Daichi Kamada and his Japanese teammates were minutes away from a World Cup-opening loss that wouldn&rsquo;t have been unexpected considering the opponent.
His tying goal will be remembered for a long time in his homeland, especially if the country with some soccer momentum reaches the round of 16 again.
<img title="Ronald Koeman" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/dutch-losing-b_e.jpg" alt="Ronald Koeman" width="1280" height="720" />Ronald Koeman
Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa&rsquo;s corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-japanese-coach-hajime-moriyasu-has-a-new-board-game-23635333" rel="nofollow">Japan</a> a 2-2 draw with the higher-ranked Netherlands on Sunday.
While the Dutch extended their unbeaten streak to 17 games in group play, the orange-clad Oranje supporters were stunned by the late goal that left them at 21-2-11 in group play at the World Cup.
<img title="Japan&rsquo;s Keito Nakamura celebrates his goal against Netherlands on Sunday" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/nakamura_e.jpg" alt="Japan&rsquo;s Keito Nakamura celebrates his goal against Netherlands on Sunday" width="1280" height="720" />Japan&rsquo;s Keito Nakamura celebrates his goal against Netherlands on Sunday
<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/photo/in-photos-fifa-world-cup-2026-japan-score-late-to-rescue-a-draw-against-netherlands-111619/1" rel="nofollow">Virgil Van Dijk</a> and Crysencio Summerville scored off each post for the Netherlands early in the second half, while Keito Nakamura had a goal between those as part of a three-goal flurry in just 14 minutes.
A mostly uneventful first half changed quickly after the break for a crowd evenly split at AT&amp;T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys with the retractable roof that offered relief from the muggy Texas heat, and the giant video board that fans had a hard time keeping their eyes off.
<img title="Hajime Moriyasu" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/jun/dutch-losing-d_e.jpg" alt="Hajime Moriyasu" width="1280" height="720" />Hajime Moriyasu
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing now because obviously conceding the lead is never good,&rdquo; said Van Dijk, the second-oldest Dutch goal scorer in a World Cup at 34 years, 341 days, behind Giovanni van Bronckhorst at 35 and 151 against Uruguay in 2010. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s extra disappointing that we conceded from a set piece so late on,&rdquo; he added.
The Dutch&rsquo;s most recent loss before the elimination round came the last time the World Cup was in the USA in 1994, when a group play defeat was followed by a quarterfinal loss to Brazil at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
The pressure is always on the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/t20-world-cup-2026-ricky-ponting-speaks-about-babar-azam-knock-against-netherlands-23615816" rel="nofollow">Netherlands</a> to reach the elimination round, in part because it&rsquo;s the only country to reach the final three times without winning the World Cup.
A draw to open Group F, which includes Sweden and Tunisia, won&rsquo;t ease that pressure on coach Ronald Koeman, who faced several pointed questions about strategy and shot back with cryptic replies. The Dutch beat Japan in their only other World Cup meeting in 2010. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m disappointed that we didn&rsquo;t win, but that&rsquo;s because we were ahead twice,&rdquo; Koeman said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Many people underestimated Japan, but for the 100,000th time, if you underestimate them, that&rsquo;s your problem. You think Japan&rsquo;s strength was overexaggerated before the match? Let&rsquo;s wait until the end of the tournament to see who&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; Koeman added.
34 years 341 days&nbsp; Virgil van Dijk&rsquo;s age; he became the second oldest goal-scorer for Netherlands in a World Cup game after Giovanni van Brockhorst in 2010 (35 years and 151 days)
One No. of times Netherlands have taken the lead twice, but failed to win a World Cup game
Three No. of consecutive games Japan have gone undefeated in the World Cup &mdash; their joint-best streak alongside their run in 2002 &nbsp;
One No. of losses for &nbsp;Netherlands against an Asian opponent at the World Cup across six matches
Nine No. of goals scored by Japan in the second half across their 10 World Cup goals
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Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk, who opened the scoring, left unhappy as they blow lead twice and end up sharing points in 2-2 draw with Japan

FIFA World Cup 2026: Netherlands' captain Virgil Van Dijk speaks about draw against Japan

FIFA World Cup 2026: Gyokeres, Isak two good!

Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk, who opened the scoring, left unhappy as they blow lead twice and end up sharing points in 2-2 draw with Japan; boss Koeman insists they didn’t take Asians lightly

FIFA World Cup 2026 | 'It’s disappointing...': Netherlands' captain Virgil Van Dijk on draw against Japan

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / FIFA World Cup 2026 | 'It’s disappointing...': Netherlands' captain Virgil Van Dijk on draw against Japan