Japan 4-1 Canada
Forgive my indulgence but, whenever I think of Japan, I think of the brilliance of Hidetoshi Nakata when I first saw him play around 1998 – the first time the Samurai Blue qualified for the World Cup – and last winter.
That most recent occasion remains one of the most amazing evenings of World Cup football I’ve had the privilege to witness: the night when Japan beat Spain 2-1.
Yes, their winning goal was one of the most controversial goals in World Cup history, but the fact they beat the Spanish – hot on the heels of defeating Germany – to top the group was quite a statement.
After their high-pressing style undid and unsettled both Germany and Spain, five times World Champions between them, they went on to face Croatia in the last 16, ultimately losing in a penalty shoot-out, but their place in World Cup folklore had long been assured.
Well, they have hardly dropped their standards since then.
This 4-1 International Friendly victory over Canada was their fifth in a row – building on their 4-1 thrashing of Germany last month which cost Hansi Flick his job – in which they have scored 22 times.
As for Canada, they have some promise too.
In Qatar – the first time they had qualified for the tournament in 36 years – they lost all three of their group matches but showed in their first outing against Belgium that their qualification was not a fluke.
As co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, it is clear where their focus is, and they have some top players in Jonathan David (Lille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) and Cyle Larin (Real Valladolid) is a big miss.
They weren’t at the races in this one, though, especially as the International Friendly 2023 odds first indicated in the preview of this game.
Highlights of the game
It all went very well for the hosts from the outset.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Ao Tanaka opened the scoring with a firm shot from outside the box following a poor clearance.
Canada had an ideal chance to level matters in the 20th minute when Davies and David linked up with the former fouled in the box.
Yet the forward saw his spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Keisuke Osaka, and the opportunity was gone.
The contest was effectively over by the break as the home side struck twice in four minutes, which certainly made it to the SBOTOP International Friendly 2023 highlights reel.
First, the lively Davies put through his own net before Keito Nakamura added a third.
Both sides made a change at the interval, but the momentum didn’t alter and three became four only four minutes after the restart as Junya Ito’s deep pass saw Tanaka rifle his second into the top corner.
A carousel of changes followed from both nations could have affected momentum but, with the game long won, it mattered little.
Junior Hoilett, once of Blackburn Rovers, netted an 89th minute consolation for the visitors.
As impressive as Japan were, in defence of Canada, this was their first outing since a penalty shootout defeat to the USA in the Gold Cup quarter-final in July.
They were also using this contest as part of their ongoing preparation for the 2023/24 CONCACAF Nations League.
We will know more about their credentials in due course. If they can follow the Japan pathway, it bodes well.
Key statistics
This was the fourth meeting between the nations.
The first came in the Confederations Cup in 2001 when Shinji Ono, Akinori Nishizawa, and Hiroaki Morishima sealed a 3-0 win for the hosts in Nigata.
It was more than a decade (March 2013) before they met again, this time in a friendly in Qatar as goals from Shinji Okazaki and Mike Havenaar secured a 2-1 victory. Marcus Haber replied for Canada.
The Canadians gained their maiden victory over Japan in a friendly in Dubai last November, gained through a last minute Lucas Cavallini penalty.
Earlier, Yuki Soma and Steven Vitori had traded first half goals.
What’s next?
Japan will go onto meet Tunisia in a friendly in Kobe on Tuesday (October 17).
Canada will be back in action against opponents yet to be decided in a two-legged quarter-final of the CONCACAF Nations League in mid-November.
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