Responded harshly to criticism. Ronald Koeman explains late-match collapse at World Cup

The Netherlands’ opening match at the 2026 World Cup against Japan ended in a high-octane 2-2 draw. The Oranje twice took the lead during the game, thanks to a historic record-setting goal from Virgil van Dijk and a precise strike by Crysencio Summerville. However, the Europeans couldn’t hold on for the win.

Details: Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman came under heavy fire from fans and pundits alike for his decision in the second half to blatantly try to "shut the game down"—bringing on additional defenders and ceding the initiative to the opposition, which ultimately led to Japan’s equalizer from a corner in the dying moments.

Despite the media storm, the former Barcelona boss appeared completely composed at the post-match press conference and refused to dwell on the disappointment.

"We led twice, but if you look at the chances both teams had, it was a great match with plenty of quality minutes on both sides. So a draw in the opening game is something we can absolutely live with. There was definitely some first-game tension in their play as well. Japan usually presses much more aggressively, but this time they only started doing that after they fell behind—I think out of fear. Still, we scored two good goals. It’s a shame to lose the win after a corner, but I saw a lot of positives in our performance," Ronald Koeman stated.

Meanwhile, in the mixed zone, Dutch midfield leader Frenkie de Jong gave an extended interview to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE. The midfielder admitted he is incredibly proud to represent his country at the World Cup and made it clear that the Oranje’s only goal is to win the tournament.