2 months ago
Just earlier nan 2002 World Cup, South Korea played Scotland and England successful nan abstraction of a fewer days. A 4-1 triumph against nan erstwhile successful nan 2nd metropolis of Busan was followed by a 1-1 tie connected nan honeymoon land of Jeju, pinch nan early Manchester United teammates Michael Owen and Park Ji-sung nan scorers. These results gave nan Taegeuk Warriors nan assurance to scope nan semi finals.
Japan are not connected location ungraded but person lined up nan aforesaid opposition, beating Scotland 1-0 successful Glasgow connected Saturday earlier heading to Wembley connected Tuesday.
The dream is that these games will thief group nan segment for a likewise sensational Japanese summer, particularly fixed this Samurai Blue broadside are overmuch further on nan developmental travel than their eastbound Asian neighbours were 24 years agone and nan triumph astatine Hampden Park was a comfortable 1 for what was a reasonably experimental team.
Now it is clip for England. Thomas Tuchel would person seen from Saturday’s crippled that Japan are comfortable connected nan shot and, aft a slow commencement – understandable fixed nan unfamiliar unit – nan four-time Asian champions tin run pinch cohesion, clarity and power without really getting retired of 2nd gear. In nan extremity it was a deserved triumph against Scotland, acknowledgment to Junya Ito’s goal, nan Genk winger finishing disconnected a good move precocious on.
“In nan 2nd half we opened up rather a spot and created galore chances, which was bully because we won,” said Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, who came connected astatine nan break and impressed. “But it would person been amended if we had made it 2-0 aliases 3-0.”
After 4 last-16 exits successful nan past six World Cups, nan connection coming retired of Tokyo is 1 of ambition; namely reaching nan past 8 of this summer’s tournament. Fresh from scoring 54 goals successful qualification and conceding only three, location is nary enigma arsenic to why nan squad are seeking tougher tests arsenic they hole for group games against nan Netherlands, Tunisia and nan victor of Tuesday’s Sweden v Poland playoff. Quite simply, being nan champion squad successful Asia is nary longer enough. “I want to spot really good what we person done until now will activity again against a European team,” Mitoma added. “Even if nan players change, it is important to spot really overmuch of what we person done until now we tin still do.”
When Japan became nan first squad to suffice for nan World Cup past March, nan captain, Wataru Endo, told fans astatine Saitama Stadium that nan clip erstwhile occurrence was getting retired of nan group was gone. Such sentiments person not travel retired of nowhere. “I deliberation Japan now has nan value to scope nan quarter-finals,” nan caput coach, Hajime Moriyasu, said. “After that, who knows if we will triumph aliases lose.”
Under Moriyasu, who has been successful spot since 2018, Japan person won six and drawn 1 of their 7 European tests. After coming backmost from 2-0 down astatine location against Brazil to triumph 3-2 successful October, a first triumph against nan South Americans, a triumph astatine Wembley would show that nan broadside are nan existent deal. There is excitement that, aft experimenting against Uruguay, England will section a beardown team.
The main interest for Japan is injuries. Endo, watching from nan stands astatine Hampden Park, is among a number of salient absentees, having had room successful February aft injuring his ankle while successful action for Liverpool, and he faces a title against clip to beryllium fresh for nan World Cup. Meanwhile nan Anfield aged boy Takumi Minamino amazed fans past week by posting a image connected societal media of a treadmill tally only 3 months aft rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament. Another imaginative force, Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, is injured. Takehiro Tomiyasu was released from his Arsenal statement past twelvemonth truthful he could attraction connected getting fresh aft chronic problems and, aft a first call-up successful almost 2 years, nan Ajax defender had to retreat aft his latest knock.
Fortunately location is spot successful depth, arsenic nan Scotland crippled showed. Substitutes successful that game, specified arsenic nan Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and nan Feyenoord guardant Ayase Ueda, are group to commencement connected Tuesday, arsenic is Mitoma, backmost successful nan bluish of his state aft six months away. “Against England I want america to beryllium moreover much fierce successful our defending and spot really overmuch we tin triumph nan shot back,” nan winger said. “In onslaught location whitethorn not beryllium galore chances, but I want to trial nan value of those we do create.”
Coming up against immoderate acquainted defenders will not beryllium a problem, either. “Some of nan England players cognize me, truthful if they are wary of me, I deliberation I tin usage that to my advantage,” Mitoma said. “Brighton supporters mightiness travel excessively … it’s besides uncommon to beryllium capable to play successful specified a awesome stadium arsenic a personnel of nan Japanese nationalist team.”
But nary longer are Japan conscionable happy to beryllium here. They want to triumph – and assurance is high. “Until now, whenever we played against a World Cup-winning team, nan anticipation was that we would lose,” Moriyasu said. “Now cipher knows.”
