Japan punishes Koeman

In a match that steadily grew in intensity, energy and quality, the Netherlands and Japan produced what was, so far, the best game of World Cup 2026.

The 2-2 draw felt like a fair result after a thrilling second half that had the crowd at Dallas Stadium on its feet. The sweltering conditions made it difficult for either team to settle into the game early on, but once the action opened up, both sides delivered. Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville twice put the Dutch ahead, but Ronald Koeman’s tactical changes invited pressure and ultimately proved costly when Daichi Kamada struck late to level the score.

When you think of the Netherlands, it’s difficult not to picture elite strikers. Whether it was all-around forwards such as Johan Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp or classic No. 9s like Marco van Basten and Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Oranje have rarely lacked firepower.

This time, however, Koeman entered the tournament with questions up front. Donyell Malen got the nod ahead of Wout Weghorst, while Cody Gakpo remained on the wing rather than being moved centrally. Malen almost settled the debate after just three minutes, only to be denied by the cat-like reflexes of Zion Suzuki, the American-born goalkeeper who grew up in Urawa, his mother’s hometown in Japan.

It was the best chance of a sluggish first half. Neither Koeman nor Hajime Moriyasu asked their teams to press high, and in a tournament where avoiding defeat often takes precedence over chasing victory, possession became slow and methodical. Malen threatened again from a corner and Gakpo blasted a well-worked set piece over the bar, while Japan came closest just before halftime through Shunsuke Nakamura and Ayase Ueda, both of whom found the side netting.

Goals change everything at Japan vs the Netherlands

The second half was a completely different story.

The Netherlands struck first in the 51st minute. After a partially cleared cross, Frenkie de Jong switched play to Ryan Gravenberch, whose delivery into the box found Van Dijk. The Liverpool defender’s awkward-looking header somehow squeezed inside the far post. Koki Taniguchi appealed for a push, but he knew he could have defended the situation more aggressively.

Japan responded almost immediately.

Five minutes later, Takefusa Kubo danced through the penalty area before slipping the ball to Nakamura. The move appeared to have broken down, but Nakamura unleashed a low drive that caught Bart Verbruggen by surprise and made it 1-1.

The goals transformed the match.

For a spell, Gakpo and Summerville tormented the Japanese defense. The West Ham winger, who is unlikely to be short of transfer interest this summer, restored the Dutch lead in the 64th minute with a classy left-footed finish from near the edge of the box. It was the kind of goal Arjen Robben used to score time and again cutting in from the right.

Japan responded by pushing forward. The Netherlands responded by dropping deeper.

Koeman’s substitutions played a major role. Control-oriented midfielders Tijjani Reijnders and Gravenberch made way for defenders Nathan Aké and Jurrien Timber as the Dutch focused on protecting their lead.

The final minutes were played almost entirely around Verbruggen’s penalty area.

Then came the equalizer.

In the 88th minute, Junya Ito swung in a corner and Kazuki Ogawa got a touch. Kamada, almost accidentally, diverted the ball with the top of his head while trying to get out of its path. The slight deflection was enough to wrong-foot Verbruggen and secure a deserved point for Japan.

The only sour note for the Samurai Blue was an injury to Kubo, who was forced off after a collision with Denzel Dumfries.

Japan vs Netherlands: By the numbers

59.8% possession for the Netherlands

The Dutch controlled the ball for much of the game, compared to Japan’s 40.2%.

0.79 expected goals

The Netherlands generated more danger than Japan, who finished with an xG of 0.54.

Six shots on target

The Dutch doubled Japan’s total of three efforts on frame despite the draw.

525 completed passes

The Netherlands comfortably outpaced Japan’s 342 completed passes.

32 touches in the opposition box

The Oranje reached Japan’s penalty area 32 times, compared to 19 for their opponents.

Netherlands

• 1 Bart Verbruggen
• 4 Virgil Van Dijk
• 22 Denzel Dumfries
• 6 Jan Paul van Hecke
• 15 Mickey van de Ven
• 21 De Jong
• 14 Tijani Reijnders (69')
• 8 Ryan Gravenberch (80')
• 18 Malen (69')
• 11 Gakpo (84')
• 24 Crysencio Summerville (69')
• Substitutes
• 16 Guus Til
• 9 Wouter Weghorst
• 7 Justin Kluivert
• 20 Teun Koopmeiners (69')
• 3 Marten de Roon
• 17 Noa Lang
• 25 Jorrel Hato
• 2 Lutsharel Geertruida
• 23 Mark Flekken
• 13 Robin Roefs
• 26 Quentin Timber (69')
• 10 Depay (69')
• 5 Aké (80')
• 12 Mats Wieffer
• 19 Brian Brobbey (84')SC

Japan

• 1 Zion Suzuki
• 16 Tsuyoshi Watanabe (74')
• 3 Shogo Taniguchi -
• 21 Hiroki Ito
• 10 Ritsu Doan (74')-
• 24 Kaishu Sano
• 15 Daichi Kamada
• 13 Keito Nakamura
• 18 Ayase Ueda (83')
• 11 Daizen Maeda (65')
• 8 Take Kubo (74')
• Substitutes
• 7 Ao Tanaka
• 19 Koki Ogawa (74')
• 2 Yukinari Sugawara (74')
• 17 Yuito Suzuki
• 23 Tomoki Hayakawa
• 22 Takehiro Tomiyasu (74')
• 9 Keisuke Goto
• 6 Shuto Machino
• 20 Ayumu Seko
• 25 Junnosuke Suzuki
• 14 Junya Ito (65')
• 12 Keisuke Osako
• 5 Yuto Nagatomo
• 26 Kento Shiogai (83')SC
• 4 Ko Itakura

Substitutions

Junya Ito (65', Daizen Maeda), Memphis Depay (69', Donyell Malen), Teun Koopmeiners (69', Crysencio Summerville), Quinten Timber (69', Tijjani Reijnders), Yukinari Sugawara (74', Ritsu Doan), Takehiro Tomiyasu (74', Tsuyoshi Watanabe), Koki Ogawa (74', Takefusa Kubo), Nathan Aké (80', Ryan Gravenberch), Kento Shiogai (83', Ayase Ueda), Brian Brobbey (84', Cody Gakpo)

Goals

1-0, 50': Virgil Van Dijk, 1-1, 56': Keito Nakamura, 2-1, 63': Crysencio Summerville, 2-2, 88': Daichi Kamada

Cards

Referee: Ismail Elfath
VAR Referee: Armando Villarreal, Rodolpho Toski Marques
Crysencio Summerville (60',Yellow), Depay (82',Yellow), Mickey van de Ven (90',Yellow)

Standings

Group F	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 JAP	1	1	0	1	0
2 NDL	1	1	0	1	0
3 SUE	0	0	0	0	0
4 TUN	0	0	0	0	0

Group F	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 JAP	1	1	0	1	0
2 NDL	1	1	0	1	0
3 SUE	0	0	0	0	0
4 TUN	0	0	0	0	0