Iraq players during a training session.
Doha, Qatar: Iraq coach Jesus Casas has urged his team to fire on all cylinders against Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan, who have promised to give an improved performance in the clash of top sides in Group D of Asian Cup.
Four-time winners Japan are coming from a 4-2 win over Vietnam while former champions Iraq launched their campaign beating Indonesia 3-1 in their opening game.
Casas is aware the Lions of Mesopotamia will confront completely a different challenge when they face the title favourites at Education City Stadium today.
Iraq have never beaten Japan before as two draws are their best results against the Asian giants, who have won seven matches from their last nine internationals.
“Japan are one of the strongest teams in the competition and have had a lot of time with their coach,” the Spaniard said on the eve of the match.
“Many of their players are in the top leagues in Europe, and they have also had a phenomenal run at the FIFA World Cup [Qatar 2022]. To beat them, we need to play a perfect match.”
Iraq will miss midfielder Danilo Al Saed in the tough game while Osama Rashid, who flew to Portugal to be with his family following the birth of his child, is also uncertain for the match.
“My priority is the welfare of my team. Danilo didn’t feel his mental health was at its best and it is my responsibility to allow him to take time off. Similarly, Osama had to leave to be with his family because football may be important, but in life, there are more important things,” said Casas.
Japan have a phenomenal record in group stage of the Asian Cup as they have not lost in their last 25 games, winning 19 while drawing two matches.
Despite winning against Vietnam, the Samurai Blue drew flak as they conceded a lead against their lower-ranked opponents before securing victory in the roller-coaster clash.
But Moriyasu was confident his team will be better in the second match with title win in Qatar being their main goal.
“I know some of the fans are disappointed with our performance against Vietnam. They expected a more decisive win but I shouldn’t be too worried,” he said yesterday.
“There were some errors made in the earlier game and we have learned from them, while also identifying many positive trends.”
The former Japan midfielder deemed Iraq a tough side but reposed full confidence in his defence.
“After observing Iraq play, I am fully aware of their ability to perform together as a unit. Even though some people have lost a bit of faith in our team after we conceded two goals in the opening match, I have a lot of confidence in our defenders,” said Moriyasu.
Vietnam and Indonesia will face off in other Group D match at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium today.
Group D - Iraq vs Japan
Unbeaten run: Japan are unbeaten in their last nine internationals against Iraq (W7 D2) but were held 1-1 in their most recent encounter (June 2017); though, they have won each of their two games against Iraq at the AFC Asian Cup (2000, 2015).
Tough stat: From the four occasions when Iraq won their opening AFC Asian Cup match, they have succeeded to win back-to-back only once. However, this happened in the 2019 tournament. They also managed to proceed to the knock-out stage whenever they’ve won their first match of the group stage (1996, 2000, 2015, 2019).
Amazing tally: Japan are undefeated in their last 25 AFC Asian Cup group stage matches (W19 D6), winning each of their last nine.
Instant hero: Osama Rashid scored his first AFC Asian Cup goal with his first shot on target against Indonesia. He is, alongside Ali Adnan and Jalal Hassan, three Iraqi players who played in the last three editions of the AFC Asian Cup.
Influential Minamino: Takumi Minamino was directly involved in three goals against Vietnam (2 goals, 1 assist), the first Japanese player to do so in an AFC Asian Cup match since Shinji Kagawa in 2011 (quarter-final against Qatar, 2 goals, 1 assist).
