Saturday, June 13th, 5:08 AM
The headache from a late-night win from the home team can be managed. It will have to be stored amongst the various emotions and experiences until the wheels touch down once again in Northern Kentucky.
The 4-1 victory by the United States over Paraguay is just one of the multitude of emotions that has me finding Tylenol before my flight to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Yes, the United States are not playing anywhere near a region in the Central Time Zone. There isn’t even an FC Cincinnati 2 match taking place in the Lone Star State. I’m already feeling like that “Polar Bear in Arlington”, almost quite literally. I’m a meme.
I know why I agreed to this destination in the first place, as this is the perfect opportunity for a freelancer like myself to mix the two passions also caught in that concrete mixer of emotions in me—soccer and Japanese culture.
The sport of soccer in Japan has always been a borderline between personal fascination and uncertainty. While fixtures such as baseball and traditions such as sumo have clogged the headlines in Japanese newsprint, soccer has crashed the karaoke box with its own bleeding heart and vibrato. Long-running manga addicts will point to fiction like Captain Tsubasa and Blue Lock for evidence that the old and the young are getting caught in soccer folklore more and more.
It’s that fascination that has supplied my decision to jet to Texas, but it is also uncertainty that dominates the headline. This round of the World Cup is Asia’s opportunity to shine. South Korea already claimed one headline with a massive come-from-behind victory against Czechia—Japan would have to claim their own European pelt first.
The Netherlands have been a capable force in Europe and the world. Het Nederlands elftal claimed their fame with a mammoth 3-0 victory over host-country Brazil in 2014 to claim the third-place mantle. Had the penalty kicks against Argentina gone the way of the Oranje, perhaps we’d be considering the Dutch as the ultimate giant killers.
At this point, they are the giants that Japan is looking to slay. Considering how both teams have flown under radars to get here, it’s anyone’s guess what the result on Sunday could be.
Saturday, June 13th, 10:15 AM
After checking into the media alcove at the Dallas convention center, I can tell that much of the media has either yet to arrive or the attention is elsewhere. There is a good chance that the general media is riveted on the upcoming matches this afternoon, as Brazil vs. Morocco will be underway in New York later in the afternoon.
Those other locations are likely buzzing and hopping with songs and chants. Not so much at the media center in Dallas a day before a match.
All in all, this is much like a convention in itself, an all-together familiar feeling. I’ve grown up on conventioneering, so parking myself in a meeting hall and working on logistics or media write-ups is second nature for me. However, I’m rather surprised at how desolate the convention halls are on this third day. I would have expected more activity, but it feels like the media is preparing itself for
The next stop will be the Fan Fest in Dallas, a subject that had been controversial in other locations. Funding had been a mixed bag in other cities, so it would be interesting to see just how the public has found the celebration center. For families looking for entertainment before the big spectacle on Sunday, it could be worth the $20 parking fees.
Honestly, if I found a way to find that parking affordable, it would be worth it for a solo event, but perhaps a visit would wait until I could finish my duties at “Dallas Stadium”.
Photo: Getty Images
Saturday, June 13th, 5:00 PM
Press Conference with Hajime Moriyasu, Japanese National Team Head Coach
While things were a little harder to follow and observe in the city’s media center, FIFA’s media center at what cannot be explicitly called “AT&T Stadium” has been, by all means, a different machine with much finer oil. Of course, the complimentary snacks are replaced with stadium-sized prices, but the atmosphere is expanded exponentially by the world’s magnifying glass.
Japan could use a bit of the magnification themselves. Matchday #1 will be their opportunity to market themselves to the world as the ant looking to topple the elephant.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu stressed two terms in his Saturday press conference. “Resilience and tenacity. Those are qualities that the Japanese can show the world that we are proud of. But of course there are different facets of both.”
If anything, Moriyasu saw commonality in his squad and the Dutch style. “There are many Japanese players in the Eredivisie. I did view all the players there. On a physical and technical standpoint, I believe there are teams that can perform very well. Not that we want to copy, but I believe that it would be very good and essential for a team like Japan to have play models like the cases in the Netherlands.”
