AFC Asian Cup: Japan aim to rediscover mojo against Vietnam

Dubai - Shibasaki, who plays for Getafe, admitted Japan need to pull up their socks

The Samurai Blue haven't really put their opponents to the sword in their AFC Asian Cup campaign. Despite winning four games, the four-time champions have done little to convince the pundits that they could go all the way.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu, who is looking to build a team for the 2022 World Cup, ignored Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa and Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki for the Asian Cup as both men have been relegated to the benches of their respective clubs.
But Moriyasu still brought a formidable team to the UAE. In their 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Round of 16, Moriyasu fielded 10 Europe-based outfield players. And yet the team had only 23 per cent possession against the Saudis and needed a set-piece to scrape through.
Now that the tournament has reached the quarterfinal stage, Japan hope to rediscover their mojo.
But a Vietnamese golden generation stands between them and a place in the semifinals
Moriyasu, though, is convinced that his team will now show their top form.
"Japan is here to win the title. The team needs to develop and also we have some new players, who don't have enough experience. But they are learning from each match. We know tomorrow it's going to be a difficult match. But we will do our best," said Moriyasu ahead of Japan's quarterfinal clash against Vietnam at the Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
But Gaku Shibasaki, the Japanese central midfielder who plays for Getafe, admitted that his team needed to pull up their socks.
"The results are very important," he said referring to Japan's four wins in the tournament. "But we know the performance is important. We are working on it. We know that we need to improve and hopefully, as the tournaments progresses, we will develop ourselves. Hopefully, we can get the trophy. That will be the best result for Japan."
The 26-year-old Shibasaki said Vietnam, which beat Jordan on penalties in the Round of 16, deserved their place in the quarterfinals.
"I saw their videos. They are a good team and that's why they are in the quarterfinals. We need to work hard against them. If we want to beat them, we have to show better technique," he said.
Japan, according to Shibasaki, must win the midfield battle against Vietnam on Thursday.
"They are not physically tall. They have high level in technique and agility. So we need to play well in the midfield and try to dominate," he said.
Moriyasu, on the other hand, said Vietnam's win over Japan in the 2018 Asian Games will not give them a psychological edge.
"They have had good results recently. We respect Vietnam, but at the same time we are confident in our ability to win," he said.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com