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World Cup 2026 - Netherlands vs Japan Full Match ( ⚽ 1st Half )
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00:00Inside the group, they opened in the biggest stadium in the World Cup tournament this year.
00:05In fact, the stadium was a frontrunner to host the final, but then New York, New Jersey was
00:09ultimately chosen for its proximity to New York City. The players are ready. They are in the
00:15tunnel. Let's get you down to the pitch. Martin Tyler and Andy Townsend with the call.
00:24Pretty much most of their squad now playing all the big clubs in and around Europe.
00:29They've got good experience, good World Cup experience behind them, and I think they're
00:34going to be a real tough nut to crack. I do. I think this Japan team, despite one or two
00:39key players that aren't unfortunately here because of injury, I think they're going to
00:43be one to watch.
00:47Dallas was a venue in 1994. The Cotton Bowl, which still exists, but isn't used for occasions
00:55such as this now. They had six fixtures, including a quarterfinal featuring the Netherlands, who
01:02were beaten then 3-2 by Brazil, and it was a World Cup classic. Many of you will remember
01:07it. It turned out to be the last of Ronald Koeman's 78 caps. So he bowed out as a player
01:14in Dallas. We can't bow out as a coach today, but there's a lot of expectation on his shoulders.
01:20There's no doubt. When you're the Netherlands coach, they're a very gifted nation, and there's
01:26a pressure that comes with that. But Ronald Koeman has lived with pressure pretty much
01:30all his life, playing at some of the very biggest clubs and managing a great number of
01:36significant teams too. So that won't phase him. He's going to be ruthless with his decision
01:41making. That's the kind of coach he is. But if he gets it right, then the Netherlands
01:45can play. Make no mistake about that. Yeah, they're one of the World Cup's most eye-catching
01:54nations, but one of the most unlucky. The three finals they got to, the first two against host
02:00nations, Germany in 74 and Argentina in 78, away finals. Yes, very true. Very true. As a
02:06young lad, I do remember watching that one against Argentina back in 78. But this current
02:13group of players, gifted, can they knit it together? Can they just have that bit of harmony
02:19in the background, which sometimes has been missing from the Netherlands squads? If they
02:24get that side of it right, there's no doubt in what they can do on the field.
02:28Well, the orange is coming. That's what they've been saying. The Dutch fans actually rather
02:34personified by the Dutch bus, an open top bus, which is orange from, I'm sure all the parts
02:41of the engine are orange as well. And that's been chipped over from the Netherlands and is here
02:47in the vicinity of the stadium. They go big on the big occasions.
03:01I think it's quite a nice touch, Andy, that we get all the players, including the substitutes
03:06to be out and sort of unveiled to the world rather than the subsidy in the dugouts.
03:11I agree. It is nice, that. You're right, Martin. For years, we've seen those that aren't
03:16starting sitting in the dugouts or lining up close to the dugouts, whereas now it's lovely
03:22to get them right all around the center circle, belting out their respective anthems.
03:32Please stand if you are able for the national anthem of the Netherlands.
03:53psalm
03:55Josh
03:55Pope
03:55Pope
03:57Penny
03:58Pope
03:59Pope
04:01Pope
04:06Pope
04:36Please remain standing if you are able for the national anthem of Japan.
05:19Please remain standing if you are able for the national anthem of Japan.
05:50Okay, we're going to a game.
05:51Three on three.
05:52Winner go home.
05:52And this local crew, they've never gone home.
05:54Not since 1996.
05:56For real?
05:56Yeah.
05:56Anyone, any time.
05:58And guess who showed up?
06:00Three legends.
06:00Peak of their powers.
06:03Everyone thinks this has got to be it.
06:07But the football guys have other plans.
06:10Two goals, just like that.
06:11And then the kid beat Zidane with his own move.
06:14They say Zidane didn't speak for a week.
06:16That's cold, man.
06:28And they're strangely opposite views.
06:31Maybe because you've played at this level and I haven't.
06:33The ref camp takes me into it.
06:36Yeah.
06:55The referees have had a lot to learn with the new regulations.
07:04Some of them are laws, but not all of them.
07:19Well, as befits the occasion, the referee is based in Texas.
07:23Ismael Elfat, originally from Morocco, and now lives in Austin, less than 200 miles south of here.
07:34And on VAR duty is Armando Villarreal.
07:51Well, first choice part for Brogan is in goal after an injury in the final warm-up game last Monday.
