World Cup 2018, Columbia vs Japan: 5 talking points

#5 Japan - Asia’s best hope of making it to the last 8

Japan represents Asia's best hope at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

It’s been almost 16 years, since an Asian team made it to the quarter-finals, the last being South Korea on home-soil. Japan, if they make it that far will be considered a stupendous achievement, given the fact that they are playing away from familiar territory. Not that the Japanese players are overawed by the occasion these days.

Most of their players now ply their trade across Europe and the unfamiliarity of foreign tactics, style of play are issues of the past. Instead, the current team has a balance of players that can compete across the length and breadth of Europe. In fact, this was Japan’s first win in a World Cup in Europe and their first against South American opposition.

Although the likes of Iran, Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia are the other Asian representatives, Japan represents a much better bet when it comes to qualifying for the knockout stages.

Japan did dominate the game, but one would be hard-pressed to appreciate the attacking forays of Japan as they managed only a single shot on target from open play with a grand total of 6 shots. Statistics do not lie and Japan will be delighted that they picked up the three points as they almost fluffed their lines.