Copa America 2019: Japan (Preview)

A year into his reign as national team coach, Hajime Moriyasu switches focus ahead of a new cycle of World Cup qualification, to consider the small matter of national pride in their warm up to hosting the Olympics in 12 months’ time. While the Copa America represents a worthy continental prize to the South Americans taking part, as one of the two invited teams in this year’s tournament, Japan will distinctly be travelling with different measures of success being attached to their plans.

The last month has borne witness to a myriad of squad announcements, most of which have conflicting restrictions and briefs; Japan’s U20 side travelled to the World Cup in Poland, an U22 selection travelled to France to play in the annual Toulon youth tournament, a more recognisable senior outfit was selected for two international friendlies at the long laboured Kirin Cup, while a mixture of all three was selected in a predominantly Olympic games focussed squad travelling to Brazil for the Copa America.

There’ll undoubtedly be a few Japanese players out there feeling hard done to, as every man and his dog seemed to be called up to one squad or another. An interesting personal example to highlight the stretched resources over the last month sees Hamburg midfielder Tatsuya Ito having to feature in the Toulon final on Saturday night (ironically against Brazil), before travelling half way across the world to South America, ahead of Japan’s Copa America opener against Chile on Monday evening. This month like no other has pulled the national team picture quite literally across the world.

This squad, aside from its internally forced age parameters feels typically Olympic in its experimental nature; the overage players include two outgoing sages in Eiji Kawashima and Shinji Okazaki, while still missing some of the more credible U22 players of this cohort; the likes of Ritsu Doan were called up for senior duty, while Ao Tanaka travelled to France for Toulon. The squad of 23 boasts only seven players with previous national team experience (there will be no official warmup matches either), two of whom have over 88 caps. The disparity is stark, as is the case with most Olympic selections, marking expectations as a clearer unknown than usual.

Tactically, Japan continue to shift between the 4231/4221 system that saw them progress to the Asian Cup final back in February, and the 3421-system used predominantly over Moriyasu’s managerial career to date, most recently reintroduced in Japan’s Kirin Cup friendlies and in both other youth team tournament appearances this summer. Despite this, the Copa America squad doesn’t exactly provide the essential wingbacks or central defenders to fully excel in this system, instead a plethora of support attackers, many a Samurai Blue fan will no doubt be salivating at the thought of.

Top of that pile is the hottest property in Asian football, if not the World. Takefusa Kubo’s rise to prominence seems to have peaked perfectly for his 18th birthday at the start of the month, which effectively pitted him as the most exciting free agent around, going into the Copa America. On the eve of the tournament it was announced he would be signing for Real Madrid, further intensifying the scrutiny he’s likely to face in Brazil after a stellar start to the season back in Japan with J1 table toppers FC Tokyo.

While Kubo offers the raw unpredictability, the building blocks of a new Japanese senior team will truly be under the spotlight, not least in defence. Eiji Kawashima, ridiculed for a failed World Cup last year in Russia, will either look to bow out on a high or play mentor to up and coming Sanfrecce Hiroshima keeper Keisuke Osako, with Moriyasu keen to plug one of his most problematic positions to date. In front of them, Naomichi Ueda’s progress since moving to Belgium will be assessed, next to the growing stature of Takehiro Tomiyasu who particularly stood out at January’s Asian Cup.

Japan’s development under Moriyasu has been understatedly fruitful so far. With a daunting task of leading a transitioning Japan to an Asian Cup upon arrival, through World Cup qualifying simultaneously juggling reputational pressure with a home Olympics looming. The tough schedule and increasingly polarised demands have understandably left the Copa America way down the list in terms of priorities, which should regrettably affect the product on the pitch in Brazil.

That product has widely divided Daihyo fans, but whether you agree with the style implemented by Moriyasu or not, the change in tact is quite recognisably evolved over time. From the creative and possession focussed approached of Alberto Zaccheroni and Javier Aguirre, Moriyasu (and Akira Nishino before him) like it or not have clearly been affected by Vahid Halilhodzic’s more functional and reactive philosophy during his tenure over the last World Cup qualifying cycle.

While Halilhodzic quite openly focussed on developing a quicker, more direct approach with a focus on hardening the mentality of Japanese footballers in general, Nishino, and in particular Moriyasu have attempted to bring back the guile, in particular of those in behind the attacker. Too often at the Asian Cup however, we saw Japan relinquish possession easily and take a back seat in proceedings. Last week’s Kirin Cup struggles only added to this; a draw against Trinidad & Tabago and an unimpressive win against El Salvador do little to suggest Moriyasu has upped the charm offensive.

A crumb of comfort for Japan is usually they up their game on the road. Away from Asia, away from the expectation in a sense, Japan have confounded expectation and played some of their most expressive football when little has been promised. Last summer’s World Cup took plenty by surprise, especially the near masterful art of coping with Belgium in the knockout phase, whilst going back further their friendly tour of Europe ahead of the 2014 World Cup, or the Confederations Cup the year previous, showed the very best of what Japanese football is all about; expression without restriction.

Commanding a squad made up of retiring pros alongside fresh debutants may prove a clever mix to generate these perfect circumstances. Little to no expectation will be put on any player (Kubo, potentially aside), while Moriyasu will be given his fair due to experiment and rotate where applicable. With that in mind, whilst results aren’t a necessity, the flow of performance and the stylistic tendencies it’ll create should prove interesting viewing, come kick off on Monday night against Chile.

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. Started afresh with many new faces after last summer’s World Cup success, but still tinkers between playing styles and formations.

Star Player – Gaku Shibasaki

Becoming the staple of this current Japanese national side, the thread that has run through from the World Cup, to the Asian Cup and now into the Copa America, Shibsaki is the one of only two Samurai Blue regulars to make the trip to Brazil. Confident central midfield pivot who brings together the best defensive and attacking qualities of the team’s play.

