Japan Draw First World Cup Game

Japan have drawn their first World Cup game 2-2 against the Netherlands.

The game was a hard-fought battle with Japan equalising in the 89th minute.

The Netherlands got the first goal through a header from Virgil van Dijk. Nakamura scored to make it 1-1 just 6 minutes later. Summerville scored to put the Netherlands back in the lead at 64 minutes.

It looked like the Netherlands would keep all the points and take control of Group F. But on the 89th minute, Kamada’s deflected shot found the net and the Japanese team and fans celebrated.

The World Cup is starting slow, but today’s game showed that there will be exciting games along the way!

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/14/netherlands-japan-world-cup-match-report

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to draw, drew, have drawn: 引き分けする（した）

against the Netherlands: オランダと対戦する

a hard-fought battle: 激戦

to equalise, equalising: 同点するヘディングシュート

a header: ヘディングシュート

to put the Netherlands back in the lead: オランダを再びリードさせる

to keep all the points: 勝ち点3を獲得する

to take control of ～: ～を制する

to celebrate, celebrated: 祝う、お祝いした

to start slow: スロースタート

along the way: 途中で