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2-2 draw for Japan and the Netherlands in World Cup opener for both
Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa's corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener.
Japans late header was clinical execution, but the 2-2 draw feels like a missed opportunity to capitalize on their solid defensive structure. The Netherlands 17-game unbeaten streak shows their resilience, but Japans goal was a reminder that in World Cup group stages, you need more than just good defense.