Shop Window – Shinji Okazaki

Third in Japan’s all-time goalscoring lists, the diminutive and well-liked striker goes into this tournament a free agent after being released by Leicester City at the end of the season. Even at 33, he has the poacher’s instinct to create goals out of mere half chances, but missed the Asian Cup cut after struggling to pick up minutes domestically.

Young Prospect – Takafusa Kubo

There’ll be no young player receiving as much scrutiny at the Copa America than Takafusa Kubo, after the 18-year-old joined Real Madrid ahead of the tournament. While he’s likely to be phased in by Moriyasu, his ability to explode in small cameo appearances makes him a useful reserve option to have. Small, quick and flexible in his combination play, Kubo will be in a confident mood after his Samurai Blue debut last week against El Salvador.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Final)

Qatar clinch their first ever Asian Cup in some style, cruising to a 3-1 victory over heavyweights Japan in what was a final that didn’t falter under heavy expectation. The names Almoez Ali, Akram Afif, Bassam Al-Rewi and Felix Sanchez are now written into Asian football folklore, but what about the rest of the world with this summer’s Copa America and the World Cup in 2022 still to come? For now, a quick look back on a terrific game for the neutrals, and the key talking points to take from it.

The Player

Given the realistic ambitions of Qatar heading into the tournament, one man had a greater amount of pressure on his shoulders than most to fire his side’s cause. Upon this, the nation’s first continental senior prize, Akram Afif can sit back and can comfortably believe that he exceeded his personal goals. No fewer than 10 assists (unofficially 11, but we’ll let the AFC off), with two coming in the final, Afif has been the chief creator behind a side that has blown away the rest of Asia over the last month. His match sealing penalty was the cherry on his cake, a campaign to be savoured.

This match in particular saw Afif’s all round game come to fore, past the mere (sic) statistics of scoring once and providing another two. His pace was continually a threat on the break, stretching the usually mobile Maya Yoshida and Takehiro Tomiyasu this way and that, as Qatar continually threatened the Japanese backline. For better finishing he could’ve even finished with greater assist figures, Abdulaziz Hatem’s scooped effort after a great run and find from Afif in the second period would’ve capped off a worthy hat-trick of assists.

The eternal question will be what next for Qatar’s golden boy? He of course has dipped his toe in European football before and been found wanting. After a positive start with Eupen in Belgium, a move too early to Villarreal really stunted progress. For Afif, alongside the likes of golden boot winner Almoez Ali, centre midfield dynamo Assim Madibo and others, the approach of blindly funnelling them through the Eupen based Aspire outpost seems to have hit a dead end. Given the magnitude of these performances however, could we be about to see some moves of greater significance come the summer?

The Team

There will be few arguments around, that the best team didn’t win the Asian Cup trophy. 19 goals scored by seven different scorers, only to concede once (in the final) along the way, Qatar were exceptional from start to finish. The initial praise needs to go to the coaching staff, and the patience of the federation’s hierarchy. This has been a project 10 years in the making, and with grander sights being set on the World Cup in 4 years’ time, this promises to only be the beginning. The framework was sound, but the players have developed through it at a rate of knots. To a man this Qatar side were at the top of their game.

For the final, I’d initially predicted that Qatar would set up in a similar manner to the way they did against Korea. Deep, cautious and brave, only to hit on the counter come the second period. Well, to a degree I was right, but that defensive start only lasted a few minutes. As soon as the likes of Assim Madibo and Boualem Khoukhi got a foot hold in the midfield, Qatar ramped up the gears and left Japan flatfooted. An exceptional bicycle kick from Almoez Ali, followed by a sublime curling effort from Abdulaziz Hatem steered them away from the Japanese charge.

When summing up Qatar’s success, I quickly gravitate to the view that they see themselves as a team against the world. That world of course, being the political tensions that surround the region to date. Some may have worried for their inexperience given the magnitude of their matches against Saudi Arabia and UAE, but the young men came through fighting. The eligibility concerns that swirled upon the final failed similarly to de-balance a focussed group that are out to prove their doubters wrong. A worthy performance, that deserves the highest of praise.

The Talking Point

For all the positives that can be taken out of today’s final, the last few days have been tiresome, something neither helped by the governing body or the individual federations involved. If only football was the talking point after such a varied and substantive month-long competition, but instead we’re questioning ill-advised referee appointments, TV rights debacles and questions over player eligibility. The AFC have a much tougher job than most, given the intense political arena that is Asia, but continually they lack initiative, forethought and clarity, leaving us more and more in the dark, time and time again.

Maya Yoshida, a man who has stepped up to the plate in his new responsibility as Japan captain on and off the field pointed to this very fact on the run up to the final. Few want to imagine football as a consumer object, but the fact is the Asian Cup is a weak product, something the governing body has done little to resolve. This week’s inaction to crowd disturbances in the semi-final between UAE and Qatar and the accusations of falsified eligibility documents has done far more to fan the flames of a perceived corrupt footballing landscape than it does to alleviate tensions.

I speak as an outsider looking in. There has been little media scrutiny out in the Western world on anything to do with the Asian Cup, it’s not been on TV for a start, whilst any mention of players playing in the tournament is often derided as a “mickey mouse tournament.” The two key “trending” moments of the tournament have been when Son Heung-min was “released” of his duty upon South Korea’s defeat to Qatar and the right royal mess surrounding the Qatari national team’s eligibility, which is still perceived as a side that has bought its way to the title. While the AFC will notably shrug and suggest they have little impact on this, it has a duty of care to protect its prize product. Lessons need to be learned if Asian football is set to improve in the coming four years.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Semi-Finals)

We’re now left with our final two, as Japan and Qatar overcame favourites Iran and hosts UAE in Monday & Tuesday’s semi-finals. While we’ve had hiccups along the way, it can’t be argued that we haven’t been granted the best two tactical teams on current form ahead of Friday’s final. Moriyasu’s Japan have grown into this tournament and demonstrated the best half of football we’ve seen in Asia for years, while Sanchez’s Qatar brushed aside the hosts as an afterthought, after a heated “blockade derby” ended with one clear winner. Looking back on the round, here’s my take on the key talking points.

