08/06/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | JUNE 8, 2026

26

2026 WORLD CUP

Group F Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia T HREE-TIME runners-up the Netherlands head into another World Cup with reasons to be hopeful of a long-awaited first global title, but not among the favourites to lift the trophy. THE Netherlands consider themselves World Cup contenders but head for the 2026 finals with a squad that contains few of the

Netherlands bullish despite lack of star power

the last 16. “We have more players with World Cup experience and that will help us in terms of the team’s composure,” said Moriyasu. “It will help us perform effectively in a variety of situations.” Japan breezed through qualifying, winning seven out of 10 games and only losing after they had clinched their place at the tournament. It will be their eighth straight World Cup appearance, having made their debut in 1998. Japan have never reached the quarterfinals despite advancing to the last 16 four times. Moriyasu has set their sights significantly higher this time, insisting that they have the quality to go all the way and win the tournament. The loss of Mitoma has done nothing to temper his ambitions. “The target doesn’t change,” he said. “But it’s not just about that target, it’s about raising our level as individuals and as a team.” Moriyasu is Japan’s longest-serving coach, having taken over after the 2018 World Cup. He won the J. League three times with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and he has led his country at a World Cup, two Asian Cups, an Olympics and a Copa America. “It’s not just about my own experience. The managers that have gone before me, both foreign and Japanese, and my staff also have experience of the World Cup,” Moriyasu said. “I want to use that experience and knowledge to increase our chances, no matter how slightly.” why you’re asking about it but personally, I never really doubted that I would make it. My recovery took longer than it should have, that’s true. A few things didn’t go as they should have, which I don’t want to go into now, but I always knew it would work out. The injury wasn’t that serious after all,” he added. Depay, who has 108 caps, said that the Netherlands are not among the top favourites for the World Cup but said few countries would relish facing the Dutch. “We need not pretend we’re the best team in the world, but we know we have our strengths and that we’re always competitive. The belief is always there when we go to a major tournament,” said Depay. “I’ve played in two World Cups and unfortunately lost on penalties twice (against Argentina in 2014 and 2022). Maybe this time it might go our way instead,” he added. The Dutch open their Group F match against Japan in Dallas on June 15 (4am Malaysian time) followed by Sweden in Houston and Tunisia in Kansas City, where they will be based during the tournament. Arsenal defender Timber is another who will need game time after a groin injury kept him out since March. “We have Ian Maatsen and Lutsharel Geertruida on the standby list for Timber. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit in time,” Koeman said. The Dutch qualified comfortably enough at the top of their group, three points ahead of Poland and unbeaten. Critics have accused Koeman of being too predictable in his tactical approach. But the coach has adapted his formations when necessary in recent years, upsetting the purists who insist on the traditional “Hollandse school of football”. That put the emphasis on dominant, attacking football in a 4-3-3 formation that their great player and coach Johan Cruyff perfected and most Dutch coaches slavishly follow. “I’ve always admired Cruyff for his vision of the game and his desire to play attractive football but I was a defender; I had to solve problems and that influenced my ideas,” said Koeman, who must be flexible to achieve his target.

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Xavi Simons and there are doubts over the fitness of defender Jurrien Timber, whose groin injury curtailed his season at Arsenal. Koeman feels, however, that he has a core of players who have been together for several years and this could be a key factor in their favour. The 32-year-old Depay, whose 55 goals in 108 appearances make him the most successful striker for the Dutch national team, was named by Koeman despite only two substitute appearances for his Brazilian club Corinthians over the past two months. “I would have preferred him to have played minutes earlier. But in April, I didn’t know when he would be able to play minutes again. He can be an asset, just like Jurrien (Timber),” the Dutch coach told a press conference after his squad was released. “I selected Memphis because of who he still is. I don’t see anyone else in that position who can do it. I believe he can be an asset, but he does have to get through the coming period well,“ the coach added. “We have two friendly matches. If he were where I think he needs to be, then he can start. If he is not, then he won’t start. I know he can fill the role of backup as well.” Depay said he never doubted he

