World Cup: Japan defeats Tunisia https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6585087 Moriyasu Japan scores 4 points, the most in World Cup history, and wins for the first time in this tournament! Ueda 2G & Kamata 2 games in a row, Ito moves up to 2nd place in first G of World Cup[North and Central America Tournament]■FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F Japan 4-0 Tunisia (21st Japan time, Monterrey Stadium, Mexico)[World Cup schedule & results]“The once every four years soccer festival” begins! The Japan men’s soccer team (ranked 17th in FIFA), which played a total of 104 games over 39 days, defeated the Tunisia national team (ranked 54th) 4-0, scoring their first win in the group stage (GS) and moving up to second place with 4 points. Japan took the lead in the 4th minute of the first half with Daichi Kamata (29) scoring his second consecutive goal, and added another point in the 31st minute with Kiyo Ueda (27) scoring his first World Cup goal. In the second half, Ueda scored his second goal after Junya Ito (33) scored his first World Cup goal, pushing Tunisia past. His four goals in the World Cup were the most in Japan’s history. Japan’s starting lineup includes Suzuki Ayane (23) as goalkeeper, and first-time starters Akira Itakura (29) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (27) as defenders. Hiroki Ito (27) joined the team following the match against the Netherlands. Midfielders are Ritsu Doan (28), Keito Nakamura (25), Kamata, and Kaishu Sano (25). Ito and Aoi Tanaka (27) made their first World Cup starts. Ueda was added as a forward, making the line-up with four changes from the match against the Netherlands on the 15th. Takefusa Kubo (25), who injured his left knee in the first match, was absent. This year’s tournament featured 48 teams, the most in history. Group F’s Moriyasu Japan played their first GS match against the Netherlands on the 15th Japan time, and earned 1 point with a 2-2 draw. In the 4th minute of the first half of the Memorial Match, which was the 1000th match in the World Cup, Japan ran up the right side and put a cross in front of the goal, which Tanaka in the center passed to the left side. Nakamura, who received the ball, dribbled into the penalty area from the right side and turned around in front of the goal, hitting Kamata’s left foot and scoring. Japan succeeded in taking the lead with their wonderful combination of plays. In the 10th minute, a corner kick led to a melee in front of the goal, and in the end Tomiyasu took a shot, but the opponent’s goalkeeper scraped the ball away on the goal line and he was unable to score. Japan launched a fierce attack from the beginning and took control of the match. In the 31st minute, Ueda received a vertical pass from near the halfway line, turned forward, dribbled, and swung the ball with his right foot, sending the ball into the left corner of the goal. Ueda’s first World Cup goal gave Japan a two-goal lead going into the second half. From the start of the second half, Japan threatened the opponent’s goal with Tanaka’s mid-range shots. In the 4th minute, Tunisia attacked on the right side and there was a near-miss when a cross was raised in front of the goal, but Japan’s defenders put their bodies on the line and defended. In the 24th minute, Ueda connected directly with Tanaka’s vertical pass from near the halfway line, and Ito dribbled through the ball. While carrying the opponent’s defender on his back, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the right corner of the goal for his third goal. In the 38th minute, Ito passed a pass on the right side of the opponent’s half, and Sano ran in and put in a cross. Ueda, who was waiting in the center, made a header to score the decisive fourth goal, giving them an overwhelming victory over Tunisia. Japan will play the third round of the GS against Sweden (34th place) on the 26th with the aim of advancing to the final tournament.[Group F]1 Netherlands 4 points 2 Japan 4 points 3 Sweden 3 points 4 Tunisia 0 points Related videos ↓ https://youtu.be/YZgkB-_OEhU #WorldCup2026 #WorldCup #Soccer #Japan National Soccer #Tunisia

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