The first group stage match between Japan and the Netherlands was an instant classic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Japan\u2019s equalizer in the 88th minute came right after Fox Sports broadcasters questioned Japan\u2019s ability to tie the game.<\/p>\n
Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves were on the call of the match on Fox in the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n Just a minute before Japan tied the match, Fletcher said, \u201cThe Japanese players think they\u2019re taller than they actually are, because they persist on crossing it straight onto the heads of the Dutch defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n After a clearance resulted in a throw-in in Netherlands territory seconds later, Fletcher suggested they should \u201cgo short\u201d instead of another throw-in into the penalty area.<\/p>\n Fletcher had one more thing to say: \u201cYou watch; they\u2019ll score from this one now that I have said that.\u201d<\/p>\n Japan, of course, did just that.<\/p>\n Here is the full video of the moment.<\/p>\n “The Japanese players think they’re taller than they actually are, because they persist on crossing it straight onto the heads of the Dutch defenders.”ASTONISHING! 2-2!””Can I just apologize to every Japanese player down there, because that’s why they were crossing it into the Dutch box\u2026”<\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social)<\/a> 2026-06-15T00:32:47.102Z<\/a><\/p>\n Fletcher is not wrong about the height of the Japanese team compared to most World Cup teams, to be fair.<\/p>\n