Key events
Summary
Jonathan Howcroft
Thank you for joining me this evening. That was a fitting way to cap a fantastic matchday. I’ll leave you with Jonathan Wilson to rhapsodise over the Samurai Blue and see you back here for Egypt v New Zealand.
There’s already a pod out! Have they overlooked Hunky Hervé?
However, the nature of the bracket structure means the difference between finishing top or second in Group F is marginal. One will play Brazil in the round of 32, the other Morocco, in either Houston or Monterrey, in matches that take place on the same day.
Next up for Tunisia is the nightmare scenario of a dead rubber against a Netherlands side eager to pad their goal difference.
Japan take on Sweden knowing a point will be enough for them to finish second while a win brings goal difference into the mix at the top of the table.
Those matches take place concurrently on 25 June at 6pm.
“As the game nears its end, I was trying to think about what the reason for Japan’s excellence in the World Cup compared to their fellow Asian giant China’s failure to qualify for the World Cup?” asks Ezra Finkelstein.
I can’t speak to China’s struggles, but Japan are a case study in how to build a cohesive strategic approach to football development.
The game was underdeveloped until the late 20th century, but since the formation of the J.League in 1992 football has blossomed. Crucially, this growth has been strategic in its planning and expert in its execution. For example, the J.League was intentionally modelled on Germany’s Bundesliga, and was accompanied by a Hundred Year Vision. There is a Japanese National Football Philosophy, aligning the game from top to bottom, with a goal of winning the World Cup by 2050.
Head to the JFA website and there a documents celebrating the Japan Way, and you can see the results in both men’s and women’s football.
“Crazy to think that Japan are missing Kubo, Mitoma and Endo at this World Cup,” emails an admiring Chris Paraskevas. “This is the sharpest I’ve ever seen them. They look very stable under the tutelage of Moriyasu, whose predilection for form-fitting three piece suits makes him an underrated style icon of the World Cup. I’d throw them in the conversation with Morocco as legitimate Dark Horses™.”
Surely the 2022 semi-finalists are beyond dark horse status? Besides, I thought we’d all agreed Norway were this year’s dark horses? But Japan are definitely the best Asian side at this tournament and the best placed to compete with the 2002 South Korea side that reached the semis.
“Tunisia should go all in on the meltdown and sack their manager again,” correctly observes Saurav Sammadar. “Three managers for three matches, an unbeatable pub quiz question is not the worst way to go home.” If only Carlos Quieroz wasn’t already in a job, he would have been ideal to take over. Maybe they could call up Bora Milutinovic for one last dance?
For the second match in a row Tunisia only just finished second. They were torn apart in a first half thrashing that did nothing to suggest the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi was a worthwhile exercise. Herve Renard yelled his lungs out during the first half, urging his new charges on, but Japan never game them a sniff.
Full-time: Tunisia 0-4 Japan
Japan watched the Netherlands make a statement in Group F earlier today and they have matched them with a comprehensive evisceration of Tunisia in Monterrey. The Samurai Blue are a serious football team.
90+4 mins: Japan’s subs are doing their best to keep this contest moving, but this one needs no further interventions.
90+2 mins: Has this been the best matchday of the World Cup so far? Four matches full of intrigue and quality.
90 mins: Six minutes of time added on for Tunisia to find the four goals they need to remain alive in this competition.
89 mins: “The xG stat shown right before the fourth stated Japan had 1.02,” emails an exasperated Randy Zalubil. “How is this possible!? They’ve threatened the entire match!— explain XG to me?!”
87 mins: The host broadcaster cuts to Hajime Moriyasu in the Japan dugout. He has done a superb job with this team. And he is bullish about his side’s chances. They are here to win, not simply make up the numbers. If they continue performing like this they cannot be ruled out.
85 mins: Ueda is immediately substituted to give Goto some game time.
Beautiful pass and move down the right opens up the Tunisian defence, Sano stands up the cross to the far post, Ueda leaps, timing his jump like Graeme Sharp to redirect the ball beyond Dahmen and a couple of defenders on the line for good measure. The header arced like a greenside flop shot, taunting Tunisia as it floated into the back of the net.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-4 Japan (Ueda, 83)
Japan, almost apologetically, make it four.