07:57And his Brighton clubmate, Jan-Paul Van Hecker, is alongside the captain, Virgil van Dijk.
08:04First choice midfield for the Dutch, Gravander, Du Jong, and Reinders.
08:08Crescensio Somerville, uncapped until this month, brings pace to the attack.
08:12Daniel Marlon through the middle.
08:14And Cody Gakbo from the left.
08:17And the record goal scorer, Memphis Depay, who now plays in Brazil, is fit to be on the bench.
08:23The USA-born, Zion Suzuki, has been a groundbreaker in Serie A with Parma.
08:28Three at the back with Ito.
08:31It's a great passing range.
08:34Mitch Zidane is the captain after the shock axing of Botaro Endo.
08:38It's a big story, this, in Japan.
08:41Paesu Sano takes his place.
08:44Bakufu Zokubo has the X-factor in attack.
08:46There's several striking options, but Ayas Singh Wade gets the knot, no surprisingly.
08:52He finished top scorer in the Eredivisie in the Netherlands.
08:57And in fact, the Japanese have got two players based in the Netherlands,
09:02playing in their football in the Eredivisie.
09:05Holland, Netherlands have got none.
09:08Yeah.
09:09Amazing, really.
09:13But really looking forward to the game, Martin.
09:14Here we go.
09:16Always vital to get up to a good start.
09:18Game one, so important.
09:29Well, they have played each other once before in a World Cup in South Africa.
09:35And Wes Schneider, who's here today, scored the winner.
09:38And of course, the Dutch went on to get to that final in 2010.
09:46Here comes the countdown.
09:47A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A.
10:01There's been a lot of attention on the pitch here with that indoor lighting
10:06just above head heights spread across it for all the time that Andy and I have been here until today
10:12to encourage the growth and make sure that it's fit for purpose.
10:16and certainly starting like that here's a way down
10:24guys are made are trying to take it on
10:28and now somerville could be a lot of counter attacking in this game
10:37good covering by tanaguchi
10:42speed is of the essence particularly throughout the japan side really and somerville has brought
10:48it and he's to he has such too he's certainly extremely rapid his ntl somerville i think
10:55what we've seen martin in a few of the opening matches is those teams that get around the pitch
11:00really quickly applied pressure false errors are the teams that can kind of gain the initiative
11:06early on i think we've got two teams today expect japan to do exactly that i don't think
11:13they'll sit off of this dutch team for too long the initial moments maybe
11:17and then of course the netherlands when they get it forward get it through the middle of the park up
11:22front in marlin in somerville and in cody gacpo they've got people that can hurt you
11:28and it's gacpo played his 50th cap in the last the one is 50th cap in the last warm-up
11:33game
11:33against uzbekistan he scored both goals it's a a narrow win 2-1 both goals from the penalty spot
11:41it's uh frankie de jong
11:46missed out on the euros
11:49that's got to the semi-finals it's the one tournament they have won back in 1988
11:55yeah kumum's a player then
11:59here's gacpo of liverpool
12:03that's to come in on his right foot the young
12:12van hecke
12:15now the swashbuckling denzel dumfries yeah he likes to get forward he's good at it
12:23i see again here already japan keeping their shape making sure that they don't get stretched
12:30and pulled around and invite the netherlands to play between them
12:34gacpo trying to start it in marlin if he can hold it up and set somebody else i said himself
12:39up
12:42well he's been a bit of a stopgap central striker
12:46often plays wide and he's missed a lot of chances in the warm-up i suppose you could say he
12:50missed this
12:51one but it was a good effort great effort martin he does really well doesn't he to gather that to
12:55get
12:56really close and his tanaguchi actually gets a little too tight to him once he's rolling
13:01him and he's always going to get that shot away it's a really good hit and it's a good stop
13:05from
13:06suzuki
13:10well this is going to be an issue it's an issue in football not just in world cups and
13:15high level football the grabbing and grappling
13:21the lawmakers are trying to make some of that out of it
13:27but it's an almost impossible impossible thing to call isn't it it's very difficult
13:32yeah it's very difficult when everybody's doing this is that shot again from donio marlin
13:39engineered the space for himself really well actually although the goalkeeper saves here almost
13:43too quick for him kind of bends his fingertips back but it just about gets behind it and does enough
13:49does enough he's been playing in italy sarah sion suzuki and uh it's really taken japanese
13:59don't keep me to a new level in terms of ability and also in terms of height as well
14:11there's a bit of style about these early minutes from the nevelands yeah really nice good play again
14:17it's just a little fiery the ball back from donio marlin towards somerville but
