＜Written by ELGOLAZO Editorial Department＞

With their three consecutive victories, the Japan National Team advanced through to the knockout stage as the group leaders. All three matches were tough matches for the Japanese side, as they faced Turkmenistan, Oman, and Uzbekistan. By claiming their victory through close matches one by one, the team has shown great improvements and unity. Especially the fact that the team rotated 10 players ahead of their match against their biggest rival in Group F, Uzbekistan, has given them great confidence ahead of the knockout stage.

However, it is important to note that their round of 16 opponent, Saudi Arabia, has a completely different playing style compared to the previous three nations. It will certainly provide Japan with a different challenge. The Argentinian Coach, Juan Antonio PIZZI, has taken the helm of the Saudi Arabia National Team ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. As a player, he spent most of his career in Spain and favours an attacking style of football. He is also known as the coach who led the Chile National Team to their Copa America Centenario title two years ago.

After taking over the team just six months before the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, he was criticised for the team’s big loss against the host nation, Russia in the first match. However, the team bounced back to put up a close bout against Uruguay in their second match, followed by the nation’s first win at the World Cup since the 1994 tournament held in USA, after defeating the Egypt National Team, who was led by the current Uzbekistan National Team Coach Hector CUPER. Since the World Cup, the team has shown great improvements in their passing game ahead of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. They are also capable of forcing turnovers with their collective pressure applied from high positions.

The effectiveness of the Saudi Arabian style has been shown in the data collected from the group stage. According to the official stats provided by the AFC, they have marked 1910 passes, second only to Korea Republic among all teams. Also, during the three group stage matches, they have possessed the ball for nearly 70%. In their third match against Qatar, where both teams entered the match after winning their first two matches, Saudi Arabia recorded 71.2％ in ball possession. Facing the Qatar side led by the Spanish Coach, Felix SANCHEZ, who also employs a football style that takes heavy emphasis on ball possession, Coach Pizzi insisted with their playing style.

Despite losing to Qatar 0-2, Saudi Arabian sent out a clear message that they will not change their playing style depending on their opponents. Japan is a team that moves the ball around while creating attacking points by utilising the fullbacks at a high position. It is inevitable to see a “Possession War” in the next match.

Saudi Arabia will seek for their point of attack by moving the ball around and utilise their players upfront who has great mobility. Coach Pizzi has favoured the 168cm forward Al MUWALLAD, who has scored the deciding goal against Japan at the final qualification round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, as their lone striker while placing numbers of players with great techniques and speed just beneath him. It will be essential for the Japanese player to stay on the same page when making their approach to apply pressure against this front line.

In terms of offence, the second-row attackers must keep their face towards the goal when keeping the ball possession upfront. The team will certainly face stretches where they will be forced to play in the defensive end, but the Japan National Team led by Coach MORIYASU Hajime is a team that is capable of initiating quick counter attacks once they force turnovers.

The Saudi Arabian side will apply intense pressure in defence, but they rely heavily on the individual skills of their centre halves, so if Japan can create chances through their collective ball movements, there will be opportunities for Japan to exploit. The Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Al OWAIS is an excellent player who has denied Japan many times before, but our hopes are high for the likes of MINAMINO Takumi, DOAN Ritsu, MUTO Yoshinori, and KITAGAWA Koya.

While Saudi Arabia consists many players with great speed and techniques, they lack players with height, as most of their players are below 180cm. Unless the team comes up with a special plan, Japan will have the advantage in the aerial battles, thus making the set-pieces a crucial aspect for this match.

As Coach Moriyasu has mentioned over and over of times, that the entire team effort will be necessary at the knockout stage, substitutions will play a major role in these matches. At the group stage, Japan has utilised only one substitute in their first match, while two players were substituted in the second match. Coach Moriyasu later explained that it was a decision made to win the match, but with the team winning their third match by utilising the unused players from the first two matches, it should give the Japanese side a wide range of substitution options in the next match. It will be interesting to see how Coach Moriyasu will manage the match against Saudi Arabia.

If Japan can advance through the round of 16, they will face the winner between Jordan and Vietnam at the quarterfinals. Beyond that point, Iran and Thailand are possible candidates at the semi-finals while, the likes of Korea Republic, Australia, and Uzbekistan awaits at the final. Previously, the knockout stage started from the quarterfinals, but from this year, the team must win four matches to be crowned as champions. In order to achieve such feat, the overall growth of the team is essential. But for now, Japan must focus to win their next match against the Asian powerhouse, Saudi Arabia.

Schedule

SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) Squad, Schedule

AFC ASIAN CUP UAE 2019

Tournament Dates: Sat. 5 January - Fri. 1 February 2019

Knockout Stage Round of 16:
Mon. 21 January Kick-off 20:00 (Japan Time)
vs Saudi Arabia National Team

Broadcasting: Televised Live at TV Asahi Group
BS Broadcasting: Televised Live at NHKBS1

Tournament Information