Japan’s firepower comes to the fore as Ueda bags a double at World Cup

Japan's potent offense overwhelmed Tunisia with a decisive 4-0 victory in the World Cup, even without injured playmaker Takefusa Kubo. Ayase Ueda starred, scoring two goals and setting up another, while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito also found the net. This dominant performance secured Japan's place in the 1,000th World Cup match and marked a significant achievement for Asian football, as Japan became the first team from the continent to score four goals in a single World Cup game.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed satisfaction with the team's preparation and aggressive play, highlighting the support from Japanese and Mexican fans in Monterrey. The win places Japan alongside the Netherlands at the top of Group F with four points each, with the Dutch leading on goal difference heading into the final group stage matches.

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We prepared well for what we wanted to do and played aggressively.

For Tunisia, the defeat signaled a disappointing end to their World Cup campaign. Veteran coach Herve Renard, brought in after a previous heavy loss, could not spark the necessary turnaround in his first match, leading to their elimination with a game still to play. Renard urged his team to remain professional and focused for their final match, despite the outcome.

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We still have a third game to play, we are at a World Cup and must remain focused. We must be professionals to the very end.