The Player

“Flat track bully turned big match hero.” Depending on your point of view I may have undersold Almoez Ali’s impact to date there. The languid frame of Qatar’s leading man often flatters to deceive, but on this tournament’s reading, the Sudanese born striker has proved you shouldn’t underestimate his proficiency in front of goal. As Qatar emphatically overcame UAE in Tuesday’s semi-final, Ali clinched a little bit of history of his own, scoring his 8th in 6 matches, matching that of Asian great Ali Daei, in become the joint highest goal scorer in a single Asian Cup campaign.

In previous matches, Ali has come alive in the most inopportune moments, in jumping on lapses in defending, off a brilliant assist or dropped ball to capitalise in devastating fashion. His strike to double Qatar’s lead over the hosts was noticeable in its variance from the usual trend; picking up the ball 30 yards out, he engineered a small amount of space, to curl past the outstretched Khalid Eisa and send the capacity crowd into rapturous boos and sandal throwing petulance. The way he used the defender to create the angle was ingenious, the finish was right up there with the best at this tournament.

Ali’s career has blossomed of late, not in terms of proficiency, as he’s always been known for a high strike rate from early youth, but in his technical development. Having been moved out wide domestically for Al-Duhail, his movement and link up play have come along in spades, and that has transitioned into the national team. His passion for the cause also has been noticeable, for an often-quiet looking man, he’s been the most emotional of performers in the key politically charged moments against Saudi Arabia and UAE. Ahead of the final, Ali will be out to make history on a personal as well as national platform.

The Team

In the biggest match of the tournament so far, the best side in Asia over the last four years collapsed to their first continental competitive defeat over that time in dramatic style. While much of the discussion after the match surrounded Iran (I will get onto that), and where they go to now, Japan deserve the lion share of the limelight after what was another well thought out game plan. After a wobbly group stage, which required a comeback against Turkmenistan and a ground out result against Oman, the evolution of this Samurai Blue side has been a credit to their coach Hajime Moriyasu. After coming into the Asian Cup in muted form, Japan stand with one hand on the trophy ahead of Friday’s final with Qatar.

The Turkmenistan opener that welcomed this new Japanese side into competitive football, minus the likes of Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki to name a few for the first time, was a tad disappointing to say the least. Defensively they were caught off guard too easily on the transition, whilst in possession they lacked ideas. From there forward, Japan improved immensely, firstly in a defensive capacity; their narrow victory over Saudi Arabia in the knockouts was a prime example of how to restrict attacking output to a possession hungry opposition, but they also improved their own forward thrust, demonstrated fully on Iran.

It’s arguably been slow in the uptake, but off the back of an improved performance by Ritsu Doan against Vietnam, the first-choice front four were back clicking. The return from injury of Yuya Osako spearheaded this, combining beautifully with Minamino (who looks much more comfortable in a support role opposed to burdening the goal scoring responsibilities) for both his opener, and the resulting penalty. Genki Haraguchi, one of the few who to survive the transition from direct countering deployed under the previous Halilhodzic regime, has changed up his game and capped off his performance with the late third.

For all the youthful inventiveness that has come to the fore, it was in experienced deeper areas where Japan starred most against Iran however. Maya Yoshida has grown in his responsibility, given the likes of Makoto Hasebe and Keisuke Honda have left. He looked a taller man, leading from the back alongside his fledgling defensive partner in Tomiyasu, his regal status is beginning to blossom. Another muted but effective performance from Gaku Shibasaki again ticked the team along. When few were keeping their heads in the Iranian line-up, Shibasaki ran the show coolly.

This new breed of Japan under Moriyasu has taken time to get used to, but with Iran joining the likes of Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Australia on the plane home after underwhelming campaigns (most of whom remain in transition), Japan’s success to date is ever more considerable. A Friday final appearance awaits them, as Japan continue to flex their undoubted muscle on the continental stage.

The Talking Point

Monday’s exit for Iran from the Asian Cup, which many had them destined to win, left many with a mixture of feelings. For neutrals, for an overwhelming favourite to be contested in that way is uplifting, however given the manner of the capitulation and resulting fallout, the last four years of dominance has a feeling of anti-climax for most of us. In the direct wake, legendary head coach Carlos Queiroz leaves Iran, having overseen arguably the greatest national side in the country’s history, but he still leaves plenty of what ifs.

As suggested in my tournament preview, Iran’s Achilles heel was that of mentality, something Queiroz had developed over his tenure. At the World Cup last summer, Iran revelled in being the underdog, contesting with the likes of Portugal and Spain on a technical level was a tough ask, but on an emotion level they had it won hands down. When it comes to continental football however, Iran were rarely going to be afforded such little expectation. The second half in particular against Japan finally ebbed away from them, fuelled by a sense of injustice where emotion and spirit overcame them, to be clinically took apart by a ruthlessly put together Japan side.

It's difficult to separate Queiroz’s managerial style and Iran’s philosophy, as both seem to fuel each other. Where to next for both parties will be very interesting indeed, and whether either will differ intact. While Queiroz is rumoured to be heading to South America, with Colombia being the most interested of parties, Iran start afresh in their pursuit of replacing a living legend. An emotional resilient approach has worked wonders the last four years, but given the improvements made in Iranian football from a talent perspective, is a technical, forward thinking coach the way to go? With Juan Antonio Pizzi already being muted as a potential successor, Iranian fans could be set to replace chalk with cheese on the most extreme proportions.

Asian Cup Matchday Review (Quarter-Finals)

We’re through to the finer end of things as we set up for the Asian Cup semi-finals that will take place on Monday and Tuesday. While Iran shone with a stunning attacking performance over China, the round was defined by some solid and tactically aware defensive performances from Japan and tournament dark horses Qatar. With so much still to unbox (not to mention the introduction of VAR into international Asian football), let’s start with looking back at the key talking points from the quarter finals.

