Twice behind, the Samurai Blue snatch a draw against the Netherlands

The Netherlands had never dropped a single point after leading twice in a World Cup match. That is now ancient history. In Arlington, beneath the closed roof of the Dallas Stadium and in stifling heat, Japan refused to fold: twice behind, they responded twice, right up to a Daichi Kamada equaliser in the 89th minute for a 2-2 as wild as it was deserved.

Four goals, two comebacks, an 89th-minute twist

After a disjointed first half short on chances, only Donyell Malen, denied by Zion Suzuki as early as the 3rd minute, and Keito Nakamura, who fired wide in the 43rd, had threatened. The match tipped into madness straight after the restart. In the 51st minute, Virgil van Dijk met a Ryan Gravenberch cross with a header from a tight angle, right into the top corner: 0-1. But six minutes later, Keito Nakamura replied with a shot from twenty metres that was deflected by Jan Paul van Hecke and wrong-footed Bart Verbruggen. 1-1.

The Netherlands thought they had done the hard part in the 64th minute, when Crysencio Summerville, scoring his first international goal, darted into a gap to curl a gorgeous left-footed shot into the far bottom corner: 1-2. But Japan never stopped believing. Pinning the Oranje back late on, they equalised in the 89th: from a Junya Ito corner, substitute Koki Ogawa nodded the ball back to the penalty spot, where Daichi Kamada got a deflected header on it that Verbruggen could not keep out. 2-2.

The Dutch favourites against the giant-killers

On paper, the contest looked lopsided. The Netherlands, three-time World Cup finalists and 7th in the FIFA rankings, started as clear favourites against a Japan side ranked 18th. But the Samurai Blue carry a stubborn reputation as giant-killers: at Qatar 2022, they beat Germany and then Spain, each time after conceding first.

A precedent that warned Ronald Koeman to be cautious. The Dutch head coach in fact named, for the first time in a World Cup match, a starting eleven without a single player plying his trade in the Netherlands.

The Oranje's regrets, Japan's tenacity rewarded

The feared script played out again. Dominant in possession but toothless in patches, the Dutch watched Japan answer each of their bursts forward, faithful to their plan: a compact defence, then counters and crosses to wear the opponent down. For the first time in their World Cup history, the Netherlands led twice without winning; they did extend a record run of 17 group-stage matches unbeaten, but let two precious points slip away.

Koeman will also have to manage the case of Memphis Depay, restricted to the final twenty minutes despite being tipped to start, while Japan lost Takefusa Kubo to injury. In the Texan humidity, the two sides served up a spectacular second act: four goals, all scored after the break.

Sweden cash in, Group F blown wide open

This share of the spoils most of all suits Sweden, who moved into sole first place in Group F with a 5-1 win over Tunisia later in the day. The Netherlands and Japan share second place with a point each, ahead of a Tunisia still on zero. In a group this strong, that dropped point makes the race for top spot far more uncertain for the Oranje.

The Netherlands leave with a point and regrets; Japan, with a point and fresh proof of their fighting DNA. At this World Cup, leading is never quite enough — the Samurai Blue have just reminded the Oranje of that.