Despite producing global stars like Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands have never felt the joy of lifting the World Cup.
And unless they learn to hold on to leads over the coming days and weeks, that drought will not end this summer.
As the game’s greatest prize eluded him as a player, Koeman is determined to make amends as a coach. But his team are far more dour than previous versions and in Japan, they had opponents who can cause plenty of damage in this tournament.
After a drab first half, the Dutch twice led, through goals from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville, only to switch off at decisive moments, allowing first Keito Nakamura and then Daichi Kamada – though he knew little about it – to equalise for Japan.
What of these teams’ chances in the remainder of the tournament? Koeman’s side are powerful, well-organised and have a deep squad, yet something is missing. Van Dijk and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong aside, there is not much star quality here. Where are the attacking players capable of winning a game by themselves?
As for Japan, they were not especially impressive for much of this game but even without the injured Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino, they have a strong, experienced group of players and will be confident of progressing to the first knockout round and beyond.
Japan earned a late draw with the Netherlands after Koki Ogawa’s late header deflected in off Daichi Kamada
Japan fought back twice to claim a point and show why they can progress to the first knockout round and beyond
Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands’ side are powerful, well-organised and have a deep squad, but look to be lacking star quality in attack
In the first half, both sides played with one foot hovering over the brake. Though the Netherlands had most of the ball, they had only two decent chances to show for it, while Japan offered little in attack. It was almost as though both coaches had looked at the group, thought they would have enough to make it through and decided to do as little harm as possible to one another. For much of the opening period, the pace was moderate and caution ruled, with wingers focusing as much on helping their own full-backs as they were on targeting the opposition’s.
Donyell Malen nearly gave the men in orange an early lead when he collected a pass from Cody Gakpo and outmuscled Shogo Taniguchi before testing Zion Suzuki’s reflexes with a powerful rising effort.
And it was Malen who came close again not long after the half-hour mark, forcing Suzuki into another save from Tijjani Reijnders’ corner.
It took Japan 43 minutes to make Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s heart beat a little quicker and even then, Nakamura failed to hit the target from 12 yards. Moments later, Ayase Ueda volleyed into the side netting.
Japan’s first-half attitude suggested they were happy with a point yet that approach backfired when Van Dijk put the Netherlands in front early in the second half. The Liverpool defender found space inside the box to guide his club-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s excellent cross in off the far post. Both had relatively unhappy club seasons with Liverpool and will be looking to forget all about Premier League duty here. This was a good way to do so.
Yet before the Netherlands could settle properly into their lead, Japan were level. Take Kubo found Nakamura on the edge of the box and his low shot flew past Verbruggen, who was unsighted by Jan Paul van Hecke and Daizen Maeda in front of him.
Yet just as the Dutch could not hang on to their lead, so Japan were unable to protect their goal for long. More good work by Gravenberch on the edge of the box allowed Summerville to take a touch, shift the ball to his left foot and fire across Suzuki, with the ball again touching the far post before going in.
Virgil van Dijk had scored the opener by heading in a cross from Liverpool team-mate Cody Gakpo
Japan hit back quickly with Keito Nakamura scoring after a snap shot on the edge of the box
Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands’ lead but Japan hit back one again
West Ham have little to smile about at the moment, yet Summerville’s goal should have cheered them a little. The winger is one of the Hammers’ most valuable assets and after relegation from the top flight, it seems inevitable he will be sold. More contributions like this will certainly push that price ever higher.
Gakpo could have made it safe for the Dutch when he cut in from the left but shot too close to Suzuki.
Japan had no choice but to wake up. Suddenly they were showing the energy their performance had lacked until then and they were rewarded when Ogawa met fellow substitute Junya Ito’s corner and when the ball flicked off the head of Kamada, Verbruggen could not keep it out.
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