'All starters deployed in Europe': Japan announces starting lineup for Netherlands match... Kubo, Ueda, Maeda form the front three

*This content was translated by AI.

The Japan national football team's starting lineup for the first match of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup against the Netherlands has been announced.

Japan will face the Netherlands on the 15th at 5 a.m. (Korean time) at AT&T Stadium in the United States in the Group Stage F opener. As of June, the FIFA rankings place the Netherlands at 8th and Japan at 18th.

Japan will deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation with Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord) leading the line, supported by Daizen Maeda (Celtic FC) and Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) in the second line.

Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) and Gaishu Sano (Mainz) will operate in midfield, while Keito Nakamura (Reims) and Ritsu Doan (Frankfurt) will occupy the flanks.

The three-man defense consists of Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), and Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), with Zaion Suzuki (Parma) guarding the goal.

Junya Ito (Genk), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), and Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) are prepared for substitute appearances.

The Netherlands will counter with a 4-3-3 formation featuring Donnel Malen (AS Roma), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), and Cherysen Summerbill (West Ham United) up front.

Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), and Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City) will anchor the midfield.

The defensive line includes Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Yann Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), and Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan). Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) will guard the goal.

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*This content was translated by AI.