DALLAS.- Japan came back twice against Netherlands and a 2-2 draw was scored with a taste of glory this Sunday in dallasin a debut for both teams that rewarded the emotional strength of the Asians.
The Dutch went ahead with a header from Virgil van Dijk at 51′, but Keito Nakamura he equalized six minutes later. Crysencio Summerville returned the advantage to the Netherlands in the 64th minute, and when the team from Ronald Koeman seemed to win it, Daichi Kamada He scored the final agonizing 2-2 at 88′.
The ball at the foot and the patience of the Europeans seemed to be enough for a triumphant debut, but those led by Hajime Moriyasu They had other plans, which finally materialized thanks to a detour that helped the definition of Kamada, midfielder of the Crystal Palace.
In the first half, the game was intense and the Japanese defensive block worked fully, with an accurate Zion Suzuki under the sticks.
The comings and goings were reserved for a high-voltage second half, which opened with a textbook header from Van Dijk and followed with a missile from the gates of the Nakamura area, which warned that the Blue Samurai would fight until the end.
In a frenetic stretch of play, the Dutch took the lead again in the 64th minute, when Summerville, of the West Hamsurpassed his marker on the right wing and, with his left foot, placed the ball with a thread into Suzuki’s lower right corner.
But the hero of the afternoon in Dallas was Kamada with the agonizing tying goal.
In addition to equality, the Netherlands has concerns about the presentation of its historic scorer Memphis Depaywho entered the 70th minute and was far from his best form.
Panama rejects “Ibra” claim
The selection of Panama He rejected being the punching bag for his rivals in the North America World CupAs the Swedish football legend, and now commentator, recently said, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The former international striker, among others, of AC Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), recently stated in a program on the American network Fox Sports that Panama will be the “punching bag” for England, Croatia and Ghanaall members of Group L.
The comments of Ibrahimovic, known for his ease in polemicizing, reached Panama’s headquarters in torontowhere the canaleros will debut on Wednesday against Ghana.
“We are focused and we have a goal that is to do things in the best way, it is football and we go game after game, we are going to win, which is what we want to do,” the Panamanian defender said this Sunday. Jiovany Ramoswhen asked at a press conference about Ibrahimovic’s statements.
“Zlatan being Zlatan,” the Canalero striker ironically said the day before Ismael Diazwho was, however, a fan of the Swedish forward.