The Player

While Japan’s attacking intensity has noticeably eased off this tournament, victory over Vietnam saw an element of hope that a return to the positive ways of old is on the horizon. The lack of a classic number 10 has been sorely missed in this Samurai Blue side; the semi-retirement of Keisuke Honda, and lack of form of Shinji Kagawa was eased by the emergence of Shoya Nakajima late last year, but injury put pay to that plan on the eve of the tournament. Filling the void hasn’t been easy, but Ritsu Doan’s performances of late suggest all is not lost for Hajime Moriyasu.

The Groningen man has had an up and down tournament, largely excusable given his age (not 21 until the summer), inexperience (still less than 10 caps) and the deep tactical shape infringed on the squad by Moriyasu. However, with Japan afforded more possession against Vietnam, Doan took on more responsibility, drifting in from the right to initiate build-up with Minamino and Kitagawa (who have rarely looked up to this level), Doan forced notable openings early on, and represented the only source at times Japan had of forcing a breakthrough against a well organised Vietnamese defence, and when breached, a commanding Dang Van Lam in net.

The key moment came, as Doan showed his inventiveness and wiliness to take on his marker, drawing the first VAR penalty awarded at the tournament. Whether there was contact or not (see my opinions on Twitter), the impact was telling and Doan’s responsibility to take the resulting penalty kick (despite Haraguchi’s success last week) illustrates how much his reputation has grown within this team. With Iran ahead of them, in decent form both in attacking areas and in defence, Moriyasu’s tactical expertise will be tested to another level. One thing’s for sure, after this performance Doan’s involvement will be integral going forward.

The Team

The third quarter final between South Korea and Qatar was always likely to be the match to swing a tournament on; the favourites for some (myself included) against the outsiders, this was the true test of both sides mettle. Qatar’s triumph with a late winner, backed up with a fifth consecutive clean sheet has sent waves across Asian football. The side that was only supposed to come to the table in four years’ time at their own controversial hosting of the World Cup, is turning the tables on some of Asia’s elite from the outset.

There was plenty eulogised about Qatar on the build up to the Korea matchup, many suggested they’d test their opponents back line early, that the match would be a much more open showing than we’ve seen so far this tournament. Instead, we witnessed a cagey first half, where Korea dominated possession and Qatar comfortably sat deep, happy to sniff out chances when they came and not to concern themselves too much if their counters broke down quickly. A maturity we’d hardly expect from a fledgling outfit, but there was more to come.

In the second period they burst out, pouncing on weakness and setting the Koreans back on their heels. No one expected anything from Qatar, the pressure was on Korea, with the returning Son Heung-min looking a weary figure under the weight of a nation. In truth Korea looked the side happy with extra time, and with that Qatar pounced. A quick, direct shot from distance from the unlikely source of Abdulaziz Hatem had them caught cold, in which they had little answer to.

Some have already sought to compare this Qatar team to the UAE side of four years ago. And while this is a similar shakeup to the elite order in Asian football, UAE were carried along by individual performances that have rarely been bettered. This Qatar team are exactly the opposite, in that they are a team, headed by a tactically aware coach that has set his stall out to perform. This is just the beginning, 2022 seems an awfully long way away at this point, but an Asian Cup final appearance could well set this side up for a great future.

The Talking Point

Thursday’s quarter-final defeat to Iran brought to close China’s Asian Cup adventure, but also the career of a true managerial great in Marcello Lippi, who is set to retire with a glittering CV that includes a World Cup and two continental club titles. Lippi’s time in charge of China however has been a head-scratcher; on one hand – China made it to the quarter-finals of a continental showpiece, further than anyone had expected pre-tournament, on the other - we’re left questioning how much further has he taken this team and football as a whole in the country?

Lippi arrived to save face, after a miserable start to latter World Cup qualification. Expectations were modest, focus was clear – redevelop this squad ahead of the Asian Cup and bring back some pride in the national team ahead of another World Cup cycle. What came to pass was a meagre reconstruction job, patching up holes where possible but no long-term fixes to China’s quite obvious issues. Lippi predictably relied upon the old guard that brought him success while at Guangzhou Evergrande, selecting the oldest squad at the tournament, captained by 38-year-old Zheng Zhi. He’s hardly leaving his successor with any resources to progress forward with.

The CFA and CSL have emphatically pushed their agenda of late, to increase youth participation in domestic football and upped the amount of national youth camps but stopped short of pushing this on the national team. The few players under-25 that did gain minutes at the Asian Cup were borne out of necessity rather than being chosen on merit. Their success on an individual tournament basis is also misleading given they struggled in overcoming Kyrgyzstan before losing connivingly to Korea in the group stage, ahead of narrowly beating Thailand in the knockouts. Thursday’s humiliation in a defensive capacity against Iran was a heavy blow, that in all reality had been in the pipeline for weeks. China are left with a moderately successful campaign on paper, but with plenty to do in reality if they are to see any noticeable uplift going forward.

Asian Cup 2019: Japan (Preview)

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.

World Cup 2018: Japan (Preview)

Heading into their fifth consecutive World Cup, expectations couldn’t be much lower for fans of the Japan national team. Onto their fourth manager in as many years, the spotlight needs to be turned on the players, as they look to put to bed the demons of Brazil four years ago.

Managerial changes aren’t exactly a rare occurrence in Asia. Of the five qualified AFC nations (yes, teams that met their objectives), four go into it under a different coach within the last 12 months, three are set to swap coaches after the World Cup, while the other two won’t be unexpectedly moved on either.

In a region of flux Japan have peaked in their axe wielding, firing Alberto Zaccheroni after a failed World Cup, Javier Aguirre after a failed Asian Cup and most recently Vahid Halilhodzic after qualification success… I point out the comparison in jest, as Japan qualified in top spot ahead of Asian champions Australia in the final round of qualification, playing direct attacking football and introducing new blood to the international fold. The concerns didn’t ever lie however merely on the results on the pitch.

