Yoshida: Japan to treat UAE 'like Brazil'

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  • Fully focused: Japan’s Maya Yoshida

    Japan will have to treat the UAE like they “are playing Brazil” if they are to avoid another shock loss and claim a winning start to the third and final round of World Cup 2018 qualifying, according to defender Maya Yoshida.

    The two nations meet at a soldout Saitama Stadium 2002 tomorrow as they bid to fight their way to a spot in Russia. This Group B-opener pits storied hosts who have reached the game’s grandest tournament on the last five occasions against opponents whose sole entry was 26 years ago.

    Yet as the Whites’ stunning triumph on penalties against the then Asian Cup-holders during 2015’s quarter-final shows, anything is possible. “Every single game (in qualifying) is a battle but getting off to a winning start is the most important thing,” Southampton star Yoshia told Kyodo News.

    “We have to prepare to put everything out there. “As our coach always tells us, we have to battle like we are playing Brazil.” The Samurai Blue have grown into regional heavyweights during the last 25 years, claiming four Asian Cups and twice reaching the World Cup’s round of 16. Coach Vahid Halilhodzic’s squad also includes 13 Europe-based picks.

    The likes of Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa, Leicester City’s Premier League winner Shinki Okazaki and AC Milan forward Keisuke Honda are just some of the top-line footballers set to be on show in front of 63,700 fervent fans in Saitama, which lies 30 kilometres north of central Tokyo.

    This experience lies in stark contrast to the UAE, whose talented but insular players remain rooted exclusively in the Arabian Gulf League. Yet this disparity caused no problems when the nations last met in dramatic circumstances during January 2015’s Asian Cup.

    A quick-fire effort from Al Jazira forward Ali Mabkhout during the spectacular Down Under was equalised by substitute Gaku Shibasaki in the 81st minute. After a gruelling extra-time, it was left to Al Ain veteran Ismail Ahmed to smash home the winning penalty during a shootout in which the esteemed pair of Kagawa and Honda missed.

    Yoshida vowed there would be no repeat of such errors this time. “I can still remember what a poor start we made in that match and can still picture in my mind how many chances we allowed UAE to create,” said the 28-year-old. “Making a good start is the most basic of basics in soccer.

    We can’t make the same mistakes and we have to be ready for whatever our opponents throw at us.” After this game, the UAE host Australia and Japan visit Thailand on September 6.

    Only the top two from Group B are guaranteed to make the World Cup, with the third-placed teams from each section meeting to earn a spot in the inter-confederation play-off.

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