Kamada's late equalizer earns Japan a point and the world's respect

Kamada strikes late, Japan open with a point

Your World Cup is off to a flying start. Daichi Kamada scored in the 88th minute to rescue a 2–2 draw against the Netherlands in Dallas on Sunday, and the international press is calling it the best match of the tournament so far (1) (11).

The New York Times and other outlets heaped praise on a game that had everything. Japan went toe-to-toe with a European heavyweight and looked every bit the dark horse many predicted (1).

Moriyasu: 'A shame we didn't win'

Hajime Moriyasu didn't hide his feelings after the final whistle. "A shame we didn't win," the Japan coach said, praising his players while noting the Netherlands struggled at times (6).

That's not coach-speak. Japan created enough to take all three points, and Moriyasu knows it. The performance was so strong that even Dutch pundits turned on their own team afterward (5) (7).

Nakamura on target as Japan's attack clicks

Keito Nakamura got Japan's first goal of the 2026 World Cup, and Kamada's late equalizer made it two. The goals came against a Dutch side that goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen admitted left him feeling powerless (2).

Japan's tactical discipline and collective organization, the hallmarks of qualifying, translated perfectly to the biggest stage.

Koeman's subs backfire, international media pile on

Here's what the Dutch press won't stop talking about: Ronald Koeman's substitutions handed Japan the initiative. La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that Japan "profited from a tactical move by Koeman" (9).

Dutch pundit Valentijn Driessen went further, calling out Virgil van Dijk directly: "He needs to take a look at himself" (7). Koeman himself called football "strange sometimes" and admitted the 2–2 was "not the best you will see" (5) (10).

Van Hecke leaves with a black eye

Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke made his World Cup debut and walked off with a visible shiner. "I can't see well out of one eye," he said after the match, though adrenaline got him through (3) (2).

No serious concern for his availability going forward, but it's a reminder of the physical toll Japan's intensity inflicted.

Sweden drop five, group G gets interesting

Sweden beat Tunisia 5–1 overnight, putting the group on notice (12). The Netherlands face Sweden next, and suddenly the pressure is on the Dutch, not Japan.

You go into the second matchday with a point in hand and momentum on your side.