The Blue Samurai came into their World Cup opener and managed their first win on foreign soil. The goal came from starlet Keisuke Honda as Cameroon found themselves a goal behind in the first half and with the uphill task of trying to get something out of the game.
An uphill task it was. The Indomitable Lions' play was poor throughout large spells of the game, despite enjoying the most of the possession. The Cameroon team showed a lack of invention and percussion in their play, relying too much on the physical dimension of their game to take the game to the Japanese. Consequently they pumped balls over the top as opposed to trying to pass their way through midfield. Eto'o was disappointingly absent and contributed very little to the game. Paul Le Guen's favored 4-3-3 system seemed unsuited for the Cameroon team. In fact it was far too tentative against, what has to be said, relatively toothless opposition. The lack of a midfield maestro in the middle of the park resulted in the long-ball strategy employed by Cameroon. Indeed Achille Emana should have certainly started the game, while most Arsenal supporters will be raising an eyebrow at the omission of Alex Song in the starting 11. Playing Eto'o in a withdrawn role as opposed to his favored center-forward position was yet another tactical blunder from Le Guen.
Conversely, the Japanese side was well organized throughout the game. In a game where both Morimoto and the experienced Shunsuke Nakamura were absent from the starting 11 it was all going to be up to young CSKA Moscow forward Keisuke Honda, whose stratospheric rise to fame had seen him a late addition to Takeshi Okada's World Cup squad. It was at the 39th minute that Honda collected Matsui's measured cross, controlled, and lashed in a venomous left-footed shot to put Japan up. It was a goal he'll be sure to never forget as Japan held on to win the game. Japan showed few flashes of attacking potency during the second half but a lack of a real cutting edge ultimately cost them. In effect the team seems to lack goals and reliance on the raw talent of young Honda might prove costly on the long run. Surely Okada will think to involve Morimoto and Nakamura in Japan's coming games.
It was a really disappointing performance from Cameroon, who failed to show quality in their play. Le Guen should certainly consider switching the system to a 4-4-2 or a variation of this formation. The team has real potential, possessing the talent, athleticism and personality to make a real impact. This loss sets them back some ways unfortunately and qualification will prove difficult against the likes of Netherlands and Denmark. Adding a creative midfielder in front of the steel that their midfield possesses can only hope to help a side which lacked invention and seemed content to play long-ball football. The tactic was largely ineffective against Japan and thus would prove even less so against the more robust and tactically sound opposition to come. Idrissou and Geremi, two figures consitantly present in the Cameroon setup, should also return to the lineup. The inclusion of the former would allow Eto'o to return as the main focal point of the attack, whilst Geremi would allow M'bia to play in the center of midfield alongside Makoun, shield the back-four, and free Emana to orchestrate the attack. As for the Blue Samurai it was a historic victory and a great start to their World Cup campaign. They will certainly have to sharpen up in front of goal but with their determined, disciplined, and organized display, something interesting could come out of it.
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