14:22really nice work initially the way that gravenberg weaved his way infield and
14:28and that little give and go very nearly
14:38and paul van hecker touches it back
14:40up for bruggen the two brighton players there's another one in the squad as well
14:45in the mats viva
14:49it's understudy to dumfries is on the ball here
14:59and that's an extraordinary character really because he wasn't an instant success as a young
15:04player in his own country in fact he's probably more appreciated
15:08and certainly in the northwest of england but in england generally than he is at home
15:12even though he's the leader of the game
15:21yeah that change of directions
15:23catching out
15:24van de vent
15:27it's good feet actually there
15:30van de vent there a little bit clumsy that challenge on the opposite side of the field not
15:35natural one for him and he's so quick he probably feels he can get tight and still recover but
15:42that's a careless one and a needless one in that situation to concede
15:48it's a good one
15:51kamada over the ball
15:53kamada
15:55to ride for his country having won a trophy with his club crystal palace
16:01he wrote the conference league
16:06real chance to put some pressure on that zonally set up back line from the netherlands and
16:13it's a deep one has it gone out flag is up to suggest that had already gone out
16:20just a little too deep that one was it was a good idea because they never loaded well correct
16:26here the blue shirts just spun towards that far post there but
16:31just a fraction too heavy good tempo to the game nice start to it
16:38and we don't have to worry too much about the temperatures because there's some air conditioning in here
16:44the uh
16:48hydration break will happen that's because it's a tournament rule but
16:51probably wouldn't need to you were just looking this is a one-off fixture
16:57there's van der saa and wesley schneider the top two appearances for the netherlands is that right
17:26no it's lovely it's lovely to be here to to witness a world cup they're always very special
17:31with a long build up to this one but it's well worth the wait
17:55it's uh
18:05what we do have in the stadium and then we look up at it time this massive jumbotron screen
18:09yes i'm not using a commercial term there everybody will know what i mean it's huge it certainly is
18:22effectively there's tanaguchi
18:30and i think what we've seen in the opening eight and a half minutes i think no surprises that the
18:37netherlands look with their back four closer to the halfway line kind of dictating the tempo of the
18:42game japan when they get it when they turn the ball over want to get forward really quickly and
18:47they're good at that and so ronald kuma's team got to switch on when they go out of possession they
18:52won't recover very quickly if they don't if they sleep they'll get caught
19:00they go perhaps hasn't quite fulfilled the wonderful potentially showed as a very young player
19:08went to barcelona had injuries he's here and can maybe become the midfield maestro that
19:15has always looked capable of being
19:20van hecker
19:33studious
19:37i mentioned earlier snyder scored the goal in the world cup the only time these two teams have met in
19:4320 10. tie came 1-0
19:53with a skimmer from virgil van dyke
20:01gohan would like to get forward martin a little bit if he can but he's having to make sure that
20:05he does a
20:05little bit of a job on on cody gagpo out there making sure that he tracks all those runs
20:13that three central the three central defenders of japan don't want to get shifted and moved and
20:18disrupted they want to they want to stay quite narrow and quite tight so those wide players have
20:23really got to work up and down
20:31with some dutch players in the penalty area that's why it's been a retake hasn't always happened but
20:37it's uh presented straight back to the netherlands anything airy around van dyke in any part of the
20:45pitch really he scored 12 goals he's got it only couldn't score more as a defender
20:50and here is the man here you mentioned it's a dog who was a big player for japan in the
20:58last world cup in kata
21:14and he took it away from uh
21:20and he took it away from uh
21:29on the wrong side the right doesn't mind always alert and lively it's a real sprinter
21:35here's gohan flying in hooked away by van dyke
21:41marlon giving token chairs no more
21:55has it really been this kind of situation much in the game so far when japan have put their foot
21:59on the ball on the ball at the back the netherlands uh dropping into their defensive shape
22:09it's always one of the back three but will use his passing skills
22:16camera
22:26and we've had a shower for the dummy so behind this
22:33yeah he's just waiting for cody gapo to give him the signal
22:39and just look to burst forward unfortunately they just weren't quite on the same wavelength
22:44i think the uh that's fa and they've gone public saying we expect to get to the semi-finals
22:51that's a bold statement ronald get on with it
22:53yeah
23:02ito
