Japan vs. Zambia
In a tournament that already features a surfeit of “Dark Horse” candidates, the 2011 World Champions and 2015 runners-up made their own strong statement on Saturday evening. Futoshi Ikeda’s “Nadeshiko” turned in perhaps the most impressive performance from any nation in the competition thus far. A 5-0 win over the ever dangerous Zambian Copper Queens of Zambia catapults Japan above yesterday’s 3-0 victors Spain in Group C.
Tactical Analysis: Japan
This female football fan happened to be an unabashed fan of Japan’s previous manager. Much of this had to do with the fact that Asano Takakura (or Asako Takemoto as she was sometimes referred to) was the first woman head-coach appointed by the JFA. Alas, the early 2019 tournament exit and the disappointing showing at the Tokyo Olympics called for a change. New manager Ikeda didn’t initially inspire much optimism, particularly following his decision to leave popular striker Mana Iwabuchi off the World Cup roster.
Time for the author to change his mind.
Lineup—Japan—Match One (3-4-3)
This functioned brilliantly. Ikeda prepared his squad exceedingly well. Rippling attacking waves commenced without delay. Jun Endo, Yui Hasegawa, and Risa Shimizu reached the attacking trident with splendid long balls from the deep. Mina Tanaka, Hinata Miyazawa, and the (massively impressive) Aoba Fujino broke ahead of the defensive line with impeccable timing. Given the reputation of the Zambian counter, one possessed some trepidation about Ikeda’s decision to deploy a back-three. Such fears proved totally unfounded.
Crisp passing kept the attack charges neat. Captain Saki Kumagai – an absolute legend among female football fans – kept the defensive ranks calm and organized. Fujino forced a save out of Zambian keeper Catherine Musonda and struck the crossbar inside of the first ten minutes. Tanaka sliced through attacking lanes left, right, and center before firing off her own distance effort in the 15th. Combination play remained strong throughout the Japanese ranks, but looked especially sleek whenever running through Jun Endo on the left.
It genuinely would have been a shame if the first half had concluded without a goal. Tanaka saw a goal off a free-kick disallowed due to an offside position in the 23rd. Fujino came close again in the 34th. Fuka Nagano forced another strong save out of keeper Musonda in the 39th. Thankfully, the very-deserving Fujino got her name on the scoresheet in the 43rd. The teenage phenom set-up Hinata Miyazawa’s 1-0 after a top-class unlock-pass from Kumagai.
The floodgates flew open in the second 45 with Tanaka notching the 2-0 in the 55th and Miyazawa bagging a brace with the 3-0 seven minutes later. An absolute pleasure to watch Endo snatch the 4-0 in the 71st. The Angel City FC winger worked so very hard. Matters could have been much worse for the Africans as both a Tanaka goal in the 49th and a potential penalty kick for Japan in the 52nd were scratched off due to offside positions. The 5-0 from Niko Ueki on a (second) effort from the penalty closed us out.
One doesn’t really feel as if the offside calls constitute a blight on the Nadeshiko’s performance. Considering what a monumentally good job Ikea’s crew did in barely letting their opponents see the ball and soaking up every potential counter before it could even get started, overall execution came close to perfect. Nothing truly detracts from this masterclass, not even the microphone “referee soliloquies” football lovers are still getting used to.
Top Performers, Japan
1) Aoba Fujino
Madly interesting. Who is this little firecracker? The 19-year-old happens to be one of Ikeda’s prodigies from the U-20 side that captured the 2018 U20 World Championship. Few will be familiar with the name as she’s not yet played outside the domestic league in her young career. That looks set to change. The speedy and snake-hipped youngster appears ready to make a name for herself in this competition.
2) Hinata Miyazawa
Another one of Ikea’s former U20 players who hasn’t ventured outside Japan just yet. The 23-year-old’s brace – the second of the tournament after rising USWNT start Sophia Smith recorded one earlier in the day – shall now become a more recognizable name as well. Fine finishes on both goals from the WE league attacker.
3) Jun Endo
The Angel City FC forward simply worked her socks off all night. German female footballing fans have been well acquainted with her raw talent since before the 2019 WWC. She showcased some deadly skills in a friendly back then and was even christened the “female Shinji Okazaki” by some. Simply marvelous with her passing tonight.
4) Mina Tanaka
The veteran – at 29-years-of-age the oldest player on Ikeda’s side – is coincidentally enough another player who once burst onto the scene against the Germans. The recent Leverkusen loanee once announced her presence with a wonder-goal against the DFB-XI in 2013. She certainly made her presence felt on this evening. She could have scored a hat-trick were it not for the offside calls.
5) Saki Kumagai
Let’s hear it for the captain! The 32-year-old ensured that her fellow line-mates always executed a triple team whenever Barbra Banda was on the ball. The Zambian counter completely disappeared thanks to the leadership of the pocket center back. One could hear her directing the wingbacks as well. Wonderful stuff from the lone player left from the 2011 World Championship squad.
Yes, she’s another one Germans absolutely love thanks her stints with FFC Frankfurt and Bayern München
Tactical Analysis: Zambia
Those of us fortunate enough to see this team live feel a little let down following this performance. The Copper Queens entered the competition have netted three goals in their recent friendlies against both Switzerland and Germany. Signs pointed to a potential African sensation. In light of the fact that the program also carried two burdensome controversial stories with them, one had hoped that some quality football might carry the day.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be.
Lineup—Zambia—Match One (4-1-4-1)
Led by Kumagai, the Japanese defensive ranks were simply too disciplined. Bruce Mwape’s 4-1-4-1 did not get a single useful counter rolling all night. Perhaps the system lends itself too easy to a hack. As forward-committed as the press is, straightforward verticals are all one needs to bypass the midfield and work over the the defensive chain. One should note that the loss of Madrid CFF linchpin Grace Chanda to a newly revealed injury doesn’t help at all.
As noted above, keeper Musonda made some nice saves. Evarine Katongo supplied a few memorable tackles during an evening that featured some nice track back work from her. Racheal Kundananji also furnished some lovely footwork during a handful of instances. There’s some nice dekes on display from her on both sides of the half-hour mark. Those three positives regrettably get hacked down to two after Musonda was sent off on double yellows in second-half injury time. Unfortunate.