Japan holds a piece of World Cup history that no other country left in the competition can stake a claim to. In 2011, led by legend Homare Sawa, Japan pulled off an upset for the ages and defeated the United States. Sawa saved the game in the 117th minute with the game-tying goal before Japan kept their nerves in the shootout and became World Champions. Winning on the world’s biggest stage changes the trajectory of the sport for whoever wins. Japan has developed into the strongest team in Asia, surpassing China as the dominant team in the region. After defeating Spain 4-0 in the Group Stage and dispatching Norway 3-1, no one is talking about Japan enough. Here’s why Japan is the dark horse who can win the World Cup.
Versatility and Adaptability
Japan’s versatility and ability to adapt to whatever the situation is what makes them as strong as they are. A lot of World Cup teams have to rely on their stars to create plays but not Japan. Everyone is willing to make the extra pass when necessary, no one dribbles for too long, they share the ball openly, and it doesn’t matter how they win. Their federation deserves a ton of credit for instilling this kind of culture. It allows for a cohesive unit to attack and expose a team’s weaknesses and take away their…