23:08have done in japan they've always had good techniques since they've had professional football
23:13they've added some tenacity some resilience and some you've got to work hard to beat us
23:19mentality absolutely right they've shown that in the months preceding it's all another good run
23:25there from maiden that's his natural tendency that's what he likes to do he likes to show for
23:31the ball spin and get him behind defenders and if you can provide him with the right service as
23:35they did there then he's always liable to make something happen
23:43ball into japan
23:52sallow
23:55but that's not able to push out very far because there's no pressure on the ball
24:02nothing we were at
24:11i think
24:14or at least a corner it's a goal kick yeah it's a good block actually van hecker at the near
24:18post
24:20tracks that run of wider
24:22clever little play down the left-hand side
24:26the defender is always across there that's his big frame right in that little gap
24:33to make sure that he sees it out in the end he gets the goal kick too it's good defending
24:37almost tanaguchi one of the centre-backs crossing exactly yeah really good ball
24:44there's no inferiority complex about japanese football today that might have been the case
24:51when they first burst upon the scene
24:58you don't sit there as the coach did in this stadium last night in the press room and say
25:02we have come here to win the world cup unless you've got a lot of relief
25:09it's uh decade in decade out you don't find many more self-beliefs that are stronger than that of a
25:17dutch
25:17yeah man heck
25:36there is a saying that you hear from the netherlands if it ain't dutch it ain't much
25:47here's one hecker i'm sure dutch dominance here in dallas
25:55and event
26:08here's somerville who actually plays a lot on the left in english football he's
26:12certainly relegated actually from the premier league with japan with uh west ham united
26:21good covering by ito the defenders are there where they're supposed to be when they need it oh they
26:28certainly are
26:31it's gonna again have to keep eyes on somerville when he gets the ball he's the one coming out
26:36now to front him up force him backwards or across that's it job done and that's the kind of got
26:41to be the key for him every time they look to roll it into somerville's feet
26:53i think two things are going to be vital in this world apart from the obvious
26:56it's energy total energy maybe that is a bit obvious but in these circumstances your way a lot
27:04as well got to keep up that belief in your physicality and also set pieces yes they're
27:11always crucial parts and they're becoming more prevalent everywhere if you're good at them it's
27:16such an asset here's somerville guess is crossing well
27:23we're both going to play as well out of trouble he might just have done that
27:27good going
27:29good job
28:00Anaguchi is an interesting character. He's had to develop wearing contact lenses.
28:05I'm sure he's not the only top footballer who does that, but he talks about it a bit.
28:09Now his eyesight, or lack of it, hurt him down in his career.
28:15A great skill to do in the world. The crowd loved that.
28:18All the World Cup lovers, lovers, show of individuals, supremacy as that was, and it's led to this attack.
28:27Which could possibly lead to the opening goal.
28:32Marlon stepped in his tracks.
28:35Malachi, just one too many there, Daniel Marlon. Might have got the shot away.
28:38Wanted to just take it that extra few yards further in the box.
28:43Marlon's just finished a loan spell in Serie A from the English dub Aston Villa with Roma.
28:49He scored ten goals in his first 12 Serie A games.
28:53He's pulling a record, only previously held as a foreign player, by Gabriel Batistuta.
28:59Wow.
28:59That's a good comfort.
29:01It certainly does.
29:11Just the one shot so far, and the reduction it was from Marlon.
29:19It's on the move here.
29:22Nice work back by Gravenberg.
29:26Now Van Hecke.
29:36He very rarely goes on the outside, but he's had a one-two here that could have got him in
29:41behind.
29:48And fans wanted a foul.
29:50Not the players, they just got on with it.
29:58De Jong.
30:02Somerville.
30:11Lively first 20 minutes.
30:13First 20 minutes of World Cup football 2026 in Dallas.
30:18Just watching Dendrell Dumfries, number 22, is it right-hand side of the screen now.
30:23Ball back every time he goes, here he goes again, wants to get in the box because he's a big,
30:27tall lad.
30:38And, actually, South Hopkins, they want to improve the percentage of possession we get in big games like this.
30:47But when you trade space and just drop off like that, it's going to tick on for the team with
30:52the ball.
30:55Just have to be a little careful sometimes you don't become too passive sitting off.
31:00You've got to make sure that you throw a punch or two of your own when you get the ball
31:03and commit people forward.
31:05But, certainly in areas like this, they're going to sit very tight, no genuine pressure on the ball yet.
31:12And then they've got to try and shut that door, block those gaps.
