With another last-gasp winner, Japan have finished the Olympic men’s football group stage as one of just two teams — along with hosts France — boasting a perfect record.
A medal was always the target for the Samurai Blue especially after they fell short in agonising fashion in both 2012 and 2020 but, based on their displays over the past week, they might just be daring to dream bigger.
With Tuesday’s 1-0 triumph over Israel — courtesy of Mao Hosoya‘s clinical 91st-minute strike — Japan signed off from Group D with an impressive record of three wins, seven goals scored and none conceded.
While their latter two victories were not as emphatic as their opening 5-0 rout of Paraguay, which was helped by the fact that the South Americans had to deal with a numerical deficit for over an hour, Japan’s past two outings against Mali and Israel are perhaps better illustrations of what can be expected from them going forward.
It is only going to get tougher starting on Friday with an unexpected last-eight meeting with powerhouses Spain, who slipped to second in Group C following a shock 2-1 loss to Egypt.
But as the Japanese showed against Mali and Israel, they will be up for the fight.
Although Hosoya’s decisive moment on Tuesday came significantly later than Rihito Yamamoto‘s 82nd-minute effort that decided their meeting with Mali, it was perhaps not as dramatic given Japan had already secured their place in the quarters.
Either way, on both occasions, they refused to be fazed by the opposition making a stronger start.
Japan would gradually work their way into the contest and, as the contest wore on and legs became wearier, it almost seemed as though they had a switch to flick to kick into another gear.
With progress to the knockout round already guaranteed ahead of Tuesday, Japan coach Go Oiwa naturally opted to ring the changes — omitting anyone at risk of a possible suspension through a second yellow card at the tournament.
It meant that the likes of Hosoya, captain Joel Chima Fujita and livewire Shunsuke Mito were all left in reserve and, while Israel did look the more dangerous of the two teams early on, it did not take long for the Japanese to offer a threat of their own.
Of course, it also helps having someone like Leo Kokubo as the last line of defence.
For the second game running, the Samurai Blue goalkeeper produced an indomitable display to keep the opponents at bay – producing a series of fine saves that sees Japan — again with France — as just one of two teams yet to concede the tournament.
Football at the Olympics does have a Team of the Tournament but, if it did, Kokubo — who recently moved to Belgian Pro League outfit Sint-Truiden from Primeira Liga giants Benfica — would almost certainly be the current frontrunner for the No. 1 jersey.
Having barely been tested against Paraguay, Kokubo has shown just how important he is to Japan’s prospects in his past two outings.
And as Kokubo’s heroics looked increasingly likely to deny Israel, the switch of the flick from the Samurai Blue on this occasion came in the form of being throw a couple of big guns with 11 minutes remaining — with coach Go Oiwa evidently not content with the draw.
As the clock ticked over into stoppage time, an enterprising pass out wide by Fujita found the industrious Kein Sato, whose precise slide-rule ball right at the feet of Hosoya paved the way for the striker to expertly dispatch a first-time effort into the far corner to seal a perfect group-stage record.
Onto the knockout stage now that provides no second chances, Japan could yet come undone as sterner tests come their way.
Their previous record will no longer count for anything but the run they are on — in addition to being a real confidence boost — will also be a stern warning to the upcoming opposition.
As it was, Japan were never going to be easy to beat.
Even more so now, with an uncanny ability to take their game to the next level if required, as well as a formidable custodian who just does not know how to be beaten in Kokubo.
