Goal baptism in the Cup
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goal baptism in the Cup… Japan and Iran show potential as 'winner candidates'
Japan and Iran showed themselves as strong contenders for the championship by scoring goals in the first match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup. Japan (17th) and Iran (21st), which have the highest FIFA rankings among Asian countries, are drawing a scenario in which they secure first place in the group stage early and prepare for the tournament.
Japan won 4-2 in the first match of Group D of the tournament against Vietnam held at the Assumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 14th. As a result, Japan heightened their mood by running on 11 consecutive wins in international matches, which started against El Salvador in June of last year. Japan, which holds the record for the most wins in the competition (4 times), is challenging for the top spot for the first time in 13 years since 2011.
Japan's European faction showed its true value in the Vietnam War. Japan filled 20 of the 26 players with players playing in the European league. Takumi Minamida (AS Monaco), Keito Nakamura (Reims), and Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), who scored four goals together, were all European players.
Japan was momentarily taken aback by Vietnam's dense defense, but was not greatly shaken. He applied midfield pressure to steal the ball, created space with a cute passing play, and then actively looked for opportunities to score. Japan even showed concentration by scoring goals with 4 out of 7 effective shots.
Group C's Iran won 4-1 against Palestine in the first group match on the 15th. Iran widened the lead early on with Karim Anarifad's goal in the second minute of the first half, followed by Shoja Khalizadeh and Mehdi Gayedi's scoring relay. 'Ace' Sardar Azmoun, who had scored 49 international goals until just before the tournament, scored an additional goal at the start of the second half to put a wedge in the game.
Iran also showed off its ability to come close to winning with a multiple-score victory. Like Japan, their high level of goal-making ability stood out. Iran scored on 4 out of 5 effective shots on this day.
The Asian powerhouses, which Korean soccer was wary of, won the first game side by side and secured three points each. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann said ahead of this tournament, “There are many good teams such as Australia, Iran, Qatar, and Japan.”
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