31:22You mentioned at the beginning that Endo being left out, was told by the coach, Moriasu,
31:28you're not going to be with us a couple of days ago.
31:33Almost a brutal, cold-blooded accent.
31:36It hasn't gone down well with the Japanese public back home.
31:46And he's had a lot of injuries, that's the reason that he obviously didn't feel he was fit enough to
31:50go through a long tournament.
31:53Well, I hope it's a long tournament for that.
31:58Those coaches, Martin, they're made to make big calls, not friends.
32:02Yeah.
32:03Beautiful.
32:22And we've reached hydration time.
32:31Time for a hydration break.
32:33Grab a drink.
32:47They've beaten Brazil in this season that's coming to an end, back before Christmas.
32:52And then in March, they went to Glasgow and beat Scotland, who've already got a win in this World Cup.
32:57And then they went four days later to Wembley and beat England.
33:00Did indeed.
33:02Who are due here.
33:03They're next on at Dallas.
33:06And, uh, next Wednesday.
33:09I'm not sure what time zone when you're listening is, but for us, it's Wednesday.
33:25And we start with...
33:29With Sidoran.
33:32With the throat.
33:42Trying to work the one-two.
33:44A little bit of cleverness around the edge of the penalty area.
33:48Some...
33:50Attempts at direct Dutch football in the end.
33:54Never got quite into a position, Daniel Marlon, where he could feel comfortable he's going to release the ball accurately.
33:59Yeah, just couldn't get his head up, could he?
34:00He was under pressure.
34:02Fighting with the ball a little bit.
34:03Oh, man.
34:18Oh, man.
34:23Oh, man.
34:27Oh, man.
34:29Oh, yeah.
34:30He's got the chance in the national team, relatively recently, as a left back, he can use his pace, he
34:38has a lot of, you can see Frankie de Jong there dropping back in as well, he's making sure that
34:48he stays with Kubo,
34:54and we haven't quite seen the calling card of Kubo as yet, the Japanese Messi was christened early in his
35:01career, partly because he grew up, he had a very early move to Barcelona, and went to the famous football
35:10education centre there, Masi, by Ito,
35:15out to Kamala, bit of ring fencing going on here by Japan, right by Sano and by Boran, set up
35:26to Nakamura, wanted to get it onto his left foot, didn't have the time, left foot was involved from Ito,
35:34nice play, unlucky, yeah, love that, great combination were there on the edge of the box, that's the strike, with
35:41the ball sailing over from Ito, but,
35:43the ball off the right side was really good, eventually, when it, came into Maeda, him and Nakamura combining nicely,
35:52but just couldn't get that shot away quick enough.
36:00Japan's first shot, first attempt, off target, as you saw.
36:11Anteica.
36:18You're in the end.
36:20They're just trying to make an angle for him, it's yet to use this.
36:24Virgil van Dijk.
36:34not a lot of room for the netherlands to to find those players on the half turn
36:39just outside the edge of the 18-yard box that's good play there's van de vijn
36:45ito gets it away
36:49that's the kind of acceleration that can get him into those situations
36:58some of it
37:06and hecker getting further and further up the pitch is the last man
37:12to go
37:17back low
37:20grinders
37:22quite set the world on fire at manchester city his first season with the champion he played in the
37:28club world cup actually got signed in time for city's contribution a year ago in the united states
37:37in by gapo and freeze found the back
37:41and you spotted it earlier andy yeah he's always prepared to make those gambling runs densel dumfries
37:48bottom of the screen look hand up in the air just put it up there and let me attack it
37:54he's just always struggling with that one he could have done perhaps a little better trying to keep
37:58that back or knock it back for somebody else but he um he scored 11 goals as a defender he's
38:06only one
38:06behind van dyke
38:23van hecker
38:25it's the ref and technically has to stop it and then give it back to frankie dion yeah just gave
38:32an extra couple of seconds for japan to reposition
38:43that's the best joy that the netherlands have had so far martin when they go wide to somerville or gagpo
38:48and they're 1v1 with their man
38:51when they try and get beyond them take them on or a little give and go get into the dead
38:55ball line and standing crosses up
