`It’s disappointing…`: Netherlands` captain Van Dijk on draw against Japan

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Daichi Kamada and his Japanese teammates were minutes away from a World Cup-opening loss that wouldn’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.

Ronald Koeman

Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa’s corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan 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.

Japan’s Keito Nakamura celebrates his goal against Netherlands on Sunday

Virgil Van Dijk 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&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.

Hajime Moriyasu

“It’s disappointing now because obviously conceding the lead is never good,” 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. “It’s extra disappointing that we conceded from a set piece so late on,” he added.

The Dutch’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 Netherlands to reach the elimination round, in part because it’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’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. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, but that’s because we were ahead twice,” Koeman said. 

“Many people underestimated Japan, but for the 100,000th time, if you underestimate them, that’s your problem. You think Japan’s strength was overexaggerated before the match? Let’s wait until the end of the tournament to see who’s right,” Koeman added.

34 years 341 days 
Virgil van Dijk’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 — their joint-best streak alongside their run in 2002  

One
No. of losses for  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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