The Blue Samurai look in brilliant form in Group F, with Tunisia chasing shadows in a 4-0 defeat that ended their World Cup campaign.
The impressive display ensured they matched fellow group powerhouse Netherlands after they beat Sweden 5-1, with the European outfit sitting in first place on the third tie breaker of goals scored, with the sides level on head-to-head and goal difference.
The Blue Samurai were a treat on the eye, prompting Fox Soccer pundit Jon Obi Mikel in the US to declare: “They are the most exciting team to watch in this tournament.”
He added: “Be careful of Japan – a team to watch!”
Japan scored two goals in each time and between their movement, crisp passing and high octane pressing, ensured Tunisia’s decision to rush Herve Renard into the managerial post one game into the tournament made no impact at all
“They know how to suffocate you,” Jon Obi Mikel continued.
“High energy, big tempo, pressing up high.”
“Incredible, versatility this team has, they know they have to fight for each other,” assessed former Spain international Thiago Alcantara on Fox Soccer.
“The coach is there with his calmness.
“This team knows how they play.”
Daichi Kamada took just four minutes to open the scoring, bundling home Keito Nakamura’s wicked delivery from the right.
Just after the drinks break, Ayase Ueda took the Monterrey crowd’s breath away with a sublime strike, fizzed home from the right from an acute angle. He had picked the ball up between the lines on the right and just when it looked like his teammates’ runs off the ball had broken the move down, space opened and the 27-year-old seized the moment with a fine finish, celebrating by pointing to his jersey.
“What a superb strike,” beamed Jon Obi Mikel, adding “absolutely superb”.
Junya Ito finished off a sublime team move to make it three in the 69th minute, finishing after a run in behind to receive a gorgeous one-touch pass, before a looping header by Ueda, to seal a brace, rounded out proceedings.
Ueda is a name to remember, particularly for Premier League fans.
He finished eight goals clear of the Eredivisie Golden Boot race with 25 for Feyenoord, where Jordy Bos is his teammate. He is only the second Japan player to ever win a European Golden Boot, following Kyōgo Furuhashi in Scotland with Celtic in 2023.
After three seasons in Rotterdam, where he was signed by Arne Slot, his exploits have PL clubs circling, with Tottenham, Brighton, Leeds and Everton all linked with the striker, who is tipped to be worth in the vicinity of $AUD 56 million.
Signed from Club Brugge for $AUD 10 million three seasons ago, Ueda came through his boyhood club Kashima Antlers before making the move to Europe.
A six foot striker adept with both feet, he was a key cog in qualifying and is looking for this moment on the world stage after only being a squad member in 2022, hoping to become the missing piece for Japan on the World Cup stage.
Hajime Moriyasu’s team were in synch and playing beautiful football, the first Asian side ever to score four goals in a World Cup game.
“You see the chemistry the team. has,” Thiago added.
“They enjoy playing football.”
As for Tunisia, who sacked Sabri Lamouchi after an opening match 5-1 defeat to Sweden, Jon Obi Mikel added: “These players have to look at themselves. At some stage, it is not the manager it is the players.
“They are not good enough at all!”
