SPORTSWORLD.AM
A highly anticipated and dramatic match took place as part of the opening round of the 2026 World Cup: the Netherlands national team faced off against the Japanese national team.
It is worth noting that this is the 8th consecutive participation in the World Cup for the Japanese. The representatives of the "Land of the Rising Sun" made their debut in the World Cup in 1998 and have managed to reach the 1/8 finals 4 times in their history.
At the start of the match, the visitors had more possession of the ball, but the Dutch team did not tolerate this scenario for long, quickly took the initiative and moved forward. The first 30 minutes of the match were spent in a fair fight and alternating attacks.
The Japanese defense was exceptionally reliable: in the last 11 matches, the opponents failed to score against them (the last time Japan lost to the USA in a friendly match with a score of 0:2). This time again, Japan's goalkeeper Sion Suzuki saved his team from imminent danger twice in the first half. This happened when the Dutch threatened after a corner kick, during which the English Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was constantly on duty in the opponent's penalty area.
Towards the end of the first half, the Orange lost their vigilance, as a result of which the Japanese threatened the home team's goal twice in a row, but were unable to send the ball across the goal line.
Dramatic second half and goal turnover Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring after another set piece, heading in a goal to make it 1:0. This was the 13th goal for the 34-year-old experienced defender, who, by the way, will celebrate his 35th birthday on July 8.
Japan, however, did not remain in the chase for long. In the 57th minute of the match, Keito Nakamura restored the balance of the score to 1:1. This goal was his 11th in the national team's jersey and his first in the World Cup.
Ronald Koeman's team, after the missed goal, rushed forward with renewed vigor, actively attacking the opponent's half. The pressure paid off: Crescencio Somerville scored the opponent's goal and put the Netherlands ahead again, 2-1.
When it seemed that the Europeans would maintain the winning score, the Japanese team prepared a real cold shower for the "Oranges". Just a minute before the end of regular time, Koki Ogawa (in the text: Obama) scored a goal and equalized the score - 2:2. Thus, in a spectacular and tense match, the teams shared the points.