Coach Ronald Koeman returns to the United States, where he captained the Dutch to the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals, with a well-balanced squad despite some injury worries. His team are on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions, including all eight of their qualifiers, but are rarely mentioned alongside Spain, France, Argentina and England as leading contenders. The Netherlands have rediscovered their form at major tournaments after some fallow years following a run to the 2014 World Cup semifinals. They suffered a penalty shoot-out loss to eventual winners Argentina in the quarterfinals in Qatar four years ago following a dramatic comeback from two goals down. Another agonising defeat followed in the Euro 2024 semis, as Ollie Watkins’s injury-time strike snatched England a 2 1 win. There is quiet confidence back home of a strong performance once more in North America, with former striker Patrick Kluivert saying he expects the Oranje to at least reach the last eight. The Dutch will face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F as strong favourites to progress. However, were they to win that group, a tough last-32 tie could follow against the runners-up of Group C which includes Brazil and 2022 semifinalists Morocco. “With Argentina, Brazil, Spain and France in the mix, the Netherlands are one of the teams to watch out for at the World Cup,” Kluivert told Koora . “I think they could reach the quarterfinals at the very least.” It could be the last chance for some of the Netherlands’ star players to shine in a major tournament, with captain Virgil van Dijk to turn 35 during the World Cup and 32-year-old Memphis Depay struggling for full fitness.

outstanding individual stars and little of the overall quality that has marked their previous appearances at the tournament. The Dutch have been runners-up three times, most recently in 2010, and at the last finals in Qatar in 2022 were eliminated in the quarterfinals on penalties by eventual winners Argentina. This time they 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 Netherlands international Nigel de Jong, now technical director at the country’s FA, in an interview with the Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad last month. 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. 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 this season, and still see Memphis Depay as their lead striker,

even if his club career has been rapidly stalling at Corinthians in Brazil. There are also doubts about the form of other key players such

would make his country’s World Cup squad despite concerns he would not be fit in time. “I’d rather be talking about something else myself,” Depay told reporters. “I completely understand

as Tijjani Reijnders, who had a promising start to the season after signing for Manchester City but is no longer a regular, and captain Virgil van Dijk, whose dip in form was reflected in a disappointing campaign with Liverpool. Injury has ruled out

Memphis Depay

Buoyant Japan target glory despite Mitoma blow

“But I sensed an atmosphere where the players quickly shifted their focus to a bigger goal ahead.” Mitoma’s absence is a major blow, with the 28-year-old hitting peak form just before his injury heartbreak. He scored the winner against England, dispossessing Cole Palmer before launching a counter-attack that he finished himself. Monaco’s Takumi Minamino will also miss the tournament after tearing knee ligaments in December.

JAPAN coach Hajime Moriyasu believes his team can win the World Cup after historic friendly wins over Brazil and England, despite the loss of Kaoru Mitoma dampening the mood. Brighton winger Mitoma will miss the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury less than a week before Moriyasu named his squad. Japan have never gone beyond the last 16 at a World Cup but they were the first team to qualify and their soaring confidence has been boosted by impressive recent results. They have been drawn with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F and they start their campaign against the Dutch in Dallas on June 15. Mitoma’s injury deprives Moriyasu of one of his most dangerous attackers but the coach still has a squad packed with European club experience. “Last year we played Brazil in a friendly and we beat them for the first time, and Mitoma wasn’t available to play in that game,” Moriyasu said. “That reflects the team concept, that anyone can come into the line-up and the team still performs.” Japan came back from two goals down at half time to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil 3-2 in a

friendly in Tokyo last October. It was Japan’s first win over the five-time world champions. They then became the first Asian team to beat England when they claimed a 1-0 victory at Wembley in March. Japan started both games with entirely Europe-based

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Ajax’s Takehiro Tomiyasu both recovered in time after long injury absences. Feyenoord striker

line-ups and their World Cup squad features only three players from the domestic J. League. Moriyasu believes they have greater strength in depth than ever, and the tactical nous to adapt to any opponent. “Of course the players were happy when we beat Brazil and England, two teams we had never beaten before,” he said.

Ayase Ueda is a reliable source of goals, while Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo are key men. Half of the players in the squad were also at the 2022

Koaru Mitoma

World Cup in Qatar, where Japan stunned Germany and Spain, beating both 2-1, before losing on penalties to Croatia in