Dutch Media Blame Koeman’s Defensive Substitutions for Japan Draw

The Netherlands opened its World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Japan, the strongest team in its group, which also includes Ecuador and Ivory Coast. Dutch media reacted harshly to the late equalizer, even as the Oranje kept an unbeaten record in World Cup opening matches.

De Telegraaf said Japan dealt the Netherlands a “heavy blow,” writing that “because of Koeman’s defensive substitutions, the Netherlands gave up the initiative completely, and they are paying a heavy price.” The paper added that Virgil van Dijk lost track of Kamada before Japan scored again. AD was equally blunt, saying the Netherlands “brought disaster upon itself.”

Van Dijk, who scored the first goal, did so at 34 years and 341 days old, making him the second-oldest Dutch scorer in World Cup history. Only Giovanni van Bronckhorst is older, after his famous goal against Uruguay in the 2010 semifinal at 35 years and 151 days. The article also noted that Van Dijk has played more minutes than any other outfield player in Europe’s top five leagues, while still carrying the load in the United States.

Another unusual detail was that the Netherlands started a World Cup match without a player from its domestic league for the first time ever. Japan, by contrast, fielded two players from the Dutch league in its starting XI, and one Nijmegen player assisted the 2-2 equalizer. The article was published on June 15, 2026, after the match.