Japan delivered a statement performance in their Group F clash, controlling the game from start to finish. Ayase Ueda was ruthless in front of goal, scoring twice, while Junya Ito and Daichi Kamada added further strikes to complete the rout.
Tunisia, already reeling from a 5-1 defeat to Sweden as reported earlier by Softfootball and a record-fast coaching change after sacking Sabri Lamouchi, looked disjointed and bereft of confidence. Despite a strong qualifying campaign where they did not concede a goal, their form has collapsed spectacularly, conceding nine goals in two matches.
Japan’s victory not only eliminated Tunisia but also set up a tantalising clash with Sweden, while the Netherlands will face Tunisia in their final group game.
Player Ratings
Tunisia
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Aymen Dahmen | 4 |
| Omar Rekik | 6 |
| Montassar Talbi | 6 |
| Dylan Brown | 6 |
| Ali Abdi | 6 |
| Ellyes Skhiri | 6 |
| Anis Ben Slimane | 6 |
| Yan Valery | 6 |
| Hannibal Mejbri | 5 |
| Sebastian Tounekti | 5 |
| Elias Saad | 5 |
| Subs: Amine Ben Hamida (7), Ismael Gharbi (5), Firas Chaout (5), Elias Achouri (N/A), Rani Khedira (N/A) |
Japan
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Zion Suzuki | 6 |
| Hiroki Ito | 7 |
| Ko Itakura | 8 |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 7 |
| Keito Nakamura | 7 |
| Ao Tanaka | 7 |
| Kaishu Sano | 7 |
| Ritsu Doan | 6 |
| Daichi Kamada | 7 |
| Ayase Ueda | 9 (Man of the Match) |
| Junya Ito | 8 |
| Subs: Yukinari Sugawara (5), Junnosuke Suzuki (5), Ayumu Seko (6), Yuito Suzuki (N/A), Keisuke Goto (N/A) |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Japan | Tunisia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Total Shots | 16 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 2 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.45 | 0.61 |
| Fouls Committed | 10 | 13 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Saves | 2 | 4 |
