Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Koeman are standing firm as the Netherlands prepare to take on Japan in their World Cup opener, even as unease grows among supporters following disappointing friendly results against Uzbekistan and Algeria.

The Dutch camp is maintaining composure and belief ahead of their Group F clash with Japan, set to be played in Kansas City. Despite a lacklustre club season for captain Virgil van Dijk and a mixed period under Ronald Koeman, the Oranje remain focused on their preparations for the tournament.

Final touches in Kansas City

The Netherlands are putting the finishing touches on their training before the much-anticipated Group F opener against a strong Japanese side on June 14. After their initial session in the sweltering Kansas City heat, Koeman described the upcoming fixture as both “interesting and difficult” during his press conference.

Since his return to the national team in early 2023, Koeman has led the Dutch to a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Nations League and a semi-final appearance at Euro 2024, where they fell to England. However, recent results have been far from convincing. The Oranje left home after a 1-0 loss to Algeria, before two penalties from Cody Gakpo — including a last-minute winner — helped them edge Uzbekistan in their final warm-up game before the World Cup.

Respect for Japan’s discipline and strength

Facing Japan presents a significant challenge, with Van Dijk acknowledging their quality. “Japan are a very strong team. They play with great discipline and have a lot of quality. We’re really looking forward to the match,” the Dutch captain said.

Koeman shared similar thoughts, complimenting the Japanese side’s collective strength. “We’ve studied them well and know they’re a powerful team. Physically, they are very strong, and the match will not be easy. We have confidence in ourselves. We respect Japan, but we are the Netherlands, and they will respect us too. It’s going to be tough, but we believe in our abilities,” Koeman noted.

Selection hints and fitness updates

When asked about his starting XI, Koeman chose to keep his plans private. “If I still didn’t know that by now, then I wouldn’t have done my job properly,” he said with a smile.

Meanwhile, there are lingering concerns about goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s fitness, as he continues an individual training schedule. “We’re confident he’ll be ready. It’s just a bruise — it could have been worse. We’ll assess it day by day,” Koeman added.

Staying focused amid outside pressure

Despite the underwhelming warm-up results, the team remains committed to advancing through Group F. Van Dijk emphasised his focus on internal matters: “I only pay attention to things I can control — our group, our training, and our preparation. We’re just trying to do everything as best as we can,” he said.

After their opening match against Japan, the Netherlands will go on to face Sweden before concluding their group stage fixtures against Tunisia.

The big question remains — how far can the Netherlands go in the World Cup?