Celtic trio suffer night of mixed emotions at World Cup as ex-Rangers flop makes history in Kansas

Tounekti, 23, was restored to the starting XI for his national side after being introduced as a late substitute in their 5-1 opening game defeat to Sweden last week, while Celtic teammate Daizen Maeda started on the bench for Japan. However, he was powerless to prevent another thumping defeat as Tunisia suffered their earliest World Cup exit in history at Estadio BBVA.

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Japan, who put one foot into the last 32 with the victory, got themselves off to the best possible start with Crystal Palace playmaker Daichi Kamada scoring for the second game in succession after just four minutes when he tapped home Keito Nakamura’s cross in a crowded box.

Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was then forced to pull off one of the saves of the tournament to stop a quickfire second goal when he somehow prevented Takehiro Tomiyasu’s long-range drive from crossing the line. While Japan were adamant that the right-back's effort had crossed the line, goal-line technology showed it had been saved by mere millimetres. However, Ayase Ueda doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Tounekti was withdrawn in the 64th minute, and the Blue Samurai added a third shortly afterwards when Ao Tanaka's pass found Ueda, whose flicked pass allowed Junya Ito to hold off the challenge of Ben Hmida before finishing a superb move by blasting into the bottom-right corner. Ueda completed the scoring seven minutes from time when he evaded the Tunisian backline to loop a header into the net.

The result puts Japan into second place in Group F on four points following Sweden’s 5-1 hammering at the hands of the Netherlands earlier in the day. Head coach Graham Potter handed starts to Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren, and former Parkhead defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, but found themselves 2-0 down after just 16 minutes thanks to a brace from Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey.

Sweden rallied late in the first-half and thought they had reduced the deficit when Nygren’s cross was headed home be Lagerbielke, but it was correctly ruled out for offside. The game was then put to bed by the Netherlands within ten minutes of the restart thanks to a brace from Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo. Substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one back for Sweden just before the hour mark, though it was too little too late, with Crysencio Summerville rounding off the scoring in the 89th minute.

Elsewhere, former Rangers man Juninho Bacuna helped his Curacao side make history as they picked up their first ever World Cup point with a valiant 0-0 draw against Ecuador in Kansas City. The Volendam midfielder stint at Ibrox was brief, lasting just five months after being signed from Huddersfield Town by former boss Steven Gerrard in August 2021, but is a regular for his national side and earned his 50th cap for the Blue Wave as they shut out Sebastian Beccacece.

Managed by Rangers’ former title winning boss, Dick Advocaat, the ex-Ibrox pair were indebted to goalkeeper Eloy Room, who produced a remarkable and record-equalling performance, where he made 15 saves to keep his country level against Ecuador. Former Hearts striker Gervane Kastaneer also made a late appearance as an 82nd minute substitute.