Netherlands’ head coach Ronald Koeman said they were at their minimal standard in a 2-2 draw against Japan in their FIFA World Cup opening clash. Koeman admitted they will have to lift their level if they are to go all the way in the quadrennial tournament.
Daichi Kamada scored in the 88th minute to help Japan draw the contest against Nethelands at AT&T Stadium in front of almost 70,000 fans.
Netherlands’ veteran defender Virgil van Dijk scored in the 51st minute after a goalless first half but Keito Nakamura equalised for Japan after only six minutes.
Crysencio Summerville scored his maiden Dutch goal in the 64th minute but Kamada helped Japan in sharing the spoils.
Asked about his pre-tournament assertion that Netherlands were targeting a first-ever World Cup win and if they remained on track, he said: “It is our minimal standard, I should say. We need to grow during the tournament.
“We need to perform better. Of course, we would have preferred to win the first game and we were expecting it because we went ahead twice. It didn’t happen but it doesn’t mean that we now think that our performance was not good enough. I think there were quite a lot of positive moments during the game so the only way is up.”
After the Dutch were leading by 2-1, Koeman made five changes as Summerville, Donyell Malen and Tijjani Reijnders come off for Memphis Depay, Quinten Timber and Teun Koopmeiners. The Netherlands boss, however, had no regrets about the changes he made.
Koeman said: “No, I have no regrets. I don’t think we gave the initiative away. Japan started to play differently.
“During the first half, they couldn’t put the forward pressure on us, maybe because of their respect or fear for us, but after they were trailing, they were able to do so.
“After we scored the first goal, our defence started having difficulties. There was also a problem with pressure on the flanks. Both goals, we didn’t defend well.
“I am disappointed that we didn’t win, but that’s because we were ahead twice. Many people underestimate Japan, but for the 100,000 time, if you underestimate them, that’s your problem.
“You think that Japan’s strength was overexaggerated before the match? Let’s wait until the end of the World Cup to see who’s right.”
The Netherlands will next take on Sweden.
