Key events
The other teams in Group F, Sweden and Tunisia, meet in just under four hours’ time. Then it’s Netherlands v Sweden and Tunisia v Japan on Saturday (or the early hours of Sunday).
It’s been a pretty good start to the World Cup: 31 goals in 10 games, some historic moments and plenty of late drama. Gianni Infantino is a genius, the end.
Join Beau Dure for all the team news ahead of an intriguing game in Philadelphia. Ecuador, whose squad includes Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie, not to mention that Caicedo fella, finished second in Conmebol qualifying and conceded only five goals in 18 games.
Updated at 18.13 EDT
“This is the best match of the World Cup so far,” says Kári Tulinius, flicking an insouciant two fingers in the direction of Simon McMahon and James Humphries. “I’ll admit that I struggled to stay awake during the first half, but the second had me being involuntarily loud and accidentally waking my daughter. Happily she’s back asleep.”
ShareFull time: Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Well that escalated slowly. A cautious first half was followed by a thrilling second in which Japan twice came from behind to earn a point.
Virgil van Dijk and Crysensio Summerville finished expertly to put the Netherlands 1-0 and then 2-1 up, only for the superb wingback Keito Nakamura and then Daichi Kamada to equalise.
Both Japan goals were deflected, it’s true, but overall the scoreline feels about right.
Updated at 18.11 EDT
90+5 min “This has indeed been more or less the hoped-for game, it’s perked me right up,” says James Humphries, who was already kite-high at kick off. “I can even recall what day it is tomorrow!”
90+4 min I bet the Dutch commentariat will love the fact Ronald Koeman switched to a back five before conceding a late equaliser.
90+3 min A big deep cross from Dumfries is headed wide by Koopmeiners. Loads of defenders around so it was a very tough chance.
90 min Six minutes of added time. Van de Ven has been booked for something or other.
A corner from the right was met at the near post by the substitute Koki Ogawa. His header hit the head of Daichi Kamada, who knew the square root of bugger all about it, and flew towards goal. Verbruggen dived to his left, got two hands to the ball but could only help it into the net.
Verbruggen might have done better, but Japan will feel they deserve a point after dominating the last quarter. When they try to score goals, they look a very good side.
Updated at 17.52 EDT
GOAL! Netherlands 2-2 Japan (Kamada 89)
Japan are level right at the death!
Japan score their second goal. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.53 EDT
86 min Nakamura blasts a dangerous cross that just evades Ogawa in front of goal.
Japan have played their best attacking football, by far, when they’ve been behind in the game. Next stop, rocket science.
85 min: Netherlands substitution Brian Brobbery comes on for Cody Gakpo, who rarely lets Netherlands down at major tournaments.
84 min: Japan substitution Kento Shiogai on for Ayase Ueda.
83 min Depay is booked for something or other, let’s not got into semantics here.
Updated at 17.43 EDT
82 min We’re not done here, oh no sir. But when we are, this is your next assignment.
81 min: Netherlands substitution Nathan Ake replaces Ryan Gravenberch, who created both goals.
I guess that means a switch to a back five in response to Japan’s tactical tweak.
80 min: Chance for Japan A nice, zig-zag move down the right ends with Junya Ito cutting the ball back sharply towards Sugewara in the area. He slips while lifting a shot that is comfortably saved by Verbruggen.
Actually, the reason Sugewara lost his balance is that Ito’s cutback was slightly behind him.
78 min Some good pressure from Japan, who are now playing with two centre-forwards, it says here.
77 min “I’m sure Mac Millings will be able to come up with a ‘Hydration XI’ by tomorrow,” writes Simon McMahon, “just so Mrs Millings doesn’t think he’s been enjoying himself too much…”
Depends which type of Hydration XI we’re talking about.
75 min: Triple substitution for Japan Takehiro Tomiyasu, Koki Ogawa and Yukinari Sugawara replace Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Ritsu Doan and the injured Takefusa Kubo.
73 min A trademark effort from Gakpo – cutting inside, then reversing a shot towards the near post – is pushed round by Suzuki. Good save.
The resulting corner is headed towards goal by Van Hecke and saved comfortably by Suzuki.
