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Reporter Han Bing reported that 1-2 was eliminated by Iran, and after losing to Iraq in the group stage and missing the top spot, the Japanese team was still helpless in the 1/4 finals in the face of the aerial attack of the Persian Iron Horse. It was the first time since 1988 that they had lost two games in a single Asian Cup.
The first 10 consecutive wins in the Asian Cup, the consecutive big scores defeated Germany and Turkey and forced the two teams to change coaches, the world-class "Japanese myth" created by Mori Hoichi, and the outside expectations of the top favorites to win the Asian Cup before the game, made the Japanese team from top to bottom inevitably have a suspicion of fluttering. From the top 8 of the World Cup to the top 8 of the Asian Cup, Japanese football has completely "returned to the ground", and Sergio Echigo, a columnist for "Nikkan Sports", wrote bluntly: "It's time to wake up, the so-called 10 consecutive wins and the dream of beating European teams." We haven't even conquered Asia yet, and it's not too late to dream of the world after conquering Asia. ”
Kozo Tajima, the president of the Japan Football Association, who still said after the game that he would support Mori Hoichi, also reluctantly admitted: "It would be bad if we got carried away and said that you are the strongest in Asia." "Sports News" revealed that the Japanese Football Association has no intention of firing Mori Boichi, and the Japanese team will still take playing against European strong teams as much as possible as the main plan in the future. However, the defeat of the Asian Cup will provide a reference for the World Cup qualifiers.
The game was a revenge battle for Iran: Iran lost 3-0 to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup five years ago, and in stoppage time, an angry Azmon slapped Takeshi Shibasaki, causing a large-scale clash between the two teams. Five years ago, Iran won 4 and drew 1, scored and conceded 12-0, and was one of the favorites to win the championship, but was beaten by Japan in the semifinals. Azmoun scored four goals to rank second on the scorers' list, but the semi-finals were scoreless. Queiroz's record of 39 games unbeaten in Iran's history was also ended.
Before this game, the Japanese team, which had won consecutive games against European and American powerhouses, was unbeatable, but after Galenoe took over as coach of Queiroz in March last year, the Iranian team was also unbeaten in 17 games, and was called the "golden generation" by ESPN. As many as 15 players in the squad played in the Asian Cup five years ago, while Japan had only five. As many as seven Iranians started the semi-final five years ago, with midfielder Godos coming off the bench at the time. In the Japanese team, only central defender Kenhiro Tomiyasu, midfielder Hang Endo and winger Ritsu Doan started the game five years ago, as well as substitute Takumi Minamino. Coincidentally, Iran's Taremi was also suspended and unable to play five years ago.
But with top scorer Taremi suspended, Azmoun, who lost the game that year, proved in the second half that Japan were not invincible with a key assist rather than an immoral act.
In this game, Moriyasu lined up in a 433 formation, and although the main right winger Junya Ito left, Moriyasu did not let Kaoru Mikasa, who performed well after recovering from injury, start, which was considered one of the mistakes of the Japanese team after the game.
Iran's top scorer Taremi was suspended, while left-winger Gayedi and left-back Haji Safi did not start, but Iran used tactics well. In the first half, even though he was the first to be attacked by Hidemasa Morita in the 28th minute, he still launched a strong attack in the second half with his excellent physical fitness and personal skills. In addition to playing high, he relied on the advantage of confrontation to press the Japanese defense and constantly forced the Japanese defense to make mistakes. In the 55th minute, Azmoun assisted Mohebi to equalize, and then Azmoun also scored a wonderful goal with one against two, unfortunately offside.
Although Moriyasu replaced Kaoru Mikasa and Takumi Minamino after conceding the goal, he still couldn't stop the fierce attack of the Iranian team. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Itakura made a mistake in the penalty area, and then made a mistake with his partner Kenhiro Tomiyasu, and was grabbed by Iranian defender Kanaani, who was inserted into the penalty area, and Itakura put the latter down in embarrassment. Chinese referee Ma Ning, who was very consistent throughout the game, decisively awarded a penalty, and Jahanbakhsh withstood the pressure to complete the stunner.
