The Dutch team, coached by Virgil van Dijk, missed out on victory in their first World Cup Group F match against Japan after Koki Ogawa scored a goal in the second minute.
Dutch goalkeepers Bad Verbruggen and Virgil van Dijk after the draw with Japan (Image: (ANP via Getty Images))
Virgil van Dijk scored a goal for the Netherlands, but it wasn’t enough to secure all three points against Japan. In the first World Cup Group F match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the Netherlands missed out on victory when Koki Ogawa’s header was deflected by Daichi Kamata two minutes before the start.
However, Van Dijk put his team ahead six minutes into the second half with a header from a cross from Liverpool teammate Ryan Grabenbirch. However, Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu was furious on the sideline, believing that the foul during the build-up should have been checked by VAR.
A VAR check was conducted after the goal, but it only checked for offside and not a foul. Coach Moriyasu then made his feelings clear to the fourth umpire on the sideline.
However, Keito Nakamura fought back and Ronald Koeman’s side took the lead once again with Crisencio Somerville scoring a fine individual goal in the 64th minute.
However, substitute Ogawa rose the highest and headed Junya Ito’s corner kick past Wald Verbruggen, saving Japan a point. After the match, coach Van Dijk said:
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“But that’s the reality. We got the points and now we’re focused on the game against Sweden. We just keep moving forward. I hope we still have a lot of games ahead of us. We conceded a goal late on so we don’t feel too good, but we’ll move on.”
On the other hand, Japan national team coach Moriyasu said, “Everyone worked together to get the result. We defended patiently and then tried to be more aggressive. The players executed what we had planned and prepared for.”
And before the match, manager Moriyasu tearfully apologized to Wataru Endo for the decision that led to the Liverpool midfielder’s retirement from international football. Endo was denied participation in the World Cup due to foot problems and retired from the national team.
Liverpool’s Wataru Endo announced his retirement from international football last week (Image: Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
The Liverpool star suffered the injury in his final club appearance of the season, against Sunderland on February 11. He made his comeback in the World Cup prelude game against Iceland, playing 45 minutes in a 1-0 win, but his recovery did not progress as expected and he missed the World Cup, meaning that his career as a national team player was delayed.
Coach Moriyasu said, “Overall, the medical staff and I agreed that it would be difficult for him to play at 100 percent.I made this decision based on my own observation of his rehabilitation.”
“We not only hurt Endo, but we also caused pain to many people, including his family and supporters who cherished him.We are truly sorry and would like to apologize.”
“However, I have never lost respect for the players. I have always treated them with that respect. In making this decision, I did not forget to respect the players and acted with the best interests of the team and Japan in mind.”
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