In an exhilarating display at Saitama Stadium, Japan opened their Group C campaign with a resounding 7-0 thrashing of China as they absolutely annihilated their hapless opponents. Victory over the Chinese was always expected, but it was the manner in which they did so that really caught the eye.
A system that Moriyasu first tinkered with back in June was once again employed. Japan's new 3-4-2-1 could just be the way forward. The three central defenders and two midfielders were normal deployments, but the presence of wing-backs like Kaoru Mitoma and Ritsu Doan added an attacking flair that had been missing.
For so long now, it seemed impossible to fit both Doan and Takefusa Kubo in the same lineup. However, Moriyasu effectively found a way to fit two of his most technically-gifted players side by side, leading to constant interchanges that left the opposing defense confused.
When Kubo drifted wide, Doan would charge forward with an underlapping run as Moriyasu's tactical adjustments created a dynamic attacking front that overwhelmed China’s defense.
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