72 min “These are two of the more gifted technical sides at the tournament so it’s been good to see an outbreak of football after the break,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Enjoying these McDonald’s hydration breaks every 5 minutes – the world is too rush rush. Blow the whistle. Stop. Have a ciggie. Enjoy it.”
Chill, relax.
70 min: Netherlands substitutions Memphis Depay, Teun Koopmeiners and Quinten Timber come on for Donyell Malen, Tijjani Reinders and Crysencio Summerville.
Updated at 17.31 EDT
67 min Takefusa Kubo almost equalises for Japan with an imaginative long-range effort. The reason for this unacceptably vague description is that I missed it while looking at reader emails, and there hasn’t been a replay on the TV coverage.
Time for another hydration break.
Updated at 17.42 EDT
67 min: Japan substitution Junya Ito comes on for Daezan Maeda.
Updated at 17.42 EDT
66 min Hiroki Ito makes an goal-saving block from Gakpo, who was offside anyway so forget it.
Gravenberch, who now has two assists, played a short pass to Summerville on the right edge of the area. He moved infield, onto his left foot, and swept a precise curling shot that bounced past the diving Suzuki and into the far corner.
At first I thought the keeper might have done better. Not a bit of it: replays show that Summerville’s shot could not have been more precise.
A word too for Denzel Dumfries, whose overlapping run gave Summerville the chance to cut inside. “Uses him by not using him” and all that.
Updated at 17.34 EDT
GOAL! Netherlands 2-1 Japan (Summerville 64)
A fortnight ago, Crysencio Summerville was uncapped; now he has a World Cup goal!
Netherlands’ Crysencio Summerville scores their second goal. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.25 EDT
63 min A replay shows that Nakamura’s shot brushed the outstretched leg of Van Hecke rathern than Maeda, who was trying to jump out of the way. As the original shot was on target, it’s Nakamura’s goal.
61 min Summerville trips Watanage and is booked.
The goal came out of nothing. Japan worked the ball patiently on the left until the wing-back Nakamura, who had wandered into a central position, turned suddenly and whistled a low shot from the edge of the area with a his right foot. It took a nick off either Maeda or Van Hecke and gave Verbruggen no chance.
There’s a check for offside but Maeda was being played on by the defender on the far side, Van de Ven I think.
Updated at 17.22 EDT
GOAL! Netherlands 1-1 Japan (Nakamura 57)
Japan are level!
Japan’s Keito Nakamura scores their first goal past Netherlands’ Bart Verbruggen. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.25 EDT
56 min The refcam shows that Van Dijk eased Watanabe out of the way to create space for his header. Canny stuff because there was nowhere near enough contact for a foul.
Updated at 17.19 EDT
54 min Summerville runs onto a clipped ball over the top, keeps it in at the byline and pushes a low cross towards Malen that is cleared.
Netherlands are well on top in the second half.
A poor free-kick from Reijnders was headed away at the near post. The loose ball was worked out to the right wing, where Gravenberch took a touch and whipped a belting cross towards the far post. Van Dijk found space, as he does so often in these situations, and planted an accomplished header back across Suzuki. It was perfectly placed and swerved just inside the post. Liverpool strike first in Texas.
Updated at 17.16 EDT
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Japan (Van Dijk 51)
Virgil van Dijk heads the Netherlands in front!
Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk scores their first goal. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.13 EDT
49 min “Every bit the cagey affair you’d expect from two sides planning a deep run in this marathon of a tournament’ is my wholly unsolicited, soundbite-friendly take on this match,” writes Grant Tennille. “But a goal would be nice.”
48 min Gravenberch gets round the back, on the right, and wallops an inviting cross that flashes past everyone in the six-yard box.
47 min “Currently in Atlanta, ahead of attending tomorrow’s Clash of the Titans between Spain and Cape Verde, and having a ‘hydration break’ in a lovely bar, watching this with my son (who is finally of age), and enjoying your adequate commentary,” chirps Mac Millings. “If Cape Verde can give us anything.l like the brief thrill that Curaçao did today, the 10-hour round trip, 4 expensive tickets, hotel room, and $23 stadium beer will have been well worth it.
