In a revealing interview with Friday Digital, a Japanese news agency, renowned coach Philippe Troussier shared his insights into the surprising performance of Vietnam against Japan in a recent football match. Despite being ranked 94th by FIFA, Vietnam managed to challenge Japan, ranked 17th, pushing them to their limits.
Troussier pointed out three critical weaknesses within the Japanese team that Vietnam exploited. He described Japan’s defeat as comprehensive, especially noting their struggle in the second half of the game. The situation worsened during additional time when Japan’s defense faltered, leading to a penalty kick awarded to Iran. This marked a disappointing exit for Japan from the Asian Cup, failing to achieve their goal of reaching the World Cup’s top 8 and becoming the champions of Asia.
This loss was particularly shocking as the second incarnation of the Moriyasu-led Japan had been hailed by sports media as the “strongest national team in history” after defeating strong teams like Germany in friendly matches. However, the flaws in their team were apparent and could not be overlooked in a serious match. Vietnam’s national team, despite being significantly lower-ranked, managed to take the lead against Japan with two goals, showcasing a commendable fight even though they eventually lost 4-2. This match has highlighted the potential gaps that the Japanese team needs to address to fulfill their ambitions on the international stage.
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