Netherlands vs Japan LIVE: Team news and Memphis Depay latest ahead of World Cup clash – UK Times

Not many teams have such an in-form striker at the World Cup.

Japan have risen up the world rankings in recent years and find themselves inside the top 20 coming into this World Cup. Consecutive appearances in the knockout stages and wins over Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022 proved their ability to compete with the best in the world.

Hajime Moriyasu has built a well-organised team full of energy and technical craft, who beat England at Wembley in March. Expect to see Japan on plenty of lists of “dark horses” over the coming days.

Their squad play all over Europe, and perhaps most eye-catching this season has been Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, who won the Eredivisie Golden Boot scoring 25 goals in 31 games. The great disappointment for Japan is that Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma is injured and will miss the tournament.

Crysencio Summerville, West Ham

The 24-year-old is well known to Premier League fans and could now make an impact on the global stage with his pace and trickery on the ball.

Timber, who missed the Premier League run-in as Arsenal clinched their first title in 22 years, will leave the Netherlands’ training camp in New York after Monday night’s friendly against Uzbekistan.

Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool

Liverpool’s holding midfielder has not had an outstanding season by his high standards, but he is one of the best in the world in his position when he’s on form, and will be key both in shielding the defence and carrying the ball upfield.

The Dutch may only be eighth favourites before the World Cup began, according to most bookmakers, but they say defences win tournaments and Netherlands have one of the best in North America this summer.

The captain, Virgil van Dijk, was set to be paired with Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber in the heart of the backline alongside Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven at left-back and Denzel Dumfries – who is due to sign for Real Madrid from Inter – at right-back. That is before you get to Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

An injury to Timber has seen him withdraw from the squad with Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida called up instead.

Ronald Koeman can call upon an impressive midfield, too, of Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders – it is just a pity for the Netherlands that Xavi Simons has been ruled out by injury.

Unusually for a Dutch team, it is the attacking options which are a little thin. But Donyell Malen found astonishing form on loan at Roma this season, scoring 14 goals since joining from Aston Villa in January, and he is likely to lead the line.

14 June, 9pm: Netherlands v Japan – AT&T Stadium, Arlington

15 June, 3am: Tunisia v Sweden – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe

20 June, 6pm: Netherlands v Sweden – NRG Stadium, Houston

21 June, 5am: Japan v Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe

26 June, 12am: Sweden v Japan – AT&T Stadium, Arlington

26 June, 12am: Tunisia v Netherlands – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Group F looks on paper like one of the most intriguing of the 2026 World Cup, with four sides who will all fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.

The Netherlands may not have the attacking firepower of previous generations, but they have vast quality and experience in defence and midfield, and will start the group as the favourites to take top spot. But they face competition from a talented Japanese side who are ranked 18th in the world, a Swedish team with outstanding forward players, and a hard-to-beat Tunisian outfit.

With the newly expanded 48-team format, there is the potential for an odd situation in which it is preferable to qualify finishing third than it is to finish second, where Brazil are likely to await in the round of 32. It also means there will be a strong incentive to win the group, and that should make it all the more interesting to watch.

The World Cup 2026 match between Switzerland and Qatar played out in front of hundreds of empty seats to raise further questions about Fifa’s ticket prices for the tournament.

The Group B clash at the 70,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco on Saturday was the first game to be staged in the United States not involving the co-hosts and it failed to sell out.

The Toronto Police Service confirmed in a statement that the two men, of Germany and aged 25 and 27, were both arrested and charged for assaulting a peace officer after forces were called to an altercation in the stands at the Toronto Stadium around 2.20pm local time on Friday afternoon.

The Toronto Police Association warned on X: “We’re glad you’re here to enjoy the World Cup but please do so safely.

“Never put your hands on a police officer. They will arrest you. You will be charged. Our holding cells do not have TVs. You will miss the game you came to enjoy.”