Netherlands 2-2 Japan: Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch create World Cup history for Liverpool but concerns remain

Ryan Gravenberch assisting Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands against Japan is lone the 2nd ever World Cup extremity scored and assisted by a Liverpool player.

The Dutch began their Group F run connected Sunday at Dallas Stadium, but they were forced to settee for a constituent against Japan aft drafting 2-2.

Boss Ronald Koeman volition beryllium peculiarly disappointed that his broadside squandered leads doubly successful the game, but skipper Van Dijk volition astatine slightest beryllium pleased that helium managed to people his archetypal ever extremity astatine the World Cup.

The Liverpool star's header was assisted by nine teammate Ryan Gravenberch, who crossed into the punishment country successful the 50th minute.

Journalist Michal Reid has revealed that the lone different clip a extremity had been scored and assisted by a Liverpool subordinate astatine the World Cup came erstwhile Ian Callaghan assisted Roger Hunt for England against France successful 1966.

How important are Van Djik and Gravenberch for the Netherlands?

Neither Van Dijk nor Gravenberch enjoyed their champion seasons astatine Liverpool successful 2025-26, but their qualities could inactive beryllium captious for the Netherlands.

The erstwhile is an fantabulous duellist, and his passing retired from the backmost could assistance the Dutch beforehand up the transportation astatine pace.

Gravenberch tin astatine times conflict to play forward, but helium possesses a beardown quality to transportation the shot past opponents, and his skillset whitethorn assistance Koeman's broadside marque the astir of counter-attacks.

While the midfielder tin astatine times beryllium blameworthy of not fulfilling his antiaircraft duties, helium has shown successful the past that helium is susceptible without the ball, and helium could beryllium 1 of the standout players astatine the World Cup if helium afloat focuses erstwhile his squad are retired of possession.

Can Netherlands triumph the 2026 World Cup?

World Cups person been won by teams that bash not person cleanable squads successful the past, but it is hard to look beyond the information the Dutch could conflict successful the last third.

Ronald Koeman's broadside bash not person a prima forward, with question marks lingering implicit the likes of Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Crysencio Summerville.

Tournament shot is notoriously unpredictable, but the Netherlands volition person to trust connected stars specified arsenic Van Dijk if they person immoderate ambition of advancing into the second stages of the knockouts, though it remains to beryllium seen if helium tin marque up for his side's weaknesses up front.