38:57that's when they're looking at their best
39:00they're not finding a lot of room for riders and co in the middle of the park
39:04certainly in those wide areas when they set it up and work it
39:08then they can get behind japan
39:12grab them back
39:16almost throw a blanket over all the outfield players
39:19so far the dutch are getting up the pitch as a collective unit
39:24but japan are not blinking rather there
39:27staring the opposition in the eye and saying you come and you leave a bit of space in behind and
39:32we'll be at you
39:35maybe that's on his agenda for half time
39:46and hecker
39:47his uncle jan portfleet played in a world cup final for the dutch
39:521978
39:54good family history there
39:56in by gagpo
40:00tanaguchi
40:00tanaguchi
40:02very positive piece of defending
40:07good play there as well frankie de jong
40:09headed clear but
40:10immediately onto it
40:12and
40:13the orange port forward once more
40:16gagpo
40:24now van dyke
40:26trying to turn this
40:32strong
40:33period of possession into an orange onslaught
40:36it's not quite that
40:39and there's pinched back
40:41by marlin
40:43he was looking to cross it
40:44he's got a corner
40:47well just got their wires crossed a little bit there
40:50japan in the middle of the park
40:51kamada
40:54just here
40:55done the hard bit
40:56now he's looking for someone to take it
40:58daiza maida actually
41:00brought in his way
41:01and just for a split second
41:02there looked a bit a yard of space for
41:04for donio marlin
41:05in the end a good block
41:06and
41:08the netherlands settle for a corner
41:12that's
41:14rinders will take the dutch
41:15lined up on the edge
41:16it's an out swinging
41:21if he'll go two
41:23against one
41:23if he plays it short
41:30in by rinders
41:34van hecker
41:36forced to save
41:37and then it's over the top
41:41yes
41:41he was
41:43well he was in the right place
41:45rather went straight at him i think
41:50it's actually marlin's header
41:51yeah
41:51donio marlin yeah
41:52closely guarded as well there
41:54he does really well to get that header away
41:56and
41:57tuzuki thankful
41:59but it's a blue shirt
42:00that just is there to make sure they deal with that
42:02but
42:04in the netherlands
42:05they've got a lot of big lads
42:06they really have
42:07and
42:07if that delivery is right
42:10that could work for them
42:11it was a good attempt there
42:12donio marlin
42:37well they are being pinned back
42:40the long periods now
42:4610 minutes to go to half time
42:49yep
42:50handball nakamura there
42:53it's quite a high up position that
42:56but you've been pleased to be in the ground
42:58yeah
43:01when we see the
43:03football of memphis
43:04in dallas
43:09another chance from this free kick
43:11to johnny rinders
43:14just give them something to attack
43:15give them a chance to go in after this
43:20when you're on top
43:21you have to score
43:22that's one of the old
43:23football cliches
43:24and they're certainly on top
43:25the netherlands
43:29and they should have scored
43:30well maybe it was a bit of a stretch
43:32but
43:32the pressure
43:33not paying off
43:34all of kuman's been saying that
43:37two gagpo goals in the last game
43:39and none against algeria at home
43:41finishing is
43:42a bit of a problem
43:43yeah
43:43good ball in actually
43:44it was a fast delivery
43:47attacked at the back post
43:48i think he should do better there
43:49kody gagpo
43:50yes he's stretching for him
43:51martin but
43:53i think his reaction says it all there
43:55i think
43:57just got way too much on there
43:58a scruffy a contact maybe
44:00and it might have been on goal
44:07if he's done that deliberately
44:09to take a little bit of the steam
44:10out of the dutch
44:12grudgingly you'd admire him
44:13wouldn't it
44:14but he was
44:15doing other lazy ref
44:16he didn't hurry him up
44:17so
44:19maybe that will come into fashion now
44:22some of those
44:24wigs
44:24certainly in fashion
44:25for the world cup
44:32yep since the drinks break
44:36the netherlands i think have been superior
44:40they looked
44:41and played more in
44:42just cut across
44:44that's jalen hawkins
44:45of the baltimore ravens
44:51the nfl players
44:53do really like
44:55all sports
44:57of course
44:57in the usa
44:58this game
44:59our football
45:00their soccer
45:00is fighting for its place
45:02and a workout like this
