Netherlands vs Japan Highlights 🌎🏆2026 FIFA World Cup

So the house that Jerry built is ready for the World Cup. They say everything's bigger in Texas. So the Netherlands are fancied by some to make a big impact this summer. There's a lot of talent in the squad. Bart van Bruggen's fit enough to start in goal. The absence of Uri and Timbers are blow, but Virgil van Dijk anchors a defense that should be among the tournament's best. Supported by Dumfries, Van Hecke and Van der Beek. The midfield is talented. Players from Liverpool, Barcelona and Manor. How big an impact can Japan make on the tournament? One thing we do know, confidence is high among the players. The fact that Kawumi Toma and Takumi Minamino are missing though is a blow for them, but there is plenty of players who can make an impact. Keep an eye on Nakamura in midfield who gets a goal or two and the talented Takefusa Kubo who's very creative. Japan were prolific scorers. Cody Gakpo slides one in. Daniel Marlin's first involvement inside the Japanese box and he's turned. It's a brilliant save by Suzuki. Outstanding from Marlin, but that's a brilliant save. That's exactly what it does. I've heard how sharp he is in and around the box. Really well done from Cody Gakpo. Great touch. An exceptional little turn from Marlin. It's so easy. That's a nice lay-up. It's Nakamura looking to drop the show. They might well have taken the shot earlier and then it is driven in. It's done for Nakamura. He just got a hit first time. Do you know what? I think that one of the defenders just got a back corner. It's a good header and a good save and it's Suzuki denying Marlin again. Sent back in by Reinders and flicked over the bar by van de Ven. It's a really good ball in. What a great leap from Marlin. Just in the right position. Suzuki. Easy save. He just took the corner as the player was going to take this. Bloomed in towards the far side and then fired over the bar by Cody Gakpo. It really really was. He's actually really good defending. Into the back post. Brave defending. Takes one for the team. First half double number eight. That's good though. In goes the cross. He gets some goals and he gets in the box from that wingback position. Tracks him with his weaker right. For Bruggen out of cover anyway. He's keeping him up. That's not a bad pass chance here for Japan. Yeah and he could finish. What a great ball that is. That's a run across his body. Again I think for Bruggen out of cover. He's a goal scorer. Liverpool the man in possession. Cody Gakpo along with Gravenberg and Van Dijk. He's got the free kick there for the foul on Doan who's trying to stand his ground. He's got his head to a couple of rinders crosses in this match so far today. It's the first man. The man who gave the free kick away. Doan. Gravenberg's ball in. That's a good The deadlock broken. Five minutes into the second half by the Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk. But I'll tell you what Fletch. What a ball from Rang Gravenberg. No pressure on the ball. Just whips it in. No offside. He's in a great position. What a header that is by the way. Just heads it back across goal. Low. Absolutely no chance for Suzuki. But that's why you play a little bit quicker. Get the ball into the box. We said Fletch before. That's their advantage. Get the ball up on the air. Look at Virgil. Guiding that in. Looking down. What a fantastic header. Celebrations from his Ronald Koeman. And how many times have we seen Virgil Van Dijk score that very goal in the red shirt of Liverpool. He's so good at it. You know he doesn't go for power. Just guides it. He's a special player. One of them might be quite advantageous for the Dutchess. We see the the referees view it. Japanese celebrations in Dallas. It's Keito Nakamura with his 11th goal for Japan. His first goal in a World Cup Finals game. Yeah and we said about Nakamura. He can get goals. Good finisher with both feet. But it was Kuba who was a great. Loses rinders. It's Watanabe. The central defender. One of the three central defenders. And we're going to see the first yellow card which is shown. It's done by Gravenberg. Played out now to Somerville. Marlon's on his way into the middle. Somerville hits the shot. Crescencio Somerville for the Netherlands. Fantastic strike. Second international goal. The Netherlands back ahead. Oh that's that's fabulous. Absolutely brilliant from Somerville. Frank Gravenberg does amazing initially. That's impossible for Suzuki. He's actually just passed into the goal. It's really interesting. Somerville ran over to the bench. I think it was Ruben Nistelrooy. It's like a thank you. They must have worked on it in training. See it there. Well he was having such a good season for West Ham before he got into it. There's Kubo. That would have been sensational. Hits it like an absolute bullet. He said come on give it to me. I mean I thought that was going into the top corner. Yeah I think he did as well. Fletcher would be a story. Gakpo chasing his pass forward from beyond. That making it his. Cody Gakpo shot. That's a good save by Suzuki. Does that look easy Suzuki? No I don't think it is. Again that straight pass. I like that one from De Jong. Gakpo into a 1v1 quite quickly. Just got one thing on his mind. Gakpo wants to come inside. Shifts it. Dallas. Swings in the corner towards Van Hecke. He could get in the direction but not the power. There's Gakpo for the Netherlands. Number two. On by Timber. Just trying to get on the end of that. So the substitute Koopman. As he was able to wrap his leg around the defender but they couldn't get enough power on the shot. Great noise inside the stadium. Off goes Ito. Looking to get in behind Frenkie. Good chance. Didn't get enough of it. Sugawara the substitute was almost a Japanese hero. But that's the play Fletcher. You see that little cut back there. Crossed it by Tomi Asu. Cleared away by Van Dijk. That's a foul by Memphis. That's crazy. I mean just giving away an easy free kick and he's got a yellow card as well. Yeah that's the one. Nakamura. In goes the cross. It's gonna fall here for Ito. He can chip one back in and Van Dijk can head it away. Captain's header from Van Dijk. Trying to play their way in. If you watch they'll score from this one. That's astonishing. What a moment for Japan. And didn't you just know that was gonna happen? What a brilliant ball in. Takes a deflection off Kamada I think. I don't think Gruden could see it.