Asia gets off to an impressive start.

Asian football is proving its strong position at the 2026 World Cup, with the first four representatives all going undefeated, most notably Japan's courageous 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.

Brave "Blue Samurai"

Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands, with the second half being hailed as the best since the start of the 2026 World Cup. After lulling the Netherlands into a false sense of security throughout the first half, the "Samurai Blue" staged a powerful comeback after twice falling behind, bravely snatching a point. Coach Moriyasu's players showed great character and belief against the reigning EURO 2024 bronze medalists. Moriyasu made a series of substitutions, increased the pace of the game, and scored the equalizer with a header from Daichi Kamada – something few expected given the tall Dutch defense. After the match, the world press showered praise on Japan's impressive performance.

The Japanese team (right) received a shower of praise after their courageous draw against the Netherlands.

PHOTO: AFP

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The FIFA homepage ran the headline "Japan shows indomitable spirit against the Netherlands" along with the comment: "Despite being twice behind in the second half, and after a goalless first 45 minutes, Japan remained undaunted and refused to give up. They continued to attack until the end of the match and were deservedly rewarded in the final minutes… A valuable point that Japan earned against one of Europe's strongest teams." It's understandable that FIFA expects Japan to go far in the 2026 AFF Cup. At the 2022 World Cup, the "Samurai Blue" defeated Germany and Spain, only being eliminated after a penalty shootout against Croatia. For seven years now, Japan has remained undefeated against any European team. This highlights how perfectly normal it is for coach Moriyasu to express his "disappointment at not winning against the Netherlands."

Asian spirit

Before facing Japan, the Asian representative, South Korea, delighted fans with an emotional 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic. The South Korean players demonstrated superior strength and skill, possessing twice the ball control and shots on goal compared to their opponents. Coach Hong Myung-bo's team subjected their opponents to a grueling physical ordeal, far more intense than many European teams. Both teams boasting stars currently shining in Europe, South Korea and Japan felt less nervous and more confident against their European opponents. Points against European teams had become commonplace, no longer particularly special.

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Also in the first round of matches, Qatar drew 1-1 with Switzerland thanks to a 90+4 minute goal from Miro Muheim. Meanwhile, the Australian team made the world take notice with a 2-0 victory over an ambitious Turkey. The "Kangaroos" proved how beautiful a "two-tiered bus" defensive strategy with 27% possession can still be. After three representatives advanced from the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, Asian football continues to show significant progress with four representatives remaining undefeated after the opening round. This will create great motivation for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan… when they face Uruguay, New Zealand, Austria, and Colombia. Clearly, Asian football has shown great strides at the World Cup, with leading teams like Japan and South Korea confidently rising to the top of the world.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chau-a-khoi-dau-an-tuong-185260615183150171.htm