MONTERREY (Mexico), June 21 — Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was delighted with ‌the performance of his side after their 4-0 victory over Tunisia yesterday in Monterrey. Japan were dominant ‌throughout despite the absence of injured playmaker Takefusa Kubo.

The victory took Japan one step closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds, while eliminating Tunisia.

“It was our second game of the World Cup, a match of high tension, and one that people all over the world were watching. I am very happy that we were able to ‌secure a victory in such a game,” ⁠he said.

“As a team, seeing ⁠players pick up injuries is, ⁠of course, highly regrettable ⁠and a ⁠painful blow. However, we have built this squad around the concept of whoever steps onto the ⁠pitch can win, and whoever partners up can function effectively.”

“Daichi (Kamada) has mostly been deployed as a defensive midfielder recently, but considering our current team situation, we had him shift to the ⁠shadow striker position today. The idea was to bring out his strengths and have him control ⁠the team’s offence and defence from that advanced position.”

“Ko ⁠Itakura ⁠and Takehiro Tomiyasu, these two have also played central roles in our team-building process up until now. We ‌have always viewed them as players capable of competing at the true World Cup standard.” — Reuters

MONTERREY (Mexico), June 21 — Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia yesterday to close in on a place in the last 32.

Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.

Tunisia, who were thumped 5-1 by Sweden in their first game of the tournament, can no longer hope for a place in the knockout rounds.

The Blue Samurai, who held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener, were always in control against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium.

The result marked a losing start for new Tunisia manager Herve Renard, who was hastily appointed to take over the World Cup campaign after predecessor Sabri Lamouchi was sacked in the wake of the Sweden drubbing.

But Renard’s team never looked like threatening a technically superior Japanese side that were quickly into their trademark, smooth passing game.

Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after just four minutes, finishing from close range after deft interplay from Ao Tanaka and Keito Nakamura.

The Japanese almost scored again moments later, with only a desperate goalline clearance from Dylan Bronn denying the Asian giants a second goal.

Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was also working overtime, and had to claw away a shot that just went agonisingly short of crossing the goalline.

Japan though finally added to their tally in the 31st minute, with striker Ueda taking advantage of some hesitant Tunisian defending to surge forward and thunder a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The rout continued in the second half, with Junya Ito latching onto a brilliant through ball to calmly finish on 69 minutes before Ueda scored again with a looping header in the 83rd minute. — AFP

MONTERREY, June 15 — Sweden crushed Tunisia 5-1 yesterday to leave the North African nation’s defensive reputation in tatters and seize control of World Cup Group F.

Graham Potter’s men took the lead in Guadalupe in the seventh minute courtesy of Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari’s thunderbolt from outside the box, following a mix-up at the back.

The celebrations of Ayari, who is of Moroccan and Tunisian descent, were muted despite his fine finish.

Sweden doubled their lead on half an hour after a rapid break freed Alexander Isak on the left.

The Liverpool forward raced forward and cut inside before unleashing a shot, which goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh failed to keep out, even though he got a hand to the ball.

Tunisia did not concede a single goal in qualifying, becoming the first side to achieve that feat, subsequently matched by Ivory Coast and England.

Sweden threatened to overwhelm their opponents but the match changed complexion minutes before half-time when Omar Rekik headed home Hannibal Mejbri’s teasing cross.

However, the Scandinavian nation restored their two-goal cushion in the 59th minute after another defensive calamity for Tunisia.

Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri was caught in possession on the edge of the box by Isak, who fed Viktor Gyokeres and the Arsenal man fired home.

Substitute Mattias Svanberg made it 4-1 late on after VAR ruled he was onside.

And there was still time for another stunning goal from Ayari from outside the penalty box.

Sweden reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia but did not qualify for the tournament in Qatar four years later.

Tunisia were the first African team to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico in 1978, but they have never progressed beyond the group stages.

Earlier in Group F, Japan scored late to draw 2-2 against the Netherlands. — AFP