What it’s like to party with Netherlands fans before World Cup match
USA TODAY Sports’ Jon Arnold takes us inside the Dutch pre-game celebration ahead of their match against Japan.
Sports Seriously
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ARLINGTON, TX — The three Japan goalkeepers came onto the field and bowed to the cheering crowd at AT&T Stadium, with starter Zion Suzuki waving to the fans before beginning to work on goal kicks in the opening warm-ups.
Suzuki suits up for Japan, having represented the Samurai Blue as early as the U-15 level, but he also was eligible for the U.S., having been born in Newark, New Jersey. His father is Ghanian and his mother is Japanese, and Suzuki was raised in Urawa, where he went through the Urawa Red Diamonds academy and went pro with that club before moving to a club in Belgium.
In 2024, he earned a transfer to Serie A side Parma, and now starts for the club where legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his name.
Just 23, Suzuki made his Japan senior debut in 2022 and already has more than two dozen caps. Now, he’s making his World Cup against the Netherlands and is expected to start for Japan the whole tournament.
