Netherlands 2-2 Japan: Ronald Koeman’s side are powerful, well-organised and have strong depth but lack key ingredient to win the World Cup, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE

Despite producing global stars such as Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, ​​Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands has never experienced the joy of lifting the World Cup.

The drought won’t end this summer unless they learn to hold on to the lead in the coming days and weeks.

Having eluded the game’s biggest prize as a player, Koeman is determined to make up for it as a coach. However, his team was much more dour than previous versions, and they had opponents in Japan who could do a lot of damage in this tournament.

After a dull first half, the Dutch twice took the lead with goals from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville, but were subbed off in the decisive moments, allowing first Keito Nakamura and then Daichi Kamada (even though he had little knowledge of it) to equalize for Japan.

What will be the chances of these teams in the rest of the tournament? Koeman’s team is strong, well-organized and has a deep squad, but something is still missing. Van Dijk and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong aside, there’s not much star quality here. Where do the attacking players have the capacity to win matches on their own?

As for Japan, they have been underwhelming for much of this match but even without the injuries to Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino, they have a strong, experienced group of players and will be confident to progress to the first knockout round and beyond.

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Japan battled twice to pick up a point and show why they can advance to the first knockout round and beyond

Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side have a strong, well-organised and deep squad but they appear to lack star quality in attack

In the first half, both teams played with one foot on the brakes. Although the Netherlands had most of the ball, they only had two good chances, while Japan offered little in attack. It was as if both coaches had looked at the group, thought they had enough strength to succeed, and decided to cause as little harm to each other as possible. The pace was moderate and cautious throughout most of the opening period; Wingers focused on helping their own full-backs as much as targeting opposing players.

Donyell Malen nearly gave the men in orange an early lead when he collected a pass from Cody Gakpo and put him past Shogo Taniguchi before testing Zion Suzuki’s reflexes with a powerful rising effort.

Not long after the half-hour mark it was Malen who came close again, forcing Suzuki to make another save from Tijjani Reijnders’ corner.

It took Japan 43 minutes to get Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s heart beating a little faster, and yet Nakamura could not hit the target from 12 yards. A few minutes later Ayase Ueda volleyed into the side netting.

Japan’s attitude in the first half suggested they were happy with a point, but this approach backfired when Van Dijk put the Netherlands ahead at the start of the second half. The Liverpool defender found space in the penalty area to direct clubmate Ryan Gravenberch’s perfect cross to the far post. Both had relatively unhappy club seasons at Liverpool and will want to forget about their Premier League duties here. This was a good way to do it.

However, before the Netherlands could fully take the lead, Japan was in the balance. Take Kubo found Nakamura on the edge of the penalty area and his low shot flew past Verbruggen, unseen by Jan Paul van Hecke and Daizen Maeda in front of him.

However, just as the Dutch could not maintain their leadership, Japan could not maintain its goal for a long time. Better work from Gravenberch on the edge of the box allowed Summerville to take a touch, shift the ball to his left foot and shoot for Suzuki, who touched the far post again before the ball went in.

Virgil van Dijk scored the first goal by heading in a cross from Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo.

Japan responded quickly with a goal from Keito Nakamura after a sudden shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Crysencio Summerville kept the Netherlands’ lead but Japan once again took a step back

West Ham don’t have much to smile about at the moment but Summerville’s goal should have cheered them up a bit. The winger is one of the Hammers’ most valuable assets and it seems inevitable that he will be sold after falling out of the top flight. More contributions like this will definitely push this price even higher.

Gakpo could have made it safe for the Dutch by cutting in from the left and shooting at Suzuki from point-blank range.

Japan had no choice but to wake up. They suddenly began to show the energy that had been missing in their performance until then and were rewarded when Verbruggen failed to keep the ball out when Ogawa met fellow substitute Junya Ito’s corner and the ball went off Kamada’s head.

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