Dutch Learn Why Japan is the 'Pride of Asia'

The Netherlands sits fifth in the FIFA rankings, while Japan is 18th. Looking at the rankings alone, some might have easily predicted the outcome of this clash.

But they would be wrong. One must never count Japan out. The Netherlands learned firsthand exactly why the "Samurai Blue" are hailed by fans as the "Pride of Asia."

Four years ago, during the group stage of the Qatar World Cup, Japan defeated both Germany and Spain to reach the Round of 16.

Today, at the Dallas Stadium, they repeated their resilient heroics, bouncing back twice from behind to hold the Netherlands to a draw.

Trailing 2-1 in the 64th minute, the Asian powerhouse refused to surrender. Their persistence in overloading the Dutch box finally paid off just two minutes before the end of regulation time.

Attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada headed home the equalizer from a corner.

Ultimately, Hajime Moriyasu's side snatched a point from the Netherlands with a 2-2 draw.

Historically, the Netherlands had always won their World Cup matches after leading twice, but a resilient Japan—who also defeated Brazil in a friendly match in Tokyo last year after coming from behind—refused to let history repeat itself.

Following a largely drab and goalless first half in Dallas, the second half transformed into a four-goal thriller, making a strong case for the best match of the tournament so far.

The Dutch broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when captain Virgil van Dijk headed home a cross. The opener was purely a "Liverpool production," as the cross was delivered by Van Dijk's club teammate Ryan Gravenberch.

This marked Van Dijk's first-ever goal for the Netherlands in a major tournament.

However, Japan took just six minutes to respond. Cutting into the Dutch box from the left flank, midfielder Keito Nakamura found space and fired a shot into the back of the net, aided by a slight deflection off Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The Netherlands restored their lead in the 64th minute. Gravenberch turned provider once again, but this time it was forward Crysencio Summerville who precisely slotted the ball home from the left, leaving Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki—who had made three brilliant saves earlier—with no chance.

Refusing to accept defeat, Moriyasu's men stepped up their tempo and intensified their attack, frequently breaching the Dutch backline but initially lacking the finishing touch.

That decisive moment finally arrived courtesy of substitute forward Koki Ogawa. In the 88th minute, Ogawa rose to meet a corner delivery, and the ball flicked off Kamada's head into the net.

While Ogawa was the architect of the goal, it was credited to Kamada, marking Japan's fourth headed goal in World Cup history.

The equalizer sparked wild celebrations among the "Samurai Blue" fans in the crowd of nearly 70,000 at the Dallas Stadium. With this result, Japan remains unbeaten in their last four World Cup group-stage matches. In Qatar, after defeating Germany and Spain—both matches where they famously came from behind to win—they were only eliminated on penalties by Croatia in the Round of 16.

Ronald Koeman's side also walks away with a point, extending the Netherlands' remarkable unbeaten streak in World Cup group-stage matches to 17 games. Both teams now sit level with 1 point each in Group F.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) teams are enjoying a strong start to this World Cup. South Korea and Australia clinched victories in their opening matches, while Qatar and Japan have both successfully fought back from behind to secure crucial draws.