Humble but ruthless Japan difficult to stop as dismantling of Spain was no fluke | Karen Carney

Japan’s counterattacking gameplan left group rivals with no answers and their adaptability will prove tough to break down

Having 22% possession and scoring four goals against one of the world’s best teams may seem like a fluke but it was all part of a perfect gameplan from Japan against Spain. It showed a shift in dynamic and a willingness to adapt from Japan, who topped their group with three wins to breeze into the knockout stages, where Norway await on Saturday.

Zambia and then Costa Rica were brushed aside by an aggregate score of 7-0 in dominant performances Many would have expected Japan to go toe-to-toe with Spain in the shootout for top spot but Japan sat back and absorbed the pressure as they bided their time to strike. Three blistering counters culminated in goals and Spain had no answer, unable to break down the defence.

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