The Netherlands faced off against Japan in a tightly contested World Cup match, showcasing the talents of both squads. The game featured a series of substitutions and moments of brilliance, keeping fans engaged throughout the encounter.
72 min “These are two of the more gifted technical sides at the tournament so it’s been good to see an outbreak of football after the break,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Enjoying these McDonald’s hydration breaks every 5 minutes – the world is too rush rush. Blow the whistle. Stop. Have a ciggie. Enjoy it.”
70 min: Netherlands substitutions Memphis Depay, Teun Koopmeiners, and Quinten Timber entered the game, replacing Donyell Malen, Tijjani Reinders, and Crysencio Summerville.
67 min Takefusa Kubo nearly leveled the score for Japan with a clever long-range attempt.
Time for another hydration break.
67 min: Japan substitution Junya Ito took the place of Daezen Maeda.
66 min Hiroki Ito executed a crucial block against Gakpo, who was ultimately offside.
Summerville, having now made his mark with two assists, set up the goal with a precise curling shot that slipped past the diving Suzuki and nestled into the far corner. Initially, it seemed the goalkeeper might have done better, but replays confirmed the shot’s accuracy.
A shoutout to Denzel Dumfries, whose overlapping run helped Summerville create the opportunity. “Uses him by not using him” perfectly sums up the play.
A fortnight ago, Crysencio Summerville was uncapped; now he has a World Cup goal!
63 min A replay illustrates that Nakamura’s shot grazed the outstretched leg of Van Hecke rather than Maeda, who was attempting to avoid contact. Since the original shot was on target, it is officially credited as Nakamura’s goal.
61 min Summerville fouls Watanabe and receives a booking.
The goal emerged unexpectedly. Japan patiently moved the ball around until wing-back Nakamura, having drifted into a central position, unleashed a low shot with his right foot from the edge of the area. The ball was deflected off either Maeda or Van Hecke, leaving Verbruggen helpless.
There was a check for offside, but it was determined that Maeda was played on by the defender on the far side, likely Van de Ven.
56 min The refcam showed that Van Dijk skillfully eased Watanabe aside to create space for his header. Clever tactics, as there was not nearly enough contact to warrant a foul.
54 min Summerville chased down a clipped ball over the top, kept it in play at the byline, and delivered a low cross towards Malen which was cleared.
The Netherlands dominated play in the second half.
A poorly executed free-kick from Reijnders was headed clear at the near post. The loose ball was pushed out to the right wing where Gravenberch took a touch, delivering a fierce cross to the far post. Van Dijk found space, as he often does, and powered a header back across Suzuki, placing it perfectly just inside the post. Liverpool opened the scoring in Texas.
Virgil van Dijk heads the Netherlands in front!
49 min “Every bit the cagey affair you’d expect from two sides planning a deep run in this marathon of a tournament’ is my wholly unsolicited, soundbite-friendly take on this match,” writes Grant Tennille. “But a goal would be nice.”
48 min Gravenberch made a run behind the defense, on the right, and sent a cross that flashed past everyone in the six-yard box.
“If Cape Verde can give us anything.l like the brief thrill that Curaçao did today, the 10-hour round trip, 4 expensive tickets, hotel room, and $23 stadium beer will have been well worth it. “Is what I’ll be telling a sceptical Mrs. Millings.”
46 min No half-time changes were made by either team.
To save time over the next few weeks, can we coin the abbreviation “Not entirely sure I’m with you on the quality of the game here Rob,” for games that need a goal?
With that in mind, our half-time analysis comes from James “I was too young to remember the 1988 side but this Dutch team is a shadow of the 1998 through to 2014 sides (aside from the team that didn’t qualify for Japan/South Korea). So ponderous and turgid. “However, decades of disappointment and underachieving aside, the Dutch did inspire David Winner’s Brilliant Orange, one of the finest books about football.” Dean.
45+3 min Another outswinging corner from Reijnders was headed towards goal by Malen and saved comfortably by Suzuki. A decent effort from Malen.
45+2 min “I’m really hoping this might be the World Cup tournament where a team like the Netherlands, or Portugal, or Japan, or Morocco, or Norway, or Ecuador, or USA, or Scotland, makes a breakthrough and maybe even wins the trophy. It’d make a nice change from the usual suspects if nothing else. Though I suspect any of the aforementioned teams will likely end up being the Hearts to Spain or France’s Celtic.” says Graeme Neill. “I was too young to remember the 1988 side but this Dutch team is a shadow of the 1998 through to 2014 sides (aside from the team that didn’t qualify for Japan/South Korea). So ponderous and turgid.
“Being in Dallas, it is appropriate that the referee is continuing with the big shoulder pads fashion of WC26,”
I should stress that my view on the quality of the game is a work in progress. I do think it’s been pretty good though – lots of neat passing and manipulation of space, just not the dazzling quality to which you referred.
45+1 min Three minutes of added time.
45 min: Another chance for Japan Ueda pulled between Van Dijk and Van de Ven to receive an angled pass into the area. He allowed the ball to bounce past his body onto his right foot, but lashed a shot into the side netting. A decent opportunity, even if the angle was tight.
43 min: Chance for Japan! Doan’s cross from the right was misjudged by the leaping Summerville, reaching Nakamura beyond the far post. He skillfully controlled the ball and dragged a right-foot shot just wide; Verbruggen had it covered.
42 min Maeda, looking lively every time he received the ball, initiated a Japan break with a clever spin and pass to Nakamura. Unfortunately, Nakamura’s cross went out of play.
40 min Japan started confidently in possession, but the Netherlands have controlled the match since Strathmore O’Clock. The game has maintained a noticeable rhythm of slow-slow-quick.
38 min “Any idea what they are packing in there?” says Simon McMahon. “I’m really hoping this might be the World Cup tournament where a team like the Netherlands, or Portugal, or Japan, or Morocco, or Norway, or Ecuador, or USA, or Scotland, makes a breakthrough and maybe even wins the trophy. It’d make a nice change from the usual suspects if nothing else. Though I suspect any of the aforementioned teams will likely end up being the Hearts to Spain or France’s Celtic.”
It tends to happen once a generation, or rather it has since the inevitable early rush of first-time winners: 1930, 1934, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1998, 2010, 2026 YA DANCER.
36 min A booming free-kick from Reijnders was knocked back across goal, possibly by a Japan defender, and drilled over on the stretch by Gakpo. A difficult chance.
34 min Reijnders delivered an outswinging corner from the right, met by Malen on the six-yard line. His powerful downward header was cleared by Suzuki, who was relieved to see a defender get to the loose ball first.
That was a good effort from Malen, who had to contend with two defenders just to reach the ball.
32 min Netherlands are enjoying their best spell of the game thus far. Although it’s been a match of few chances, the quality has been impressive.
31 min “Being in Dallas, it is appropriate that the referee is continuing with the big shoulder pads fashion of WC26,” says Andy Gordon. “Any idea what they are packing in there?”
Is it Oliver Stone’s 400-page treatise on who really shot JR?
30 min Gakpo cut inside and aimed a cross towards Dumfries at the far post. It was slightly overhit, forcing Dumfries to head the ball over the bar from a near-impossible angle.
28 min Doan’s fast low cross from the right was crisply laid off by Maeda to Nakamura at the edge of the area. He wanted to shoot but couldn’t find the space, thanks mainly to Dumfries’s excellent positioning, so he instead laid the ball back to the onrushing Sano, who blasted a first-time shot over the bar; another opportunity wasted.
26 min Football’s back, baby.
