Six months on from surprising the world by qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup, Japan are a side full of optimism as they look to muster the perfect response to their failed Asian Cup campaign in Australia four years ago. Under yet another coach, restoring the identity of Japanese football is at the heart of the new JFA led project, building towards another promising era of potential success.
It wholly depends on who you speak to you, to whether they think Japan’s campaign in Russia was tactically well executed, or on the whole had a lot to do with lady luck. One things for sure, when said events fell favourably for the Samurai Blue, coach Akira Nishino played his cards well. The eventual performance (not withstanding the first half nerves) that followed the early red card for Colombia, the brave but ultimately prudent rotation of his squad in the final group match to keep fresh for the knockouts and the purposeful pressing illustrated against Belgium, all owe a great debt to Nishino’s initiative.
Of course, his backroom staff need to take partial credit for that success, one in particular; the incoming Hajme Moriyasu, fresh in the knowledge he’d succeed Nishino upon culmination of the World Cup, had an early say in how the side set up. The early tinkering to a Moriyasu-inspired three at the back, wing back system against Ghana on the run up to the World Cup may have back fired spectacularly then, but almost certainly has granted further time for Moriyasu to adapt to his playing staff post-summer.
While the philosophy has carried on; that of bringing back the Japanese identity of old, high levels of possession, creativeness and slow build up, in direct opposition of the direct, workmanlike but effective requirements of former coach Vahid Halilhodzic, Moriyasu has been quick to change the personnel on the pitch.
Losing the likes of Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Gotoku Sakai to retirement after the World Cup, Moriyasu has subsequently cut the summer contingent further, excluding the likes of Eiji Kawashima (who admittedly had a woeful World Cup), Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui, Takashi Usami, and Shinj Okazaki from his Asian Cup preparations. While there’ll be contrasting arguments on their usefulness to the current squad, such a swift disregard of such talent is a brave call on the eve of a continental tournament.
This does however allude to the vast resources Moriyasu has at his disposal. In have come the attacking trio of Ritsu Duan, Shoya Nakajima and Takumi Minamino, three players playing regular European football, all under 25 and all cemented into Moriyasu’s starting plans. Nakajima in particular who could’ve felt hard done to, to not have been selected for the World Cup, seems to have improved from it, with a point to prove that he can indeed spring forward from where the likes of Kagawa and Honda left off.
The gradual phasing out of their older talents and when this is best to be undertaken has been a thorny subject for years, yet Moriyasu has, for the time being at least been given a break in this regard. Under Vahid Halilhodzic, the Samurai Blue regularly lined up with Messrs Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki taking their places on the bench, yet the style of football being bred at the time, lead for quick calls for a return to the status quo. The fact Moriyasu, a J-League man through and through, has been quick to instill promising talent he knows well in an attacking, possession-based system has clearly gained sympathisers.
There will be questions no doubt, of Japan’s credentials at the Asian Cup. They can’t merely coast through a tournament without scrutiny, and despite a lack of noise at present, come January fans will expect their side to compete for silverware. Given the long-term goals of the national side; to qualify and compete at 2022, seek victory on home soil at the Olympics in 2020, even portray a positive vision of Japanese football at next summer’s Copa America, is it too soon to be making a true assessment of Moriyasu’s progress at the Asian Cup?
The side feels fresh, a distinct change from that under Halilhodzic, even Nishino, but reliance on key players in defensive areas will stabilise the core required if they have hopes of going deep into the tournament. The back four is likely to feature their three most experienced players, in Maya Yoshida (now made captain under Moriyasu), Hiroki Sakai and Yuto Nagatomo. All three have experience of big competitions, but also play regular European football with their clubs, a key prerequisite going into the Asian Cup.
The keeper situation however remains a doubt. With Kawashima, unanimously thrown onto the scrap heap after the World Cup, Kashiwa Reysol stopper Kosuke Nakamura was ear marked as the heir in waiting to make his tournament debut. Multiple injuries since the summer have subsequently thrown that certainty into doubt, with Gamba Osaka’s Masaaki Higashiguchi in pole position to take the number one jersey on the eve of the tournament. Now 32, Higashiguchi’s erratic style of old has tempered slightly, but his lack of international experience will remain a concern ahead of kick off.
Japan all-in-all head into the Asian Cup as a subdued capsule. Preparations have been modest - as usual they have only scheduled home friendly matches since the summer, in which little has overly brought out a change in style or personnel that could suggest what Moriyasu is looking at heading to the UAE. With a relatively simple looking passage through to the knockouts ahead of them, Japan shouldn’t make heavy work of their Round 1 opponents, yet an early predicted meeting with Australia in the quarter finals, could see them struggle to better their abject showing in 2015.
Key Men
Head Coach - Hajime Moriyasu
Former Japanese international turned coach, who worked under Akira Nishino on the run up to and at the World Cup over the summer. Famed for leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three titles in four seasons playing an attacking brand of possession football. Has already illustrated his fondness for youth and the J.League, relying on untested international players in the run up to the Asian Cup.
Star Player - Gaku Shibasaki
Unassuming but poised, deep creator, who had found it difficult to fit in the national team picture, until Akira Nishino took charge ahead of the World Cup, now looks the key cog in Moriyasu’s game plan. Amassed a significant career in Japan with Kashima Antlers, including winning the FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball in 2016, before moving to Spain, with Tenerife and now Getafe. A vital figure in transition between defence and attack.
Under Pressure - Masaaki Higashiguchi
Long been a strong performer domestically, Gamba Osaka goalkeeper Higashiguchi has been flung into the spotlight, as the Samurai Blue number one upon the eve of the tournament with only a handful of caps to his name. Was always likely to play catch up with Kosuke Nakamura, however injury has thrown him a lifeline. Quite eccentric and lively in style, the keeper has been susceptible to the odd brain fade.
Young Prospect - Ritsu Doan
Player of the tournament at the 2016 AFC U19 Championship, Doan played a key role at last year’s U20 World Cup, scoring three goals over four matches. The 20-year-old can play anywhere across the three in behind the striker yet has already established favour with Moriyasu on the right side. A threat from dead ball situations, Doan scored his first Japan goal in October against Uruguay.
No comments:
Post a Comment