Japan Strike Late to Expose Netherlands' World Cup Flaws in Dramatic Showdown

The Netherlands twice squandered its lead and had to settle for a 2–2 stalemate against Japan in one of the most exhilarating matches of the 2026 World Cup so far.

A largely forgettable first half gave way to a breathtaking second 45 minutes that completely transformed the complexion of the contest. Virgil van Dijk rose to head home the Netherlands' opener in the 50th minute, but the Oranje's celebrations were cut short when Keito Nakamura's effort leveled things up just seven minutes later.

Crysencio Summerville's stunning strike handed Ronald Koeman's side the lead once more, and for a period it appeared that would be enough to secure all three points. However, Japan piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Koki Ogawa got above everyone at a corner, directing the ball (with a slight deflection off Daichi Kamada) into the net to cancel out all of the Netherlands' efforts in the 88th minute.

The Oranje have considerable work ahead, especially in the final third, if they are to mount a genuine title challenge. Japan thoroughly earned their share of the spoils in what was rightly billed as the standout fixture of Group F. The Netherlands must now claim victory in their final two group games to secure top spot and advance to the knockout stage.

The Problem That Won't Go Away

Despite possessing an abundance of quality throughout the squad, a blunt attack was the primary reason the Netherlands were not considered among the frontrunners for the 2026 World Cup, and that was put on full display in their opening tournament fixture.

The Oranje controlled the ball as anticipated, with Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders orchestrating play from midfield and forcing Japan to retreat into a deep defensive shape. The match was largely contested in Japan's half, yet Koeman's men rarely troubled goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

The Netherlands found it difficult to break down Japan's defensive line, with their forwards remaining largely stationary, leading to labored spells of possession as Oranje defenders and midfielders struggled to pick out teammates in dangerous areas.

A lack of creativity in attack saw the Netherlands resort to lateral passing for long stretches of the game. Exploiting their aerial advantage at set pieces appeared to be the cornerstone of the Netherlands' offensive approach, with Van Dijk's header arriving from the follow-up play after a corner.

Aside from one moment of brilliance from Summerville, it is evident the Oranje require significant improvement going forward. Finding a way to unlock the full potential of their attackers and overhauling the overall offensive structure is essential if the Netherlands are to make a genuine push for their first ever World Cup triumph.

Netherlands Player Ratings vs. Japan

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Bart Verbruggen—5.4: Was slow to respond to Japan's first goal, though his sightline was clearly blocked. Produced a poor effort to prevent the second equalizer, deflection notwithstanding.

RB: Denzel Dumfries—6.7: Pushed high up the pitch for much of the first half, drawing additional Japan defenders to that flank and inadvertently making things more difficult for Summerville, who was forced to drop deeper and faced several opponents whenever he attempted to make an impact on the right side. Nakamura gave him a torrid time.

CB: Jan Paul van Hecke—7.2: Dominated aerial duels virtually every time Japan attempted to deliver crosses into the box. An authoritative display at the center of the backline.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—7.9: Impeccable defensively when called upon and broke the deadlock with a precisely placed header. An impressive tournament bow from the skipper.

LB: Micky van de Ven—6.4: Regularly pushed forward down the left to bypass Japan's press and did a solid job keeping the dangerous Ritsu Doan in check. Things became difficult for him late on when Junya Ito came off the bench.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch—8.4: Outstanding display from the Liverpool holding midfielder. He kept the tempo high from the center of the park and was rewarded for his efforts with two assists.

CM: Frenkie de Jong—7.9: Circulated the ball with his customary ease. His contribution may not grab the headlines, but he was dependable throughout.

CM: Tijjani Reijnders—6.8: Struggled to make his presence felt in what was a below-par outing for a player of his caliber. Delivered a few promising set-piece balls.

RW: Crysencio Summerville—7.8: Frequently dropped into deeper areas to collect the ball, well away from the spaces where he causes the most damage. Even so, he remained the Netherlands' most threatening attacker and produced a superb finish to restore his side's advantage—if only briefly.

ST: Donyell Malen—6.9: A spectacular save from Suzuki denied Malen the chance to open the scoring early on. It was an excellent moment from the Roma forward, but he found it hard to make an impact beyond that.

LW: Cody Gakpo—7.2: The blueprint for neutralizing Gakpo has been well established for some time. Whenever he received possession, defenders simply needed to prevent him from cutting inside onto his favored right foot. He had some bright moments but was largely kept quiet.

SUB: Quinten Timber (70' for Reijnders)—6.5: Managed just four passes during his 20-minute substitute appearance.

SUB: Teun Koopmeiners (70' for Summerville)—6.1: A forgettable cameo from the versatile Juventus midfielder. He appeared unable to match the intensity of the match.

SUB: Memphis Depay (70' for Malen)—6.1: Picking up a yellow card was the only notable contribution of his brief time on the pitch.

SUB: Nathan Aké (81' for Gravenberch)—N/A

SUB: Brian Brobbey (85' for Gakpo)—N/A

Subs not used: Mark Flekken (GK), Robin Roefs (GK), Jorrel Hato, Lutsharel Geertruida, Mats Wieffer, Justin Kluivert, Marten de Roon, Guus Til, Noa Lang, Wout Weghorst

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain the Netherlands' Underwhelming Showing