The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC.
After the high of beating Germany 2-1 earlier in the week, Japan head into Sunday’s clash with Costa Rica knowing that a win would take them a huge step closer towards reaching the knockout stages for the second straight World Cup.
Firm underdogs against the Germans and now strong favourites against Los Ticos, the question is how does that fit with the philosophy of coach Hajime Moriyasu who is far more comfortable with his back to the wall and the world against him.
This match looms as a dangerous one for Japan for that reason, they simply don’t often perform at their best in those matches where they’re expected to dominate.
After Costa Rica 2022 became just the second side in more than half a century – after Costa Rica 1990 – to fail to record a single shot in a World Cup finals match in their 7-0 thrashing against Spain, Japanese hopes of success have been buoyed.
Against Germany, it was a typical Moriyasu display with deep, compact, defensive blocks and the main threat coming on the break where he started – and replaced – pace and then more pace.
That will almost certainly be the case next week against Spain once more but just how he approaches things here is a real point of contention.
If Japan, against expectation, push too far forward and take more risks that then leaves their ageing defence open to real pressure in transition and you get a sense that something Moriyasu is desperate to avoid.
If so and Japan again play deeper then Costa Rica, even after that woeful opening, still have players that can hurt them.
Much will hinge here on the initial tactical setup and the patience that will be needed if they are struggling to find clear openings, as was the case against the Germans, whilst Moriyasu may also be tempted to debate starting with the 3-4-2-1 that they used in the second half comeback against Germany.
There may be the temptation to make some rotational changes to preserve players for the Spain clash whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hidemasa Morita, Kaoru Mitoma and now Hiroki Sakai also all remain under fitness clouds.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AO TANAKA – With Morita dealing with ongoing fitness issues it’s likely that Tanaka lines up alongside Wataru Endo in central midfield and in a match where more creative central midfielders are needed that may have been the case regardless.
That should see more positive forward play with Japan likely to look and break the Costa Rican lines centrally where the German-based player could be a key part of that.
TAKUMA ASANO – Having gone from surprise squad inclusion to matchwinner against the might of Germany, the 28-year-old could be in line for a start here after his star turn off the bench in the first game.
Much of Moriyasu’s approach is based on blinding pace on the wings and in the central striking role to provide pressure when out of possession and a direct route when with the ball and it was a simple lofted ball over the top that Asano raced on to finish off the Germans.
KAORU MITOMA – Having entered the tournament a touch off full fitness the Brighton man was introduced in the second half against Germany in a deep role that saw him flirt between a left fullback and a wingback position.
As impressive as he is, and was, in going forward if he’s viewed as the cover for veteran Yuto Nagatomo at the tournament then positional issues in defence that arose against Germany could be an area of concern for Japan.
WHAT THEY SAID
Hajime Moriyasu – Japan coach
“Costa Rica have high physical performance and can play in an organised manner and they are a good team.
“When we move from the attack to defence, we would like to do it quickly. However, we would like to hold the ball and control the game, that’s what we are trying in practice.
“Sometimes that is difficult to do when you are playing someone strong, but we would like to hold the ball as much as possible and also control the game.”
PREDICTIONS
Scott McIntyre
Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Michael Church
Japan 3-0 Costa Rica
Paul Williams
Japan 2–0 Costa Rica
Martin Lowe
Japan 3–1 Costa Rica
Listen to The Asian Game Podcast’s ‘Doha Daily‘ live from Qatar 2022