Compared with the warm-up matches, the real tournament Japanese team does not have a "unique" advantage over other Asian powerhouses. The group stage loss to Iraq also has the excuse of underweight and incomplete lineup, the opponent Iran is missing the top scorer Taremi, left winger Gayedi, and left-back Haji Safi 3 absolute main forces. Rao is like this, the Japanese team led by stars such as Kenei Kubo, Kenhiro Tomiyasu, Ritsu Doan, Hang Endo, and Kiyo Ueda still failed to defeat the Iranian team, which is only 1/6 of the Japanese team.
After the game, Mori took the initiative to take responsibility, saying that the main reason for the defeat was that he failed to play a role in the second half of the substitution. However, Iran did not make any substitutions until the eighth minute of stoppage time, and the starting 11 played almost the entire game, outperforming Japan in terms of fitness, tactics and willpower. Although goalkeeper Ayaka Suzuki finally did not make mistakes, the Japanese team's defense continued to make mistakes under the strong impact of the Iranian team's physical superiority. Both goals conceded were related to centre-back Itakura, especially the fatal penalty in stoppage time.
Although the Japanese team in this Asian Cup is missing Mikasa in the group stage, it should play better with its ball control tactics and the confidence of the previous 10 consecutive wins. It's a pity that Moriyasu is rigid in employing people and insists on using goalkeeper Saiyan Suzuki, who keeps making mistakes. There were goals conceded in every game, and 8 goals conceded set a record for the most Asian Cup goals in team history. Japan's Achilles' heel of lacking a prolific goalscorer remains, with the defence making mistakes that lead to goals conceded in every game, which ultimately leads to defeat.
Although the Japanese team has many players in Europe, it is a pity that there are no top stars like Son Heung-min and Azmoun, who have absolute lethality and cannot rely on their individual ability to turn the tide of the game. The "Japanese myth" of last year's warm-up tournament has taken on its original form when it comes to the hard-fought competition. One of the team's biggest stars, Mikasa, had few opportunities in the group stage due to injuries in this tournament, and in the two knockout games, Moriyasu did not "make the most of it" with Kenei Kubo, who was tied with Kenei Kubo for the highest value player in the team, and the Brighton attacker reflected on himself after the game: "Only after experiencing adversity...... Only then can our ability to resist blows be truly exposed. ”
The Japanese team clearly did not prepare enough for the Asian Cup, which is a far cry from the months of meticulous planning against their three group opponents before the last World Cup.
The defeat to Iraq in the group stage was more considered an accident caused by a light enemy, and in the face of the Iranians, who were not inferior to themselves too much, this overestimation of their own combat power led to the tragedy of the final elimination. Kenei Kubo admits that his performance was terrible and he didn't play at the level of a star attacker, especially when the team was passive, "I feel that my level is still limited through this Asian Cup. ”
Summing up the failure, the Japanese media talked about the fact that outside the field, the Japanese players on the training ground were relaxed, but on the field, they still did not show enough desire to win. "We didn't think we were going to be crushed, but we were cornered, the players didn't say a word on the pitch, and I think everyone watching us will have a feeling that we will be beaten," he said after the 2-1 defeat to Iran. ”
Mori said that the exit of the Asian Cup will not shake the enterprising spirit of Japanese football to "move towards the lofty goal of becoming the world's No. 1", but on the way forward, he and his disciples may need to re-examine their own strength. 'We can beat Germany and Spain in the World Cup and something like that could happen in Asia. Kozo Tajima hopes that the two defeats will be an opportunity for the Japanese team to go further.
It is worth mentioning that the Chinese referee Ma Ning performed steadily in this game, showing only 2 yellow cards in the whole game, which better controlled the emotions and rhythm of the players of the two teams, and the shots of the two ball-hitters in the penalty area were not awarded penalties and were also very accurate. In the third minute of stoppage time, Itakura tackled Kanani behind his back, and Manin dared to decisively award a penalty, and there was no problem either. With this whistle performance, Ma Ning is very hopeful to be reused in the next game, and the Chinese referee's soaring progress highlights the embarrassment of the national football team.