Japan scored 15 goals in three games against Asian teams, was undefeated for three years, and vowed to break the 13-year curse

In the last warm-up match before the Asian Cup, Japan defeated Thailand 5-0, setting a record for the longest winning streak in team history with nine consecutive wins. In the last 3 matches against Asian teams, Japan have scored 15 goals and conceded 0 goals.

Ahead of the match against Thailand, Japanese fans unfurled a banner that read "King of Asia". Despite failing to win the Asian Cup for 13 years, Japan is still the team with the most Asian Cup titles.

After the excellent performance at the World Cup in Qatar, the Japanese players are more confident. In the last three matches against Asian teams, Japan has scored 15 goals and conceded 0 goals while winning three in a row.

In fact, the last time Japan lost to an Asian team was to Saudi Arabia on October 7, 2021. In the next 13 meetings, the Japanese team won 11 wins and 2 draws, and the only two games were a draw at home against Vietnam in the World Preliminary Tournament, and the East Asian Cup and the national football team played a blank sheet.

In those 13 matches, Japan scored 39 goals and conceded only two. In the first game against Thailand, Japan scored 5 goals from 24 shots, and the offensive efficiency was evident.

Such excellent form has made Japan the top favourites to win the Asian Cup. Whether they can break the curse of not being able to win the championship for 13 years, the only opponent of the Japanese team may also be the South Korean team, which is also determined to win.