From day one, Halilhodzic was at odds with the JFA, the J-League, Japanese players, the Japanese media, the Japanese fans, pretty much anyone or anything you’d ask him about. This was his character, it was maybe assumed it would be tempered over time (and success) as the relationship bedded in but if anything the friction grew.

It was an overdue stay that should have been curtailed earlier, missing the perfect opportunity to part ways upon qualification to Russia in September, the JFA held on to the end of March before releasing the Bosnian of his duties, a loss of the dressing room being the final reasoning behind his sacking. Three months to go to Russia and no friendly matches to spare, his replacement had to name a provisional World Cup squad without even seeing his side kick a ball.

Stepping into the breach, rather predictably given the short time frame comes a fixed term appointment from within. After failing with three successive foreign coaches, former Asian Champions League winner Akira Nishino was sworn in to bring back a sense of Japan to the national team. A reputable talking head within the nation’s football, but without the necessary recent experience you’d expect in a pretty do or die situation, more than a few commentators were and are still are concerned.

Rather than steady the ship, Nishino has already ripped up the Halilhodzic textbook and pushed the JFA agenda. Rather than effective, direct football, a return to the possession and guile of old has been instructed, and with it comes a reversion of personnel. Out went disciples of Halilhodzic (Kubo, Asano & Ideguchi), in returned the old favourites (Kagawa, Honda & Okazaki). While the talk was tough upon his appointment, with sponsorship and image playing a significant role in the JFA’s selection of him, Nishino was never going to risk it with the next generation, instead putting hope in their last “golden age”.

The most notable call for inclusion which went by unheard, was that of playmaker Shoya Nakajima. He arguably blends the creativity craved by Nishino, with the speed of Halilhodzic to be this squad’s stand out bolter. However, having only appeared once (be it a goal scoring debut also against Mali, Halilhodzic’s penultimate match in charge) and lacking flexibility according to the new coach, the midfielder who starred in Portugal this last year wasn’t even included in the provisional Kirin Cup squad call up.

A return to the predictable names, was coupled with a radical switch in formation, moving to a 361 of sorts in their home farewell match against Ghana. The system which displayed a number of examples of square pegs in round holes (Makoto Hasebe deployed at centre back, Genki Haraguchi flung out at right wing back), looked predictably confusing, uncomfortable and lacking the urgency Halilhodzic had instilled over his tenure.

The drab 2-0 defeat, met with boos from the Yokohama crowd at the final whistle was far from the start Nishino required, sending him back to chalkboard with more questions than he had answers. Ahead of the final week of preparation, the sensible thing to do would be to revert back to what got them here, a more conservative 4231/433 of sorts, but with Nishino who knows what is about to be coming? And while it could be argued this squad requires plenty of individual talent, it remains difficult to pin an integral player that fits a particular system.

Skipper Makoto Hasebe is the rock to which the side relies on, while Maya Yoshida & Tomoaki Makino form a solid enough base to build upon, however attacking wise remains a conundrum. From a slowing down Keisuke Honda, an out of sorts Shinji Kagawa to the reliably unpredictable set of young wingers playing in Germany (Usami, Muto, Haraguchi), it all feels a bit stagnant and lacking a clear idea.

There’s little to really get your heart racing in this squad, and the bench doesn’t inspire hope either. In their short period at the pinnacle of World football, Japan have always bounced back; reaching the knockouts in 2002 and 2010 after miserable group stage exits in 1998 and 2006. A similar sort of turnaround to banish a winless 2014 is looking a distant pipe dream at present.

U20 World Cup Preview (Korea Republic 2017)

Asian football goes through long spells of inward looking, but in one of the few occasions we can really contest the continent’s talent against the rest of the world, the U20 World Cup rolls back into view with high expectations of those competing. In the past, Asia have generally punched above it’s weight in comparison to their senior efforts; Iraq’s impressive run to the semi-finals in 2013 is a recent reminder that Asian national teams can compete with the very best from Europe and South America in the final stages.

2015 in New Zealand was different, and it was easy to foresee from the outset. Alongside debutants Myanmar and Korea DPR, a promising but ultimately inexperienced Qatar side were eliminated at the first hurdle, finishing dead last and winless, bringing back bad memories of the clean sweep of 2014 in Brazil. The one glimmer of hope came through Uzbekistan, who be it fortunately passed through the group stages despite losing 2 of their 3 matches, managed to make it through to the quarter-finals where they lost to a stromg Senegal side.

This year’s edition should provide greater results, if not just for Korea Republic's hosting of the competition (the third time the country has held a World Cup; 2002 - Seniors, 2007 - U17, and 2017 - U20), but for a few reputable big guns of Asian football returning to the fray with a set of impressive squads on paper. Regular senior qualifiers Japan and Iran are joined by Saudi Arabia whose senior side have been the form side of the current World Cup qualification campaign and debutants Vietnam, who may prove to be more than merely there to make up the numbers. With a senior World Cup on the horizon, the coming month in Korea might give us a heads up to how lofty our ambitions should become over the next year.

Korea Republic

Manager: Shin Tae-Yong (KOR)
Qualification: Hosts
U20 WC Group A: Guinea, Argentina, England
Key Men: Lee Seung-Woo, Han Chan-Hee, Cho Youn-Wook

Asia’s leading light for so long at this level, Korea Republic’s regression would have caused greater concern if they weren’t afforded hosting privileges of the World Cup, after failing to qualify via traditional means for the second time in succession, something that hasn’t happened since 1989. Their shock group stage exit at the AFC Under 19 Championships last year (Asia’s qualification mechanism for the U20 World Cup), has hit the football fraternity in Korea hard, with concerns high that further below par performances could put a dampener on their hosting of the event

It’s fair to say however they look a different proposition some 9 months down the line. They immediately sacked the cautious and old fashioned coach Ahn Ik-Soo, replaced by former Olympic coach Shin Tae-Yong. Shin’s appointment has gained mixed reviews; after leading Korea out of a tough group in Brazil last year, Korea succumbed in the latter stages to Honduras. While in addition to this some questionable tactical decisions have left fans divided on his appointment.

