Koeman has no regrets over Netherlands tactics in Japan draw

Ronald Koeman expects better from his Netherlands players, as he insisted he had “no regrets” over his decisions against Japan.

The Netherlands started their World Cup Group F campaign with a 2-2 draw at Dallas Stadium.

Daichi Kamada netted late on for Japan, who twice came from behind, recovering from goals by Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville.

Summerville, the first player to score his first goal for the Netherlands in the World Cup since Daley Blind against Brazil in 2014, was taken off shortly after scoring, and replaced by Nathan Ake in a defensive change.

Yet the Netherlands could not hold out. Koeman, however, saw no issues with his change in approach as he tried to close out the win.

“There was also a problem with pressure on the flanks. So if you look at the game, both goals, well, we didn’t defend well,” he told reporters.

“Football is a funny game because, after Japan scored the second goal, they started defending as well.

“So we could have scored a third goal. So I don’t regret my choices.”

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝟐-𝟐 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧

It ended level in Arlington after all four goals arrived in a back-and-forth second half.

This was the first time the Netherlands have failed to win a World Cup game in which they led twice.#NEDJPN pic.twitter.com/WyLlyzISsl

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 14, 2026

It was a game of few clear chances, as demonstrated by the Netherlands’ 0.78 expected goals to Japan’s 0.59 xG.

This was the first time the Netherlands took the lead twice in a World Cup match but failed to go on and win, and only the second time Japan trailed twice but avoided defeat at the finals, after a 2-2 draw against Senegal in 2018.

“Of course, we can perform better, and we need to grow during the tournament,” Koeman added.

“This definitely was not our best performance.

“Of course, we would have preferred to win the first game. We expected to.”

This was the first World Cup match to be goalless at half-time but then end in a draw in which both sides scored twice since Germany 2-2 Ghana in 2014.

And while Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was delighted with his team’s resolve, he felt they left points on the table.

“The Netherlands were very strong, we were trailing ​behind, a very difficult opponent, the players were united as one, tenacious, they fought to the ​end and did not cease to persevere,” Moriyasu told reporters.

“Of course, we’re not completely satisfied with just the one point for the draw.”