15/06/2026 10:33 - Deportes
Entrenador de fútbol en el banco con gesto tenso durante partido nocturno
The Netherlands national team, affectionately known as Oranje (Orange) for their iconic orange kits, had a frustrating start to their World Cup 2026 campaign, settling for a 2-2 draw against Japan at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. What seemed like a secured victory evaporated in the final minutes, sparking a wave of criticism directed at head coach Ronald Koeman.
De Telegraaf, the Netherlands' largest newspaper, was ruthless with the veteran manager, headlining: "Ronald Koeman's drastic changes are the downfall of the national team." Dutch media argued the squad 'fell asleep' trying to protect a slim lead rather than sealing the match.
The criticism focuses primarily on substitutions made when the score favored the Dutch 2-1. Koeman decided to withdraw Donyell Malen and Crysencio Summerville—two of the most dangerous attacking players—to retreat into a five-man defensive line, introducing Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké in place of the creative outlets.
"If we play even more attacking, many more opportunities open up. They (Japan) take advantage of that better," Koeman justified after the match, arguing that fatigue and the opponent's quality forced the retreat.
Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen (who plays for Brighton in the English Premier League) took partial responsibility for Japan's equalizer: "It's very difficult... I managed to touch it with my fingertips, but it still went in. It's frustrating."
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo—the Liverpool forward and one of the Netherlands' brightest stars—defended his coach: "At that moment, it might have been the right decision. Ultimately, that's not the reason we didn't win."
The draw leaves a bittersweet feeling among the Dutch supporters, who expected a more commanding debut on American soil.
| Position | Country | Points | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2nd | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 4th | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Context: Sweden demolished Tunisia 5-1 in the other group match, taking an early lead. The Netherlands and Japan share second place with one point each, setting up a crucial second round of matches.
The match was played at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, which will host several World Cup matches including key knockout games. The venue's capacity of 80,000 makes it one of the largest stadiums in the tournament, and the Dutch traveling support created an electric orange atmosphere despite the disappointing result.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
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