Following a frustrating 2-2 draw against Japan, Koeman admitted his side was under pressure to deliver. The crucial victory brought calm to the Dutch camp, but also witnessed a historic milestone; Gakpo's second strike of the night took the tournament's goal tally to 100 in just 33 games, the fastest World Cup century reached since 1958. Highlighting the relief, Koeman remained emphatic about the vital importance of the three points.
"Of course, you want to win every match. You also want to start the tournament with a victory, that gives peace," Koeman explained. Addressing the previous criticism regarding his tactical decisions, he added with a smile: "Maybe the substitutions were better now than in the previous match."
He continued more seriously: "So there was more pressure to win this match, we knew this was a must-win. But I felt no tension. As a trainer, you feel how people work after such a first match and what the input of the players is. Then you know it's okay."