Crystal Palace · DFB Pokal · Midfielder · #18 · Japan · 29 yrs
Daichi Kamada has signed a new contract with Crystal Palace until the summer of 2027. The 29-year-old midfielder has been with Palace for the past two years, making 89 appearances for the club and playing a key role in their FA Cup and Uefa Conference League triumphs. Over the last two years Daichi has made a great impact in the centre of midfield, as well as becoming a fans' favourite on and off the pitch.
The World Cup marked its 1000th game with Japan thrashing Tunisia 4-0 on Saturday to close in on a place in the last 32. Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.
Japan face off against Tunisia on Matchday 2 of Group F at the 2026 World Cup, hunting for a vital victory to push them closer to the knockout rounds. Japan face Tunisia for a critical 2026 World Cup Matchday 2 clash in Group F, with their sights firmly set on capturing their first three points of the tournament to edge closer to the Round of 32. Following a thrilling, dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands—secured by a late, clutch equalizer from Daichi Kamada—the Samurai Blue are aiming for a victory at Guadalajara Stadium that would vault them to four points in the group standings. Hajim Moriyasu’s squad has a golden opportunity against the group’s clear underdogs. Tunisia enter the match reeling from a devastating 5-1 thrashing by Sweden in their opener, a result that ultimately cost manager Sabri Lamouchi his job. Hervé Renard will make his official debut on the Tunisian sidelines under immense pressure. He inherits a do-or-die scenario, as a defeat against Japan would officially eliminate the North African side from knockout contention. Takefusa Kubo #8 of Japan. (Getty Images) What happens if Japan beat Tunisia? Should Moriyasu’s side secure a victory over Tunisia, Japan would pull level with the Netherlands at the top of the group with four points. Under this scenario, a draw in their final group stage match against Sweden would be enough to officially punch Japan’s ticket to the Round of 32. What happens if Japan and Tunisia draw? If the match ends in a stalemate, the road ahead becomes significantly more complicated for Japan. A draw would leave them with just two points heading into the final matchday, making a win against Sweden an absolute necessity to guarantee their spot in the next round. What happens if Japan lose to Tunisia? If Tunisia pull off a massive upset and defeat Japan, the Asians would find themselves in the worst possible position. While they wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated, their backs would be completely against the wall. Japan would be forced to win their final match against Sweden while relying heavily on the Netherlands to defeat Tunisia to have any hope of advancing.
Daichi Kamada has twice worked under Oliver Glasner, and he had high praise for how the Austrian built his confidence defensively. The post Glasner’s defensive tactics ‘among the best in the world’, says Kamada appeared first on SoccerNews.
If there were a shift in world football power, it may look something like the impressive results from South Korea, Japan, Qatar and AustraliaPredict the winner | Daily podcast | Download our appDaichi Kamada’s late equaliser for Japan against the Netherlands on Sunday did not merely mean that the scoreline more accurately reflected the game. It also extended to four the unbeaten run of teams from the Asian confederation against Europe at this tournament. There is a degree of contingency to that record, and nobody should draw definitive conclusions from the first week of a World Cup, but equally if there were a shift in the power dynamics of world football, it might look a bit like this.The tone was set on day one with South Korea’s victory over Czech Republic. It perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anybody who saw their qualifying playoff semi-final against Ireland that the Czechs would be so ponderous and lumbering, a side that understood the value of dead balls and long throws and little else. But still, the ease with which South Korea passed their way around them was striking. If Son Heung-min had been the player he was three or four years ago, the Korean victory would have been far more emphatic.This is an extract from Soccer Desk: World Cup edition, a newsletter from the Guardian US that will run regularly during the tournament. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
