Samurai Blue. Clockwork Orange. Both brilliant nicknames, if we do say so ourselves.
They may be different shades of both colors, but it finally makes sense why we are on location for this pivotal match between European and Asian giant killers.
The Netherlands and Japan began their quests for the World Cup in Group F with a stirring 2-2 draw after 90 minutes. Virgin van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville produced two strikes off the post for goals, only for Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada to knot the score afterwards.
With such a large matchup to start the group stage, a lesser-than-desired performance from one or both would have opened up the window for either Sweden or Tunisia to gallop through to the knockout stage. With both gaining such a dynamic point, the result could be a future prototype to demonstrate the value of a draw in the World Cup.
The Dutch squad (#8 in FIFA rankings) ran through World Cup qualification with relatively no hiccups. While Poland forced 1-1 draws against the Oranje both times, the Netherlands swallowed the rest of the group, posting six wins over Malta, Lithuania, and Finland. Forwards Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, and Donyell Malen combined for 16 goals, while the goalkeeping unit posted five clean sheets.
The discipline in the Netherlands’ approach was evident in their card accumulation. Only one player, Jan Paul van Hecke, posted a yellow-card accumulation suspension over the eight matches.
The Netherlands posted a Starting XI that was expected, albeit with some uncertainties. Goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen started between the posts, despite the injury concerns from the last friendly against Uzbekistan. Legendary scorer Depay started on the bench, as Malen took the striker position after a fantastic season on loan at Roma.
Japan (FIFA #18) entered the World Cup on their own hot streak, winning their last six friendlies against the likes of Brazil, England, and Scotland. Early World Cup qualification was no issue for Samurai Blue, but the third round did force hiccups. Japan took care of Bahrain, Indonesia, and China, but lost a vital qualifier against Australia, providing evidence for some incapabilities.
Daichi Kamada and Koki Ogawa both scored four goals for Japan in third-round qualifiers, but the defense was the cornerstone for a pressuring squad presence. Japan posted seven clean sheets in ten qualifiers, giving up only three goals in the process.
Japan leaned on a familiar formation with some holes filled by depended names. Celtic’s Daizen Maeda and Crystal Palace’s Kamada filled some injury replacements, while head coach Hajime Moriyasu continued to lean on his three-man back line (Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito) that worked well in friendlies.
Photo: Brian Mack
First Half
Both teams stressed discipline in the pressers leading up to this match. For the Japanese side, it meant keeping the Netherlands strikers from hitting the twine, a strategy that worked well for 45 minutes.
The Netherlands’ first shot came in the third minute, as Malen turned into the box with a hard right foot on net, but goalkeeper Zion Suzuki palmed it away to safety.
Malen would get more looks on net from corner kicks in the 34th minute and third minute of added time, only for Suzuki to grab the headers safely.
In the first fifteen and final fifteen minutes of the first half, Japan worked a slow progress into the Netherlands half, forcing the Dutch into a compact 5-4-1 both times. Much of the penetration focused on Maeda beating Denzell Dumfries to the left, but the pairing of Jan Paul van Hecke and Virgil van Dijk kept any shots from targeting the net.
Japan’s process almost succeeded near the end of the first half. Keito Nakamura got a free look on net from a cross in the 43rd minute, only to spray the shot far left. Ayase Ueda got a similar chance from the right in the 45th minute on a threaded pass, only to hit the side-netting.
The Netherlands held possession (69/31) advantages and the only two shots on net. However, Japan had stuck to the program, diligently withering away the edges to set up attacks.
Photo: Brian Mack
Second Half
The cap finally came off the logjam five minutes into the second half.
Van Dijk found Ryan Gravenberch’s cross into the box in the 50th minute to clang a header off the post past Suzuki to make the score 1-0. While it was the Liverpool center-back’s 13th goal for the Netherlands, it was his first World Cup goal for country.
Japan has not often had to fight back from behind, making the equalizer seven minutes later a surprise. Nakamura took a back pass from Takefusa Kubo atop the box, only to twist and fire a shot past Verbruggen. It appeared to be deflected off Maeda, but the last Netherlands defender kept everyone on.
The Reims midfielder’s first goal for Japan made it 1-1.
