FIFA World Cup real-time updates: Japan’s undefeated group stage boosts confidence
Japan entered the knockout rounds with an impressive unbeaten run in one of the World Cup’s toughest groups. Samurai Blue secured promotion with five points from three games. They opened the tournament with a hard-earned 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Dallas and followed it up with a convincing 4-0 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey to create one of the group stage performances. They returned to Dallas for the final game, where Maeda scored in Dallas’ 1-1 draw with Sweden. The goal secured the points Japan needed to advance to the knockout rounds. Remaining unbeaten throughout the group stages reinforced Japan’s growing reputation for being able to combine defensive discipline with clinical finishing whenever the opportunity presented itself.
