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Japan crush Tunisia 4-0
Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 in Group F at Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, in the World Cup’s 1,000th match, with Daichi Kamada scoring in the fourth minute and Ayase Ueda adding two goals.
“constantly a cut above and were never threatened”
Hajime Moriyasu’s side then made it 3-0 when Junya Ito scored in the 69th minute, before Ueda completed the rout with a looping header in the 83rd minute.
The result left Tunisia eliminated after a week that included a 5-1 defeat by Sweden and the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi, with Herve Renard installed as head coach.
The BBC described Japan as “constantly a cut above” and said they were “never threatened” by Tunisia, while ESPN said Japan moved “one step closer to reaching the knockout stages” for the fourth consecutive time.
With the win, Japan reached four points and moved up to second in the group, level on points with the Netherlands, according to the BBC’s at-a-glance table.
Injuries and a new coach
Before the Tunisia match, the New York Times said “all eyes were on new Tunisia coach Herve Renard,” after Sabri Lamouchi was sacked, and it framed Japan’s start as decisive when Kamada scored after just four minutes.
The New York Times also listed injuries to Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino and Wataru Endo before the tournament, and said Takefusa Kubo was lost for the game after an apparent knee injury in the first match.
CNA reported that Kaoru Mitoma would miss the World Cup due to injury, with Takumi Minamino also ruled out, and it added that captain Wataru Endo missed the tournament due to injury after retiring from international duty.
CNA quoted supporters Ryu Hotta and Ishin Hotta saying, “We are a team and not individuals,” and “The team is strong,” as they praised Japan’s teamwork under Moriyasu.
In the same match, the BBC noted that Tunisia took less than four minutes to go behind, with Kamada prodding home from close range at Monterrey Stadium.
Round of 32 implications
Japan’s 4-0 win set up a tense Round of 32 picture, with the New York Times saying Japan can start planning for a round of 32 game and that likely opponents include Brazil, Morocco or France depending on Group F finishing positions.
“One will play Brazil in the round of 32, the other Morocco”
The Guardian’s live blog added that the bracket structure makes the difference between finishing top or second “marginal,” with one path leading to Brazil and the other to Morocco in the round of 32.
The BBC said Japan have four points and are “likely at least to progress as one of the best third-placed sides,” but that they would hope to earn a guaranteed spot when they take on Sweden in their final group game.
CNA said the win means Japan have “one foot in round of 32 with four points in two games,” while also quoting Ken Okawa that “Every team at the World Cup is a difficult match.”
In the final group-game schedule described by the BBC, Japan play Sweden on Friday and Tunisia play the Netherlands at the same time, with the Netherlands currently top of the group.
