Tunisia 0-4 Japan: Kamada 4, Ueda 31, 83, Ito 69
Tunisia created a World Cup record by sacking their coach after a thumping opening defeat against Sweden, appointing the highly experienced Herve Renard. But the North Africans quickly found out their problems ran deeper than a managerial change could solve, receiving another four-goal smashing, this time at the hands of Japan, to bring their tournament to an untimely end.
Renard was appointed just three days before this game, making him the nation’s seventh coach since the start of the qualifiers. But it is difficult to make any significant changes in that short space of time and here at the Estadio Monterrey the defensive weaknesses were as glaring as a sunset. Japan happily took advantage.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Asian side, who opened with a scintillating 2-2 draw against the Netherlands last week, now have good prospects of reaching the knockout stage. With four points the Asian side will secure qualification if they avoid defeat against Sweden in their final group fixture.
Japan should have been awarded a penalty inside the opening minute when Ayase Ueda was clipped while attempting to turn inside the area, but the appeals were ignored.
It didn’t matter much because the breakthrough arrived four minutes later when a swift move down the left exposed Tunisia’s defence, allowing Keito Nakamura to drive a low cross into a crowded penalty area where Daichi Kamada turned the ball home from close range.
Japan continued to dominate possession and territory, stretching Tunisia across the pitch with intelligent movement and quick passing. Their superiority was rewarded again in the 31st minute when Ueda collected possession in space on the edge of the box, shifted his body and fired through a defender’s legs and into the far corner.
Tunisia struggled to offer any meaningful response. Their attacks rarely progressed beyond midfield and Japan’s organised back line comfortably dealt with every attempt to gain momentum. Indeed, Tunisia’s goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen prevented the scoreline from becoming more severe before half-time with a series of saves.
Any hopes of a Tunisian revival after the interval quickly faded. Japan had complete authority over the contest and the third goal arrived nine minutes after the hour, when Ueda’s clever flick released Junya Ito behind the defence, and the winger calmly rolled his finish beyond Dahmen.
Ueda completed an outstanding individual performance by adding his team’ fourth goal late on, meeting a cross with a looping header that drifted beyond the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
