Is it an experiment, or do you need two ports to drastically change the starting list? Japan's Stranger Strategy

Sep 10, 2025

Is it an experiment, or do you need two ports to drastically change the starting list? Japan's Stranger Strategy
APYonhap News



Is it an experiment, or do you need two ports to drastically change the starting list? Japan's Stranger Strategy
AFP Yonhap News
Is it Japan's confidence to go beyond Asia's strongest and reach the top of the world. Or is it just complacency.

Japan's Soccer Digest Web reported on the 9th that coach Hajime Moriyasu mentioned the appointment of players against the U.S.

Japan tied Mexico 0-0 in a September friendly match at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, the United States, on the 7th (Korea time).




It was Mexico of global power. Major resources such as striker Raul Jimenez, midfielder Edson Alvarez and winger Alexis Veiga started against Japan and played an active role.

Is it an experiment, or do you need two ports to drastically change the starting list? Japan's Stranger Strategy
APYonhap News
Until the early and mid-half of the first half, he was being dragged unilaterally. Mexico's defenders failed to wake up to Japan's strong forward pressure. Gubo's shots in the fourth and 11th minutes threatened Mexico. In the 15th minute, Doan Ritz tried to lob a ball from Japanese defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe to avoid goalkeeper Malan, who ran away, but the Mexican defender who followed cleared the ball in front of the goal.

Mexico led the game in the second half. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Suzuki Zaion barely defended Eric Lira's goal header to overcome the crisis. Even after defender Cesar Montes was sent off for an intentional foul in the second minute of extra time in the second half, Mexico firmly defended and balanced with Japan until the end.




It was a bit of a disappointment for Japan. Japan is dreaming of winning the World Cup. In an interview in June, Moriyasu said, `I think it is a feasible goal if the Japanese national team fights with the players' ability, growth, and organizational power to save individuals. I will prepare for the World Cup with the goal of becoming the best in the world"He said he aims to win the championship. However, he failed to win against Mexico and swallowed his disappointment.

Is it an experiment, or do you need two ports to drastically change the starting list? Japan's Stranger Strategy
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Moreover, Japan wants a high port in the group qualifying round to win the World Cup. In the North American World Cup group qualifying draw, 48 countries will be assigned to ports 1 to 4 according to FIFA rankings. The top nine countries in the FIFA rankings, excluding the three host countries, will be assigned to Port 1. In other words, the strongest teams in the world belong to Port 1. The rest of the countries belong to ports 2, 3, and 4 according to their rankings. Japan, currently ranked 17th, is likely to have two ports if the current situation is the case. It's a higher port than last Qatar, but it's known that Japan wants even Port 1. If the team makes a disappointing performance in the A-match in September, there is a possibility that the ranking will decline afterward. The results are important for comfortable seating in port 2.

Still, Moriyasu predicted a change in the match against the U.S. He continued to announce that he would make a decision to change the starting list almost entirely for the player experiment. Moriyasu said in a pre-press conference that he was considering significantly changing his selection"I don't know how to replace it even in the main line. I want as many players as possible to play. I want to look ahead to the competition and prepare to increase the probability of winning."




Japan used all of its main resources, including Takefusa Kubo, Takumi Minamino, Garo Mitoma, Wataru Endo, and Doin Ritz, before Mexico. Excluding a large number of them could cause problems in power. Attention is focusing on whether Moriyasu's choice will catch two rabbits: performance and player check.

The showdown between Japan, which wants to win along with the experiment, and the U.S., which wants to avenge the match against Korea, will be held on the 10th at Lower Dotcom Field in Columbus, Ohio.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.