Like in Brazil, where Shin could call upon the services of Son Heung-Min, Korea again possess one of the potential stars of the tournament in Lee Seung-Woo. The Barcelona man has been hyped for years as he rises through the La Masia ranks, but the question mark remains whether he can spearhead his country through such a high profile tournament? Alongside Lee (who didn’t partake in the U19s last year), fellow. Barcelona youth Paik Seung-Ho, is tipped to play a key part despite missing out on the action in Bahrain, while Cho Youn-Wook and Han Chan-Hee both look capable players to push Korea through a classically billed “group of death.”

Japan

Manager: Atsushi Uchiyama (JPN)
Qualification: Champions (AFC U19 Championship 2016)
U20 WC Group D: South Africa, Uruguay, Italy

Key Men: Ritsu Doan, Koki Ogawa, Yuta Nakayama

Last year’s two major AFC Youth Championships were comprehensively won by Japan, with their U19 cohort following in the footsteps of their U23s success last January. Every Japanese fan will hope that another false dawn isn’t just around the corner however, after experiencing a bitter blow to their Olympic hopes last year, ending in a miserable group stage exit in Brazil. As is the case in more than one occasion in Asia, talent alone doesn't always meet the expectation of the nation.

The quality at their disposal is up there with the best in the competition though, regular starters at club level, sprinkled with some unknown quantities that could ignite their tournament later down the line. MVP from Bahrain - Ritsu Doan has since grown into a leading light of Japanese football, having broken through with Gamba Osaka this season, scoring his debut continental goal in the AFC Champions League against Adelaide United earlier this month.

In attack, Koki Ogawa flanked by Yuto Iwasaki proved a lethal pairing in their U19s final run in, but instead the headline grabbing squad inclusion comes in the form of yet another East Asian Barcelona product, 15 year old Takefusa Kubo. The second youngest player ever to compete at the tournament, Kubo, has recently made his competitive debut with Tokyo, after being forced to leave La Masia on registration grounds, and is already being dubbed, predictably as the latest “Japanese Messi”. It’s likely that his impact will be restricted to appearing off the bench initially, but with such a strong squad available, Uchiyama’s men have ambitions of going close to matching their class of 99, including Yasuhito Endo and Shinji Ono, that went on to reach a U20 World Cup final.

Saudi Arabia

Manager: Saad Al-Shehri (KSA)
Qualification: Runners-Up (AFC U19 Championship 2016)
U20 WC Group F: Senegal, Ecuador, USA

Key Men: Rakan Al-Samiri, Sami Al-Najai, Abdulrahman Al-Yami

The air of optimism surrounding the senior national team at the moment, brought by Bert van Marwijk, has transcended through to the youth ranks of Saudi football. Saad Al-Shehri’s U19 squad were the most eye-catching side in Bahrain last year, scoring 16 goals, along the way to a narrow penalty shootout defeat to Japan in the tournament's final. In many ways Saudi football has struggled to develop a certain type of player, inventive, direct attacking players have been at a premium, but this squad seems to have developed quite a few to watch closely in that regard.

Diminutive but stocky wide man Rakan Al-Samiri highly impressed in Bahrain, providing both a quick instinct to cut in from the left onto his right foot in tight areas, to look for the killer final ball and to have the reactionary speed to pin back his opposing full back. Captain, Sami Al-Najai who topped the scoring charts last year, albeit mainly from dead ball situations (penalties and free kicks made up 3 of his 4 efforts), is a confident central midfielder with influence to make transitions quickly, in a side that thrives off the counter.

The main concern however is at the other end of the pitch, where Saudi Arabia look pretty weak. The keeping situation looks to be a calamity waiting to happen, with neither of the personnel between the posts in Bahrain coming anywhere near impressing - from an Asian standpoint, a meek keeping display is the last thing we need after 2015’s debacle. Their group on paper also looks tough, possibly not the most illustrious names on paper in the senior game, but all should concern an already fragile looking back line at youth level.

Iran

Manager: Amir Hossein Peiravani (IRI)
Qualification: Semi-finalists (AFC U19 Championship 2016)
U20 WC Group C: Costa Rica, Zambia, Portugal

Key Men: Reza Shekari, Omid Noorafkan, Reza Jafari

Despite missing out on a final appearance in qualification, Iran go into Korea as probably the AFC’s best hope of making it to the latter stages. With a larger amount of senior Iranian players now moving to Europe, the young players have benefitted in kind, with clubs willing to dip straight into the domestic market in search of talent, when previously they were regarded as an unknown risk (take note UAE, this is how to improve your national team).

Of the current squad, Reza Shekari stands out as the prized asset after confirming his transfer from Saipa in the Persian Gulf Pro League to Rostov in the Russian Premier League earlier this month, a club well renowned for fostering Iranian talent, with Sardar Azmoun in particular picking up the plaudits over the last 12 months. Shekari will play at the forefront of a very accomplished midfield, with ACL regular Omid Noorafkan and Mohammad Soltani Mehr providing support behind him.

Comparisons to their senior colleagues are already being compiled; striker Reza Jafari imitates the speed and clinical finishing of Kaveh Rezaei, Abolfazi Razzaghpour offers plenty going forward, from dead ball and wide situations, akin to Mehrdad Pooladi, and Shabab Adeli, who is following down a similar career path at Naft Tehran, looks set to emulate Team Melli keeper Alireza Beiranvand. There are some real gems within this squad, but a greater solidity is needed, especially in defensive situations to contain an improved set of contenders. Looking for their first victory at this level since 1977, they couldn’t be better placed to write their own piece of history in Korea.

Vietnam

Manager: Hoang Anh Tuan (VIE) 

Qualification: Semi-finalists (AFC U19 Championship 2016)
U20 WC Group: New Zealand, France, Honduras
Key Men: Bùi Tiến Dũng, Hồ Minh Dĩ, Doan Van Hau

Playing at their first 11-a-side FIFA event in their history, Vietnam might be forgiven to be purely making up the numbers, given what they’ve achieved so far. While I have worries that they’ll emulate Myanmar’s disastrous debut two years previous, there is an extra killer instinct about this squad, which in the main can rely on regular league experience throughout the squad.

