7 hours ago
18
Key events
90 mins: Six minutes of time added on for Tunisia to find the four goals they need to remain alive in this competition.
89 mins: “The xG stat shown right before the fourth stated Japan had 1.02,” emails an exasperated Randy Zalubil. “How is this possible!? They’ve threatened the entire match!— explain XG to me?!”
87 mins: The host broadcaster cuts to Hajime Moriyasu in the Japan dugout. He has done a superb job with this team. And he is bullish about his side’s chances. They are here to win, not simply make up the numbers. If they continue performing like this they cannot be ruled out.
85 mins: Ueda is immediately substituted to give Goto some game time.
Beautiful pass and move down the right opens up the Tunisian defence, Sano stands up the cross to the far post, Ueda leaps, timing his jump like Graeme Sharp to redirect the ball beyond Dahmen and a couple of defenders on the line for good measure. The header arced like a greenside flop shot, taunting Tunisia as it floated into the back of the net.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-4 Japan (Ueda, 83)
Japan, almost apologetically, make it four.
81 mins: “My mom, upon recognising the Tunisian coach from his stint as Saudi Arabia’s coach at the 2022 WC: ‘Has a white shirt. Will travel’.” I reckon Lillie Lovatt is not the only reader to have a mother who retains a memory of international football’s answer to Fabio.
79 mins: More changes for Japan with Seko and Y Suzuki coming on for Tomiyasu and Nakamura.
77 mins: Ito chases an overhit ball in the right channel, Ben Hmida has to slide across and concede the corner. Japan’s industry and commitment is a thing to behold. The corner is not much chop though and Tunisia head it away.
75 mins: Tunisia win a corner on the right, which quickly becomes two corners after a short corner is blocked. The second ball is curled across, kept in the area well by Rekik, allowing Gharbi a shooting opportunity that is charged down by Japan, prompting high fives and goal-like celebrations.
71 mins: Speaking of those changes for Japan, Doan makes way for Sugawara, and Kamada for J Suzuki.
Japan will enjoy their hydration break, safe in the knowledge they have done everything asked of them this evening. Expect Moriyasu to ring the changes for the final quarter.
Japan nail the slow-slow-quick. After a spell of calm possession across defence the ball is fizzed at speed to the feet of Ueda dropping into the No 10 position and he executes a superb one-touch flick around the corner that beats the offside trap and allows Ito to spring onto it, hold off Rekik, and roll the ball confidently under the helpless goalkeeper.
GOAL! Tunisia 0-3 Japan (Ito, 69)
As the match begins to drift, Ito makes it three.
66 mins: Tunisia are defending in a formation that seems to suggest they’re more focussed on retaining this scoreline than they are gambling to get back into the game. It means Japan have to move the ball more conservatively with less space than was available in the opening half.
65 mins: Valery goes for the long throw from the right again but Japan are strong in the air.
64 mins: Tunisia go to their bench again: Chaouat for Tounekti.
63 mins: Ayase wins a corner with a deflected effort after lovely interplay in the final third. Uade created space with a lovely stepover. Ito sends the ball into the box this time but it’s easily headed clear.
62 mins: Abdi does well in defence, then sets his side going forward with some neat skill to evade Ito then look long for Gharbi. Japan deal with it.
61 mins: Tunisia get some time on the ball but Japan are so busy out of possession, Tanaka’s interception seems inevitable.
59 mins: The set piece is taken short then the angled delivery is clubbed straight into the advancing Tunisian defender. Tunisia break at speed and then want a penalty for handball against Ito for sliding in and collecting the ball on the ground, but there’s nothing doing.
58 mins: Japan are patient though, happy to execute technical triangle passing patterns down the right and earn a corner.
57 mins: Tunisia’s defensive shape is much better this half, tracking runners, denying Japan easy passing lanes.
55 mins: Hannibal has been a more visible presence this half, dropping deeper to show for the ball and moving forward with intent. His perceived pressure off the ball forces another Japanese error on their right as this game struggles to main the quality of the opening half.
54 mins: Skhiri is caught very late and awkwardly. Doan is lucky to avoid a caution.
52 mins: Japanese fans are in full voice in Monterrey, but there team has hit a brief sticky patch. Other than the Hannibal chance there have been poor turnovers on each flank, allowing their opponents to gain a foothold in the game.
50 mins: Hannibal has a chance! Tunisia’s first opening of the night is well worked. Gharbi instigates it as the ball is played through the lines, out to the right. The cross is low and accurate and the onrushing Burnley midfielder should sidefoot it into the net but he fails to make contact.
48 mins: It’s a change of personnel, nit a change of structure with Tunisia still operating with a 5-3-2 and Japan a 3-4-3. One of those midfield four, Tanaka, drags a shot wide from 25m.
46 mins: Ben Hmida is straight into the action with a sliding tackle on the left as Japan continue where they left off.
The teams are back out for the second half.
Ben Hmida is coming on for Bronn and Gharbi replaces Saad for Tunisia.
Time for some half-time reading, and how could we go past a byline that reads: Sid Lowe in Chattanooga?
Cape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener, Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to clear their heads and leave the disappointment behind. Lamine Yamal went to Nashville, Dani Olmo headed for Hamilton Place mall and Rodri strolled the Tennessee river with his partner. When Borja Iglesias got back before the 9pm curfew, they didn’t recognise him and wouldn’t let him in.