Japan comes into this tournament on an inconceivable streak. Despite losing to the USMNT in 2025, the squad has gone undefeated since then. A 2-2 draw to Paraguay may state otherwise, but that was followed by mammoth wins against World-Cup draws Brazil, Scotland, and England, albeit all were considered “friendlies” to many.
While Japan comes into this tournament with eyes on higher promotions and grander aspirations, the shower has been a lot colder on the Asian giants over the past 24 hours. The injuries to Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma and Monaco’s Takumi Minamino have already left the attack somewhat threadbare, but the departure of Liverpool’s Wataru Endo due to his own injuries has increased the pressure to perform, as well as the frequency of the questions.
Moriyasu has often leaned on a three-center-back approach, with wingbacks Ritsu Doan and Mitoma blazing up the sides. However, Mitoma’s hamstring injury forces Reims forward Keito Nakamura to take that role, while Mainz’s Kaishu Sano takes some of the pressure off Celtic’s Daichi Kamada in the middle.
The captaincy falls into the hands of defenseman Ko Itakura, who possibly knows the best of the Dutch system from his current contract at Ajax. If Japan needs a play-builder from the back, Itakura has demonstrated that consistently from his time in the Bundesliga (Schalke, Mönchengladbach) and Ajax.
Moriyasu has put his reliance into the 29-year-old’s capable hands. “Itakura is someone who understands fully, off and on the pitch, what I had been preaching to the team. He can communicate well with each individual in the team.”
We will see Sunday if that can galvanize a squad that is suddenly lacking in depth.
Photo: Reuters
Saturday June 13th, 7:25 PM
Press Conference with Ronald Koeman, Netherlands National Team Head Coach
While Japan comes into this tournament with a need to prove to the world they can hang with the big boys, the Netherlands seem to exude a cautious stature meant for the royal to ascend to the throne.
“The pressure always exists.”
Head coach Ronald Koeman began his press conference acknowledging the expectations, but emphasizing they are no jester. “The Netherlands may not be a very large country geographically, but it is a country that is always present in big tournaments.”
The confidence is there, but the glances still go over the shoulder at the teams in the group. Koeman is both tempered by the Japanese squad’s talent and prepared for it.
“We have a good impression of the Japanese team. We carefully analyze all of our opponents. The Japanese game is quite offense-minded. I don’t want to discuss individuals, but I know they are strong over 90 minutes. Still I know where our opportunities lie.
“We are not afraid of our opponents, but we respect them. We know who our opponents are, and we are ready for them.”
While injuries may not be plaguing this Dutch team as badly as the Japanese team, there are still players Koeman has his eyes on. Xavi Simons (Tottenham) was lost to an ACL tear, while Jurrien Timber (Arsenal) is lost due to a groin injury. Memphis Depay, the Netherlands’ career lead scorer in international soccer, is working back to full health, and Koeman is confident he can return.
“The last couple of days, we have told the players how we’ll be starting tomorrow. Memphis is fit. He would be able to start the match. His fitness has increased, he has progressed well, so things are looking good.”
The outlook may not be as rosy for starting goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), who came off injured in the last friendly, a 2-1 win over Uzkbekistan. However, Koeman kept any information close to the chest. “Verbruggen is able to play. Yesterday and today he trained with the group.”
If the need is now for the Netherlands to win, it’s likely written in the press coming from the homeland. “Obviously we read the messages we get,” vice-captain Frenkie de Jong emphasized. “We have a fairly good idea of the vibe in the Netherlands. Right now, we are full of self-confidence.”
Self-confidence alone doesn’t win matches, but this one out of the gate will likely set the victor on the course towards the throne. The winner of this Group F matchup could find themselves on the fast path to first place.
Predicted lineups (according to FOTMOB)
Match Info
Where: Dallas (AT&T) Stadium, Arlington, TX
When: Sunday, June 14th at 4:00 p.m. EST
Watch: FOX / Telemundo
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