On the 27th, the Japanese national team, led by Hajime Moriyasu, lost 0-1 to the Costa Rican national team in the second match of the group stage of the Qatar Tournament of the FIFA World Cup. Midfielder Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) was on the field midway through the second half of the match against Costa Rica after the match against Germany, but the player’s use has been questioned outside Japan.
In the match against Germany on the 23rd, Kaoru Mitoma took to the field midway through the second half and worked on the left wing. Since he contributed to the comeback victory by activating the team in attack, he should have started in the match against Costa Rica. However, in the match against Costa Rica, coach Hajime Moriyasu appointed midfielder Yuki Soma (Nagoya Grampus) in the starting lineup for the left half. In the 16th minute of the second half, Kaoru Mitoma came on as a substitute for DF Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), but struggled against the one-on-one defense of the Costa Rican national team. Shortly before the end of the match, he dribbled down the left side and entered the penalty area, but did not lead to a goal.
Shortly before the end of the game, a reporter from The Anfield Wrap, a specialist Liverpool website, commented: “Kaoru Mitoma changed the course of the game in one fell swoop in the match against Germany, and today (against Costa Rica) , she is the most brilliant member of the Japan national team. I don’t know why she didn’t start,” he tweeted, raising questions about Moriyasu’s command.
A reporter for the British Mirror newspaper also said: “Every time I see Kaoru Mitoma playing, he is an outstanding player on the pitch, both in Brighton and in the Japan national team. Another proof,” he wrote.
In addition, the Japanese national team will be eliminated from the group if they lose to Spain on the 2nd of next month due to their loss to Costa Rica. Moriyasu Japan is in a difficult situation ahead of the match against world champions Spain.
