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Japan take their first cagey steps towards Brazil 2014
Mike Tuckerman
What a difference a month makes. When Japan beat South Korea in a friendly in August, the domestic press and local fans were quick to hail the Samurai Blue the best team in Asia. The 3-0 victory marked Japan's first win on home soil against their arch-rivals in 13 years and hopes were high that Japan would cruise through their World Cup qualification group. Instead, Alberto Zaccheroni's men were handed a particularly tough draw and if their opening two performances are anything to go by, Japan could be in for a bumpy ride en route to Brazil 2014.
The Samurai Blue kicked off their qualification campaign at home to neighbours North Korea. Far from tricky political relations creating turbulence, it was the weather causing all sorts of problems at Saitama Stadium as deadly Typhoon Talas bore down on the west of the country, bringing with it torrential rain and high winds which swept across much of the main island of Honshu. It didn't stop just under 55,000 fans packing into Saitama Stadium to witness an absorbing opening clash, although those who left early will be kicking themselves after Japan scored the latest of late goals to see off their stubborn North Korean opponents.
Five minutes of stoppage time alone yielded almost as much goal-mouth action as any average encounter. First, Shinji Kagawa had a goal-bound half-volley blocked by a defender, before Yasuyuki Konno sent a thunderous volley crashing against the crossbar. Next, North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk clawed away a fabulous Kagawa header, as Japan tried everything in search of a winner. North Korea's resolve was strong but their stubborn rearguard action was finally broken when Hiroshi Kiyotake sent over an accurate cross for Maya Yoshida to head home at the far post some three and a half minutes into stoppage time.
If Japan thought their tussle with North Korea was tough, it was nothing compared to their trip to the hostile confines of Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent, where they took on perennial continental dark horses Uzbekistan. Japan have made the trip to the Uzbek capital many times before and as was to be expected, a partisan home crowd turned out in support of the central Asian team. Not only did Uzbekistan have a hostile home crowd on their side, they could also rely on a bumpy pitch which wreaked havoc with Japan's normal passing game.
It didn't take Uzbekistan long to assert their authority as Timur Kapadze hit the post with a shot from distance, before mercurial midfielder Server Djeparov volleyed the opener past a stunned Eiji Kawashima soon after. The hosts bossed the first half but nearly went in level when Japan striker Tadanari Lee clipped the far post shortly before the interval. It wasn't until midway through the second half that Japan drew level when Shinji Okazaki stooped to head home Atsuto Uchida's swirling cross, and despite then throwing everything at the Uzbeks in search of a winner, the Samurai Blue were forced to come away with a point.
It wasn't so much the results as the performances in both matches which suggests Japan may not have things all their own way in qualifying. Not only did Japan rely on a late goal to beat North Korea, they were also largely outplayed by Uzbekistan and the absence through injury of the physically imposing Keisuke Honda didn't help their cause. With Yuto Nagatomo and Kengo Nakamura also injured, Japan's lack of depth was highlighted by ineffective displays from Yuki Abe and Yosuke Kashiwagi in the midfield. Meanwhile, Zaccheroni's preference for employing long-ball football the second 194-centimetre debutant Mike Havenaar set foot on the pitch at Saitama Stadium suggests results - not style - are foremost on the Italian's mind.
There's little doubt Japan are one of the most accomplished sides in Asian football, and four points from their opening two World Cup qualifiers represents a healthy return for the reigning Asian Cup champions. Japan's next two fixtures sees them clash with the relatively unknown Tajikistan, who take part at the expense of the disqualified Syria in an unpredictable looking Group D. A home win over Tajikistan at Nagai Stadium in Osaka next month would take Japan another major step towards a place in the final round of qualifiers, and coach Zaccheroni will hope to see his side improve on their somewhat scratchy form from their opening two fixtures.
Samurai Blue fans are unlikely to care too much about the style of football employed, so long as Japan ultimately book an appearance in Brazil in 2014. Nevertheless, Japan's opening two World Cup qualifiers left those in the know with the impression there's plenty more still to come, particularly when conditions are more favourable for passing football. There hasn't been much of that to date during the 'Zac Japan' era, but with the likes of Hasebe, Kagawa and Yasuhito Endo itching to make a difference, that could all change the next time Japan runs out on home soil.
Copyright: Mike Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com
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