The Netherlands overcame out of form Tunisia 3-1 on Thursday to top World Cup Group F, and in the process avoid a  tricky encounter with Brazil in the last 32.

Ronald Koeman's men flew into a two-goal lead in soggy Kansas City thanks to some shoddy defending from the North African side.

First, Ellyes Skhiri sliced Denzel Dumfries' cross into his own net and minutes later Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey lashed home from close range.

That apparently sealed the deal for the Netherlands, whose orange-clad fans were entertaining themselves with Mexican waves midway through the first half at Arrowhead Stadium.

Tunisia pulled a goal back in the second half but the Dutch restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Jan Paul van Hecke header shortly after the hour mark.

The Netherlands, who finished their group fixtures with seven points, pipped Japan to top spot in Group F, and will face Morocco in the second round in Monterrey on Monday in what promises to be a thrilling game. 

Thursday's game started on time after a lightning storm had threatened a major disruption earlier in the American Midwest.

The Carthage Eagles went close in the opening moments when Ismael Gharbi fired over from close range but that proved a false indicator of what was to come.

Instead Skhiri turned the ball into his own net in the third minute to put the three-time finalists in front.

Just four minutes later Brobbey smashed home his third goal of the World Cup after Virgil van Dijk headed across goal following a Tijjani Reijnders free-kick.

Tunisia threatened to unravel further but managed to reach half-time without conceding again.

The North Africans pulled a goal back in the 54th minute when Hazem Mastouri headed home from Hannibal Mejbri's corner.

But any potential jitters were quickly dispelled minutes later when Van Hecke's header from Reijnders' corner found its way into the net via a deflection.

Tunisia will go home with their tails between their legs after an embarrassing campaign in which they shipped 12 goals in three games.

Veteran French coach Herve Renard, who won the African Cup of Nations twice with Zambia and Cote d'Ivoire was hired last week after Sabri Lamouchi was fired following the team's 5-1 hammering by Sweden in their opening match in Mexico.

But he was unable to stop the rot as Tunisia, who romped through qualifying without conceding a single goal, collapsed 4-0 against Japan before their defeat against the Dutch.

Elsewhere, Japan drew 1-1 against Sweden in Arlington, Texas, to confirm second spot though the Scandinavian side also advanced as one of the eight best-placed teams who finished third.

A game in front of 70,000 in Texas burst into life in the second half, Daizen Maeda giving Japan the lead after the break before Anthony Elanga levelled minutes later. Japan, fancied as dark horses to go far in the tournament, were hanging on by the end as Alexander Isak and Elanga both went close.

Graham Potter, whose Swedish side were torn apart by the Netherlands last time out, changed his goalkeeper and started Elanga.

"We had to defend the box and wide areas better," said the Englishman.

The former Chelsea and West Ham boss added: "The boys were fantastic."

"Over the course of the game it was a pretty fair result and arguably we were slightly the better team in the second half."

It remains to be seen who Sweden will play next, but France loom as one possibility.

"It's a tricky one," said Potter. "We need to be on our toes in terms of logistics, that's the fun part of the tournament."