The Japanese men’s national soccer team beat Jordan, Korea’s opponent in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup group stage, by five goals despite the absence of many overseas players.
Japan men’s soccer team. /Reuters News1
Japan, led by coach Hajime Moriyasu (56), defeated Jordan 6-1 in a closed-door friendly match held at Al-Ersal Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 9th (local time). Japan was already ahead 4-0 at the end of the first half, even without key overseas players such as Kaoru Mitoma (27, Brighton) and Takefusa Kubo (23, Real Sociedad). Japan, who added two more goals in the second half, ended up winning by allowing only one goal in the 42nd minute. Japan ranks 17th in the FIFA rankings, the highest ranking in Asia. Jordan ranks 87th.
Japan’s sense of goal is said to have recently reached its peak. Japan has been on a 10-game winning streak, starting with a 6-0 victory over El Salvador (78th) in a friendly match held in June last year. In particular, during this period, soccer powerhouses such as ‘Tank Corps’ Germany (16th) and Turkiye (37th) also showed off their power by beating them 4 to 1 and 4 to 2, respectively. During the 10-game winning streak, Japan showed explosive power by scoring 45 goals. Only 6 goals were conceded.
The national soccer team players, including captain Son Heung-min (center), are warming up at their training camp in the United Arab Emirates on the 4th. Korea is attempting to win the championship for the first time in 64 years since 1960. /Korea Football Association
Korea (23rd), which is attempting to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 64 years since the 1960 tournament, is not entirely happy with Japan’s good performance. The prevailing view is that the game against Japan will ultimately be the biggest hurdle for Korea, which has recently won six consecutive international matches, to win the championship. The Korean men’s soccer team, led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann (60, Germany), is scheduled to enter Doha, Qatar, the site of the final match, on the afternoon of the 10th.
Japan will play in Group D in the Asian Cup along with Iraq (63rd), Vietnam (94th), and Indonesia (146th). Korea is in Group E with Jordan, Bahrain (86th), and Malaysia (130th). Due to the structure of the bracket, if Korea advances to the finals, there is a high possibility that the fateful Korea-Japan match against Japan will unfold. The Asian Cup opens in Doha, Qatar on the 12th, and Korea will play the first round of the group stage against Bahrain on the 15th.
2024-01-11 18:52:59
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