VOLGOGRAD: Japan coach Akira Nishino said he was “forced” to tell his players to down tools towards the end of their World Cup match against Poland, to secure last 16 qualifications.
With 10 minutes to go Japan were losing 1-0, but with Colombia leading Senegal by the same scoreline in the other simultaneous Group H tie it meant Japan would qualify on fair play with Colombia. Despite boos ringing out, the Japanese and Polish players slowed to walking pace for the last 10 minutes.
“It was a very tough decision,” he explained. “There was a ‘what if?’ on our pitch, and a ‘what if?’ on the other pitch. “I chose to keep the status quo in our game and rely instead on the other result. “My players were very loyal in listening to me and following my decision. It was tough, as my style is attack minded. “The situation forced me to make this decision.”
A piece published earlier: Yuya Osako exacted sweet revenge for Japan on Tuesday as the Blue Samurai beat Colombia 2-1, becoming the first Asian side ever to beat a South American team at the World Cup. Osako’s 73rd-minute winner meant the Japanese avenged their 4-1 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014 as Colombia played with a man down for 86 minutes in Saransk. After leaving Brazil without a win four years ago, Japan made a dream start to their Russian campaign even though head coach Akira Nishino was only appointed in April. In an explosive start to the Group H clash, Colombia defender Carlos Sanchez earned the first red card of Russia 2018 with a handball after just four minutes. Japan took a shock lead when Shinji Kagawa netted the resulting penalty before Juan Quintero equalized with a free-kick for Colombia to make it 1-1 at half-time. Brazil 2014 top scorer James Rodriguez came on for the last half-hour after laboring in training with a calf strain but could not pull his side level after Osako’s goal. Travelling Colombia fans turned the Mordovia Arena into a sea of yellow but were soon stunned into silence. When Osako fired in a shot from Japan’s first attack, Sanchez blocked the effort with a raised arm. (Published on 20th June 2018)
