Netherlands vs. Japan Player Ratings: Who Was the Man of the Match In the World Cup Game?
The first match of Group E of the 2026 World Cup was between the Netherlands and Japan at Dallas Stadium. The Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2.
Virgil Van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored for the Netherlands, while Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada scored for Japan.
In the first half, the Netherlands had the clearer chances, with Donyell Malen having two shots on target. Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki pulled off two saves in the first half that kept Japan in the game.
Japan also had chances, but they had no shots on target in the first half. The first half ended in a 0-0 draw.
In the second half, the Netherlands started strong, and in the 50th minute, Van Dijk scored a header in the box after a cross from Ryan Gravenberch. Van Dijk's header would hit the post and bounce into the net.
Their lead did not last long, and Japan would equalize in the 57th minute through a deflected goal by Keito Nakamura. Nakamura was assisted by Takefusa Kubo, who was on the left flank. Nakamura's shot was slightly deflected by Jan Paul Van Hecke.
Goals kept coming, and seven minutes later, the Netherlands grabbed their second goal with a great shot from Crysencio Summerville, who finished it with his left foot and curled it into the bottom corner.
In the 88th minute, substitute Koki Ogawa wins the header from a corner, and it deflects off Daichi Kamada's head, who scores past Bart Verbruggen to make it 2-2 late in the game.
Player Ratings for the Netherlands and Japan (1-10)
Netherlands
- Bart Verbruggen - 6
- Micky Van de Ven - 7
- Virgil Van Dijk - 8
- Jan Paul van Hecke - 7
- Denzel Dumfries - 6
- Tijjani Reijnders - 7
- Frenkie De Jong - 7
- Ryan Gravenberch - 8(Man of the Match for the two assists he had for the Netherlands)
- Cody Gakpo - 6
- Donyell Malen - 7
- Crysencio Summerville - 7
Subs: Memphis Depay (6), Quinten Timber (5), Teun Koopmeiners (5), Nathan Ake (5), Brian Brobbey (5)
Japan
- Zion Suzuki - 8
- Hiroki Ito - 6
- Shogo Taniguchi - 7
- Tsuyoshi Watanabe - 7
- Keito Nakamura - 7
- Daichi Kamada - 7
- Kaishu Sano - 6
- Ritsu Doan - 6
- Daizen Maeda - 6
- Ayase Ueda - 6
- Takefusa Kubo - 7
Subs: Junya Ito (6), Takehiro Tomiyasu (5), Tukinari Sugawara (5), Koki Ogawa (7), Kento Shiogai (5)
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 2:56 PM.