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Confident Japan keen to flaunt attack against Senegal
Japan will look to further explore its attacking potential when it faces Senegal in a battle of the surprise contenders to advance to the knockout stage from Group H on Sunday.
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The Blue Samurai has largely worked on keeping things tight at the back since head coach Akira Nishino took over from the sacked Vahid Halilhodzic in April but saw its attack shift gears in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over 10-man Colombia in Saransk. “We had to start by building the base, which is defence,” said midfielder Genki Haraguchi. “But with that base in place, our ability to attack and respond to different situations is increasing.”
Victory saw Japan become the first Asian side to beat South American opponents at the World Cup but it is fully aware that Senegal, which scored an upset 2-1 win over Poland, could pose a sterner test at the Ekaterinburg Arena. “We must keep our feet on the ground... we have to take into account that we played against 10 men for almost 90 minutes,” said skipper Makoto Hasebe, referring to Carlos Sanchez’s dismissal which gave Japan the advantage against Colombia.
“The next game will be a different story, we have to think about that,” the defensive midfielder added. Senegal comes into the match equally high on confidence after a strong defensive display in Moscow helped it neutralize the Polish attack led by Robert Lewandowski.
“Senegal won due to discipline,” coach Aliou Cisse, captain of the side which beat holder France in its first ever World Cup match in 2002, said. “You saw a Senegal team very solid, very compact.” With 10 of its starting XI from the last match playing in Europe, including Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal resemble a well-drilled European side and could make life tough for Japan.
Playing in its first World Cup in 16 years, Senegal carry the hopes of Africa. Japan, which will bank on goalscorers Shinji Kagawa and Yuya Osako as well as Keisuke Honda to provide thrust going forward, is confident it has what it takes to seal a third trip to the last 16 — the furthest it has reached at a World Cup.
Progress could result in a possible meeting with England or Belgium but Nishino is not looking too far ahead. “We’ll focus on showing our strength in the next match,” he said.
- Japan became the first Asian side to beat South American opponents at the World Cup.
- Senegal became the first African team to win a match at the 2018 World Cup when it beat Poland 2-1 on Tuesday.
- The Blue Samurai has reached the last 16 twice, most recently in South Africa in 2010.
- No African team has bettered Senegal’s 2002 achievement while Cameroon (1990) and Ghana (2010) have also reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.
- Previous meetings: The teams have played two international friendlies in the past, with Senegal winning both matches.
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