The Netherlands needed their own seven-minute window to retake the lead. Off another assist from Gravenmerch, Crysencio Summerville curled a wondrous left footer past Suzuki from the edge of the penalty area. The West Ham winger’s first appearance in the World Cup resulted in his first goal for country as well, making it 2-1.
While the Dutch had a solid grip on parts of the second half, the Japan offense fed off the throng of their cheering section to snatch a point late. Off of corner kick in the 88th minute, Ogawa’s header was quickly redirected by Kamada’s own head, slipping past Verbruggen to knot the score again.
The Crystal Palace midfielder’s saving goal split the points for both teams. It is likely neither will be left at the bottom nor the top of the group after the first match.
Photo: Brian Mack
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu came out of the match with a positive spin. “The Netherlands were very strong. With a very difficult opponent, our players united as one, were tenacious and fought to the end. It is unfortunate we were not able to win, but in order to continue, as long as we can perform, we would be confident to win one of the remaining matches.
“We were aiming to get all three points. In that point of view, it’s a little disappointing. But having a strong opponent in the Netherlands and coming from behind, that is not easy. Winning one point is very worthy.”
Head coach Ronald Koeman also stressed the value of the draw for his Netherlands team, but emphasized Japan’s grit. “I’m happy with the team’s performance. There are things we can improve. We tried to keep their wingbacks away, and they couldn’t put pressure on us, but their set pieces were dangerous. You shouldn’t underestimate the strength of our opponent.”
While some in the press conference were asking if this was a negative for the Dutch, Koeman saw differently. “We need to grow during the tournament, we need to do better. I would have preferred to win. We were expecting it. It didn’t happen, but I don’t think that means it wasn’t good enough. The only way is up.”
The draw opens the possibility of Sweden or Tunisia taking the lead in Group F after their match tonight. However, a win in the remaining two matches for either Japan or the Netherlands should direct them into the knockout stage on the strength of a third-place performance or higher.
Japan heads to Guadalupe, Mexico to take on Tunisia (#45 in the FIFA rankings) next Saturday. The Netherlands take on Sweden (#38 in FIFA) the same day in Houston.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, Group F, Match #1
Netherlands vs. Japan
Dallas Stadium, Arlington, TX
Attendance: 69,285
Result: Netherlands 2, Japan 2.
BOX SCORE
Netherlands Starting XI (4-3-3):
Bart Verbruggen (GK); Denzell Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk (c), Micky van de Ven; Tijjani Reijnders (Quinten Timber 70′), Ryan Gravenberch (Nathan Aké 81′), Frenkie de Jong; Crysencio Summerville (Teun Koopmeiners 70′), Donyell Malen (Memphis Depay 70′), Cody Gakpo (Brian Brobbey 84′).
Bench: Mark Flekken, Robin Roefs, Jorrel Hato, Lutsharel Geertruida, Mats Wieffer, Justin Kluivert, Marten de Roon, Guus Til, Noa Lang, Wout Weghorst.
Japan Starting XI (3-4-2-1):
Zion Suzuki (GK); Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Takehiro Tomiyasu 75′), Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Ritsu Doan (c) (Yukinari Sugawara 75′), Kaishu Sano, Daichi Kamada, Keito Nakamura, Takefusa Kubo (Koki Ogawa 75′), Daizen Maeda (Junya Ito 66′), Ayase Ueda (Kento Shiogai 84′).
Bench: Keisuke Osako, Tomoki Hayakawa, Ayumu Seko, Junnosuke Suzuki, Ko Itakura, Yuto Nagatomo, Ao Tanaka, Yuito Suzuki, Keisuke Goto, Shuuto Machino.
Scoring summary:
NED – Virgil van Dijk 50’ (Gravenberch)
JPN – Keito Nakamura 57’ (T. Kubo)
NED – Crysencio Summerville 64’ (Gravenberch)
JPN – Daichi Kamada 88′ (Ogawa)
Discipline:
YC – Crysencio Summerville 61’ (NED, foul)
YC – Memphis Depay 83’ (NED, foul)
YC – Micky van de Ven 90+1’ (NED, foul)
Next Match:
Netherlands: vs. Sweden, 12 pm, Saturday, June 20th, Houston Stadium, Houston, TX
Japan: vs. Tunisia, 11 pm, Saturday, June 20th, Monterrey Stadium, Guadalupe, Mexico
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