Five things we learned from the Netherlands' draw against Japan

[p]With the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] hoping to advance far in the World Cup, taking lessons from such a demanding tournament is paramount to achieving any kind of success. [b]Flashscore [/b]helps manager [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]Ronald Koeman[/a] on his way with these five lessons from the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ULXPdOUj/netherlands-WYintcWb/?mid=4SV9xFBO"][b]2-2 draw[/b][/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] in Arlington, TX.[/p][h2]1: Manage your subs[/h2][p]Ronald Koeman's substitutions killed the momentum the Netherlands had just built up. Taking off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/summerville-crysencio/EaRET7t6/"]Crysencio Summerville[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/malen-donyell/KOdKXsao/"]Donyell Malen[/a], your only fast players up front, for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/depay-memphis/zo1h8MrD/"]Memphis Depay[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koopmeiners-teun/lOCjQkeo/"]Teun Koopmeiners[/a] killed any potential for clinically hitting Japan on the counter.[/p][p]Even worse: Koeman went all-out on defending the lead by building a wall - taking off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gravenberch-ryan/Y5aFd8V4/"]Ryan Gravenberch[/a] for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ake-nathan/6LBvaQoh/"]Nathan Aké[/a] was a statement of intent, but also effectively a kill switch that led to [i]Oranje[/i] losing the lead in the 89th minute - Japan only had [b]30%[/b] possession before the first Dutch substitutes in the 70th minute. That number skyrocketed to [b]68%[/b] after the changes.[/p][p]Koeman completely took out the offensive threats and sacrificed them for a static style of play that merely invited Japan to overwhelm the Netherlands in the final stages.[/p][embed guid="fc5c81a3-63a5-445b-be8d-03f7644c28a6" url="https://x.com/ClockworkOranje/status/2066298999536058783?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]2: Exploit strong and weak sides[/h2][p]Not of Japan, but on the pitch. Japan had [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a] locked down by double-marking him for most of the game, making the left side an easy one to exploit with an added threat of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reijnders-tijani/f17EnPl3/"]Tijjani Reijnders[/a] going deep in the half space and working in tandem with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-de-ven-micky/rotN6HH8/"]Micky van de Ven[/a], who could easily overlap Gakpo with his blistering pace.[/p][p]Instead, the Netherlands' standout star from the 2022 World Cup was deprived of using the weapon that makes him so dangerous up front for [i]Oranje[/i], where he often shines by cutting inside and using his right peg to create some magic.[/p][h2]3: Donyell Malen works; give him time[/h2][p]Malen was unlucky not to score in the Netherlands' friendlies against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]Uzbekistan[/a], but he was a cause for concern for Japan's defenders. Malen was limited to just two goal attempts by a staunch Japanese defence, but the two chances he got got every Dutch fan out of their seat.[/p][p]It's a matter of time before he scores, and once he does, it'll relieve him of the pressure he has on his shoulders. One goal will free him of his shackles, and he'll get that goal.[/p][image alt="Donyell Malen's touch map against Japan" id="a721044d-c45b-46b4-9fcb-ef432a3d659c" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform" guid="7823a9d0-220a-48db-a4f0-803081ff70c5" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]4: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-jong-frenkie/A1F3rz9c/"]Frenkie de Jong[/a] is and remains key[/h2][p]Frenkie de Jong has been a target of criticism for some in the Netherlands. He hadn't even passed the ball, or someone at the watch party called him "Frenkie the mailman". But no matter how many names he gets called, Frenkie de Jong is absolutely key to his [i]Oranje[b] [/b][/i]side.[/p][p]Frenkie de Jong is not one of the, but [b][i]the [/i][/b]link between the defence and midfield. De Jong recorded [b]85 touches[/b] and [b]completed 69/73 passes[/b], both numbers ranking third behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-hecke-jan-paul/WG59HGIH/"]Jan Paul van Hecke[/a]. He also won [b]two tackles[/b], had [b]two interceptions[/b], was [b]fouled twice[/b], and won possession [b]five times[/b] - Frenkie [b]led the team[/b] in all of these stats. [/p][image alt="Frenkie de Jong's pass map against Japan" id="e5b8347d-c122-45d9-8940-ff6e29a2fa61" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform (Photo by ULRIK PEDERSEN / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP)" guid="0f4e54ea-1db8-44d7-9b09-712708d0503d" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]5: The midfield needs some work[/h2][p]Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders disappointed massively in the first half. Gravenberch through invisibility, and Reijnders through poor decision-making. Reijnders needed to take up a much bigger role in the first half, being lined up behind Gakpo, but failing to put much pressure on Japan's defence.[/p][p]Gravenberch recovered somewhat in the second half, especially with his fine assist for Virgil van Dijk's opening goal. Still, his performance left a lot to be desired. Reijnders and Gravenberch were static and offered little to no support, while a player like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kluivert-justin/fq4lU5sI/"]Justin Kluivert[/a] could've played around Gakpo and with Malen nicely instead of Reijnders.[/p][image alt="The Netherlands' passing network against Japan" id="fc989ab8-1ba3-449f-8b86-e7461e640e27" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform (Photo by STEFAN KOOPS / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP)" guid="264b75f3-405f-4f74-94d4-ebfebb5e9cfe" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Hopefully, we'll see more from them against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a], who also play a dreaded five-man defence. The midfield needs to offer more, and once they do, the Netherlands' chances of breaking down a defence like that rise drastically.[/p][infobox id="383e2abc-afe3-4139-8e06-aa4254ac57ee" /]