{"id":3176,"date":"2022-11-28T03:13:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T16:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=3176"},"modified":"2026-09-25T10:43:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T01:13:42","slug":"japan-crash-back-down-to-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/japan-crash-back-down-to-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan crash back down to earth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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And just like that, Japan\u2019s hopes of reaching the second round at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What should also be hanging is the noose around the coach\u2019s neck after a tactically inept display against a Costa Rican side that offered the sort of attacking threat that empty moats and unmanned turrets did back in the Warring States period of Japanese history some 500 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Los Ticos scored with their only shot on target of the entire match in the 81st minute but it was the decision to sit back for the opening half and wait for mistakes that should mark the end of the Moriyasu reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Costa Rica also clearly unwilling to take risks the first half was some of the dullest football played since final group stage matches were fixed to suit the needs of both nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moriyasu tried to respond after the break with the same tactical switch to a back three that worked against the Germans and the introduction of the Olympic level pace of Takuma Asano once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trick didn\u2019t work twice though as Costa Rica continued to sit deep and avoid giving Japan space to attack in behind and with a five-man defensive line the space simply wasn\u2019t there from wide areas either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That meant that the chances had to come centrally and it was only after the introduction of Kaoru Mitoma \u2013 again Japan\u2019s most dangerous option \u2013 that cracks began to appear as the Brighton man drove at his defenders to create a couple of dangerous moments late on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be discussion around the manner of the goal that was conceded but there was always a sense that Japan would\u2019ve been content with a scoreless draw that could have potentially secured their progression through to the second round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a failure in mentality, attitude and belief from this conservative coach who continues to set back Japanese football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Costa Rica break through to beat Japan!@adidasfootball<\/a> | #FIFAWorldCup<\/a><\/p>— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 27, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>