The Netherlands and Japan played to a draw in a closely contested match in Group F of the 2026 World Cup. Although Crysencio Summerville appeared to have scored the winning goal for Ronald Koeman’s team, Daichi Kamada equalized in the final minutes of the match. Netherlands arrived as the clear favorite to defeat Japan in the 2026 World Cup Group F match. While they dominated possession, they were not effective at all, remaining far from scoring a third goal. Nonetheless, Crysencio Summerville’s goal seemed to give Ronald Koeman’s team the victory, but Daichi Kamada scored in the final minutes to level 2-2 the match. Unlike Koeman’s team, Japan was not looking to dominate the ball. Instead, they remained quite effective with the ball. By relying on a crowded defense, they managed to close down chances for the Netherlands, who could not do much damage. Then, they looked to press and recover the ball to break on the counterattack. With this, they constantly reached the opposition penalty area, but their lack of efficiency came back to haunt them. With Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch, Netherlands imposed a great rhythm on the game, controlling the ball constantly. However, they failed to open up spaces in the Japanese defense, looking totally inefficient. Therefore, Crysencio Summerville’s goal gave them life back, as it was an individual piece of brilliance. After Ronald Koeman’s changes, they dropped off, giving protagonism to Japan, who ended up equalizing the 2026 World Cup group F game. Japan never stopped chasing the equalizer, pressing the Netherlands in the closing minutes. Relying on counterattacks and crosses into the box, they managed to wear down their opponent, opening the door to level the match. Despite the quality of the opposing defenders, a header from Koki Ogawa that was deflected by Daichi Kamada ended up giving his team the equalizer they had pursued throughout the match.
Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa's corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener on Sunday.
The World Cup continues to produce the unexpected. On a throbbingly hot afternoon in the low flat plains outside Dallas the Netherlands and Japan played out a high-grade, ultimately thrilling Group F game, Daichi Kamada scoring an 89th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2 just as the Dutch looked like taking an early hold on one of the tougher groups.Sport does love to spring surprises. As the entire bib-clad Japanese bench emptied on to the pitch to celebrate Kamada’s deflected goal, as the Japan fans writhed and roared and fell over themselves in the stands, it was tempting to wonder if perhaps the unthinkable is happening. Continue reading...
Netherlands vs Japan confirmed starting lineups for the 2026 World Cup Group F opener. See who is starting for the Oranje and Samurai Blue in Dallas. Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a blockbuster clash as the Netherlands face off against Japan. With a highly competitive group that also features Sweden and Tunisia, securing an opening-match victory is paramount for both nations’ knockout stage ambitions. The tactical battle is set with both Ronald Koeman and Hajime Moriyasu locking in their starting elevens. Both coaches have put out exceptionally strong sides, balancing defensive solidity with electric attacking outlets capable of exploiting space in transition. Netherlands Lineup Netherlands Starting XI: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven; Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders; Crysencio Summerville, Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen. Koeman has set his side up in a balanced system designed to govern possession while remaining solid against Japan’s notorious counter-pressing style. Bart Verbruggen starts between the posts. The back four features Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke alongside the imposing Virgil van Dijk, flanked by the recovery pace of Micky van de Ven and the overlapping threat of Denzel Dumfries. In midfield, Frenkie de Jong returns to anchor the engine room next to the robust Ryan Gravenberch, allowing Tijjani Reijnders the freedom to push higher up the pitch. Up front, Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville will look to cut inside from the wings to support central striker Donyell Malen. Japan Lineup Japan Starting XI: Zion Suzuki; Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Kaishu Sano, Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, Keito Nakamura; Ayase Ueda. Hajime Moriyasu fields a highly technical side structured to absorb Dutch pressure and hit rapidly on the break. Zion Suzuki starts in goal. With regular captain Wataru Endo tragically ruled out of the tournament due to a late injury, the leadership mantle falls upon a reshaped defensive and midfield spine. The backline lines up with Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, and Bayern Munich’s Hiroki Ito. Kaishu Sano slots into the defensive midfield roles alongside Daichi Kamada to handle the central zones. Out wide, Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura provide high-energy coverage on the wings. Takefusa Kubo suppors the attack with Daizen Maeda just behind lone talisman Ayase Ueda.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano at the Red Bull Arena (kick-off 20:00 BST). Adam Wharton and Chris Richards were both "available in training" on Tuesday, however Glasner didn't reveal if they will make the starting XI. Daichi Kamada was partly rested against Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season due to being a "big-game player".
