The "Group Stage Strategy" of the Japanese Team — Why Do They Always "Play Dead" and Then Explode?

The Japanese team has a very interesting characteristic: slow start in the group stage, getting better as they play. In the first match, they held the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw, with the whole team retreating to their own half; in the second match, they defeated Sweden 2-0, scoring two goals in the second half; in the final group match, they routed Tunisia 3-1, dominating the entire game.

This rhythm of "starting low and finishing strong" is actually Moriyasu's tactical design. In the first round, they probe the opponent; in the second round, they begin to exert force; and in the final round, they go all out. By the time the knockout stage arrives, the Japanese team is often in peak form — with ample physical reserves, well-honed tactics, and sky-high player confidence.

Football commentators in Japan have a consensus: this Japanese team is the best-prepared in history. They arranged six high-quality warm-up matches before the World Cup (including against Brazil, Germany, and England), and the players' ability to adapt to high-intensity games far exceeds previous teams.

Although Brazil has a clear advantage in strength, when facing an opponent that "gets better as they play" and "has absolutely no fear of them," the probability of an upset is not zero. In 2018, Belgium came from behind to beat Japan; in 2022, Croatia defeated Japan on penalties — both were decided in the final moments. Japan is just one step short of breaking through the round of 16.

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