Vietnam’s qualification stage came off the back of a finals place in the South East Asian equivalent the year before, and a follow up 3rd placed finish in the 2016 edition the month prior to the kick off in Bahrain. Subsequent to their semi-final run in the continental U19 showpiece, Vietnam have prepared arguably better than any other at this tournament, playing a number of friendlies since the turn of the year, including a tour of Europe and warm up matches against fellow U20WC qualifiers Vanuatu and Argentina in the last month.

Doubters will point to their performances in Bahrain, which on the whole were submissive, that is until the crucial moments. While they’ll no doubt need to rely on the more than competent looking Bui Tien Dung in net, Vietnam proved that when needed they could force themselves across the line. A last minute winner to beat North Korea in the group stage sealed their passage through to the knockouts, while a clinical winner against the hosts in the quarter-finals despite hanging on for much of the match, showed what they can do in precious moments. While criticised locally for wasting more than the odd opportunity Ha Duc Chinh, proves a handful in attack, while wide men Ho Minh Di and Tran Thanh offer unpredictability in support.

Aside from the teams taking part, FIFA will continue to test solutions to problems that really don’t exist. The VAR initiative which I’ve hotly discussed before is the first of a few changes in Korea, the second being the option of a fourth substitution in extra-time, something that was available but wasn’t called upon at December’s Club World Cup. If ties go all the way to penalties, the so-called “ABBA” sequencing of spot kicks will be deployed, which will involve back-to-back kicks for each team after the opening penalty. With corruption and political interference still rife within Asian and World football, it seems the authorities are more concerned in tinkering with the game we love rather than sorting out their mess behind the scenes.

WC Qualifying Review (Round 3 MD6 & 7)

We’re fully into our stride along the final furlong on the Road to Russia, and the field is notably shortening. Despite a few shocks on Thursday, Tuesday saw a clean sweep of home victories and clean sheets for those best positioned to make an assault for the World Cup 2018 qualification spots. That being said there remains a heavy cloud over much of the Asian elite, with question marks still being squarely pointed at Uli Stielike and Samvel Babayan of Korea Republic and Uzbekistan respectively, after both picked up disappointing defeats. Looking back over March’s window, here is the player, team and key talking point from another eventful international break.

The Player

Returning to World Cup qualification, there was plenty of discussion concerning the raft of quality within the Japanese attacking midfield, with question marks being squarely put against the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda after strong performances from Hiroshi Kiyotake and Genki Haraguchi in 2016. One name that was only discussed briefly was that of Yuya Kubo, who made his debut against Saudi Arabia in November (where he performed adequately), but in turn has had an eventful winter with an eye catching move to Belgium with Gent, where he’s started in red hot form.

When it came to the team sheets in Al Ain, Kubo on the right hand side probably didn’t spark too much interest, as concerns diverted to the recalled Kagawa and the axed Honda. Kubo however was the man inform, and he hit the ground running from the start. After troubling his full back Abdelaziz Sanqour on a number of occasions prior to the breakthrough, Kubo evaded his man as he drifted inside to pick up a slide ball from Hiroki Sakai. An instinctive and crucially early strike caught Khalid Essa unaware, scoring his first national team goal within a blur for the poor Emirati defenders. It was only the start of things, as in the second period, Kubo assisted returning stalwart Yasuyuki Konno with a perfectly flighted cross, granting the Japanese with a crucial three points on the road. 

Again he was the main man upon return to Saitama against Thailand. It was a much easier tie for Japan, but the penetration came through Kubo once more, assisting early for Shinji Kagawa with a pull back, before finding Shinji Okazaki from a more traditional crossing avenue. Kubo capped his week with a stunning left footed drive, again created by his vision for space. It was only a few months ago that we were left concerned for Japan in an attacking sense, but with Haraguchi, Kiyotake and now Kubo all finding form, it doesn’t look too bleak anymore.

The Team

World Cup qualification is starting to fall into place, and no team is in any better position of guaranteeing this than Iran, whose back to back wins this week have effectively put one foot in Russia. Often been portrayed as simply a solid, cautious, tactically sound side, the emergence in form in Europe of a number of attacking players have all been timed perfectly to ensure they make a consecutive World Cup for the first time in their history.

Defensively there is no question that Team Melli have been excellent; still to concede a goal in the final round of qualification, Iran haven’t conceded for some 17 months now. This comes on the back of constant rejigging of the personnel, but little change is visible in their solid performances. Further up-field Iran have gone from one of the shallowest to one of the deepest attacking stocks in the whole of Asia. An embarrassment of riches allowed Carlos Queiroz to effectively swap pairs of strikers across the week. When you’ve got players playing at such a high level such as Sardar Azmoun (Rostov), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos) and Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen), why risk burn out?

The one striker to start both games however was domestic based Mehdi Taremi, a similar positioned club level player who wants to be deployed in the prime number 9 role. With such competition around him, Taremi was forced to develop his game this week, into at times a wide left forward, something he greatly impressed in. A greater work ethic off the ball, both in possession and without it, along with some adept interplay whilst at full speed, made him a perfect fit to the system, and the Persepolis man delivered, scoring the winner in both matches this week against Qatar and China PR. Just over a year until the World Cup comes around and Iran’s players individually and collectively in qualification look set to keep on improving.

The Talking Point

In the last international window, I made the case for Mahdi Ali and UAE, where I urged the Emirati fans to get behind their coach given their still promising position in World Cup qualification. If this week was a positive one, if they could’ve picked up at least a win against Japan and Australia, we’d probably be still be debating the merits of Ali, but instead two losses in the end cut short an arrangement few were still enjoying. 