“Is what I’ll be telling a sceptical Mrs. Millings.”
46 min No half-time changes on either side.
Half-time reading
Updated at 16.57 EDT
Half time: Netherlands 0-0 Japan
To save time over the next few weeks, can we coin the abbrevation ‘nag’ for games that need a goal?
With that in mind, our half-time analysis comes from James ‘JD’ Dean.
NB: clip contains adult themes and language.Share
Updated at 16.54 EDT
45+3 min Another outswinging corner from Reijnders is headed towards goal by Malen and saved comfortably by Suzuki. A decent effort from Malen.
45+2 min “Not entirely sure I’m with you on the quality of the game here Rob,” says Graeme Neill. “I was too young to remember the 1988 side but this Dutch team is a shadow of the 1998 through to 2014 sides (aside from the team that didn’t qualify for Japan/South Korea). So ponderous and turgid.
“However, decades of disappointment and underachieving aside, the Dutch did inspire David Winner’s Brilliant Orange, one of the finest books about football.”
I should stress that my view on the quality of the game is a work in progress. I do think it’s been pretty good though – lots of neat passing and manipulation of space, just not the dazzling quality to which you referred.
45+1 min Three minutes of added time.
45 min: Another chance for Japan Ueda pulls between Van Dijk and Van de Ven to receive angled pass into the area. He allows the ball to bounce past his body, onto the right foot, but then lashes a shot into the side netting. A decent chance, even if the angle was tight.
43 min: Chance for Japan! Doan’s cross from the right is misjudged by the leaping Summerville and reaches Nakamura beyond the far post. He controls the ball deftly and drags a right-foot shot just wide; Verbruggen had it covered.
42 min Maeda, who looks full of the joys every time he gets the ball, accelerates a Japan break with a nice spin and pass out to Nakamura. Alas, Nakamura’s cross goes out of play.
40 min Japan started confidently in possession, but the Netherlands have dominated since Strathmore O’Clock. There’s still a pronounced slow-slow-getitinthefakkinmixer-quick rhythm to the game.
38 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I’m really hoping this might be the World Cup tournament where a team like the Netherlands, or Portugal, or Japan, or Morocco, or Norway, or Ecuador, or USA, or Scotland, makes a breakthrough and maybe even wins the trophy. It’d make a nice change from the usual suspects if nothing else. Though I suspect any of the aforementioned teams will likely end up being the Hearts to Spain or France’s Celtic.”
It does tend to happen once a generation, or rather it has since the inevitable early rush of first-time winners: 1930, 1934, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1998, 2010, 2026 YA DANCER.
36 min A booming free-kick from Reijnders is knocked back across goal, possibly by a Japan defender, and drilled over on the stretch by Gakpo. Tough chance.
34 min Reijnders cracks an outswinging corner from the right that is met by Malen on the six-yard line. His powerful downward header is spooned away by Suzuki, who is relieved to see a defender – rather than a Netherlands forward – get to the loose ball first.
That was a good effort from Malen, who had to scrap with two defenders just to get to the ball.
Netherlands’ Donyell Malen in action. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersShare
Updated at 16.39 EDT
32 min Netherlands are having a good spell, perhaps their best of the game so far. It’s a match of few chances but the quality has been high.
31 min “Being in Dallas, it is appropriate that the referee is continuing with the big shoulder pads fashion of WC26,” says Andy Gordon. “Any idea what they are packing in there?”
Is it Oliver Stone’s 400-page treatise on who really shot JR?
30 min Gakpo cuts inside and angles a cross towards Dumfries at the far post. It’s slightly overhit, which means Dumfries can do nothing except head the ball over the bar from an impossible angle.
29 min Van de Ven turns on the afterburners, charging into the area on the left and delivering a low cross that is well cleared.
28 min Doan’s fast low cross from the right is laid off crisply by Maeda to Nakamura on the edge of the area. He wants to shoot but can’t find enough space, thanks mainly to Dumfries’s excellent positioning, so instead lays the ball back to the onrushing Sano. He drills a first-time shot over the bar; another moment of opportunity goes up in smoke.
26 min Football’s back, baby.