Japan’s coach uses a clever time-keeping trick against the Netherlands that everyone can’t stop talking about
Japan’s manager Hajime Moriyasu and his coaches used a smart and unusual “time-keeping tactic” during their World Cup opener against the Netherlands – and it really paid off.
Daichi Kamada scored an equalizer in the 88th minute to help Japan earn a 2-2 draw against Ronald Koeman’s team in one of the most exciting games of the tournament so far.
The Netherlands took the lead in Dallas when Virgil van Dijk headed the ball into the far corner at the 51-minute mark. But Japan fought back quickly, with Keito Nakamura scoring to level the game.
It was a back-and-forth match in the last 30 minutes, and Crysencio Summerville’s fantastic goal made it 2-1 for the Dutch side. Still, Kamada’s late, slightly deflected goal helped Japan snatch a well-deserved point.
One of the most talked-about moments was Japan’s coaching staff holding up a whiteboard to show the players exactly how much time was left. They started from three and counted down to one, giving the team a clear push. Moriyasu even held up a 45-minute marker near the end of the first half.
The tactic clearly worked when Kamada scored in the final minutes. Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou liked the unique idea, saying, “I guess their timekeeping is good. I just wish they’d be a bit braver with their play, given what they can do.” Postecoglou coached in Japan from 2018 to 2021.
Gary Neville, however, wasn’t so sure. Laughing, he said, “No, no, no, I never used that tactic. When I saw a six go up, that was when we conceded goals!”
While Japan got praise for their clever game management, Koeman faced criticism for his defensive changes. He took off Summerville in a triple substitution and later added defender Nathan Ake.
In his post-match interview, Koeman explained, “There was pressure on our flanks, and we didn’t defend well on both goals. After Japan scored the second goal, they started defending strongly, so we could have still scored a third. I don’t regret my choices.”