Kamada stuns the Dutch, Japan face Tunisia next

Japan 2–2 Netherlands, and the world noticed

Your team went toe-to-toe with the Dutch and walked away with a point. Daichi Kamada's late equalizer secured a 2–2 draw that the global press is calling a shift in the power balance (4). The result forced Ronald Koeman into defensive substitutions that backfired, and he has been answering for them ever since. "Then you have to take the criticism like a big boy," Koeman said, reflecting on the changes he made against Japan (4).

Tunisia on Saturday night, Renard talking himself down

Next up: Tunisia in Monterrey. Kickoff in the night from Saturday to Sunday (5). Hervé Renard, the new Tunisia manager, is already playing down expectations after a heavy loss to Sweden. "There is no magician in football," he said, twice, to different outlets (1) (5). He knows what your team can do after that Netherlands result.

Nakamura, Japan's ace

Keito Nakamura is the player the scouting reports are flagging. ESPN ran a full feature calling him Japan's potential ace in the pack (2). His movement and timing against the Dutch created problems all night, and Tunisia will have seen it.

De Jong a doubt for Sweden, Koeman under pressure

Frenkie de Jong is a doubt for the Netherlands' match against Sweden (4). Koeman admitted the substitutions he made against your team "did not have a good impact." The Dutch camp is unsettled, and Japan played a part in that.

Fan-reaktioner

The mood is light after the Netherlands result. A Reddit post blowing up right now shows Japan's coach snapping a selfie with Harry Kane, and fans are loving the energy. See the thread here.