45:03can only help
45:05but strangely enough
45:07the president of the country
45:09gave the football authorities
45:12of this country
45:12some reasonable advice
45:14a couple of months ago
45:15get some promotion
45:16and relegation
45:17into your league
45:22don't think that's going to happen
45:27here's
45:28van Hecker
45:34now
45:35do you
45:39and dyke
45:41a little bit of fade on that side
45:43but
45:44within the reach of
45:45essentially
45:46of somerville
45:48he's trying to make an angle
45:50for him
45:50but somerville
45:52he's changed his mind
45:53under his suit
45:53and attempted cross
45:55that was a misplaced pass
45:56what do you think
45:56yeah
45:57he's done all the hard work there
45:59and somerville
45:59done it really well as well
46:01as nakamura was tied to him
46:03but he just managed to find the yard
46:04and just put it in there
46:05but
46:05just got caught in two nines
46:07at the last moment
46:14there are two sides
46:15to the game
46:17what you do with the ball
46:18and what you do without the ball
46:19and
46:19Japan really being tested
46:21on the latter
46:21over the last 15 minutes or so
46:25almost since the resumption
46:26after
46:27the hydration break
46:29maybe there was something
46:30in the drinks
46:31that
46:31the Dutch took
46:32that
46:32they've looked livelier since
46:34they certainly have
46:35I think in the middle
46:37of Japan's midfield
46:39I think
46:39Kamara and Sano
46:41do with doing
46:42a little bit more
46:43they need a little bit more
46:44control with the game
46:45I think in general
46:47we've seen the orange shirts
46:48in possession
46:49we've seen those
46:50little raids
46:51now and again
46:52from Japan
46:52but
46:54I think Moriasu
46:56the Japanese coach
46:57would like to see his team
46:58exert a little bit more
47:00control
47:00on this game
47:02I mentioned about
47:03being too passive
47:04and
47:04at times they have been
47:06I think here
47:06a little too much
47:07I respect the fact
47:08game one
47:09they don't want to get beat
47:09but
47:10you also can't just
47:11sit off
47:12and allow teams
47:13to find a rhythm
47:16here's De Jong
47:19now Dumfries
47:20Denzel
47:21named after the famous
47:22Hollywood actor
47:24Denzel Washington
47:38Van Hecker
47:39here we are again
47:46possession
47:47from the Netherlands
47:50defending
47:52top priority
47:54for the Samurai Blue
48:04five minutes to go to
48:06half time
48:06plus of course
48:07Additz
48:12Van Dijk
48:15back for
48:17trying to come up
48:18with a
48:19penetrating partnership
48:20in his left back
48:22Mickey van der Ven
48:24wheeled and turned
48:25and passed
48:26for the occasions
48:27gone to good positions
48:34Van Hecker
48:38one thing about
48:38football
48:39Andy is
48:39you
48:40know only too well
48:41you don't have to win
48:42the game in the first
48:42half of an hour
48:43or not to
48:45and Japan
48:46looking to find a way
48:47to get
48:47the lead here
48:49there's that little
48:50turnover
48:51of possession
48:51all of a sudden
48:52they're very quickly
48:53up the field
48:55Nakamura
48:56nice
48:59went back into play
49:00but clearly went out
49:12territorially
49:14the Dutch
49:17in control
49:19nothing to show
49:21for it
49:25Gamera
49:46we can't say here
49:47that the players are
49:49slowing it down
49:50because they're feeling
49:51the heat
49:51no
49:53it's just the way
49:54they want to play
49:55the game
49:55yeah it is
49:56I think happy to have
49:58a spell of possession
49:59Japan
50:01in the Dutch
50:02half of the field
50:04and the reach
50:05are going forward
50:06gets it back
50:08from Doan
50:10now Kamada
50:12absolutely right
50:13Andy
50:13they won a few
50:15touches on the ball
50:16once you get
50:17played around them
50:18but not behind them
50:19by the opposition
50:21for lengthy periods
50:29Kamada
50:37it's over
50:38later
50:38and for Nakamura
50:41that is weak afoot
50:43but
50:44that's what Japan
50:45can do
50:46when they break out
50:47got in behind
50:48great run
50:49great ball
50:50from Watanabe
50:50centre half
50:52crosses this one
50:54Makamura
50:55on that right foot
50:56got to hit the target
50:56must try and hit that target
51:00certainly decent first touch
51:02and the ball just sits up
51:03and it's
51:04really inviting
51:05there to be hit
51:06but
51:07lovely run
51:08from a central defender
51:09into that wide right position
