JAPAN:

SAMURAI BLUE ARRIVE

Jun 15, 2026

Asia’s gold standard. Japan scored the latest goal in their history yesterday in the 88th minute, rescuing a draw from the Dutch.

Japan are so skilled with the ball at their feet, so it was frustrating to see them try and swing balls into the box over and over. Once the Netherlands made the defensive substitutions, though, taking off Summerville for Aké, the game opened up for the Japanese to attack.

The Samurai Blue started playing beautifully weighted through balls past the Dutch defense with almost immediate success. The interconnectedness of their passing was exceptional, and the speed at which they got into space was just as impressive.

Happy to cede possession and play on the counter, Moriyasu threw on all 5 of his substitutes after going behind for the 2nd time. It was a gamble that paid off, and the mark of a coach who knows his squad inside and out. He’s the longest-serving manager in the national team's history, and the man behind those famous wins over Germany and Spain in Qatar.

Doing the same this time around, missing some first-choice players, only underlines how well-drilled and adaptable this group is under him. Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo, Keito Nakamura, and Daizen Maeda all possess the ability to steal the moment and have stepped in nicely.

Call them underdogs if you like, but the Samurai Blue keep doing this to the ‘big boys’, and as long as Moriyasu's on the touchline, you'd be a fool to write them off before the final whistle blows.

Now the fans.

Japanese supporters have made a habit out of leaving the stands spotless after every match. They stay behind to make sure the stadium looks as it did before they arrived, meticulously picking up trash and stuffing it into blue plastic bags branded with “Japan Pride”. A nation that shows up for the World Cup and leaves it better than it found it.

The support and product on the field make you realize that football unites those who get to witness the Japanese in action.

🇯🇵 ⚔️

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