81 mins: “My mom, upon recognising the Tunisian coach from his stint as Saudi Arabia’s coach at the 2022 WC: ‘Has a white shirt. Will travel’.” I reckon Lillie Lovatt is not the only reader to have a mother who retains a memory of international football’s answer to Fabio.
79 mins: More changes for Japan with Seko and Y Suzuki coming on for Tomiyasu and Nakamura.
77 mins: Ito chases an overhit ball in the right channel, Ben Hmida has to slide across and concede the corner. Japan’s industry and commitment is a thing to behold. The corner is not much chop though and Tunisia head it away.
75 mins: Tunisia win a corner on the right, which quickly becomes two corners after a short corner is blocked. The second ball is curled across, kept in the area well by Rekik, allowing Gharbi a shooting opportunity that is charged down by Japan, prompting high fives and goal-like celebrations.
71 mins: Speaking of those changes for Japan, Doan makes way for Sugawara, and Kamada for J Suzuki.
Japan will enjoy their hydration break, safe in the knowledge they have done everything asked of them this evening. Expect Moriyasu to ring the changes for the final quarter.
Japan nail the slow-slow-quick. After a spell of calm possession across defence the ball is fizzed at speed to the feet of Ueda dropping into the No 10 position and he executes a superb one-touch flick around the corner that beats the offside trap and allows Ito to spring onto it, hold off Rekik, and roll the ball confidently under the helpless goalkeeper.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-3 Japan (Ito, 69)
As the match begins to drift, Ito makes it three.
66 mins: Tunisia are defending in a formation that seems to suggest they’re more focussed on retaining this scoreline than they are gambling to get back into the game. It means Japan have to move the ball more conservatively with less space than was available in the opening half.
65 mins: Valery goes for the long throw from the right again but Japan are strong in the air.
64 mins: Tunisia go to their bench again: Chaouat for Tounekti.
63 mins: Ayase wins a corner with a deflected effort after lovely interplay in the final third. Uade created space with a lovely stepover. Ito sends the ball into the box this time but it’s easily headed clear.
62 mins: Abdi does well in defence, then sets his side going forward with some neat skill to evade Ito then look long for Gharbi. Japan deal with it.
61 mins: Tunisia get some time on the ball but Japan are so busy out of possession, Tanaka’s interception seems inevitable.
59 mins: The set piece is taken short then the angled delivery is clubbed straight into the advancing Tunisian defender. Tunisia break at speed and then want a penalty for handball against Ito for sliding in and collecting the ball on the ground, but there’s nothing doing.
58 mins: Japan are patient though, happy to execute technical triangle passing patterns down the right and earn a corner.
57 mins: Tunisia’s defensive shape is much better this half, tracking runners, denying Japan easy passing lanes.
55 mins: Hannibal has been a more visible presence this half, dropping deeper to show for the ball and moving forward with intent. His perceived pressure off the ball forces another Japanese error on their right as this game struggles to main the quality of the opening half.
54 mins: Skhiri is caught very late and awkwardly. Doan is lucky to avoid a caution.
52 mins: Japanese fans are in full voice in Monterrey, but there team has hit a brief sticky patch. Other than the Hannibal chance there have been poor turnovers on each flank, allowing their opponents to gain a foothold in the game.
50 mins: Hannibal has a chance! Tunisia’s first opening of the night is well worked. Gharbi instigates it as the ball is played through the lines, out to the right. The cross is low and accurate and the onrushing Burnley midfielder should sidefoot it into the net but he fails to make contact.
48 mins: It’s a change of personnel, nit a change of structure with Tunisia still operating with a 5-3-2 and Japan a 3-4-3. One of those midfield four, Tanaka, drags a shot wide from 25m.
46 mins: Ben Hmida is straight into the action with a sliding tackle on the left as Japan continue where they left off.
The teams are back out for the second half.
Ben Hmida is coming on for Bronn and Gharbi replaces Saad for Tunisia.
Time for some half-time reading, and how could we go past a byline that reads: Sid Lowe in Chattanooga?
Cape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener, Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to clear their heads and leave the disappointment behind. Lamine Yamal went to Nashville, Dani Olmo headed for Hamilton Place mall and Rodri strolled the Tennessee river with his partner. When Borja Iglesias got back before the 9pm curfew, they didn’t recognise him and wouldn’t let him in.