In a World Cup of surprises, perhaps no two teams have been as underestimated by pundits
than Russia and Japan.
While Japan benefitted from an early red card against Colombia, and only managed a draw
against an excellent Senegal side, qualification is their hands against a disappointing Polish
team.
Japan play a possession-based 4-2-3-1, but they are not afraid to go direct as well.
Their 4-2-3-1 relies heavily on two superb midfielders, captain and Eintracht Frankfurt
stalwart Makoto Hasebe and Getafe’s Gaku Shibasaki, who has surely announced himself
on the world stage at this tournament.
Hasebe is the lynchpin of the side, roaming the pitch and setting the tempo.
He likes to drop in between centre backs Maya Yoshida and Gen Shoji, giving Japan something
of a 3-3-1-3 in possession from a deep build-up.
From this position, Hasebe can carry the ball, which he does with no little skill, or play
directly forwards to Shibasaki or long and wide, either to full backs Hiroki Sakai and
Yuto Nagatomo, who push very high up the pitch, or wide attackers Genki Haraguchi or Takashi
Inui.
If long options are not available, and Inui especially is good at finding space wide on
the left, then Japan will create triangles of passing as they move the ball forwards.
Hasebe or Shibasaki will form passing triangle with Yoshida, who has proved particularly
adept with longer range passing this tournament too, and Shoji, shifting the ball up and wide
using the full backs, as Japan seek to progress the ball in a controlled fashion towards the
opposition half.
Hasebe and Shibasaki will also move wide into the areas usually occupied by the full backs
when the centre backs are in possession.
The full backs push ahead, and whichever midfielder has taken up this position, usually Hasebe,
then opens up that flank for progression, either playing directly up the line, or infield
for a return pass.
Ahead of this progression or direct passing, Japan’s front four play with a degree of
flexibility, but certain facets of play are fairly consistent.
Inui on the left likes to stay wide and by loitering on the flank, he is often in space
and finds room to run into.
On the right, Haraguchi or Keisuke Honda, the former AC Milan midfielder now at Pachua
who has used so far as a substitute, tend to tuck inside more.
Behind these two, and striker Yuya Osako, is the creative attacking midfielder Shinji
Kagawa.
Perhaps Japan’s only truly top class player, Kagawa is the wildcard in the system, with
room to drop, move wide, especially on the right, and push up high.
Osako works hard to run the channels or hold up the ball, creating room for Kagawa.
As Japan build, Kagawa, or the other attackers, will drop off and push up.
The pattern of build-up, with high full backs, and the recycling of possession among the
back line and the central midfielders, means that the front four can move and be found
in space.
Inui drops off to take a pass and play in Nagatomo, or Haraguchi drops in, plays it
to Kagawa who moves wide, and accelerates into the wide space himself.
It’s a shifting front four that creates a dynamic pattern of movement that can be
hard to mark and creates opportunities for quick pass and move shifts that put Japan
on the front foot.
As a side, Japan are not without their flaws.
Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima has looked poor in goal, and highly-rated prospect Kosuke
Nakamura would be a better option; Osako works hard but is not a natural finisher, while
replacement striker Shinji Okazaki brings hard work and intelligence, but a game more
predicated on bringing other players into the match than finishing chances himself,
despite his good international scoring record.
Nonetheless, Japan have impressed at this tournament, a surprise, apparently, to the
Japanese public and press as well as to World Cup watchers who saw Group H pan out very
differently.
Tactically excellent, organised, and inventive, Japan should not be underestimated
any more.