51:11he is a goal scorer
51:12you know
51:12he played through
51:13Reims or Reims
51:14as they say in France
51:15in the second division
51:17in French football
51:18he scored 14 goals
51:20in that league
51:21including four
51:22on the final day
51:23of the season
51:23poor and a game
51:40Kamada again
51:41he's had plenty of touches
51:43that's another one here
51:52free
51:52yes
51:57it's a nice
51:58pleasant
51:59warmish atmosphere
52:02a little soporific
52:03for the very young
52:04but not for the football fans
52:06especially at this moment
52:08there's the outside
52:09of the net
52:10on the scourge
52:12of Dutch defenders
52:14in the Eredivisie
52:15the way down
52:18just pulls away
52:19from Virgil van Dijk
52:20dips towards the ball
52:21and then spins
52:21and just gets
52:23that couple of yards
52:23he needs
52:25and you're right Martin
52:26with the goals
52:27that he scored this season
52:29you'd expect him
52:30to hit that one
52:30hard and low
52:31across
52:32for Bruggen maybe
52:33the run was
52:34the sort of thing
52:34that's brought him
52:35into a lot of good
52:35scoring positions
52:36and he's delivered
52:37in the lead
52:39it's just a big
52:40you'd think it's
52:41the same chance
52:42with the actual
52:43mental pressure
52:44on a player
52:45to get a goal
52:46to put a team
52:47in front in the World Cup
52:49as opposed to
52:50week in week out
52:51in the day job
52:52if you like
52:5425 in the lead
52:55he was miles ahead
52:56of anybody else
52:58just think there
52:58keep it down
52:59get over it
53:01just try and hit it
53:02as hard as you can
53:03from a wide angle
53:05keep it down
53:06on the floor
53:12we've got three
53:13out of minutes
53:13and that's the
53:15hydration break
53:16isn't it
53:16nothing else
53:26what Japan can
53:27point to
53:28and here's
53:28one attempt
53:29on their goal
53:30from open play
53:31which was very
53:32early on
53:32wasn't it
53:33Daniel Marlin
53:33rolled this man
53:34yes it was
53:35the Marlin header
53:36was from the corner
53:38so
53:40there hasn't
53:41there haven't been
53:42a lot of
53:42goal scoring
53:43chances
53:43and attempts
53:44I think we
53:46always thought
53:46this one was
53:47going to be
53:47ultra competitive
53:48and it certainly
53:53is
53:54so
53:55you're not
53:55getting past
53:56challenge
54:00no booking
54:01her
54:03so can
54:04the Netherlands
54:05put these
54:06extra moments
54:07right at the
54:07end of the
54:08first half
54:08to really good
54:09use to get
54:10their first goal
54:10of the World Cup
54:112026
54:15Marlin
54:17now gives
54:18you another
54:19great
54:19nearing header
54:27here's
54:28Somerville
54:34and wide
54:35to Gakko
54:36by Van
54:37Dijk
54:37Gakko
54:38and his
54:38trademark
54:39move infield
54:40onto his
54:40right foot
54:45thank you
54:45and Paul
54:47Van Hecker
54:53Japan
54:53working really
54:54hard
54:54knowing the
54:55clock as
54:55well
54:55they've
54:56conceded a
54:56corner
54:58yeah
54:58right on
54:59half time
54:59virtually
55:00so they've
55:00got to make
55:01sure they
55:01deal with
55:01this Japan
55:03we saw
55:04that
55:04Daniel Marlin
55:05header that
55:05Suzuki
55:06saved really
55:06well
55:08won't want
55:08a repeat
55:09of that
55:09so vitally
55:10important
55:11but Japan
55:12that they
55:12get tight
55:13and they
55:13deny anybody
55:14any space
55:15to go and
55:15attack the
55:15ball
55:18delivered by
55:18the riders
55:19who's going
55:20to deliver
55:21this one
55:21as well
55:25added time
55:26before half
55:27time in
55:27Dallas
55:34again
55:35the pack
55:36in orange
55:37on the edge
55:38of the area
55:39making their
55:40moves
55:40trying to
55:41leave the
55:41defenders
55:43again
55:45they got
55:45to it
55:48until it
55:48was a
55:49an easier
55:50contribution
55:51from Zion
55:52Suzuki
55:52that time
55:53but again
55:54a little bit
55:55more on that
55:55and they're
55:55going 1-0
55:56yeah
55:56what the
55:57Japan
55:57going 1-0
55:58down
55:58but they're
55:59going 0-0
56:01and again
56:02where territorially
56:03the domination
56:04has been
56:05from the
56:05Dutch
56:05Marlin
56:06in particular
56:07with the
56:08early shot
56:10and
56:10later
56:11Teheda
56:11which brought
56:12the best
56:13out of
56:13Zion
56:14Suzuki
56:16Japan
56:16as you'd
56:17expect
56:17have defended
56:18nobly
56:180-0
56:19at half
56:19time
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