The Netherlands aim for World Cup glory despite lack of star power

AMSTERDAM – The Netherlands consider themselves World Cup contenders, but head for the 2026 Finals with their squad containing few of the outstanding individual stars and little of the overall quality which marked their previous appearances at the tournament.

The Dutch have been runners-up three times, most recently in 2010, and were eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties by eventual winners Argentina at the 2022 edition in Qatar.

This time the Oranje have set themselves the minimum goal of a semi-final place.

“If that could happen, everyone would be happy to sign up for it,” said former Dutch international Nigel de Jong, who is now the technical director of the country’s football federation.

But coach Ronald Koeman has already made clear his ambition.

“Our goal is to win the World Cup,” he said during the March international window.

Earlier this week, he expressed that same confidence again.

“At the last tournament, we were missing players because of injuries,” the 63-year-old said.

“It looks like we’ll have everyone fully fit this time, so that’s a difference. But whether we’re actually better is something we’ll have to prove. (We have to) be realistic about it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe we can go far. I absolutely do.”

Whether Koeman has the necessary tools to deliver remains to be seen.

The Dutch will rely heavily on midfield playmaker Frenkie de Jong, whose injury woes at Barcelona have continued in the 2025-26 season, and still see Memphis Depay as their lead striker, even though his club career has been stalling with Corinthians in Brazil.

There are doubts about the form of other key players such as Tijjani Reijnders, who had a promising start to the season after signing for Manchester City but could not hold down a starting place, and captain Virgil van Dijk, whose dip in form was reflected in a disappointing campaign with Liverpool.

Injury has ruled out Tottenham Hotspur attacker Xavi Simons and there are also doubts over the fitness of defender Jurrien Timber, whose groin injury curtailed his season with Arsenal.

But Koeman says that he has a core of players who have been together for several years and this could be a key factor in their favour.

“We have such a good feeling within the squad right now that I think we can get everything out of this tournament,” he said.

Their campaign begins in Group F with a game against Japan on June 14 in Dallas, followed by clashes with Sweden in Houston and Tunisia in Kansas City, where they will be based during the tournament.

Japan, meanwhile, travel to their eighth successive World Cup on the back of several high-profile victories and with coach Hajime Moriyasu also bullish about their chances of reaching the latter stages.

The four-time Asian champions secured friendly wins against Brazil and England over the last eight months, but in four appearances in the World Cup knockout stages they have failed to register a single win, crashing out in the last 16 each time.

Defeats by Turkey as co-hosts in 2002, Paraguay in 2010, Belgium in 2018 and Croatia in 2022 leave Moriyasu and his team with a psychological hurdle to tackle.

For his part, the 57-year-old is confident that his players have the work ethic and humility to remain level-headed in the pursuit of a ground-breaking result for the country.

“The players have consistently shown a strong desire to improve themselves,” said Moriyasu, who will be leading Japan at a second World Cup in a row.

“Even when we beat opponents we had never defeated before – like Brazil last year or England this March – I sense that there is joy but also a calm and steady awareness that there is another goal beyond that.”

Moriyasu will be looking to build on the team’s performance in 2022 when Japan registered wins over Spain and Germany to top their group, despite a surprise 1-0 defeat by Costa Rica. With the core of the squad from that edition still in place, he believes they can do so.

“The players, especially since so many are now active in Europe, teach me many things,” he added.

“I learn from them how they are used tactically at their clubs... and what coaches are teaching them. In that sense, I have learnt a great deal from the players about global standards. More than anything, the players are full of ambition.” REUTERS, AFP