing to their third consecutive knockout phase.

–Field Level Media

Germany’s Alexander Zverev was the only one of the top four seeds to escape the upset bug during quarterfinal action on Friday at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany.

The top-seeded Zverev held off Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 7-6 (10), 7-6 (2) as both players uncorked 14 aces and lost no service games during their two-hour battle.

No. 2 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada earned three match points against Frances Tiafoe, but the American fended off each one to earn a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (12) victory.

No. 3 seed Ben Shelton reached match point against No. 5 Taylor Fritz, but he couldn’t convert as Fritz rallied for a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (3) triumph. Fritz unleashed 24 aces and stopped all four of Shelton’s break points as both Americans maintained their serve throughout.

While Zverev and Fritz will meet in one semifinal on Saturday, the unseeded Tiafoe faces unseeded Daniel Altmaier in the other. The German wild card earned his spot with a 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4 victory over No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia.

HSBC Championships

Unseeded Brandon Nakashima needed just 93 minutes to knock out top-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia with a 7-5, 6-3 quarterfinal victory in London. Nakashima owned a return rating of 184 as he won 30.8% (16 of 52) of the points on de Minaur’s serves.

Nakashima will meet No. 7 seed Francisco Cerundolo in Saturday’s semifinal action as the Argentina native defeated Great Britain’s Arthur Fery 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-4.

No. 8 seed Tommy Paul upset No. 4 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain by a 6-3, 7-6 (4) count as Paul held his serve throughout. Paul will meet unseeded Ugo Humbert in the other semifinal as the left-handed Frenchman stopped Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-2.

–Field Level Media

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi lost an appeal and will stand trial on rape charges in France.

An appeals court in Versailles concluded that there was sufficient evidence for Hakimi, 27, to stand trial, according to a statement provided to The Athletic on Friday.

Hakimi has denied any wrongdoing since being charged in March 2023. A 24-year-old woman alleged he assaulted her in February 2023, according to previous reports.

The Paris Saint-Germain fullback, who is part of Morocco’s squad at the World Cup, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to clear his name.

“Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: ‘If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case,'” Hakimi posted Friday on X, translated from French.

“I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.

“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target.

“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak.”

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff’s lawyer, praised the decision to move forward with a trial.

“The investigating chamber has ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Achraf Hakimi for committing rape,” Pardo wrote on X.

“This decision is perfectly consistent with the evidence in the case and in line with the opinions of the public prosecutor, the investigating judge, and the advocate general at the Court of Appeal.

“… The hope is that this trial will help other women, and further crack the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, even in the world of men’s football.”

No trial date has been set for Hakimi, who played the full 90 minutes in each of Morocco’s first two World Cup matches, including a 1-0 win over Scotland on Friday in Foxborough, Mass. Morocco (1-0-1, 4 points) conclude Group C action against Haiti on Wednesday in Atlanta.

–Field Level Media