FIFA World Cup Live Updates: Japan’s unbeaten group stage builds confidence
Japan reached the knockout round after an impressive unbeaten campaign in one of the tournament’s toughest groups. Samurai Blue collected five points from three games and secured qualification. They opened with a hard-earned 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Dallas before producing one of the group stage performances with a convincing 4-0 win over Tunisia in Monterrey. The final game saw them return to Dallas, where Daizen Maeda scored in a disciplined 1-1 draw against Sweden. That goal secured the point Japan needed to advance to the knockout round. Remaining unbeaten during the group stage cemented Japan’s growing reputation as a side capable of combining defensive discipline with clinical finishing whenever the opportunity arose.
