Why Did Moriyasu Take Off Japan’s Best Players?

Japan had Brazil under pressure. The energy was there. The belief was there. And then Hajime Moriyasu made the substitutions that changed everything.

Why did he take off players like Ritsu Doan, Keito Nakamura, and Junya Ito when Japan still needed attacking threat? Was it fatigue, tactics, or did Moriyasu overthink the biggest moment of the match?

In this video, we break down the decisions that hurt Japan, what Brazil changed, why Japan lost control, and whether Moriyasu’s substitutions cost the Samurai Blue their chance at history.