Kamada Proud of Japan's Never-Give-Up Mentality Against Netherlands

Daichi Kamada expressed mixed feelings after Japan's 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in the World Cup 2026 Group F. While he was not entirely satisfied with the result, Kamada acknowledged the importance of securing at least one point against a formidable opponent. He scored the crucial equalizer in the 89th minute of the match held at Dallas Stadium on Monday.

Kamada emphasized that securing a point was the minimum target set by Japan before the game. He praised his team's resilience, stating that their fighting spirit was evident throughout the match. "Against a strong team like the Netherlands, if you fall behind 1-0, it can easily become 2-0 or 3-0. The fact that we fought hard and got a draw shows the character of this team," Kamada remarked, according to FIFA's website.

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Before the match, we said that we need to get at least one point. The match turned difficult, but we were able to show what we had prepared and it's good that we managed to get at least one point.

The 29-year-old midfielder recalled Japan's previous World Cup experience, where they lost to Costa Rica after a positive start. He expressed hope that Japan would secure a victory in their upcoming match to improve their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. Defender Yukinari Sugawara also noted that the team's composure was key to their comeback against the Netherlands, as players agreed to stick to their game plan regardless of the situation on the field.

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Against a strong team like the Netherlands, if you fall behind 1-0, it can easily become 2-0 or 3-0. The fact that we fought hard and got a draw shows the character of this team.