While Ali deserved to go, in the way Ranieri had lost the dressing room at Leicester, Ali had clearly lost the support of the fans. And with qualification now a distant dream, a new dawn needs to set about in Emirati football. With the coach gone, questions need to now be asked of the players, their ambitions and their share of this missed opportunity. On paper should we think a squad full of players playing in the Arabian Gulf League can really compete with regulars in Europe, which Japan and Australia have in abundance.

This question probably comes at the wrong point, given Saudi Arabia, a side similarly bolstered by universal domestically based player coverage, but where does the difference lie? I believe in the end the Green Falcons won’t qualify for Russia (at least automatically), but the feel good factor instilled by Bert van Marwijk is key to this success. He’s made a good, but still trailing in terms of quality squad, perform that bit better, something the players have forced home personally.

It was clear from this last week, the UAE players had given up taking responsibility. The hope that Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout or Ahmed Khalil could win it alone is severely misguided. Against the lower ranked sides maybe, but rewind to their successful Asian Cup campaign and UAE were playing as a unified squad with a purpose and desire to succeed. The key players need to play their part ahead of a home Asian Cup in two years time, which at present looks like a precarious campaign that needs more than a sound coach at the helm to succeed in.

WC Qualifying Review (Round 3 MD3 & 4)

We’re edging closer to the half way point of the final stage in World Cup qualification, and the landscape remains pretty open for those still hoping to keep their chances of reaching Russia in 2018 alive. The big matches of the last week concerned those at the top of the leader board, with Australia hosting Japan (in a 1-1 draw) and Korea Republic travelling to Iran (to lose 1-0). Outside of this there was a first win for new Qatar boss Jorge Fossati, while Syria and Iraq also collected their first wins of the stage. Looking back on the last week, here is my key player, team and talking point of the international window.

The Player

The Japan national team is going through somewhat of a slump at present, so it’s worth wondering where they would actually be now if they weren’t spurred along by Genki Haraguchi. The Hertha Berlin midfielder who returned to national team duty last summer after a few years away, has been a revolution in this final stage of qualification, scoring in the last three qualifiers, while eclipsing the effect of under-pressure playmaker Shinji Kagawa. Assuming Japan return to playing a typical striker next month, when they return home, Haraguchi again is firm favourite to take the spot of Kagawa on the left hand side; a great swing in preference from coach Halilhodzic that has occurred only recently.

Haraguchi’s involvement over the last year has been of the less spectacular kind; an all action midfielder that fills in the gaps, while the likes of Kagawa are given room to create. His recent performances however have combined both his functional aspects with the more attractive, adding goals to his work he conducts across the pitch for the team. Equally effective on the left or right, Haraguchi has gone from being on the fringes of the squad to a firm favourite in the line-up.

His first goal this week, the opener against Iraq came through a perfectly timed run to the front post before back heeling it past Mohammed Hameed. Controversy may have ensued as Hiroshi Kiyotake was clearly offside in the build-up, but Haraguchi didn’t wait around for the flag. His second, the Tuesday after showed again his expertly timed running skills, dissecting the Australian back line before coolly slotting past Matt Ryan for another game opening goal. You may point out that Haraguchi was the unfortunate party to concede the second half penalty later on, but we’ll put that down to an occupational hazard of a midfielder who makes an impact in both boxes, unlike that of the under-performing Kagawa. 

The Team

Despite recording back-to-back victories in the first two matches of the stage, Saudi Arabia were very fortunate to have anything more than 1 point, after some debatable penalty awarding and generally some sub-standard finishing by their opponents. The challenge was expected to be considerably upped when they faced Australia and UAE this week, but the Green Falcons soared to collect another 4 points to surprisingly lead the way in Group B after 4 matches.

From the first minute in Jeddah against Australia, Saudi Arabia’s game plan had demonstrably improved from September. Pressing high up the pitch immediately against Asia’s inform team, they not only rushed the Socceroos’ attacking plays, but they spurred their own opportunities, through the ever improving Nawaf Al-Abed and Yehya Al Shehri on either flank. The Saudis may have lost the lead, going down 2-1 into the second period, but rebounded impressively through substitute Nasser Al-Shamrani, and could’ve easily found a winner late on.

The same organisation was shown against UAE after the weekend, but this time after they took the lead there was no looking back, comfortably putting their Emirati neighbours to the sword 3-0, including a potential goal of the year contender from Fahad Al-Muhwallad to open the rout. While Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk continues to generally look disinterested in Saudi football off the pitch, on it - he’s honed the wealth of talents at his disposal into a team now looking to upset the balance and qualify for the World Cup. Up next the real test to their development, an away trip to Japan.

The Talking Point

Chinese football continues to hog the headlines, with mainly western media outlets choosing to jump on any piece of negative news coming out of the country’s development since the well-publicised government injection of cash into the Chinese Super League. It’s hardly breaking news that the national team is still a way behind the elite in Asia, with little chance of qualifying for the World Cup, and so it ran according to trend that they recorded back to back defeats this week seeing coach Gao Hongbo resign from his post minutes after their 2-0 defeat in Uzbekistan.

The worthy discussion however surrounds their future direction. For a country starting at the bottom of the ladder with an ambition of competing for the World Cup trophy itself in the next 40 years, you’d assume some sort of foundations will have been established. However the complete opposite seems to be in place, with Gao’s last four games as coach of the national team seeing more short term decisions and plenty of grasping of straws in hope of picking up WCQ points rather than prioritising any worthwhile long term development experience.

Changes galore were made ahead of the Syria defeat last Thursday, before 7 more were made ahead of Uzbekistan. None seemed to be calculated, none seemed to be looking further afield than the present, and none seemed to be considering the fledgling talent they have. The worry is that China may be trying to run before they can walk, were they realistically thinking they could qualify for Russia? 

Whoever replaces Gao in the coming weeks or month, will need a long term plan spelt out. This team needs an identity, but it needs to be realistic with the quality it already has. To expect within a few years of spending big on overseas talent and academies, to then qualify for a World Cup at the first attempt would’ve been sadly amiss. The fact they are pretty much out already may at least force them to reconsider their position in Asia let alone the world and look to the long term.