SAITAMA, Japan — Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu warned his
team they will need to shape up if they are to meet their target of reaching
the World Cup quarter-finals after drawing 1–1 with Vietnam in their final
qualifier on Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
Japan booked their place at a seventh
straight World Cup with a win against Australia last week, but they ended their
campaign on a flat note at home to a Vietnam team that had taken just three
points from nine games in Group B.
Moriyasu said he wants his side to reach at
least the last eight for the first time in Qatar, but he is looking for
improvement after fielding an experimental line-up against Vietnam.
“I have to look at the future but I also need
to make sure that we take each game as it comes,” said Moriyasu, who watched
his captain Maya Yoshida miss a gilt-edged chance late in the game.
“We clinched our World Cup place last week in
Australia but there are still things that we need to work on. We have a target
but that doesn’t mean that we won’t look at the things in the near future.”
Vietnam went in front in the 19th minute when
Nguyen Thanh Binh headed in direct from a corner, and the visitors held their
lead going into half-time.
Yoshida equalized in the 54th minute but
Japan could not find a winner despite fierce second-half pressure, and had a
goal disallowed by the video assistant referee.
“The players did their best but we needed to
function as a team,” said Moriyasu.
“It was a little bit difficult for the
players on the pitch today. We didn’t really have much time to prepare with
this line-up, but all the players need to be ready.”
Japan and Saudi Arabia had already clinched
the two automatic qualification spots in Group B going into the final round of
matches, with Australia assured of the playoff place.
Vietnam had lost all of their previous games
with the exception of a home win over China, and manager Park Hang-seo said
drawing with Japan had “real significance”.
“I have nothing but appreciation for the
players,” said the South Korean.
“It was only a draw but to get this result against Japan
is a proud moment for all Vietnamese people.”
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