Japan have hit the ground running since the World Cup with an impressive series of high-scoring wins, most notably September’s 4-1 trouncing of Germany in Wolfsburg. As well as pouring salt into the wounds inflicted by Samurai Blue’s shock 2-1 win over Hansi Flick’s side at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, it was a result that cost Flick his job.
Japan impressed at the World Cup with group victories over both Germany and Spain, before a promising campaign was ended on penalties in the last 16 against the eventual third-place finishers, Croatia.
That win over Germany in the group opener was a masterclass by Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, who stunned his opponents by bringing most of his best attacking players on all at once in the second half. The strategy worked again in the final group game against Spain. But in September’s friendly he took a different approach, sending his team out aggressively, settling in to defend their lead, and
