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And just like that, Japan’s hopes of reaching the second round at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread.
What should also be hanging is the noose around the coach’s 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.
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.
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.
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.
The trick didn’t 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’t there from wide areas either.
That meant that the chances had to come centrally and it was only after the introduction of Kaoru Mitoma – again Japan’s most dangerous option – that cracks began to appear as the Brighton man drove at his defenders to create a couple of dangerous moments late on.
There will be discussion around the manner of the goal that was conceded but there was always a sense that Japan would’ve been content with a scoreless draw that could have potentially secured their progression through to the second round.
This was a failure in mentality, attitude and belief from this conservative coach who continues to set back Japanese football.
As was the case against Germany there was the sense again of desperation from Moriyasu in his substitutions in pushing players here and there with the shifting shape that saw, at points, Mitoma again dropping into a left fullback role at times whilst Yuki Soma was also deep on the right on the other flank.
What is the point of spending trillions of yen over the past few decades in developing finely gifted technical footballers to then sit back when you arrive on the world’s biggest stage, passive against a nation based primarily of players from a modest domestic league, or look to simply pump long balls to speedy forwards?
This kind of approach is not in any way indicative of what Japanese football has for years and years strove to become and it’s not playing either to the clear strengths of the team.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Conservatism continues to limit Japan: Just imagine how good this group of players could be with a coach that allowed them to play and express themselves in attack, rather than sitting deep against a modest opponent and simply waiting for mistakes.
The end must be nigh for Moriyasu: Japanese football needs a complete re-boot from what it’s become under this conservative coach who has prioritised results at all costs. There needs to be a liberation of the team’s attacking talents and the next coaching appointment is vitally important for Japanese football.
Why isn’t Mitoma starting and what is he doing playing deep and wide?: In both matches, Mitoma has looked as most expected him to and that’s as Japan’s most dangerous creative threat. Even with some slight fitness concerns that he carried into the tournament there’s simply no logical reason – outside of Moriyasu’s inherent conservatism – that he isn’t starting. Even more criminal is why he’s being restricted to a hybrid wingback/fullback role rather than being handed the creative reigns centrally.
WHAT THEY SAID
Hajime Moriyasu – Japan coach
“The result was a shame but it does not mean what we have done was wrong.
“For the Germany game and today, we had high intensity and for the next match against Spain it will be the same. So we just need to increase the odds for Japan and that is how I decided the tactics.”
Maya Yoshida – Japan captain
“Football is a very difficult game and we have to be ready both physically and mentally and today mentally it was very difficult because after the huge win against Germany and the big defeat of Costa Rica against Spain the preparation wasn’t easy.
“I’ve been asking myself these past three or four days if I was ready and I also asked the squad that, but Costa Rica today showed their spirit and they made one opportunity and scored that so that’s the difficult part of football but our mentality was also not right today.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
A huge match against Spain looms next week where Japan will need at least a point to progress and as much as that plays into the approach of Moriyasu it’s hard to see the team matching things with the Spaniards.
Photo: twitter/jfa_samuraiblue
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