Japan gave a storm warning in the final match of Group C on Monday, when they defeated Spain, who went into the match as a preliminary favorite, 4–0. The win gave Japan the group win.
At the end of the match, we saw a confusing free kick situation, when two Japanese players knelt in front of the Spanish wall.
You can watch the situation in question on the video at the main photo of this story.
Urheilu’s football expert Jonne Kunnas estimated that the extraordinary tactic was primarily an attempt to fool the opponent.
– When the shot went off, the players who were on their knees immediately went towards the goal. Maybe they tried to get a few players on second balls. Kneeling, unguarded players are difficult to control, Kunnas thinks.
Kunnas also praises Japan’s special situation play. The country’s players are short, and the team practically never gets to enjoy a height advantage, so it has to use other means.
For example, in lateral free kicks, Japan brought several players behind the ball, and made several blind moves before the actual centering started. The tactic confused Spain’s defensive line, which stays up and starts to drop down just before the free kick.
– When Japan did it, even in the last situation, the defender Irene Paredes had dripped. Because of this, the line was spread out, the distances were bigger and the Japanese players were able to get to large areas faster.
– If they did the same as everyone else, they probably wouldn’t get anything done. With these different means, they maximize their own chance of success.
Japan used its place
According to Kunnas, the match was a complete tactical success for Japan. The national team is used to dominating the ball, but on Monday we saw something completely different.
Spain had 77 percent of the ball but couldn’t get past the Japanese defense.
Japan, on the other hand, countered effectively: it succeeded in four of its five shots on goal. Japan scored three goals in the first half and nailed the Final Score ten minutes before the final whistle.
The Japanese hero was 23 years old Hinata Miyazawawho finished twice and topped the tournament scoring market with four hits.
– The defensive plan they created was perfect. The spaces between the lines were tight, Spain couldn’t get anywhere. Even though they had to be deep, they defended well and got the ball player under pressure all the time. No facilities opened up for Spain, Kunnas enthuses.
– They had gone through very carefully what they would attack after the exploitation. They got between Spain’s center back and winger and timed their runs well. They were able to use the speed of the players at full speed. You don’t need many touches to the ball in the box to score a goal.
Japan’s goal difference in the tournament is now 11–0, and they have won all of their matches. According to Kunnas, the team has good starting points to go far in the tournament.
– Japan has now used several players and different match plans for different games have been perfectly successful. Several players have gotten a feel for the game and are fresh for the upcoming games.
Spain was unable to change
The loss was Spain’s biggest in more than ten years. Germany beat it 5-0 in the European Championship qualifiers in 2012. Since last summer’s European Championship, Spain has lost only once overall.
According to Kunnas, there were worrying signs for Spain in the defeat. The team did not change their game in the second half, even though they were losing 0–3.
The team’s offense was not balanced.
– When the toppers pass the ball from really far away and there is a catch, the gap between the topper and the winger is open. It was attacked by Japan.
Spain was practically completely without decent goalscoring opportunities. There were no players on the wings who were capable of challenges and passes.
– They only came by passing. A lot of players came out of the danger zones. I would have liked a different variation in the positioning of the players in the spherical phase. Now they were content to be in those places that were easy for Japan to crush.
Spain has been at the center of controversy over the past year, as last fall 15 players said they would refuse a call to the national team as long as Vilda is coaching. Now about them Marion Caldentey, Fence Bonmati and Ona Batlle are now available to the national team.
Despite the defeat, Spain qualified as second in the group and will face Switzerland, the winner of the A group, in the first round of the playoffs on August 5. Japan won Group C and will next face Group A runner-up Norway on the same day.
Edited at 2:23 p.m.: Spain will face Switzerland, not Norway.